Kimkim Trip Reviews

The hotels were fantastic, the itinerary was well thought out and organized, and Anita and the whole KimKim team were very responsive. Could not have planned it this well by myself. The other plus is that KimKim and Anita struck the right balance between organized excursions and free time so that we did not feel like we always had to be somewhere at a certain time. Highly recommended.

Hotel Reviews

Turin Palace Hotel

Turin

First class rooms and service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Upgraded to a room with a balcony

Hotel Chalet Svizzero

Courmayeur

Small but very well appointed rooms making full use of the space, with ample closet space, a couch, small fridge and balcony

Authenticity & Character

Location

5 minute walk to town center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Relais Montemarino

Borgomale (CN)

Well kept, wonderful views, pool and nice clean rooms. Room was not as thoughtfully laid out as the Hotel Svizzero and our window looked out right on the well trodden path where lots of guests were walking, so privacy was an issue. Breakfast buffet options not as varied as those of Hotel Svizzero. Also, pool was nice but mostly inside so not ideal for lounging around it. Finally, meal options not as good as restaurants in town. All in all, a very good hotel but these issues prevent me from giving it 5 stars.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On a hill so great views yet close enough to town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

See above comments.

Activity Reviews

Exploring Rural Farms in Alta Langa

Italy

Nocciola producer was a fantastic experience. Lovely family and great products. Highly recommended. Would have liked at least a quick tour of the trees / orchard but otherwise great. The cheese producer was very quaint, polite and excellent selection of cheeses. Nice family and informative lecture. Would have appreciated a closer view of the sheep (which were very far) or the goats (which were in a field that was not visible) but this is a nit. Ran into the producers in the Alba Farmers Market on Saturday also.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ape Calessino Experience with Tastings

Italy

The views from the Ape tour were amazing as we toured the Barolo countryside. Driver also was informative. The description referenced a stop for "local delicacies" but that was a little misleading: while we did stop at the entrance to a vineyard, I expected we would go inside and sample the wine and some snacks. Instead, we were sat down at a picnic table and given hazelnuts, some hard crackers, and some wine. The snack stop could be improved and should, in my opinion, include sampling at an actual vineyard. By the way, not sure whether this is the place for this comment, but we discovered that the recommended walking tour of the vineyards for the following day was an almost exact duplicate of what we saw on the Ape, so we of course varied from the recommendation. Would suggest including the Castle of Count Covour and the nocciola sculptor (Pine?). Thanks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide enthusiastic but not a great mastery of English.

Transport

Ape was not in the greatest shape -- had some gearing issues.

Italy -Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Italy

Good tips. Would recommend more information about the autostrada and payment techniques.

Quality of Experience

Everything was amazing! We loved the trip

Hotel Reviews

Pullman Lima Miraflores

Miraflores, Lima

Nice hotel, breakfast was perfect

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay

Urubamba

I love this hotel, beautiful en everything was good

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción

Puerto Maldonado

Perfect hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lima: History, Culture & Local Gastronomy

Lima

Quality of Experience

Food

Perfect

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Lima Airport

Lima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Inca Megalithic stonework in Cusco and surroundings

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Cusco Airport

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Visit to Ollantaytambo

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Misminay Community, lunch and hike to Moray

Sacred Valley

Very nice

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Second day at Hacienda Concepción: Sandoval Lake & Canopy Walkway

Tambopata

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Third day at Hacienda Concepcion: Botanical Garden & Inland Collpa

Tambopata

Amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Time to depart from Hacienda Concepcion

Tambopata

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Cusco & The Sacred Valley!

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maras Salt Ponds

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Machu Picchu Exploration

Aguas Calientes/ Machu Picchu

Amazing so beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

First afternoon at Hacienda Concepcion

Peru

Everything was perfect

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Final Evening with Peru’s History and Flavors

Peru

We had a lunch/ no dine! We are at 19:30 on the airport, but the flight was 00:55 yet. We have to wait very long

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pisac Archaeological Site & Village Tour

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch at a local restaurant

Sacred Valley

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cusco Walking City Tour

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Don't waste your time on Zagreb, two days max. Korcula!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Corner

Split

OK for short stay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aminess Liburna Hotel

Korčula

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Valamar Collection Dubrovnik President Hotel

Dubrovnik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Bonaca

Skradin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

OPTIONAL : Oyster tasting in Mali Ston

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If I could give KimKim 10 stars (instead of 5) I would. Seamless trip planning from start to finish. Every private transfer, tour, and experience were amazing and all of the people we interacted with both at KimKim and on the ground during our trip were fantastic. The choice of hotels was impeccable, meeting our desire for small boutique options and 5 star luxury throughout our trip. We had a travel delay due to weather and the team helped us rebook train tickets twice in the same day… all I had to do was send them a text. Cannot recommend KimKim highly enough.

Hotel Reviews

Oltrarno Splendid

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved the more quiet but still lively and lovely Oltrarno neighborhood

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria

Sorrento

True luxury. If you have been to a 5 star hotel in the US, this is easily a 6!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eitch Borromini Palazzo Pamphilj

Rome

Spacious room, excellent location. Great spot and very walkable to most of the big sites.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private City Walk with Michelangelo's David

Florence

Knowledgeable guide, great pace. Wonderful introduction to Florence on our first day there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Three Tuscan Wineries with Lunch

Florence

3 vineyards, each offering something different from the others. Great day trip with a small group who quickly became good friends.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Capri Island by Boat

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seafood Cooking Experience

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Depart Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

Day Trip to Positano & Amalfi by Boat

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Evening in Florence

Florence

Quality of Experience

Evening Trastevere & Jewish Ghetto Culinary Walk

Rome

Essentially a 5 course progressive meal. Beer, wine, and gelato included. What could be better?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Italy

Italy

Quality of Experience

KimKim arranged an 8 day trip to Florence and Rome in September for me and my husband. We knew we were interested in science/engineering and food, and asked for a "mid-range, upscale" plan. KimKim quickly connected us with a local "travel designer" in Italy at a company called My Custom Journey. We were assigned to Valeria (and assisted by Lucrezia) who worked with us over the next few days to arrange a plan that gave us exactly what we wanted. The plan included an activity or two each day, with a free day in each city for us to manage on our own. The plan came in about 30% over the range I had selected, but it included everything we wanted, with excellent hotels (four star, centrally located, comfortable size and amenities) + private transfers and drivers for all the on ground travel in Italy. That means we were met at the airport by a guide, driven to our hotel, driven from our hotel to the train station and personally guided to the train, with the same level of service when it was time to head home. This made our trip completely stress free and luxurious feeling - well worth the extra cost. I'm sure they would have adjusted to fit into our range if we balked at the upgrades.

For one of our free days, we found an underground labyrinth tour that was a bit out of town, and Valeria was able to secure a car to take us to and from. She also contacted the labyrinth company directly when it didn't look like there would be an English tour on the day we were free. They were able to get us a private tour last minute! They were also very responsive about any questions we had about shopping areas, art galleries, appropriate attire, and scheduling.

On the ground in Italy we were supported by Daniela who we were able to contact easily on WhatsApp. She was quick to respond and great at addressing any issues that came up (e.g., there was a flood in Florence that affected a tour we had planned and she was able to adjust our day). The best tour Valeria and team arranged for us in Rome was an all day tour down Appian Way to see catacombs, mausoleums, and the ancient aqueduct. Our tour guide for that day was Maria Teresa and she was so knowledgeable! In Florence, we had the same guide for all our activities - Valentina - who was an art historian but was also able to speak knowledgably about the science museums we visited. She also arranged for us to skip the line at All'Antico Vinaio ;-)

The only thing we didn't love about KimKim is the fact that they use their own app to deliver the travel plans. It does a great job of collecting all the activities plus the tickets, addresses, and details we needed. So, on its own it's fine. The challenge is that we use TripIt for all our travel tracking and planning and there's no way to import the KimKim content in TripIt. Since TripIt is where we keep our flight info and restaurant reservations, it would be wonderful if we could have incorporated the KimKim stuff into the app we already use for all our other travel stuff.

Rachel went above and beyond. Was such a great trip.

We will never travel to Europe any other way, now that we have experienced such wonderful personalized service. My friend and I are, (dare I say?), senior travelers and are now ready to dial back our expectations of catching trains, hiking to subway stops and trying to figure out the mysteries of urban and country travel. We no longer feel comfortable driving, so having drivers and guides to show the way made all the difference. A trip that could have become burdensome became easy and relaxing, as Anita laying the ground work meant that we never had to worry about what's next. We both were impressed at how quickly our guides were prepared to pivot to accommodate my mobility challenges allowing us to truly enjoy our surroundings. Not a small thing in a country of hills and more hills, chunky cobblestone and uneven curbs,

Portugal was packed with adventure, beauty, wonderful food and wonderful people. Taking this personal approach also meant that we felt that we made personal connections with real Portuguese. Sharing personal stories about children, families and pride of culture is the reward of travel, not just checking off boxes of attractions. We savored every minute of this trip!

Thanks to all of out drivers and guides and to Sofia, our host for a lovely dinner in her home in Lisbon. All were exceptional: Lino, Nuno 1, Nelson, Tiago, Nuno 2, Paulo and even the cork farmer, whose name I do not know.

We will be back!

Hotel Reviews

BessaHotel Liberdade

Lisbon

Lovely boutique hotel in a great location. Staff was very attentive. There is a restaurant and room service. Rooms were delightful and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were quiet and bed was relaxing.

Location

On Liberty Ave . Near public transport and a tuktuk on every corner!

Staff

Came to my rescue!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained. Super clean.

The Editory Garden Porto Hotel

Porto

This hotel was adequate, but a little disappointing. It seems to be affiliated with a hospitality training school, so the staff (students?) seemed to be spread too thin. Everyone was multitasking , and no one was particularly focused at the task at hand. It felt as though there were no systems in place and no mechanism to problem solve. Not sure if I ever saw a manager. The staff were, however, unfailingly nice and hospitable. Greatly appreciated!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little outside central areas, but close to the subway.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MouraSuites Hotel

Largo da Porta de Moura, 7000-647 Évora, Portugal

Elegant boutique hotel with modern aesthetic. Small, intimate dining facility used for breakfast and dinner. All were exceptional, in fact, I wish I lived there! Small inner courtyard pool perfect for relaxing after a hot sunny day. Rooms were every comfortable, providing black out curtains, sophisticated shower, cushy bed. Evora was the perfect way to end out tour!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner With Locals: A Homemade Portuguese Experience

Lisbon

Portugal - Important Trip Information: Please Review Before Departure

Portugal

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Awesome introduction to Lisbon. Great food and great company!

Porto Up Close: A Private Walking Experience

Porto

Évora Through the Ages: Guided Walk

Portugal

Douro Valley Highlights: Wine, Olive Oil & River Cruise

Porto

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Cork Experience with Wine & Lunch

Évora

Anna did a phenomenal job coordinating our last-minute trip to Greece. She built us a custom itinerary based on our travel style and thoughtfully positioned our hotels in spots that optimized our trip.

Along the way we had some exceptional tour guides - notably Grigori in Heraklion on the private Minoan Tour of Knossos & Archaeological Museum tour, Christina in Athens on the small group Acropolis & Old Athens walking tour, and Vasiis in Santorini on the private Traditional Villages tour. Something to note with morning tours, in Greece hotel breakfasts are served later than in the USA so have an alternate plan for breakfast if you venture out before 8:30 AM. Our hotel in Crete did offer an early continental breakfast if coordinated the day before which was really helpful.

We had a great experience with kimkim and will definitely consider using them for future trips.

The trip was interesting. We enjoyed visiting Morocco and seeing the country. However, the extensive and lenghty driving between cities during the trip was not enjoyable. That was likely due to our own fault in not fully understanding the distances. For example, the 9 to 10 hour journey from Fes to Majourga and then into the desert was not good. Flight options would have been appreciated. Also, the car provided was not good enough. It was too old and uncomfortable. We also should have been aware of what constitutes a Riad. We enjoyed it as an experience but we would have preferred slightly better hotel options.

Nevertheless, the best part of the trip was our driver Samir. He made the trip worthwhile for us: he was humble, respectful and courteous. He was also very good driver and had a great attitude, a wonderful ambassador for your country. We highly recommend Samir and will mention him to our friends who wish to visit Morocco!

Hotel Reviews

Karawan Riad

Fès

Beautiful Riad, but poor location and food. Enthusiastic service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Too touristy

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Better food!!!!

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and pillows

Villa Des Orangers

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed and sheets could be improved

Activity Review

Fes to the Sahara via the Atlas (Camel Ride included)

Morocco

Quality of Experience

The driver Samir. Without him, would not have been worth the experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samir was the bomb!! He was the best and made our trip good.

Transport

Car was not up to standard. Old and uncomfortable and rattled

Jamal was THE best guide I’ve ever had in all my years of traveling. If I were his managers I’d promote him in a heartbeat. He was more than just a guide, he was a great friend to all of us on our trip. He went above and beyond, faced difficult situations, and made sure we were satisfied each day of our trip.

We had an amazing time in Thailand thanks to Lilian and Nana!
From the planning to the execution, all parts of this trip were fabulous. We wanted to travel once in our lives where we just showed up to the airport and someone had a sign with our names on it and just whisked us away and did all of the work for us. This was it! And... I'm never going back to organizing and planning trips myself. Planning a trip for a family of 4 with young adults/older teenagers can be tough. But, all I had to do was communicate our likes and pacing style and Lilian planned it all! It was the perfect amount of sight seeing, adventure, and relaxation. Her hotel picks were fabulous were perfectly located central to the hustle and bustle with easy access by foot or train to anything we would want to see. I especially enjoyed Buri Rasa Village in Koh Samui. It’s a perfect size with not too many guests and just the right amount of gorgeous nature. If I ever come back to Koh Samui I would love to stay here again. And the NYSA hotel in Bangkok was awesome too. Their breakfast buffet was fantastic and had so many food options. I’m also very glad that I upgraded to the two bedroom suite because it was a splurge my family had never done before and that extra space and second bathroom provided such a luxurious feel that it was worth the extra money just for the memories of such an extravagant space. I highly recommend that room type for families of 4 with older children/teenagers.
Upon arrival in Bangkok our guide Nana and her driver took amazing care of us. Nana is very upbeat, high energy, and full of knowledge. We enjoyed her narrations along the drive to each activity as well as her excellent advice on things we could do and places we could eat after our day with her ended. She was able to effectively rearrange our scheduled itinerary due to some closures because of the King's birthday and we truly appreciated that flexibility. She really seemed in tune with what our likes were and adapted to our quite subdued nature with just the right amount of push to get us out of our comfort zone. We especially enjoyed her advice for the markets and suggestions for foods to try.
Thank you for making this the most amazing and easy vacation we have ever had. I truly enjoyed just waking up and having the day planned out and all of the transportation arranged.
Now that I have seen how the other half lives, I think all of our future vacations will need to be splurges like this! It’s an awesome way to travel.

Activity Reviews

Island Organics Thai cooking Class Koh Samui (Joining Class)

Thailand

Phenomenal! Chef Lat is full of energy and so fun to cook with. Her assistants help to pace the cooking, and you always feel like you have someone helping you. The food we made was delicious, and the tour of the organic garden was awesome!

Quality of Experience

Awesome experience. Knowledgeable chef, patient staff, and very fun and informative.

Food

Delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Courteous and helpful.

Transport

on time and safe,

From The Oldest To The Coolest

Bangkok

Awesome locale with new and fun artwork and hipster-ish sites. Enjoyed the hidden chocolate shop and all the Instagram worthy pics.

Quality of Experience

I wasn't sure about this part of our itinerary, but I am really glad that Lilian suggested it. We had a great time seeing this part of the city and really enjoyed the sites and walking around neighborhoods.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nana really knows her way around and was able to show us some really interesting sites. Her lunch restaurant choice was phenomenal.

Transport

The driver was always there to pick us up and drop us off right on time.

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

This is an absolute MUST DO activity. The drive there allowed us to see more of Thailand than just Bangkok and Nana's commentary along the way filled the drive with so much knowledge and information about Thai history and culture. The railway market is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the canals take you through so many different styles of homes and shops along the water. We could have spent all day wandering through the markets... and I don't even like to shop or bargain! It is that great.

Quality of Experience

The sites, the smells, the people! There is so much to see and enjoy at the markets.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Premium Angthong Marine Park by VIP joining speedboat (Mon/Wed/Sat)

Ko Samui

This was a really fun day. The weather was perfect, the water was warm, and the captain and his crew were accommodating and safe. The walk up the stairs is memorable indeed! And so worth it for that view.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samui Elephant Sanctuary (Joining morning visit)

Ko Samui

This is a lovely elephant sanctuary where you mostly keep your distance and just observe. You are able to prepare food for the elephants, feed them and pet their trunk, but you mostly get to watch them in their natural state. There is no prodding or coaching of the elephants, and you do not bathe them or get in their way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Symbolic temples & Klong tour

Bangkok

It was a hot and steamy day but the temples were worth it! So extravagant and ornate. It is a feast for the eyes indeed!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip overall was great. Our guide on Hvar was a bit vague on the geography and history of the island.

On the other hand in Zagreb was amazing.

Ms. Broj Iskaznice provided the best full day tour we have ever had. She was extremely knowledgeable , well organized and flexible about accommodating our needs. You should use here for all of your guests.

Thank you Ivan,
Randall Grosberg

The trip was overall good but I was a bit surprised we didn't have a guide on board but it would have worked out fine if our driver was able to communicate clearly to us. Unfortunately Mustafa couldn't communicate well with us and it frustrated not only us but him.

The hotels were generally fine with slight hiccups here and there. Hotel Mimona at Essaouira however should never be recommended, thankful Said rectified for us much to our relief.

The Riad in Fes and Boumalne Dades was exceptionally good. The staff were very helpful and kind. The dinner at Dar Rihanna was absolutely delectable and the experience was delightful.

Thanks for making the trip memorable and enjoyable.

Cheers
Annie

Everything was excellent from start to finish. Planning and booking was extremely easy, accommodations were comfortable, tour guides were friendly and very knowledgeable. We had one small issue (remarkable there was just 1 on our 7 day trip!) and the kimkim dedicated WhatsApp chat team had it fixed for us in under half an hour. We made so many amazing family memories on this trip and it was such a relief to let someone else work out all the little logistical details for our family of 5.

Hotel Reviews

Mar Palace Copacabana Hotel

Rio de Janeiro

Easy check in, room was ready when we arrived at 11am (huge after an international redeye!), staff was friendly, location was good, breakfast was a nice touch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sanma Hotel Foz do Iguaçu

Foz do Iguaçu

Loved it! Food was great, room was comfortable, amenities were very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rio in a Day: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Selarón Steps and More'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Green Tour: Into the Tropical Urban Forest and Among the Imperial Palms'

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Argentinian Side of the Falls

Foz do Iguaçu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer and Driver at disposal to Sao Jose Dos Pinhais

Curitiba

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Tour – Brazilian Side of the Iguaçu Falls + Bird Park (Parque das Aves)'

Foz do Iguaçu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our hotels, guided tours and recommendations for restaurants and activities were all well thought out and enjoyable.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Villa Irma

Merano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loggiato dei Serviti

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relais Osteria Dell'Orcia Tuscany

Castiglione d'Orcia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antica Locanda Leonardo

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oltrarno Artisan workshops guided walk (private guide)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montepulciano and Pienza guided food day

Italy

Quality of Experience

Cheese farm visit and Pasta cooking class (lunch or dinner included) in Pienza area

Italy

Quality of Experience

Milan private guided walk including Last Supper (3h)

Milan

Our tickets had been cancelled with no explanation

Wine Tour and tasting at Kränzelhof

Merano

Quality of Experience

Accademia Gallery entrance ticket (with guide)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Winery visit with wine tasting and light lunch

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

First of all, we had an absolutely amazing time in Norway. Everything went so smoothly because of the way the trip was designed by Tom Christer.
My wife has a chronic, debilatating condition, and we had debated back and forth whether we should even go on this trip. I started researching everything on my own but realized that I was out of my league. Years ago, when we went to Germany, I used an American travel agent who, we found out much later, had no idea what she was doing. When we got into trouble over there, she never picked up the phone.
So, I decided to find a Norwegian travel consultant online. I read the reviews. Basically, people were saying that kimkim was highly regarded but that a person could do the trip more cheaply by booking everything themselves. That did not make any sense to me, because how can a person really know what to see and how to book the travel arrangements correctly, if they had never been to the country.
My wife and I agreed that, if we had tried to arrange everything on our own, our trip would have been a disaster. As it happened, our experience was just the opposite. Tom planned the trip so that our daily excursions would not be so strenuous for my wife, yet we were able to see so many things. The hotels and the views from the hotels that Tom selected were amazing as well as the breakfasts. I had a few questions along the way, and the team at kimkim always picked up the phone to steer me in the right direction. We had one small problem that Tom's colleague, Mathia, fixed for us immediately. What we really appreciated was that Tom, Mathia, and even Christina were always sending us emails to check up on us to make sure everything was going smoothly.
So, this excursion ended up being the trip of a lifetime for us! Norge er så vakker--Norway is so beautiful. Not only did we get to experience the amazing fjords and the small country towns, but we were able go to the wonderful city of Bergen and the very active, modern-day capital of Oslo. It was the perfect balance for someone like us who had never been to the country before. We would highly recommend kimkim and especially Tom Christer.

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Close to everything, amazing breakfast, beautiful hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Hotel was drop-dead gorgeous. Amazing breakfasts. Views were amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

This was a cottage right on the water. Awesome views!! The proprietor, she treated us like family and gave us a big hug when we left. Amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

The rooms in this hotel were tiny and stuffy. However, breakfasts were fabulous, and the view of downtown Oslo was without compare!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were at this hotel for three days and booked a day for our room to be cleaned and supplies re-stocked. The cleaning people never showed up.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

The views, the cliffs, the waterfalls. We felt like we were in a living postcard. My wife has some disabilities, and the staff were very helpful in getting on the boat safely.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Melanie added wonderful
Farm lunches, olive oil tasting and farm visits with our grand kids. All of her special
Meals and things for the kids were wonderful. She was easy to work with. Easy to contact and got back to us immediately with any questions we had.

Amazing Tour of Romania

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Capitol

Bucharest

Accommodations were clean, staff was friendly and accommodating, restaurant food was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Quaint

Location

Located close to restaurants and attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditioning didn't work well, room was small.

Villa Prato

Brasov

Quaint , staff was friendly and accommodating, excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi - Hotel & Spa

Sighisoara

Loved the authenticity, staff was friendly and accommodating. Excellent location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Beyfin

Cluj-Napoca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Republique

Sibiu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Airport

Otopeni

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bucharest city tour

Bucharest

Our guide Florin was outstanding. Went above and beyond on all excursions. Found unique restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Bucharest to Brasov with Peles Castle

Romania

Travel was exceptional. Our guide Florin and the lovely Mercedes we had made the trip comfortable. Florin took extra time to make sure our excursions were timed so that we weren't with crowds and could enjoy the activities.

Quality of Experience

Irene at KimKim and Florin are both 5 star performers and would definitely recommend to traveler's for future KimKim adventures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Florin was and exceptional driver and guide. He was very attentive and made sure we were well informed and taken care of. His local knowledge of the areas and attractions was outstanding. Irene at KimKim was at all times attentive to our needs, she was the best travel coordinator we've ever had.

Transport

Always on time , clean , and comfortable

Bran Castle and Brasov medieval city

Brasov

Florin made sure ou r entry was coordinated so that we had plenty of time to visit without large groups. We were practically by ourselves and could enjoy the attractions thoroughly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turda salt mine and Cluj

Romania

Unbelievable, spectacular attraction, highly recommend for future travelers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to the Corvinilor Castle

Sibiu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viscri and Sighisoara

Romania

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour in the Old Town of Bucharest

Bucharest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the National Museum of History and leisure time in Bucharest

Bucharest

Quality of Experience

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sibiu to Bucharest with Transfagarasan road

Romania

Quaint town, the churches were breathtaking. Florin coordinated everything perfectly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Romania

Bucharest

Our trip was prepared flawlessly by Irenne and the KimKim staff. Our airport pickup worked well even though our flight was delayed. Florin met us on our first day and we enjoyed our introduction to Romania.

Quality of Experience

This was our first time using a private service and we highly recommend the experience. Irene and the KimKim staff are exceptional. Our trip was well planned and we could enjoy ourselves without worrying about anything. Florin our driver/guide was exceptional. He made sure everything was taken care of and our experiences were coordinated so we could enjoy them at a leisurely pace. Florin also added additional personal attention to make our journey comfortable. His local knowledge and suggestions made for a specialized experience. We would definitely recommend KimKim and Florin to future travelers. A definite 5 star experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Goodbye Romania!

Bucharest Int. Airport (OTP)

Our last day with Florin and Romania was a wonderful way to finish our journey with KimKim. The museum tour is highly recommended to end your Romanian adventure. Followed up by a traditional lunch that we throughly enjoyed. Irenne was fabulous with coordinating throughout the trip.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

The planning phase was super - we were hoping to trust kimkim to interpret our requests and preferences into an itinerary that met our needs and would make our travel experience smooth and enjoyable. They delivered. Every day was thoughtfully planned with the right amount of activity and also room to improvise when we decided in the moment we wanted to do something different. We had support from private guides and scheduled activities so we didn't have to figure out many logistics, but also flexibility to explore or simply skip things based on our energy levels. The only challenge was overcoming the time difference and a bit of a language barrier negotiating some of the details.

The guides were all excellent in different ways, and I would recommend them all. They were funny, enthusiastic, and friendly and truly enhanced our experience in all of the places we visited. The Hello K cooking class and the Jinyeon traditional music performance were especially notable, but we found so much to enjoy every day. I also recommend the National Museum of Korea, the United Nations Peace Memorial, and the charming Hotel 28 Myeongdong where we stayed during our first leg in Seoul.

This is the first international family trip that we have done, and it was a stellar experience. We had a beautiful and memorable visit to Korea that we will remember for years to come.

Hotel Reviews

Maison Glad Jeju

Jeju

Felt luxe, and everything was quite nice, but lacked personality. Good location and an excellent breakfast.

Hotel 28 Myeongdong

Seoul

We LOVED this charming little hotel. It was a perfect place to spend our first nights halfway across the world.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could walk to many restaurants, shops, and sites

Staff

Very kind, polite, and attentive, They spoke English extremely well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great amenities and exceptionally well maintained

Shilla Stay Busan Haeundae

For a huge hotel they did a good job. Beach town vibes. Not fancy, and some of the choices in the rooms were odd, but pleasant enough, and well situated.

Activity Reviews

Explore Seoul Highlights

Seoul

Sebastian was amazing!

Go on a Hiking Tour of Bukhansan and Ancient Seunggasa Temple

Seoul

This is a challenging hike! We enjoyed it but it was VERY hot and we probably shouldn't have done it during the heat wave.

Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience

Seoul

Perfectly lovely in every way

Jinyeon: Korean Traditional Music Performance with Modern vibes

Seoul

Unexpectedly moving. Loved learning about Korea from a musical lens.

Discover the Culture of Busan with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Busan

Jino was a delight. Such a kind and sweet young man. We loved seeing Busan with his perspective.

Family-Friendly Mt. Hallasan, Tea Plantation, and Arte Museum Tour

Jeju Island

Jimmie was fun and interesting - loved hearing about his mother's diving, and appreciated all of his recommendations. The Arte Museum was an unexpectedly awesome experience.

Just got back from an incredible trip to Morocco with my friends. Loved seeing all the beautiful colored textiles, ornate doors, and pottery in the souks. And of course loved eating amazing tagine and my favorite Bastilla. We enjoyed hiking in the Atlas mountains and riding donkeys, camels and horses all around Morocco. Our local specialist Siad was great and allowed us to make last minute changes and assist us in getting restaurant reservations. Thanks Siad for being so flexible. And we can't thank of driver enough- Soufiane. He was knowledgeable, accommodating, and just a great person. And he put up with 3 women whose luggage kept getting bigger and bigger! Many thanks for everyone for making this an incredible trip we will never forget.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Le Medina Essaouira Thalassa Sea & Spa MGallery

Essaouira

Beautiful hotel, great location and great breakfast. Only complaint was I wish the rooms with ocean views were open. (they were under construction)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE ORION DOME AGAFAY MARRAKACH

Marrakech

Beautiful glamping in the desert- and best of all the domes have air conditioning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Andalla Spa

Marrakech

Beautiful riad that was walking distance to all the souks. Staff was amazing-friendly, incredibly helpful and kind.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So kind, helpful and went out of their way to help you with anything you needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were a little too hard.

Activity Reviews

Essaouira on Foot: Medina, Harbour and Ramparts

Essaouira

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about Essaouira and the history of Morocco. Loved learning all about the history of the country. (I believe his name was Hassan)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Evening Food Walk in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Fun food tour. Biggest complaint is that we didn't realize that we were going to multiple places. We started at a roof top restaurant and had tagine and cous cous and all filled up thinking that was dinner. To our surprise we then went to multiple food vendors and we were stuffed so did not get to try the snails and missed out on other dishes. Wish they had warned us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day in the Imlil Valley

Marrakesh

Enjoyed hiking, LOVED the ride down on the donkeys, and enjoyed a nice Berber meal. My only comment is that I thought we were eating with the Berber family and would get to talk to them. We ate alone and only briefly saw the woman and child of the house. I think it would have been cooler to get to know the Berber family, learn about their day, life in the village, etc.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Jardin Majorelle

Morocco

Pretty place to take pictures

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding on the Beach of Essaouira

Essaouira

The stable was a bit rough looking and would not be easy to get to if you have mobility issues. We passed several nicer looking riding stables that would be a better fit for Kimkim's upscale service.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Tranquil Hammam & Spa Experience

Morocco

This place was amazing. Had one of the best massages ever.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport