Kimkim Trip Reviews

PORTO
Hotel Pur Oporto.
I rate this hotel 3 stars.
•When we walked into the hotel and to the reception, the staff did not smile or say hello. I had to smile & say hello first.
•The room looked fabulous when we first walked in.
•Thank you for the red rose & the champagne.
•The veranda was great.
•The room needs more hooks.
•The bathroom was awkward and it was dangerous stepping out of the bathtub because the bidet was in the way.
•The cold breakfast was excellent, the hot breakfast looked & tasted like it had been there for a long time, it was not pleasant to eat.
•Staff warmed up but would only say hello and smile if I said hello first.
•Position of the hotel was excellent for us because we like to walk everywhere.
Local Guides & Tours
•Porto Food Tour- can't remember the guides name, just that he was a magician.
This tour was lots of fun & excellent. 5 stars.
•Miguel - Day on the Doura. Excellent guide & excellent tour. 5 stars.
EVORA
Hotel: Albergaria Do Calvārio - 3 stars.
•Our room was very big, it was downstairs, the bathroom was okay but had lots of ants in it. Bed was comfortable.
•Breakfast: Was very simple and the 'freshly' cooked breakfast tasted like it had been sitting in the pan for a long time.
•Staff: All staff were excellent
Tours
Convento de Christi
Excellent - 5 stars
Tour of Evora
•Guide: Telma - walking tour of the old town was excellent, Telma was so good, funny and lovely to be will. 5 stars.
ALGARVE
•Lunch at Morgado do Quintāo
The lunch was delicious.
The short tour of the vines was excellent due to our Guide Candy. She was passionate about the area and her knowledge was excellent. Her voice is soft and gentle. She is the reason we are giving this tour 5 stars.
The 4,000 year old olive tree is amazing.
LAGOS
Hotel: Lagos Avenida
•As soon as you walk in the doors you are greeted by a smile and amazing decor. This hotel is 5 stars plus!!!
•All the areas of the hotel are immaculate.
The staff are really friendly and they smile and chat to you.
•Local Guides and Tours
Kayaking trip to Benagil Caves
Guide: Zac
•This tour was excellent - tho you do need to fit and be able to kayak as the ocean was very bumpy with natural waves but also waves from all the other tourist boats.
•The caves are magnificent.
5 stars for the tour and for Zac, he was excellent.
Bike Tour to Ria Formosa
Guide: Goncalo
•Excellent day riding the boardwalks through the wetlands and then out to the beach. Loved every second of this ride. Coffee and pastel de natas on the beach was wonderful.
5 stars for our wonderful guide Concalo and the bike ride.
LISBON
Hotel: PortoBay Liberdade
•Walked in to the hotel and received a wonderful welcome of smiles and hellos.
• Staff were friendly and said hello.
• The in house restaurant is excellent, we had an amazing dinner on our first night!
• Restaurant staff were excellent, special mention to Ciro, Cleo & Beatrice.
•The stand out staff member was Sophie Mello- great personality, beautiful smile, great sense of humour, we could not fault her!!!
Local Tours & Guides
• Tuk Tuk of Old City
•Guide: Arthur
• A great tour of the old town. Arthur eas great, good sense of humour and knowledgeable.
5 stars for the tour & Arthur.
FADO
•The good was average and the staff not that pleasant..but the Fado singers and accompanying guitar players were amazing.
•Very emotional and so amazing to listen to, the projection of their voices was truly magnificent.
5 stars for the performance
3 stars for the dinner.
•Sintra Heritage Hike
•Guida: Susana
•An amazing day in the mountains. Loved the Moorish Castle, and the surrounding gardens, so beautifully designed.
•The Penna Palace was incredible with it's architecture and bright colours of red & yellow.
•The tour to go into the palace was not that good, due to too many people. It was interesting but took too long because of the amount of people.
•We ended the day with a great cup of coffee in the Sintra Village.
10 stars for the tour
10 stars for Susana
•Day Tour to Setubal & Arrābida
•Tour Guide: Raul
•The XV11 Century Fortress is really boring. The view is nice. The only thing that made this worthwhile was the church.
• We did not go Cabo Espichel to see the giant waves crash against the rocks. This was the main reason we booked this tour. Very disappointed.
• The visit to the vineyard, saved the day.
Phillipa was excellent, Her knowledge about the vineyards, the area and the wines was excellent, she also had a great personality and was funny.
•The wines were delicious and so easy the tasting plate.
•The lunch we had with our guide was excellent, Raul warmed up and was excellent company.
•I am only giving this tour 2 stars because of the boring Fortress and not going into the natural park of Arrābida
• The wine tasting tour with Phillipa - 5 stars .
Hi Rita,
I know this is really long but I hope you read this and take note.
We have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your company.
Kind regards
Anna & Bob Tait

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

Excellent welcome as soon as you walk in the door from reception and floor staff. Great location and if you enjoy walking is not too far to the beginning of the old town. Restaurant for breakfast was excellent. Excellent service from Sophia, she is very professional, and has a great sense of humour, we really enjoyed her at breakfast time! Restaurant for dinner is exceptional!!! Excellent service from Ciro, Cleo & Beatrice. Rooms are clean & tidy but need to be refurbished. The house keepers were very friendly and well and made up the rooms beautifully. We had an excellent stay at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Sophia was the stand out of all the staff!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

This hotel is fabulous. As soon as you walk in you are greeted with a lovely smile from the girls on reception. The hotel is beautifully designed & styled in every way. Excellent pieces of wooden art are a real feature in the hotel. Our room was fabulous. We had a balcony overlooking looking the marina. The room service staff were lovely too. Breakfast was incredible!!!!! Wait staff were very friendly and professional. The restaurant is a Michelin Star Restaurant!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albergaria do Calvário

Évora

This was a perfectly placed hotel at the beginning of the old village. The hotel also had parking which is a huge bonus as there is almost no parking in the old village. The staff are excellent and are happy to speak with you. The decor is wonderful, a warm and inviting feel in the lounge, bar area and the outside courtyard. Breakfast is very mediocre, unfortunately the cooked breakfast didn't seem to be freshly cooked. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed staying here.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful decor.

Location

Close to the old town

Staff

Always said hello and smiled.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pur Oporto Boutique Hotel by Actahotels

Porto

I rated this hotel 3 stars. •When we walked into the hotel and to the reception, the staff did not smile or say hello. I had to smile & say hello first. •The room looked fabulous when we first walked in. •Thank you for the red rose & the champagne. •The veranda was great. •The room needs more hooks. •The bathroom was awkward and it was dangerous stepping out of the bathtub because the bidet was in the way. •The cold breakfast was excellent, the hot breakfast looked & tasted like it had been there for a long time, it was not pleasant to eat. •Staff warmed up but would only say hello and smile if I said hello first. •Position of the hotel was excellent for us because we like to walk everywhere

Authenticity & Character

The hotel has a great ambience when you first walk in. Funky furniture and good styling. Very neat and tidy.

Location

Good walking distance from to most areas

Staff

They need to learn how to smile and say hello to their guests.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was excellent when you first walk in, but needed more hooks. Bathroom was too crowded with the bidet too close to the shower in the bath. Slippery and dangerous when stepping down to the floor.

Activity Review

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

This was a great and fun night out. I can't remember our guides name, but he is a magician as well as being an excellent guide. We went to about 4 different and excellent venues, trying the local beers, wines and tasting plates. A must do when in Porto!

Quality of Experience

Our guide!

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nothing, it was a walking tour.

So our time in Cortina d’ Empezzo was magical! This was the best part of my experience! It snowed for 3 days in the Dolomites, and we had an absolute blast winter hiking in a stunningly beautiful mountain environment. Our guide Anna was so delightful and experienced. We hiked to Tre Cime with her, which was amazing! It was full on winter, and we needed crampons for this hike, which Anna provided. She was a terrific guide!
The Hotel de Len in Cortina was fabulous! My room was beautiful and comfortable, and I loved the hot tea and cookies delivered to the room in the late afternoon. Chef Andrea was fantastic! He is highly creative and very personable. We loved our private ravioli cooking class with him. It was great fun. The staff at Hotel de Len were so personable and accommodating. (the 2 Francisco’s, Vita, Beatrice, Andrea, Gigi,)and the whole gang made our stay very special indeed. Great food and comfortable surroundings. Felt like family there. Also loved Fabio our guide on the second day of hiking. Fabio was kind enough to sit in for Anna whose father died the night of our hike to Tre Cime. So sad for Anna and her family, and for all of us who grew so fond of her. Fabio was really great too! He is an experienced and knowledgeable mountain guide. He is kind and respectful, and he took us to a beautiful mountain waterfall and then to a great local spot for lunch. Loved our time with Fabio too. He is a very fun guide who knows the Dolomites and the area around Cortina.
Santa Margarita Liguria was wonderful! We enjoyed our hotel and this beautiful small city by the sea. Excellent dining.
We did a wonderful hike to Portofino on a completely quiet trail with our guide Marta. Marta was very knowledgeable and personable, and super fun to spend the day with! We learned so much about the history of the area, lifestyle, plants, food etc…. We all loved Marta!
Life in Cinqua Terra was truly amazing. We hiked every day, one day with our guide Maura who we also enjoyed SO much! She taught us everything about foraging for edible plants as we hiked the trail from Manorolo to Corniglia, and then to Vernazza. Amazing day of photography and great food. The Pesto Experience at Nussin Dorma in Manorolo was wonderful! Highly recommend! Learning to make pesto the old Italian Ligurian way was great fun! The lunch and wine was out of this world.
Our time in Monterosso was amazing as well. I loved our little bed and breakfast high up and away from the hustle and bustle of city. Il Parco. It was clean and the breakfasts were terrific. The owner Marta was very accommodating. It is important to spend time on the sea when in this beautiful place. Just seeing the 5 villages of Cinqua Terra from the sea was an amazing experience. This should not be missed when in the area.
Last day was in Milano. Beautiful city. Need to go back and spend more time shopping!
Thanks for providing truly amazing people as guides , who will take you off the beaten path to places you would never see on your own. Loved the trip and love Italy.🇮🇹
Lauren

Dionysus was amazing and his tour of the Acropolis was perfection.
Christus at Meteora was an excellent guide.
Erai in Corfu and the food tour was delightful and went out of his way to show us so many different things. He went over and above all expectations.
Anastasia and the Durrell tour was delightful. We so enjoyed that tour even though the weather was not cooperating that day.
The Olive tour snd tasting was top notch. Learned so much. MerDesOlivers was a wonderful find and we spent hours there.
In Corfu we saw the Olympic torch arrive.
Mykonos and the Delos Island were great archeological sites.
On Santorini our San Hilite Tours were fantastic and Yoda and her husband driver the best.
The wine tour beautiful.
So enjoyed the catamaran tour was top notch, vista yachting!! The crew was delightful and the buffet lunch terrific.
We did take the metro to Akrotiri and what an amazing experience.

All the hotels were perfect. We did change rooms at the Elena in Corfu because the loft was just too many steps and the bed to low . Everyone was so accommodating. Got a first floor room for the second night.

I can not say enough positive things about our experience. Travel 12 in Greece and Erini were accommodating and always available. All the transfers and taxis and cars and vans great and everyone was on time and so kind.
Our trip was magical .thank you so very much.

Hotel Reviews

Bella Venezia Historic Boutique Hotel

Corfu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elena Hotel Mykonos

Mykonos

A delightful choice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perianth Hotel

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Every detail was perfect. Great amenities

Location

Gorgeous Acropolis views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thera Luxury Villas Santorini

Beautiful, Be prepared for steps. Challenging for hip and knee replacements. Delicious breakfast Gorgeous rooftop eternity jacuzzi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Gorgeous views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Theatro Hotel Odysseon

Kalabaka

Fun themed rooms . Enjoyed the atmosphere very much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lithia Boutique Hotel Ioannina

Ioannina

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ganimede Hotel

Galaxidi

Lovely accommodations and the yummiest breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Small and personal

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plaka Hotel

Athens

Luxury accommodation with a roof top Acropolis view. Elevator and very knowledgeable staff. In the heart of everything.

Authenticity & Character

Very comfortable and quiet in the heart of the city.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the amenities and roof top dining

Activity Reviews

Day-Trip to Delos Island

Mykonos

Worth every minute. So interesting. Very windy.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Car Rental Drop-off

Greece

Great to experience the Greek mainland at our own pace. So fun.

Quality of Experience

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Vista Yachting. Such fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Highlights with Wine

Greece

Yoda was a wonderful guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour in Corfu Old Town

Corfu

Erai was our guide and he was so personable and loved sharing his city. It was a joy.

The Durrells Tour of Corfu

Corfu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anastasia was a helpful and knowledgeable guide.

Transport

Local transfer in Corfu

Greece

Quality of Experience

Lunch with Olive Grove View

Greece

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Dionysus was an exceptional guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Panoramic Meteora Tour

Meteora

An amazing and “other worldly “ experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christus was a great guide.

Transport

Car Rental Pick-up

Greece

I cannot say enough good things about Megan and her team. They were super responsive, planned a wonderful trip, and made things completely effortless for us. I not only highly recommend them, but plan on using them again on my next trip!

Said is a master communicator and answered many many questions I presented before the trip. Our guide Reda was an absolute professional with excellent attention to detail with our needs. Unfortunately I had a knee injury about a month before the trip. Reda went out of his way and by his own initiative to accommodate us including stopping to find me an ice bag. At our hotel stops he initiated getting us moved to a ground level room to help me avoid stairs. Aside from the incredible communication and attention to detail. Our trip was a flawless plan with a flawless execution. I was able achieve a bucket list item of visiting the desert and riding a camel! Yep would recommend KimKim in a heartbeat and we are already planning our next adventure!

Our trip was just as we had been told. All of the big details had been taken care of, and things worked as they should. Every hotel was ready for us when we arrived, even though we arrived early. Each of the small tours which had been booked was ready for us. All details (loc ations, times, etc.) turned out to be on target. We went a couple of places on the recommendation of our kimkim staff, and were very pleased. We experienced a smooth, entertaining, and enjoyable trip, due to the work done by Jane and Cecilia.

We had a small scheduling issue during the planning stage which was resolved to our satisfaction. Once on the trip, things were just as we had been lead to expect.

Hotel Reviews

No.32 Hotel

Edinburgh

HUGE room! Quiet, comfortable hotel. Not really close to old town Edinburgh, but only 5 minutes from the tram stop which takes you right there. Older building, no lift. Manager went out of his way to be accomodating during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galtres Lodge Hotel

York

Older hotel, so no lift. Very nice staff, very accomodating. Excellent breakfast. Great location, right in the middle of old city York. Easy walk to Yorkminster, Shambles, city wall, etc. You may have difficulty getting dropped off at hotel -- no cars allowed 10 am - 5:30 pm (city ordinance). You get dropped off and half to walk a few blocks with your suitcases if you arrive during those hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Malmaison Oxford

Oxford

Neat rooms (in an old prison). Restaurant was quite good. Great breakfast options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton Bath City

Bath

Pretty standard Hampton Inn hotel. Pleasant staff, details handled properly. Location well suited for wandering about the old city of Bath. Breakfast was the exact same menu every day, which got a bit old (we were there 5 days), but that was the only complaint we had.

Authenticity & Character

New building, no real character to it -- standard Hampton property.

Location

Easy walking around Bath sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Guided Tour to Glastonbury

Bath

Dan was an excellent guide. he took time to learn what type of things interested us, and then shaped our tour accordingly Glastonbury attracts folk interested in history -- or in New Age spirituallity -- or in architecture -- or in whatever. I appreciated we did nto have to hear all about things which did not interst us, but could focus on what we liked. Climbing the Tor provided amazing views! The Chalice Well Garden was very pretty, and the Glastonbury Abbey ruins were something to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dan was informative and easy to be with.

Yorktour Evening Express: Small Group Early Evening Walking Tour

York

This was a great little walking tour! Our guide was very knowledgeable and quite pleasant. We enjoyed getting to know some of the history of York and its buildings. She also gave us several ideas for where to go over the next days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tickets to Cardiff Castle

Cardiff

Cardiff Castle is pretty amazing. From old Roman fort to Norman construction to 19th century rebuilding in what they thought was medieval fashion, there was plenty to see. The site is quite large, with plenty to see and enjoy. We did the audio tour only, which was quite interesting.

Quality of Experience

Day tour to the Cotswolds from Bath

United Kingdom

We had read about the Cotswalds in various books, so it was great to actually get to see them. Very beautiful stonework. Got a real sense of what a small English village can be.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Herriot and Yorkshire Dales Day Trip from York

York

Really enjoyed riding through the Dales. Our guide stopped several times just to let us get out and view the scenery (not just stopping at tourist traps).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time in Sicily. Our driver was great always making sure we got where we needed to be. The guides where excellent. The guide for Valley of the Temples was a forensic archeologist who had actually worked on the site at one time. He was truley informative. The chef for our cooking lesson was wonderful learning about shopping the market and techniques for preparing the seafood selected. We just had a fantastic vacation.

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting in Mount Etna

Italy

Wonderful. We had a fantastic experience at the vineyard. The wines were grest and the sommelier was very knowledgeable about the vineyard and wines. The food served was fresh, delicious and complemented the wines.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour around Ortigia

Syracuse

We loved our boat tour going through the caves and around Ortigia Island. IT was great getting to see the island from the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Syracuse

Syracuse

The guide was good and very knowledgeable regarding Syracusa.

Cooking Class and Ortygia Market

Italy

We loved the chef. She was very informative about the market, local products and buying techniques. Our lesson was a lot of fun and delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to the Valle dei Templi

Italy

Very informative. The guide was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Private transfer from Palermo to Syracuse with stop at Valle dei Templi

Italy

Our driver was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palermo and its street food walking tour

Palermo

The guide who grew up in Palermo shared a lot of information about the history around the markets. He really helped us to understand the value to the neighborhood, the family run stalls and feel the vibrant street food experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver always got us exactly where we needed to be including coordination with our guides. He helped to make our experience seamless when we were traveling.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver always got us exactly where we needed to be including coordination with our guides. He helped to make our experience seamless when we were traveling.

Transport

Transport

Sallam was great and so helpful and fun. He shared his love and passion of the Berbers and Morocco. He was punctual and alw Amy’s willing tp please. We learned so much about Islam,the Berbers,Moroccan history and we had many discussions on many topics. He became like a good friend and made our trip to Morocco one of a lifetime.
The desert camp and journey there and back gave us a fabulous taste of the desert. All of our Riads and hotels were clean and the staff friendly and helpful. There were two special stays. The first Maison dHotes La Vallee des Figues in the Dades valley was a unique and comfortable place made especially so by Bob. He always had a smile and treated us like old friends. The second exceptional spot was the Tim Joseph hotel in Ouarzazate. The owner greeted us so warmly and showed us all around the hotel which was funky and eclectic. He was very interesting to talk to and showed such pride in the operation and decor of his hotel.
The hike to the Monkey Fingers was great and we were very happy to meet a nomad and see how he lived. Bob arranged this. The vehicle was clean and reliable. Sallam introduced us to great Moroccan music. We would highly recommend Sallam and the Kim Kim team.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Challa Hotel & Spa

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Very young and helpful staff

Location

Close walking to medina

Staff

Young fun honest

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small very basic room

Tin Joseph

Ouarzazate

Kind owner and very proud of his facilities. Amazing decor and his invention of an elevator was amazing

Authenticity & Character

Decorations and pictures and history

Location

Walking distance to Medina

Staff

Very kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Lots of hot water

Atta Desert Camp

Erg Chegaga

Loved this experience so much. Tents were wonderful and tea and cookies were nice touch. All staff humble and very helpful

Authenticity & Character

Tents staff

Location

Right in the dune and very quiet, stars,dromedaries

Staff

Friendly and happy

Cleanliness & Comfort

I was not expecting showers

Kasbah Sirocco

Zagora

Clean but pool cold staff very pleasant.

Authenticity & Character

Staff very friendly

Location

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maison d'Hôtes La Vallée des Figues

Boumalne

Bob was so welcoming and treated us with such love.

Authenticity & Character

Bob

Location

Hiking and the decor was fabulous, very good food and organization. Loved not having locks on the door.

Staff

Bob

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lots of fun and great hiking

Riad Al Riad

Marrakech

Clean and very helpful ..Delicious cooking by two ladies and two young men were very helpful with directions on our first two days getting oriented.

Authenticity & Character

The staff

Location

Nothing

Staff

Helpful,kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast and Tajine made by the staff were great

Activity Reviews

Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Interesting history and handy crafts

Quality of Experience

People and guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explanation about painting

Transport

Erg Chegaga to Ouarzazate

Morocco

Drove long route on rough road which was a step back in time and very authentic. Seeing nomads and camels

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagora to Erg Chegaga - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

More time riding the dromedary

Quality of Experience

Lunch at oasis was fun

Food

Tea on arrival

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Road of 1000 Kasbahs

Morocco

Loved the Monkey Fingers hike and visit to Nomad

Quality of Experience

Sharing tea with nomad

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great to talk with nomad and share pictures of our home

Transport

Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ouarzazate

Morocco

Amazing drive chose kasbah over movie studio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taste your way through Marrakech ( Guided tour)

Marrakesh

Sallam explained all the history and sites. Maybe more tastes and explanation of the food

Quality of Experience

Guide was exceptional

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Passion,honesty willingness to share culture

Transport

Four wheel driving in desert was great

We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coast and wine country thanks to the amazing welcoming and caring by Dominique and Eliseo. They were real, authentic and so helpful, prompt and communicative. Dominique also went out of her way to make sure we knew our pick up times, etc for other outings. They both helped me celebrate my birthday in a special lovely way. Dominique is so knowledgeable and Eliseo despite our language barrier was so fun and caring for us. We had a blast and great introduction to Chile thanks to them both.

The trip to Patagonia was also amazing. KimKim did take care of all the details. Some additional descriptions about tour time pick ups and drives would have been helpful but in the end we had a blast.

Activity Review

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Chile

This was a great cruise. I think it would have been helpful to have more of a description regarding the pick up time, the length of drive, and need for walk to the boat as felt somewhat surprised by the morning. The trip was fantastic though but could have had a better description of what to expect.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver on this leg was not that communicative and the van did not heat up so we were Freezing!

Transport

Van did not work well in terms of heating so a cold drive first thing in the morning was challenging.

This was the first time we have traveled to Portugal and Spain and we wanted to have a very happy experience. We researched the Internet and various other travel documents and we found the tour company KimKim and how they focus on private tours that are tailor-made, and they use expertise and knowledge of people who actually live and work within the respective Countries. This was most important to us. A simple email initiated the process and we were delighted to make contact with Pedro our Portugal contact. Wow, how fun to have someone who listens, provides immediate responses and recommendations, and develops a plan that can be shared and discussed with travel companions. There were four people in our group and we all felt ownership in the travel plan that was developed. We booked a 21 day trip to Portugal that included a 3 day adventure to Seville, Spain.

Pedro and his working associates took the stress out of travel and provided us with opportunities to stay in Hotels that were centrally located, to have historical walking tours, to witness a Fado and Flamenco Dinner and Show, to have private wine tastings, to have Private Drivers that enabled us to visit wonderful locations throughout Portugal, to be on excursions of the Douro river and Lagos Grottos, and to have Portuguese foods at very nice restaurants. The weather was perfect and this really enhanced our trip of a lifetime!

Pedro always remained in constant communication with us using the electronic application called ‘WhatsApp’. This enabled us to always know the current plan; everything (and I do mean everything) was meticulously identified and always implemented to perfection. Our trip was a ‘5+ Star Day’ every day with many surprises along the way. Pedro made us feel welcome surprising us with a box of treats with a bottle of Port Wine at the hotel. Kind words were always expressed with immediate feedback which made every day special, and of course the use of knowledgeable people that really wanted to make our trip the best ever. Pedro and his associates did this to perfection!

Our Hotel accommodations were excellent. We stayed in Lisbon, Porto, Evora, Seville, and Lagos. Each stay included a very nice room, excellent breakfast, onsite bar and restaurant, and very professional staff.

Thank you goes to the many people we met along the way, who we now consider our Portugal Friends; private drivers, hotel staff, walking tour guides, Belem Tuk-Tuk driver, boat captains, and of course the wine tasting experts. A noteworthy ‘Job Well Done’ goes to Private Drivers Pepe and Helder; both really went out of their way to create lifetime memories. Also, a very special ‘Thank You and Job Well Done’ goes to Pedro, Joao, and their associated staff; YOU ARE THE BEST.

Your friends,
Greg & Nancy Hanson

Hotel Reviews

Tivoli Oriente Hotel

Lisbon

Great restaurant and close to the Lisbon Airport

Authenticity & Character

Very modern and terrific top floor bar

Location

Close to the Lisbon Airport

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Great location within walking distance of all key things to see and do

Authenticity & Character

Roof top bar was a great place to hangout and socialize with friends

Location

Within walking distance of restaurants, bars, and excursions

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

H10 Casa de la Plata

Sevilla

Great location and within walking distance of key things to see and do

Authenticity & Character

Very nice with character

Location

Terrific location within walking distance of key things to see and do

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

Évora Olive Hotel

Évora

The best of Evora. Very nice and within walking distance of all key locations.

Authenticity & Character

The best of Evora

Location

Within walking distance of all key locations and restaurants

Staff

Polite and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is clean and comfortable. Great breakfast

PortoBay Teatro

Porto

Perfect location with terrific hotel staff and accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice

Location

Great location within walking distance to all key parts of the City

Staff

Polite, helpful, and knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean room and very comfortable

Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel

Lisboa

Perfect location with terrific hotel staff and accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

The best with character and charm

Location

Perfect location within easy walking distance major attractions

Staff

Very polite and most helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Tábua & Barro do Naldo

Évora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Exceptional experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with Flamenco Show in Seville

Seville

Amazing. Great food with a terrific Flamenco Show

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Beautiful place with fast shuttle service from parking area

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Simple amazing experience and dinner. A must do.

Quality of Experience

Amazing 5 Star experience

Food

Very good food and Wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy Taxi ride from Hotel

Transport

Easy Taxi ride from Hotel

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour & Tastings

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guides, Mike and Tim, were just wonderful. They made sure we saw all the items that were on our lists and even some unexpected ones. The visitation to all the Buda sites, the gold and people dressed in clothing from the country was so great. Seeing how the women made the flower decorations to honor the temples was amazing. All the areas to shop and the street food vendors were a site to see. Great time!! Now looking forward to the next adventure.

Hi Kim Kim, thank you for putting us in touch with Sangita who put together a wonderful experience for Camilla and I in Nepal. It was a special time

I liked our first week the best where Rabin as our guide and Iswar as our porter walked and talked us from Koto, Meta, Naar, Ngawal to Menang via Kang-La pass. It was a treat to have the mountains to ourselves and be able to get into a trekking rhythm without others around and be able to absorb the true beauty and peaceful mountain landscape of Nepal.

We learnt a lot about life in Nepal from Rabin and Iswar even some Nepalese music. They helped us feel welcome at the tea houses and we enjoyed dal Bhat, Thukpa and momos daily - the spices were so good. Nothing was a problem

Thank you again for a great time in Nepal
Catriona

Barbara was fantastic! From beginning to end our trip was seamless. She really understood the assignment and delivered. Our excursions were amazing. The hotels were beautiful and centrally located to all sites. Rafaella and Daniella(Italian team) we're also fantastic. They communicated with us daily regarding pick up times, drivers, excursion, directions etc. Also, they were extremely quick to respond to any questions we had. The ground transportation team in each city(Amalfi, Rome & Naples) were extremely professional and punctual. Can't say enough about how wonderful this Italian getaway was for us!!

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel Oriente

Naples

Well appointed hotel in the heart of Naples. Steps from tons of historical sites and shopping. Breakfast was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kolbe Hotel Rome

Rome

This was a beautiful hotel. The staff was exceptional. Centrally located so you can walk to most sites. Note- This is a former Franciscan monestary that has a beautiful garden and 100 year old olive trees. It also backs on to Paletine Hill and steps from circus maximus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Pompeii archeological tour

Italy

This is an absolute must do tour. We had a private tour with Antonio. He has been giving tours of Pompeii for 30+ years. This place is huge so don't think you'll see everything in 3hrs. It would take weeks to see it all. Antonio had a wealth of knowledge about Pompeii and its history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Antonio was amazing! I would go back to see him to show us other parts of Pompeii we didn't see.

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum semi-private tour

Rome

Wow! Loved this experience. Even though is rained on our excursion it was worth it. Had an informative guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican City and Sistina Chapel semi-private tour

Italy

This is a must see on your itinerary. Bring your patience pants. There are so many people....it's a small price to pay to see so much history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at a local winery on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius

Naples

This was a fantastic experience. We had a private tour of the vineyard which was very informative. The food and wine parings were amazing! We ended up having a case shipped back to the US (have flat shipping rate to US). The views are spectacular from this vineyard.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine tasting and lunch in Amalfi Coast

Amalfi

This was a beautiful winery perched up high on the coast. Very welcoming staff. Had a great and brief tour of the facility and caves. The lunch pairing was fantastic with a beautiful views of the ocean.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amalfi Coast shared boat tour

Italy

This was a magical day! There were 12 of us on the boat. We cruised along the coastline, while our boat captain shared his knowledge and history about the coast. We stopped at a few grottos, went under the famous Fiordo di Furore bridge. We stopped in the town of Amalfi for 3 hours to shop and have lunch. There are also several opportunities to stop and jump in the ocean for a swim. Highly recommend this trip. Best way to see the coastline.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Golf cart Tour of Rome

Rome

This was a highlight of our trip in Rome. We had a 3hr private tour with Lorenzo. He was an amazing guide. He showed us so many landmarks and corners of the city we wouldn't have seen on our own. He was extremely knowledgeable about Roman history and navigating the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lorenzo made the excursion exciting and educational.

Transport

Capri Island shared boat tour

Italy

Amazing boat day to Capri. We had not one but two Fabio's manning the boat. There were 12 of us and it was comfortable. They provided us with some history about the coast and Capri as we sailed. We even sailed thru the arch of Faraglioni. We had roughly 4 hours to roam Capri before sailing back to Amalfi. We were offered refreshments during the boat ride as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lemon Tour and Cooking Class

Italy

What a great experience! This is a 6th generation family run lemon grove. Wear running shoes because you'll be walking up hills and uneven terrain during your tour. The cooking class was awesome. This is a must do in Amalfi.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an absolutely fantastic experience, from top to bottom with KimKim. Patricia kept in touch ahead of our trip to make sure that the itinerary met our needs and to ensure we had all the connections noted. Everything was seamless and that attention to detail and staying in touch with us continued throughout the trip. We were a group of eight friends each couple arriving at different times and our transfers from the airport all went beautifully. We had a half day tour of Lisbon shortly after we arrived with Claudia. Claudia came with the highest certification and credentials, and she was clearly a skilled guide, but it was also her warmth and desire to provide us with a terrific experience that really stood out. She packed into the afternoon a wonderful tour that oriented us to the city and gave us a taste of what was to come. Claudia again accompanied us on a day trip to Sintra providing us with a fantastic experience. Our driver Vasco likewise was an utter delight making the trip easy and efficient. Our food tour the following day in Lisbon was led by Ricardo who took us off the beaten track and introduced us to typical Portuguese food and some new foods brought to Portugal from the cultures that make it a city of diversity. The following day it was off to Porto and again Claudia and Vasco made the drive and day special. We stopped in Obidos along the way, one of my favorite small villages with white washed buildings, cute shops and a medieval castle. Once in Porto, our guide Lucia oriented us on the layout of the city and gave us great restaurant suggestions. The walking tour included a stop at the famous bookstore that inspired JK Rowling and the Jewish quarter with fascinating history. Lucia also accompanied us the next day to the Douro Valley where we had an experience of a lifetime visiting two wineries, one being the winery of our guide Lucia’s husband. Lucia’s knowledge of the winery added to the depth of our experience and gave us unique access to the vineyard. We then proceeded to the second winery and dined at the home of the wine owner tasting some amazing wines, eating delicious and authentic Portuguese dishes and having wonderful conversation. A unique and intimate experience. From there we headed to the Algarve and again the transfer to and from the airport and to our hotel were all seamless. The next day our sailboat tour along the Algarve coast provided stunning views and scenery. Then it was back to Lisbon stopping in Lagos along the way where Carla was our guide. Carla is not only a local who gave us a wonderful tour of her city, but an accomplished guide who has worked frequently with Rick Steves. Vasco was again our driver getting us back to Lisbon safely and with a warm smile. Kim Kim put together an amazing trip with wonderful guides and a fabulous itinerary. They were recommended to us by friends and I absolutely give them our highest recommendation as well. Top to bottom, fantastic. Thank you for a fabulous experience.

Hotel Review

Cascade Wellness Resort

Lagos

Relaxing spot with wonderful walking paths along the coast for stunning views. Spa experience was a nice way to end our trip. Dining options on site limited and had a long wait, but good restaurants available in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Appliances in the apartment were not working, but staff helpful.

Activity Reviews

Private Tour of Sintra Castles & the Lisbon Coast

Lisbon

Fascinating history and stunning scenery. Claudia our guide did a great job navigating lines and timing so we did not wait, and provided a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Our guide and scenic area

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia and Vasco were amazing

Transport

Timing and efficiency

Douro Valley Tour

Portugal

Our guide Lucia provided us with an intimate and memorable experience. Highly recommend her and this tour. Stunning views and absolutely fantastic wines.

We had an amazing trip planned for New Zealand, with the help from Franck, our tour guide. He listened to what we were interested in and made all of the reservations and adjustments. It was so wonderful to have all of the details taken care of.
When there was a cancellation of a tour, KimKim helped us find alternate plans and we were refunded the cost of the cancelled tour as soon as we got home. It was a trip that was full of amazing memories including the people of NZ and their beautiful country. Maile

Activity Reviews

Cass Valley Backcountry Tour

New Zealand

We loved this tour because it took us into the backcountry with so many fascinating pieces of history and knowledge about family sheep farming and the amazing mountains and valleys that surround the sheep stations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound overnight Cruise - Fiordland Jewel

New Zealand

What a great way to end our 3 weeks in NZ. It was a beautiful overnight trip, lovely captain and staff.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Abel Tasman - Full Day Sailing

New Zealand

This was one of our favorite tours - great skipper and a wonderful day out on the water and multiple stops at islands and beaches.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Olman did an outstanding job meeting our objectives for the itinerary. All aspects of the itinerary were achieved and experience exceeded our expectations!

Hotel Reviews

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Outstanding location and accommodations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Went over and beyond our expectations

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Five star hotel with exceptional service and care. Excellent food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Esquinas Rainforest Lodge

Golfito

A great experience. Food choices were adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Immersed in the rain forest with beauty all around.

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating in answering questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Trogon Lodge

San Gerardo de Dota

All aspects were good, except the dining room was chilly and the food selections limited.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

El Tigre Waterfalls Exploration

Monteverde

We cancelled this event as we were scheduled for La Paz. We went to Monteverde Forest Biological Reserve and Cafe Colibri instead.

Quality of Experience

Better detail of the walking/hiking requirements.

Early Birdwatching Tour at Curi-Cancha Reserve

Monteverde

Overall the best birdwatching experience. Exceeded our expectations. Knowledgeable and professional guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Group was large

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vanilla, Coffee, Chocolate, and Spice Guided Tour

Manuel Antonio

Did not meet our expectations based on what we thought would occur.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Birdwatching Tour on the Southern Pacific Coast

Costa Rica

The guide was outstanding and birding exceeded our expectations

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quetzal Safari Quest

San Gerardo de Dota

An adventure with an outcome of 5 Quetzal sited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The whole trip was amazing. The guides and drivers were friendly and knowledgeable and went out of their way to help. I particularly appreciated Arnold and his information and conversation.

Ana was a pleasure to work with. She worked hard to create a trip just for me and was on top of all issues that came up. She provided valuable information. She made it easy for me to relax and truly enjoy my vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Sent Hotel Calafate

El Calafate

Good location and comfortable and quiet rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Comfortable rooms but not terribly quiet. Great location. Super helpful staff. Good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostería América

Ushuaia

A great location and a wonderful restaurant. The rooms were quiet and comfortable. The people at the front desk were incredibly helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Harberton Ranch

Ushuaia

Perfect amount of time for a hike. Amazing lunch. Fun guides and group. A great experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maria did an outstanding job of setting up our trip. The hotels were perfectly situated and comfortable. Aside from dealing with the train strike, all of our travel logistics went perfectly smoothly. We loved using Sienna and Levanto as our bases. We also loved the hotel in Florence very much. Using Levanto as our base for Cinque Terre was brilliant on her part. We absolutely loved Levanto. Our tour guides for Sienna and our hike in Cinque terre were wonderful! The cooking class in Florence was so much fun, as was the hike in Cinque Terre. Also loved the tour in Sienna and the wine tasting in Tuscany. We had an amazing time and would highly recommend Maria and KimKim to others with no hesitation.

Hotel Reviews

Bettoja Hotel Mediterraneo

Rome

This hotel was right by the train station. The lobby was lovely but the rooms were very outdated and paint was chipping everywhere. The shower was just about impossible to step in and out of. Thankfully we only stayed here for one night to fly out of Rome. The air conditioning did not work and the room was stuffy and warm as you could not open the windows due to noise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff seemed very nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

paint chipping in the rooms, bad air conditioning and the shower was too hard to climb in and out of

Hotel Garden

Levanto

Absolutely LOVED this hotel. Levanto is a wonderful town in general and this hotel was perfect! Clean comfortable a beautiful balcony as we stayed on the 5th floor. Breakfast was fabulous and the staff was wonderful and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Its location and character were perfect

Location

Perfection of location!

Staff

Wonderful staff in reception, housecleaning and breakfast

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Siena Vip B&B

Siena

This is a small b and b that is really more like an air b and b. There is no reception and nobody to ask questions to except when you initially check in. The rooms are immaculately clean and very nicely decorated. The breakfast is extremely simple and served in your room. Nice spot away from the huge crowds. Could be noisy at night but if you close your windows overnight it is fine. A nice stay indeed.

Authenticity & Character

lovely and bright decor

Location

nicely situated away from most of the crowds. But completely walkable to everything.

Staff

No staff to speak of. I asked a question via whatsapp on the number they provided and received no response.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly clean and comfortable.

La Maison du Sage

Florence

Loved this hotel! Very beautiful and perfectly situated. A bit noisy at night but if you close your windows at night it was totally fine. The breakfast was fabulous! A wonderful stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cinque Terre Trekking Adventure

Italy

This was absolutely wonderful! We enjoyed this so so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Siena Guided Walking Tour

Italy

Wonderful guided tour loved it!

Quality of Experience

Montepulciano: Winery Tour & Tasting Experience

Italy

Wonderful wine tasting in a beautiful wine cellar!

Quality of Experience

Central Food Market & Tuscan Cooking Class

Florence

Absolutely loved this cooking class!!!! So so fun! We had a blast. I highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

everything!

Cinque Terre Trekking & Train Card

Italy

Fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Our southern Albania and northern Greece trip was perfect in every way. Ed, our travel consultant, was terrific. We had some last minute scheduling hassles that were out of his control and he got us wonderful last minute accommodations. Everything he suggested regarding the itinerary, hotels and restaurants were spot on. He was easy to work with and lots of fun. We are using Kim Kim for our next trip and have recommended you to many friends. Albania was so refreshing with kind people, gorgeous scenery, interesting culture and good food. We enjoyed the guesthouse near Permet and the mountains. Also the guesthouse in Ano Pedina, Greece nestled in the Zarori area near theVikos gorge. We wouldn’t change a thing about the trip. Thanks Ed.

Pedro and his team did a remarkable job in the design and execution of our approximate 3 week trip to Portugal which included a 3 day stay in Seville Spain. In the beginning stages of planning last autumn Pedro listened to us and set up an itinerary that included walking guides, knowledgable drivers, and free days that allowed us to explore on or own. I believe that the outline of our travels will be a template for future customers. Having personal drivers to get us from city to city was also a key attribute that allowed us to remain worry free. No rental cars or public transportation other than a cab now and then worked very very well. The drivers were always on time and polite. The hotels were also top notch. Almost all of the scheduled tours were set aside for the 4 of us exclusively. We were able to interact with our drivers and guides on a personal level. Speaking of a personal level, it was my 75th birthday on May 4th and Pedro arranged a boat trip for the four of us to the grottos of Lagos that included champagne. When we returned to the hotel a bottle of wine and a personal note from Pedro were the proverbial icing on the cake. Pedro communicated with us via WhatsApp on a daily basis to make sure we knew the next day's itinerary and to simply check in. We would recommend KimKim and Pedro to anyone traveling to Portugal. It just doesn't get any better.

Steve and Karen Clemens