Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was our first time booking a trip through Kimkim and we definitely plan to book with them again! Our guide, Mathilde, was very knowledgable and helpful and worked through several iterations of the vacation itinerary with us until it was perfect. Our daughters (8 & 11) loved all the activities she planned as well as the private tours she set up for us which kept them excited and engaged throughout our time in Paris. The itinerary could have been a bit more detailed (e.g. how long a tour would last so we could plan out the rest of our day once there) but that was just a minor thing and overall everything was fantastic. The hotel was also in a perfect location, close to local restaurants, shopping, the Metro and the Eiffel Tower. We had the absolute best time and have told our friends and family about Kimkim who plan to use them in the future as well!

Stephen and Jane created an itinerary that perfectly fit our goals for a sisters trip to Scotland: To visit places where are ancestors lived and to get a genuine Scottish experience while visiting precise areas of the country. The itinerary that we developed was highly personal. This was enriched by the Kimkim team’s choice of tour guides. Each guide was local and well versed in the area and its history and culture. Andy— Tours by Locals in Glasgow was excellent. He went out of his way to find a parish historian in our grandmother’s childhood church. While in the church, Geraldine Bird took the lead, giving us important specifics about the parish and the socio-economic conditions that led to its creation. She is in the process of writing a book on the history of the church. She shared parts pertinent to our family’s experience while peppering her comments with lots of humor. We found both Andy and Geraldine so informative and entertaining that we wished they could accompany us for the rest of the trip. It is not often that you can have an experience that is educational, poignant, and fun. What a great way to spend our first full day in Glasgow!

We enjoyed the People’s Palace, which was devoted to an examination of life in Glasgow in the 19th century — just when our grandmother lived there.

We rode on the train from Glasgow to Rutherglen to get a close up view of where our grandmother lived. Not surprisingly, the address from census data is no longer in existence, but Andy gave us a good sense of the area. He also drive us to areas where our great grandparents had lived. We enjoyed the Green in Glasgow and enjoyed stories about why the green was initially created. Because Andy is a life-long Glaswegian, he was able to answer almost every question we had about Glasgow.

There are signs around Glasgow that say: “People make Glasgow.” We certainly found this to be true with every interaction we had in the city. People were exceptionally warm, friendly, and quick to laugh. Our guides Andy and Geraldine certainly gave us a positive feeling about a working city that many travelers reject in favor of seeing the capital city.

Kim Kim’s choice of hotel in Glasgow — The Hotel Grasshoppers was a treat. It was in a walkable center city location with lovely simple interior design and spotless rooms. Staff was attentive and eager to please. Breakfast was warm and delicious. AND everyday there were freshly baked desserts and homemade ice cream available for the taking with no fee. The whole hotel is the 6th floor of a nondescript building. I have a feeling it is one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets, but Stephen and Jane were in the know. From the beginning of the trip planning, I explained that I wanted charming lodging that felt Scottish and not a generic chain hotel room that could be in any country. Stephen and Jane deserve extra credit for this find!

We were 3 travelers ages 73-80, and we did not want to drive on the left side of the road. Stephen and Jane did a brilliant job of arranging private drivers, trains and ferries to get to every location. There was never a problem with connections. However, in Thurso, my sister got sick, and she felt that a 4 hour train ride from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh would be too much for her. I contacted Jane immediately to explain our unforeseen problem. Jane instantly solved the problem over the phone, and within minutes she scheduled a private driver to take us to Kyle of Lochalsh the next morning, cutting the transportation time in half and facilitating an easier connection for us. We would have been in a bad place without Jane’s efficient and gracious problem solving. In her usual practice, Jane checked in with us to make sure that the transportation worked and to see if we needed anything else. This is why I love using Kimkim. You have lots of freedom not being part of a big tour, but you never feel alone and stranded!

Stephen and Jane arranged a private tour of Culloden. Our tour guide was a true professional, very knowledgeable about the Jacobite Rebellion, dispelling myths, and making history come to life.

Stephen and Jane facilitated travel to the Isles of Skye, Mull, and Iona. In Portree, Skye, we joined a local van tour of 15 people. Bill, our tour guide was extraordinary. We spent the entire day with him while he pointed out the highlights of Skye scenery, stopping to enable us to walk and climb to experience the fairy pools, fairy glens, etc. Bill’s voice was made for radio broadcasting and his narration through the day was grand— interesting and entertaining. He knew just when to be quiet to let the majesty of nature sink in and when to play traditional Scottish music to enhance the visual wonder. His dramatic story telling skills are without equal. As if this wasn’t enough, he took us to a lovely cafe with excellent lunches, baked goods, and drinks.

Looking at a tentative itinerary, I was not pleased with a trip from Skye to Fort William and then on to Mull. The KimKim team solved this by finding a delightful driver who functioned as a private tour guide. He picked us up on Malig on the west coast mainland and entertained us with the history and culture of this beautiful countryside often overlooked by travelers. He, like all the private guides Kimkim hired, was able to give us an insiders view of the history and life style of the area. We stayed with him until we boarded the ferry to Mull. Because the sea was choppy, our driver stayed in the parking lot until the ferry departed. You couldn’t beat this kindness and attentiveness which I have found to be the hallmark of Kimkim chosen travel guides.

Once on Mull, we stayed in a beautiful home that has been completely refurbished. It was originally the local manse. The large front garden overlooked the sea, and interior was impeccable. In addition to attention of a warm and efficient host, we enjoyed the couple who run the praiseworthy restaurant within the Pennygate Lodge. Breakfasts were prepared as ordered each morning and served in the dining room. Dinners were absolutely the best of our entire trip— especially fresh, delicious and beautifully presented by the restaurant’s co-owner.

The co- owner and host at Pennygate Lodge graciously drove us to Castle Duart and to the ferry - certainly going above and beyond our expectations as travelers without a rental car. These extra benefits were planned by the kimkim team — once again Kimkim delighted and exceeded our expectations.

You guessed it, our next international trip will definitely be planned through Kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Grasshoppers

GLASGOW

This could not be further away from Hilton or a major hotel chain. This hotel is on the 6th floor of a building in center city. It is not appealing from the street, but inside it is extraordinary. It is immaculately clean with a simple, tasteful decorations. The staff is lovely and friendly, and the big surprise is a daily supply of freshly on-site baked goods and homemade ice cream. Breakfast is served in a cozy breakfast room with staff cooking in the visible kitchen. The entire experience provides a sense that you are visiting an older relative who is delighted you are there and she would do anything to make you feel welcome and at home. I would definitely return. It was the best first impression of Glasgow.

Authenticity & Character

Read above. Like no other lodging arrangements I have ever experienced.

Location

5 ***** Walkable to restaurants , train, and buses.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Incredibly clean. Eat off the floor clean. Rooms were small but well lit. High ceilings. Large windows. Ceiling fan over bed. Clean lines on simple wood furniture. Bed was a twin in my single room. Bed was comfortable. Floors were light wood and beautiful.

Blackfriars Hotel

Inverness

3.5. My sisters and I stayed on the top floor in a “family suite.”It consisted of one room with a king bed and a twin bed. Next door was a small room with a bunk bed. Both rooms were separated from the hallway by another door. There was one en-suite bath for us to share. There were three big negatives to this arrangement: Three guests sharing one bathroom. Poor air circulation NO LIFT… and the hotel staff was actually the wait staff in the pub on the first floor. The rooms were clean, and the location was good. The food in the bar downstairs was satisfactory , but not great. The wait staff was very friendly. We did ask for assistance with carrying heavy luggage up the stairs. Our ages range from 73-80 so this was a challenge. The pub staff helped, but they were not available when we had to depart on a train before 7:00 am . I liked the concept of rooms over the pub , but the poor air circulation and the luggage on stairs made this an Inn I would not rebook. Inverness is a town with many tourists. I imagine other hotels may be more comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

I did not want a chain hotel, and i definitely did not get that. Good character in theory, but the execution presented problems, especially poor air circulation and stairs with no lift for managing luggage

Location

Close to train station. Some other restaurants around. We had trouble getting in due to need for a reservation. We tried the Thai restaurant next store, but a reservation was necessary the Hootananny with traditional local music is within walking distance c

Staff

All restaurant staff so we felt a bit like an imposition. Carried luggage up stairs at our request. No help early in morning. Also no plans for early breakfast. Shortbread and treats in room were appreciated.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air circulation.

Manor House

Thurso

We loved staying at the Manor House. The rooms were clean and more spacious than some we experienced in Scotland. The check in process is through the bar. One of the co owners checked us in. The owners, a husband and wife team, were eager to please and fn to talk with. Mary Ellen graciously offered to wash dry and fold our laundry for 5 £ each. I originally asked about sending it out to a laundry service. This is the kind of place Manor House is. They do everything that can to please their guests. Leo, Mary Ellen’s husband is a co-owner and an entertaining and charming bar tender. Their sweet children perform Hotel duties, including wait staff and trouble shooting. Sally, their sweet black dog lives attention and is a balm for guests who have left their pet at home.

Authenticity & Character

It has a long history in Thurso. Perhaps the best part of this Inn is the family that operates it. We ended up not wanting to leave them.

Location

Great location for walking throughout Thurso.

Staff

Fabulous family who go out of their way to make guests comfortable. Leo, a couple- owner with his wife even offered to drive ilus to Inverness.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Hotel Portree

Portree

This was the only lodging during our trip where the staff seemed overwhelmed and not very friendly. I almost forgot I was in Scotland. No one tried to engage us in conversation or inquired about our needs. No lift. No offers to bring luggage upstairs in spite of our obvious advanced age. The toilets in the lobby had signs saying they were only for residents’ use. Even as a guest, I had to get a key from the reception desk. The bathrooms were tiny and hard to use. The best part of this hotel was the location. It was easy to walk throughout Portee., and the view over the water was gorgeous. We never went into the restaurant for dinner. It was unappealing. No customers. Uninviting smell. The room itself was not inviting. The bed was comfortable, but one window did not open , making it hit and uncomfortable.

Authenticity & Character

This is the only lodging that did not offer the kindness and friendliness that we had come to expect in SCOTLAND.

Location

Location was excellent. Great views. Close to restaurants and shops.

Staff

Attention to guests. Friendliness. The person on duty at reception sat behind a glass or plexiglass partition. This gave the message that they did not want to be bothered.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A lift fir carrying luggage upstairs. Renovation to the entire hotel

Pennygate Lodge

Craignure

Pennygate Lodge is fantastic. Beautiful setting. Beautiful interior. Immaculately clean and tastefully decorated. Large guest rooms and bathrooms. Comfortable beds. Excellent linens. So appreciated a top sheet! Lovely Highland Soap toiletries. Fabulous shower. Tasty local cookies in the room. Glass bottles of water and milk in a hall refrigerator. Impressive attention to the environment. The owners and hosts are a couple who renovated this old manse to create a graceful and welcoming home to travelers. Fiona was out of town during our stay, but her husband Tony was an outstanding host, going out of his way to provide transportation to the ferry and Castle Duart. He was clearly invested in our enjoying our holiday. In addition to the lovely guest rooms and a comfortable lounge/ sitting room, Pennygate Lodge has an excellent restaurant on site owned and run by a husband and wife team. They serve an order- from-the-menu breakfast every morning that far exceeds the customary hotel breakfast fare. Dinner, which requires reservations, is a night out — without leaving your your guest house. The atmosphere is simple yet elegant. The co-owner and chef’s wife is the sole wait staff, who is obviously devoted to impeccable service. The meal begins with a complimentary creative starter. We ate there two nights. We would have made it three nights, but they do not open for dinner on Sundays. Each night, all three of us were delighted with every course. The website says there is a fixed price for 3 courses. This is not current. Diners can order just a starter or as many courses as they chose. This is fine cusine. Mull is not a bit fancy nor highly populated, but this restaurant would be successful in an foodie city.

Authenticity & Character

The location and the staff’s attention to detail and desire to please guests seems consistent with Scottish hospitality. The setting could only be Mull

Location

It depends. This is a gorgeous setting on a lovely island with a lot of charm. The lounge and some guest rooms offer a beautiful view. It is not conducive to finding optional restaurants or shops.

Staff

Fantastic. Owners are on site and dedicated to creating an excellent guest experience. Tony did everything he could to make us happy. The restaurant server/owner was efficient and warm — quite a combination. We never met her husband the chef/co-owner, but his creations were works of art.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was perfectly clean, inviting and environmentally friendly.

Hotel Indigo Glasgow, an IHG Hotel

Glasgow

There was nothing wrong with this hotel except it was highly generic. One exception: the interior decor was positively ugly. It had the feeling of any chain hotel in the US. It is owned by the same company that brought us generic middle of the road Holiday Inn

Authenticity & Character

Generic and unattractive inside.

Location

It was walkable.

Staff

Satisfactory, but less friendly than we have come to expect in Glasgow c

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean. Comfortable. Only instant coffee in the room.

Activity Reviews

Bespoke tour of Glasgow

Glasgow

Andy was well informed, friendly and fun to be with. His most amazing feat was finding Geraldine Bird, a parish historian at the church my grandmother and her family attended in Rutherglen. He did not seem to do any preliminary work to check out the address where my grandmother and her family lived in Rutherglen. I did not expect to see the flat where they lived, but I did expect him to do his homework. With us, he used his GPS seemingly for the first time to find the location. He drove us through Govan and Gorbals with some history of the area. His own experience as a Glaswegian was a real bonus. Honestly, his personal charm and general personality was very appealing to us on our first full day in Glasgow. His personality gave us an excellent impression of Glasgow and its residents.

Quality of Experience

Andy finding Geraldine to shed specific historical light on a church that was important to my grandmother’s family of origin.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was all Andy and his research to find Geraldine Bird. There were no other drivers or guides.

Transport

Andy drove all the time except when we took the train Glasgow- Rutherglen which was a smart move.

Private transfer in town

Scotland

No problem other than the cycling race in Glasgow which blocked the street in front of our hotel. No way to avoid this — except the company could have texted us in advance.

Quality of Experience

Nice comment

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No comment

Transport

No comment

Thurso Walking Tour

Thurso

Excellent walking tour guide. Very well informed. A good mix of straight history and local tales. Good sense of humor. Flexible. Willing to stop when we were hungry. Found a good place to eat. Passionate love for Caithness, which was contagious.

Quality of Experience

Knowledgeable guide with a genuine love for Caithness

Highlights of Caithness with Distillery Tour

Thurso

Angela was an excellent guide. She was so personable that we felt as if we had known her for a long time. Her love of Caithness was palpable. Having her respond to people who spoke to her as we toured made the experience feel so genuine. Angela was extremely tuned in to showing us what we wanted to see. I told Stephen I wanted to see Highland Cattle and she took us to her neighbors’ land where we could see them up close without crowds. She herself is a “wild swimmer” — meaning she swims in the cold sea by her home. She has relatives who surf near her home. It all felt so genuine. It’s hard to get this level of insight on vacation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Culloden Battlefield private tour

Inverness

Excellent. Very informative guide with a deep knowledge of the Jacobite rebellion. She clearly separated myths from history for those of us who had some background information upon arrival. She was very pleasant and easy to listen to and follow. Seeing this site and realizing the impact of this battle that lasted less than an hour Had quite an impact on us.

Quality of Experience

Great guide.

Skye In A Day From Portree Visiting The Most Scenic Spots

Scotland

Fabulous experience. The guide is amazing. I could have listened to him for a week. He had a beautiful speaking voice and perfect delivery of history and tales. He also read his audience well. Gods use of traditional Scottish music to enhance the tour. Great opportunities to get out, walk, and experience Skye. Lovely lunch in a cafe in route. Bull, our guide was a consummate professional. I would recommend him without reservation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day guided on Mull and Iona with Duart Castle Included

Scotland

The tour of Mull given by a former Mull high school teacher was good. It did not have the same thrill or love of the area that other tours had. The Mull tour did not include Castle Duart, which we did the day before in our own. Our host at Pennygate Lodge drive us there at no cost to us. As MacLean descendants, we lived the castle and we were thrilled to meet the current clan chief, Sir Lachlan MacLean. He was such a kind gentleman and interesting to talk with. The gift shop on site was the only place where I made purchases. Both my daughter and granddaughter have McLean as their middle names so this was especially interesting to me. We had a driver who drove us to the ferry to get to Iona. He was my least favorite driver. He was less informative, and his driving was too aggressive and made all 3 of us nervous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver could have shared more local info. Driver could have been slower and less aggressive. Perhaps a guide on Iona Seoul’s have enhanced the experience.

Transport

More careful driving.

We had a nice trip in Iceland. The country is beautiful and easy to navigate.
In regard to Kimkim we had a few hiccups in booking everything, but nothing that wasn't taken care of before we left. (for example; they booked the wrong month for our Sky Lagoon tour and if I hadn't caught the mistake we wouldn't have been able to get in)
I also wish the itinerary didn't look so cut/pasted. I get each person has several clients to work for, but we pay for it. Nice to have the maps and pics. Also, when I went to print out the itinerary is was going to be 38 pages for a 5day self drive trip! No one wants to lug around 38 pages of stuff! While all of it is useful, u can easily font down the print and take off the 3" heading at the top every single page! (You only need to put that information on the very first page.) I did exactly that and was bale to get it on 14 pages, which when printed front/back was only 7 pages. Much more manageable.
The hotels were just ok, although we paid for upgraded hotels. I guess this may be the best Iceland has to offer.
Will not use Kimkim again as I felt it was more work to go through the agent than if I would have booked it all myself. We travel extensively every year and I do all the planning. Thought I would try out having someone else do all the research, but found it isn't worth the extra $$.

We thorough enjoyed our time in Portugal and the itinerary that our local specialist, Pedro, put together. Each of the guides that were extremely helpful and wonderful travel companions, especially our main driver Eric. We have already recommended this experience to a number of our friends.

Hotel Review

Maison Albar - Le Monumental Palace

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Our driver was great. He even added another stop for us at the end. The vineyard was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was amazing.

Transport

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The dinner was awesome. We even got to chat with the owner.

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Sintra is so beautiful. Eric was great too in dropping us off in the right spots and giving us tips.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Explore Belém on a Scenic 2-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour

Lisbon

We are two first-time visitors who wanted to see Norway’s spectacular fjords, historic towns like Bergen, Oslo, and Trondheim, and more. A friend suggested kimkim to help plan that trip and find out if we could drive the Atlantic Road (inspired by a travel article.) kimkim’s Tom Christer was quick to offer a good plan for us to travel from Trondheim to Oslo for 7-8 days including hotels and transportation along the way. Tom was quick to answer questions, adjust the plan, and develop alternatives before we traveled. Once we were on the trip, Tom helped with schedule changes, found individual guides and drivers when we needed them, and had perfect timing to get us on a shuttle to a scenic viewpoint when we thought it was sold out. Without Tom, we would not have experienced two of our favorite spots on the trip: staying on Håholmen island along the Atlantic Road and Aurland with its quiet magnificence. kimkim and Tom Christer provided great value and support.

I would like to explain why we are giving the trip a score of 2.5. The country of Iceland is such a great place to visit. The weather was cooperative and nice. We saw so many great sights everyday.

Unfortunately, some of the services provided by KimKim were fair to good. I have planned many trips in the US and Canada, some for up to 3 months. We never had so many issues as we did with KimKim's service. The reason we decided to use your services is due to the fact we were not familiar with the country, their culture and norms and we were looking for a hassle free trip. This certainly was not the case.

Problems started when we went to get our car rental. Avis charged us for the full rental. I was surprised but charged it to my credit card. I contacted Silvia with my concerns with the rental charge that evening. She said we should not have been charged. I also told her that we did not get the wifi due to the large unplanned charge on my card. She asked that we send her a copy of the bill. We did a few days later. I do not know why the confusion with the rental charge. Regardless, it was quite upsetting.

We then started our adventure and everything was going well until we arrived in Vik. The hotel did not have any reservations for us. They called Silvia who said she had been trying to contact us and had been unable. We had internet only when we were at our hotel, and Silvia had been made aware that the car did not have Wifi per our decision due to extra incurred costs. After over 1/2 hour we were told to go to a different hotel. Silvia had complimentary drinks for us at the other hotel which was a nice gesture. Silvia also told us to get Wifi on our son's phone and she would reimburse the cost, which she did.

In Seydisfjordur we arrived at our hotel and settled in. It was not a great hotel like we had had since our arrival but OK. After 1/2 hour several people arrived at our door and were trying to get the key for the rental. We did not open the door. A while later this man came knocking at our door and asked us to speak to his boss, Ingrid. She explained she had contacted Silvia re: the change in room which was not communicated to us. We had to repact everything and move to a different room. Silvia apologized for the mix up and lack of follow-up.

In Akureyri, the room and location were abysmal. We could not find out which room was ours as the front desk door is looked and unmanned. Luckily this very nice person let us borrow his cell phone so we could call Silvia. She said she forgot to send us the updated info to the rental. We finally got it and were able to get in only to find out that it was set up for 1 person. Texted Silvia and after several more texts we were told to go to the locked office which is unmanned and get some linens and towels and make our beds. Need I say more? At least we each had our towel for our shower..
The location was not good and the place was run down to say the least. Giving a score of 2 would be more than adequate. I would say it was a step above sleeping in the car... Silvia was made aware of the hotel conditions. She offered us complimentary drinks to compensate for the hick up.

My son texted Silvie after the next place as it also had the reservation for 1 person. We then had to wait in the lobby until it was set up for the third person. Silvia texted back and said she would notify the next places we were staying at. It was good for 2 nights then again, the agent at the desk had reservations for only 1 person. We again had to wait for the extra linens and beds to be made. Very inconvenient. Gave up notifying Silvia and it was towards the end of the trip.

On the positive side, the itinerary was great with strategically placed hotels with not excessively long driving distances so we could enjoy the day and do many on the spur of the moment things. All but 2 of the reservations were very good to excellent. Silvia was always very pleasant when we interacted with her.

I am very disappointed in the services that were provided and which we paid for. Not what we expected.
Renee S.

Hi Liz,
The trip to New Zealand and Australia was probably one of the best we've ever had. The highlights were the Women World Cup soccer games we attended in both countries. In addition, Helen, Alexa and I enjoyed the town and activities you planned for us in Queenstown (Milford Sound and wine tasting). The city that we were unexpectedly pleased with was Nelson. At this city we were able to enjoy a cruise along the coast of the Abel Tasman NP and hike a portion of the great walk at this park. Our driver in Nelson was also very good in giving us a good education of the area and we enjoyed our conversation with her during the trip.

In terms of hotel accommodations I believe City Life in Wellington was the best It was both spacious and very comfortable. However, in retrospect we could have decreased the number of days we spent in this city and spent those days elsewhere. The hotel we liked the least was the Nasuto Stadium hotel in Auckland. While the location gave us easy access to the downtown area, the additional bed placed in the middle of the living room contributed to our luke warm review, although on our return visit to the hotel before leaving for Sydney, we were given a room that had two separate bedrooms.
We enjoyed our trip to Rotorua. The Maori cultural venues (teaching school and village experience) were very interesting. Helen and Alexa went to a new spa in Rotorua that you might want to check out. Its called Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa. Its right on the lake and they enjoyed their experience at the spa,,, it was new and not crowded. I found the Hobbiton experience a little underwhelming, and probably would not recommend it to the casual visitor. However, we really enjoyed or visit to Sydney. We were able to attend a symphony in the Opera House and the tour. We found the restaurants in Sydney to be plentiful and varied. Our trip to the Blue Mountains was okay but I probably would not recommend it if time is a consideration. There are so many other activities to attend to in Sydney..
All in all, we believe your recommendations help us enjoy our trip to these two countries. Thank you so much.
Jim

Hotel Reviews

Nesuto Stadium Auckland

Auckland

See written review

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Rotorua

Given the budget restrictions placed on the trip, the hotel was adequate for our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront

Queenstown

Given the budget restrictions placed on the trip, the hotel was adequate for our needs. We thought we had a lake view room and had to asked for a different room from the one initially assigned

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina CityLife Wellington

Wellington

This was the best hotel on our trip. Very specious and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central location in the middle of the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tides Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Given the budget restrictions placed on the trip, the hotel was adequate for our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

90 Minute Weta Workshop Unleashed

Auckland

We learned this Weta Workshop was not the same as the one in Wellngton. We heard from others the the one in Wellington was better than the one in Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Thailand was a bit short, but it was great. Every city that we visited was amazing, but there was something unique being in Chiang Rai and so we would like to give a special shout out to our guide and driver - Nok and Dee. They simply went above and beyond and made it extra special.
From the moment I requested information for our trip to Thailand, Thao knew exactly what we were looking for. Our entire itinerary was done within a week. Thao was always on top of everything and she would always get back to you as soon as you would send her a note or a question. We were so impressed with her service.
As soon as we landed in Thailand, we had a dedicated team in case we ran into any issues or had any questions. Thank you Adam, Moruecha, and Orn for taking care of us! You were always on top of your game.

Hotel Reviews

De Charme Hotel

Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

It was awesome and really nice. I had a great time staying here with no issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

This hotel was also very nice, providing a comfortable stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art's Riverview Lodge

Khao Sok

This place was a bit too rustic for my liking. There was no WiFi and our shower was not working. However, it was nice being out in nature and felt like a tree house.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Slate Phuket

Phuket

Absolutely the best. The resort was luxurious and comfortable with excellent customer service. The property was well-maintained and it was convenient to get out of the resort. The security was also top-notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

DAMNOEN SADUAK MARKET – MAEKLONG MARKET – KANCHANABURI

Bangkok

I did this on my own and it was an interesting experience. However, it seems to be more for tourists now.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spend a Day with Elephants in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

It was great but a bit too long. The waiting time for our ride back was unnecessarily long and resulted in us getting stuck in traffic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Absolutely the best. The guide, Nok, went above and beyond in explaining things to us. The White Temple was amazing to see in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phi Phi Island by Speedboat

Phuket

It was beautiful and the boat ride was a good experience. The weather was amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christina was amazing with all aspects of our Norway trip preparation, itinerary, local guides and transfers. She was able to help us right away when our train was cancelled due to Hans and book us on a flight to Ålesund. All hotel recommendations were great. We couldn’t have asked for a better travel planner. Thank you!

I found kimkim when I was thinking about how to plan my family’s trip to Norway. Knowing very little about the country and not wanting an itinerary created by a U.S.-based travel agent who knew similarly little but would just farm it out to a Norwegian agency, the prospect of getting connected to a Norwegian agency directly through kimkim was very appealing. And what a good decision.

I can’t say enough about Christina and Ethical Travel, the Norwegian travel company kimkim connected me with. She worked tirelessly and so patiently with me, answering my innumerable questions, tweaking the itinerary and creating a trip that seven of us will never forget. “No” was not in Christina’s vocabulary.

Further, once we were in Norway and there were a couple of weather-related changes that needed to be made, Christina was absolutely “on it”! She smoothed out all wrinkled and we did not skip a beat.

And Christina made superb choices in terms to f accommodations and guides that left us feeling that we received great value for money. She was an absolute dream. I would plan any trip with her again.

I am two for two with kimkim, having had a similarly excellent experience with a trip to Portugal this spring. I look forward to using kimkim again.

Planning the trip was smooth and The KimKim team responded to questions and a few glitches during our trip very quickly.
Gareth, our walking tour guide in Edinburgh was amazing—very knowledgeable, provided a lot of history and great info.
Steve Reddick, our safari guide in the Cairngorms National Park was wonderful. He took us to all of the habitats and we saw many birds and animals; we especially enjoyed Murdo, the Scottish cow. Steve was passionate about being a guide and protecting the environment and even provided us with tea/coffee and delicious Scottish butter cookies.
Overall, it was a memorable trip and we enjoyed the various experiences and the majestic scenery of the Highlands.

Hotel Reviews

Destiny Scotland - Q Residence appartments

Edinburgh

Comfortable, spacious 2 bedroom apartment. An elevator would have been nice since our apartment was on the third floor, but we managed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the Royal Mile.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Atholl Villa Guest House

Pitlochry

A quaint Villa in the heart of Pitlochry.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Hotel Portree

Portree

Please don’t advertise “free parking”. There was only 8 “free” parking spaces. Difficult to find any parking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Receptionist was not very friendly when we arrived.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was warm and there was no A/C and no fan.

The Glencoe Inn

Ballachulish

A quaint Inn with comfortable rooms. It was warm and the staff provided a fan to help us sleep comfortably. The staff were friendly and very service oriented!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff were friendly and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Motel One Glasgow

Glasgow

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Locke

Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff were friendly and very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

GreyFriars Hotel Inn

St Andrews

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private transfer in town

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Gareth was amazing. He was very knowledgeable, provided a lot of history and great info.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Private transfer from Hotel To Train station

Scotland

The driver was very helpful and patient. It took awhile to get the car that we needed and he waited with us until everything was finalized.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

St Andrews Walking Tour of the Old Course

St Andrews

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Play Golf in St Andrews at either the Jubliee, Castle, Eden, New or Strathyrum courses

St Andrews

We played the castle course which was the hardest of all the St. Andrew’s courses. It took 5 hours to play and we had to use a push cart. It was a beautiful course! Recommend reserving a cart, but not sure if any are available on this course.

Quality of Experience

Play at the Kittocks Course

St Andrews

Quality of Experience

Blair Atholl Tour at Blair Atholl Distillery

Pitlochry

Great guide and tasting at the end of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist

Scotland

Our guide, Steve Reddick, was amazing. Very knowledgeable and passionate. He took us to all of the habitats and we saw many birds and animals. He was a joy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Steve Reddick was the best guide we had during our entire trip. His enthusiasm of the beautiful area was contagious and he loved showing us each of the habitats.

Transport

Very nice, comfortable and clean car.

Private guided tour with driver/guide in Skye

Scotland

Our guide was really just a taxi driver. He was very polite and courteous but he did not tell us about the area or provide insight or history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Provide a true guide, not just a driver.

Transport

Isle of Skye Whisky immersion at Torabhaig

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mallaig Wildlife Boat Trips

Mallaig

I expected the trip to be longer and see more. It basically was a quick trip to an area where we saw a few porpoises and supposedly a whale or two. The entire trip took less than 1 hour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Walk in Glencoe

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide didn’t provide much info about the area.

Transport

Car was filthy, literally had to brush off crumbs and trash from the seats before we could get in.

Falkirk Wheel Boat Ride

Falkirk

Quality of Experience

Visit the Kelpies

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Phd level guided tour of Bannockburn

Stirling

Our guide was knowledgeable but he wasn’t the individual who I believe was originally booked (he said he was asked to step in because the original person was not available). The tour lasted about an hour, much less than what was listed in the itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stirling Castle Tickets

Scotland

Quality of Experience

There are just no words for out trip, it was truly amazing! Everything went seamlessly and Deb and her team were absolutely wonderful to work with. We had wonderful guides, and drivers, and the staff at our lodgings were world-class.

When we told Deb and her team that we wanted to see all the nature that South Africa has to offer and do it within a comfortable setting, they really nailed it. The Tree House Boutique Hotel and the Ivory Wilderness Resort were the perfect places to rest our heads at night and the staff were some of the kindest people I have ever met. Our guides were always on time for our pickups, had so many interesting facts to tell us along our journeys, and really made us feel taken care of. Everyone just went above and beyond to ensure that we had a wonderful time in South Africa.

A huge thanks to Deb and her whole team who constantly checked in on us and even met us in Hermanus and took us to a local winery! I managed to find that wine here in San Francisco and bought a few bottles the other night...what a memory!

When we boarded the plane to go back home, we found ourselves extremely sad to leave this beautiful country and so appreciative that we got to have a once-in-a-lifetime trip as mother and daughter. Seeing all the animals and learning about their daily lives and habits was truly such a pleasure and privilege. It won't be my last trip to South Africa, and I will 100% use Deb and her team again in a heartbeat.

Hotel Reviews

Tree House Boutique Hotel

Cape Town

The staff at this hotel was wonderful! They were constantly eager to please us and make sure we were having a great time. The location was perfect and the rooms were spacious! Their breakfasts were out of this world good! It was so great to feel so taken care of and highly recommend this hotel to any travellers passing though Cape Town!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ivory Wilderness River Rock Lodge

Hoedspruit

There really are no words! When I messaged friends back home to tell them about our days and game drives, they simply could not believe the experience we were having...because they had all been on safaris and not had the personal touches, care, and intimacy with the animals that we were having! We saw so many animals very up close and got to observe their habits and routines. Our guide Craig went above and beyond to answer my constant questions and educate us on the conservation, flora, fauna, and animals from birds to buffalos! I felt like I not only saw the animals but truly understood them after our drives. Prudence, Xoli, Origin, Craig, Warren, the maids and the gardener were outstanding hosts, I really cannot emphasize enough how kind and attentive they were. This is an intimate lodge with only 6 rondavels, so it was perfect to experience the authenticity of the area and really gave us a chance to get to know the staff well. Origin made the most delicious and nutritious meals for us and Xoli and Prudence somehow always knew what you needed and wanted. I am so incredibly grateful that Deb and her team chose this lodge for us as it really was magical!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lunch at Crofter's Kitchen

Cape Town

Nicky is amazing! DO NOT MISS THIS ACTIVITY! She welcomed us into her kitchen and made us a 6 course meal that was out of this world! She also walked us through her garden where we tasted leaves, flowers, and berries and we even got to take home a spice blend from her! This was so special...a must do!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife, 16 year old daughter and 12 year old son had a wonderful trip to Paris and southern France in early August. Since it was our kids' first time in France we wanted the trip to be fun as well as educational and were really happy with our experience!

Lise quickly understood what we were looking for and organized small group or private tours for us in Paris including the Eiffel Tower, Norte Dame/Sainte Chapelle, Versailles and the Louvre. All of the guides were knowledgeable, personable and passionate about the places we visited. They also helped navigate around the crowds and thanks to them we were able to see the sites more efficiently and learn much more than if we'd gone on our own. We stayed at a boutique hotel just off the Champs Elysees with easy access to lots of great restaurants as well easy subway access to many of the popular sites. Lise provided a set of wonderful looking restaurant recommendations, although quite a few of these were closed as many restaurants that cater to local French were on holidays for a few weeks. Lise was super-helpful in calling restaurants and we found some good restaurants in the more popular tourist areas, but if there is anything I'd change it'd be to make restaurant reservations in Paris a little earlier when traveling in August.

After Paris we stayed in Nice and took guided half-day tours of Monaco & Eze one day and Cannes, Antibes and St. Paul de Vence another. These were more sightseeing vs educational tours, but we'd never have seen so much of southern France in such a relaxing way on our own and got some great pictures and memories. We stayed in an apartment just off of old-town in Nice which is alive with activity in August and enjoyed lots of time at restaurants and the public markets.

Overall, we really had a wonderful trip and hope to book future trips through kimkim. The local guides made a big difference in getting to know France in the limited time we had and Lise made the whole experience including all transportation seamless.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel du Rond-point des Champs-Élysées - Esprit de France

Paris

Cute boutique hotel, delicious French breakfasts, helpful English speaking front desk staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

L'abeille Boutique Appartements

Nice

Nice apartment in the heart of a bustling area of Nice, great for people looking to hit the restaurants and social scene of Nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Nothing bad, just didn't interact with staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nighttime Seine River Cruise with Dining Experience

Paris

This just seemed "As Paris as you can get". Seeing Paris by night is just wonderful, the food and service was excellent and it really was the perfect way to cap off our trip in Paris.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Medieval Paris - St Chapelle, Notre Dame & Conciergerie

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Versailles Palace & Gardens Private Tour

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montmartre & Sacré-Coeur walking tour

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a great experience in Kenya and South Africa. Joseph did a very good job finding a driver (Alex) and booking us in a lovely and comfortable hotel (the Fairview). Our driver Alex drove very safely. The only glitch was that he was not present when we arrived at the airport, and that is a key moment to be on time and in the right place. Our time in Lake Nakuru was fabulous (love Camp Mbweha), and Alex did a great job connecting us to tours at Lake Naivasha. We really enjoyed our hike in Karura Forest and highly recommend the cafe there. Thankfully we ended up with a guide there (David), and he was able to provide some fascinating info about the Mau Mau caves.

Our time in Cape Town and its environs was terrific. We had a very safe and knowledgeable driver and guide, Graham. The tours we did were very well planned although I did more of the planning for our time at St. George's Cathedral.

There were some details that were oddly off (a dinner was scheduled for when we were flying), and I would have appreciated a more detailed itinerary with more explanations. We also were not informed until the day before we left that all of our transfers to the airport were not included in the package (although the cost for an Uber was reimbursed to us). Even so, overall, the trip was a wonderful success.

Hotel Reviews

Fairview Hotel, Nairobi

Nairobi

The grounds of this hotel are beautiful, and the staff is very friendly. The breakfast was delicious, and we had two great meals in the restaurants. The rooms are simple, but comfortable. My only concern would be that the hotel doesn't have a/c, and if the weather had been hot, we would not have enjoyed our stay as much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only reason I did not give 5 stars is due to the hotel not having a/c. We didn't need it during our stay in August.

Mbweha Camp

Nairobi - Kenya

This camp is absolutely lovely. The service is fabulous, and the rooms were very comfortable. The food was delicious. We also had a wonderful experience taking a night safari.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Commodore Hotel

Cape Town

This is a very comfortable hotel with friendly staff. It's a bit hustle-bustle, but it's in a great location. Our rooms were very comfortable, and the breakfast was delicious. We ate at the restaurant one evening and were delighted at the quality of the food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Dine at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

This restaurant provides a unique experience. We really enjoyed the celebration of African culture and cuisine. The service was quite off, but we attribute that to having a new server.

We had a wonderful trip thanks to Alberto! We enjoyed all the activities he planned for us, especially the private tours in Florence and Rome and the amazing boating excursion in the Amalfi coast. We also had a magical day in Tivoli visiting the Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este. All our travel, including private transfers and high-speed trains, was well-planned and went off without a hitch, and the hotels he chose for us were excellent. We especially loved the Glance hotel in Florence, with a rooftop pool and amazing views of the Duomo and the city, and the Hotel Manfredi, with its lovely rooms and attentive staff (particularly Delalia, who enthusiastically helped us with sightseeing tips and great restaurant reservations) located on one of the prettiest streets in Rome walking distance to the Spanish Steps and the Villa Borghese. As a special treat, Alberto also arranged for a unique dinner for us at Baja Roma, a restaurant on a docked boat on the Tiber, which served delicious contemporary Italian food in a pretty setting complete with a gorgeous sunset over the river. I could go on and on about the high quality of the talented tour guides, especially Giulia and Chiara, who brought Italian history to life in Tivoli, the Colosseum and Forum, and Fabio and Caterina who highlighted the masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, not to mention the early morning tour of the absolutely beautiful Sistine Chapel at the Vatican museum. We also enjoyed an exquisite afternoon visiting a family vineyard in the hills of the Amalfi coast, including a private tour and delicious lunch accompanied by their many wines. In sum. Alberto did a magnificent job and our trip was glorious!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Glance

Firenze

Beautiful hotel with rooftop pool and amazing views of the city! Lovely breakfast and attentive staff. Great restaurant recommendations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right by the Duomo.

Staff

Very friendly and great recommendations for restaurants.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Manfredi Suite

Rome

Lovely rooms and great location. Super attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely and comfortable rooms, beautiful decor.

Location

Great location near Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese.

Staff

Very attentive and helpful. Delilia (unsure of spelling) was the best and gave us great recommendations for restaurants and sightseeing. My son left his phone in a taxi and she was able to track it down for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was pretty and clean.

Hotel Panorama

Maiori

Nice hotel with a beautiful beach view. Very helpful staff, who even found tennis lessons for my son which was absolutely wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Very welcoming and helpful staff.

Location

Right in center of Maiori and beautiful view.

Staff

All staff very helpful and attentive.?

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room and bathroom were clean and bright, with nice balcony that afforded a wonderful view.

Activity Reviews

Galleria degli Uffizi private guided tour

Florence

Great guided tour with lots of good information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fabio was pleasant and provided great information.

Transport

Guided Walking Tour of Florence

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Galleria dell'Accademia private guided tour

Florence

Wonderful tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Caterina was a wonderful guide and provided a lot of great information! We enjoyed meeting her.

Guided Walking Tour of Rome

Rome

Lovely tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giulia was a great guide and provided a wonderful tour!!

Transport

Day Trip to Tivoli

Italy

We had a wonderful day visiting Tivoli! We really enjoyed seeing Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este, and our guide Giulia was the best! She was very detail oriented and provided lots of great information.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our guide Giulia recommended a wonderful restaurant and we really enjoyed the delicious Italian food!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giulia was a talented and extremely knowledgeable guide! It was also a pleasure to meet her.

Transport

Rome to Amalfi Coast with visit of Pompeii

Italy

Our visit to Pompeii was amazing! Our guide was also terrific!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was a pleasure meeting him.

Transport

Our driver was great and really went the extra mile. We asked if we could make a stop in Positano for the afternoon on the way to Maori and he was so helpful in arranging that and then picking us up. Seeing Positano made a huge difference in our trip. Going that way afforded us amazing views of the Amalfi coast and we were able to have a very pleasant lunch in Positano and walk around.

Wine Tasting and Lunch in Amalfi Coast

Italy

We loved this tour of the vineyards and the delicious lunch! The wines were also terrific. Our host was so welcoming, and it was a pleasure to meet him and his family.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day boat tour in Amalfi Coast

Italy

Seeing Amalfi from the water was just an incredible experience. Our guides pointed out the highlights of the Amalfi coast, including where various celebrities, writers, and artists had lived. They took us to a cave that we were able to swim in, and it was just magical. This was perhaps one of our favorite experience of our whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Access Tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel

Rome

Skipping the line to the museum was the best. We greatly enjoyed the tour and the Sistine Chapel.

Quality of Experience

Food

The breakfast was great. Future travelers should know that there is a large delicious breakfast at the end of the tour, complete with croissants, bacon, and eggs!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide that we got seemed a little bit rushed. Also, as noted above the tour was only of the museum, and the guide did not provide much information about how to get into Saint Peter’s itself.

Transport

Our trip to Spain was wonderful, from start to finish. Beatriz (Bea) helped us plan an amazing itinerary based on our preferences, which allowed for a combination of traditional site seeing along with some adventure. We visited Madrid and Barcelona over the course of 7 days, and did day trips from each of the cities to Toledo and Girona. There was so much history to learn and beautiful architecture to see in all of the cities. Not to mention the delicious food and drinks!

Bea was available whenever we needed her to answer our questions, and all of the tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The entire trip felt seamless. We would love to go again and visit more of the country. We would definitely use kimkim again ... it was well worth it :)

When I started to plan a trip for me and my fiancé to London and Paris the thought was so daunting, however, Stephen and William at Kimkim made the whole experience so easy and stress free!! Stephen worked with me to tailor make the trip to suit me and my fiancés interests and we had an absolute blast on all of the tours and events that he planned for us. He made sure we got to see all of the highlights and major attractions in each city and we couldn’t have been more happy with our experience. Stephen and two of his associates at Kimkim were also available the entire time I was in Europe to answer any questions and help me with any issues I had. I would definitely recommend Kimkim to anyone planning a big trip for the first time as it truly was a great experience.

Ashley did a great job helping us to plan this trip and was very organized and responsive. Our guide Mr. Tu was very good! I would highly recommend the Soleil Hotel and Boutique - it is a very nice hotel and the spa there is great. Tina does an amazing massage.

Hotel Reviews

Soleil Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

Very clean and room was well appointed. The front desk staff was super helpful and the spa is top notch. Breakfast was included and the food was quite good with a lot of variety. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the heart of the old section with many places to eat and shop.

Staff

All of the front desk staff was great and Tina from the spa was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were good and room was nice and very clean. Only downside was that there was not much room for luggage for two.

La Pandora Cruises

Hai Phong

The rooms were very nice and well appointed. Unfortunately our reeked of sewer gas and we had to be moved.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean and very spacious with a private deck. The top deck did not have a place to get out of the sun which was a negative on a hot August day.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu & Trang An)

Hanoi

Temples were amazing and boat ride was very nice (although a bit long on a hot August day).

Quality of Experience

Food

Food tour was great! Be prepared though to sit on very tiny stools and being very close to the street with motor scooters whizzing by.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable, friendly and prompt.

Transport

Very comfortable

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

The bay is indeed very beautiful and it was fun doing a cruise. I think that we were lucky to be able to go out far enough to get away from the crowds. A day trip might not be good. I loved swimming in the South China Sea and going to the caves.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The two guys that were the tour operators were just great. They gave up their bedroom for us as it was the only room that we could move to. I felt sorry that they had to sleep with the sewer gas odor. They were friendly, organized and kept things moving. I appreciated there good service. Food wait staff were very pleasant.

Transport

Drivers to and from Ha Long Bay were very prompt and careful drivers!

Franck planned a great trip that left the whole family happy, which is saying a lot! We felt like we saw as much of New Zealand as we could in the time we had and had some adventures we never would’ve thought to do on our own.

Amazing trip!!! So much to see and do and you all definitely made it a lot less stressful to plan!! I appreciate all your help and answering all my questions! There is no way I could have figured out where to stay, how far to drive each day, and book and time all our excursions accordingly! It was an amazing trip that we will never forget!

Hotel Reviews

Berjaya Hotel Mývatn

Mývatn

Great hotel! They had two spas/hot tubs. They also had a restaurant and a bar. The food in the restaurant was very good. The breakfast at the hotel was also extremely good! Lots to choose from!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ION Adventure Hotel

Nesjavellir

It is a beautiful hotel! There is a restaurant and a bar and they do have a spa (soaking hot tub). You need to make reservations for the restaurant for dinner. We were lucky that we arrived and they had a time available because there are no restaurants anywhere nearby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is out in the middle of nowhere, but it is pretty countryside

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Huts Þórsmörk

Thorsmork

We did not know that you had to reserve sheets, blankets, and towels ahead of time. We did not have any with this, so we just had to use jackets and stuff that we had. If you stay here, make sure you reserve sheets and blankets ahead of time. The showers did not have any hot water so if you’re up for a cold shower, then you can reserve a towel too. There is a restaurant on site, which is nice! It is the only place to eat anywhere remotely nearby

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Núpar

Kálfafell

Very nice hotel. There’s a bar and a restaurant. The food looks good at dinner but we didn’t try it because we ate before we got there. The breakfast was really really good! Probably one of the better breakfast that we had on our trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Seydisfjordur Guesthouse

Seydisfjordur

Cute little hotel. There is a kitchen there that you can use. There are a couple of restaurants in the town that were open as well. They do not serve breakfast, but there is a grocery store in town if you get there before it closes. They did have a washer and dryer that you could use, which was absolutely amazing! We were needing to do a load of laundry, so that worked out perfectly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hvammstangi

Hvammstangi

It was a good hotel. We did not spend a lot of time here because we got to the hotel late and left early. We did not stick around for breakfast as we needed to be somewhere early. The lady at the hotel did help us find a restaurant in town that was open, and the food was extremely good! Overall, it was a good stay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

The hotel was fine. It is definitely older. I did not feel like it was real clean. I would probably pick a different hotel if I was going to stay in the area again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Höfn Inn Guesthouse

780 Hornafirði

The hotel was clean, but I feel like we were staying in a hospital room that had been redone into a hotel. It was clean and it was fine to stay one night, but I would probably try to find someplace else to stay if we were to stay in the town again. I would not get the breakfast again. Your options were toast, a bowl of fish, or boiled eggs. We had to go find breakfast somewhere else. :(

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Skógá by EJ Hotels

This was a good hotel. It had a spa/hot tub. The room was very spacious, but the shower was kind of small. It was clean. They had a pretty decent breakfast. The restaurant at their main hotel down the street was really good! Highly recommend the lasagna!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hestheimar

Hella

It was a nice hotel. They had a spa/hot tub. They have a restaurant, but we didn’t get to eat there because you have to let them know ahead of time if you want dinner. There are not any restaurants nearby so plan accordingly. We did eat breakfast and it was very good! I would stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

It is something that you have to do, but there are similar options in Iceland that you could do, so do your research.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Silfra Snorkeling

Iceland

Very cool experience! Highly recommend doing it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

Very cool!! One of my favorite things we did!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport