Kimkim Trip Reviews

What a wonderful trip to Paris! Lucie listened to what we wanted and provided a perfect itinerary. It started with our excellent driver picking us up from the Eurostar train station and taking us to our boutique 3* hotel, which was in a wonderful location and overall very comfortable. Lucie also arranged for a driver to take us to the airport when we left. We chose to travel from our hotel by the Paris metro to our daily events. I am a 73 year old, who traveled with twin 17 year olds girls. One of our favorite activities was the sidecar motorbike tour of Paris when we first arrived. The drivers told us fun facts about the sites as we rode around Paris. The highlights of our 5 day stay included the summit of the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and Sacre Coeur, the amazing treasures of the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, beautiful Versailles, and the Pantheon. We asked Lucie to give us time to choose some of our own activities and were able to attend a baroque orchestral performance, view the Victor Hugo museum, and eat at numerous local restaurants of our choice. Our private tour guide, Aloïs, was outstanding and knowledgeable for our walking tour in Montmartre. The only negative we encountered had nothing to do with kimkim or Lucie. Workers in France went on strike, and we were unable to go up into the Arc de Triomphe. The other cancelation due to the strike was at the Paris catacombs. Although disappointing, my young travelers said, "I guess we will have to come back." Thanks Lucie and kimkim!

Hotel Review

Hôtel Korner Opéra

Paris

This hotel was perfectly located for our Paris visit. We needed beds for 3 and stayed in a room at the top of the hotel. The room was very clean and had everything needed for our 5 day stay. One twin bed was located under a low ceiling and I kept bumping my head. The room had an air conditioner, but we never got it to work, However, we didn't ask for help. We used a fan in the room instead, and we opened the windows which made it comfortable. Only problem with the open windows was sometimes there was noise outside. The staff was nice and friendly. The breakfasts were continental and perfect for us. We would happily stay in this hotel again.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel had a local feel and not so touristy.

Location

Close to the Paris metro and restaurants

Staff

Always friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean and overall comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Visit of the Eiffel Tower with access to the summit

Paris

I'm so glad we got tickets to the summit. The views were great!

Quality of Experience

The Eiffel Tower was our first Paris landmark to visit and it did not disappoint. We had no trouble arriving on our own. Our tickets were arranged by kimkim.

Adventure aboard an authentic sidecar to uncover Paris

Paris

The sidecar tour was one of our favorite tours. The drivers were knowledgeable, friendly, and provided a fun tour. They were also courteous and helpful in dropping us off so we could safely get to our next event.

Quality of Experience

It was a fun way to be introduced to Paris.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We couldn't ask for better drivers, who were also our guides. Their enthusiasm made us love Paris.

Transport

Besides the sidecars being fun, the ride was safe and comfortable.

Visit of Arc de Triomphe

Paris

After hearing about the Arc de Triomphe my whole life, I stood under the Arc in awe. We observed the tomb of the unknown soldier. We were sad that we couldn't go up into the Arc due to a workers strike.

Exploring the Panthéon: a Journey through French History and Architecture

Paris

We enjoyed learning more French history and observed the names of people who made a difference in French history.

Visit the Royal castle of Versailles

France

Versailles was amazing. You could feel the once decadent era when Louis XIV and those that followed lived there. If you love French history, there is much to learn and enjoy. We wish we could have spent a little more time there.

Beautiful Montmartre

Paris

Our guide, Aloïs, escorted us for our walking tour in Montmartre. She shared wonderful information about Montmartre and made the tour delightful. Although Montmartre goes uphill, the pace was perfect, and when it rained, we stopped for tea in a local cafe. Our tour ended when we reached the Sacre Coeur. Before leaving us, she pointed out cafes and other places in which we might be interested.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aloïs was wonderful. My teen travelers related to her very well. I can't say enough good things about her.

Unveiling Masterpieces at the Louvre Museum

Paris

I'm so glad I got to view the exhibits in the Louvre. Right after our visit, the museum was closed due to the strike by the workers citing insufficient staff and over tourism. While I respect these workers, the museum, and the exhibits, I cannot help but be grateful that I was able to see the historical treasures during my visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was very cordial in spite of the large number of visitors.

Hien was fantastic to work with. We had four or five iterations of our planned trip and she happily chopped and changed according to our budget and preferred itinerary.

We were in Pu Luong for three nights and our local guide was wonderful. She was from the area and so naturally had great local knowledge.

All our connections were organised which meant for a stress-free holiday. The drivers were all lovely and helpful and on time! It all helped make our holiday truly magical and memorable. Thanks.

Hotel Reviews

Doris Cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lalita Boutique Hotel & Spa Ninh Binh

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit out of town. But a nice view from the top floor with the pool

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gateway Inn Pu Luong

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hanoi Allure Hotel

Great location. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lan Ha Bay – Dark & Bright Cave – Disembark Cruise (Doris Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onboarding - Lan Ha Bay – Ba Trai Dao/ Tra Bau (Doris Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Village Life | Water Wheels | Rafting ( Day3)

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enchanting 19km Off-Road Trekking

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pu Luong - Caving | Scenic Rice Fields

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a good experience with the booking. Very accommodating as we built our itinerary and change suggestions. The Edinburgh hotel No11, was extremely good with the kids allergies and excellent food. The York Hotel was in the perfect location and they too were good about the kids allergies. The guide we had for the Rosslyn excursion was Excellent. It was the families favorite day. Overall a very good experience. The guidebook was very detailed and we liked everything it entailed. We liked the pickup from the airport and drop off at the end of the trip. We liked the personal guide and transport for Rossyln. For the Castle Howard excursion, we liked the personal transport and part self guided tour.
Thank you for everything. We will definitely use you again for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

N°11 Boutique Restaurant and Rooms Hotel

Edinburgh

Excellent food and accommodating food allergies.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galtres Lodge Hotel

York

Great location, food, and food allergy accommodation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Cumberland

London

Staff not very friendly, seemed very impersonal. Had a strange smell in the lobby while we were there. Accused us of not paying for the room even though when we checked in they indicated it was paid in full. It was a decent location right next to the tube and Hyde Park.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Best of Royal London - including Tower of London and Westminster Walk

London

Very good guide. Informative. Wish we had more time to spend at the Tower (another hour at least).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Castle Howard - Guided House Tour with Gardens Admission

York

We liked the private transfer and the somewhat self guided tour in the house and then allowed us to explore the gardens and rest of the areas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private 1/2 Day tour to Rosslyn chapel from Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Best part of the trip. Guide was excellent!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer to your destination

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mathia, thank you for helping us plan a wonderful trip. You enhanced our original itinerary and provided great recommendations. Our bookings provided seamless transportation including trains, ferries and a car all in one day! Your prompt reply to questions was appreciated! Thank you for helping us make the memories!
Jim and Louise

overall, we had a fantastic trip. But, since you are asking, i will provide some feedback....
1. Bus transfers from Airport to Hotel Manoa, from Hotel Manoa to Captain Suiza Hotel and from Captain Suiza back to Airport: Drivers were great, friendly, and safe. Busses were clean and comfortable, and, the wi fi was a nice touch. My only comments on the transfers is that they should really have some waters and trash receptacles or bags for trash. But, otherwise, the transfers were great.

2. Hotel Manoa: the grounds were immaculate, the staff friendly, we loved the swim up bars in the pools and their daily happy hours. The rooms were really not great. very dated and beds were not very comfortable. The rooms really need a "refresh". and, the spa had no working jets.
3. Hotel Capitan Suiza: we loved these rooms, the grounds, and, the staff were very nice. Based on what we saw of other hotels in our area, this hotel seemed to look the nicest.
4. KimKim: was a pleasure working with your team, the calls we had prior to departure were helpful and informative.

Serendipity Adventures in Costa Rica was awesome. My contacts, Bryan, Nancy and Wilman were there every step of our adventure and made sure our travels were the best they could be. I took a father-son trip with my 19 year old who is heading off to college this summer. The memories we made while whitewater rafting, kayaking, riding ATVs, ziplining and hiking in the Arenal/La Fortuna area of the country will last a lifetime. All of the excursions were planned without any hiccups and the hotel accommodations were fantastic. On the day the weather did not cooperate, Wilman made last minute changes to our itinerary to make sure we were able to enjoy our top priority excursions. I could not have done it without them! Thanks so much Seredipity Adventures! Robert Babb

Hotel Review

Paradise Hot Springs Thermal Water Resort

La Fortuna

The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They went the extra mile whenever we needed. Great location for the many excursions we did in the Arenal/La Fortuna area.

Authenticity & Character

The thermal springs were a great way to wind down after a busy day.

Location

Great views of the Arenal volcano and close to La Fortuna

Staff

Always willing to go the extra mile. The restaurant staff, front desk staff , pool staff and cleaning staff were exceptionally friendly and willing to assist.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All good!

Activity Reviews

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The best ziplining experience I have ever had. Beautiful views and friendly staff.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal ATV Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a fantastic excursion in the backcountry of Costa Rica. The scenery and trails were perfect for this adventure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide, Freddy, a local business owner, was incredible. We were able to go at our own pace and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. He seemed to care that we had a good experiece!

Quality of Experience

Freddy was awesome!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All good

Transport

All good

Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)

Costa Rica

One of the best whitewater rafting excursions I have been on. The guides were super helpful and the river eas a blast. It had rained the day before which made the water especially fun for rafting!

Quality of Experience

Overall experience was outstanding

Food

I have a picky son, but we were able to find great food wherever we went.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of our drivers were on time, friendly and fun to be around.

Transport

Our transporters were fantastic

Kimkim did an amazing job planning our very pleasurable trip to Portugal. The activities and guides were lovely. The lodging was perfect for each location and they were easy to reach whenever we needed help. We told everyone on our travels how exceptional Kimkim had been to work with from start to finish. This trip was the perfect blend of adventure, culture, food, wine, and leisure.

We were so impressed that we already logged onto the site to see other destination spots they service so that they can help us with next year’s excursion.

We appreciate their attention to detail and personalization. They listened to all of our desires and helped create an itinerary with the perfect blend of adventure (hiking, biking, kayaking), food, wine, and culture. We HIGHLY recommend Kimkim and our exceptional planner, Giorgia.

Mathia was outstanding in helping us plan an amazing trip with activites and fjord trips. We were on all the major fjords including the UNESCO Geirangerfjord and twice on the Naeroyfjord.

I had no idea there would be so much support DURING our travels. Mathia sent us messages regularly, and when he wasn't working, we were helped by Tom and Katie.

The only thing that I wish was different, would be that the communication wasn't website based. For me, it would be better through texting on WhatsApp or a similar platform. Due to international plans through my cellular carrier, I had disabled email. So I was unaware of chats that were web based early on... Then, when I went to the kim kim web chat portal, getting the web page to refresh properly on my phone led to delays in me seeing messages through the kimkim chat portal.

But everything Mathia suggested and arranged worked wonderfully! I have recommended kimkim to many of my friends.

Hotel Reviews

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Charming family owned run hotel in beautiful Aurland. We had the best room overlooking the Aurlandsfjord. It was at the top front of the 2nd floor, I believe room 201. Staff and breakfast was great,

Authenticity & Character

The original buildings have been preserved to look authentic, but updated beautifully with an abundance of electrical outlets; great shower; heated bathroom floors and beautiful furnishings.

Location

Aurland is a gorgeous town and the origional hotel site dates back to the 1700s.

Staff

Friendly and interested in talking to us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Very pleasant hotel in Oslo. Great location. Excellent restaurant

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Strand Fjordhotel

Ulvik

Nice, family owned hotel next to the fjord in the tiny town of Ulvik.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bike and Hike Ålesund

Ålesund

The bike and hike trip in Ålesund was fantastic. The equipment provided was top-notch, especially the ebikes which were the best I've ever ridden. The hike to Sukkertoppen was challenging but incredibly rewarding. It was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Trondheim Walking Tour

Trondheim

Exploring Trondheim on a walking tour with a local guide was an amazing experience. The guide was knowledgeable and took us through the rich history and culture of Trondheim, making it a highlight of our trip.

This is my first experience using Kim Kim. I have to say this is by far has been one of the best vacation experiences I have had. Our travel consultant, Irene. Was truly amazing. She went out of her way to make sure we had everything for the trip we needed and experienced the best of Rome that we could in our short period of time. She had to work with a timeframe that was around a preplanned cruise. In addition she had to work with dietary restrictions my wife had due to celiac disease. This made activities, particularly eating in Rome, somewhat of a difficult problem however she handled this with amazing care and success. Everything went so smooth and we experienced all the highlights of Rome. I cannot wait to use Irene or Kim Kim again! I also can not thank Irene enough!! I would highly recommend for any of your vacation needs. I will definitely be using them in the future.
Dr Justin Sherfey.

They just got home and had an incredible time. The activities like the Thurso Tour and accommodations were incredible with Forss Hotel being a favorite! You did a great job making sure all the details were in place. You were extremely helpful tailoring the trip for them!
We will use you again!

Adam put together an amazing itinerary for our 7 day trip to Iceland. A few of our favorite things included descending 700 feet into a dormant volcano, walking behind a waterfall, the Blue Lagoon, Diamond Beach, a Zodiac Boat tour and getting close enough to puffins to get fabulous pictures! Mr. S was a wonderful guide showing us everything on our itinerary and more! Adam was incredibly patient answering all of my questions as we prepared for the trip. I highly recommend a trip to Iceland planned by Adam!

We had a GREAT trip in Croatia! Bruno was really helpful in setting up all of our experiences and being flexible with our schedules. It's not easy to coordinate two families and he was really patient in the process. This was a family trip and it was a great blend of city, small towns, and excursions. We couldn't ask for more!

Activity Review

Elafiti Islands by Private Speedboat

Dubrovnik

Definitely the highlight of our vacation. This boat ride was super relaxed and our guide was fantastic. We had a leisurely ride around the area. He allowed us to take our time in exploring and was just fun to be with. Thank you Ivo!!

Quality of Experience

Highlight of our trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ivo was knowledgeable , friendly, and overall fantastic!

Transport

Thank you Cristina and team for a well organised trip.

We had an amazing trip and wish we had more time in Colombia! Thank you for all your help during the trip.

I would highly recommend Chaska Tours to anyone visiting Colombia.

Activity Reviews

Wildlife Observation Tour

Colombia

Unfortunately we did not spot any wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the indigenous community of Katanzama

Tayrona National Park

Great experience. Martin, the tour guide was great and the visit was very eye opening. Nice lunch by the beach at the end of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Tour of Nevado del Ruiz

Manizales

The place was amazing to visit but unfortunately it was a bit cloudy (unlucky for us) and visibility was low but it was a great tour which ended up in the hot spring and seeing the hummingbirds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cocora Valley & Salento

Colombia

Amazing place to visit and Carlos the guide was great too. Beautiful scenery and very serene.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

Unfortunately the Church was closed, therefore we could not enter. It was a shame.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fruits of Colombia Food Tour

Bogotá

It was an ok tour. Nice to see the local market but not essential.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a excellent experience. Thank you for planning our itinerary. Day we transferred from Tanzania to Kenya could have been coordinated and communicated better. Overall it is a great experience. Accomodations and food was excellent all along our tour. Guides were very caring, educative. They took care of us like their own family. Thank you.

Melanie was fantastic, a dream to work with. I am looking forward to planning a trip with her again. As with any normal trip, there were some bumps and bruises with a couple of the excursions, due to the tour/guide themselves, not Melanie or KimKim, but overall it was a phenomenal trip and we had a truly fantastic time. I can't thank Melanie enough.

Hotel Reviews

Central Wellness Hotel Sorrento

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Residenza Fiorentina

Firenze

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across the street from the train station so the front view is not beautiful, but the location in terms of getting everywhere is pretty fantastic.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issue with the AC not working in one of the rooms due to construction.

Hotel Gardena Venezia

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doria Palace Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were truly wonderful, friendly, and helpful. Took great care of us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

If you like AC control you need to tell the front desk. A lot of stairs, only one person can fit in the elevator.

Activity Reviews

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pompeii Walking Tour with driver half day

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrew was fantastic!

Transport

Boat tour: Fishing and lunch on board

Sorrento

Angela and Luigi are a truly beautiful people, we had the best day with them. They customized the experience for us, interacted with us, cooked amazing food for us, we all felt like old friends when we left them at the end of the day. It was an extraordinary experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Accademia Gallery tour - skip the line

Florence

Walking tour to discover the local artisans workshop experience

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence cooking class and market tour - private tour

Florence

One of our favorite parts of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Venice Walking and Gondola Tour

Venice

Giovanni was fantastic!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Food Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historical Rome walking tour and Colosseum guided Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our second trip with KimKim, and once again, it was an absolute 10/10 experience. Our agent, Shona, crafted the perfect 16-day itinerary for our journey through Japan, hitting all the right notes—from four vibrant cities with centrally located (but not overly luxurious per our request) hotels, to a thoughtful mix of landmark tours, delicious food experiences, time in nature, and authentic cultural encounters that deepened our appreciation of Japan. We went on 8 tours and all of the guides chosen were highly experienced and made our trip better. Shona was attentive throughout the planning process, incredibly helpful during the trip, and even provided daily previews to keep us excited and informed. It was seamless, memorable, and exactly what we had hoped for. We can’t recommend KimKim—and especially Shona—highly enough!

Hotel Reviews

Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Our favorite! Everything is a 10/10!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

Authentic Japanese Experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier

Tokyo

Great location, nice rooms, good breakfast options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour

Osaka

We were hoping for a sake tasting at the end of museum and to learn more about different types of sake. It was just a small taste of 2.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Wonderful guide and experience, but we would have preferred a small group to talk with people.

Enjoy a Full Day Tour in Nara

Nara

Kyoto Bar Hopping Nightlife Tour in Pontocho

Kyoto

Wonderful guide and experience, but we would have preferred a small group to talk with people.

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Could have been a little shorter. Train ride was fun, but it took a while after a long day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Must do! So fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

Sounds like it’s seldom Fuji can be seen, so I’m not sure it should be a must-do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour

Tokyo

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Amazing Family Vacation!

Our trip to Costa Rica was amazing! Yuliana did a great job of planning out great excursions while giving us plenty of time to relax and explore all while staying within our budget.

We spent 3 night in LaFortuna at the Arenal Country Inn. It was a beautiful property. The rooms were nothing fancy but we loved being walking distance to the town and the breakfast was delicious! While there we did a zip lining tour. There are so many different adventure parks that we passed that all offer zip lining but Yuliana set us up with one that I think has to be one of the best with views of the waterfall and the ability to swim near the waterfall. We also did a volcano hike and went to the hot springs. This was a good excursion but the weather didn’t cooperate for us.

After this we traveled to Playa Hermosa and spent 3 night at Bosque Del Mar. This hotel was amazing! Right on the beach and very small. No having to get up early to save beach chairs. It was quiet and peaceful. If you’re looking for bars or party scene, this is probably not the right place but for our family vacation it was great for us. While there we did a catamaran tour/sunset cruise with snorkeling. The trip with Marlin del ray tours was great - awesome food and drinks.

All transportation that Yuliana arranged arrived on time. I really like how we didn’t have to travel too far for any of the activities. Our catamaran tour that was scheduled for Tuesday was moved to Wednesday- no issue. Kimkim sent me a message and also notified the hotel of the change and they informed us as well.

I’m so happy I used Kimkim. It took all the stress out of planning and I’m sure I could not have planned a better trip. I had 3 very happy teenagers which says a lot!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

This hotel was beautiful. Service and staff were amazing. Great happy hour drink specials. It’s right on the beach. It’s a small hotel so getting to beach was a very short walk down a pathway.

Authenticity & Character

It was like being in a rain forest. We saw monkeys from our room!

Location

Staff

Very helpful and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Country Inn

La Fortuna

Great little hotel. For the price, this place is beautiful and the breakfast is delicious. Rooms are basic. There’s a decent sized pool with amazing views of the volcano. It’s by no means luxurious but it’s adequate and clean and the location is great for walking to town .

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully maintained grounds

Location

Just a 10-15 walk to tons of restaurants!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean. Beds were a kind of hard. Not the best for sleeping but the air conditioning was great - kept the room cool but not noisy

Activity Reviews

Zip Lining & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The zip lining and visit to La Fortuna Waterfall was probably our favorite activity because it was something new for us. The adventure park offered a great location for zip lining, and although reaching the waterfall was more self-guided, it suited us just fine.

Catamaran Sailing Excursion

Costa Rica

The Catamaran cruise was a pleasant experience. Due to a date change, there were fewer people on board, which made it more spacious and comfortable. We really enjoyed the snorkeling and appreciated the good food and the unlimited open bar. My family had a great time on this excursion.

KimKim has certainly exceeded our expectations! Eirini had a tough job because we came to her after we had picked dates, bought flights and booked a rental car. We had a rough outline of what we wanted and she filled in all the blanks.

The tours she booked were all awesome and the accommodations were perfect. I really appreciated the daily reminders that Annalisa provided once we were in Italy. All arrangements with both guides, hotels, and transportation were seamless and thoughtfully selected. Can’t say enough good things about your service. You made our dream vacation a reality!! WELL DONE!

Working with Yuliana was very easy. She listened to my needs and we worked around my husband’s limited mobility to still have a great vacation. Every pick up, whether it was for a transfer or an activity arrived just when Yuliana told me it would. We were very impressed with the organization and coordination of our vacation from start to finish!

Hotel Reviews

Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton

San José

Pretty hotel, very comfortable. Great location. Lots to do nearby.

Authenticity & Character

Not much character. Just an upscale place to be before heading home

Location

Great places to eat nearby.

Staff

Very helpful with recommendations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, quiet and within walking distance of resturants and sights

Hotel Locanda Samara Beach

Samara

This was our least favorite hotel. The room was dark and damp. There was really nowhere to go and sit during the rain storms other than our room. The dining area had so many flies that it was hard to enjoy our meals. Our room 2B didnt have a safe. My husband had $160 taken from his wallet on our last day there while we were at breakfast. The hotel was in a great location but i wouldn't recommend it for future guests. The horsebackriding excursion on the beach and thru the jungle was the best one that o have ever taken. The hotel excursion gal was super helpful in helping us plan this.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great walking distance to other places to eat that were close by.

Staff

Very slow service in dining area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

More places to sit, other than in our room during rain storms. There was a lot!

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Great hotel! Very cute decor. Nice pool with a swim up bar and hot tub area. There was still some construction at this property but it wasnt a problem. Good breakfast and menu for lunch, snacks or dinner.

Authenticity & Character

The decorations. The cute area that we could hang out and watch the NBA game without being stuck in our room.

Location

Great location. Lots of places to eat other than the hotel right across the street

Staff

The pool waiter. I dont remember his name

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Very basic, but comfortable. Big property, too spread out. Long walk to front desk for excursion pick up. Food okay.

Authenticity & Character

Very basic

Location

We would have liked to be closer to town

Staff

Friendly, but communication gap

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The two men that led the horseback ride were very good about keeping a close eye on everyone and make sure we were safe. Bratiful ride to the waterfall through the jungle. The walk to the waterfall and back was too strenuous for us to do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Beautiful place, amazing setting to have a cocktail and chat with fellow travelers from around the world. Good buffet dinner afterward.

Quality of Experience

Lovely setting

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On time! Very nice

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very knowledgeable guide, she was funny and made the tour special. Many different station to see , feel and taste the coffee process.

Quality of Experience

Very organized

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly, funny and knowledgeable

Transport

On time, AC and clean.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Safari

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great guide on the river. Pointed out a lot of wildlife and helped us get good pictures on our cameras. Very knowledgeable!

I'm not one who gives out 5 stars loosely. This absolutely was a 5-star trip to Croatia. Our specialist Bruno was professional, attentive to our requests, quick to reply and very patient. We spent 9 nights in Croatia with 3 nights each in Dubrovnik, Korcula and Split. Bruno was able to balance our days with tours and activities but also enough down time to relax at a beach or freshen up for a nice meal and evening. We had walking tours in both Dubrovnik (with Ana) and Split (with Mia). Both young ladies were extremely knowledgable about their country's history but also willing and able to answer any questions we had be them history related or not. We were thrilled to hear that Mia would also be our guide for a trip to Krka National Park. Mia's energy and personality is both refreshing and enviable. George, our tour guide on Korcula took us around the island and was a delight. We really enjoyed his stories. We took the ferry over to Hvar one day and had a driving tour with Venko. We had some very interesting conversations with him. All of them were flexible with weather-related changes and all were very professional. We also had a great day on a boat ride to a number of islands. While Steve drove the boat Marin took great care of us--a very fun day. Bruno planned wine, olive oil, oysters and mussels tastings, hikes, a bike ride and I'm sure I'm missing some other things. Bruno coordinated all connections with ferries, guides and cars with no issues. I will definitely be recommending Bruno to friends who are planning trips to Croatia and I was so impressed with him and KimKim that I am using them for our next trip to Japan.

Hotel Review

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

Hotel Korsal is in a perfect location. It is easily walkable to the ferry or the town. There is a beach right in front of the hotel with paddle boards and kayaks for rent. Breakfast is delicious and plentiful with tables both indoors and out. We also had a delicious dinner there. The waitstaff and reception staff are probably the nicest group of hotel workers we have ever met. There is nothing they wouldn't do for you and always with a smile. They notice if you have a favorite drink or like a particular table. The area is very quiet at night. We had a suite with a very comfortable bed, a spacious living area and a balcony overlooking the water.

Authenticity & Character

Good spots to relax with a cover option from sun.

Location

Walking distance to the town and the ferry/boat taxi.

Staff

Very attentive and so friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great bed, spotless room.

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik Old Town

Dubrovnik

Ana was so knowledgable about Croatia's history and explained it in such a way that it was easy to remember. She took us through the whole city and showed us some special places to return to the next day.

Pelješac penisula and Ston + wine tasting

Dubrovnik

There was so much to do on this excursion. The salt flats were interesting. We watched a short movie and walked around the area. It's not a big place but we found it quite interesting. It was very hot that day but we still walked the path from Ston to Little Ston. It is A Lot of steep steps and in the heat it is difficult. It took much longer than anticipated. We have been on a number of winery tours in the US and Europe and we still learned new things form this tour. The wines were very good and it was the only winery we went to that shipped to the US.

Quality of Experience

Quite challenging in the heat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

George was a lovely person. He was very entertaining throughout the day.

Transport

Very comfortable van for the six of us.

Private boat trip to Lastovo

Korčula

This was a really long but very fun day. The boat was very spacious with space for both sun and shade. We snorkeled in a couple of places, went swimming in beautiful coves, Marin told us about each island, took a bike ride on Lastovo and had an amazing lunch.

Krka National Park- 1 days trip from Split

Split

The park is beautiful with some gorgeous waterfalls. There are crowds-the later it gets the worse it gets. The hike is easy to navigate. Bring lots of water.

Quality of Experience

It's just very crowded-nothing you can do about hat but leave as early as possible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mia walked us the opposite way most of the people were walking (it's huge circle) which actually made our experience better.

Transport

Mia arrived right on time and drove the van very well. She is an energizer bunny.