Kimkim Trip Reviews

I cannot say enough great things about Aggeliki and the trip to Greece she planned for me and my childhood best friend. My friend and I had been talking about doing this trip for 40 years, since we were just barely teenagers and finally were able to do it at 54 and 55 years old!

That being said, you can understand why I needed this trip to be exactly what we imagined and Aggeliki nailed it! I interviewed four different travel agencies and Aggeliki really listened to my vision of what we wanted to see and do as well as the vibe and pace of the trip.

We had four locations (Athens, Milos, Santorini and Crete) so four different hotels, and they were all perfect in their own way from location to amenities and more. Every time we arrived at a hotel we were so happy and I would say, “Wow! Our travel agent really knows the best places in each area!” She was communicative throughout the whole trip making sure we got our ferry transfers and had the drivers communicate with us and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a trip go more perfectly.

We even had to change plans at one point and she handled that seamlessly! I have already referred her to a few of my friends and will continue to do so!

Activity Review

A Dazzling Day Trip to Hydra Island from Athens

Greece

Our guide, Leo, was the best! So fun to hang out with and made for a great day! Definitely want to revisit Hydra another time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tiago was an outstanding guide throughout our trip. From the initial booking stage, he conducted himself with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. He not only planned a well-curated itinerary but also drove us across the country, offering insightful commentary and sharing his extensive knowledge along the way.

A particularly commendable aspect of Tiago’s service was his genuine care and support. When I experienced a back issue during the trip, he went above and beyond by arranging a medical appointment at a reputable hospital in Porto and connecting me with an excellent doctor.

More than just a tour guide and driver, Tiago has become a valued friend. He made sure we returned home safely and has continued to stay in touch.

We had a truly memorable experience, and I highly recommend booking your trip with Tiago for a seamless, thoughtful, and enriching journey.

Hotel Reviews

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Very rude front desk. AC was not working reliably

Authenticity & Character

Location

Center location

Staff

Front desk people can be more accomadative nicely

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thomar Boutique Hotel

Tomar

Great location and d place

Authenticity & Character

Location

Center of the city. Close to many places

Staff

Very kind and nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coffee machine in the room

Activity Reviews

Explore Porto (Half-Day Guided Walking Tour)

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Batalha Monastery visit

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Óbidos visit

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Belém and Cascais guided visit

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon (Old Town) guided visit

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently traveled to Portugal with a custom itinerary arranged through KimKim. While the trip had some highlights, overall it fell short of expectations—especially considering the premium price we paid.
The hotels were consistently well located and comfortable, offering a good base in each city. Having breakfast included was a plus. Our main guide/driver was flexible, and we appreciated his willingness to adapt the schedule slightly when needed.
The price felt high for what was delivered. The inclusions—hotels, a car, a driver/guide, and two modest experiences (a boat ride and a Port tasting)—didn’t add up to the cost. The "guide" functioned more as a driver, with very limited insight or commentary about Portugal’s rich culture, history, or landmarks. This was particularly underwhelming given KimKim advertises guided tours, not just transportation. The guide's engagement varied—at times seeming unmotivated or disinterested in the role. Our first day was very disappointing: the assigned driver arrived extremely late, was rude, and even threatened not to complete the job. Thankfully, they were replaced the next day by someone far more professional. Compared to platforms like Viator or GetYourGuide, where guides are not always exceptional but at least consistently informative and friendly, this felt like a significant downgrade. Finally, communication with KimKim felt impersonal and opaque. We found it difficult to fully understand what we were getting until after we had paid in full, which left us with little recourse once the trip started.
This trip had enjoyable moments, and Portugal itself is a beautiful country worth exploring. However, KimKim's execution did not justify the price or promise. For travelers seeking more informative, engaging, and transparent service, there may be better options out there.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Melia Lisbon Airport

Lisbon

Practical location to catch early flights. Unusually good for an airport hotel. Nice swimming pools, although the staff could be more attentive to keeping the area clean. Very convenient restaurante and good food. We dinned there twice, but the second night the service was surprisingly unqualified, including not speaking English. The option to take a boxed breakfast for early departure was a joke (1 apple, 1 bottle of water, 1 small juice).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Very good location and modern hotel, but the glass doors separating the toilet and shower from the room created lack of privacy. Very nice continental breakfast and additional options. The hotel's entrance is not prepared for people with limited mobility and even getting large pieces of luggage up the steps (without any help from the staff) was unusual. The staff was not particularly helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albergaria do Calvário

Évora

Excellent location and service. The staff was outstanding!!! They provided information and help and there was always someone at the front desk. The outdoor area was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thomar Boutique Hotel

Tomar

Excellent location and very responsive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Porto Batalha

Porto

Excellent location, but rooms were very small and not very functional. The breakfasts were very good but started late and the space was crowded. No coffee was available in the lobby before 8 AM - no exceptions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

Excellent location and service. Nice rooms and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cave Boat Tour

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

With short notice, a fabulous trip was planned and executed for us. Especially liked guided tours of the city on the afternoon/evenings that we arrived. That helps a lot to get the lay of the land. Barcelona tapas tour, Gaudi architectural tour were both great. Rioja full day wine tour with private guide was outstanding. Hotel choices were spot on. They were quick to answer messages and make changes on the fly. You can trust this group.

The entire week was well done!

Natacza for the Furnas Volcanic experience was amazing. Knowledgeable and easy to understand.

Freddie the Culinary Trip did an excellent job engaging with the entire group.

Francisco and Bae for the Epic Canyoning Trip were very easy to understand and made you feel very comfortable and safe during the activity.

Hotel Review

Vila Nova Hotel

Ponta Delgada

Comfortable bed, front desk staff a little abrupt at times, probably due to language differences.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to all the restaurants and shops.

Staff

A little more friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Whale Watching Experience

São Miguel Island

The dolphins were fun.

Quality of Experience

Fun to see aquatic wildlife

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Spoke three languages so we could all understand what was going on.

Epic Canyoning Adventure

São Miguel Island

Friendly guides and made everyone feel safe and expertly explained what we were going to be doing and to steps to keep you safe.

Quality of Experience

A fun adventure.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides were great. Made an attempt to get to know us and made it fun and safe.

Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience

São Miguel Island

Staff was nice and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Volcanic Experience: Furnas Lake Full Day Adventure

São Miguel Island

Natacza did an excellent job educating us, taking care of lunch reservations and engaging with each one of us.

Quality of Experience

Very educational and amazing views.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and friendly

Transport

Safe and comfortable.

We had a great trip! All went smoothly from start to finish.

We would like to share the positive experience we had with Kimkim Tours. We typically like to make our own travel plans and steer away from group tours and/or cruises that have preset “boiler plate” itineraries. Yet, with the choice to go to the Galapagos Islands during our semi-retirement years, as well as the realization that there might be a language barrier, we decided to research tour options. Kimkim seemed like a good choice for us.

We were impressed with the time that Alvaro, and especially Steven, took to understand our individual needs. The interaction started with us filling out a detailed questionnaire detailing our interests, how we preferred to travel, what we wanted to see, our preferences on lodging (from simple hostels to premium hotels) as well as our ages, physical abilities and budget considerations. Kimkim put together a suggested itinerary, We were able give them input on the plan and they made adjustments given our feedback. After a few iterations, we finally agreed our itinerary! Kimkim then went to work on booking our hotels, transportation (including transfers) and daily tours.

We cannot say enough about the exceptional service both during the planning process as well as “on the ground” during our travels. Kimkim provided exceptional service, well-planned itineraries, and smooth travel experiences. We received personalized attention, experienced a helpful and responsive staff, and a seamless booking process. Communications both before and during the trip were efficient and reliable. The local guides and contacts were extremely knowledgeable and helpful and provided valuable insights and direction.

It is also notable to mention that late in the planning and payment process, we experienced a personal health issue that might have affected the trip and excursions we had planned. Steven and Alvaro were understanding and allowed us some extra time to tighten our plans and pay our deposits while always communicating and check-in in on us. In addition, we needed to make a few changes to our plans during the trip and Steven/Alvara/Rita worked together to accommodate our unique circumstance. We appreciated this personal attention and professionalism!

We thouroughly enjoyed our trip to Norway. The itinerary put together by Kimkim allowed us to have both planned excursions to the best sights, but also gave us time to explore on our own. When things unexpected happend, our Kimkim team of Alex and Nick stepped in to help out. We started in Bergen at the Raddison Blu. Rooms were simple but confortable and the breakfast was wonderful. We stopped by Flam on our way to Oslo. In Flam we enjoyed wonderful hking and a cruise thru the fjords with our charming guide Nathan. Alex and Nick made the trip easy to plan and the itinerary had all the details needed to make transfers easily. Thank you Kimkin for a great trip.

This trip was wonderful. The work that the KimKim team put into everything showed. The tours were well planned. The hotels were better than I could have hoped. Everything worked seamlessly. Our advisors were great about quick responses to questions and provide helpful suggestions. The tapas tour was exceptional. That along with the tour of Seville were our favorites. I would definately spend more time in both Seville and Malaga and incorporate more down time as the tours were so informative the downtime was a must. I would certainly plan another trip with this group!

Hotel Reviews

Sleep´N Atocha

Madrid

This was extremely convenient getting off the train and to the hotel. I would not stay here more than one night. It is definately for a younger crowd who plans to be out every night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacete de Alamos

Málaga

We stayed in the related apartments for this location. There was a little confusion initially as the apartments are not adjacent to the hotel, but a little walk. However, the location of the apartment was better than the hotel. Everything was very nice here and easy to use.

Authenticity & Character

Location

City center, great location to go through the city and get to the beach or the sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Joya del Casco Boutique Hotel

Seville

I loved this hotel. The rooms, the food, the staff, the rooftop patio…..everything was so great!!!!!! Our only downside was the air conditioning was not working one of our nights. Otherwise this is definately the best place to stay. I would have stayed longer if possible.

Authenticity & Character

The rooftop patio is a hidden gem. We spent each evening there looking at the city, relaxing with dessert from nearby shops.

Location

Located near city center and all activities.

Staff

Incredibly nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petit Palace Posada del Peine

Madrid

This hotel was a little hard four our taxi to get to / find, but perfectly located for all tours. It enabled us to be in the middle of everything going on.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

This was our best tour! The guide was a native to Seville. You could tell he knew everything about his city which made the tour even better. He was extremely thoughtful and helped us with taking group photos and ensuring that we got the best experience. Highly recommend this tour and this guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

A must do. This was one of the best tours of our trip. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. She took us places and had us try so many things that were special to Spain. I would highly recommend this tour. I would make sure to take pictures of the signs for the restaurants so you can go back. They were top notch.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was wonderful!!!!!

Transport

We have used KimKim for our travel before, and loved it. This time, however, was not what was expected or described. We took a trip to Italy and Spain. While a glitch or two happened in Italy that part of the trip was great! The guides were informative and helpful. The Pantheon guide, Franchesa, was exceptional and recommend the best gelato we had the entire trip- Gunther Gelato. Florence and Venice were great. Kudos to the Mama Florence Cooking School and Market tour, and the Venice Mystery Tours in Venice-Nico. Caterina, who showed us the Old Town and La Segurada Familia was fantasticUnfortunately, if you are going to Spain, I would suggested a tour company that better describes the activities. From confusion regarding the taxi to the airport in Mallorca, to the extremely poor description of the Costa Brava tour. The guide, David, was good, but the tour was basically 3 hours at the beach, sunbathing. The description was see this castle, walk around this town etc. Would have been easier to rent a car and go to Costa Brava on our own. The tour to Monsarret was nice and our guide, Javier was super, however if you are not a hiker or really religious the tour could have been shortened by 45 minutes.

Hotel Reviews

Praktik Vinoteca

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The desk staff recommended 2 great places for food.- Don Villo and Vinitus

Cleanliness & Comfort

Melia Palma Bay

Palma de Mallorca

Great hotel. It is designed with a large center atrium, which could be extremely loud at all hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Saturnia

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Great recommendations and very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Solo Experience Hotel

Florence

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Excursion to Montserrat

Barcelona

Monsarret is beautiful and the chuch is very nice. If you don't hike or aren't very religious, this tour is a little long

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Javier was excellent.He was super helpful and recommended the best paella place-7 Portes

Transport

Costa Brava Day Trip: Tossa de Mar and Panoramic Boat Ride

Barcelona

This tour would be better described as a beach daysunbathing- on a scenic route with a boat ride. 3.5 hours of an beach with nothing else was not very exciting. My daughter sunbathed for an hour while I spent 2.5 hours on my phone. We should have spent an hour there and the three hours in Tassa de Mar, where there was a a small shopping are, restaurants and a castle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

David was very nice and very knowledgeable about the area

Transport

Guided Visit of Barcelona & Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

The La Segurada Familia was absolutely spectacular and should not be missed. The old part of the city was beautiful and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katerina was one of the best guides were had the whole trip. She was informative and knowledgeable. She was also very kind.

Luxury Catamaran Tour with Tapas & Swimming

Mallorca

Lots of fun. Fabulous crew. Overall a great time! Would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Legends & Mysteries: Venice By Night

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Gondola Ride with Cicchetti & Wine

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Florence Market Tour & Traditional Tuscan Cooking Class

Florence

Market tour was great and the cooking class was fantastic. It was a wonderful bonding experience with my daughter and lots of fun. One of our favorite experiences of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo

Italy

Paola was a great guide. The tour was interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

KimKim was not the first source we tried to make the arrangements. Thank God, we did turn to KimKim ultimately. We loved each of our four local guides. In Buenos Airs, Enrique was hardworking, knowledgeable, and always well-prepared. For the Sao Paulo part, it wouldn't have been a pleasant trip without Alex who was proud of his city and because of his enthusiam, consideration and willingness to go the extra mile, we came to love this city as well. In Iguara Falls, Mario was professional, could sing and whistle very well in addition to being a good photographer. When it came to Rio, Marcello provided a balanced view of the great city, its beaches, beauty beyond words, and its struggling residents.
We finished our journal without any disappointment and would be happy to utilize Bruno's services again and recommend it to friends.

We spent an unforgettable 18 days in China with thanks to Lisa and KimKim, as well as our exceptional guides along the way. Queena, Johnson, Shirlene, Jason, Faye, and Ran. We never experienced the common stress of travel (making it to the train station/airport on time or coordinating transportation, activities, etc.). Instead, we were always taken care of and we simply enjoyed our adventure to the fullest. We would highly recommend Lisa, KimKim, and all of our individual guides to anyone who is traveling to China. We hope to return soon to China and will certainly use their services again.

Hotel Reviews

Sunrise On The Bund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Longji One Art Hotel

Extremely charming lodge owned and operated by very welcoming local family. Wonderful location and absolutely stunning views from the bedrooms and common areas. Felt right at home instantly and would love to return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Li River Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Guilin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zhuanjiacun Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tibet Hotel Chengdu

Chengdu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Xi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing

Beijing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Shanghai City Tour with the Yu Garden , Jade Buddha Temple,the Bund

Shanghai

Beautiful sites in the city. Perfect for one day in Shanghai.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were nearing the end of our trip and energy was running low, but our guide, Ran, was able to inspire excitement for the city of Shanghai and easily met our needs as we weren't as ambitious as we were earlier in the trip.

Transport

Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Old Town

Shanghai

After a few peaceful days in the countryside, we were a bit skeptical of returning to a big city such as Shanghai, but it was great to find a smaller place outside the city that wasn't too overwhelming. Zhujiajiao certainly lives up to the title of the "Venice of China".

Quality of Experience

Food

Our guide, Ran, directed us to a local dumpling place that was one of our best meals in Shanghai.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike through the breathtaking Terraced Fields around Ping'an Zhuang Village

Longji

Perhaps our favorite activity of our entire trip. The rice terraces and surrounding villages are a gem to be discovered in the mountains. We walked several trails through the fields and villages, each one more beautiful than the last.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were happy to connect on a personal level with Faye, who gave us a truly great experience in these days. She taught us how to play Mahjong and we spent each day in interesting and effortless conversation. We learned a lot from her and would recommend her to anyone traveling to this area.

Transport

Visit to Qixianfeng Tea Plantation and Tea-Making Experience

Yangshuo

We learned a great deal about tea and tea production. It was truly special to make our own tea from picking the leaves to drying and toasting them. The tea plantation is very nice and also serves great food at its restaurant. We were treated to several local teas and bought plenty to bring home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Countryside Tour in Yangshuo by bike

Yangshuo

We really loved the bike trails through the village, surrounded by mountains, rivers, farms, and gardens. The ride is easy and beautiful. We would have been happy to bike around the area for a couple of hours more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at China's Most Picturesque River - Li River

China

Stunning scenery and a pleasant journey. The boat is spacious and comfortable, and serves good tea, coffee, and food.

Quality of Experience

Food

It's difficult to serve special or high quality food on a river cruise buffet. The food was good but not spectacular.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Relexing Bullet Train Journey from Guilin to Zhangjiajie

China

The trains across the country are always comfortable and on time. The journey was very picturesque and we found some time to relax.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

The bridge is certainly a sight to see, but the real beauty lies in the canyon below along the river. Unlike the bridge, which was very crowded, the walking path in the canyon was hardly touched. We discovered true beauty and peacefulness here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

One of the most beautiful places we have ever seen in our lives. Truly captivating and breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jason guided us through a full-day itinerary in only 4 hours, and we never felt rushed. We perfectly timed the shuttle buses and avoided several long queues thanks to his experience. We very much enjoyed his company and had fun together for our short time in Zhangjiajie.

Transport

Enjoy a Spicy Sichuan Hotpot Meal

Chengdu

We love to experience new local foods when traveling and this was certainly a highlight. We found it much better than the Beijing-style hotpot. Extremely rich in flavor. Shirlene taught us how to hotpot properly!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panda Encounter in Chengdu

Chengdu

Experience Chengdu's Leisurely Lifestyle: Visit Wenshu Monastery and People's Park

Chengdu

We were very impressed by Chengdu's laid-back vibe and lively charm. Local people playing music, dancing, and drinking tea in People's park, and the Wenshu monastery was both peaceful and beautiful. Great food in both areas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We enjoyed connecting with our local guide, Shirlene, and had the pleasure of her acquaintance for our few days in Chengdu.

Transport

Ancient City Wall with Cycling Experience

Xi'an

The well-preserved ancient city wall was our favorite part of Xi'an. At night the lanterns and houses light up to create a magical atmosphere. We cycled all the way around the city wall in 1 hour at a leisurely pace and would highly recommend the activity. I would have preferred solo bicycles but was able to fulfill my wife's dream of riding a tandem bike...

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chinese dumpling dinner

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Tang Dynasty Show (1hour)

Xi'an

Excellent dining experience. Delicious dumplings in a beautiful theater. The show does a great job of replicating Tang dynasty music, fashion, and stories while using lights, screens, and modern technology.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

See the Terracotta Army

Xi'an

The museum and archaeological site are located in the serene countryside outside of Xi'an. It was fascinating to learn, in such detail, about the first emperor of China and what remains to be discovered around his burial site.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

A logical first stop of any tour in Xi'an. Conveniently located in the center of the old city. Plenty of options for delicious street food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were able to spend some quality time chatting with our guide, Johnson, to learn the history of Xi'an and gain insight into local life in the city.

Transport

The center of Xi'an is small and walkable. Very convenient.

Visit the Picturesque Summer Palace

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day with Great Wall and Changling Tomb in Beijing

Beijing

The Great Wall and Changling Tomb are a great stop for a tour in Beijing, not only to see the impressive sites, but also to escape the big city and enjoy more serene landscapes and tranquility.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peking Duck Dining Experience

Beijing

A truly authentic experience in one of the best local restaurants in Beijing. It was difficult to secure a table and we had to wait for a few hours, but it was absolutely worth it.

Quality of Experience

Food

The DUCK!!! And everything else ;)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our lovely guide, Queena, went to the restaurant early to wait for a table and ended up waiting for several hours. This is just one example of her exceptionally professional service that we enjoyed in Beijing.

Transport

Full Day Tiananmen Square and the Fobidden City with Chaowai Morning Market tour

Beijing

Tiananmen square is incredibly impressive and contrasts modern Chinese power with historical/imperial power on the other side of the gates to the Forbidden City. It's fascinating to see the past and the present connect in such a beautiful way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lama Temple — Biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lamasery in Beijing

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Temple of Heaven

Beijing

A must-do for Beijing. We were unfortunate to visit at one of the busiest days in the year but still had a great experience at the temple and surrounding park.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Queena effortlessly explains the history and modern context of all sites in Beijing with great detail.

Transport

My partner, and my, 19 day trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe was a trip of a lifetime.
The success of the trip was in no small part due to the excellent work of Lize (Enderstein). Lize took our high level "would like to do's" and turned them into a marvellous adventure. Her communications were at all times clear, timely and responsive to our needs. The itinerary that Lize put together was detailed, with activities, providers, accommodation, transport and times all clearly spelt out. Accordingly, we felt most comfortable in embarking on the trip.
We did the three night ROVOS Rail trip from Pretoria to Cape Town, spent four nights in Cape Town and three nights in each of the Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp, Timbavati Game Reserve, and the Nkorho Bush Lodge, Sabi Sands. In addition, we spent three nights at the Victoria Falls River Lodge. All were excellent.
To call out highlights is doing the others an injustice, but I will. The ROVOS Rail was 5 star travel. The accommodation was first class, the staff super friendly and efficient, and the food delightful. Our guide, Oliver, in Cape Town made our day trips to Table Mountain and Cape Town, the Winelands, and Cape of Good Hope most enjoyable and informative. Courtene and Brett, our hosts at Thabamati, and their staff, made our stay a real luxury experience. The game drives at both Thabamati and Nkorho were something else. We were most fortunate to see an abundance of a diverse range of wildlife in their habitat. Amazing. And then there was the Victoria Falls River Lodge. We were treated like royalty, with our personal butler Reeves going far and beyond. The excursions to Victoria Falls were outstanding. Finally, in Johannesburg we did a guided tuk tuk tour of Soweto, Johannesburg, which was quite an eye opener.
Well, I haven't missed much, but it was such a great trip.
Thanks to all involved, particularly Lize.
I will use KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews

Victoria Falls River Lodge

Wow, what an experience. Every need is catered for in style.

Authenticity & Character

Location

What more could you want than a treehouse on an island in the middle 'of the raging Zambezi River

Staff

Excellent in all respects. We offer our gratitude to the services provided by our butler Reeves.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nkorho Bush Lodge

Kruger National Park

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp

Kruger National Park

Luxury and service at its best

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Welcoming, friendly and service driven

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Manor House

Cape Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rovos Rail

Foreshore

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Intercontinental Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport

Johannesburg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Johannesburg Private Historic Walking and Tuk Tuk Tour

South Africa

Having approached this experience with some reluctance, our guides, particularly our tuk tuk driver, made the day one of learning in a fun environment.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tuk tuk driver (sorry I've misplaced his name) made this a great excursion, through sharing freely his personal experiences.

Transport

Vic Falls River Lodge Activities

Victoria Falls

Our guides made the experiences special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All our guides and drivers did an outstanding job.

Transport

Helicopter Flight

Victoria Falls

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning and Afternoon Game Drives

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

I perceived that some of the driving to get to the wildlife locations was at times somewhat unsafe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Timbavati Game Reserve to Sabi Sands Game Reserve

South Africa

Quality of Experience

The transfer was done by road. My rating is no reflection on the provider and our driver who were first class, it is a statement on the condition opf the roads.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Timbavati Private Game Reserve Safari Day

Timbavati Game Reserve

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Days on Safari

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Game Drive

South Africa

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Winelands Tour (including lunch)

South Africa

Oliver, our guide, made the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highly recommend Oliver our guide.

Transport

Full Day Cape Peninsula Tour (including lunch)

South Africa

Oliver, our guide, was tremendous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oliver, our guide, is highly recommended. He was informative and responsive.

Transport

Half Day Private Table Mountain and City Tour

Cape Town

Oliver, our guide, was tremedndous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oliver was attentive, informative and responsive.

Transport

Rovos Rail Pretoria to Cape Town Journey

Pretoria

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The disruption caused by the change in "pilots" was quizical

Transport

The change in "pilots" caused unnecessary delays.

STRONG CUSTOMER SERVICE/ EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION

Hien helped us plan our Vietnam/Thailand trip from June 1 to 13. We packed a lot into this 2 week trip which Hien kept tweaking to our preference and satisfaction. Unbelievably organized compared to the last travel agent we used.
Throughout the whole trip, she kept checking on us and reminded us of driver/pick-up times (always punctual) and who our guide will be, etc.

When things didn't go according to original plan, she already had a quick back-up. For instance...Ha Long Bay Paradise Peak Cruise's air condition malfunctioned at last minute so she booked us on sister ship, Paradise Elegance. Although the room was smaller than our room on P.Peak's, she made it right by making sure our room had a large wrap around balcony and my husband got a free 60 minute massage. Additionally, we were supposed to have dinner cruise the following week on Manohra Cruise in Bangkok, but boat caught on fire. Hien was able to get us a refund pretty quickly since back-up dinner cruise ship could not accommodate us at a specific time.

Choice of guides were also great! KC (Kim Cuong), our Hanoi guide, took us on street food tour which included (per our request) a hunt for reasonably priced Kopi Luwak coffee beans (from movie "The Bucket List") and a perfect seat to watch the train's approach on Hanoi's famous Old Train Street.
Tim (Tipparat), our Bangkok guide, also went the extra mile. She picked us up at BKK airport. During our 1 hour drive to our hotel, she helped us make reservation at Michelin Star restaurant, R-Haan. She also got us seating at the famous Jay Fai " street food" restaurant prior to our actual street food tour. Not sure how she did it because Jay Fai does not take reservations. There is usually a long queue.

We went on many excursions, such as a hike in SaPa's rice fields, a trip to Ninh Binh (Mua Cave, Tam Coc), and my favorite, Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Sanctuary. All perfectly planned.

Hotels--Hien will work with your budget. We chose to stay at mid-luxury hotels.

Hanoi: Peridot Boutique Hotel is located in Old Quarter. Great location...we were able to walk to Hoa Lo Prison, the Water Puppet Theatre, Chinatown area, and Train Street. Great breakfast buffet.

Sa Pa: Topas Ecolodge-- we just stayed in a Premium Executive Bungalow and it had a great view. Food at Topas...breakfast buffet and dinner surprised us...actually quite good.

Sa Pa: Hotel de la Coupole -M Gallery --beautiful hotel. Absinthe Bar (Afternoon Tea) offers sweet and savory treats paired with tea and coffee. Chic Restaurant had great breakfast buffet but limited choices for dinner.

Chiang Mai: Tamarind Village-- great location in Old City. The Sunday night market is pretty much right in front of hotel. You can walk to the temples. Breakfast buffet was great.

Bangkok: Anantara Riverside --we had a great room with river view. Restaurants are very mediocre --Trader Vic's, Brio, Benihana--all these restaurants are in the US. Drinks at the bar (alcoholic and non) are very expensive even by US standards. Breakfast and dinner buffet also mediocre. Expected more from a luxury ( or mid-luxury?) resort. At least just about a 10minute Grab (Uber in SE Asia) ride to Iconsiam where you can find "air conditioned street food stalls" at bottom level.

Our tour of Italy was spectacular, expertly managed by our local specialist Giulia. We travelled across the northern half of the country seamlessly, with easy-to-follow instructions for trains, transfers and car hire.
Our hotel in Venice was quiet, despite being just off the main thoroughfare. The hidden Venice private tour was great, with good food and wine. We returned to one of the osterias for a meal another day, our guide Marta giving us some great tips for local eateries.
Bologna was fun, more great food and wine, and the timely chance to participate in some local sporting events.
Late May was an ideal time to drive around Tuscany, some tourist crowds but not yet peak season. We loved our pasta cooking class at a cheese farm, followed by ... more great food and wine. Found several hidden gems of food shops, restaurants, and handmade goods away from the main tourist trodden streets in several of the towns.
Finished in Rome, managed to see the end of the Giro d'Italia, enjoyed many of the busy tourist sites, many of which were free on the first Sunday of the month. Our small group tours of the Vatican and Catacombs ended up being private tours which allowed our guides to customise the itineraries for our interests.

Hotel Review

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

Quiet despite being a stones throw from the main thoroughfare through the city. The staff were helpful and friendly. Breakfasts were great.

Authenticity & Character

Secure courtyard accessed through a covered alleyway (sotoportego).

Location

A moderate walk from many of the sites. A waterbus stop is close by.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Italy

Our guide Marta took us through several streets off the main tourist path and we saw several of the quirkier sites of Venice. Food and wine were sampled at several great osterias. We got some great tips on eateries where the food was delicious and the prices reasonable.

Leo did an amazing job preparing our itinerary and communicating with us. We enjoyed our Alaskan adventure immensely - especially the Kenia Fjords cruise and the dogsledding experience.

Activity Reviews

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

Seward, AK

The scenery was Cornelius. Staff was superlative! Food was delivered promptly and it was delicious. We lived the chocolate cookies!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dogsledding experience in Seward

Seward, AK

This was amazing and very educational. We loved the ride with the dog team and the information about the dogs and the competitions they are involved in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prince William Sound cruise

Anchorage, AK

This was very enjoyable. Gorgeous scenery!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I can’t praise enough everyone involved with this trip. Everything was planned perfectly. We had no glitches. The guides, transportation drivers, and experiences were all amazing.

The team did a great job especially with the hotels. The hotels were beautiful and always in the perfect part of the city.

The team was also responsive while we were traveling. They took care of the inevitable things that pop up.

Thanks to Manon, Bastien, and the team.

Hotel Reviews

The Mandala Hotel

Berlin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

AMERON Hamburg Hotel Speicherstadt

Hamburg

We loved this hotel. It’s in the perfect part of Hamburg. It was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Privately Guided Hamburg City Bike Tour

Hamburg

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Willkommen in Deutschland !

Germany

We never found our driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The 10 Tastings of Hamburg!

Hamburg

Sadly, this was a joke. Collin could not have been less knowledgeable and less prepared to teach us anything about Hamburg or its food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Art: Berlin's B-side Tour

Berlin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The History of Berlin: WWII Walking Tour

Berlin

We loved Boyd.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uma planned an amazing trip to the south island of New Zealand for us. Her suggestion of visiting Stewart Island was great. It was one of our favorite places on our trip. She was also very responsive and made requested changes quickly. She checked in on us during the trip to make sure everything was running smoothly. Uma did a great job!

Hotel Reviews

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Spectacular view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bay Motel

Oban

Convenient location. Great view. Friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

Beautiful room and view. Amazingly warm and helpful staff. Dexter, the cat, was a special added bonus.

Authenticity & Character

Room was beautiful.

Location

Great view! Short walk to town.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Langlands Hotel

Invercargill

Had construction going on. Very loud in morning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Dunedin City

Dunedin

Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Not much character. Standard hotel.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean and okay. Nothing special.

Distinction Christchurch Hotel & Conference Centre

Christchurch

Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SkyCity Hotel

Auckland

Was in a central location which made it convenient, but had a casino.

Authenticity & Character

Had a casino

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Wilderness Cruise at the Remote Doubtful Sound (Self Drive)

New Zealand

Amazing trip. Two boat rides and one bus through amazing scenery. Guides were very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bus driver and Doubtful Sound guide were very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Transport

Wildlife & Penguin Tour

Dunedin

Great experience. Saw hoiho, blue penguins, fur seals. Guide very knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Appreciated the trip set up, but disappointed with ongoing communications, including travel issues. Also, terribly disappointed that they could not adjust my schedule outside of a 400£ additional charge, which according to my calculations should have been minimal as my travel itinerary was right on the way.