Kimkim Trip Reviews

My wife and I just finished a 12 day trip to Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Visby (on the island of Gotland). This was a bucket list trip and a birthday celebration. It was an amazing experience - the best vacation we have ever had!

Silvia at KimKim did a phenomenal job - all the way from the initial chats, finding out what we wanted and then making great suggestions. Our itinerary was complex - multiple cities, lots of activities and transfers to be booked.

There were so many highlights - from the scenic sightseeing cruises of the Oslo Fjords, canals of Copenhagen and the Stockholm archipelago. In Copenhagen we also did a very fun Segway tour and a walking guided gourmet tour to sample local delicacies and beers. Silvia suggested we include a trip to Visby on the island of Gotland, and we are so glad we did! Visby is a UNESCO World heritage site with an amazing history going back to the 12th century.

We are foodies and another highlight was an 18 course dinner at a Michelin star restaurant suggested and booked for us by Silvia!

We could never have come up with such an amazing itinerary, nor executed it so well. Silvia’s local knowledge and attention to detail made this vacation extra special.
She was always reachable, responded very quickly and helped us deal with a couple of minor logistical hiccups (which were not her fault). She was our guardian angel who always had our back. We cannot say enough good things about Silvia and this experience with Kimkim. If we could, we would give her 6 stars out of 5!

By the way, this is our second vacation with Kimkim. 6 years ago we used Kimkim and another guide for a week’s vacation in Costa Rica and that was a fabulous experience also.

We would highly recommend Kimkim for your vacation plans, and are so thankful that Silvia was our guide!

Our Mongolian Odyssey - Crystal at Premium Travel Mongolia crafted a bespoke itinerary for our Mongolian adventure, tailored to our unique requests and allowing us to see so much in a short time. Our guides, Zaya and Habak, were knowledgeable and passionate about their country's culture and rich history. The picturesque landscapes, idyllic rolling hills, and sparkling streams created the perfect getaway. Thank you, team, for putting together such an awe-inspiring trip!

Our guide Andrea was helpful throughout the panning process. He was responsive to last minute and on-the-ground changes to our itinerary. His knowledge of local attractions and restaurants was extremely helpful.

This is a long overdue review of a trip we made to Ecuador together with my friend Ewa in April this year. It was one of the best trips I have ever experienced in my life. Our trip was very professionally planned and organised by Mathias, who remained patient and cool even with our very late feedback [SIC!] or constantly changing ideas. Something we are certainly very grateful for.
Our itinerary included Galapagos, Cuenca, Ingapirca, Baños, Cotopaxi, Yasuni National Park and of course Quito and all of this in just … 13 days.
Galapagos is considered one of the world’s wonders for a reason with its beautiful landscapes, exotic creatures big and small, unspoiled nature, all of it makes the visit a once in a lifetime experience. We were staying in the Ikala hotel in Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz. It is a nice, family run hotel, clean with very friendly staff and an excellent restaurant. The hotel offered an early breakfast to go which was a very good idea when heading for day long boat trips to uninhabited islands (Bartolome and Seymour Norte in our case). Exploring Santa Cruz was also an adventure in itself and we were happy to have an extra free day on the island to explore Puerto Ayora and visit the stunning Tortuga Bay. I would also highly recommend a short, half a day visit, to a coffee farm which turned out to be a chocolate farm and aguardiente production site at the same time. Coffee, chocolate, and alcohol in one place, what more could one possibly dream of?
From Galapagos we headed back to the mainland. Cuenca is a unique example of the Spanish colonial architecture with a very vibrant community. We had an opportunity to visit the Panama hat factory, as well as several workshops in the villages nearby, continuing centuries long tradition of local crafts, such as jewellery making, textiles or ceramics. In moments like this you wish you would bring an extra bag or two to be able to bring back home more of those wonders. This was also an excellent opportunity to have a lot of interesting conversations. In Cuenca we stayed in the Hotel Boutique Santa Lucía which has a unique historic charm and a very good restaurant. From Cuenca we went to the archaeological site of Ingapirca, a place to visit if you like history and would like to learn something more about the soul of Ecuador. We visited Ingapirca in rain and fog, but it only added to the experience of mystery and contemplation.
Our next stop was Baños, where we got lucky with the weather, and we could admire the stunning views of the mountains and take advantage of all possible tourist attractions. A visit to the waterfalls is a must. We continued our trip through the volcano road to the bottom of Cotopaxi, again an unforgettable experience topped with a very nice meal at the nearby restaurant. My only regret was that we could not stay longer to do some longer hikes in the area.
The final stop of our trip was visiting the Yasuni National Park and Napo Cultural Center. I would never have thought that I would feel at home in the jungle. Yes, it is hot and humid and there are plenty of insects but the welcome by the local community, its unique hospitality and the unspoiled beauty of the place made an incredible impression on us. The accommodation was simple but clean and comfortable. We made several trips to the jungle (especially a night walk which was an experience in itself) with experienced local guides who were very keen on sharing their knowledge. The eco-lodge provides for the local community allowing it to remain close to the lifestyle of their ancestors and natural environment. It also provides for the local school where children can learn three languages (Kichwa, Spanish and English) which we found very impressive.
As we entered and departed Ecuador through Quito, the guided city tour was an excellent way to end our visit. While in Quito we also had an opportunity to visit the Oswaldo Guayasamín museum, which we would recommend visiting to anyone interested in arts and culture.
On our way back to the airport, a taxi driver asked us what we liked the best in Ecuador, I went speechless, but Ewa brilliantly replied: “gente” – people. We were so very lucky to meet extremely kind and welcoming people all along our journey, proud of their heritage but curious about others. This is why our special words of appreciation go to our two very special guides: Astrid and Milton. Astrid was our guide on Galapagos, and we could not have been luckier! Astrid is very knowledgeable, full of energy and has a sparkling personality; visiting the turtle refuge and the coffee farm with her was a real pleasure. We also haven’t enough words of praise for Milton our guide in Cuenca and further up through the avenue of the Volcanos. Milton is an excellent guide, a great companion, with a sense of humour who is never tired of the strangest question. Even in the most challenging of circumstances, as some parts of our journey were quite difficult because of the weather conditions and heavy rainfall when we had to take a detour around the Pan-American highway through the steep and muddy mountain roads, he kept his cool and we always felt very safe.

Lucie put together a terrific trip for us. Adil picked us up at the airport and was an excellent guide for our 6 day adventure. He shared his knowledge of the area and we learned a lot about Normandy and Brittany. His van was very comfortable for the four of us and he had water available if we needed it. We've been recommending kimkim whenever friends ask about our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel le Dauphin Les Loges

Honfleur

Quaint hotel, narrow stairs. No air conditioning but a fan was provided; still hot. Very nice breakfast and staff.

Authenticity & Character

Great staff!

Location

Easy walking

Staff

Kind, patient and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stairs can be challenging.

Le Bayeux

Bayeux

Reception didn’t have a reservation in my name. Thankfully we had asked our guide to wait until we were checked in before leaving. He knew our agents name and that is how the made the booking (the hotel, not the agent). The room was very worn; mold in the shower, extremely soft bed and pillows, thin towels. Air conditioner made a regular banging noise; we asked that it be fixed but we don’t think it was. Breakfast was okay, but a line for the coffee machine and the staff person only came out to ask for room numbers.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Beaufort

Saint-Malo

Lovely room, ambience and location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the boardwalk with a wonderful view of the sea.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit of Giverny and Monet’s Garden

France

Just a beautiful way to start our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Adil was always prompt, had great information and kept us informed.

Transport

Very comfortable van.

Visit to a cider mill

France

Charming and interesting but the visit was too long.

Full-day visit of D-day beaches - U.S. sector (small group tour)

Bayeux

We covered a lot in one day. The guide was friendly and informative. She also gave us free time roy explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Celine was genuinely interested in the history of the area.

Transport

Comfortable van.

It was great. I felt really supported by the team. Our guides Dennis and Roger were really knowledgeable and friendly. Paul checked in with us to make sure we were okay when our flight was delayed without being prompted. I've never used a travel service before but this was a pleasant experience.

Fran crafted the perfect 2 week trip for me and my wife, and along with Kristy (also on the Kimkim team) made sure that everything went seamlessly.
They checked in regularly, and when things went sideways (as they can when traveling, or in our case when an airplane loses an engine shortly after takeoff resulting in [thank goodness only] missed connections) they jumped in to ensure we were looked after.
We also can not say enough good things about our guide and host through the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, our friend Valerio. Travel with him if you can!
Our driver in Luma, Jean Carlos, was wonderful too. Please tell him I said to say, "I love you" again!
We will certainly book our next trip with Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Andina Premium Miraflores

Lima

Could not be more central, and a short walk from countless fun places and great restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado

Urubamba

We stayed at three different locations of the Casa Andina family of hotels during our trip to Lima, and they were all GREAT. But this was the best. The grounds were exquisite. The rooms were unique. Best of all, the staff were AMAZING! Gracious and helpful, and most knew our names without an introduction. There's not a ton to do / see by walking off the hotel grounds, but you're in the Sacred Valley: you didn't come here to see the hotel - use this as your home base for your adventures. Stay here if you can.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The entire team were wonderful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Mapi by Inkaterra

Cusco

Aguas Calientes is a tourist town, but this location felt like a pleasant retreat from the buzz going on outside. It's central to everything, and the rooms and staff were all great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Andina Premium Cusco

Cusco

This hotel positively nails the authentic and character qualifications, plus it has a good location, and all sorts of amenities both in the hotel and right in the neighborhood. There was some kind of misunderstanding when we checked in about a deposit/pre-payment, but that was also quickly resolved. We greatly enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tambopata Research Center

Tambopata

This is named the Tambopata Research Center for a reason: it's in the middle of untouched rainforest. If you can't live without a blow dryer, don't stay here. If the thought of a bat flying past you is probably, don't stay here. And yes, there will be bugs, and rain, and heat. But if you want to stay in lovely, clean rooms, and eat delicious food, and experience the rainforest, then this is for you. The staff are great, and there are activities for all tastes. We'd go back again in a heartbeat!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lunch at Mountainview

Peru

Aptly named for its location, this spot nails the sweet spot for a cool vibe, great food, and a modern but very authentic feel.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I arranged a side trip to Belgium from Amsterdam through KimKim. We went to Amsterdam to attend my son’s wedding. There were three separate ceremonies and a number of additional activities. After all the festivities, our goal was to enjoy some carefree traveling without any pressure and with all the plans made in advance. The travel plans through KimKim started in Amsterdam where we were picked up by an excellent driver with a nice van. The previous night, the driver and I texted and confirmed the pickup location and time. Our first stop was Brussels. The driver was friendly and very accommodating. We stopped along the way for coffee and a snack. We were safely delivered to our hotel, Hotel Dixseptieme, about midday. Our hotel and room were excellent. The daily breakfast was also top notch. In Brussels, we met up with my cousin who gave us a tour of the countryside and the city over the next two days. Nothing like having a local take care of our every need. Our next stop was Ghent on our way to Bruge. A driver was supposed to pick us up 9:30 but no one showed. I had texted the number the night before but did not get a response. I didn’t know I was texting a landline. When the driver didn’t show, I called the taxi company and they were unaware of the booking. I immediately called the emergency line and Meike went to work. Unfortunately a driver didn’t arrive until after 11:00 reducing our time in Ghent and making that day somewhat of a disappointment and hectic. The driver showed up in a little taxi and he was not familiar with Brussels. We were going around in circles trying to get out of town. Just about every road was under construction and we were rerouted at every turn. The driver was trying hard but the trip and miserable. Once we arrived in Ghent, we were met by a most pleasant guide,Christien Batsle, who walked us through the town and gave us history lessons and tales to embellish the beautiful surroundings. Our tour was cut short to make time for our scheduled boat tour. The tour included a chocolatier and a nice box of delicious chocolates. There was no time for lunch. We proceeded to the boat tour and got a different perspective of the charming little town. From there we scrambled back to the taxi where our driver took us on to Bruge in the same small taxi. The same driver and car was scheduled to drive us the final day to Antwerp and Amsterdam on the final day of our excursion. The driver was not happy with the plan and asked if we could find another driver from Antwerp to Amsterdam. I got back in touch with Meike requesting that she sort out the situation. When we arrived in Bruge we were exhausted and glad to have a nice room to relax in and a beautiful little historical hotel, Boutiquehotel ‘t Fraeyhuis, with beautiful grounds and restaurant. I asked the owner and front desk lady to help me find a driver for the final day drive. She and her brother called a couple companies, got prices and gave me the info that I passed along to Meike. Fortunately, the change was made and we had an excellent driver and car for the final day of our excursion. We spent two nights in Bruge. While the hotel was nice and everyone was very accommodating, it was problematic. There was no lift and we were up two and a half flights of narrow stairs which is fine for young able bodied people. My husband is 80 and has two replaced knees. He managed to get up and down, but there was no way for him to manage our luggage. For check in, there was a nice young man that happily helped us out. For our check out there were no men on duty. Two young ladies had to carry our bag down the stairs. We were so thankful for all of their help! The hotel and the staff were excellent and very professional. In Bruge we were met at the hotel for an extensive walking tour of the town. Our tour guide, Roland Schils, was very knowledgeable and happy to show us all over Bruge. Of all of the places we visited, I think Bruge was our favorite. We walked almost 12,000 steps on that tour. The following day we were picked up at the hotel and driven to Antwerp where we visited the Red Star Line Museum. My great grandparents immigrated to the US on one of their ships @ 1900. The museum is very interesting. The driver waited while we toured and then drove us back to our hotel in Amsterdam. Belgium is a delightful country to visit. I’m so glad that we were able to take this trip. With the exception of the transportation issues from Brussels to Bruge, we had an excellent trip. Meike got the problem resolved to our satisfaction. And I have to put a good word in for the poor taxi driver who had to drive from Ghent to pick us up in Brussels and then drive us back to Ghent, wait for us and then drive us on to Bruge. He was a very nice man who tried to do his best under the circumstances. Unfortunately his little hot, older, small taxi car was not his doing. Our knees were up against the front seats. This is maybe ok for a short taxi drive, but not for a long distance drive. His objection to the second drive to Amsterdam was a blessing.
I’m thankful that I asked for the phone numbers of the drivers and tour guides ahead of the trip and added them to my contacts. As Americans we make assumptions that hotels have elevators and cars have air conditioning. If we take another trip to Europe, we’ll be better prepared.

We had Emi as our agent and she was beyond amazing. First, she as patient with us as we had started our planning and we were figuring out our different options. Once we finalized that it looked like she found the best hotels for our needs. We have never gone to Europe and were hesitant about using and agent, but we are SO glad we did. We will be using KimKim for future travel!

Liz was amazing, helping make adjustments to the itinerary as needed.

Activity Reviews

Private Wildlife Habitat Experience

Port Douglas

The one on one tour gave hands on quality time with all the animals all the while learning about their habitats and how they are providing aid to these wonderful creatures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was so knowledgeable and such a wonderfully kind person

Blue Mountains Day Trip with Hike

Sydney

Highly recommend the option to hike instead of the lunch. Beautiful, breath taking views

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great time on our trip but there are a few things we feel should be addressed -As far as we knew all the hotel payments were pre-paid -However the first hotel we stayed at told us we never paid and wouldn’t let us leave until the matter was straightened out -finally that was resolved but we almost missed our pre-paid ferry . Each hotel charged us additional fees for city taxes-these should have been prepaid as well but we had to pay them-if we did owe that to them it should have been arranged earlier-Also the guides on our tour to Pompei and Naples were horrible-They spoke English poorly and we got very little out of them -it’s a shame because we may not be back here again and there was a lot to learn -also the limoncello Factory tour was 5 minutes of learning about limoncello and the rest was the owner who marketing his products- In addition our boat tour which highlighted the Blue Grato-should have taken place when the tide was low enough for us to see it-I realize you don’t control the tides but it is well known when low and high tide takes place- Also the boat was not fully equipped for snorkeling and had some but not enough portable floating devices for swimming.

Hotel Review

Hotel Palazzo Murat Positano

Positano

A beautiful hotel. Pool had a great view , breakfast was delicious and the staff was very eager to help.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Always friendly and eager to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Review

Limoncello Experience & Tasting

Italy

Not much to it. Finished in a short amount of time and then was brought into the store to buy products

Quality of Experience

It’s difficult to know where to begin , since we had nothing but one excellent experience after another. From the first planning sessions with our specialist, Valeria, to each and every local guide, driver, recommendation and suggestion on ways to make our trip a lifetime’s experience.

Barbara in Milan was our first local contact on the ground and set the tone for the 9 days that followed with a wonderful tour that exuded her love for her work. She was then our daily contact who checked on with us each evening to make sure all was going well and to review the following day’s itinerary.

The cooking class in the Tuscan countryside was incredible. Alesia in Venice was fun and shared her love of her home city. Florence was a dream and our driver, Nath, made it a perfect 2 days there. Not that our guide, Lucia, should go without special mention. She had an incredible knowledge of art and architecture in a city that is steeped in centuries of beauty. Jaw dropping insights were continuously shared with us by her.

We loved the small towns of Pienza and Montepulciano, the vineyards, cheese tastings and exposure to small family owned businesses could never have happened without Kimkim resources and expertise.

And then there was Rome- perhaps the culmination of why we appreciate using Kimkim for our trip. Our tour of the Vatican could never be duplicated unless, of course, we had Francesco as a guide again. When I show people photos they marvel at how we were able to navigate such a popular attraction and yet seem to have been alone among the vast, treasure filled halls and rooms of the Vatican Museum. Truly a lifetime experience.

And we were able to share a wonderful goodbye walk with our original tour specialist, Valeria, through local neighborhoods and eat where the Romans eat along the way.

The greatest compliment we can give is the conversation at the conclusion of a vacation that centers around planning our next trip with Kimkim.

Best,
Brian and Melissa

Activity Reviews

Private tour of Milan Highlights (3 hours) with La Scala theatre

Milan

The tour was absolutely phenomenal. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the city, and we learned so much in just three hours. The highlight was definitely the La Scala Theatre. Our guide was passionate about Milan and gave us some restaurant recommendations that turned out to be fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private cooking class at Podere il Casale in Pienza

Italy

This was such a fun experience. The cooking class was a full five hours, but it flew by because we were having such a great time. It was hands-on, and we learned so much about Italian cuisine. The class was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early morning private Vatican Tour

Rome

I can't tell you how impressive this tour was. Our guide, Francesco, was absolutely incredible. His knowledge about the Vatican was outstanding and he managed to guide us around the museum and the Sistine Chapel avoiding the crowd. His dedication and passion about his job and his hometown was palpable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sarah didn’t disappoint with her travel suggestions and itinerary! The tours were fun and exactly what we were looking for in our first trip in Europe. We met wonderful people on our journey from Paris to Nice! Our hotels and tour guides were amazing. We can’t wait for our next big adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Rosalie

Paris

Fantastic people and very clean. We especially loved our breakfasts!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to access to the metro.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Philippe Le Bon

Dijon

Amazing staff and quiet location with easy access to the city center.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Phénix Hôtel

Lyon

We had a wonderful view overlooking the river!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel de l’Horloge

Avignon

Very very cute hotel. The staff were very helpful getting us settled into our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower Tickets

Paris

Definitely worth seeing if you visit Paris!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Metro is easy to use to get there.

Montmartre Local Gastronomy Tour

Paris

Wonderful guide and fun people!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Moulin Rouge - Big Night Out - Tickets only

Paris

Quality of Experience

La Cave du Palais Burgundy Wine Tasting Experience

Dijon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The best of Bourgogne

France

Alex was a great guide! Very knowledgeable. Loved our lunch as well!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lyon Old Town Food tour

Lyon

Private discovery the Beaujolais & the Medieval Town of Perouges

France

Julie is the person to see for an incredible experience through wine country!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Chateauneuf du Pape & the Luberon

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer in town

France

Private driver transfer

Paris

We had an amazing trip made possible by Stephania and her associates!! Stephania customized an itinerary that we requested within the budget we set and picked fabulous hotels and tours. The hotels were all perfectly located to walk anywhere we wanted and were classy, beautiful, with extraordinary staff. The three tours she selected were fun, informative, in spectacular settings. The most amazing part is the convenience of all our transfers and never experiencing any problems or delays. We met other travelers that complained of not being picked up or not being able to find their drivers. When we arrived in Italy, we were given a new set of travel associates (Travel12) to answer any questions or concerns we may have when we arrive. One of our tours changed a meeting point to which I received a text from that organization and within two minutes the travel 12 group texted me to inform me of the change as well! I really can’t say enough about Stephania and her team to be able to arrange a dream trip! The service is very affordable and worth every penny!

Usually, I wouldn't have utilized this service while traveling abroad. But having very little knowledge about Iceland, we decided that a bit of help would make for a more enjoyable experience. 100 percent, we are happy for using kimkim. Kreso was very knowledgeable, asked us what we wanted to see on this 8 day self drive around Iceland. Made reservations for guesthouses and tours we wanted to do. Everyday we had a driving plan link that kimkim had a link to. You can skip a location if time/ interest was an issue. Our car came with a Hotspot box so we had internet everywhere. Even on the whale watching tour, I could and did share pics and videos with family back home. It's like they were there with me on vacation. I can honestly say I will use them again. Great service. Kreso listened to our wants and needs. Iceland should be one of the seven wonders of the world! We were two women over 50 traveling together. Always felt safe. I just can't say enough good things about kimkim. Thank you Kreso 😊

Activity Reviews

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

Unfortunately, it was raining hard and the winds were unbelievable. We got all the way to the front of the cave. Due primarily to the high winds we were unable to complete the tour. The jeep ride was exciting. The tour operator, Natalia from Sweden was knowledgeable and made us all feel very comfortable. I'm sure on a beautiful day, this tour is not too challenging for anyone. But with the already melting glacier cave, alot of rain and the extreme winds, this tour was a bit daunting and also excillerating for this 62 year old, not in prime physical shape. Would I do it again under better circumstances? Yes, I would. But this is Iceland. One must expect this can happen. I liked the staff. I probably should have given it 5 stars.

Quality of Experience

Natalia kept us well informed. Jeep was comfortable. Not too crowded. Like 7 of us in very large jeep.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

While the views are amazing, my biggest reason for 3 stars is they try to pack too many people on the boat. Literally sardines. But we were allowed to stand up and walk around once we got out there.

Quality of Experience

Lots of information from our guide

Quality of Experience

Lots of information from our guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I wish I could remember her name. But she was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I wish I could remember her name. But she was great.

Transport

Transport

The Geothermal Vok Baths

Iceland

Wonderful warm baths. All the stories I read about having to shower in front of complete strangers wasn't true. We went in the evening. There were some private changing rooms and showers. And yes, you must shower before going in. But it's not like someone is standing there watching you do this. Wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Warm baths, professional staff.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Myvatn Nature Baths

Lake Mývatn

Due to extreme high winds, very chilly, we were offered a free drink or a refund. We gladly accepted the free drink. They directed all the geothermal heat to a certain area of the baths. So still warm. This was still amazing, also a more natural Sulphur smell. You shouldn't get your hair wet if it's color treated. Under a small bit of construction because they are improving the facility. Still a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Robert was always prompt in replying during the planning phase and accommodated easily our requirements. All accomodations were top notch.

Our driver Borna combined excellent driving with an enthusiastic nature that made the trip enjoyable. I really appreciated not to have to navigate through Zagreb during rush hour.

Our driver to the airport, Matej, was on time early in the morning and provided all the help to get us off to our flight.

All in all, I couldn't imagine a better experience of Croatia.

However I do not believe that this trip was value for money. I believe I was cheated and the trip was overpriced. I only realized this after being there that the quality of service was sub par for the money I paid. The hotel in Jakarta was terrible, small room and poor quality. My primary reason for the trip was for scuba diving, I was made to believe that there was no availablity except the 2 dives which were booked . This was not true, once there I made arrangements on my own to add further dives. I was misinformed.
Very disappointed with Kim Kim. This is going to be my last trip with Kim Kim. Prices are over inflated with the trip not curated to meet my needs.
I expect Kim Kim to refund part of the cost of the trip as based on my calculations of the cost of the trip I was upcharged a 100%.

We had the best time on this trip through Italy, largely due to the excellent planning and coordination provided by the team at Your Custom Journey. The planning with Valeria was fairly simple to do via KimKim. Honestly, the hardest parts were choosing between all of the great city destinations/excursions and committing to a budget. Luckily Valeria was very patient with me as I tried to get my group to come to a consensus.

Our in-country contact, Barbara was fantastic at keeping us in the loop with possible itinerary changes, reminders for the upcoming day, transportation, and checking to make sure we were enjoying everything as we'd hoped. She even was our tour guide a few times in Venice. The other guides were great as well, particularly Gianni, who led our tour of the Palace of Caserta and Valeria, who took us on a walking food tour of Rome. All of the guides were local to the regions we were touring, and most of them were born and raised in Italy, and I think that really made the difference. Not having a lot of familiarity with the Italian language ourselves (despite studying all spring and summer), it was a relief not to have to worry as much about the language barrier since all of our guides were fluent English speakers. Plus, at all of the church and palace tours we were able to skip the long lines.

The excursions were interesting and thoughtfully prepared. Highlights included a lunch and wine tasting at a hillside winery on the Amalfi Coast, the Venice walking tour that ended with the Doge Palace and San Marco Basilica, seeing Pompeii and the Vatican, and the stunning views in Sorrento. This trip was everything to me and my family, and I'm so glad I had the help to plan it as well as the local support so that I could enjoy it as much as everyone else did.

I planned a mother daughter trip to Switzerland, Italy, and Greece with the help of my KimKim specialist, Amandine. This was my 2nd trip through KimKim. I requested safe, mid- luxury hotels, 3 modes of transportation, and safe, confirmed activities/excursions. It was amazing! First, my hotel accommodations were all located in safe places, had A/C, and were absolutely mid- luxury. What a treat to be pleasantly surprised every few days as we traveled through 3 countries. In addition, Amandine arranged for train passes and for particular high volume travel- she even booked seat reservations. What a relief to see my name on a reserved car waiting for us outside the train station to take us to our hotel in Milan, Italy, a highly traveled location with limited taxi availability.
Kimkim was also able to help us with some flight connections across European countries. Finally, let me tell you that booking with Kimkim is worth its weight in gold for booking activities: excursions. We enjoyed a boat ride in Lake Como, Italy and a sailboat sunset cruise in Greece. The boat operators were professionals. No need to be concerned for your safety or if you would receive high quality tour explanations and service. It’s horrible to travel somewhere new and realize that your booked excursion is the less desirable one when you get there. Kimkim has connections with the best and safest excursion companies! I’m already planning my husband’s retirement trip, and, of course, it will be booked through Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Makris Beach Hotel

Kamari

This hotel is very close to the beach. It is attached to a good restaurant. The beds were new. Maria, the manager was very positive and professional. The A/C was sufficient- important in Greece!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ambassador - De la Paix

Luzern

No A/C. Very tiny room. Location is impressive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No A/C

Doria Grand Hotel

Milan

This hotel is charming. It’s an older , updated hotel within walking distance of the main thoroughfare to downtown Milan. It’s in a safe, quaint community. The rooms are clean. The restaurant has a limited menu.

Authenticity & Character

The restaurant has a very limited menu.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel Arlanda Airport Terminal

Stockholm

If you are tired from traveling and need a clean room to stay in prior to your next trip, this is the place. Beautiful remodeled bathrooms. It does, however, have antiquated carpet in the hotel lobby and hallways. The brunch was spectacular: a variety of options.

Authenticity & Character

Outdated carpet

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)

Switzerland

Absolute highlight of the trip. We went to Jungfrau the same day as their famous marathon. People from around the world come to compete in this. We absolutely loved the cable car up to the summit. It was newly built in 2022.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mount Pilatus, Golden Round Trip (Tickets)

Lucerne

Incredible. Well worth it!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Our trip to France was wonderful. Our kimkim specialist Nathalie spent the time to understand our interests provided a great itinerary that met or exceeded our travel wishes. The only problem we encountered was with our first hotel. The room was dirty and had a smell. We requested another room which was slightly better, but still not adequate. We contacted Nathalie and she found us another, much better, hotel that we took the following night. The other hotels throughout the trip were very nice. The car transfers throughout the trip were punctual and comfortable. The tours and tour guides were especially good. We even emailed each of the tour companies in Bayeux, Saint Málo and Paris with positive feedback about the knowledge and passion of their tour guides.

The hotel problem at the beginning had the potential of spoiling the rest of the trip. But Nathalie’s quick response to find another hotel and her willingness to work to get a refund eased our minds and allowed us to enjoy our time in France.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel A la Villa des Artistes

Paris

A quiet, comfortable room with a friendly staff in the heart of Paris. Room was a little small, but not a problem for us. We would recommend it.

Le Bayeux

Bayeux

The first room we got was dirty, there was mold in the bathroom and had a smell. They gave us a new room, which had teh same issues as the first room. We moved to a new hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to all that is in Bayeux.

Staff

Very accomodating, friendly and understood our concerns about the rooms.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel needs to be updated.

La Maison des Armateurs 4*

Saint Malo

Hotel is located within the walled city. It is very close to attractions, restaurants and shops. Our room was clean and comfortable. Our room overlooked the street. We kept the windows open so it was noisy at night. However, with the windows shut and AC on, noise is not a problem. Breakfast is good, plenty of choices. Staff was friendly.

Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower skip the line summit tour (small group/2h)

Paris

Skipped it. Too many people.

Paris to Bayeux - Discover Giverny along the way

France

Beautiful stop on our way from Paris to Normandy. Two hours was enough for us to experience the beautiful gardens and home of Claude Monet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christophe was punctual, helpful and a good driver.

Transport

Having a driver made the trip more relaxing.

Mont-Saint-Michel day Tour

France

We are glad we had a tour guide for this experience as opposed to just going there on our own. Our guide was very knowledgeable about all aspects of the Abbey (including when the best time to eat was in order to avoid crowds).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manon was fabulous!!

Transport

Clean, comfortable van.

Half-day private tour Dinan and St-Suliac

France

This was one of the favorite tours of our visit to France. Once again, Marc knows the area very well and did an excellent job of explaining the history of the area as well as explaining about French culture today.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saint Germain des Prés Food Tour

Paris

This would be a must-do tour in Paris. We had a great time with Matthias touring the neighborhood of Saint Germain and sampling the charcuterie, baguettes, cheeses and especially the chocolates, wine, choux a la creme and the patisserie! A very memorable tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tour of Omaha and Utah Beaches & Normandy Landings Sites

Bayeux

Having a tour guide to see the landing sights should really be considered required. We learned so much and saw many sights that I am sure we would have missed had we done the tour on our own. Our tour guide, Victor, was friendly and knowledgeable. The travel was comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Victor was knowledgeable about the history of DDay.

Transport

Comfortable van. Victor was a good driver.

Two walking tours on the Emerault Coast: Saint Malo and Cancale (total 3.5-hours)

France

Marc the tour guide was wonderful. Since he is from Brittany he knows the area well. The Emerault Coast is spectacular! Cancale is a beautiful city and a must see if you are in to oysters. Had a wonderful time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marc knew a lot about the area. It was fascinating to hear the history of the region.

Transport

Clean, comfortable transport.