Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our guide in Cape Town, Lucy, was fantastic. The itinerary was great. Accommodations were wonderful.

Hotel Reviews

Amakhala Bush Lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belvidere Manor

Knysna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mooiplaas Guest House

Oudtshoorn

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Schoone Oordt Country House

Swellendam

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Fontaine Boutique Hotel

Franschhoek

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Cape Town

great location and concierge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eastern Cape Private Game Reserve Game Drive

Eastern Cape Game Reserve

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour (including lunch)

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Table Mountain Hike and Cable Car

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My son and I took a trip to Japan and planned it through kimkim. Our local agent Angel was amazing to work with and connected us with the best tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto. She stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and made sure we had all the information we needed to travel efficiently. We could not have asked for a better experience. I definitely will use kimkim again when booking a custom luxury vacation.

Hotel Review

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Could tell it was an American brand

Location

Near train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride and Bamboo Grove

Kyoto

Due to weather our boat ride got cancelled but our guide made sure to keep us busy with other sites. In addition to the bamboo forest we visited another site that was not on our list but one that I had heard about. Yoshiko was very accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver was extremely professional and very accommodating

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This was so much fun! I loved getting dressed in the kimono and learning about the traditional tea ceremony customs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

Although this was interesting, the museum was very crowded and was my least favorite part of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff and guides at the museum felt rushed.

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Our guide in Kyoto, Yoshiko, was such a pleasure to tour with. She was very knowledgeable and despite the rain (and crowds) she made this day interesting and memorable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gion Geisha Walking Tour

Kyoto

This tour was very informative. Our guide gave us a ton of historical information about the area and the Geisha culture. We didn’t get to see everything I would have liked to see but still very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive to Hakone from Tokyo

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vehicle was extremely comfortable

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway

Japan

This was one of my favorite days. Motoki was once again very accommodating and made sure we got to see everything we wanted. Our driver was also very accommodating and there to pick us up whenever we were ready to move on to the next stop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Minnie was a great guide and the food was incredible. Loved that it was a small group and we got to know our guide and the other couple in the tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

Our tour guide Motoki was fantastic. He made sure that we got to see and do all that we wanted in addition to what was on our itinerary. He also shared stories of the Japanese culture that added to our experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Motoki was the BEST!

Transport

We visited Morocco in October 2025 and had an amazing experience from Marrakech to Casablanca. Our car was clean, comfortable, and air-conditioned, and our driver Mostapha was fantastic. We had excellent local guides at every stop and stayed in beautiful Riads in Marrakech, Dades Valley, Fez and Chefchaouen, plus an unforgettable night in a desert camp in Merzouga–Erg Chebbi. Our local contact was Said from Original travels and he was very responsive. He offered us upgrades and other benefits throughout the trip. Great service, reasonable prices, and truly a 5-star experience. Highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Fes Maya Suite & Spa

Fès

An old palace converters into a riad. Has old world charm but very dimly lit, sheets have musty smell and very noisy. We also didn’t have good experience with the dining staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very noisy, far from center of Medina

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

We didn’t get to stay here but was send to another camp, which was disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

We didn’t stay here, so don’t know

Location

We didn’t stay here, so don’t know

Staff

We didn’t stay here, so don’t know

Cleanliness & Comfort

We didn’t stay here, so don’t know

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Family run hotel at Dades valley, attentive service. On the bank of a river but not much of a view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Diamond of Marrakech

Marrakech

Central location at the heart of the Medina. Newly renovated. Great service. Great food options nearby

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Exploration of the "Blue City" Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Blue city in the mountains views are spectacular from the top. Fun to walk in the alleyways.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Must do tour of Fez, Fez Medina is much more authentic. Best chance to look at local handicrafts up close

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Fes via Rissani, Midelt, & the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Very comfortable car, great drive Mustapha made all the difference in these long trips

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Ride in the Dunes of Merzouga

Merzouga

Very fun, our first time on the ATV and throughly enjoyed, even did tight turns along the way. Exhilarating to climb a duns, race down and repeat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Boumalne Dades to Merzouga via Tinghir & Rissani, Sunset Camel Ride

Morocco

Definitely highlight of the tour, camel ride to the camp and stopping on the way to watch spectacular sunset

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Fun way to explore local food

Quality of Experience

All good except little late for the lamb place, they almost ran out

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Morocco

We went here next morning. Was not too busy. We didn’t find much to see. Having a guide would be great.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Knowledgeable local guide, took us to all local spots, gave us time to explore. Also good conversation.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It is so nice to have worked with Majid in planning the trip. Khalid was attentive, kind, on time, informative and definitely knew how to drive in Morocco!
We saw so much from ruins to mosques to the cities and the camels in the desert. The markets were oh, so unique. It was good to see the countryside and the towns and cities and diversity.
I especially enjoyed the camel ride and night in the desert, the cooking class, the Hamman, the market, the nomads and oh so much more.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Baraka & Karam

Marrakech

This hotel was so lovely, clean and overlooked the courtyard. The staff was wonderful on giving directions, attending to bags and giving us recommendations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Lys - Luxury Riad & Spa

Fes

Quite lovely

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

I expected more rustic sleeping arrangements and I surprised to find we had all the amenities!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nila

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were told wrong hours for breakfast so when we got there we had a short window before our guide came and they were unable to serve us

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

Clean Let us check in early

Authenticity & Character

Location

We could get around well

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

We were only there a short time so we really didn’t get to enjoy the lovely grounds

Authenticity & Character

The grounds were lovely

Location

Time there

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Camel trek to your luxury camp

Merzouga

It felt a little surreal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Free afternoon in Casablanca Beach.

Casablanca

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our drivers Rui and Carlos were super friendly and knowledgeable. Carlos was especially entertaining. Our food tour guide in Lisbon, Alex, was terrific as well. We learned a lot from her and the food experience at the Lisbon Winery was excelllent.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Older, dated hotel. The breakfast was "meh". Staff was not friendly at check in. The weather was bad and we couldn't even walk outside to the pool even when the weather improved. Several areas were closed. We just wanted to go sit outside and admire the ocean but it wasn't an option.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wine & Books Porto Hotel

Porto

Excellent location, modern hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Clean, nice location. There was a lot of construction in the area which was a little noisy in the mornings. They acknowledged by birthday verbally and with a bottle of champagne and cake in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

As mentioned previously, the lunch was not very impressive and we felt rushed. Due to weather our private tour was very short and we didn't get to have the full experience (not blaming the winery for the weather).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Overall this was a great day. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great and our private tour of the winery was very short. The private river cruise was great - the weather held and our guide was very friendly. Our car driver was very nice, but I think he was sick which was a little disconcerting. He assured us it was allergies but because he was under the weather he didn't communicate as much as our other 2 drivers. We had to ask questions rather than him offering up a lot of information. I was not impressed with the meal at the winery. It was just ok and felt a little rushed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Porto's Rich History on an Exclusive Gastronomic Tour Through Time

Porto

I'm rating this experience lower as our guide didn't offer as much history and stories as our guide in Lisbon. Also, one of our stops was a sales pitch, which I didn't appreciate at all. We felt pressured to purchase something from the shop. This should not happen on a private food tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was very friendly and accomodating. We enjoyed the tour of the palace and gardens and then a visit to Sintra.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flavors of Lisbon in a Premium & Gastronomic Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Alex was amazing! She taught us a lot about Lisbon and the food choices were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Cervejaria Trindade

Lisbon

We just had a snack and beer but the environment was cool and the beer and good was good.

Quality of Experience

Ali was a jewel! Always helpful and on time.

Costa Rica was a very interesting country and we had some good experiences, particularly, Casa Corcavado Wilderness Lodge. However, we felt the first part of the trip was organised to suit the local agency (Serendipity) rather than us. There was a lot of travelling and not much to see. Overall, we were very disappointed with the trip and would not use Kim Kim again.

Our trip to Ecuador was very good. Guide and driver were excellent. Our only criticism is that there was a lot of driving in heavy traffic to and from Quito. It would have been better for northern trips to spend a night out of Quito.

We will also provide a review for our Costa Rica trip organised by KIm Kim. We were not happy with that trip which is why we would not recommend Kim Kim to friends.

If you're seeking to create a private tour of Japan, then Shona of kimkim can provide you with the resources to develop, coordinate and create an experience that will be unique as you desire. We enjoyed 22 days of adventure as a party of four staying in seven locations with accommodations of four star arranged by both kimkim and ourselves. Shona was instrumental in providing us with private professional guides, bike tours, foodie tours, event tickets, private transfers and purchasing rail tickets with reserved seating located strategically for convenient luggage storage. We began and ended our adventure in Tokyo with stops in Nikko, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka, Koyasan and Hakone. There were a variety of day trips that allowed us to experience the beautiful countryside. We had a very active itinerary which required close collaboration from all parties in order for it to flow and be successful. Our trip to Japan was so memorable and we wouldn't have been able to do it without the assistance of kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

We had a amazing room with a private bathroom garden view named waterfowl.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Amazing breakfast buffet with so many options for a Japanese or Western taste

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel

Location is bit isolated unless you have your own transportation

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza PREMIER

Tokyo

Room was tiny and breakfast was ok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at dark

Osaka

Need to update the meeting location. It was raining hard and we had to walk for twenty minutes to the new meeting location

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha to Tofuku-ji Temple Hiking Experience

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geisha (Maiko) Tea Ceremony & Show

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Shirakawago Day Trip

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nikko 33km Scenic Cycling + Farmhouse Lunch (Approx. 5 Hours)

Nikko

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Night Tour of Kanawaza With Dinner

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Food

Very interesting venue

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wasn't that much to see at night

Get a Taste of Nikko's Nature and Culture: Toshogu Shrine.

Nikko

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Weather was so good that day

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Angel did an awesome job curat the iternerary for us and suiting it to our interests. All of the guides and activities were excellent. The accomodations were also great. We had a perfect mix of planned experiences and free-time. Angel also did a really good job with the pacing of our trip between cities. Will probably use kimkim again!:)

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport

Tokyo

Nice place to stay for our final night in Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Fancy hotel; enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Overall nice place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get to town from here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

This hotel was such a memorable experience -- it is in a beautiful area and there is so much to do in the hotel. They also give you yukatas to wear and free tea / juice. One of our favorite things was around 9PM we were exploring the hotel and there was a small spa area where we were able to just walk up and schedule a massage before sleep. Loved that we did not need a reservation or anything and that it was open at night-- super cool! The hotel also had a game room and kareoke room and late-night ramen bar. One thing is that the dinner was very traditional, so that part would not suit everybody's taste; during the dinner there were Geisha performances which was cool. Also, there was a cute store in the hotel with a lot of Hakone-specific items; I took back several different things as souvenirs.

Authenticity & Character

Very traditional.

Location

Pretty in a mountain area.

Staff

Kind and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean.

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Amazing location; great hreakfast; clean and spacious room. Loved this for our Tokyo time!

Authenticity & Character

Location is perfect.

Location

Asakusa is a really fun part of Tokyo with a lot of cool shops and restaurants and history -- glad we stayed here and got to see a lot of it.

Staff

Attentive; kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and neat.

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

So happy to have Hiro again for this tour -- getting the same tour guide for Kyoto and Osaka was really cool and added to our experience because it was like we were traveling with a friend!:) He also gifted us polaroids of the day as a parting gift -- so nice and I am keeping them forever!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Hiro is awesome.

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Loved trying the different foods Osaka is known for; would do again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Cooking Class

Japan

So much fun and turned out delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Super fun day; we learned and saw a lot! Also loved our guide Hiro -- he was so nice and funny and knowledgable and REALLY good at taking photos. It was like we had a perfect two in one guide and photographer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

So beautiful and such a fun day! We enjoyed the boat ride, and we really loved the gardens in giew of Mt. Fuji. Our driver was very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo : Enter the Sanctuary ( join in, small group )

Tokyo

Super fun; the sumo wrestlers had really great / funny personalities.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Shinjuku Gyoen (cherry blossom)

Tokyo

Our tour guide was so nice and knowledgable! Loved her! Got to see a lot of different places in Tokyo and she took us adjusted the trip to suit what we wanted like if we saw something along the way that was not scheduled she let us check it out and get pictures. She gave us cute paper cranes as a goodbye gift.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved Ikuko!!

Transport

Adrian was wonderful and lovely to work with. He listened and did his very best to make our experience exceptional. Also, if getting a driver, I highly recommend Ken Smyth - he was incredible! Five star!

Gummi organized an absolutely amazing trip for us in Iceland. We decided on the road-trip as a babymoon fairly last minute, and he quickly jumped in to help us. After sending an initial itinerary, we then did a zoom call, made a few adjustments, and then had the perfect trip plan.

The trip was the perfect mix of hitting the "hot spots" (i.e. the Golden Circle), as well as visiting and staying in some slightly more remote places (would highly recommend spending two nights on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, that was our favorite stop!). Although the schedule was packed, we never felt overwhelmed or like we were rushing from attraction to attraction - it would have been impossible for us to have planned something like this ourselves.

This is my second time using Kimkim and we will absolutely be using it again!

Our 10-day trip to The Netherlands was outstanding. We stayed in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam and took day trips to Haarlem, Delft and Kinderdijk (UNESCO site). The trip was perfectly balanced between busy places and quiet, museums and walking tours, structured time and free time, and old and new. We achieved our primary goal of savoring the Dutch painting masters, but also learned so much about the absolutely amazing history of the country and its people. We took a private car from the Amsterdam airport to our hotel on the day we arrived, and that was the last time we used a private car or taxi. Of course, these are available if this is your preferred mode of travel, but we loved the convenience of the broad array of public transportation—trains, trams, buses, water shuttles, and subways. Each of these options was easy to figure out, easy to find and access, and offered a very pleasant way to get around.

Bas Naus and the KimKim team were definitely the key to our whole trip. The itinerary Bas developed was fully responsive to our interests, the hotels he booked for us were great (The Pulitzer in Amsterdam is especially noteworthy), the tours and guides were exceptional, and all of the supplementary dining and site suggestions were helpful. Everything was so well organized and explained that we only needed to contact Bas once during the trip—to let a guide know we might be a few minutes late for a scheduled walking tour—and his response was almost immediate, which we took as comforting confirmation of readily available help in the event of any serious travel issue.

We strongly recommend making a trip to The Netherlands and we fully endorse using KimKim for help in planning that trip, or any other adventure you might consider. This was our second time using KimKim (first was for a family trip to Norway) and the product we have received has been consistently outstanding, from assessing options and building the itinerary to booking the right hotels and activities to all sorts of other little things that allowed us to have a great trip.

Ashley was with me every step of the way as this was a trip that was planned almost three years in the making as life kept lifing. Ashley was patient, and we collaborated on an excellent vietnam trip with no blips. I will use her again

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Novotel Ha Long Bay

Authenticity & Character

Location

K

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazing Sapa

Sa Pa

Great staff, room was a little Old but great views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Northern Charm Hotel

Staff was great and in the heart of district 1. Everything was in walking distance

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Capella Cruise

Halong

This was such a great experience for a cruise, staff was really helpful and hospitable, rooms were to die for

Authenticity & Character

Location

M

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Classic Ma May

Hanoi

Excellent hotel and staff, with a french vibe. Food was great, location was perfect for me

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walk To The Love Waterfall And Heaven Gate

Sapa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour

Hanoi

Only bad thing was that i could not finish the food

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Great information of the past, got to do shooting range

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kristy was very responsive and always available

Hotel Review

Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport

Lima

Beds comfortable Run down, steam room, coffee pot broken Pool little plunge pool only Sauna not hot Restaurant basic but ok

Authenticity & Character

Run down

Location

Traffic horrible. Took 30 min from airport

Staff

Nice polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

Broken spa,

Activity Review

Overnight Stay at Lima Airport Hotel Upon Arrival

Peru

Needs updating and improvements

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning a trip with KimKim was such a good decision. From our very first interaction, the process was incredibly personalized and geared to our interests and budget. Our planner Hoa was detailed and patient as she curated the perfect trip for us.

The trip itself was truly amazing, and several aspects stood out.
Pom—our local guide in Bangkok—was exceptional. He met us at the airport and accompanied us for much of our time in the city. His knowledge of Thailand’s culture and history added so much depth to every stop, and he somehow always knew the hidden spots we never would’ve found on our own.

The temple visits were unforgettable: stunning, peaceful, and a powerful way to immerse ourselves in Thai culture. The food tours in both Bangkok and Phuket were another highlight, giving us a chance to try local flavors we probably never would’ve discovered without guidance. Both guides ability to lead us to tiny eateries and help us order the best dishes made those tours truly special.

We also loved the floating market, the James Bond-style boat ride, and the train market—each one fun, colorful, and although some were very tourist oriented, uniquely Thai. And the Bangkok night market delivered all the energy, sights, and food we could’ve hoped for.

The only things we would change would be to allow ourselves a little more time. Even 1 extra day would have allowed us to have a less tiring pace, at least in Bangkok. We are also seasoned travelers so we felt that some parts could have been more on our own with just transportation provided. For a less experienced traveler, the personalized guides that are provided would probably be a godsend as they make sure every detail is taken care of so we didn't have to navigate language barriers or be worried about instructions, even at the airport.

Lastly, we want to give a big thank-you to Hoa for all the work she put into planning this trip. She helped us build an incredible itinerary, checked in with us daily, and was always ready to assist with anything we needed. Her attention and care made the trip the success it was, and we’re grateful for everything she did to make it unforgettable.

Overall, our experience was exceptional, and we would definitely use KimKim again.

Hotel Review

The Surin Phuket

Phuket

The Surin is incredible. The amazing staff anticipated our every need. They made our stay one of the most remarkable hotel stays ever!

Authenticity & Character

Location

A beautiful location, private beach and lovely individual cottages.

Staff

All the staff were amazing. they were always there to make everything perfect.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Morning Visit (Joining Activity)

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide is not needed. Simply having a driver is all that is needed.

Transport

Night Food Tasting & Old Town's Magical Lights

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Railway Market & Floating Market

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private dinner at The Treepods

Phuket

We would not recommend the Tripods experience. The food was good but not exceptional. The portions were huge (8 egg roles for 2 people as a part of a six part appetizer). We could have easily had half the food and still have been very well feed. We would recommend a very nice dinner at a high end hotel restaurant rather than Treepods.

Quality of Experience

The location is wonderful but see above for details.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver and guide were fine but the guide is probably not needed.

Transport

The communication means was very time consuming and confusing. The Trip Plan app was also difficult to use. The tours and activities that we missed due to flight delays could not be rebooked- very bad. One tour activity was canceled last minute due to weather (a little rain) with no option for something different. Our star gazing tour required 1.5 hours of self driving up into the mountains on tiny winding roads in the dark which we did not know about until that afternoon. We ended up only being able to go on 2 out of 5 planned excursions/activities. Very disappointing trip!

Hotel Reviews

Dreams Jardin Tropical Resort & Spa

Adeje

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel Cordial La Peregrina

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Rooms very small. No wash clothes. Couldn’t find thermostat- very cold in room. Only 2 pillows. One soap/shampoo/conditioner in shower.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Playa Meloneras Palace

Meloneras

Required wrist bands like Disneyland :( Not on the beach as requested. Workers in restaurants were very loud banging dishes together - sounded like a dishwashing kitchen. No wash clothes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

La Gomera: Immerse in Laurel Forests & Village Traditions

Tenerife

Too much driving. Awesome guide. Awesome lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience with an Astronomer

Spain

Required self drive up into mountains on small winding roads in the dark.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Into the Blue: Dolphin & Whale Watching Experience

Spain

Cancelled due to flight delays and not rescheduled.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Teide Uncovered: A Jeep Exploration of Tenerife’s Iconic Volcano

Spain

Alot of driving. Nice informative staff.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an outstanding experience from start to finish. Mieke and KimKim were responsive to all my requests to tailor the trip to my interests; the price was reasonable; and the time on the ground there was truly unique and enlightening. My guide Ugyen was highly knowledgeable about Bhutan and Buddhism, and flexible to changes, and my driver/porter Karma was highly skilled and dedicated to my comfort and care.

I had many eye-opening and scintillating days, including my hike in the Himalayan foothills near Laya; the black-neck crane festival and lovely walk in the foothills in Phohibjka; the Madman's temple and the rafting ride; the climb to the Tiger's Nest; a number of spectacular temples and fortresses; and overall, feeling the hospitality and warmth of the Bhutanese people.

As long as one does not expect the same creature comforts as in the West (e.g., the condition of the roads, lack of central heating in some hotels), and tries to relate to be an immersive traveler rather than a tourist, you can have an awesome time. Dress in layers, and revel in the balance that Bhutan is trying to strike between development and tradition.

I would highly recommend using KimKim for those considering an authentic Bhutan trip.

Planning a vacation has never been easier, thanks to having true experts to guide us (the KimKim team). We were especially pleased to learn that our travel planner, Èric, actually lived in Iceland. His familiarity with the country—its culture, terrain, and hidden gems—gave us complete confidence that we were in excellent hands.

We shared with Èric the kinds of activities we enjoy, the cultural and natural sights that were important to us, and the pace we wanted for our 22-day trip. With so much time to explore, we chose to rent a 4-wheel-drive vehicle so we could occasionally go off the beaten path and linger at our favorite places. Èric fully understood this style of travel and tailored everything beautifully.

Over the course of a year, we worked with Èric casually but consistently, and we deeply appreciated his prompt and easy communication. He is an excellent listener and wonderfully tactful as he guided us through unfamiliar territory. He created an initial itinerary as a baseline—never pushy—giving us all the time we needed to review and make thoughtful decisions. We kept the heart of his plan but added our own ideas and research, and he was always accommodating. When he had a better suggestion, he presented it diplomatically and with clear reasoning.

Throughout the planning process, it truly felt as if Èric were sitting right beside us, helping shape our journey. Once everything was finalized, he delivered a beautifully detailed and well-organized itinerary where every piece of information we might need was right at our fingertips.

Our time in Iceland was an amazing, fun, once in a lifetime trip. The accommodations chosen for us, the country’s natural beauty, the history and culture we learned about, and the wonderful Icelandic people we met made the experience truly exceptional. We couldn’t have asked for anything more—except perhaps a little more time!

We couldn’t have asked for a better planning experience and highly recommend working with Èric for an unforgettable Iceland adventure.

Activity Reviews

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Kayaking Tour

Iceland

When we first arrived at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon the sun was shining and it was an absolutely stunning sight! The color of the water and different shades of blue coming off the floating icebergs took me by surprise-such beauty with the Vatnajökull glacier as the backdrop. It made me excited about kayaking the lagoon-a first for me to paddle amongst icebergs! But within the hour clouds took over and a light steady rain began. Suddenly the tour didn’t seem like it was going to be much fun. But our small group suited up and braved the walk with paddles in hand to where the kayaks waited. Instructions were given on safety while kayaking the lagoon and how to paddle. And I should mention that the outfitter had appropriate waterproof and warm gear for us during this wet and cold paddle trip. The weather deterred the majority of the visitors that were there earlier so we had the lagoon to ourselves. It was quiet and serene on the water and the rain stopped the moment we started our paddle. The clouds remained but didn’t take an ounce of beauty away from the experience. I had goosebumps paddling around the looming icebergs. They were pieces of artwork. Our guides were fun and informative and made safety a priority. The equipment was in very good condition, kayaks are sturdy. Our suits were a Godsend. The experience was unique and memorable. This is a good trip for people with any level of kayaking experience. I loved this experience. After our excursion we crossed the road to see Diamond Beach. Another amazing surprise!

Quality of Experience

Outstanding natural beauty, great equipment, terrific guides.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Care about paddler’s safety, did a great job of making sure we all had a fun experience.

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

My husband and I loved this tour! Our group of 8 others were friendly and fun. Our guide (sorry I don’t remember his name) was upbeat, funny, and so informative. He’s a skilled off road driver and really took us on a fun, scenic ride. For us it was all about the Super Jeep. It’s soooo cool! Once we were at our location we were suited up and had a nice moderate walk to the ice caves. It wasn’t a very extensive cave but it was a great example of an ice cave and beautiful inside. Throughout the tour we didn’t feel rushed. Our guide answered every question we had for him without hesitation. We couldn’t wait to get back into the Super Jeep for the ride back!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reykjavik Food Walk

Iceland

It wasn’t quite what I expected. Our guide, sorry, I don’t remember his name, was an unforgettable character and spent a lot of time talking about local history, culture, and had some great jokes to share as well. But I was there to experience some delicious unfamiliar exotic local fare and thought this would be a great cultural food introduction of Iceland as we navigated to different eateries throughout downtown Reykjavik. I’m not a foodie, but it was not a good introduction as I shortly learned throughout my travels in Iceland, having meals at small local cafes in other towns and villages. What was offered on the tour was completely subpar to what I experienced elsewhere so I have to say that the food tour failed as an example of how delicious the traditional dishes really are. The food in the country including stops at some of the fuel stations were much better and delicious. But don’t let my opinion of the tour discourage you. Walking the city, enjoying the camaraderie of our group of 10, and getting a good idea of the lay of Reykjavik under the guidance of our big burly host was worth the time in itself. And you may have a completely different opinion of the food offered on this tour. Not all taste buds are alike!

Christine (from Kimkim) was very responsive and friendly, she had good suggestions for things for us to do. She didn’t always have the best attention to detail. It took several attempts to explain our situation, that we were combining a self paid trip with a hotel stay covers by the conference that invited me to Korea. After a couple of rounds she eventually got it right.

She failed to consider that our arrival at the hotel was going to be before check in time and did not suggest alternatives such as the option of paying for an early check in. She offered us one option for hotel— the L7 in Myeongdong. It was a nice hotel, well run, clean, with an excellent breakfast. However, for people our age, staying in Myeongdong got tiresome after a couple of nights. It would have been helpful to have been warned about the noise and crowds and offered a possible alternative.

We were directed to excellent activities and connected with an outstanding guide, Christine Lee and her husband Young. Christine was knowledgeable, warm and friendly. We got an excellent picture of Korean history talking with her and she showed us around Nami island and the garden of morning calm as an expert. These two experiences were outstanding!

Hotel Review

L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE

It’s a well run hotel, very clean, and the breakfast is excellent. Myeongdong is a central location with easy access to subway, the byeongbokgung palace. Myeongdong is where one of the major night markets with street food is located. However, it is harder to find quieter restaurants or easy places to walk around without crowds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central and close to subway.

Staff

Staff were great in the restaurant. They were unsure how to handle our early arrival straight from the airport.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless and great maid service daily.

Activity Review

Discover K-drama Locations in European Villages & Nami Island

Seoul

The best parts of this trip was the visit to Nami Island and the garden of morning calm. The Italian and French villages are a bit tired and run down. Christine Lee and Young did an amazing job showing us around and teaching us about the history and flora of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport