Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 20,235 ratings
Read 20,235 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Henriquee pepe outstanding very service orien...
Portugal | Jul 7 - Jul 27, 2024

D
Doreen H.
Pittsfield, MA | Reviewed on Aug 02, 2024
Henriquee pepe outstanding very service oriented to what thoughts we had and made efforts to make happen and gave ideas like Porto sunset on the river. Guides in each area knowledgeable explained what we were doing and going gave recommendations adapted to us Lisbon we had gone to castle st Jorge so changed what she would do asked where two mishaps gerez national park I feel one needs to be clear about the concern for safety and because our mentalodel of national parks diffetent. We were... Read more

Henriquee pepe outstanding very service oriented to what thoughts we had and made efforts to make happen and gave ideas like Porto sunset on the river. Guides in each area knowledgeable explained what we were doing and going gave recommendations adapted to us Lisbon we had gone to castle st Jorge so changed what she would do asked where two mishaps gerez national park I feel one needs to be clear about the concern for safety and because our mentalodel of national parks diffetent. We were asked to go to to Algarve airport early because of concern for accident with 3000 in ilets wr got there 3 hours early and did not seem necessaryit would work to leave us.sarah in Porto great stayed with us at bookstore in evora joao had the greatest stories kept granddaughter and friend entertained. Young man in Funchal kind and great the metcado fruit merchant peeled and gave fruit tasting to all of us plus chocolate shop. It felt personal and thoughtful. Ricardo in Porto great also.

Activity Review
8H Private Driver to Gerês National Park
8H Private Driver to Gerês National Park
Peneda-Gerês National Park

Our visit to Gerês National Park was a bit underwhelming. We expected to go hiking on some trails and swim in lagoons, but the actual plan seemed different from what we assumed. The guide took us around a village and explained the myths about wolves, which was interesting, but not what we were anticipating. The driver mentioned that the trails were treacherous, although we were prepared for hiking. It seems there was a misunderstanding between our expectations and what was planned. Unfortunately, this caused some disappointment, especially for my daughter, as we didn't get to enjoy the natural beauty in the way we had hoped.

Local specialist: Pedro Luis
Pedro
Pedro Luis
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

Dear Doreen,
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
I am super happy to hear that you had a positive experience and that everyone involved provided an excelent service.
We are grateful for your review and look forward to welcoming you again in the future :)
Your friend in Portugal - Pedro

Lifetime of Memories in Finland! Thank you, Moonika!!!!!
Finland | Jul 26 - Aug 1, 2024

Kimberly
Kimberly G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 02, 2024
Moonika was readily available whenever we had a last moment question - - this was wonderful! Hotel Kamp was excellent....perfect location, our suite was fabulous...we loved access to the lounge on the 2nd floor, too! Our guides were excellent, but a special shout-out and A++++ to Felipe, who was energetic, professional, delightful, knowledgeable, easy going, well organized, and fun - such an impressive young man; we so enjoyed spending time with Felipe! We felt like we made a new friend! ... Read more

Moonika was readily available whenever we had a last moment question - - this was wonderful! Hotel Kamp was excellent....perfect location, our suite was fabulous...we loved access to the lounge on the 2nd floor, too! Our guides were excellent, but a special shout-out and A++++ to Felipe, who was energetic, professional, delightful, knowledgeable, easy going, well organized, and fun - such an impressive young man; we so enjoyed spending time with Felipe! We felt like we made a new friend! A highlight was the Sunset Cycle and Sauna tour! My heritage is (50%) Finnish, so I was over the moon to have this truly special experience. Porvoo is a precious town, and we also loved Turku. Our guide in Turku was professional, well-informed, and gave us some awesome restaurant recommendations, which we enjoyed very, very much (Nooa and Mami). Every single driver we had was on time or early! Also professional, clean/nice vehicle, etc., The Taste of Suomenlinna Tour was a little different than what we had expected - - - in other European cities, we have had more extensive culinary tours (e.g., more opportunities to taste/try, guides in less of a "hurry")....we still enjoyed the salmon, but e.g., my husband really wanted to experience tasting reindeer and this particular guide just said "this is not possible" and moved on to what was on his agenda....On another note, I LOVED the market in Helsinki and was able to purchase some interesting jewelry to bring home with us - - the artisans were on site and friendly....I took myself on the Ferris Wheel ride and it was fun to see Helsinki from that height! We definitely felt like we maximized our time in Finland - - we also incorporated one day (on our own, rented a car and visited a distant cousin in Archipelago . . . how gorgeous - - stunning views and fun to travel on small ferries with our rented volvo! Everything was excellent! The ONLY small thing I would change: the "Taste of Helsinki" tour did not exactly include a taste other than some salmon on rye bread - - we had really thought we would have more of a culinary experience, and again, that particular guide seemed rushed and not so interested in what we were interested in. He did not allow time for questions, and seemed to be verbalizing a "script" and did not want to stray from that? That being said, he was on time.

Hotel Reviews
Comfort Hotel® Xpress Helsinki Airport Terminal
Vantaa

Well, it suited our purpose - which was to be close to the airport the night prior to our early flight to Amsterdam! For its purpose, it was fine! We did have some laughs (from Hotel Kamp to this?!?!)!!! Haha! We were essentially sleeping in a box, sort of like sleeping in a pod? or a tiny berth in a boat? or a camper!? But as I said, we were not there for long. It seemed clean and the staff was nice. And it served our need of a few hours sleep before a long day of travel back to the USA.

Authenticity & Character
we chose to take it for what it is, and we had some laughs! We walked across the street (to the Hilton) to eat an actual meal, as this place only has a small bar with limited drinks and very limited pre-packaged food! But it was fine and we laughed about it! We slept fine. It is certainly quiet! And the wake up call involves the TV getting turned on at the time you want to be awakened!!!
Location
haha! well, it is actually in, and I mean IN the airport.
Staff
the staff was very nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
seemed clean. Bed OK, but what do you expect for this type of place!? As I said, it suited our needs!!!!
Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone
Turku

Hotel Kamp is a tough act to follow! As you would imagine! But this place suited us just fine for our needs while in Turku. The staff was very friendly, warm, helpful. Plus they place chocolate everywhere! I may have eaten more than my share! We enjoyed the location very much...we were able to easily walk to the river and to some excellent restaurants (which were recommended by our very helpful guide in Turku - sorry, can't recall her name but she was lovely. A professional educator (special education teacher) with a very pleasing personality, native Finn, which was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Kamp
Helsinki

LOVE LOVE LOVE this hotel! Everything was beautiful and perfect! Our suite, the breakfasts, access to special lounge in afternoons, location to restaurants, shops, market, sightseeing, etc., - - everything was wonderful. We would definitely choose to stay here again! Lovely hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Just stunning! Fun to learn that many extremely well known musical artists (and other famous people) have also stayed in this hotel over the years - -
Location
Walking distance to many sights, restaurants, good shopping, history, culture, etc.,
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room, lounge areas, restaurants/bars - everything was wonderful!
Activity Reviews
Turku Walking and Boating Tour
Turku Walking and Boating Tour
Turku

Our guide was lovely, professional, informative, open! We thoroughly enjoyed. What a beautiful town! Our guide provided us with some awesome restaurant recommendations, which were all five star perfection!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Porvoo Private Day Tour
Porvoo Private Day Tour
Helsinki

It was perfectly lovely.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Helsinki Sauna Tour
Helsinki Sauna Tour
Helsinki

This was absolutely AMAZING! We love riding bikes, and it was a beautiful evening! Felipe allowed us to select our sauna; we chose the more authentic/older one - - WHAT an incredible experience! We loved never feeling in a rush, and Felipe always answering our questions, interacting, very professional yet friendly and open - - - we cannot say enough positive things about this experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hanging out with Felipe was the best!
Transport
we love biking as much as possible. We felt very safe.
Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna
Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna
Helsinki

Our guide was on time. His name was Al...? something. He was not a Finnish native, and had only recently moved to Finland, we believe. He had a script. No time/room for questions, input, etc., He seemed in a rush. It was definitely not a "food" or "taste" tour. He rattled as many facts as he could, very quickly, and seemed in a hurry.

Quality of Experience
Overall, everything was excellent! Moonika was attentive, responsive, and planned our time according to our requests, etc.,
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Overall everyone was exceptional (one exception, the rushed "taste of" tour in Helsinki, first day there, which was a little disappointing). Otherwise, guides excellent, and we especially loved Felipe!
Transport
professional, always arrived on time or early, clean and safe vehicles
Local specialist: Moonika Apart
Moonika
Moonika Apart
Local specialist in Rovaniemi | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

Hello Kim,

Thank you very much for your feedback and I'm glad to hear you had such a great trip. Sorry to hear that one of the tours didn't really meet the standards but glad to hear it didn't dampen the overall experience and you still had an amazing time. I will share your feedback with all the providers.

Thank you again and I hope to have you as our guests again in the future.

Best,
Moonika

Best family Copenhagen Visit
Denmark | Jul 25 - Jul 29, 2024

Deanna
Deanna C.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Aug 02, 2024
Solveig was great to work with! She built a customized trip with for my family with lots of changes and last minute plans. Great attitude and I would highly recommend her! Read more

Solveig was great to work with! She built a customized trip with for my family with lots of changes and last minute plans. Great attitude and I would highly recommend her!

Hotel Review
Bryggen Guldsmeden
København

Great hotel. lovely environment. Buffett for breakfast could be better. A few front desk people not that helpful but others made up for it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Not bad but a bit far out
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sólveig Þorsteinsdóttir

10th anniversary
Spain | Jul 17 - Jul 26, 2024

P
Philip K.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Aug 02, 2024
We had a wonderful time in Southern Spain for our 10th anniversary. Dalia, who organized the trip was very responsive. For example, we preferred a different hotel in Granada and to arrange some restaurant reservations ourselves. She was able to facilitate getting to and from the restaurants, and made the other hotel (the Gran Via which was fantastic) work, Our guides were really knowledgeable and friendly, especially Enrique in Granada. Alex, our driver and bicycle guide made sure we had a... Read more

We had a wonderful time in Southern Spain for our 10th anniversary. Dalia, who organized the trip was very responsive. For example, we preferred a different hotel in Granada and to arrange some restaurant reservations ourselves. She was able to facilitate getting to and from the restaurants, and made the other hotel (the Gran Via which was fantastic) work, Our guides were really knowledgeable and friendly, especially Enrique in Granada. Alex, our driver and bicycle guide made sure we had a chance to get photos off the beaten path. The tapas and flamenco tour in Sevilla was really fun. Overall we had a much better trip than we could have put together ourselves, but it was still really well-tailored to our interests.

Activity Reviews
Sevilla guided tour with Horse Carriage ride
Sevilla guided tour with Horse Carriage ride
Seville

We got to see beautiful areas of the city, especially the enormous cathedral, and really learned a lot from Sandra the guide. She was funny and knowledgeable and gave us good amounts of time on our own to take photos and wander. The horse carriage ride meant we got to see more of the city than we could have on foot, but it is also a horse carriage going into four lanes of traffic which was a bit nerve-racking.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Granada city tour
Granada city tour
Granada

We saw a lot of the city of Granada, much more than we would have on our own. Our guide Enrique is really knowledgeable, and everyone knows him which makes getting into places a breeze.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
{{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with day trip to Cordoba
{{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with day trip to Cordoba
Spain

Cordoba is beautiful and the guide was fun and very knowledgeable. We were really happy with the tour. We wished we had had more time to wander after the tour though, because there were more spaces we had wanted to see. We were lucky that our driver, John, was happy to take us to get some photos of the city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey
Spain

The hike itself was beautiful, and our driver/guide who got us there, Alex. However, we hadn't realized beforehand that the hike wasn't just a hike, but that it was a state-run and state-controlled walk. Basically it was very crowded, you had to wear helmets and trudge along with a group on a very set path, from the entrance to the exit. The hike itself was lovely but we probably would have done a different hike had we known how controlled and crowded the experience would be.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sevilla & Tapas & Flamenco Small Group Evening Tour
Sevilla & Tapas & Flamenco Small Group Evening Tour
Seville

The setting for the flamenco, and the dancers were. great. It was a really intimate experience, being able to sit up-close and watch the dancers. You could feel the breeze from one dancer's shawl! The tapas were also a fun mix of traditional and more modern.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alhambra Private Guided Tour
Alhambra Private Guided Tour
Spain

We learned so much about the Alhambra, and we went at a good pace. Everyone knew our guide Enrique and we got to skip the lines. It was an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Dalia Bouzerar
Dalia
Dalia Bouzerar
Local specialist in Spain | Replied on Aug 02, 2024

I'm so glad you had an amazing time in Southern Spain for your 10th anniversary! It was so great getting to know you and working with you to plan the best possible trip for the two of you.
I'm also so thrilled you loved the guides, especially Enrique who is truly a gem. The tapas and flamenco tour in Sevilla is always a hit, so I'm happy you enjoyed it too.
Thanks for letting me help with your special trip, and I'm excited to help with future adventures in Spain or Portugal!

A Fairytale Irish Elopement
Ireland | Jul 21 - Jul 27, 2024

stephanie
stephanie m.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Aug 02, 2024
Planning our trip to Ireland was a breeze. Our specialist, Dean, included all of the aspects we were looking for in this trip. He made sure we understood our itinerary and readily responded to any questioned we had. We scheduled an elopement ceremony after we booked our trip and Dean made it very easy to make changes to our itinerary so we could squeeze this special day in. I would definitely book with KimKim again. Read more

Planning our trip to Ireland was a breeze. Our specialist, Dean, included all of the aspects we were looking for in this trip. He made sure we understood our itinerary and readily responded to any questioned we had. We scheduled an elopement ceremony after we booked our trip and Dean made it very easy to make changes to our itinerary so we could squeeze this special day in. I would definitely book with KimKim again.

Hotel Review
Ballyseede Castle
Tralee

Staying here was a night of luxury. We got dinner at the bar and it was one of the best meals we had in Ireland. I would love to stay here again if I am ever back in the country.

Authenticity & Character
There is a long walking trail connected to the property and there are friendly animals roaming the property.
Location
Secluded oasis with dogs!
Staff
Staff was very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Large rooms and comfortable bed/pillows.
Activity Review
Ring of Kerry Guided Bus tour
Ring of Kerry Guided Bus tour
Ireland

Informative and a great way to see a lot in a little amount of time.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Dean Garrison
Dean
Dean Garrison
Local specialist in Ireland | Replied on Aug 02, 2024

Hi Stephanie

Thank you for your kind words.

We were delighted to make your dream trip to Ireland come true and hope to welcome back in the near future.

Kind Regards

Dean

We had a wonderful trip! Agnes did an incredi...
Rwanda | Jul 3 - Jul 17, 2024

E
Eva W.
Portland, OR | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
We had a wonderful trip! Agnes did an incredible job putting everything together and our guide Fred was just fantastic! We loved this vacation with safari, gorillas and all the great people that we saw during this trip. We will contact Agnes in the future for our next vacation in Africa! It was our first trip to Africa but we would love to go back in the future. Read more

We had a wonderful trip! Agnes did an incredible job putting everything together and our guide Fred was just fantastic! We loved this vacation with safari, gorillas and all the great people that we saw during this trip. We will contact Agnes in the future for our next vacation in Africa! It was our first trip to Africa but we would love to go back in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Paradise kivu resort

Really nice location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Amazing! We even saw monkeys just outside the hotel!

Authenticity & Character
I’m
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cormoran Lodge
Kibuye

Such great views and wonderful food!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Musanze
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Akagera Game lodge

We loved this!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Onomo hotel Kigali

Great hotel and wonderful staff. Nice rooms and nice restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kibuye city tour / Visit Bisesero Genocide Memorial
Kibuye city tour / Visit Bisesero Genocide Memorial
Kibuye
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Behind the scenes tour in Akagera National Park
Behind the scenes tour in Akagera National Park
Akagera

This was cancelled.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk
Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk
Nyungwe
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colobus Monkey Tracking
Colobus Monkey Tracking
Nyungwe
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cultural Village Visit
Cultural Village Visit
Volcanoes National Park
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Golden Monkey Trekking Experience
Golden Monkey Trekking Experience
Volcanoes National Park
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek
Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek
Volcanoes National Park

Amazing! Highly recommended!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit the NGO in Kigali
Kigali
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kigali City Tour
Kigali City Tour
Kigali

Very interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Night Game drive Akagera
Night Game drive Akagera
Akagera
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boat Ride in Akagera-Lake Ihema
Boat Ride in Akagera-Lake Ihema
Akagera
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Game drive akagera National park
Morning Game drive akagera National park
Akagera
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Boat  ride on lake Kivu
Afternoon Boat ride on lake Kivu
gisenyi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Diana Fossey Hike
Diana Fossey Hike
Volcanoes National Park
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Agnes Mirembe
Agnes
Agnes Mirembe
Local specialist in Uganda | Replied on Aug 02, 2024

Thank you so much for this review Eva

An unreal, fairy tale trip through Norway - thanks Tricia!!
Norway | Jul 14 - Jul 25, 2024

Geoff
Geoff H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
We had never used a service like Kimkim to plan a trip before, but have had such an amazing experience in Norway, thanks to Tricia and the Kimkim team, that we'll be coming back. Having someone like Tricia give us expert advice and structure our trip around our wish list has been amazing, and she had us doing things we wouldn't have thought of (Flam bike ride, floating sauna, walking tour guide in Bergen, and staying in Hjelle, to name just a few!)
We knew that it could be a busy 12 days in...
Read more

We had never used a service like Kimkim to plan a trip before, but have had such an amazing experience in Norway, thanks to Tricia and the Kimkim team, that we'll be coming back. Having someone like Tricia give us expert advice and structure our trip around our wish list has been amazing, and she had us doing things we wouldn't have thought of (Flam bike ride, floating sauna, walking tour guide in Bergen, and staying in Hjelle, to name just a few!)
We knew that it could be a busy 12 days in Norway, but the local knowledge from Tricia meant that a good mix of travel, activity and downtime to simply appreciate the beauty of the surroundings was achieved.
And it didn't stop with the planning and booking of everything, it was really nice to have Tricia keeping in touch with us nearly everyday to make sure things were going to plan.
Thanks Tricia, a truly memorable holiday, that managed to avoid the crowds, and had my daughters constantly saying, "this place can't be real, we're in a fairy tale!"

Hotel Reviews
Wangen Apartments by Flåmsbrygga
Aurland

This place is very modern, fancy, and ideally situated at the waters edge. Fantastic views, and very very comfortable.

Location
10 min from Flam, right on the waters edge in Aurland. Lovely balcony to admire the fjord from!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fjelleventyret gårdsovernatting
Vassgangen

Ultra modern, really comfortable, and perfectly located for the stables, and hill walks. The restaurant on site serves amazing food!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Vollsnes Feriehus Stryn
Stryn

We did not expect this apartment to be so amazing. The location is stunning. The apartments are super super comfortable, with our own sauna and all the facilities we needed. Having access to row boats, kayaks, SUPs, and bikes made this seemingly remote location just come alive for us. The one thing I would recommend though, is to get an apartment with a view of the lake, ours didn't which was a little unfortunate. Otherwise, we couldn't fault the place, and would happily spend a week or more there next time!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Quiet, but stunning!
Staff
The owner and her father, always stopping for a chat if we were outside, and generally interested in what we wanted to do.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hurtigruten

This wasn't a ferry trip, it felt more like a cruise! Amazing food, comfortable cabins, smooth sailing and scenery everywhere!

Authenticity & Character
Location
How can cruising up the coast of Norway, weaving through fjords and islands not be AMAZING!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Hotel Terminus
Bergen

A nice old style hotel which seems to come from the age of steam trains! Located right beside the main railway station in Bergen, but also close to the main tourist areas. Very helpful and friendly staff. No great view from the hotel, but you are in downtown Bergen!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nes Gard
Høyheimsvik

Lovely farmstay type hotel, with comfortable rooms in a converted barn/warehouse. The restaurant cooks amazing set meals (no choice) which were divine, even for picky teenagers!

Authenticity & Character
The use of the old farm buildings and homestead give the place so much character. The fact that the evening meals are prepared with as much local produce (and farm grown if possible) added to the authenticity.
Location
A nice quiet location, with a fabulous waterfall on the far side of the fjord.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Thon Hotel Terminus
Oslo

The hotel was nice and close to the central railway station, and well placed for walking through central Oslo, the opera house, and the harbour areas. Breakfast was exceptional! Other than that, it is a typical city centre chain hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Typical city centre chain hotel.
Location
Very close to central railway station, a lot of public transport options, and easy to walk through central Oslo.
Staff
Friendly and attentive
Cleanliness & Comfort
In general the place was very clean and comfortable, but a couple of areas of cleanliness in the bathroom were lacking.
Activity Reviews
Horseback Riding: From Village to Mountain
Norway

This was an activity for my daughter who is an experienced rider, used to guiding treks herself. She had such a great time with the guide, pony, and the other rider on the trip, and found the whole experience truely memorable.

Explore Bergen with a Local
Explore Bergen with a Local
Bergen

Not something we would have thought about doing, but another suggestion from Tricia that hit the mark! John was brilliant at understanding what would be good for us to see, and tailoring his tour and commentary to suit. We saw parts of Bergen we would never have found, and gained a better appreciation for the city away from the tourist areas. The guide, John, has so much knowledge and a really nice and easy going way working with us.

Flåm Railway and Cycling Adventure
Flåm Railway and Cycling Adventure
Norway

The Flam railway was on our list of must do activities, and it lived up to expectations. A great 1 hour train journey. But, the cycling back down to Flam was even better! Great suggestion from Tricia that we would not have thought of. We had such a great morning cycling back down with amazing scenery, waterfalls, tunnels, river, and goats! So good, we wanted to do it again straight away!

Embark Hurtigruten
Embark Hurtigruten
Norway

So good... comfortable, smooth and really well looked after onboard. But the scenery that is going by, steals the show.... it's amazing. So good that I had to get up at 4am to watch the sunrise as we cruised between islands and fjords. Wished we were booked to stay onboard for a week!

Kayak Trip on the Lustrafjord
Norway

The trip itself was amazing and not a hard paddle. The guide was brilliant, a lot of humour, a lot of facts, and generally kept everyone entertained!

Local specialist: Tricia Cantlon
Tricia
Tricia Cantlon
Local specialist in Oslo | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

Thank you so much to you Geoff, Ruth and your family for visiting and taking my advice on the trip! Such a rare and lovely adventure to do the coastal steamer with a road trip, and I'm always grateful when families are willing to go a bit off-beat and explore more than the highlights. You guys were definitely willing to do so - and in an electric vehicle, the true Norwegian way :) I really appreciate your visit and hope you come back someday!

Dalia planned an extraordinary trip for my fa...
Spain | Jul 11 - Jul 31, 2024

Christy
Christy C.
San Rafael, CA | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
Dalia planned an extraordinary trip for my family in Spain. We had 20 days to travel all over the country and she planned each day weaving together historical sites, fun learning activities, and exciting adventures. I have traveled all of my life and I have never had a trip where each logistical piece was taken care of and everything went so smoothly. Dalia chose the perfect balance between guided tours and free time to explore. We kayaked, rode camels, and had an electric tuk-tuck tour. ... Read more

Dalia planned an extraordinary trip for my family in Spain. We had 20 days to travel all over the country and she planned each day weaving together historical sites, fun learning activities, and exciting adventures. I have traveled all of my life and I have never had a trip where each logistical piece was taken care of and everything went so smoothly. Dalia chose the perfect balance between guided tours and free time to explore. We kayaked, rode camels, and had an electric tuk-tuck tour. We loved the cooking classes, the market tour and the flamenco show. We had each of the documents we needed exactly when we needed them. Our hotels were varied and unique, each in a prime location. I wish she could plan all of our travel!

Hotel Review
CoolRooms Palacio de Atocha
Madrid

This was our favorite hotel -- like staying in a palace in the middle of the city. Small and intimate and the top customer service.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Tapas & Market tour in Barcelona
Tapas & Market tour in Barcelona
Barcelona
Quality of Experience
Food
Local specialist: Dalia Bouzerar
Dalia
Dalia Bouzerar
Local specialist in Spain | Replied on Aug 20, 2024

I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed your trip to Spain! It was such a pleasure working with you; you were always open to new experiences, which made planning even more enjoyable. I'm thrilled everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed the balance between guided tours and free time.
Thank you for your kind words—I’d love to help with any future travels!

5 cities /3 countries /2 continents /14 days
Portugal | Jul 13 - Jul 24, 2024

Cherylanne
Cherylanne S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
Our trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco was exceptionally well planned and executed thanks to Rita and the KimKim team. We were blown away by the level of support she provided both before and during the trip. She created a really amazing itinerary and then patiently made changes and improvements to it a number of times before we locked on a plan and booked the trip! She really listened to our requests and suggestions and went the extra mile for us to fit in the things that mattered most. The... Read more

Our trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco was exceptionally well planned and executed thanks to Rita and the KimKim team. We were blown away by the level of support she provided both before and during the trip. She created a really amazing itinerary and then patiently made changes and improvements to it a number of times before we locked on a plan and booked the trip! She really listened to our requests and suggestions and went the extra mile for us to fit in the things that mattered most. The local guides she connected us with were so great and the drivers made us feel safe and supported on the ground. Every single details was attended to with care and we loved having the app and chat access to Rita throughout our travels. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Hotel Reviews
Riad Le Pèlerin
Marrakech

We absolutely loved the design and decor of this riad and the staff was so attentive! The traditional breakfast was delicious and our every need was attended to. We were grateful that they met us at the street and helped get our baggage to the property since it was not accessible by car. During a trip that took us to three countries and 5 cities this was our favorite hotel experience of all.

Authenticity & Character
Instagram-ready!
Location
Really central - just be aware you need help getting luggage as a car cannot get you all the way to the door.
Staff
We adored Mustapha who was the consummate host!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Belmar Spa & Beach Resort
Lagos

This is more of a condo-style hotel with plenty of space including a living room, dining table, kitchen, washing machine and drying rack. One of our rooms had a lovely view of the pool and the other had walkout access directly to the pool. It was an easy walk to the public beach. The onsite restaurant had a great breakfast buffet and the hotel fitness center was well equipped. We were a bit removed from other activities at this location so be prepared to drive or call an Uber.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pestana Lisboa Vintage
Lisboa

The location just off Avenida da Liberdade is great. Rooms were nice but not exceptional. Instant coffee in the rooms was disappointing but the hotel breakfast more than makes up for it! The elevators are small and slow - good chance to take the stairs and get some extra steps :)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
PortoBay Teatro
Porto

Beautiful hotel in a terrific location! Great front desk staff and concierge. The hotel breakfast is just LOVELY. Nice extra touches in the rooms - our suite even had an incredible balcony with lounge chairs! The fitness center is a partner property a 5 minute walk away and was very minimal.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments - Madrid Suites
Madrid

Spacious accommodations and good location - be aware there are no amenities onsite since it's an apartment vs hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The front desk went the extra mile to help us arrange airport transportation.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore Lisbon by Electric Tuk-Tuk
Explore Lisbon by Electric Tuk-Tuk
Portugal

The tuk tuk tour was amazing! We enjoyed hopping on and off our tuk tuk through the city's streets. This activity offered a unique and enjoyable way to explore the city, making it a memorable part of our trip.

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience
The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience
Portugal

The Fado experience in Lisbon was a bit of a letdown for me. While the food was fine, the overall atmosphere felt overly touristy and lacked the authenticity I had hoped for.

Kayaking the Algarve: Discover the Benagil Caves
Kayaking the Algarve: Discover the Benagil Caves
Portugal

The kayaking experience was exceptional! We enjoyed paddling through scenic waters, which offered both adventure and tranquility. This activity provided a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation, making it a highlight of the trip.

Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening
Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening
Madrid

We loved our guide and getting to share this experience with another family - the places we visited were good but I wouldn't say great in terms of the tapas served.

Quality of Experience
Food
the specific restaurants visited - the food was ok but not great
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Naples & Madrid | Replied on Aug 06, 2024

Dear Cherylanne, thank you so so much for this wonderful review and kind words! Ill forward your feedback to our guides, drivers and hotel staff, as they will be so happy to hear that they have contributed to a wonderful adventure. It has been a real pleasure for me to be a small part of your family trip through three countries and I hope we will keep in touch for your future trips to Europe! All my best, Rita🥰🥰

Second time - also a Charm!
Scotland | Jul 19 - Jul 31, 2024

Michael
Michael W.
Raleigh, NC | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
This was our second time booking a trip through KimKim - our first time working with High Pointe Holidays and Pauline. The trip was expertly planned, perfectly paced and hit all the right notes for us. The team was incredibly proactive and responsive when we did have questions. In the one instance where an accommodation fell short of our expectations (not KimKim's fault!) they more than rectified the situation. We would absolutely book through KimKim/High Pointe Holidays again. Read more

This was our second time booking a trip through KimKim - our first time working with High Pointe Holidays and Pauline. The trip was expertly planned, perfectly paced and hit all the right notes for us. The team was incredibly proactive and responsive when we did have questions. In the one instance where an accommodation fell short of our expectations (not KimKim's fault!) they more than rectified the situation. We would absolutely book through KimKim/High Pointe Holidays again.

Hotel Reviews
Malmaison Edinburgh City
Edinburgh

Very well located in new town. Very nice, generously sized rooms. Incredibly helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rosedale Hotel
Portree County

Do not stay here. Location is great. But, little to no parking. If you are on a long trip and traveling with family/kids + have bags - can be a bit of a challenge. Front desk staff were rude and unfriendly. Asked for passport number and future travel plans. Terrible experience would not recommend.

Authenticity & Character
This hotel/property has a lot of potential. It needs some work. Rooms are very generous, but feels/smells musty. As mentioned, very nice location, but just didn't hit the mark for us.
Location
As far as location gets in Portree - only thing I can give high marks on.
Staff
Outside of the restaurant staff at breakfast, which were nice/helpful (but very slow) - front desk staff were terrible. Wouldn't give me room keys without providing my passport number (very, very odd) as well as asking me where we were traveling to next, so they could document it electronically.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Smelled musty. Rooms felt dirty.
The Garrison Hotel
Fort William

Another stand out amongst many. New-ish hotel. Great location. Friendly and helpful staff. Well located in Fort William. Minor complaint - small rooms if you are traveling with a child and need a rollaway bad or sleeper sofa. Great breakfast and bar.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Perfectly located. Fort William is very walkable. Key for us - onsite and free parking.
Staff
Friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and very cozy rooms
3 Oban Self catering Apartment with seaview
Oban

Wish we had more time here! Perfect for us. 3 bedrooms. Full kitchen. Washer. Very walkable to all activities, shops in Oban.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful, charming building. Generous sized rooms. Nice kitchen. Good place to stay for a few days and use as a base of operations. With the Tesco Superstore nearby wish we had more time to have used the kitchen.
Location
Staff
Self-catering, no staff.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable apartment.
Apex City of Glasgow Hotel
Glasgow

Might have been our favorite hotel of the trip. Perfectly located for our activities. Center center, but away from the more busier, touristy sections of the city. Comfortable rooms. Great breakfast. Very helpful, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
Apex always delivers, in my experience. Everything you need. Nothing you don't.
Location
Close to the action of the city, but not too close to the busier, more touristy sections of town. Quiet. Comfortable. On par with the other Apex hotels I've stayed at.
Staff
Staff was incredibly helpful with recommendations and very accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were very comfortable. Quiet. Generously proportioned.
Activity Reviews
Boat tour from Oban - see the coast of Mull
Boat tour from Oban - see the coast of Mull
Oban

we unfortunately had to skip this activity as our son was sick. Imagine it would've been pretty awesome.

Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

When possible, I'd recommend to folks try to get the first tour of the day, especially during summer (peak season). It was uncomfortably full of people at 3pm and was hard to enjoy the tour. If you can't get an earlier tour due to travel schedule, I'd probably skip if you don't like walking shoulder to shoulder and being cut off in line constantly by unaware tourists.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit the Glenfinnan Monument
Visit the Glenfinnan Monument
Scotland

Please guide appropriately on timing - how early to arrive. At least an hour early if your tour is scheduled close to a train crossing time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loch Lomond Cruise
Loch Lomond Cruise
Scotland

We really enjoyed this activity. Small cruise, not a lot of people. Felt more intimate, which we liked and prefer.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great commentary - quite funny.
Transport
River Forth & Bridges Boat Tours
River Forth & Bridges Boat Tours
Scotland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Pauline Mathieu

Overall the planning and tour were excellent....
Thailand | Jul 11 - Jul 23, 2024

Giocasta
Giocasta C.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
Overall the planning and tour were excellent. Kelly did a great job of modifying the tour several times before the actual booking. Communication with Heidi at Odinovotours was easy and responsive. Our guides in Bangkok (Tao), Siem Reap (Mr.T) , Saigon (Victor) and Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (Binh) and all the drivers were great! Very knowledgeable, descriptive, on time, and courteous. They always had cold water and cold washcloths for us. They even helped us check-in at the airports. It was... Read more

Overall the planning and tour were excellent. Kelly did a great job of modifying the tour several times before the actual booking. Communication with Heidi at Odinovotours was easy and responsive. Our guides in Bangkok (Tao), Siem Reap (Mr.T) , Saigon (Victor) and Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (Binh) and all the drivers were great! Very knowledgeable, descriptive, on time, and courteous. They always had cold water and cold washcloths for us. They even helped us check-in at the airports. It was wonderful to have guides everywhere who we were able to communicate with by WhatsApp.
The sites visited were amazing. The only thing we would have chosen differently were the hotels in Bangkok and Saigon. We wouldn’t stay there again, and possibly more time to rest in between all the touring. We are all in our 70’s and were very tired!
One more thing, while in Hanoi, it was my husband’s birthday. Without us mentioning anything, Odynovotours sent us a cake and the hotel sent us fruit and a dessert! A nice surprise!
Thank you Kelly Liu, kimkim, and Odynovotours for a great experience!

Hotel Reviews
Athena Cruise
Ha Long Bay

This was a cruise of Ha Long Bay. It was amazing although too short, cut short by upcoming weather. Cabins were huge, comfortable, food very good. Service was great. We did not take the shore excursions offered free, we stayed on the ship and enjoyed the rest, peace and quiet, and the spa pool. Staff was so friendly! The views were amazing. We had a great time although short.

Authenticity & Character
Food and decor was authentivy
Location
Not applicable. 2 1/2 hours from Hanoi, roads perfect, nice stops at the cultured pearl factory and another stop for shopping and restrooms.
Staff
Great communication, friendly and clear
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very large, clean and comfortable cabin
The Lapis Hotel

We only stayed 2 nights there, separated by the Ha Long Cruise. The staff was great, the first night the room was really nice except for the bathroom which was very small. It was modern and clean. And well kept. The 2nd stay we we’re upgraded to a suite. Everything was perfect there. We would stay here again (request a suite) Breakfast was really good.

Authenticity & Character
More Vietnamese touches
Location
Location did not really affect us because we had a guide and driver.
Staff
All staff were great, they even sent us fruit and a large crème brûlée for my husband’s birthday. Quite a nice surprise. The bar had some fruit we bought washed and sliced for us. Excellent service!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was very clean and comfortable. The first stay bathroom could have been a bit larger.
Harmony Hotel & Spa
Ho Chi Minh City

We definitely would not stay there again! So old and not updated at all. First was given a room without a shower (it was missing) was then moved at 11:00pm after a late tour to another room (had to re-pack our belongings) that had no water pressure, so the shower hit the wrong place and flooded the bathroom which was very small. All the bathtubs were so high it was extremely difficult to get in and out! Finally, the last night after complaining, we were allowed to use the bathroom next door which was a suite with a separate shower. Heidi at Odynovotours was responsive about this problem.

Authenticity & Character
Everything
Location
We didn’t leave the hotel except with guides and a food tour. Seemed like a good location.
Staff
Staff responsiveness without intervention
Cleanliness & Comfort
See review
Tara Angkor Hotel
Siem Reap

This hotel was beautiful and well kept. The rooms were nice although almost every hotel we visited on this trip had issues with the shower, water coming out and flooding most of the bathroom. The service, restaurant, and food were excellent. The pool and surrounding area was beautiful and well kept. Very pleased with this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Beauty, comfortable rooms, service and restaurant. Beautiful pool.
Staff
So friendly, courteous, good communication
Cleanliness & Comfort
See review
Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18
Bankok

This hotel is in need of updating. The room we had didn’t even have a place to connect a cellphone by the bed. The bathroom was so old it didn’t look clean. It was humid in the room. The fan for the A/C never stopped, but it did not make the room more comfortable. The restaurant and breakfast buffet compared to the other hotels was subpar. Very small and the servers did not speak or understand ANY English at all. The location was good, though.

Authenticity & Character
Needs updating and other things. See review
Location
Easy to walk to several restaurants and a mall.
Staff
Cleanliness and restaurant
Cleanliness & Comfort
See review
Activity Reviews
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Ba Den Battlefield Tour
Full Day Cu Chi Tunnels & Ba Den Battlefield Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

Even though we lived during the Vietnam War, actually seeing where it took place and understanding the reasons why the US had to pull out was enlightening. Everything we saw was disturbing to say the least. It was well worth the drive to learn first hand what actually happened.

Quality of Experience
Only realizing the true history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Knew the history and explained everything in detail
Transport
Long trip but sir conditioned van with good guide and driver
Private Street Food Motorbike Tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Private Street Food Motorbike Tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City

We cannot say enough good things about this motorbike food tour. The four guides were fantastic and drove those motorbikes like experts, keeping us safe in spite of the hundreds of motorbikes and cars all around us. The stops and BOUNTYFULL foods were absolutely delicious and authentic! We had a blast! These guides had the best personalities, we laughed so much! https://goo.gl/maps/9DwQgsXZ8jYoRBV4A Thao Vy, Tanya, Harry, and Destiny Thank you so much for everything!

Quality of Experience
The guised and food
Food
Everything!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Everything
Transport
Motorbikes were fun. I tend to be scared to do things like this but I was perfectly fine, felt safe
Explore  Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
Explore Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
Siem Reap

Amazing sights and history. Well worth it.

Quality of Experience
History, the temple itself
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Knowledgeable, helpful
Transport
A/C in van, water and cold rags
Private Night Food Tour by Tuk-tuk
Private Night Food Tour by Tuk-tuk
Bangkok

Great experience, locations and amazing sights and the food, delicious . Spicy but we loved it. Authentic stops. Prepare to be FULL!

Quality of Experience
Quite a different, authentic, and delicious experience.
Food
Everything! So much food!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tao explained all the food and origin. Asked what level of spiciness we were ok with. Provided water.
Transport
Air conditioning in van and authenticity of tuk tuk ride. Fun.
Half Day Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Tour
Half Day Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew Tour
Bangkok

Gorgeous palace with rich history. Our guide Tao explained all the history and details. Overall it was wonderful although it was very hot and tons of walking. Our guide had water and cold rags upon returning to the air conditioned van.

Quality of Experience
The Grand Palace, beauty and history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Tao was great
Transport
Van, air conditioning, cold water and wrapped cold rags, driver
Half Day Tonle Sap Lake Tour
Half Day Tonle Sap Lake Tour
Siem Reap

This tour was the first thing we saw in Siem Reap. If you want to see authenticity and how the floating villages and people live, go ahead and take this tour. It was not for us. The poverty and situation if these people broke our hearts. The lake is filthy (again, authentic reality). They live in unsanitary conditions. On our little boat was the 3 year old daughter and wife of the captain, hiding in the back, heartbreaking, dressed in rags, and we were told they live and sleep in that little boat.

Quality of Experience
Not taking it
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Apart from what we saw, the guide (Mr. T) and driver explained it all.
Transport
The van was fine but the boat was not. Again, authentic if you like that kind of thing.
Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok
Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok
Thailand

This place was beautiful and interesting. Long ride but worth it in our opinion. History explained by Tao unique. Many ruins of temples nearby, amazing and sad to see the destruction due to wars.

Quality of Experience
French influence, beauty of buildings and grounds
Food
Stop at hotel restaurant
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Again, our guide Tao and driver
Transport
Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan
Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan
Siem Reap

Too tiring the day after Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Would skip this tour

Quality of Experience
Need day of restHistory
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A/C van before and after, water and cold rags
Transport
Air conditioning, water, cold rags
Athena Luxury Cruise-Day 2
Athena Luxury Cruise-Day 2
Ha Long Bay

There was a weather issue, so basically there was no second day, we had breakfast and had to leave the ship. Nothing to review of this day.

Quality of Experience
Just know that the second day could be affected by weather, which was not their fault
Athena Luxury Cruise - Day 1
Athena Luxury Cruise - Day 1
Thailand

The first day on this cruise was nice. The cabin was very large and comfortable, also the bathroom. We were tired from a long trip, 23 days, so we basically enjoyed the amazing views of Ha Long Bay. Most passengers went on the 2 shore excursions, but we stayed on the ship and took advantage of the jacuzzi the size of a very small swimming pool but refreshing just the same. The food was acceptable, but they charged extra for everything, even water and coffee. The drinks were not good, but anyway the bar didn’t open until 5:00pm so no drinks for people who stayed on the ship., not even soft drinks. The sunset and view were breathtaking that night. It would have been nice to have some music, but they had none. We paid for some massages which were relaxing. The staff were very pleasant and nice, friendly

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Please see the review
Transport
The drive to Ha Long Bay was pleasant because the roads were good, the band was air-conditioned and we stopped to shop at a cultured pearl factory. They showed us how they make cultured pearls and we did purchase some nice jewelry
Full Day Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho)
Full Day Mekong Delta Tour (My Tho)
Ho Chi Minh City

This was a pleasant tour, saw the lush Mekong Delta by boat. Took a small boat trip on the very big river to a small island where we had a delicious lunch by the river. Also stopped at an outdoor market where we bought local fruit.

Quality of Experience
Food
The lunch at the restaurant by the river
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Victor and driver always had the air conditioned van waiting with water and cold rags.
Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Aug 05, 2024

Dear Giocasta,

Hope you have a great day and thank you for your detailed feedback and for choosing kimkim for your trip. We are delighted to hear that you had an excellent experience with our guides and drivers, and it is our great pleasure to do something for your husband's birthday.
We apologize for the issues with the hotels in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City and will take your feedback into consideration for future bookings.
We are so delighted that you have so many wonderful memories from your time in Southeast Asia. Thank you again for your kind words.

Best regards,
Kelly

We had several guides, all English speaking, ...
Japan | Jul 16 - Jul 25, 2024

E
Emily G.
North Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
We had several guides, all English speaking, and I cannot remember their names. However, they were all excellent. The young woman who was the guide on our food tour in Osaka was especially fun, energetic and very impressive! Read more

We had several guides, all English speaking, and I cannot remember their names. However, they were all excellent. The young woman who was the guide on our food tour in Osaka was especially fun, energetic and very impressive!

Hotel Review
Sakura Terrace -Adult Only

This hotel had a wonderful lobby space for sitting, an outdoor bar…& a fabulous restaurant! Also live music some evenings.

Authenticity & Character
Wonderful lobby area and outdoor bar
Location
Near the train station
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Aug 07, 2024

Dear Emily,

Hope you have a great day.Thank you for sharing your enjoyable experience with us. It sounds like you had a great time with the guides and enjoyed the hotel amenities.The food tour in Osaka sounds especially exciting. We're glad to hear that you had a positive experience with the staff and facilities at Sakura Terrace. We hope to welcome you back again in the future.

Best regards from Asia,
Sandy

We fell in love with Vietnam!
Vietnam | Jul 15 - Jul 25, 2024

Jason
Jason H.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
Overall the trip was a dream. We have fallen in love with Vietnam and have already been speaking about returning someday soon. Our KimKim agent, Doris, is a local expert and planned such a a good vacation and stayed within our allocated budget. We visited Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Nang. All unique and beautiful in their own right. We had a unique situation traveling with a 10 month old baby. We heard Vietnam was a good place to take young children, but we had no idea how amazing the local... Read more

Overall the trip was a dream. We have fallen in love with Vietnam and have already been speaking about returning someday soon. Our KimKim agent, Doris, is a local expert and planned such a a good vacation and stayed within our allocated budget.

We visited Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Nang. All unique and beautiful in their own right.

We had a unique situation traveling with a 10 month old baby. We heard Vietnam was a good place to take young children, but we had no idea how amazing the local people would be. Pretty much every restaurant and hotel we had people wanting to hold our baby, help us with the baby, and just showing her so much attention and affection. It was so great.

We had two guides for this trip. Our second guide, Han, was exceptional in every way and an amazing help with the baby. We honestly became friends and will stay in contact beyond our trip. He lovingly earned the title “Uncle Han” due to our daughter having so much fun with him. We couldn’t be happier with our service.

The weather was something we were worried about going to Vietnam in July but has overall it cooperated pretty well. A couple inconvenient showers but really not too bad.

All of our hotels had breakfast included, which was really nice. The first two in Hanoi and Hoi An had outstanding breakfast buffets.

In our Da Nang hotel the service was great and the people working there were great but some mornings some of the food was cold. They did offer fresh omelettes but the sausage and bacon were not the freshest. But we have found some great local food options to enjoy throughout the day so not a huge deal.

We had one problem during the trip which was a driver that picked us up from the airport. He was sick and was coughing and sneezing a lot. We did now want to continue with this driver and messaged our agent, Doris, on WhatsApp and within 7 minutes she had another driver scheduled for the next day. Amazing service!

Overall everything has been A+ with our experience with KimKim and Vietnam. I would highly recommend anyone looking into the service to give it a try.

Hotel Reviews
Hai An Beach Hotel
Da Nang

Overall, this hotel was good. The location is right across the street from the beach and you can walk out the back door of the hotel to experience more of the local restaurants and culture. The staff here was nice, but not above and beyond like our previous two hotels. It felt a little bit stuffy compared to our experience in Hanoi and Hoi An. It felt like more of a city culture versus the country culture, but it was still good overall. Our room had a great view and the location is convenient to walking and local food options. The best experience we had was with the staff in the restaurant. They were so nice and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character
It’s a nice hotel overall, but it’s right next to another hotel that is still under construction or maybe will never be finished. So when you look out the windows, you see a hotel that is not finished and so it’s not the best view.
Location
Very walkable and close to shops restaurants in the beach
Staff
Good staff overall. But a little quiet and impersonal compared to our previous to hotels we stayed in Vietnam.
Cleanliness & Comfort
It was a very clean hotel. Very comfortable overall.
Hoi An Delicacy Hotel & Spa
Hoi An

Very calm and serene experience. Excellent morning buffet. Walking distance to the shops. Rachel at the front desk went above and beyond to help us with our needs since we had a young baby she was holding the baby taking care of her so we can enjoy our breakfast. We beyond what we would expect but so nice!

Authenticity & Character
This is a newer hotel. Less than one year old at our time of stay. But very high class and luxury field everywhere you go.
Location
Very walkable location.
Staff
Everyone from the front desk, to the restaurant team, to our room service people were excellent. Would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone staying in Hoi An.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable. Comfortable beds. The staff was very respectful and would take off their shoes before they came into your room. Towels were always available at the pool. And the buffet/restaurant was always clean and well kept up-to-date.
Paradise Sails Cruise

Such a high class and beautiful cruise! The staff were very accommodating with our young child. The excursions to go see monkeys and the bay were so worth it. You don’t wanna miss this one if you visit Ha Long Bay.

Authenticity & Character
Very high class. Felt like we were on a luxury cruise.
Location
Staff
Excellent all the way.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfortable beds. Staff provided a crib for our baby.
Hanoi Pearl Hotel
Hanoi

Amazing buffet, breakfast and service team! Rachel from the front desk team went above and beyond to make sure our baby was cared for and felt comfortable and we had a great experience! You definitely don’t want to miss the spa here they have a sauna available that you can use before and after massages. Very unique! The hotel is also a very convenient location and very close to the lake where you can go out in the morning and watch everybody exercise and dance. That’s a must when you’re in Hanoi!!

Authenticity & Character
Close to cultural experiences.
Location
Very walkable. Good coffee nearby. And close to the lake where everyone goes for morning walks.
Staff
Rachel at Hanoi Pearl was exceptional!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very very clean. Staff takes off their shoes before coming in your room. So nice!
Local specialist: Doris Bui
Doris
Doris Bui
Local specialist in Hanoi, Vietnam | Replied on Aug 01, 2024

Dear Jason,

Thank you for sharing your delightful experience! I'm thrilled to hear that you have fallen in love with our country, and it's wonderful to know that you are already thinking about returning to Vietnam soon.

Your happiness and satisfaction are my top priorities. It makes my work more meaningful and fulfilling. I wish your family all the best and send warm wishes for your adorable baby.

Vietnam and I look forward to welcoming your family back in the near future!

Warmest regards from Vietnam,
Doris

We LOVED Norway and we loved everything Mar s...
Norway | Jul 13 - Jul 20, 2024

Robyn
Robyn S.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024
We LOVED Norway and we loved everything Mar set up for us. It was such a wonderful experience. And everything was smooth from the moment we arrived to our drop off at the airport. The only bummer was having to leave. I will definitely be coming back to Norway and will look into KimKim for any future trips. And Mar was truly outstanding. She listened to everything we had to say and planned our trip accordingly. Every hotel, every train, every restaurant recommendation and every activity was... Read more

We LOVED Norway and we loved everything Mar set up for us. It was such a wonderful experience. And everything was smooth from the moment we arrived to our drop off at the airport. The only bummer was having to leave. I will definitely be coming back to Norway and will look into KimKim for any future trips. And Mar was truly outstanding. She listened to everything we had to say and planned our trip accordingly. Every hotel, every train, every restaurant recommendation and every activity was perfect. She took the stress of having to plan a vacation out of the equation so all we had to was enjoy every minute. I would definitely recommend KimKim and definitely recommend Mar. And I hope to return to Norway again soon.

Activity Reviews
Fjordsafari and Hike to Mountain Goat Farm
Fjordsafari and Hike to Mountain Goat Farm
Flåm

Such a great way to experience the fjords - from the water and the mountain tops. The boat experience was super cool to go racing through the water, see the waterfalls up close, learn about the different villages and the myths of the trolls. Robbie our guide was awesome!! And then the hike up to the goat farm was something else. The views were breathtaking. AnnaKaren the owner of the farm was amazing - the goats, the lunch, her hospitality - we couldn't have asked for anything better. And our guide Lauma was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Floating Sauna Experience
Private Floating Sauna Experience
Norway

Such an amazing experience. There were only two of us so we had the whole sauna to ourselves. The views from inside the sauna, jumping in the fjord to cool off, truly incredible. At first I thought 2.5 hours would feel like forever, but then I didn't want it to end.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Mar Quiñones
Mar
Mar Quiñones
Local specialist in Kristiansand | Replied on Aug 19, 2024

Dear Robyn,
Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback and kind words! I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful time :)
We’d love to welcome you back soon, and I’d be delighted to help plan your next Norwegian adventure!
It was a real pleasure working with you!
P.S. Thanks for sharing your memories with us!
Wishing you all the best,
Mar

Ireland driving trip
Ireland | Jun 30 - Jul 7, 2024

J
Jennifer M.
Raleigh, NC | Reviewed on Aug 01, 2024

The hotels, car rental and planned activities were great. On the other hand, we received a very long document before our trip that just listed *all* of the options of things to do at each place - there was no priority or added information about timing, booking in advance, or attempts to tailor recommendations to our preferences. This document was generally not useful and we ended up having to use a travel book to figure out what to do in each place.

Local specialist: Dean Garrison
Dean
Dean Garrison
Local specialist in Ireland | Replied on Aug 07, 2024

Hi Jennifer

Thank you for taking your time to give us some feedback on your trip.

We are glad to hear you enjoyed most elements of your trip.

I am sorry to hear you were not happy with your route note document. I will certainly pass this information along to our team that deals with the route notes, this is certainly the first time we have heard concerns regarding them but we are always looking at way to improve things so we will definitely take your feedback on board.

Kind Regards

Dean

Overall pleased with Brazil trip booked with KimKim
Brazil | Jul 21 - Jul 28, 2024

B
B K.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jul 31, 2024
My trip was overall well planned by Bruno. We visited Rio and Foz do Iguacu with KimKim (we did also add a single night in Sao Paulo, due to travel needs). During the planning phase, we adjusted and added attractions that best fit my family. This included changing our flights that Bruno initially booked to help fit my desired schedule. The planning phase was great and easy. Our English guides did great and accommodated our family of 5 as needed during the various tours. The hotel selections... Read more

My trip was overall well planned by Bruno. We visited Rio and Foz do Iguacu with KimKim (we did also add a single night in Sao Paulo, due to travel needs). During the planning phase, we adjusted and added attractions that best fit my family. This included changing our flights that Bruno initially booked to help fit my desired schedule. The planning phase was great and easy. Our English guides did great and accommodated our family of 5 as needed during the various tours. The hotel selections fit our desires as well. My only small issue was the airport pickups. I believe they use a generic airport based service to get you to your hotel (at least in Rio and Sao Paulo that was the case). Both in Rio and Sao Paulo our drivers did not speak English. This was a slight issue as we weren't proficient Portuguese speakers, but we managed ok. If you were uncomfortable putting yourself out there doing some mimes and broken sign-language, it would have been very disappointing. All in all, 9 out of 10.

Local specialist: Bruno Madeira
Bruno
Bruno Madeira
Local specialist in Brazil(Rio de Janeiro) and Portugal | Replied on Aug 01, 2024

Brian, thank you very much for your review. I'm delighted that your family enjoyed their trip.
As for the transfers in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, we have a person who waits for the passengers and takes them to the car so that our clients walk less with their bags. The airports in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are huge and the parking lots are very far from the arrivals, which is why we've chosen to do it this way to make it more comfortable for our clients.
Once again, thank you very much for your trust.
All the best to you and your family.
Bruno

Super fun London trip made easy!!
England | Jul 19 - Jul 24, 2024

P
Payal F.
Brookhaven, GA | Reviewed on Jul 31, 2024
We had an amazing trip to London and so much of that had to do with our trip specialist Kateryna. From the moment I reached out with a trip inquiry to the time we actually were in London, she was so responsive and supportive.
The itinerary she created for us was perfect, well-balanced with activities and time for relaxing. She made all the reservations, tickets etc in advance which made the trip seem seamless.
We ran into difficulty with a 2 hour flight delay on arrival at Heathrow. I...
Read more

We had an amazing trip to London and so much of that had to do with our trip specialist Kateryna. From the moment I reached out with a trip inquiry to the time we actually were in London, she was so responsive and supportive.
The itinerary she created for us was perfect, well-balanced with activities and time for relaxing. She made all the reservations, tickets etc in advance which made the trip seem seamless.
We ran into difficulty with a 2 hour flight delay on arrival at Heathrow. I contacted her from the plane and she was able to get in touch with our transport from the airport, as well as shift our planned afternoon activities to evening so we could still do what we hoped to for the day. She made what could have been a stressful start to our trip so pleasant!

Activity Reviews
Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
London

So fun! All five of us enjoyed the experience. The tea selection was extensive. Our host was so knowledgeable and helpful. The food was tasty and the kids were pleasantly surprised that they could ask for seconds on any of the offerings on their stands. They all requested second servings of sandwiches!! A lovely experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Windsor Castle Day Trip from London
Windsor Castle Day Trip from London
England

Great trip to see a very special place. SO much history and to keep it so well-preserved. Very special!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Thames Cruise with Dinner
Thames Cruise with Dinner
London

This was a highlight - seeing the city sites at night on a boat with a lovely meal. So special. We lucked out with amazing weather. The live music was a treat while enjoying a four course dinner on the cruise. Just lovely!! And so easy to take the tube to get to the pier! Highly recommend. The kids loved it too!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
London

So many historical sites within. Like several museums within one place. The Crown Jewels were amazing. Seeing the armory was also so cool. Just in awe at the history of the place. Very special.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
London

Chris our cab driver was so great! He customized the trip based on what our family was interested in and shared so many fun facts as well as tips about getting around London, best view for changing of the guard. We never felt rushed when stopping for photos. Also he rearranged his schedule to accommodate our flight being 2 hours late getting in and still took time to show us so many sites. Very friendly and knowledgeable about London history and site-seeing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Aug 01, 2024
Hi Payal, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m overjoyed to hear that you had an amazing trip to London and that I could help make it special for you and your family. Your kind words are deeply appreciated. It was a huge pleasure to tailor the itinerary for you, ensuring a perfect balance of activities and relaxation. I'm glad that the seamless arrangements added to your enjoyment. Despite the flight delay, I’m happy we could make your first day pleasant and stress-free. I’m... Read more

Hi Payal,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m overjoyed to hear that you had an amazing trip to London and that I could help make it special for you and your family. Your kind words are deeply appreciated.

It was a huge pleasure to tailor the itinerary for you, ensuring a perfect balance of activities and relaxation. I'm glad that the seamless arrangements added to your enjoyment. Despite the flight delay, I’m happy we could make your first day pleasant and stress-free.

I’m thrilled that Chris made your London tour memorable and that you enjoyed the experiences from the Tower of London to the Thames Cruise with Dinner. Your detailed feedback is incredibly valuable, and it’s wonderful to know that everyone loved the afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason.

It warms my heart to know your family will cherish these memories. You are truly very valued clients, and I want you to always feel special and thoroughly appreciated.

Sending my very best wishes to you and your children!

Warmest regards,
Kateryna

We loved Japan!
Japan | Jul 2 - Jul 16, 2024

gabriela
gabriela c.
Brazil | Reviewed on Jul 31, 2024

Shona was great at all times! We loved Japan! Yumi and ayumi, our first 2 guides were amazing. Yuki was very nice and gentle. Jun was a little disappointing, he seemed always in a hurry (most of the times walking way ahead of us and not looking back to see if we were keeping up, even having 2 kids with us) and was not enthusiastic about the history or places we visited. We found that guides that have their own kids are much friendlier to our kids and make the tours so much better and more interesting and enjoyable.

Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Aug 06, 2024

Dear Gabriela,

Hope you have a great day.Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are thrilled to hear that you had an unforgettable experience in Japan and enjoyed the hospitality of Yumi and Ayumi.We apologize for any unhappiness you may have experienced with Jun and appreciate your understanding. Your comments are valuable to us as we strive to provide the best possible experience for all of our travelers. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to Japan in the future again.

Wish you and your family happy all the time.

Best regards from Asia,
Shona

Super fun Norway trip made easy!
Norway | Jul 21 - Jul 29, 2024

Betsy
Betsy H.
| Reviewed on Jul 31, 2024

Mathia made our trip planning easy - a well planned trip across Norway with nice accommodations and helpful tips along the way. He gave us all the necessary details and checked in daily. When we had some minor issues, he replied super quickly and helped us sort it out. We especially liked the Flåm railway/bike excursion and enjoyed our stay in Oslo at the beautiful Amerikalinjen hotel.

Local specialist: Mathia Pacenti
Mathia
Mathia Pacenti
Local specialist in Vesterålen, Norway | Replied on Aug 01, 2024

Dear Betsy,
Thank you very much for your kind review. I am happy to hear your trip to Norway was above your expectations. Thanks for letting me know that I have been helpful with the assistance and recommendations needed during the entire journey.
I wish you and your beautiful family all the best. :)
Mathia

Trip to Arequipa and Cusco
Peru | Jul 20 - Jul 28, 2024

J
J.M. v.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Jul 31, 2024
We have had an amazing trip in Peru and Anne was a great help in planning and organising the trip. The communication was quick and complete. We loved all the hotels we stayed in, as well as the excursions. The first days in Arequipa we spent two days in a group by tour guide Maya. She was knowledgeble, friendly, helpful, communicative, punctual and fun. In and around Cusco we were helped guided by Julio Quispe. He was an extraordinary tour guide, whom I can not praise enough. He loves to... Read more

We have had an amazing trip in Peru and Anne was a great help in planning and organising the trip. The communication was quick and complete. We loved all the hotels we stayed in, as well as the excursions. The first days in Arequipa we spent two days in a group by tour guide Maya. She was knowledgeble, friendly, helpful, communicative, punctual and fun. In and around Cusco we were helped guided by Julio Quispe. He was an extraordinary tour guide, whom I can not praise enough. He loves to share his passion for the region and was able to pass the enthusiasm on to us. His knowledge, stories, insights, anecdotes and tips really made this part of the trip special. Like Maya he was friendly, helpful, pro-active, punctual and flexible.

Local specialist: Anne Godoy
Anne
Anne Godoy
Local specialist in Lima | Replied on Jul 31, 2024

Hello J.M.
Thanks again for trusting us with your trip to Peru. I know Maya, and especially Julito had a great time showing you their hometown. Hopefully, if you come back to our country to explore further let us know. We might have the chance to meet next time.
We wish you and Luis Eduardo the best on your future journeys!
Best regards from Peru 🇵🇪

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.