Kimkim Trip Reviews

Good morning......... Planning with Lucie was easy. She was helpful from start to finish. Our hotel was satisfactory. The staff was excellent. The 2 tours we took with Sonali Harshe were outstanding. She was a wealth of knowledge and her presentation was great. Our food tour was fair. I think the choices of food should have been better. Our guide in Montmartre was great. Our guide was knowledgeable. The entire trip was great. I would use KimKim again.
Karen Glosa

Hotel Review

Hotel La Perle

Paris

The hotel accommodations were good. The staff was outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Starry Dinner on the Seine River

Paris

It was a beautiful trip on the river.

Cooking class with a Chef

Paris

This was my favorite activity. The chef took us to the market where we purchased our fresh food to use while cooking. She was delightful and knowledgeable. Her home was the perfect space to prepare and eat. I would highly recommend this to anyone who would enjoy cooking in Paris.

Guided visit of Montmartre

Paris

Our guide was very knowledgeable.

Guided visit of the Louvre museum

Paris

Sonali Harshe was an excellent guide.

Gourmet food tour in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Paris

Would have liked different food choices

Guided tour of covered passages of Paris

Paris

Our tour guide Sonali Harshe was outstanding. I would recommend her for any tour.

Transport

Yassine did a great job of planning our trip based on the information we gave him… We really got to see some wonderful sites…

Hotel Reviews

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Asfalou

Overall good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Madu Luxury Camp

Merzouga

A mixture of roughing it, and having all the luxuries you need… Very friendly team that took care of us thoughtfully

Authenticity & Character

Like something out of a movie… Camping under the stars in the Sahara desert… Beautiful

Location

Hidden away in the desert… We felt like we were all alone over the stars… So beautiful

Staff

Super friendly and very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Boutique Hotel

Boumalne Dades

An amazing place… Every surface and every material was amazing… Beautiful location… Super friendly staff…

Authenticity & Character

The most beautiful place we stayed in all of Morocco… Elegant, and every service available

Location

Beautiful view of the “monkey fingers“ rock formations

Staff

Super friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotlessly clean

Riad Kniza

Marrakech

Beautiful, tranquil, Elegantly, decorated, and great service, as well… Breakfast and dinner were excellent and served in a beautiful way…

Authenticity & Character

It was like stepping back in time to a beautiful private Moroccan Palace

Location

Right in the old town

Staff

Thoughtful and always available to fulfill our needs regarding the room and planning

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Overnight in the Sahara Desert with Sunset Camel Ride

Morocco

Trip of a lifetime to ride camels in the Sahara desert

Quality of Experience

Yousef, our guide, really took care of us

Food

Very traditional local food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Said, our driver, always got us everywhere safe safely and was very informative

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

An enjoyable day of seeing the highlights of Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide who knows all the Backstreets of Marrakesh

Transport

Our driver, Said, was the best

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Even though we did the tour doing an incredible heavy downpour of rain, the food was great and it was an exciting experience… We wandered through the old town and had some delicious food

Quality of Experience

Our guide really picked out great places to experience the local food of Morocco

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Informative with a great sense of humor

Transport

Said, our driver, was very personable, and always attentive to taking good care of us and getting to where we needed to go…

Overall, we had a good trip in Greece. The weather didn't cooperate while we were in Crete so we didn't quite have the Greek island trip I had imagined, but most of the activities were really fun and the accommodations were really nice.

We had a few hiccups that I wish the team had been more proactive in dealing with. The hotel in Chania had a confusing parking situation with a reservation in a private lot, that was not in any of the KimKim trip plan docs. We went to the lots recommended in the Trip Plans and they did not have overnight parking. For these kinds of issues, I wish the travel agent could've handled time sensitive issues. The hotel was ok with dealing with this but it was frustrating.

We also had one tour that was terrible. It was sold as a small group tour of the villages. It was 18 people on a bus for 6 hours - not what I expected from KimKim. The stops of the tour were ok - only one (a church built into a cave) seemed special. The others were odd and not really useful for getting to know the locals or the island. The lunch was terrible for me, having a gluten allergy. It was super busy and they could only serve me green beans and salad. On a private tour, I would've been able to talk more directly about what I wanted - this was a huge party for lunch in a busy restaurant, and I couldn't have a conversation with the staff. My kids favorite part of this tour was that they could zone out on the bus. Not great.

The other activities were great though - the visit to a family farm was a highlight. The family and staff were lovely, and THIS was how we got a sense of what local life was like on Crete. We also had a great time in the mosaic workshop. The women there were so kind and open in sharing about their experiences living on Crete, and we got amazing souvenirs out of it. My husband and I really enjoyed the tour of the Knossos Palace - our kids didn't, but not the guide's fault. She was great.

Activity Reviews

Apokoronas Villages tour

Chania

"Small group" is 18 people. No personalized experience or content. The lunch was terrible for anyone with food allergies who needs to be able to talk to staff and personalize the experience. My kids favorite part was zoning out in the van.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens highlights mythology tour

Athens

This was a great tour of the Acropolis and Agora. The guide did a really good job pacing the walk and content. I'm so glad we did this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mosaic workshop

Chania

This was so special - we came away with great souvenirs and we all loved learning about mosaics and making them. The women who run this workshop were awesome and so welcoming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Crete tour

Heraklion

This visit to the family farm was so special. My kids loved the animals, the food was great, we got to make cheese, and my daughter named a goat. This was one of the most memorable parts of our trip to Greece.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Knossos Palace guided tour

Greece

Our guide was great - we learned a lot! I'm so glad we visited this historic site.

I only interacted with Shahd over WhatsApp, and overall it was a little tough to figure out who to talk to to get help during the trip, between Shahd, the local rep Samara, the guides, and the drivers. I would recommend there be one WhatsApp conversation for coordination with guests for the future.

Of the people we interacted with Samara was the friendliest and the best fit for interacting with our family. We had 3 days of activities on this trip. We did get to see the highlights of Egypt that we wanted to see, but it was overall the least pleasant trip we've had on a year filled with family travel. The guides we had for seeing the pyramids, the GEM, and the Valley of the Kings were a really bad fit for our family. They did ask for feedback, and were able to adjust a bit, but it was rough. It felt like the guides were prioritizing going through their pre-scripted content instead of listening to our questions, and adjusting. For the museum, we spent an hour listening to the guide before going into any of the exhibits and then only had 10 minutes to look at King Tut's tomb treasures. This was all during the coolest part of the day too, so then we were rushing to get to the Sphinx before it closed. Our family felt like we were being scolded by the guide any time we wanted to stop and look at something or ask questions.

In Luxor, it was worse. It was super hot and the kids were tired. They did not love being scolded for not listening to the guide. And neither did we! At one point, we were directed to read a display on the wall, and then the guide talked nonstop so we couldn't actually read it.

We also felt like the guides were especially dismissive of our daughters in a way that felt patriarchal. We had to have lots of family discussions about sexism and culture. Some expectation setting up front is necessary if that's what we would experience across the board.

There was nothing about this trip that was tailored to independent travelers, as KimKim advertises. We could barely have a conversation or exploration as a family on this trip.

Kimkim knocked it out of the park for our trip to the Netherlands! From Robert, our driver on three occasions, to Lisa, who planned all the details of our trip, every aspect of our adventure went off without a hitch. While many of the sights of Amsterdam, Ghent, Bruges and Haarlem were impressive, what I think I’ll remember most are the small details and interactions : helpful train conductors; welcoming waiters; kind canal-boat drivers. The kimkim app was amazing, with details spelled out for every activity. I was especially impressed with how kimkim was so thorough when it came to train tickets and schedules. All in all our 10 days of sightseeing were just plain fabulous!

KimKim made planning our trip so easy! The local tour company, Beat the Dutch, and the agent, Lisa, planned a perfect vacation! I will definitely use them again. We went to see the tulips and words do not describe the beauty! The canal tours, walking tours & museums are top notch. The people are so friendly too! Only downfall, I did not eat enough chocolate, waffles or fries!

Adrian was wonderful to work with planning our trip. I have booked 6 trips with KimKim and their partners in the last two years. Adrian was the most responsive we have had. He always got back to me quickly and answered my questions fully. He has a wonderful personality and I would highly recommend him.
My only compaint was not with Adrian but with his companies policies. This was the shortest and most expensive trip we have ever taken, even though we have been to Norway and Australia also within the last 2 years booking through KimKim. Not only were these trips longer, but we had lots of private guides with additional drivers for the tours. I feel the price for this trip could have been much lower than the price we received. While on our trip one of our drivers drove 3 to 4 hours to pick us up and then 3 to 4 hours back home after dropping us at the end of the day. He did this 3 days. I talked with many of the hotel staff and tour operators in the area and were told there were plenty of people in our location we were staying that could have been booked for us and saved us some money instead of having someone drive such long distances for our tours. I ended up spending $10,000 more than I had originally planned. I asked many times if there were any suggestions on ways we could cut down the cost and was always told only if I cut down the amount of days of our trip. That was not the case when I booked with other companies for trips to Norway and Australia. They were happy to suggest things that did not take away from what we were seeing but would help us cut cost, such as taking a public ferry to see the same things we would see on a private boat. When I tried to come up with ways to bring the price down myself by changing to a train trip instead of private driver, the price didn't go down. When I suggested hotels that were listed for lower prices on booking.com than the hotels listed, the price didn't go down.
I was also told they could not book us window seats on our plane trip to Edinburgh but we had to have aisle seats, which I can only assume was because they would have had to pay extra for a window seat and I had already paid for the trip by then and they wanted to keep every penny. Because there were window seats available beside us and the air hostess suggested we take them so my husband and I could sit together.
When we arrived at the airport in Edinburgh the driver wasn't there and I called them and was told they were given the information to not pick us up until 9 am. We arrived, received our luggage and were ready to leave at 8:10. My information did say 9 but also said the driver would watch the arrivals and the time could change. Other than that time the drivers were always there at least 10 minutes early to pick us up.
I was also told they couldn't reserve seats for us on the train journey because we had asked for passenger assist because my husband has problems walking. So I told them to take off the passenger assist and reserve the seats and we would make it on our on. But I decided to check at the train station and we were listed for the passenger assist even though we had reserved seats. So not sure why we were given the incorrect information.
Over all the trip went smoothly and other than the price I was happy with the trip. I guess I should have shopped around for a better price, but we had been happy with the companies KimKim had partnered was with in the past and Adrian was wonderful to work with, so we just paid the premium price and went on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Isles Of Glencoe Hotel

Ballachulish

Our room had an amazing view of the water with glass doors to walk outside. The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful. Not very close to walk into town. Dinner at their restaurant was very expensive and not very good. For Breakfast we were not allowed to go in even a minute early even though we had an early pick up. And when we did go in even the coffee was not set up yet.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful views of the water from the hotel.

Location

Not very close for us to walk into town.

Staff

Staff were helpful and friendly except would not let us go in even a minute early for breakfast when we had an early pick up.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Hotel Portree

Portree

All rooms are upstairs with no elevator so it would have been impossible for my 82 year old husband and I to get our luggage to our room if our driver had not offered to take them up for us. The view from our room of the harbour was very nice. Breakfast was fine but not a big selection but we could order from a hot food selection and they let us just order the items we liked such as only hashbrowns for my husband.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Small town so easy to walk to the city square and harbor.

Staff

When we arrived and found out all rooms were upstairs with no elevator, no one offered to help my 82 year old husband take the lugguage up, so our driver so nice enough to take it up for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Highland Hotel

Inverness

An older hotel but grand. Very convenient to the train station which was helpful for us. Room was nice and comfortable. A hot breakfast was included as part of the breakfast package that we could order but when I asked if they could make sure my scammbled eggs were cooked well and not runny, I was told they just cook them one way. So I didn't have the hot breakfast just the continental breakfast that was set out.

Authenticity & Character

Grand looking inside.

Location

Close enough to walk to the Victoria Market and Inverness Castle. And right next door to the train station.

Staff

. A hot breakfast was included as part of the breakfast package that we could order but when I asked if they could make sure my scammbled eggs were cooked well and not runny, I was told they just cook them one way. So I didn't have the hot breakfast just the continental breakfast that was set out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leonardo City Edinburgh

Edinburgh

They wouldn't let us check in a couple of hours early when we arrived. We asked if we could leave our smaller suitcase for 5 days until we came back to the hotel to stay again before catching a flight home. We were told no by the staff when we checked in. My husband who has memory problems asked again to a different person at the desk that evening when we got back from sight seeing and was told we could. So that meant they could have done it when we asked the first time. The first time we stayed they gave us a room very close to the reception desk which was helpful for my husband who has problems walking. The second time we stayed we were given an upstairs room which was a very, very long way to walk for my husband and had two stairs to get our suitcases up to get to our room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle.

Staff

Amy was very helpful but the other staff could take lessons.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leonardo Hotel Belfast

Belfast

I was told it was a 4 star hotel but it was barely a 3 star. Large red stain on carpet and sheets stained. Bathroom very, very small. Room was cold and the packed breakfast they gave us was not worth it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to City Hall, St. George's Market, and Cathedral Quarter. Titanic Museum a little bit of a walk but managable.

Staff

They did bring us a heater when we told them our room was cold.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom very, very small. Stains on carpet and sheets.

The Victoria Hotel

Galway

Reception was nice enough but room was very small with one very small window that was frosted so you couldn't see out. Water pressure in shower was bad and breakfast wasn't great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance to Latin Quarter and Quay Street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very small room with one very small frosted window. Water pressure in shower bad.

Dromhall Hotel

Killarney

Hotel reception very friendly and helpful. They let us go in breakfast early instead of having to have a packed breakfast since we had an early pick up.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleaned our room even though we didn't ask or leave hang tag on door.

The Morgan Hotel

Dublin

We were told when we booked the trip that we would be able to get a room when we arrived. We had an early flight and got there at 7 am and they said at the reception desk that I should not have been told that. But they did let us check in at 10 am instead of 3 pm. They also changed our breakfast we had paid for the next morning to the morning we arrived so we could rest and plan our day without having a room at our disposal. The staff was friendly enough. Our room key didn't work and I made several trips back to the desk before finding out that they needed to work on the door. The room was fine and the location was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within walking distance of Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College for the Book of Kell.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Best of Skye Tour from Portree

Portree

Stevie our driver was very nice. We had beautiful views all day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stevie our driver was very nice.

Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle & Falls of Foyers Day Tour

Inverness

Beautiful Trip. Our driver Alex was very nice and made lots of extra photo stops along the way.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenery.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Alex was very nice and made lots of extra photo stops along the way.

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Nice Castle. Had a mobility vehicle that took my 82 year old husband up to the Crown Square which was very helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drivers of the mobilty vehicles to crown square were very helpful and nice.

Private transfers in town to the airport

Ireland

Conor was friendly and helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Conor was friendly and helpful.

Private transfer between Hotel and Airport

Scotland

Alan our driver was early, friendly and very helpful. He even helped us with luggage into the airport.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alan our driver was early, friendly and very helpful. He even helped us with luggage into the airport.

Giants Causeway Day tour (small group)

Belfast

Stephen our driver was very friendly, helpful and informative. The views were great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stephen our driver was very friendly, helpful and informative.

Titanic experience

Belfast

Alright. Not really anything special.

Quality of Experience

Museum was fine.

Belfast Political Taxi Tour

Belfast

Our driver Jules was nice and informative. After the tour he even asked if he could drop us somewhere besides back at the hotel which was helpful and saved us a few steps.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jules was nice and informative.

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Really enjoyed seeing the Cliffs of Moher.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful views.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pat our driver was great. He even walked us from the parking lot to the place where we needed to catch the cart up to the top so my 82 year old husband wouldn't have to walk.

Scenic Private Transfer from Killarney to Galway via Adare, Bunratty & The Burren

Killarney

Our driver Pat was very friendly and helpful. He made an extra stop for us at our request at Ross Castle for us to take a picture before we left town. He also made an extra photo stop we hadn't requested at Limerick to show us the castle. The places we stopped at Adare, Bunratty and The Burren could probably have been skipped.

Quality of Experience

Places we stopped could probably have been skipped. Nothing great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pat was very helpful and friendly and went out of his way to help.

Ring of Kerry Group Day Tour

Killarney

Nice views on Ring of Kerry tour and our driver Kevin was very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kevin our driver was very friendly and helpful.

Rock of Cashel

Ireland

This was just a photo stop so didn't spend any time here. But the picture of the castle from a distance was really nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Agnes was great. Very friendly and helpful.

Welcome to the Wicklow Mountains

Ireland

It would have been probably nice, but it was raining and foggy and we couldn't see anything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Agnes was early and was very helpful. She even suggested that she pay for parking closer to the lake in Glendalough so my 82 year old husband didn't have to walk very far.

Trinity College Library : The Book of Kells Experience

Dublin

Very good expecially the Long Room. I would recommend.

Quality of Experience

We thoroughly enjoyed our New Zealand trip. The country and her people are wonderful. The Spire Hotel in Queenstown was spectacular. Room size was generous, amenities top notch and the staff 5 star. The hotel was centrally located to all activites and walking. One of our drivers, Jennifer, was acceptional. She was a good drive and planned stops for picture taking.
Our stay in Napier was wonderful. The Mangapapa hotel was beautifully appointed with large outdoor areas and plantation like feeling.
Our stay in Auckland was topped off by our dinner at Ahi. It was the most exquisite menu and dining we experienced.
Thank you Monika for so many unique adventures while we were in New Zealand
Diane

Hotel Review

Spire Hotel

Queenstown

Beautifully appointed. The most helpful and courteous staff. Wonderfully located to all activities. Thank you Spirel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the pier, shopping and sightseeing

Staff

Staff is amazing. Always thinking ahead of us and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spectacularly appointed. Generous size rooms. Beds so comfy.

Activity Reviews

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

Extraordinary. Fabulous meal

Mt Cook day tour from Queenstown (Small group - return)

Queenstown

Beautiful scenery all the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jennifer was superb.

Transport

The van had a bit of a bouncy ride.

Outstanding travel planning around the Netherlands and Belgium. Services included selection of hotels, tour guides, drivers/train tickets, and destination activities! Very flexible with helpful insights into timing of local events and location selection.

Mieke was a huge help both in planning and during the trip - helping to communicate with personnel re: any potential changes in plans. We had some firm ideas for our family vacation that were unique but very much appreciated and valued Mieke’s additional travel advice and recommendations. Our preference for smaller boutique B&Bs was accommodated with excellent suggestions that were convenient to sites.

Highly recommend KimKim and Mieke’s “Beat the Dutch Travel” support for Dutch experiences.

The trip was a great experience, the cities and places were amazing. Burcu made a great job with recommendations, building my trip and the support during the trip. We faced a couple of unexpected situations and she helped me to fix them. I took several tours and they were great experiences and tour guides were really knowledgeable.

Hotel Reviews

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa - Boutique Class

Kusadasi

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa had an amazing view of the beach, and the sunsets and sunrises were particularly beautiful. The hotel was clean, and the rooms were spacious and met my standards. I appreciated the to-go breakfast they prepared for my early check-out.

Erboy Hotel Istanbul Sirkeci

İstanbul

Erboy Hotel Istanbul Sirkeci provided a wonderful stay. The breakfast served was really good, and they started serving early enough that I could enjoy it before my tours started. The location was convenient for exploring the city, too.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Ephesus Tour

Turkey

The Full Day Ephesus Tour was not quite what I expected, especially the Artemis Temple which was just a pillar. The site was crowded due to a national holiday with lots of domestic tourists. However, the guide was good, and overall it was an educational experience despite the crowds.

Bosphorus Cruise - Turkish Night with Dinner & Belly Dance Shows

İstanbul

The Bosphorus Cruise with Turkish Night and Dinner was a great experience. The dancers were really entertaining, and I was surprised by how many there were. However, the dinner service could use some improvement. There was only one waiter for our section, and he was quite overwhelmed, leading to a mix-up with my order. Despite that, the overall experience was enjoyable.

We had an amazing visit to Chile -- from four days in the Atacama desert to a week in Santiago (with some wonderful side trips) to a wedding outside the city. Our time in Atacama was active with an Astronomical Tour, a visit to the Valley of the Moon, and the lagoons to see flamingos, vicunas, llamas, and sheep. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and warm. The experiences felt very individual and special -- the food and drinks were delicious and added to the really great experience. Each of our guides was wonderful, with special recognition to Vicente -- his passion and enthusiasm for his work and our surroundings made our experiences unforgettable. Ivonne (spelling?) or Ivi, who gave us the astronomical tour was super enthusiastic and made sure that everyone had the best experience. Thanks so much for the photos! The hotel was great -- very comfortable and close to Caracoles street (the Emporium has the best empanadas!!).

Our stay in Santiago was truly special. The Bidasoa Hotel is a little distant from downtown, but the meals were delicious and we could walk to the Ralli Museum. Our tour of Santiago gave us so much history and a chance to walk around. Just fantastic! Our excursions to the Cajon de Maipo and horseback riding in the Andes were very special. Thanks so much to Julio, Fernando, and Alberto. They were great! We are so happy that we worked with KimKim -- your responsiveness, creativity, and flexibility (switching activities because of the weather to make a better experience), made us feel cared for and important. We really appreciate the top level of care and attention you give to create the BEST experiences! I can't imagine anything better!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

Bidasoa is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful stay. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Authenticity & Character

Really wonderful environment and glad that it's eco-friendly.

Location

I loved the location, and ubers were plentiful, but it's a bit away from the action of the city. But I liked that!

Staff

The staff were wonderful -- the front desk (Helida) recommended a great cafe nearby; others helped me find and schedule time at the nail salon. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was spotless and the room was very comfortable. We felt super special!

Hotel NOI Casa Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Horseback Riding in the Andes Mountains

Santiago

I was so happy we did this to get into the mountains, but it's not for everyone. It was beautiful and although I was getting carsick, experiencing the curves was something I won't forget! The horses were great and steady, but it was a little nerve-wracking to move through the mountains with no paths that we could see. Our guide was perfectly confident, so I just didn't look down and followed him. The views were incredible!

Quality of Experience

The beauty and quiet of the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alberto was wonderful.

Transport

Alberto was great driving, but the curves....

Santiago City Tour

Chile

We enjoyed this activity despite the day being overcast. It was also a Monday, so many cultural places were closed. However, we appreciated going through the city and getting a sense of the neighborhoods.

Quality of Experience

only because of the weather and the Monday

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio was wonderful and passionate about Chilean history and was flexible about taking us around

Transport

Full Day Excursion to Cajon de Maipo

Santiago

This was a great chance to see where residents of Santiago go for a break! Many of my friends talked about going as a family or when they were children. We had a wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Felipe was a wonderful guide and great to talk with!

Transport

High Plateau Lagoons, Tradicional Agriculture and Socaire Weavers

Chile

Absolutely lovely! The first time that altitude was an issue, but it was well-worth the visit! Happy to learn about the traditional weaving and contribute to the beautiful work of the community.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was wonderful throughout our activities and the guides took great care to make our tables very special and beautiful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Atacama Salt Flat, Chaxa Lagoon and Tocanao Gardens

Chile

Quality of Experience

I loved the walk-through of the orchards and the explanation of the irrigation system.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salara, Tebenquiche Lagoon

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley of the Moon, Ayllus and Atacameña Tasting

Chile

This was an absolutely wonderful day. Vicente, our guide picked us up very early -- totally worth it! We saw the sunrise with a delicious breakfast and a big "welcome" to the sun. We heard the roosters, dogs and the town wake up below us before we went to the Valley of the Moon to experience the most beautiful, dramatic landscape. Vicente was really wonderful -- explaining everything -- and we knew we were with someone who loved his job and ensuring that visitors understand how special the Atacama Desert is! We went for the tasting and were able to walk around the garden and eat pomegranate from the tree. We felt the hospitality and completely comfortable!

Quality of Experience

Food

We loved the explanation and the tasting -- different and delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vicente is special!!

Transport

"Fire and Stars" Astronomical Tour

Chile

This was a highlight and a key reason for our trip. Ivi was super enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I would give this the highest recommendation. The snacks and drink were wonderful. And the photos we received were very special. Whoever thought of that, chef's kiss!! The information brought us into the Inca and Indigenous thinking, which was great our entire time in Atacama.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alvaro was very helpful in planning our trip and connecting us with in-country people who managed our itinerary and made sure we got to each stop. Transportation was seamless and someone was always waiting for us with our name on a sign so we could quickly negotiate airports and hotel stops. We also had knowledgeable and English-speaking guides at key points of interest. Our favorites were the tours of El Cajas National Park near Quito, Ecuador and Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain in Peru. Highly recommend

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Rainbow Mountain - Vinicunca

Peru

Exhilarating trip to Rainbow Mountain. Highly recommend taking the optional motorcycle trip up the mountain

Quality of Experience

Food

The stop for breakfast and lunch was great. Well equipped for travelers and great food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking El Cajas National Park (self drive)

Ecuador

Amazing trip and our guide was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jane and her team had everything laid out extremely well. I was anxious about travelling "on our own", but the way the trip was planned and presented set my fears aside. There was nothing more they could have done for us as they listened to what we wanted and ensure we got what we asked for.

That being said, I know I need to be more flexible when I travel to account for things like 1) phone not working (it was necessary to have a cell phone), 2) transit worker strikes, 3) illness changing plans. Even then, I felt confident in knowing that if I reached out for help, Jane and her team were there to provide what I needed.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Harvey 3*

Paris

This is a clean and comfortable hotel, but the room was the smallest I've ever been in. It had everything we needed; it was just small. The bed was comfortable, as was the room. The view was OK. The location was great in that it was close to the city Metro and suburb trains, a few blocks from many great restaurants and bakeries and shops and fairly close to the Arc. The breakfast was the same every day, so that got to be a bit stale at the end of our stay. The staff are so friendly and will help with anything you ask. The elevator is a bit small, but the way it empties to the dark, circular staircase was a bit treacherous for my eyes. A better understanding of the train system would have helped us save some money and some lost time as we went in the wrong direction a couple of times. During our final walk-through conversation, it was a good thing we took notes as those notes were very helpful in finding meeting points of tours. Also, if you want to go to the top of the Arc, understand that the only safe way to get there is via a tunnel from the Champs-eLysees side.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ibis Styles London Gloucester Road

London

This is a quaint hotel in a great part of London that is near the Metro and yet has a neighborhood feel. Close to many diverse restaurants. I felt safe and the rooms are clean. The only drawback is that there is the same (but well apportioned) breakfast served every day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Normandy Beaches and taste some cider from Paris

Paris

The meeting location was a bit obscure, but we did scope it out the day before so we knew where we had to go and how long it took to get there. It was a bit confusing at registration because there was more than 1 tour meeting there. But we did get on the correct bus. The tour itself was great. It was a long day, but interesting and there was enough time at each stop to take it all in. The lunch at the little restaurant was really good!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arc de Triomphe timed entry tickets

Paris

There were no directions on the tour ticket on how to get to the Arc. We walked to the circle around the Arc. We walked around the circle. We did not see any way to cross the street to get to the Arc itself. We ended up crossing the street in front of traffic because we saw others doing it. Even on the way out we did the same thing, as others were doing; but knowing it couldn't be right as it was dangerous! (Later on we found there is a tunnel on the Champs Elysees side that goes to the entrance.) The Arc itself was easy to get into, the ticket agents were helpful and the views were spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Montmartre Small-Group Tour

Paris

Eden was a great guide. She had extensive knowledge of the area, gave us what we wanted and not any more than what we asked for (not information overload). She spoke great English; very understandable. She accommodated us to our needs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to get ourselves to the meeting point and it is a walking tour, so no real transport.

Private transfer in Paris

Paris

The driver was prompt, courteous, patient and helpful. The car was very nice too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer to your destination

England

This was to the train station. The driver was prompt and helpful, however, his English was not the best and when we were dropped off we had no idea where to go at the station. He pointed to the right direction which was helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traffic was bad but there was enough time anyway.

Group Tour to Windsor, Bath and Stonehenge

London

Generally, the trip felt rushed. The guide was great in setting expectations and was friendly and funny, but the first stop was the castle. We had enough time to get to the castle, see it (not the doll house), saw the start of the changing of the guard, saw the chapel during it, went to the gate for the end of the change, so that we could leave as soon as the changing was over. When we were allowed out, we RAN to the bathroom, got a bite to eat on the bus and were still late to the bus (by 5 minutes). Then we went to Stonehenge. Again, we took the shuttle out to the stones, walked around the circle, had no time to ponder or take it all in, got back on the shuttle and on to the bus. At Bath we only had time to see the bath house. Even then we felt rushed through because we had to get back on the bus. There was no time to take in the town, get anything to eat or drink. While the sights were great, I think I would have enjoyed just two of them for longer periods of time, or extend the tour time by 1 hour to enjoy the sights more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus was comfortable and had usb ports.

Tickets to Westminster Abbey

London

The Abbey was cool but I felt very rushed. Didn't even know we should get headphones until we were in for a bit. Then we got them and didn't know how to use them. After the main part of the church there are other parts that if I weren't curious we would have missed totally. They could use more people guiding tourists.

Quality of Experience

Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, River Cruise, St. Paul's Cathedral & Optional London Eye

London

This tour was long, but totally doable. There were enough breaks and time to chill. The sights were very interesting and the guide was understandable.

Quality of Experience

Covers many highlights of London

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super happy with the organisation, planning and support during the trip.

Tetiana was wonderful!! And the trip was even better! Tetiana was phenomenal in custom planning our trip and was SO responsive in getting back to us quickly and arranging every detail. Every hotel, guide and driver was awesome and every experience perfect for the trip of a lifetime!!! I adamantly recommend Tetiana and KimKim!!!

Hotel Reviews

Tullie Inn

Balloch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

House Of Juniper

Broadford

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PALM COURT HOTEL

ABERDEEN

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bruntsfield

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skye’s Castles & Clifftops: A Day of Highland Majesty

Scotland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aberdeenshire Castle & Historic Building Private Tour

Aberdeen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guilia was very helpful in planning the trip to meet our needs. She was always responsive despite the time difference, She worked with our budget and gave us great restaurant tips, and made it easy for us to enjoy our vacation. She also advised us well on the balance between seeing sites and having time to explore the cities. She picked great hotels in excellent locations for us and picked amazing tour guides. We highly recommend Giulia if anyone is planning a trip to Italy.

This was our first trip to Costa Rica and KimKim created an amazing package that gave us a true, great taste of the country. My family and I (group of 6) visited Arenal, Monteverde and Manual Antonio. Each of these places gave a unique vibe and we enjoyed all of them. We experienced the torrential rains in Monteverde, which gave us a true experience of life in the cloud forest. We even experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake in Manuel Antonio, which reminded us that Costa Rica is part of the ring of fire.

The food was great all and all! The excursions were memorable, in particular the zip line over the cloud forest. We ended up seeing about 20 sloths and the elusive Quetzal (a male and a female), all thanks to the trained eyes of our guides.

This is our second time engaging KimKim and we are truly satisfied with the package and services. Special acknowledgments and thanks to Kat, Kate and Adam. They made our first visit to Costa Rica a great experience. Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Amazing views. Best pool. Great restaurant. La Mariposa is a great hotel to end our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

The location of the Cloud Forest Lodge atop the cloud forest is simply spectacular. The view is breathtaking and staff were extremely personable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Dennis, Jose, Fernando, and Benjamin were so personable and each made our stay very memorable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Lomas provided the closest to a tree bungalow feel. Location at the base of Arenal Volcano is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Nocturnal Rainforest Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The nocturnal walk is a must to see some of the Costa Rica animals in their natural habitat. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and had a great eye in spotting the animals. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip in late March to Marrakesh, the High Atlas and the desert. We loved it. Sharon and her team were terrific. It was a pleasure building the itinerary with her -- and I especially appreciated the Zoom call -- it made the whole planning process so much easier and enjoyable. We will definitely, absolutely use kimkim again when we plan our next visit to northern Morocco!!

Hotel Reviews

Dar Hnini

Oulad Yahia Lagraire

This hotel is a little gem nestled in a beautiful oasis valley. The service and food were excellent. Highly recommended!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eden Boutique Hotel

Boumalne Dades

Excellent hotel. Absolutely top rate service, decor and experience. I cannot rate it highly enough!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

This day with locals was wonderful -- a highly of our trip. Sitting down and getting to know a local family in their home was amazing. I highly recommend this activity.

This was my first time using KimKim and first trip to Japan.

Shona is truly amazing! I’m truly grateful for all her help! She was very thoughtful in everything she arranged. She helped ensure I got to do everything I wanted to, in the multiple cities I visited, while staying within budget. The activities, tours and guides were fantastic!

Shona was always there during my trip as well, to ensure an authentic and memorable experience! I met so many great people, made so many memories, and took so many great photos.

Thank you, again!

When I think about this trip, the first thing that comes to mind is the incredible level of planning required for a 12-day trip in China for my wife and I. Planning our trip through KimKim was an incredibly smooth and stress-free experience. The initial setup was simple, and we were quickly connected with our local China specialist, Heidi, who was an absolute pleasure to work with. She was responsive, accommodating, and consistently offered thoughtful solutions that made our itinerary even better. Heidi made me feel like I was her only client, while also going above and beyond to create an unforgettable experience for my wife and I. I was unfamiliar with how accessibility works in China, but Heidi handled every single detail flawlessly. From coordinating transportation between hotels in different cities, to selecting ideal locations to visit, arranging private tours, and ensuring smooth drop-off/pickup at airports and train stations -- nothing was overlooked. We literally felt like royalty the second we got off that plane as Heidi thought of everything. One of the standout aspects of the trip was the thoughtfully designed itinerary. Each day included planned activities, but there was also flexibility built in for leisure time.

What made this trip so special wasn’t just the destination, but was how personal and thoughtfully curated every moment felt. Traveling in a new country can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with KimKim everything was handled so professionally that we could simply relax and enjoy the experience. That level of organization made traveling around the country very easy.

At every step we felt safe, comfortable, and well looked after by the excellent bi-lingual tour guides. The tour guides made this journey extraordinary, especially Emma (Beijing), Kathy (Xi’an), Ethan (Zhangjiajie), and Autumn (Shanghai). Thanks to them, we enjoyed our China adventure and now have very fond memories that will last a lifetime. The tour guides would come and get us from our hotels and bring us back to our hotels. They would check in with us daily to make sure we knew where we were going and had any questions. They were all knowledgeable, warm, and clearly excited to share her culture and stories with us as well as learning about our culture (especially learning about our county’s slang). Their enthusiasm made the experience feel much more personal and engaging. Their warmth and good humor even outshined their obvious depth of knowledge and skill of communication. Every guide made us feel like we traveling with a family member. They selected fantastic restaurants throughout each city where we could enjoy authentic local food without worrying about our dietary needs. Every recommendation was spot-on. They were so much fun to spend time with!

And I would be remiss not to mention the hotels KimKim selected, which elevated the trip even further. Everywhere we stayed, we felt less like guests at a hotel and more like we were being welcomed into someone’s home. Also, all of our drivers were excellent as well—professional, safe, and reliable.

As this was our 2nd trip with KimKim, all the arrangements made by them have always been 100 reliable, including accommodation, transportation and activities. Overall, this trip exceeded every expectation. The itinerary was the perfect blend of city action, historical insight, and natural wonder. Overall, KimKim, especially Heidi, made our China trip feel personalized, well-supported, and wonderfully memorable. Highly recommended them for anyone seeking a well-organized, locally informed travel experience.

Activity Reviews

Half Day City Tour with the Yu Garden

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zhangjiajie Park Tour - Grand Canyon with glass bridge

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Tour with Golden Whip Creek&Ten Mile Gallery & Baofeng Lake

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Suzhou and Tongli Water Town City Tour

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town with Boat Ride

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Xi'an City: Ancient City Wall and Drum Tower

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chinese dumpling dinner

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Tang Dynasty Show (1hour)

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

See the Terracotta Army

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Temple of Heaven

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day with Great Wall and Changling Tomb in Beijing

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Picturesque Summer Palace

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peking Duck Experience

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Glimpse into China's Imperial Past: the Fobidden City

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport