Kimkim Trip Reviews

Cathy was fantastic when it came to putting together a trip to western Scotland for 4 people whose ages spanned more than 25 years' difference. From arranging transportation within and in between all of our destinations (we didn't need a car the entire 10 day trip) to coordinating lots of movement between 4-5 destinations as well as scheduling enough (but not too many) varied activities to squeeze all we could out of our short time in this amazing country. Cathy was always very quick to respond to our questions and comments when it came to trip planning and maintained her efficient communication even while we were on the trip when some last minute questions came up. We would recommend each and every accommodation she arranged to any one looking for a guide. And there was not one dud among all of the tours/activities/guides that we participated in. Thank you Cathy for helping us make memories to last a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Angel's Share Hotel

New Town, Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were quite warm, even with provided fan and windows open. Also, no USB or USB-C charging ports in our room.

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Bridge of Orchy

Authenticity & Character

Location

The location was perfect for what we wanted to do during our time here but if you are looking for anything within walking distance (other than hiking or the train station) you need to stay elsewhere

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kings House Way Inn

Glencoe

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blackwater Hostel

Kinlochleven

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Need to pay extra for towels but other than that, all was very comfortable and clean.

The Garrison Hotel

Fort William

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Argyll Guest House

Glasgow

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Liked this experience more for the views from the castle than for the castle itself. LOTS of people, even midday on a weekday.

Quality of Experience

Private Guided Walk in Glencoe

Scotland

Dave was a fantastic guide. He took our input for what we wanted to get out of the half day hiking and made plans from there. Although our first idea for hiking was a bit ambitious (blurb about the Lost Valley hike in our provided itinerary was very misleading about the skill level required for this trail) and we needed to change plans, Dave was able to pivot very quickly and still provide us an amazing guided walk/hike in an area that was beautiful and we had all to ourselves. He made this experience one worth having!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dave was fantastic!

Transport

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Scotland

Dave was prompt, friendly, VERY knowledgeable, engaging, dedicated to giving us a quality experience for 9 straight hours, and gave us such a comprehensive, personalized tour of Scotland---we will be forever grateful for our time with him!

Quality of Experience

Can't say enough for how fun and special this whole day with Dave was

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dave is what made this a trip highlight for us--amazing in every way!

Transport

Car was clean and comfy. The microphone and speaker system that was used was such an important detail that we were so grateful was thought of

Eat Walk Glasgow

Glasgow

While a couple of the restaurants weren't the most unique or charming locations, the food was the reason each stop stood out and was worth visiting. The comprehensive and detailed information that was shared about Glasgow's history, current events/happenings, and its food scene were such treats to enjoy. Lei was a fantastic guide we were lucky to have!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Gareth's knowledge of Edinburgh, both historical and current, was truly impressive. We covered a lot of ground, both literally and figuratively, during our 3 hour walk but we were engaged the entire time as Gareth is committed to providing lots of information but in a way that kept us all tuned in and curious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The High Point of your Holidays

Scotland

Great section of the West Highland Way. It was not as strenuous as we were led to believe by some locals so we were able to complete this hike in about 3.5 hours, which gave us lots of extra time in Kinlochleven to enjoy the scenery.

Quality of Experience

Evening cruise on Loch Linnhe

Fort William

Sunset on the loch was not just beautiful and relaxing but full of lots of information about the local area and its history. We loved our time out on the water!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My wife and I experienced a fantastic - though too short - trip to Chile, in which we concentrated on Santiago and the wine country of Maipo and Colchuagua.

Our local guides, led by Favio's team, were superb and knowledgable, and were accommodating and very friendly to us. We had two drivers, Pierro in Santiago and Cristobal in the valleys, who were professional, courteous, and excellent on the roads. We always felt very safe and completely in the best of care.

I would highly recommend them to anyone who wished a trip to this stunning country, and I would also say that no amount of time is enough to visit all that Chile has to offer. We will certainly visit Chile again and use their services a second time.

Jason S. and Yoko.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Director Vitacura

Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana

This hotel is comfortable and clean. It is located in Vitacura, which is a very high-end mainly residential and commercial neighborhood in Santiago. There are very good restaurants and shopping nearby. You are, however, quite far away from the old historic parts of the city, and there is no convenient subway line to the Vitacura neighborhood, making you reliant on the bus system, taxis, or a private car. If you are looking to be close to the old city, this might not be the accomodation you want, but if the new district and the nightlife and restaurants are what you are looking for, this is a very good choice. The staff were friendly and able to understand my poor Spanish!

Authenticity & Character

This isn't really a hotel with "old-world" charm. It's fine but nothing special.

Location

This is in a new neighborhood and close to many very good restaurants.

Staff

The staff were very accommodating with my poor Spanish and quite easy to work with.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las mojadas Hotel

Chile

Actually, we would take another visit to Pirque just to stay at this hotel. It has a large internal garden, beautiful walking areas, clean and comfortable rooms, and a very good restaurant. We only were here for one night but in the future I might change that. It's close to the wineries of Concha y Toro and Santa Rita.

Authenticity & Character

Unique design and beautiful area.

Location

It's tucked away in a rather obscure corner of Maipo Valley but the gardens are gorgeous.

Staff

All the staff seemed perfectly bilingual.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel NOI Blend Colchagua

Santa Cruz, O'Higgins

A real treat of a hotel in Colchuagua Valley, near to several wineries and with a lovely garden area. The restaurant was amazing. While it did get chilly at night - the rooms have extremely high ceilings - the heated bathroom floor and the thick covers were fine.

Authenticity & Character

Very much what you would think an old hacienda or ranch would be like.

Location

Very close to the major wineries of Colchuagua Valley and quiet at night.

Staff

Although they did not speak much English, they used translator apps and were able to handle my poor Spanish well! The chef did amazing things in the kitchen.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santiago Food Tour & Cooking Class

Santiago

This was really one of the highlights of our trip, to be brought into someone's home and be cooked a local meal and learn how to make common traditional dishes. We always enjoy experiencing real native food and this was a very good choice.

Quality of Experience

Food

We helped make empanadas and ceviche, and had a wonderful poached pear dessert.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The chef was the driver's mother, and there was a lot of family in-jokes that were shared and appreciated.

Transport

Concha y Toro and Santa Rita Vineyard

Pirque

Santa Rita winery This is the second largest winery in Chile with a very large tour, and there are many different facets of the tour that has different appeals to different people. The tour itself goes through the very extensive gardens which are very attractive. It includes a look at the chapel and the former home which is now a boutique hotel. Admission to the former home is restricted to people who are spending the night at the hotel. The tour then includes a look at the cellar, the cellar facilities and has a brief historical video of the famous cellar that hid the 120 patriots of Bernardo O'Higgins, the Chilean independence leader. The winery has a very large restaurant which is excellent. The wine store is extensive. There is also a museum which we did not go into. This tour could easily take one hour to complete with tasting, not including the museum or any food in the restaurant. Although this is a long tour and a large area to walk around, I do think it is a very good tour and was one of the best traditional winery tours we took. Concha y Toro This is the largest winery in Chile, one of the largest in the entire world, and it is the most visited. The area is immense. It is very, very crowded and often over-crowded in many places with so many visitors. The winery has spent a lot of money building a new wine experience tour and frankly, I am not sure that it is really worth it. There is an enormous amount of educational, and then what I would refer to as infotainment with the legend of Don Melchior and the Casillero del Diablo as the featured attraction. It was very over the top and seemed very Disney-fied to us. Perhaps some tourists would appreciate this, but we did not find it added anything to our experience. I would also say that at Concha y Toro, there were many employees, but none of the employees we met had worked at the winery for a full year - almost everyone was six months or less, whereas most other wineries had guides who had been employed for many years. As such, the new guides often seemed a little confused or overwhelmed at times. I’m not certain if this is simply because it’s so big, but I would be hesitant to send anyone on this tour without first alerting them to the size and the type of experience that they were going to get.

Quality of Experience

Concha y Toro's guides lacked experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was excellent and pointed out many nice sites in the area.

Transport

Because these two wineries are not easily accessible off the highway, I'd recommend a driver.

Food & Wine Experience at Viña Montes 7th best Vineyard in the World!

Chile

This was a very unique experience. The owners of this relatively young label are eccentric and have a property that reflects their eccentricities. Part of the tour involves a car tour up the side of the mountain over which much of the production can be seen and photographs can be taken of the main building. We found this tour guide to be the best of all of our tour guides she was very good about engaging with my wife, whereas most of the tour guides looked and spoke to me and did not speak to my wife directly during much of the tasting. The winery is a little different from others in the owner's eccentricities, but it is a very pleasant experience and one we certainly see it as a "must" stop in Colchuaga Valley. We did not eat at the restaurant, which originally we were planning on doing (we were SO full from breakfast), so I cannot give a report on the restaurant. It looked wonderful overall.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenery, gorgeous views and really beautiful setting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The female guide was very good about making sure to speak to all members of the tour.

Transport

Viu Manent visit and activities.

Colchagua

This tour includes a horseback buggy, which can be a little shaky and jolting for older passengers. Climbing into the buggy can be a challenge for people who are mobility impaired. The tour goes around the Vineyards to the main winery and then back to the main area for tasting. We enjoyed the tour and tastings. We did not stop at the restaurant, but it was absolutely PACKED with people who seemed to be greatly enjoying their meals. There was a large space outside for children to run around and play safely.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour Private

Santiago

I have to confess that we did not do the private city tour. We were exhausted from our flight to Chile and did not have the strength to take the tour. The guide did come back the next day to tour with us for the food tour, and she was very kind and accommodative.

Casa silva Vine Yard

Colchagua

The tour is not very large - the wine shop to the fields to the production facility to the cellars is a very short walk. If you are mobility impaired this is a good choice as there will not be a lot of walking. The owner's collection of classic cars is included in the experience, which makes a nice addition.

Quality of Experience

It's a smaller winery and has fewer tours so it's easy to get a more personal attention.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Pedro Vineyard

Chile

The very high slopes at this vineyard meant that we did not have a horse or car tour around the wineries like we did with the others. The tour was still quite enjoyable. We also found that this winery is a bit more experimental in the way that they approach and make wine. It's a young winery with interesting new techniques and it is very different from Montes, Viu Manent, or Santa Rita.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We visited 2 places in Türkiye.
Our guide Ismael was very knowledgeable and helpful during our time in Istanbul.
Cappadocia was a surreal experience it was beautiful, the landscape balloon rides fairy chimneys and caves . Everything was amazing! Our guide Jannan was also amazing !!
Our trip was well planned the accommodations and transportation were perfect.

This trip was our first thru KimKim. In the past we have done bus tours with lots of people. We liked the idea of planning our trip based on what we wanted to see. Marina did a fantastic job planning the details and provided us with a stress free and memorable experience. Our guides at each location were friendly and knowledgeable. There is a huge sense of pride in each of them educating us on the wonders and historical value that is Spain. The Flamenco shows were one of our highlights, but there were so many. Madrid has this great vibe. Toledo! The Toledo cathedral was one of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen. Seville and the Alcázar Palace! Granada and the Alhambra! We ended our trip in Madrid @ the Prado Museum. Amazing collection of art. Thanks to all for such a memorable experience. Oh, the Calamari, and the Alhambra 1925 Lager. My new favorites!

Sincerely

Roger and Lori Madrazo

Planning a bucket list trip is hard enough, but when you have someone who sees your vision and goes above and beyond to make it comes to life, you know you have made the right decision. From the second we connected with Liz Karen, we knew it was going to be great. Despite how many times, I changed my mind, tweaked our trip, Liz was amazing and handled it promptly. The trip was everything we had hoped for and more. Everything was seamless. A few days before we left, LatAm cancelled one of our local flights. Liz and her team sprung into action and had it resolved in 24 hours. They even checked us in for the local flights and even send us our boarding passes. Communication while in Peru was amazing and they were responsive if we had any questions, or if something had changed. Thank you Liz and your team for planning and make this trip unforgettable.

Guðmundur Óli did a fantastic job planning our route and booking our excursions for our trip to Iceland. He was an incredible source of information throughout our stay, even responding quickly in the middle of the night when we lost our mapping route to help get us back on track.

The locations and excursions he booked were absolutely fabulous, and the accommodations chosen for our overnight stays were incredible. If Guðmundur is a representation of KimKim's travel planners, I highly recommend using your services for any travel destination.

Thank you for a wonderful family vacation that was enjoyed by all!

had found KimKim while in the process of planning our honeymoon in Norway. A traditional travel agent wouldn't be able to provide what I was looking for but the scale of what I was trying to accomplish seemed massive and I knew I needed some help. A quick Google search led me to KimKim and it was exactly what I was looking for.

After a quick email exchange about where we wanted to travel too, we were put into contact with our local expert, Taylor. We started the dialog about where we wanted to go and things we wanted to do and she put together the first version of an itinerary for us. During the entire process she was very receptive to all modifications we wanted to make on top of giving meaningful feedback on our ideas since she has actually traveled in this area before. After some back and forth and a few versions of the itinerary, we had the blueprint for our perfect vacation. I should mention that up until this point we had not been charged for anything by KimKim and Taylor had been working hard on this for us for over a month. We paid the deposit after the itinerary was locked in and then Nick and Maria got to work booking all of our accommodations, excursions and transportation (airport transfers, etc.. KimKim does not book your flights).

Once everything was booked, the entire itinerary along with all confirmation numbers was conveniently put into an app and shared with us. I can't stress enough how awesome it was not having to sift through pages of emails looking for confirmation numbers and hotel addresses while abroad. I never had to do more than pull up the app to find any information I needed, and each location was linked to Google maps.

Our honeymoon went off without a hitch, and it was one of the best experiences I've had in my life. Not once did we run into a hiccup, every ride transfer was waiting for us when we needed them and if I had a question someone was prompt with a response. All in all the entire experience was a joy from start to finish and I would 100% book another trip with KimKim in the future.

Massive thanks to Taylor, Nick and Maria 🙌

Amandine made the original arrangements. Audrey helped with later arrangements including dealing with our one day airline arrival delay. Both were very prompt and helpful in responding b

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Le Clos Huguerie

Bordeaux

Good location and lovely patio out back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near old town sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Périgueux Centre

Périgueux

Location between old Medieval town and Roman ruins was perfect for us. Also many restaurants in cute plazas nearby. Staff accommodated our difficult parking situation

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Langlois

Paris

Old style and needs upgrade of furnishings. Felt musty

Authenticity & Character

Location

Access to metro convenient. Some restaurants nearby

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit Font-de-Gaume cave (Entrance Tickets Included)

France

Private Notre-Dame Visit

Paris

Guide Sonali was delightful and informative

Quality of Experience

Trip was tailored to our specific needs, especially as related to our desire to see the prehistoric art in caves. We also visited the small city of Perigueux which is apparently not often visited by Americans and found the people extremely friendly and helpful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We used all the various rail, transportation in Paris and found it extremely easy to use for non-French speakers

Unveiling Masterpieces at the Louvre Museum

Paris

Day excursion by train to Giverny and visit of Monet’s Garden

France

Rouffignac Cave (Entrance Tickets Included)

France

Our trip to Machu Picchu was spectacular. As was our visits to Lima, Paracas and the Sacred Valley.

Our Tour Guide in Lima, Nancy, was very knowledgeable about the City's history. Her joy for cuisine was also memorable. We had a great time with Nancy.

Paracas was a huge surprise, as we did not know how expansive the Desert was and the Paracas Reserve was fabulous. Alvaro was the consummate Tour Guide, as the Desert is his life. The adventures he took us on will forever be etched in our memories.

Our days with EJ and Willie (our driver) were filled with wonderful and epic sites. EJ is a plethora of knowledge concerning the Inca people and culture. We learned so much from him. The side excursions like Stargazing alongside the road was awesome. And our coffee stops were filled with great conversation. We will forever remember EJ, as a Friend and Family.

We had a wonderful trip to Greece. Sydney did a fabulous job planning the ideal trip for us with plenty of adventures and time for rest and relaxation. Our tour guides were excellent, both knowledgeable and very enjoyable to spend time with.
Would definitely recommend KimKim and look forward to our next trip!

Hotel Reviews

Athens Manor Houses

Athens

Great hotel with friendly staff and ideal location. We did not have any issues with noise which I read about in other reviews.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Melidron Hotel & Suites

Naxos

Clean, bright rooms, with an ideal location. Attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Agali Houses

Firostefani 00

Spectacular views! The many steps up/down were manageable for us. Food was quite good, the best we had had for hotel food. Rooms were clean, bright and enjoyable and staff was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Activity Reviews

Private Morning Old Town Walk with Museum, Castle & Portara

Naxos

We had a private tour in Naxos that was equally as good as the group tour in Athens. The guides were informative and made the experience very enjoyable.

Traditional Vineyards & Wine Tasting Experience

Santorini

The wine tour in Santorini was very good. The driver was prompt and provided interesting information about the island and the wine-making process, which made the experience fun and informative.

Sunset Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

The catamaran cruise was great with an attentive crew and good weather. We enjoyed snorkeling and the dinner on board. However, there wasn't much to see in terms of sights. We still enjoyed it regardless!

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Athens

All the tours were great, and the guides were very informative and fun, which made the experience enjoyable. We had a group tour in Athens that was excellent.

This is our second KimKim trip. We requested a train tour through the Swiss Alps, and that is exactly what we got — “in spades”! 👍👍 The itinerary was well organized, very detailed, and all vouchers were included. We also received guidance during the trip when needed. The train schedule was easy to follow, alpine sites were beautiful, accommodations were very, very nice, and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Special thanks to Emilie and all the staff at Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Tralala Hotel Montreux

Montreux

Excellent staff and a very convenient location to the train station. There are a few food options, but since they don’t have their own kitchen, it’s better to go to an actual restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff is very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Jägerhof

Zermatt

The location and overall ambience of this hotel is very nice. The view is a fantastic and it’s an extremely convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

There was a lovely balcony

Location

Beautiful view of Matterhorn. The hotel offers a shuttle from the train station upon arrival and departure.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parkhotel Schoenegg

Grindelwald

A lovely hotel with a balcony and view of the mountains. There is a shuttle that will deliver to the train station upon departure, it will probably pick you up as well if requested. We walked through town so we could get the lay of the land.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Central Luzern

Luzern

Modern hotel that is VERY convenient for train travel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Only five Minutes to the train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine tasting with Swiss Cheese & Charcuterie in Chexbres Lavaux vineyards domain (30min by train from Montreux)

Switzerland

This was quite enjoyable. They provided a large charcuterie board along with six wine tastings. It was easy to get there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Round-trip Tickets)

Zermatt

This was our favorite activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lucerne Private Guided Walking Tour

Lucerne

Beatrice was lovely.

Quality of Experience

A lot was covered in 1.5 hours.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent communication and knowledge of Luzerne

Transport

An easy walk around the city.

Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)

Switzerland

Thank goodness for the detailed write-up for all the transport to the top!

Quality of Experience

A fantastic day. (We didn’t think it was worth the trip to Lauterbrunnen. It was very busy and not especially scenic.)

Transport

It’s a little confusing about which ticket to scan for access to the various gondolas but we just kept them all handy and scanned until we got to the right one.

Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland

Essential to have!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The local hotel brands selected were perfect. I was surprised to learn that they were booked through Expedia. I am not sure this matters but had the perception that rooms booked through a 3rd party site were not the best rooms. Our rooms were fantastic.

The Bed and Breakfast in Avignon was a treat! This was a great recommendation by Liz. Brian is a fantastic host and the property was extremely comfortable. The food was fabulous.

Overall the trip gave us time in different parts of France which was great to experience. The private transfers were all on-time (except one) and the cars were clean (except one). The drivers were all pleasant but spoke little English.

Skip the dinner cruise for future travelers. We figured the food would be sub-par and we were not disappointed. It was terrible and the waiter was rude.

Encouraging bike riding around the cities is a must!

The video prior to traveling was perfect to give us a reminder of what we booked and where we were in the city.

Felix was the best guide for the Louvre and Sainte Chapelle. We were disappointed we just got to see the exterior of Notre Dame. That would be our mistake we didn't catch that in the itinerary, the outside "tour" was a joke.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Brighton

Paris

The renovated room was very nice but there wasn't a view as promised. The location was great. Breakfast was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff was very nice and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bastide de Bellegarde

Avignon

Brian was an exceptional host. The room and artwork was fabulous!!. The food was amazing. Brian provided commentary about the food for each guest table which was great to get to know him. The mosquitos were a bit much despite having spray at dinner time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The property was a 15 minute bike ride from town which was very convenient.

Staff

Brian is the best host!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel West End

Nice

Our room was very large and had a great view of the Promenade. The shower drain kept clogging. We called maintenance about it once. The location was great. The lavender painted walls and draperies were fun! The breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across from the Promenade.

Staff

Olga at the front desk was very nice. The other staff were not as friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was spacious and had a great view. Love the separate water closet

Activity Reviews

Private Exterior Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit with Priority Access

Paris

Felix was knowledgeable and tailored the day to us. We were disappointed we did not get to go into Notre Dame. An external tour was not the same. The Louvre was spectacular with Felix as our guide. He pointed out the best parts and kept our interest. Felix spoke fantastic English. Is Felix ever goes out on his own, pick him!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

From Squares to Seaside: Nice E-Bike Ride

Nice

Tessa was a great guide! She was very knowledgeable about the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Louvre Museum Visit

Paris

A guide is a must and Felix was the best!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Early Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise

Paris

The food was terrible and the waiter was rude. There was a great view of the Eiffel Tower from the boat. There was no commentary about the buildings or sites we were passing on the river. Pass on this one!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Versailles & Farmers Market Bike Day

Paris

Great to get the tour guide to show us the market and taste some of the foods. Michael was a great guide! He peddled fast but we could easily keep up. We could have had a better lunch spot than on the faded grass by the restrooms, but it worked!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Afternoon Wine Tour

Avignon

The first winery we visited had a great history but the lady was a bit distracted and didn't seem happy we were there. Our guide did a great job of explaining all about the vineyards and the popes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The van was comfortable for the ride.

Private Riviera Discovery: Monaco, Eze & Cap Ferrat

Nice

The Captain (I can't remember his name) was awesome! The private boat was better since we could tailor the trip to our needs. The snorkeling was fun. Our Captain was very knowledgable about the coastline and the boats in the harbors. It would have been nice for him to have provided drinks or had time for lunch when we stopped at Cap Ferrat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alpine Train & Hidden Villages Adventure

Nice

Cyril was amazing! He spoke very clear english and knew all about the villages we visited. The group was a bit larger than we thought but it was nice to meet the other guests. The restaurant had a great food. The train was clean and nice to ride thru the Alps and see the scenery. Cyril did a great job narrating along the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Flavors of Nice: An Evening Food Walk

Nice

Our guide was knowledgeable but didn't do a good job talking to the group with information. She was great one-on-one but didn't talk to the group.

Quality of Experience

Food

The olive shop was interesting and great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Greece could not have been planned better. Angeliki was such a huge help whether it was offering suggestions, recommendations or providing options. She was quick to respond and always had a answer to any questions we had. Greece was absolutely beautiful, the excursions that were planned were informative, detailed and full of beautiful scenery. The food was so fresh, hotels were clean, transportation was always on time and there was plenty to do and to see. We are already planning our next trip! I would highly recommend Kimkim, Angeliki especially!

Hotel Reviews

Electra Metropolis

Athens

This hotel was in a great area. It is in the middle of restaurants, shops and a short walk to the Acropolis. The rooms were clean, and the bar top restaurant has the most amazing view! The staff were friendly and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A short walk to anywhere you need to go.

Staff

Everyone we encountered was friendly and quick to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The layout of the room was very nice, the beds were comfortable, and plenty of hot water.

Melidron Hotel & Suites

Naxos

The hotel was beautiful and a short walk to the beach. The room was very clean, however, we could not get the ac to work correctly, making the room a little stuffy. The bathroom had drain flys that were a little aggravating and the shower water pressure was very low. We alerted the staff about the water pressure and were told it it was fixed. It worked fine at night, but the next morning, it was low again.

Authenticity & Character

Very appealing look.

Location

A short walk to the beach, restaurants & stores.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Although the drain flys were a nuisance, the hotel was very clean.

Above Blue Suites

Santorini

This was by far our favorite hotel that we stayed at during our trip. We stayed in the Moonlight suite, which thankfully was a short walk to the street level. The view, the view, the view....I cannot say enough about the view! It was absolutely amazing. You could literally stay out on your terrace all day and night watching the sunset. The room is designed to feel like a cave which makes the room feel cozy. The shower was big and has great water pressure. I would highly recommend and I would stay at this hotel anytime I visit Santorini.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to a few stores and restaurants.

Staff

Super friendly and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean, cool and cozy.

Activity Reviews

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Our guide was very detailed and knew a lot about the history of the Acropolis. I did feel like the last hour (hour 4) made it too long of a tour, but I enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

The guide was very knowledgeable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly and prompt.

Transport

Friendly and prompt.

Naxos Villages Food Tour

Naxos

Our guide was very informative and the villages he took us to were very quaint and had amazing food and scenery.

Quality of Experience

Tasting the different foods was exciting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and informative.

Transport

Prompt and vehicles were clean.

Santorini Gems Catamaran Sunset Tour

Santorini

Absolutely amazing! The best adventure of our trip. We could not have ended with a better adventure. Swimming in the sea, eating lunch, meeting great people, and watching the amazing sunset was an absolute dream. I highly recommend, you will not regret it.

Quality of Experience

Best experience ever!

Food

The lunch was very nice and flavorful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The catamaran was very clean and easily big enough for large groups.

We appreciated the breadth of our Australian experience, from city to desert to rainforest. All the activities suggested were high-quality, particularly the food tours. The fish market class is a great venue, but the class was just OK. The private transfers went smoothly, and Hughes was diligent when they had the wrong arrivals info(for Melbourne) to make contact and find us. Accommodations were nicely varied and in good locations to match our outings. The Sydney hotel was a tight space-wise and a bit shabby; many other hotels in the area with similar price points and more stars were available.
All of our Uluru experiences were good, but we would've liked to have known about Kata Tjuta during the planning process.
We were disappointed to have our Daintree daytrip switched the day before, but the team was responsive and offered an alternative. Accommodation there was relaxing. The Coral Reef boating staff was helpful and well organized, high winds not withstanding! A direct flight from Cairns to Melbourne would have been a timesaver without connecting through Sydney.
Melbourne hotel had great views but leaky shower seals, good overall.
This was a trip of a lifetime for us and we appreciate the team's guidance in helping us see a lot in the two weeks that flew by. Thank you!

Good day. The whole trip was a success and really wonderful. Our tour guides were knowledgeable and courteous and professional. Our bike and kayak hosts were great. Shared homemade wine and treats and were also knowledgeable in history! Our boat crew mates for the island hop were delightful and lots of knowledge as well. Everyone was great to us even the taxi guys. It was a great trip.

If only one word, it would be care. Care for me as a client and for my experience was evident and consistent. In the pre-trip communication, in the detailed responses, in the pick up at Kathmandu, choice of hotel, ongoing communication and check ins by Ngima during the jeep trek to Lo Manthang. Choice of a driver, Razu (sp?), with 18 years experience taking me up very roads and then some very tricky, not for faint of heart "roads" in the Mustang regions. Each night, I don't know how or where, it seemed Razu cleaned the car, at least for sure he cleaned the rubber foot mat in the back for under my feet - little things mattered and noticed. My guide was Pemba Sherpa, with 7 Everest summit attempts and 5 successful was over qualified for a jeep trek but he didn't in any way act as if he was; just there, helpful, humble, friendly, made sure i was comfortable and safe, knowledgeable, confident - i was in his "backyard" that he knew very well. Operations Manager, Binod was outdistancing as was Amit (sp?) who was our driver around Kathmandu. I mentioned them because I had a unique request which was to do a litter pick up in Kathmandu even if it was just me but they weren't up for something small so they went big and we did a great big pick up with a local school, Lion's Club and local residents - over the top creation of a an event. That was amazing!

I flew to Pokhara and then drove up to Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang near the Chinese border. A great adventure. scenery was great. Lots of monasteries were fascinating.

Carefully Curated Cultural Immersion ... planning was important, saying what I wanted, knowing what I was getting and then excellent execution by the team, made it great! Thank you, Pemba, Binod, Amit, Razu and Ngima.

My husband, Steve, and I were interested in visiting Portugal to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We began our research by watching YouTube videos, and one host kept showing up—Pedro Luis. I googled him and discovered that he was affiliated with KimKim. We reached out to Pedro, shared our interests, and from the very beginning, he was wonderful to work with.

Pedro put together an amazing trip for us that was perfectly suited to what we wanted to experience. It turned out to be a truly wonderful and memorable anniversary adventure, and we couldn’t have been happier with how everything came together.We started our adventure in Lisbon and then traveled to the Algarve, Évora, Alcobaça, and Porto, rounding out our time in Portugal. We asked Pedro to add a few days in Barcelona at the end of our trip, which turned out to be a fantastic way to finish our anniversary celebration.
Our itinerary included airport transfers, walking tours, a Fado experience with dinner, e-bike and boat tours, cooking classes, tickets to UNESCO World Heritage sites, and so much more! Every guide we had was knowledgeable, personable, and well informed, making each guided activity that much more enjoyable. Both Steve and I are absolutely horrible with names, so the fact that we can't mention everyone by name is in no way a reflection of the wonderful time we spent with each of them.

We also really appreciated the balance Pedro built into our itinerary. In addition to all of the scheduled tours and activities, we had plenty of time to explore on our own, wander through the cities, and simply enjoy being there without feeling rushed.

I would give each of the tours and activities five stars. There were, however, two that stood out as 5+++: the cooking class at The Paella Club in Barcelona and the Sail Tour, also in Barcelona. Both were exceptional experiences.

The Sail Tour was scheduled for our last day, and it was the perfect way to end our trip. Relaxing on the water, taking in the beautiful surroundings, and reflecting on everything we had experienced made for a truly memorable final day.

We hope to return to Portugal someday, and if we do, there is no question that we will reach out to Pedro again. We would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and attentive travel planner who can turn a trip into an unforgettable experience.

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

This was our favorite hotel! Perfect location and really friendly staff. We had breakfast each morning and also ate dinner here one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's right in the middle of things.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Mãe Lagos

Lagos

This is a lovely hotel, but driving there can be tricky! Look for the parking lot that's actually behind the hotel rather than driving to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M'ar de Ar Aqueduto

Évora

Montebelo Mosteiro de Alcobaça Historic Hotel

Alcobaça

This is a very large hotel! Only a few minutes walk to the main square. The only odd thing was if you wanted to go to the pool -- even just to sit -- you had to wear a swiming cap.

PortoBay Flores

Porto

The One Barcelona

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff is eager to help in any way they can.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Authentic Small Group Portuguese Cooking Class in Lisbon

Portugal

2h Small Group Classic Sail Tour in Barcelona

Barcelona

This was one of our favorites!

Private Transfer from your hotel to a unique Fado Experience

Portugal

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Paella Cooking Experience

Barcelona

So much fun! It was like being caught up in a broadway production. High energy, and tasty recipes.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Premium Dinner Accompanied by Authentic Fado Performance

Lisbon

To Eat Suggestion: Luca´s Rooftop Restaurant (Lagos)

Portugal

Luca's is a wonderful restaurant with interesting cocktails and menu.

The Essence of Douro - A River, Wine, and Gastronomy Experience with a Private Driver

Portugal

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour with Ginjinha & Pastel de Nata

Lisbon

Exploring Lisbon's Riverside on an Exclusive E-Bike Adventure to Belém

Lisbon

Super fun!

Explore Sintra's Fairytale Villa with a Private Driver and Pena Palace Tickets

Portugal

Exclusive Boat Tour to Ponta da Piedade Grottoes with a Swimming Stop

Portugal

The rock formations are amazing.

Step Back in Time with a Private Guided Tour of Évora and the Bones Chapel!

Portugal

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

We arrived home early this morning. We just had the most terrific time in Iceland. You were great in setting up just the best things for us. It was a truly magnificent trip. Iceland and its people are very special, kind, helpful, cheerful. We were so impressed with all the sights to see and each day we thought the next would not be as wonderful- we were proved wrong every time. It just got better and better.
Thank you for always getting back with us quickly and helping us navigate the changes in our itineraries. I have already told others of our experience with you and your company.I hope that brings you business:) We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Hotel Reviews

Hótel Búðir

Búðir

Beautiful location and the staff was excellent. Breakfast and dinner are highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

quaint and cozy

Location

surrounded by loveliness

Staff

all were wonderful

Cleanliness & Comfort

great linens

Skálatjörn

Selfoss

The room was as we expected, cozy and sufficient

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to the goat barn!!! Fun!

Staff

Helena was so informative about the goats!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Beach Suites

Vik I Myrdal

This hotel was amazing. Gorgeous views, comfortable studio apartment. Great bed, well appointed.

Authenticity & Character

modern austerity.

Location

Beautiful views

Staff

kind and informative

Cleanliness & Comfort

pristine

Center Hotels Skjaldbreið

Reykjavík

we did not get to stay at Skjaldbreid as they had a fire but the staff directed us to Center Hotel Plaza. It was very nice. Breakfast was delicious. Thought I had died and gone to heaven after eating the lovely granola bar. :)

Authenticity & Character

nice lobby for drinks

Location

perfect location to sites, shops and restaurants

Staff

very efficient

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean

Activity Reviews

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Amphibian Boat

Iceland

Once in a lifetime experience

Quality of Experience

Stunning views

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So funny and informative

Transport

The boat was sturdy and safe

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

A great way to start our trip. Very interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so smart and knew the answers we needed.

Transport

we drove

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

Loved this tour.

Quality of Experience

All we wanted and mor4e

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So funny and gave us many interesting facts.

Transport

Loved driving through the glacial beaches.

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

So relaxing. The facility was top notch.

Quality of Experience

Very relaxing and beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

friendly and accomodating

We had a great trip to Italy and enjoyed the schedule. However, I was first disappointed when I did not hear from KimKim days before my departure and upon my arrival. Even when our driver was not waiting for us at the airport and I reached out. We did finally connect with our driver after about 15 minutes and was taken to our hotel but then he complained that he was not satisfied with the 30 euro tip. I was also disappointed that we were not able to enjoy any time at the beach, which I specifically stated in our planning was important to me. This was because it conflicted with our Lemoncello and hiking schedule. I also had given our ages (I am 67 and my husband is 72) and although we are in good shape, the hiking and stairs in Amalfi were a little much. Added to all the stairs in Positana, we were exhausted after just two days into our trip. The other issue was the accommodations in Tuscany, it was very rustic, more stairs, no coffee pot, no tissues (had to use toilet paper on my face) and the shower went from warm to cold in a short time. KimKim helped us rebook and we moved to Florence. The other part I did not understand is why we flew into Rome and immediately went to Amalfi and back to Positano and then back to Rome, why wouldn't we stay in Rome and then travel to a Positano. The same thing happened when we were in Tuscany, they had planned for us to travel to Florence for tours but then back to Tuscany. Why wouldn't we just stay in Florence for a couple of days. It seems we spent a lot of unnecessary time traveling back and forth which I believe could have been avoided with better planning. As far as the Aristocrat Palazzo with a secret garden, this was a joke and basically a rundown portion of someone's residence. Our guide was over 30 minutes late and once I got a hold of her via phone, said she couldn't lock her door. In the future, I would leave this tour off your itineraries.
I am hesitant to use KimKim and will be looking for other agents as we plan our trip to Greece.

Had an amazing time in France. The trip Alexia put together was incredible. When I needed to make a few changes while on the trip Alexia was super helpful and help sort everything while I was out enjoying the activities and sights we had planned on the day, so I didn’t have to stress.

Staying the night on Mont St-Michel and experiencing it after the flocks of tourists died down was incredible! Also fell in love with Bordeaux would definitely go back.

Hotel Reviews

Auberge Saint-Pierre

LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL

Authenticity & Character

Staying in a Mont St Michel residence couldn’t be anything but Authentic. Definitely recommend over staying near the information centre or main town on the mainland. Just pack light and leave what you don’t need in the car to make getting around easier.

Location

Amazing location being on the island and being able to have view from the top of the village looking back over the main streets, rooftops and coastline.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Originals City, Hôtel Chantecler

Le Mans

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western le Vinci 3*

Amboise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure La Rochelle Vieux-Port

La Rochelle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Boutique Hotel & Spa

Bordeaux

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the historical center of Bordeaux and with designer stores and stunning cafes and landmark at your doorstep.

Staff

The staff here are amazing, casual but friendly team that work together to looks after guests. Nothing is too difficult and they are super proactive and thoughtful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are presented beautifully and everything was immaculate.

Activity Reviews

A Taste of Saint-Émilion – Afternoon

Bordeaux

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Martell Cognac - A unique experience

France

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A day at the Mont Saint Michel with a small group - Meet us there

Saint-Malo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport