Kimkim Trip Reviews

This hotel was pretty amazing, but it was more of a roller coaster. The breakfast bar was great; I'd have been blown away had I not just been at a Keio Plaza that set my expectations sky-high. This hotel's breakfast had most of the same stuff, though our other hotel literally had a soft serve ice cream machine... how do you compete with that? Additionally, this hotel's restaurants had very weird hours. Some were only open alternating Tuesdays/Thursdays, for example. The dinner restaurant required reservations... at a hotel. Otherwise, the amenities were on point, and I particularly appreciate the hotel shuttle to Kyoto Station. The rooms had a good deal of floor space but were short on furniture, meaning there weren't many places to set things, so luggage just had to sit on the floor. At least doing so left plenty of walkway. The fixtures (showers and toilets) were all great, there were no problems with water temperature or pressure, and the hotel had blackout curtains and other lighting control. The hotel paid a lot of attention to aesthetics; the lobby was stunningly beautiful. However, there was only one set of elevators in the whole hotel, so we managed to stop on every floor on our descent from level 6, just to watch people elect to wait for the next elevator.

This hotel's breakfast bar is carrying it. It was that wonderful. The hotel had water pressure problems and the shower flailed wildly between unpleasantly cool and painfully hot. But I worked around that by drawing a bath, and I'd do that every day for the breakfast bar, which blew the other hotel from our trip out of the water. The beds were comfortable, though on the firm side, which I believe many will appreciate. Beyond that, our experience was perfect. The rooms were small but there was space to put our stuff under tables and on a shelf above the beds' headboards, so we did better here than at our other hotel which had more floor space but no furniture to put things on.

This experience really made the trip for me. Kiyumizu was breathtaking; a real must-see among the temples. We actually hit multiple on this tour, and our guide was so friendly and accommodating; she made plenty of time for all the stuff we wanted to do. Dinner selection was on us, which was also stunning. If I ever book through KimKim again, I'd just tell them I want more of this. It was night and day in so many respects. We met the guide at our hotel, at an hour we set; she provided us bus passes so that we didn't have to worry about transit for these events (or anything else that day), we did everything we wanted at the temples, had a great meal, and left ecstatic.

Experience oozed authenticity; any deviation from that was carefully noted by our hostess. Good for tourists as there was time for photo shoots in our kimono, which was strongly encouraged. The place featured a small "zen garden" kind of structure for it, and while said garden was pretty much in the heart of the city where I'm not sure grass can actually grow, they made it work. Sitting on my knees is hard, but the hostess was very accommodating in that respect.

The tour guide was friendly, spoke great English, and took us through some basic Japanese language and culture lessons, which was cute. These stops were over-commercialized tourist traps that managed to be all about Mount Fuji while exhibiting surprisingly little nature (our final stop was better, as it was a shopping center located next to a very scenic lake). The stops on Fuji itself were just tourist traps that charge you (separately and individually) to so much as use the restroom (there *is* a free one on site, as well). I was told to avoid Mount Fuji because it's a tourist trap, and I accepted the risk because hey, I'm a tourist. What I didn't expect is some extremely poor planning on the part of KimKim that made the whole day a huge pain. We had to leave our hotel before breakfast opened (which would have been at 7AM) to make it to the meetup point on time (a bit after 8 AM). To add insult to injury, the bus we boarded in Tokyo passed within a few hundred meters of said hotel an hour later. I was livid. My party constituted three of the five individuals on this tour, and the other two were from a separate stop; KimKim should have arranged a stop for us. Breakfast was not provided on the tour, nor did we have time to catch any before departure. Lunch was some sad prepackaged meal offered at a random hotel along the way. I enjoyed our time by the lake, though.

A lot of good sights, especially the thunder temple, and a good guide to tell us about them. Japan has largely over-commercialized these temples, but it doesn't feel so bad because it's all cheap, all done on the honor system (within the temples; stands around them are pretty touristy), and all deeply rooted in their culture (even most of the local shops and food stands). Some of the pacing could be improved; I'd rather walk and talk when possible, but this tour still left some wiggle room so we could do what we wanted in the area, and the guide made time for photos and helped us out with them. The tour also left us plenty of time to structure the rest of our day around it.

Our guide was great. The choice of eateries was questionable. The food selection was predetermined, rather than just setting a budget, so some members of our group left after eating very little (of the 8 pieces of sushi and 3 tempura that were offered at the first joint). The second joint seemed to be higher quality and was far more impressive. We actually bailed on the third place because it was just some type of ice cream and our group was falling asleep, nearly out of phone battery, by that point in the day.

Unluckily there was construction going on in front of hotel, completely out of their control, but it did take away from the general atmosphere

All the staff at the hotel were very attentive and happy. The hot water did not last very long for a shower.

Usual city hotel.

Nice Riad.

Could be better. there was water dripping from the sink. dinner choice was not there and cost was higher than expected. Breakfast was average. It was away from the main route and we have to drive further to reach this place.

Nice place to Stay. Beautiful living area.

Great experience in the camp

Amazing Riad.

Guided tour was good. the guide explained well.

This hotel was very basic but location could be a huge draw for some people because it is right off of shibuya crossing and near the large train station.

Best hotel we stayed in while on our trip. Room was by far the biggest out of any location. Very nice lobby with a great luggage locker and coffee/drink machine.

Very new hotel. Breakfast selection was great. Very convenient to the train station and local train cars.

Hotel was nice. They had a fitness room and a coin laundry facility. Location was good near a metro

This hotel has potential to be a great place to stay for the right people. The onsens are great but there is no tattoos allowed so my husband could not enjoy. The rooms are outdated with peeling wall paper and old bathrooms. The dinner and breakfast was included which in theory sounds great but the menu is fixed. The food is definitely for a particular person who values presentation over taste. I would be surprised if a kid would enjoy any of the food because it is heavily raw fish.

Overall a nice hotel. Rooms were small but that is standard in Tokyo. The breakfast was good but the sitting area could only accommodate a certain amount of people so most mornings there was a 5-15 minute wait to get in.

A day full of beautiful views and a beautiful memorial. Miyajima is very pretty but I would advise getting there early to avoid big crowds. The memorial was hard to see but was so well done.

Fun learning about tea ceremonies. This is not a full tea ceremony but you still learn a lot.

Arashiyama was great. We did a scenic train ride that was pretty but if you are sitting on the wrong side of the train you barely get any views. Bamboo forest was cool but way over crowded

Our local guide Yoko was great. There is so much to see in Kyoto and she was able to bring us to all the highlights. We had extra time and she was able to bring us to an extra temple with 10001 Buddha sculptures.

Nice day trip with 3 key experiences. We were able to see Mt Fuji which made the experience. We went up to station 5 so we actually got to be on Fuji which had great views of surrounding mountains. Lunch was decent, food was cold but had variety. Then we headed to a scenic boat ride which was short and I could have done without but some people really enjoyed it. Then we went up to a shrine on the top of a mountain using a cable car. Great views and cool shrine.

The beginning of the class was a little awkward because it seemed like that were training a new hire to lead the class. The second half ran really smoothly and was fun. Sushi and quality of products were great. You end up eating everything you make and it’s a lot of food

Had a great time seeing the highlights of Tokyo lead by Yumi. She was knowledgeable and was able to tailor the day to what we preferred.

Beautiful hotel: Beautiful authentic room, Delicious breakfast. Very nice staff. Very well situated, this Hanok has it all. One of the best of our trip.

We did not go to this hotel as the program was changed. We were instead, in Itaewon in Seoul in the Hamilton Hotel. Though noisy because of it’s proximity with the Main Street of Itaewon, We recommended this hotel for its convenience location.

Very well situated near the older part of Busan. The view is spectacular when you face the bay. Though not an authentic hotel, ew definitely recommend this hotel for its convenience, view.

Cold atmosphere. Nice and big room and view on the sea.

Though big and not traditional, this hotel has a great view on the harbor . It is clean and modern. We enjoy our stay.

Very nice and relaxing resort. A nice place to discover the south of Jeju Island and to enjoy nuit the view on the sea. Definitely recommend it.

Well situated as it is a good base ro discover Jeju city in a Jeju Island. Good breakfast. Nice room.

Nothing special to say

We arrived late at this place and it is in the middle of nowhere . Si, we did not have the chance to meet the owners who live in another house. No breakfast which is a problem, the room, which is more of an apartment was c very clean but we think this place is better for a long stay and not for a one night stay.

Great place to stay with very very nice people to welcome us. The top was very spacious and authentic. It was the best Hanok atmosphere wise with very kind owners would love to intersect with guests. The breakfast is home made cooking and everything is delicious. We definitely recommend recommend this Hanok beautifully situated in the center of Jeonju

Very well situated but the owner is not very talkative and and at ease with guests. The room , we had would not suit everyone as it was very very small with the bed in a mezzanine with a difficult staircase. Not a problem for us though but just mentioning . The breakfast, which is very light as announced, was kit to our taste. We had to have breakfast outside.

The accommodation is so-do especially because it was raining during our stay.

Best hotel we stay in during our 5 weeks trips. Everything was perfect and we wish we could have stayed longer.

Cold atmosphere and huge hotel

Nicely situated. Has a business feel. It was very busy during stay with students groups . Very good breakfast.

Because of the rainy weather

The hotel is easily accessible by car from the airport. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The room was spacious but furniture needs updating. The bathroom was small and the shower stall needs updating. The breakfast was ok but the choices were limited. They did make us fresh omelettes and toast.

The hotel is on a hill. Not a problem if you have a vehicle but is a problem if you are thinking of walking to town. The lake is at the bottom of the hill. It was clean and comfortable. The breakfast was good. We also had dinner at the hotel and it was good. The staff was very helpful.

This is a good resort hotel specially for those who want to experience the nature i the Chitwan National Forest.

The rooms are clean and comfortable. The breakfast had a lot of choices and a live station too. The staff was helpful and courteous.

The market walk seemed like I was transported to an ancient time when life was simpler and wants were fewer. The houses are more than a hundred years old and have withstood the passage of time. Some are being renovated but others still had the ornate carved windows and doors. Each square has its own temple which the community looks after. This was an amazing experience.

Not a popular tourist site but I did like the historical aspect and the quiet, serene atmosphere of the place. Many devout Buddhist were paying their respects in one of the most ancient stupas of Buddha.

It was amazing to visit the actual site where Buddha was born. A temple has been built on the site and we had a very good view. We also had the opportunity to walk around the grounds and get a feeling of what it may have been like in 5th Century BCE.

This a must-do if you are visiting Pokhara. The sunrise over the mountains is a magnificent view.

The three places were very close to each other. The Temple was on top of a hill and provided beautiful views of the surroundings. To see the rites carried out at the ancient temple was awe inspiring. The Davi's fall was ok but to hike down to the Gupteswar cave and see the waters of the Davis fall flow in the underground caverns was incredible.

In the morning we went for the river boat ride. We saw many birds, crocodiles and gharials. In the afternoon we went for the jungle safari. We saw many deer and rhinos. It was a great experience.

The Tharu cultural dance was outdoors in the evening which was a perfect setting.

This is a must see. An ancient temple that withstood time and earthquakes too.

The history and architecture of the temple is amazing to behold. Located on a hilltop, you can climb the steep stairs or ask your cab driver to take you to the back entrance where you have to climb fewer stairs. The place is a conglomeration of Hindu as well as Buddhist rituals. A beautiful view of the city and of course monkeys that gambol around are the special hallmarks of the place.

Our guide for this trip was knowledgable and helped us understand the underlying history and culture of each of the sights we saw. The walk though the palace and the museum was very interesting.

Sangita was in contact with us and from the beginning and welcomed us at the Airport in Kathmandu. She came with us to the hotel and helped us check in. All information was provided at that time. She also set up a WhatsApp chat group so we could communicate in real time. This is very important since flights can be delayed and traffic can be bad.

The Menlo Hotel is conveniently located right on the edge of downtown Galway. The staff were friendly and added a special touch for birthday celebrations. The hotel was undergoing additional construction, but it did not impact our trip in the least. The downtown area was a quick taxi ride in the rain and the Shannon airport was an easy drive as well.

We had a nice stay at The Gresham. Its location made it easy to walk to museums, restaurants and shopping. Everyone we interacted with was kind and accommodating.

An experience all to itself! A fantastic home base for all of our excursions in Killarney. The staff were incredibly kind and added a special touch to make our birthday celebration truly memorable. The newly renovated wing was beautiful and the views were outstanding. From our balcony we could see deer, ducks, and the most breathtaking view!

Louise and her family provided a fantastic stay at Ballea Castle. Everyone, including the animals, were warm and kind. Our room was wonderful and dinner at Mabel Lane was top notch. We enjoyed walking the grounds with Daisy, Prince and their two lovely cats. A worthwhile stay during our journey through Ireland.

The Waterford Castle was an experience second to none. The grounds and estate were beautiful. All of the staff were welcoming, especially Alisandro who crafted fantastic cocktails for us. The food was delicious and the bread pudding was the star of the show!

Don’t miss an opportunity to meet Mark and his birds! Mark’s passion and knowledge make this a great stop in your travels. We learned a lot about the birds of prey, including how they are trained, how they hunt, and got to hold / feed them too!

The Waterford tour was enlightening and we had a great guide (Caroline) who was super friendly. We saw every step in the process and even some of the famous pieces on display. Hit the gift shop at the end and get something special!

Very informative and fun way to learn about the Viking history in Ireland. Knowledgeable guide and cool VR experience.

Hidden gem located right next to Guinness. The church was beautifully restored and our tour guide was both friendly and knowledgeable about the Distillery’s history and the whiskey making process. If you’re looking for a smaller / local distillery feel, not to mention some pretty good whiskey, this is your place!

Beautiful hotel at the dela Of two rivers with a swinging bridge. Very friendly staff and pleasant accommodations. Disappointed at the bright lights kept on all night long….but maybe that was for the safety of the guests.

Beautiful pool and grounds. We found the meals limited and not the best value for the price. It was not easy to walk to nearby restaurants. Getting a to go breakfast for early morning hikes was possible but it was packaged peanuts, banana and cheese slapped on bread. I think they could have done better. All of the staff were great b

Wonderful location and excellent foo and staff. Very relaxing. Also some trails to walk around the island were fun to explore. 2 hour boat ride was a bit bumpy so be prepared. Great that no music was playing and loved the environmental ethic including glass instead of plastic bottles

Very pleasant family run business in an excellent location. They were extremely friendly and place was clean and had a rooftop area for seeing th city. Only drawback is the breakfasts were very limited.

The store was excellent because it took us off the beaten path so that we got to see some temples and gardens that we never would’ve seen. It also got us away from the crowds in the bamboo forest. We learned a lot and and really enjoyed talking to our guide Ayuri.

We thoroughly enjoyed this class! We had taken a sushi making class at home, but this one blew it away. Not only did we learn how to make sushi like a pro but the sushi we made was some of the best we’ve ever had. Our instructor was great and fun and knowledgeable and spoke English perfectly. Definitely recommend!

Great location right on the beach and walkable to restaurants and shopping. It was a noisy being next to a soccer field and with the pool in the middle of the hotel, and felt a bit run down as it was an older space. Overall, good service with recommendations on local restaurants and activities.

Amazing location, attentive and accommodating service, clean and pretty. Great breakfast tailored to dietary needs.

Nice and modern with great service and breakfast. Overall, would recommend!

Great guide, beautiful tortoise reserve with upscale lunch!

The kayaking was great, but we were not given an opportunity to walk on the island or snorkel as Los Tintoreras.

Pool had amazing views of the city.

A lovely boutique hotel with the most friendly staff ever. The ground consist of beautiful mature trees with the rooms integrated into the landscape. The ocean is steps away and visible from the restaurant and upstairs bar. There is one smallish pool and a hot tub. The rooms are beautiful with a separate sitting room with a comfortable sectional sofa. The restaurant was very nice. The food was delicious but a little pricey. We found the upstairs bar menu a little less expensive but still delicious food. The staff were all very accommodating and made our stay extra nice. A massage by Angie was a perfect way to end our stay. She is a spectacular massage therapist and highly recommended

Wow! Absolutely gorgeous grounds and a series of hot springs to die for. You have several choices of hot springs with varying temperatures, a swim up bar, swimming pools and water slide. We spent so much time on the property and it was so relaxing. The rooms are HUGE and clean with lovely covered porches on the front and back. The food in the restaurant was very good. The breakfast buffet was included and a terrific variety of food, both traditional and local dishes. Even the gift shop had a nice selection of souvenirs with reasonable prices.

A rustic all inclusive hotel in the Rain Forest. You are immersed in the tropical jungle environment. There is no A/C, no TV and very limited WiFi, but honestly it was nice being unplugged. The in house tour guide was very knowledgeable and taught us about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. The food was fair. The wait staff were ok. They did their job, but were not particularly friendly, expect for a couple of staff that stood out. A couple of days here is enough.

A modern urban hotel in the city of San Jose. Very clean, fabulous, friendly staff. Delicious breakfast Buffett included with our room. The rooftop restaurant was a very nice atmosphere with spectacular food so we ate there twice. I highly recommend this hotel.

A beautiful boat and lovely adventure. The captain and first mate were very attentive and made this a favorite tour of our trip.

A terrific experience learning about the history of this tribe, eating an authentic lunch, archery, a mock wedding and description of the plants they use for medicinal purposes.

A walk through a local village. The day we went it was pouring rain which did not stop us. They are proud people. Bring cash because you will not find an ATM in this village

Our tour guide Manu was a delight. He taught us a lot about the history of Costa Rica during this walking tour. He spoke English well and had a great personality.

Great hotel Beautiful pool spa and steam room Friendly helpful staff

the wine pairing was an extra charge

Tour was not as stated in writing.

The show was good but the dinner was awful.

Again, a suite. Loved it

We had a wonderful room with a private plunge pool. Actually a suite.