Kimkim Trip Reviews

Sharon put together the perfect itinerary for us. After that, it was smooth sailing. Ahmed, our lovely driver, met us at the Casablanca airport as planned, and it was game on from there. I can't remember exactly the names of all the people we interacted with, but every one of them was amazing!!!

Our guide in Casablanca was so nice to us, very knowledgeable, and gave us a great tour. Then off to Rabat, where again our guide was super sweet and knowledgeable, and the tour was great.

Sayeed is the best as he took us all through the various parts of Fez allowing us to experience the old city and its neighborhoods and Souqs, the pottery coop, the tannery, and many, many other fascinating structures. Everything about our time in Fez was wonderful, and it is our family's favorite city to explore. Plus, since we are a family who like cats, it was heartening to watch Sayeed interact with and feed many of the cats on our tours - they love him too!

Ikram - what's to say about the most beautiful person we had the opportunity to spend time with. She is my daughter Megan's "twin flame" and they continue to chat. Ikram and her entire family were the sweetest and most welcoming ever ... who does that? Well, they do. We love them! We don't remember the name of the young woman who gave us a tour of the ruins, but she was so kind, and we loved that she was trying so hard to learn English.

Abdul was so very kind in giving us a tour of the 'Valley' - and how he remembers the most intricate details of the area's history is far beyond us, but we so very appreciate his passion for the history, the land and the people. Hakeem, our Marrakesh guide, was also super knowledgeable, and we loved the tour. He also connected the dots on how everyone is related which was both fascinating and helpful to better understand the people and culture of Morocco.

The family consensus of our top memories are the Sahara (riding camels, atv's, glamping, sunrise/sunset), the Valley of Roses with Ikrams family (the experience with Ikram was such a genuine experience with Moroccan culture and hospitality), and the souqs in Marrakech - they were definitely fun to explore.

However, none of that compares to Ahmed ... he is a very kind, smart, compassionate person who did everything he could to make us feel comfortable, safe and welcome. We very much appreciated his driving skills since we weren't exactly prepared for the drivers of Morocco (much crazier than those in the States!). And because of his deep love for his family and his Valley, we feel a close bond to him , his family and the Valley as well. We hope so much that Ahmed fulfils his dream of visiting the United States someday, and we hope even more that he takes the time to visit us in Cincinnati.

A big thanks to everyone who helped make our dream vacation the most heartwarming, educational, eye-opening and fantastic journey ever.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

This was an outstanding hotel for us to end our trip. Its location is perfect for exploring Marrakesh.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Just when you think the hotels can't get any better, you stay here and are treated by the kindest people. The garden area was beautifully kept, the breakfasts were so yummy, and the rooms were spacious and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

I half expected to see something from my Boy Scouting days, but boy was I blown away at these accommodations. I'd never heard the term 'glamping' before ... now I understand.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

Best staff by far. Very welcoming and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I was allowed to stand in the kitchen and watch breakfast being prepared. It was wonderful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Breakfasts .... oh my!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Cooking Class w/ Souk Tour

Morocco

The lunch was perhaps some of the best food we had. I'd like to think my family contributed a lot to that, but all the accolades go to the professionals who made the lunch incredibly special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Quad Tour of the Desert

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rabat to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Majid was extremely responsive. We had one minor snafu and he responded in a very timely manner. Any questions we had while planning the trip were also rapidly answered.

Hotel Reviews

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

This was clearly the nicest facility that we stayed in. It was located just off one the main streets in the Medina and the alleys we walked through were cleaner and wider than the prior Riad. Rooms were large and clean with elegant bathrooms and efficient AC. Staff was readily accessible. On 1 occasion, we asked for directions and a staff member actually walked us out to the street in the manner of a Ritz Carlton. When we received the itinerary, I was actually indifferent about the spa and massage. However, it was well appreciated after the trek through the desert and a nice conclusion to our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

See above

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

I feel like we should rate this an incomplete. It just felt very eerie as we were the only people staying in this facility and it was hard to tell "the vibe". The grounds, including the pool, spectacular view and chaises outside of each room were luxurious. Not unexpectedly, we had great service. There was a gentlemen who was our server at dinner who had very limited English and seemed so worried that he would get something wrong. Everything he served was perfect and he warranted a 100% tip on our dinner drinks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

See above

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Hnini

Oulad Yahia Lagraire

We enjoyed the facility as it was the first time we encountered other travelers that we could socialize with in the desert and enjoyed chatting it up around the pool and dining room. Refreshing is an understatement when describing the feeling jumping in the pool after the previous day's camel root and tent stay.

Authenticity & Character

Well, I can now say that I slept in a Kasbah.

Location

The only criteria for location seems to be that it was along our route. The views from the facility were breathtaking but there really is not much to do outside.

Staff

The staff of the facility has missed an incredible opportunity. There clearly is a history behind this series of buildings and a receptive audience ready to listen. Why not assemble guests before dinner with a 15 minute presentation?

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC didn't work. I had it set to 18 and never dropped below 27. Told them about it in the morning and he claimed I had it set to 27. Never had a problem operating the AC in any of the other facilities.

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

I think by desert camp experiences, this probably rates highly but you need to be prepared for the overnight desert experience. We stayed in very early June and it never cooled adequately at night despite the attempts with fans.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If you wanted to stay in the desert, then you're there.

Staff

Manager was very attentive. Ensured we made it back to our rendezvous point with our driver Mohammed in time, and the 15 minute desert drive was a nice finish

Cleanliness & Comfort

Despite the luxury label, we never felt truly comfortable due to the heat.

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

The place was charming and well situated by a small creek. The location in Dades Valley was provided a relief from the otherwise sweltering temperatures and we were able to sleep with the windows open. The owner Mohammed was always available and attentive. Clearly obsessed with the operation as we would hear him barking instructions in the kitchen, then serving our meal, escorting us back to the hotel situated in the next building and then running back to the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Had a small "B and B" character to it. We almost expected Bob Newhart to suddenly appear

Location

Very quaint small village, situated creekside with walking paths in the rear.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad al Rimal

Marrakech

The location was very deep in the Medina as opposed to the last Riad and we had to navigate some questionable alleyways to get to the location. . The facility itself was very clean and food was excellent. We had a problem with the cold water faucet and were left with scalding water which prevented us from showering on the last day. I probably would have given this a 4 initially but downgraded it after our last Riad which was far superior.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but see above comment regarding shower.

Activity Reviews

Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Benhaddou – Skoura/ Dades Gorge ( 5/6 Hour Drive)

Morocco

Not much to say. It was a long drive with frequent scenic stops as were most of the drive. Full disclosure, drives are not something I would ever rate as a 5. However, I am going to make an exception here as there is no place to rate our driver Mohammed. The most important criteria for both of us is safety and that was one of my concerns. We never felt unsafe on the roads. It is easy to become impatient behind slow cars on single lane roads but Mohammed always waited for safe distance and visibility for passing. There only white knuckle experiences we saw were when other drivers tried to pass without adequate room and we would see cars in the opposite direction veering to the shoulder. Mohammed never attempted this. We also learned a great deal from Mohammed about daily life in Morocco and especially the small desert towns. Would definitely recommend him to other clients.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mohammed!

Transport

Mohammed!

Hammam Spa & Massage in Marrakech 3 PM Session

Marrakesh

We've never done his before and not something I was looking forward to at the beginning of the trip. It was a very cleansing and refreshing experience after 5 days of heat, sand and saddle sores.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka Pass & the High Atlas Mountains

Morocco

A short ride, glad to be done!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Prior to the tour, we were exhausted and it was incredibly hot. I was not looking forward to this but glad we acquiesced. The climb to the top was difficult on such a hot day. Our guide was excellent and we were also pleasantly surprised to learn about the Jewish-Berber coexistence in AB from our guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no actual food on the tour but we feels compelled to comment on the restaurant stop immediately prior. This was our worst experience in the week. We arrived not very hungry, but had 2 prix fixe meals of poor quality forced upon us. We were not very hungry and left with numerous untouched plates that we paid for. Given the number of tour vans in the parking lot, we almost sensed there was an incredible amount of untouched food that was reserved. And then when leaving there was an open door to the kitchen. After seeing this, we clearly regretted here. Find another option

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Day in Darra Valley.

Agdz

It was a drive, not much else

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

I wouldn't do it again but could not leave Morocco without the experience. The guide (Abdul) was incredible. I was in awe watching him walk up the dunes in 100 degree temps and in flip-flops. Yes, it was physically uncomfortable. However, the overall experience, particularly watching the desert sunset was a once in a lifetime bucket list item.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skoura/ Dades – Tinerir – Todra Gorge – Rissani – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi ( 5/ 4 Hour Drive)

Morocco

This was a long drive!

Quality of Experience

Food

I honestly don't remember where we stopped

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rosewater Workshop in Boumalne Dades

Boumalne Dades

I wouldn't have been disappointed if we missed this. Traveling outside of large cities is dotted with roadside stands and this wasn't much different.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour of Marrakech, the "Red City"

Marrakesh

Whenever, we travel to a new location, we like to begin with a history introduction. The Bahia palace was a perfect first stop and introduced us to Morocco, but he was also knowledgeable on colonial and post-colonial Morocco. . There were several planned stops (Bahia palace and gardens). After that we wondered through the Medina and our guide showed flexibility in gauging our interest in various sites, markets, shops, etc. We are Jewish, did not inform the guide but were very appreciative of him pointing out the Jewish merchants and quarter. My only recommendation is to shorten the 4.5 hours. Maybe this is more manageable in the winter and early spring but we actually excused him and said goodbye after about 4 hours as we needed to sit, eat and rehydrate. Also, we wanted to go back to the Jewish quarter and he provided us directions from the square as we departed.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/A

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

My Montenegro vacation was just perfect! I did miss out on the initial hotels I had liked but the substitute ones were good too and I enjoyed all the 3 base towns and the stays and of course the driver and car at disposal was a blessing without having to worrying about anything. Even for supermarkets or dinners I was able to easily commute without having to worry about local transport. Perfect balance of mountains , old towns and the beaches of course. Thank you to all who helped me plan this and live this vacation. Violaine and Ivan and everyone.

We just finished our amazing trip to Switzerland! Caroline was so helpful ! She listened to our ideas and planned our trip so well according to our needs. She put our itinerary, travel documents and tickets all in one place on the kimkim app to make them easy to find. Since we had never used trains and buses before she suggested that we use the SBB app to help us navigate our itinerary. We also met many helpful travelers along the way that showed us how to make the train transfers. Caroline was very professional and answered our questions in a timely manner. We are very grateful for her assistance and are happy to recommend her as your tour guide.

Mohamed, our driver/guide became like a family member to us. He was thoughtful, caring and very detailed. Our memories would not be the same without him.

Leny played a key role in shaping our Japan itinerary. I shared the cities we wanted to visit and a general sense of our interests, and she handled everything from there. She was incredibly flexible as we fine‑tuned the plans and always quick to respond, both before and during the trip. The local guides and transportation she arranged were outstanding. I’d wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an exceptional vacation.

Hotel Review

MIMARU SUITES KYOTO SHIJO

Tokyo

Hands down, one of the best hotels I've stayed at. The location was great and was close to a ton of restaurants and local interests. Having a washer/dryer in the suite was perfect. Free coffee, water, beer, sake - what more could you ask for to both start and end your day! This hotel is 5-stars!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hiroshima Peace (Heiwa) Walking Tour at World Heritage Sites

Japan

A very moving experience, definitely recommend spending the day in Hiroshima. We saw a lot during this tour and our guide was super knowledgeable and was very fluent in English. Be sure to give yourself time to get from the bullet train to the meeting location of the tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo to Hakone Private Transfer: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Driver

Japan

Our driver was wonderful! The various stops to catch great views of Mt. Fuji were perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had a great time with everyone that I met, from the following :
Juli - our guide
Don Manuel - our driver
El Mono (Erwin) - Pacaya guide
Fernando and Oliverio!!!!
Karen worked with me and my sister about what we wanted to do and was very accommodating. I like change my trip itinerary like probably 5 to 6 different times but she was very patient and I told her what my budget was and she worked with me. She provided pretty much everything for me and spoke with me on WhatsApp to make sure that I had what I needed. From making sure that I made it safely to the next destination and to make sure that my driver was around.
I would highly recommend Karen and her team at Old Town. I am going to definitely book another mini trip with her for the volcano hike the big one Fuego.

Hotel Review

Hotel Casa Palopo

Panajachel

This place is like magical and majestic. You come here and you just feel like you're in some type of movie or dream. If everyone here is very nice and very hospitable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Oliver!!!!!!! What can I not say about this guy? He was very funny and he knows everything about the of history of TIKAL and the whole entire region. Very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From start to finish, the experience was incredible. Hamza helped me put together a tour that included outdoor exploration, desert adventures, cityscapes, waterfalls, gorges and great food. Mustapha was our driver and he was prompt, prepared for our questions and knew exactly what routes and times for the next stops. We had amazing city guides who took us through the main sites and trusted shopping areas.

My only complaint is that the vacation had to end! If you are considering a vacation to Morocco, the services here planned for seamless travel. I highly recommend!

We worked with kimkim to plan a trip to Greece for our 30th anniversary. The planning was easy and the trip went as smooth as could be. We’re already planning our next trip with kimkim. Highly recommend.

The KimKim team did a flawless job for our recent trip to Italy. Every transfer, hotel, tour, ticketing and communication went exactly as it should have. Our private tour guide were all amazing and gave us the best experiences. It was a relief to have the support because Italy is so very busy and KimKim made it possible for us to enjoy our trip and not stress. I HIGHLY recommend Giorgia, Beatrice and Anita and all who helped us have an amazing vacation!

Emanuela was absolutely fantastic. She listed to our wants and was able to create a great trip. Even while in Iceland she checked in to make sure everything was going well.

Activity Reviews

Inside the Volcano (Meet On Location)

Iceland

Fantastic experience, very unique opportunity to go 450 feet below the surface. And they finished the trip off with a great bowl of lamb stew. The guides were very entertaining and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale Watching RIB Boat

Iceland

We got really lucky and saw three humpback whale. They were up close only 30 feet away at most

Hvamsvik Lagoon

Iceland

This was simply amazing, 100% recommended it to anyone looking for something just perfect

I was able to curate our trip with Audrey and her colleague based on my preferences and also to accommodate my husband whose back issues worsened as we were planning the trip. We are not experienced travelers and our travel styles and expectations differ but Audrey managed to please us both! We loved our first hotel on the left bank, Jardin de Cluny. Other favorite parts of Paris: our food tour with Laur. We were continually challenged finding our way on the metro and on foot so we were late meeting up with Laur though we kept in contact with her. Our host at the hotel was a big help in pointing us un the right direction, even so, we took the train the wrong way! Laur’s tour of history, and out of the way food specialists was wonderful. Our tour of Notre Dame was also so well done by our guide, Solana. Her history and architectural tour was done outside the church because she couldn’t speak inside, I think because of the feast of the assumption. Then she accompanied us inside and wordlessly pointed out things she had mentioned outside.It rained on both of these tours but we managed to be inside for the downpours, what luck! Our other private guide was supposed to be for the louvre but it was delayed in opening so Kim Kim and our guide pivoted seamlessly! I was asked where I’d like to go instead and I chose musee d’orsay. Our guide (I wish I could remember her name) knew so much without having been prepared! It was a true treat to have a guide for an art museum! Our other tour in Paris was not my favorite. First we saw the Eiffel Tower, a must see and so impressive. After, we went on a boat ride on the Seine. It was too long, we didn’t feel welcomed, and there was no narration by the staff. I had to find out for myself that we could download a tour with a QR code on our phone, no one told us. The problem with that is that their speakers played music the whole time, and trying to listen to the narrated tour with music playing was bad enough, but when the app wasn’t speaking it played its own music- what cacophony! Later I found out that my phone battery was continually running low because the tour was running in my background, until I got wise to it and deleted it. I would not recommend this company at all! On top of that, we didn’t know how to retrace our steps to the metro and by the time we did, after 10:30pm, the metro trains were only running every hour so we had to pay for a cab back to our arrondissement, and luckily found a fantastic restaurant close to our hotel that served until 11:30pm. Serendipity!
Outside of Paris we once gain had wonderful experiences! Our bike tour of Versailles was fantastic! We got to shop at the farmers market for our picnic lunch, learning how to make change in euros was new to us! Our picnic lunch in the grass was lovely and during the sunny portion of our trip. During our bike ride our guide, Arnaud, would pause us and regale stories of the kings and their court. We did endure a downpour on our bikes on the way back but luckily the tour provided us with ponchos! We were on our own for the palace tour, another must see! We especially loved the hall of the paintings of French battles, which Arnaud recommended.
Our next bike tour was a private ride through the Normandy countryside with Hugo. It was more than fantastic. Edward and I were both moved by the Omaha beach memorial museum and graves. We were given time to be on our own for about 2 hours, then back on the bikes for more stories of the countryside people during the war, then a picnic set out by Hugo in an out of the way spot. Lovely, every minute. We stayed at a delightful hotel called Lion d’or and enjoyed their lounge/bar with photos of famous visitors. It’s full of history, as is the town, Bayeux. For our last day I requested our driver take us to chantilly. Unfortunately it was closed the day we would visit but we enjoyed a neighboring town, Senlis. Our drivers were all great, especially our cab to the airport. All in all great memories and I belief we’ll be back to France!

Hotel Reviews

Auberge du Jeu de Paume

Chantilly

Professional staff

Authenticity & Character

Very pretty although the dinner was very expensive but the atmosphere of the dining area didn’t match the price of the food

Location

As close as one could get to chantilly castle

Staff

The front desk was very helpful especially when we thought we’d need an early breakfast

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Lion d'Or et restaurant la Table du Lion

Bayeux

We were given a ground floor room because of my husbands back. Thank you kimkim! A delightful stroll outdoors to the bar where we enjoyed espresso in the afternoon and wine in the evening

Authenticity & Character

Love the photos of visitors from the 1940s

Location

Right on a Main Street, walkable

Staff

The bartender was so friendly even though we were the only ones in there ordering coffee

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relais du Louvre

Paris

It was nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet street next to a church so no road noise

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Jardin de Cluny

Paris

Loved this place. The hotel reception/ concierge was highly professional, the breakfast outstanding, the bed comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Cave breakfast room

Location

Walkable to Notre dame, to metro stops, on a 1/2 street with limited access so very quiet

Staff

Professional, knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Giverny and Monet’s Garden Entrance Ticket

France

We did not do this, we went to Chantilly instead

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Normandy Foodie E-Bike Experience

Bayeux

Wow, electric bikes, knowledgeable guide, Omaha beach, picnic in grove, we had it all

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided visit of the Louvre Museum

Paris

Pivot to another museum worked out amazingly well

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim took care of us once we decided the louvre wouldn’t open in time!

Versailles Bike Tour

Paris

Easy bike ride through the grounds with the guide adding interesting stories along the way

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Because my husband has mobility issues we ended up taking a cab back to Paris which was quite pricey but that was our unique situation

Private Notre-Dame Visit

Paris

Despite the rain and restrictions on our guide talking indoors, we got a quality tour which we loved

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private gourmet food tour in Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Paris

See general review

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had to find our way there and we took the wrong train, more experienced travelers would probably not make that mistake

Seine River Cruise

Paris

See my review in the general review page. I do not recommend

Quality of Experience

Transport

Self-Guided Visit of the Eiffel Tower with Access to the Summit (Entrance Tickets included)

Paris

Loved this tourist attraction but hard to find our way there especially with someone who doesn’t walk well. We had just arrived in Paris and had to hurry to make our reserved time slot.

We really loved our trip to Spain and using kimkim to plan it. My sister and I took my daughter and her boyfriend to Spain for their college graduation present. We went to Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada, Ibiza, and Madrid. We had definite ideas about where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do, and what hotels to stay at and I considered just planning the trip myself. I'm very glad we used kimkim instead. It took a lot of stress off us since they booked all the hotels, trains, and inter-country plane trips. Coraima listened to my ideas and let me book some things they did not have on their recommendation list, such as the hotel in Ibiza (my daughter really wanted to stay at a hotel on bossa beach with a night club). The kimkim app we got on our phones was very helpful, with our daily itineraries and links to all of our tickets. Our favorite parts of our trip were the food tours! We especially loved the food tour of the gothic quarter in Barcelona and the Tapas and Flamenco tour in Sevilla. When we did have hiccups in our trip (a driver who never showed up, and a flight delay that caused us to almost miss a connecting flight and missing luggage for one night), Chinh, our local specialist helped us through that and even gave us some refunds. We would definitely use kimkim again.

I did not interact much with Adam because the venue was not very child friendly, and I had to rush ahead all the exhibitions to get to the zone where its permitted to feed a crying baby and let a toddler run around.
Adam seemed to rush us a bit and did not communicate the ticket timeline until we asked him to please wait for everyone.
The venues claims to be kid friendly and accessible but i had to wait 10 minutes for an elevator, which involved waiting for a guard to escort me through a restricted area on both ends.

I honestly cannot say enough positive things about the service I received from Caterina and Anna at KimKim. I am disabled and they were incredibly thoughtful and forward-thinking about how to make my trip, and especially all of the transitions, remarkably stress-free. They truly went the extra mile for me and their kindness and professionalism made a positive impact on my experience! They partnered with Venice tour services provider, Your Custom Journey, which was truly the best and most knowledgeable tour support services I have every had. This trip was extremely important to me as I am becoming progressively disabled and so needed to take this trip at this time of my life and make the very best of it. They succeeded on ALL levels! I highly recommend them!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Firenze

Venice

Hotel Firenze in Venice was my absolute favorite! The deep soaking tub was a blessing for my chronic pain—allowing me to do much more after soaking. The location was perfect for easy access to come back and relax, and then head out again. The staff were over-the-top friendly, providing chocolates and biscuits and making the stay fantastic!

Hotel Ocelle Thermae & Spa

Sirmione

Staying at Hotel Ocelle Thermae & Spa was absolutely wonderful. The service was excellent and the Spa provided such a relaxing environment. Every aspect of my stay there helped to keep my stress levels down, which was incredibly important given my health conditions. Everything went seamlessly from arrival, and the staff were always attentive and considerate.

Activity Reviews

Murano Glass experience - Visit to a Glass Factory with blowing demonstration

Venice

The Murano Glass experience was incredible. I participated in glass blowing, and Angela even made a video for me, which was such a special touch. The demonstration was fascinating, and it was even more enjoyable with the company of a great guide who seemed to know everyone in the area.

Private walking guided tour of Sirmione highlights

Italy

The private walking guided tour of Sirmione highlights was fantastic. My tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and created such an enjoyable experience, even working on her own birthday! We even got out on the boat, which made me immensely happy as I love being on water.

Thanks for the amazing trip plan by kimkim and our local travel specialist Cannon. We had truly unique experiences including a grand sumo tournament in Tokyo and a private dinner with a Geiko in Kyoto with a translator. The trip details were very well thought out and the train tickets and transfers were seamless. Cannon was always available to help with questions and trip adjustments that we requested. I will definitely use kimkim again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Kanbayashi Hotel Senjukaku

Nagano

Excellent hotel, meals very well done, hot baths amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful authentic Japanese garden and onsen.

Location

Location within easy walking distance to the Snow Monkey Park.

Staff

Good service and very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very authentic, sleeping mattresses are prepared on the floor each night

FAV LUX HIDATAKAYAMA

Hotel location was excellent, hotel was heavily used and room was not very clean.

Authenticity & Character

Just OK

Location

Easy walking access to train station and old town

Staff

Check in was difficult and confusing with breakfast inclusion issues

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was not well kept and showed details of not being cleaned well

Activity Reviews

Private Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Very fun experience learning about the tea ceremony and dressing in kimonos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Was raining the day we went and overrun with tourists. Also the guide was disappointing and didn't provide much detail or commentary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Shirakawa-go Tour

Japan

Very unique place and worth the trip, especially the house showing how they replace the original thatch roof. The guide helped make this a good experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yasaka Shrine & Gion Walk with Nishiki Market

Kyoto

As noted below, all of our Kyoto experiences with the guide were below average. He didn't have much personality or seem to be an expert on anything. He asked us each day what the plan was and what we wanted to do. He didn't take a leadership role or seem to be excited about showing off his city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide for Kyoto was nice but not super knowledgeable or much personality. He essentially asked us each day what we wanted to do. We aren't the experts, we don't live here. I don't recommend this guide.

Transport

Tokyo Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Market & Senso-ji - East & Central

Tokyo

We didn't realize how touristy this market is. Would have preferred to go to the inner fish market where they auction the tuna.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was good. No complaints.

Transport

Private Sushi Making Experience with a Master Sushi Chef Trained at an Eminent Sushi Restaurant

Tokyo

We loved the private sushi making experience. The chef was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Timeless Takayama: Market, Tradition & Sukiyaki Delight

Takayama

Excellent day and our guide was really good. What a beautiful small town away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Yuko was excellent. We highly recommend her. She was excellent and being flexible with helping us stop and shop for a few specialty items.

Transport

Private Dinner with a Geisha - Maiko Ozashiki Experience

Kyoto

Top activity of the trip. Didn't realize how unique this experience would be. Having the translator made this an amazing expereince.

Quality of Experience

The Geiko was so graceful and welcoming. Truly a unique experience learning about the Geiko and Mayko culture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

we had trouble finding this place but it was our fault as we went on our own versus having the driver wait and drop us off.

Flawless doesn't begin to describe our first experience working with Valentine and the Kim Kim team! Absolutely EVERYTHING was perfect! Every hotel, guide, transport, hotel, included meal was a 10/10! We have been on several trips organized by a professional and this one will forever stand out. Our trip was by no means "cookie cutter". We found something similar (we visited the Swiss Alps and Italian Lake district) but through perfect and extremely timely communication with Valentine, she was able to customize our adventure to put continuous smiles on our faces (there were four of us) for the entire 2 weeks.

From E-bike tours to our personalized / private cooking class in Bellagio to our lake tour(s) and grotto lunch, Kim Kim and Valentine have given us brilliant memories that will last a lifetime! Thank you Kim Kim! We WILL be back!

Amanda Sanchez of Runner Bean Tours Barcelona stood out as an excellent guide on day 2. She took us to Casa Mila, La Sagrada, and Park Güell.

When comparing this Spain trip organized by KimKim to my last one to Spain a few years ago, the latter was better. In quite a few ways, I am unsure if it was because I had more days and destinations in Spain.
This time, there were gaps in the schedule. I added more activities from TripAdvisor. I am somewhat disappointed that I was not advised to book a different activity, rather than duplicating what I specifically asked for. It is okay, not earth-shattering. I don't like to spend time answering your question as to what happened.
In short, I do not want to spend more time writing about what happened.

Hotel Review

Hotel Villa Emilia

Barcelona

Very nice in all aspects. I like the size of the room, and the layout is super user-friendly. I like the minimalist decoration. I wish there were charging stations for USBC and USB. I wish there were wall plugs that were easily reachable. I wish the bedsheets felt more inviting and smooth.

Authenticity & Character

Quaint hotel, untainted Barcelona

Location

Easy to get to places, very nice neighbourhood

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cleaning staff is excellent. I wish the sheets had a nicer feel to them.

Activity Reviews

Private Barcelona Picasso Tour with Picasso Museum

Barcelona

The museum is great, but there is not enough time to go through. Our guide assumed we wanted to walk the streets to see the exteriors of other museums in the area, eating places, etc. Our guide was too eager to spend time and pay attention to the beginning of the tour at the Picasso museum; as a result, we had to rush through the last part. Better time management is needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above

Transport

The instructions on where to meet are unclear. We ended up running around searching for the guide.

Private Gothic Quarter Walk

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To have stops in between

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guides for the colliseum, borghese, tivoli al very good but our guide for Pompeii was truly outstanding.

We have now used KimKim for multiple trips and Malaysia was no different — absolutely seamless from start to finish. Every detail was taken care of before we even had to think about it. Accommodation, transfers, tours — all perfectly arranged, all exactly as promised.
What KimKim does better than anyone is remove the stress from travel entirely. There is no scrambling, no uncertainty, no moment where you wonder if something will go wrong. Everything just works. You arrive, you enjoy, you trust the process — because they have never once given us a reason not to.
Our Malaysia trip was everything we hoped for, and a big part of that is because the foundation was so well laid. When your logistics are this reliable, you are free to be fully present and actually experience the place you are in.
We will not use anyone else. KimKim has our complete loyalty — and our highest recommendation to anyone looking for a travel partner they can truly count on.