Kimkim Trip Reviews

Oscar and Javier were very knowledgeable anout the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Hotel Review

Taypikala Deluxe Valle Sagrado

Urubamba

Amazing food, great view of the mountains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Half-Day Cusco Walking Tour: Sacsayhuamán, Qoricancha & San Pedro Market

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Machu Picchu & Return to Cusco (Private Guided tour in Machu Picchu) SV

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour to Moray, Maras & Chinchero

Sacred Valley

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you Franck, of KimKim/Once in a Lifetime. The trip you planned for us to New Zealand exceeded our expectations. We kept saying, “thank you Franck”!! We loved the process of planning. You came up with a first idea plan and listened to how we wanted to personalize it to fit our dreams. We liked all of the accommodations upgraded to water/view front and we asked for something unique. It was nice having a few days in Auckland at MSocial to check out the bay and whale/dolphins excursion and acclimate to the 18 hour time difference. We loved the night time redwood tree walk and our morning stroll again in Rotorua. We had a breathtaking tour and wonderful chat with Jill Simpson, own of beautiful Akaroa Garden; then off to a fun and worthwhile dolphin cruise . Mount Cook Lakeside retreat on lake Pulaski was luxurious; great views, chef cooked meals and perfect location to explore the Mackenzie region. We had a private plane, The Grand Traverse to fly over the glacier and mountain areas of Mackenzie Aoraki National Park. Two of us made it to stargazing after a wonderful dinner in the dining hall, lead by lodge owner. Magnificent!!! Crazy, amazing place to stay (photos). We had an informative and fun backcountry tour as one of our adventures while there. We also got up close to an iceberg and glacier at Lake Tekapo, Next we drove to Clyde and stayed at a unique and authentic Oliver’s Lodge. The people are so welcoming there! Our favorite place was Milford Lodge staying at Cabot Lodge. Breidi met us with umbrella and she and husband Brad Alexander/owners made us feel so welcome. Such a luxuriously unique accommodations on the beautiful hills of their Lodge overlooking the Fiordland National Park and Lake Manapouri. Breathtakingly beautiful. Milford sound is a magical place. Jeff, of Trips and Tramps was our bus driver, part of our coach, cruise and walk tour. We snuck in a helicopter ride that he set up while we were there.

Thanks again Franck. It was a trip of a lifetime. You took care of every detail from pick up driver at every needed venue, rental car, and several amazing meals and awesome excursions. This was our second time using KimKim and you did not disappoint.

We had an incredible time. My only criticism is not getting a detailed itinerary before arrival—pick up times, etc. I had no cell service or internet until arrival at first hotel, so I had no way of knowing about driver from airport. Once I met up with Amy in Lima, the rest went very smoothly.

My 19yo daughter and I had a great time on our trip to Belize. Chris listened to everything I wanted and planned a perfect itinerary. We enjoyed horseback riding to the Maya site Xunantunich. Our guides Jose and Carla were knowledgeable and accommodating. Jose helped me get to the top of the pyramid as I’m afraid of heights. I’m so glad I did it—the view was amazing! We also enjoyed cave tubing en route from San Ignacio to San Pedro. It was beautiful and we saw a family of howler monkeys right above us along the riverside. Last, we snorkeled with nurse sharks and rays in Hol Chan. Our guide Carlos showed us a number of cool sea creatures like eels and an arrowhead crab. Our accommodations at Falling Leaves Lodge and Ramon’s Village were comfortable and clean. Thanks to Chris we were able to enjoy an upgrade to an ocean view room at Ramon’s which we appreciated. Last, our driver between sites, Derek, was always prompt and made getting around feel easy and safe.

Hotel Reviews

Ramon's Village Resort

San Pedro

Authenticity & Character

A little touristy in character but still beautiful and comfortable. The clean beach and chaise lounges were appreciated.

Location

Right on the beautiful turquoise water.

Staff

Friendly and lots of good suggestions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bedding and pillows could use replacing.

Falling Leaves Lodge

San Ignacio

Pool and poolside snack bar was under construction but will add a lot to the experience.

Authenticity & Character

The gardens were beautiful . Room was small but comfortable and clean. Shower hot.

Location

Proximity to Cahal Pech Maya site; being at the top of the hill limited dining and activity options

Staff

Paula and Kevin were great. Pointed out plants and a toucan in the garden. Some restaurant staff were not always welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Victoria House Resort

Belize

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horse Backriding Tour of the Xunantunich Maya Ruins

Belize

Guides Jose and Carla were great. Horses were well behaved. Site was amazing. Jose helped me with the climb—so kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We (family of three-mom, dad, 7yr old) travelled with KimKim in Nepal for a trekking adventure. With Amanda's help, we chose the Balthali Village Trek. Our guide was Tendu. He is so awesome. He is kind, knowlegable, funny and overall the best. He shared a lot of great information with us. We felt safe and informed of local customs and culture. We would love to come back and trek again (requesting Tendu!). The trek we completed was not a super intense trek as we have a small human (and mom/dad are not experienced enough or in the best physical shape) but it was the right amount to get to see some of the beautiful countryside of Nepal and the smaller towns/villages that we would not have seen otherwise. We loved each place we stay but our favorite was the stay in Panauti at Matan Chhen. We defintiely want to come back and stay a couple of nights extra here. We LOVED this trip and are already looking to come back!

If I could give 10 stars I would!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for an 11 day adventure so I asked Chhewang to put something together. I knew I wanted to see Everest and wild life and we worked together to create the perfect itinerary. The process was easy and the communication was perfect. Whenever I had a question or concern, it was addressed immediately.

We were picked up at the airport by Rikzin and he was our guide for at least half the trip. The airport is hectic and it takes a while to get the visa, but once you are through, your guide will be ready to pick you up.

Weather is unpredictable and we had to make a few changes on the fly; but, there was nothing we couldn't switch around. Some of the hikes were difficult for my traveling companion and we were able to get those modified.

Everyone was kind, in contact with us using Whatsapp, and empathetic to our needs. It was indeed a trip of a lifetime and we were taken care of like royalty.

Make sure you tip! No one asks but these folks work their butts off! Show them some love!

Our trip to Norway was spectacular. Tricia and the KimKim team were great from start to finish, especially during the time we were actually in country. They kept us apprised of trains not running and all the quirkiness that happens in Norway during Easter Week! Our time in the Lyngen Alps specifically at Lyngen North (in our glass igloo) was a highlight along with our Dog sledding experience at Riverland Husky and seeing the northern lights while there. The entire country is beautiful and the people too. We will be back!

Moonika perfectly understood our preferences and did her best to provide the best experience. She was very responsive and 7x24 pending on every detail to make our experience unforgettable.

Just overall amazing and detail was spot on. Great job!!!

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

Great Location. The room was a little small for 4 people but was still very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gudvangen Fjordtell

Gudvangen

We had the Bryn House and it was the best little house ever!!!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byparken

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

well worth it and guide was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Make sure you go to the play ground with kids and walk down the mountain.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Viking Day in Gudvangen

Gudvangen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

Northern lights were great. Food was ok,

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dog Sledding with Alaskan Huskies

Tromsø

amazing!!! Best ever!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Sledding, Northern Lights & Sámi Culture Experience

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

If you are doing this trip let them take your luggage, so much easier to travel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjellheisen Cable Car Ticket

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Murat helped us plan an amazing trip to Turkey for our family. He was spot on with all of his recommendations and all of the accommodation, activities and transfers were perfect. Our guide Emre in Istanbul was so lovely and knowledgable. He was also really flexible and helpful given we were travelling with our 3 young sons. Next we went to Cappadocia and our guide Efe was just as wonderful. We loved the trip and enjoyed such a wide variety of different historical and cultural experiences. Would definitely recommend Murat, his team and this trip to anyone travelling to Turkey.

Such an amazing trip! Lorena did an excellent job planning this trip for me. She ensured I made it to all of the cities that I had on my list and set up all the hotels and transportation to make this adventure possible. Valentina assisted me while I was in Chile. She kept everything running smoothly. If I ever had a question, she would respond promptly, and I had a lot of questions! I'm so thankful for her assistance when I got confused. Some of the stand out tours on this trip were: the Full Day Tour of Torres del Paine from Patagonia Planet, Rafting on the Petrohue River with Ko'Kayak, all of my tours on Rapa Nui with Nico from Maururu Travel, exploring the Atacama Salt Flats and Lagoons with Hugo, and finally the trip to the Tatio Geysers with the greatest tour guide of them all, Anita from Tourismo Chile Tours!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bellavista

Puerto Varas

This hotel and restaurant are in a great location, just down from the main square and right on the waterfront. The rooms are slightly dated but don't let that deter you.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

This hotel is right on the water with amazing views. The rooms are comfortable and the staff is attentive. The restaurant and bar are quite nice. It is easy to walk anywhere in town from this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

The rooms were very nice here. They have a water fountain for easy water bottle refills.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Taura'a

Hanga Roa

Edith is an amazing host! The location of this hotel is perfect, right off the main road and a short walk to everything. Simply a perfect place to stay on Rapa Nui.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

This hotel is very special. Each and every room is unique and beautiful. The food at the restaurant was exquisite.

Authenticity & Character

Every room is special! The restaurant was amazing and the views were spectacular.

Location

It's on a bit of a hill which could be a challenge to get to, but the views are astounding!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

City Tour in Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

This tour was ok. It seemed somewhat rushed though and more of just a drive to the airport with a few explanations along the way. The stop at the market in Puerto Montt was very nice though!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Tour to Orongo

Easter Island

This was a fun tour. It is easy to do before flying out in the afternoon, one last taste of Rapa Nui before departure.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rafting on the Petrohué River

Chile

This was so much fun! Our guides were amazing and had our group smiling the whole time. This rafting trip is not too far from Puerto Varas. I would definitely go on another tour with Ko'Kayak!

Base Torres Hike

Chile

This was an amazing hike. I didn't have the stamina to complete the whole thing but the views that I did see were spectacular! I will come back one day so that I can get to the lagoon at Base Torres.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

The Valley of the Moon is beautiful. It was nice to do a bit of hiking and it's good to plan this trip early in your stay in San Pedro. This is because the tour doesn't go to such a high elevation so you can work on acclimatizing to the altitude. Finishing the day watching the sunset over the Atacama is spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easter Island Highlights Tour

Easter Island

Absolutely do this tour! You get a chance to visit so many historic places and get great explanations along the way. Rapa Nui is truly a special place. To finish the tour you will stop off at a beach and have a chance to go swimming with Moai directly on the shore. How cool is that?!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Biking Tour of Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales

I would recommend doing this tour early in your stay in Puerto Natales. It gives a great sense of the town and helps to understand a bit about where you are staying. The guide takes you everywhere in town so you have a sense of where you'd like to visit again during your visit.

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

We had a fun day on this tour led by Hugo. It starts early but this means you get the chance to see so much! I loved beginning the tour with breakfast in the town square of Toconao. We even got a surprise stop at the Tropic of Capricorn!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

This might have been my favorite tour of them all. Part of this was because we had Anita as our guide. She was amazing and wonderful. She knew everything about San Pedro, the Atacama, geysers, and the wildlife. She really made this trip extra memorable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anita was so amazing, I can't give her enough credit for being my favorite tour guide on this trip.

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

This tour is so informative! You will get a chance to use one or more telescopes to see some incredible celestial bodies.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Puritama Canyon Trek

San Pedro de Atacama

This trek was so much fun! It was special to go hiking in a place that is a favorite for the locals too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The van was a bit dated

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Chile

This is an amazing tour, you really get a chance to see all that Torres del Paine National Park has to offer. Hopefully the weather will be as nice for you as it was for us. The tour company did a great job of finding places for us to stop, stretch our legs, and take some wonderful photos.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ethel and Julia were amazing! I have never used a travel agency to help book any of my trips, and I’m so glad we did. Our Norway trip took us to four different cities and each one was amazing. Our group included kids and adults and everyone just loved it. The activities and pace of the trip matched us perfectly. We were busy the whole time, but had some nice down time in the middle of the trip that allowed us to recharge. My favorite part of using KimKim was the in country planning and assistance. We had some train issues due to track repair and Julia helped us through every step and took away all our stress and uncertainty.

I highly recommend KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Byparken

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gudvangen Fjordtell

Gudvangen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dog Sledding with Alaskan Huskies

Tromsø

Must do! The highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjellheisen Cable Car Ticket

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Everything about this trip was absolutely AMAZING!! I don't know how Eleni coordinated all of this to make it a reality, but we had so much fun and felt so taken care of, and it was the most incredible week! The drivers were absolutely wonderful - George and Anthony went above and beyond on our trips to Delphi/Mycenae/Nafplio/Epidaurus and Cape Sounio/Temple of Poisedon respectively. George especially made our experience one we will carry with us forever! And the guides - the guides were amazing! Efie and Stephanie and Theodorus brought every site to life and the kids (and us adults) were mesmerized by the blending of mythology and history happening right before our eyes. And to top it all off, the hotel was fantastic - perfect location for wandering in the evenings, safe, clean, comfortable, spacious with a welcoming and accomodating staff who made us feel so relaxed and at ease. This was truly the trip of a lifetime - Thank You to everyone who made it a reality!!! And I can't leave without mentioning the cats - we LOVED the cats!

Hotel Review

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

Fantastic location - perfect for experiencing the Acropolis, Agora, across from Parliament and easy walking to so many sites and lovely restaurants and shopping. The staff were so welcoming and accomodating, the rooms were clean and comfortable and spacious. And breakfast in the morning was a nice perk!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to wonderful restaurants, sites, shopping - just perfect!

Staff

Everyone - from the front desk to the restaurant staff to housekeeping was so patient and accomodating and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Useful Information

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cape Sounion Driving tour

Greece

Temple of Poseidon at sunset on the coast - breathtaking! And dinner to follow was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Round trip Transfer in Athens

Athens

So nice not to have to worry about how to get to and from the airport on a very long day of travel! The drivers in both instances were great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mythical Argolis Day trip for history lovers

Athens

Everything about this day was magical - the sites, the guide (Theodorus) was the perfect blend of fun and informative and gave us plenty of time to explore on our own as well as with him. And George, again, was fantastic. Even though it must have been an exhausting day for him, he was so enthusiastic about the area and went out of his way to show us the most beautiful views and experiences!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

This whole day was amazing! Delphi is gorgeous, Efi was so knowledgeable and wonderful with our kids and their love for mythology, and lunch at Mer Des Oliviers was as delicious as it was beautiful! And to top it off, our driver George was so sweet and helpful and made it a wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis & Agora Mythology Tour

Athens

Our lovely guide really made the sites come to life for us - Stephanie was wonderful! This is a must do!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a trip! From the first planning stages till the last day of the trip, everything was as close to perfect as possible. Habiba Mohamed from Sun Pyramids Tours planned the trip for me after I mentioned what I thought I might like to see. She made some suggestions that I agreed upon and she also communicates very well and I was always kept up to date. My trip included Cairo, Aswan and Luxor. Hotels were arranged as well as in- country flights. But the best part was the guides and drivers. Habiba arranged them for me...I was met at airports, hotels and returned and always on time. the guides are a special breed. They all seemed to be "Egyptologists" having gone to school to learn more about their country and its history. Great detail, knowledge and passion from all of them. Special mention in Cairo to Ahmed Ibrahim, in Luxor to Ahmed Amin and in Aswan, Ahmed Amin. These men were personable, had great English skills, but more importantly, they all had a vast knowledge of Egypt, it's history, all the dynasties, periods, individual pharaohs and kings, what they did or did not accomplish during their reign and where they are buried. They are very proud of their country and its civilization. A pleasure to listen to and learn from. And a special mention to my driver in Cairo for a few days, Ahmed Zaher. Driving in Cairo is special as there are really no rules and all the cars dance with each other so closely...you really don't understand why they don't hit each other...but, Ahmed was amazing. An incredible trip planned almost perfectly!

Overall, great experience. In hindsight, would have planned the trip for Patagonia first and then Santiago toward the end to break up the extensive traveling from Puerto Natales --> Punta Arenas --> Santiago --> Atlanta --> Knoxville. The international flight is our fault because it was cheaper to purchase a connecting flight. Additionally, the city tour of Santiago was good, but our tour guide did not give as great of a history lesson of Santiago as she could have in comparison to our other tour guides who were excellent. Our favorite hotel was Bidasoa. Liked that all of our transfers were pre-booked for us. Saved us a lot of time and made the traveling seamless.

Activity Reviews

Valparaíso & Wine Tour

Santiago

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Chile

Santiago City Tour - Private

Chile

History lesson wasn't great. Very repetitive. Somewhat slow. Felt we didn't see as much as we could have.

Base Torres Hike

Chile

Kim Kim did an amazing job of planning, organizing, and communicating both before and during our trip to Japan. Myaen was always in contact wanting to ensure that we were prepared and understood our timetable. We would absolutely use Kim Kim again in the future.

This was our first time having someone help us with planning a trip -- and it was an amazing experience! Kadri was not put off by the fact that we started planning on Wednesday night when... our flight was going to be that Saturday! She put together a fantastic draft itinerary, was very responsive to our feedback, and even turned the whole trip from "Oslo to Bergen" to "Bergen to Oslo" in the last minute, as we changed our flights. What a good sport!
The activities she chose for us were perfect, and we especially appreciated the walk with a local in Bergen (this local is a certified guide and a historian! wow!) and the food and alternative culture tour in Oslo (the food was traditional Norwegian, and our guide Katerina was fantastic -- the tour was a perfect blend of culture, city scape, art, history of the people behind the food, and urban nature). But really, everything was great. It was a 1 week trip all in all, and we loved everything we did. We also really appreciated the 24/7 help just a whatsapp message away (even in the Easter holiday) as we did have to use it once. Julia (our emergency contact) solved the problem we had with the hotel, and when we got back from dinner we had the correct room :). Amazing. We are so sold on this whole idea of locals planning our trip -- for sure we will use kimkim again in the future.

Rita was amazing and very attentive. Thank you!

Fantastic trip! Very easy process. A little pricey for the content but an overall great experience.

Guides:
- Marta in Porto was amazing. Incredibly knowledgeable and great interaction. Definitely our favorite!
- Pedro on the Duoro Valley tour was also fantastic. Appreciated his insights throughout the day. (Side note, the tour and tour guide at the second winery were not impressive. Although the meal was good.)
- Fabio was a wonderful driver. Really appreciated him accommodating the lunch stop at Nazare. (Side note, we had lunch at Maria do Mar in Nazare. Recommended by the hotel. Great seafood and great staff down a side laneway.)
- Last trip was with Roi. He probably had the most stress to deal with the timing and the crowds at the palace. But the best part of the tour was when he seemed to go 'off script' and walked with us down through the trees/vegetation and ponds. Really appreciated his willingness to show us that part of the area.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to the Douro Valley & Rabelo Boat Ride

Porto

Great experience to see the valley via car and the short boat ride. Port and the tour were best at the first winery. Tour guide, wine and port were not great at the second.

Historic Porto and Port wine lodges

Porto

Amazing! Great port and amazing lunch. Also appreciated the tour, as our first introduction to porto.

great agenda and tours and experience.