Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was our first time booking with KimKim and it was an excellent experience all around. Tom especially did a great job with planning. He was also incredibly helpful during the trip, rescheduling taxi rides and helping us get a refund when we accidentally got overcharged by one of the drivers. All of our planned activities were excellent and our hotels were some of the most amazing places we have ever stayed. We were so happy with our experience.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bristol

Oslo

Incredible. Very nice hotel with amazing breakfast buffet! Worth every penny.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Overall the hotel was incredible. The restaurant was a little less impressive although still decent. It is a little difficult to get around if you don't have a car although we were able to figure out the electric bikes and the bus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great but hard to get around without a car

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

One of the most beautiful and stunning hotels. Absolutely worth staying in the more expensive Swiss Chalet portion of the hotel. The Buffet was excellent if a bit pricy. Definitely an evocative experience.

Authenticity & Character

I have never stayed in a hotel with more character. It felt like you had dropped back in time while maintaining all the modern luxuries

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Beautiful old hotel with modern amenities. The Bar on the 3rd floor was a great experience and worth a special trip. If you want to get into the restaurant, you probably need to book a long ways ahead. Breakfast buffet was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Especially loved the bar on the 3rd floor

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

A wonderful walk through the city that gave a lot of character. We especially loved stopping off at the coffee shop and might have actually enjoyed a few more stops along the way. Also enjoyed the personal take although we wished for just a bit more history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Borgund Stave Church & Walk Kings Road - Vindhellavegen

Norway

Absolutely worth a special trip. A gorgeous church although it is smaller than it looks in the photos. We had our taxi wait on the other side of the Vindhellavegen and walked up and over the top. It was not a difficult walk and was a very cool experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Safari Taste

Norway

I went into this thinking it would be a bit of a tourist trap nightmare. However, it ended up being one of the prettier and more enjoyable experiences of the trip. I loved stopping off to get some goat cheese and I almost wish we could do a second stop as well. Paulina was excellent!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lifestyle: Balestrand Fjord Angling & Trolling Excursion

Balestrand

This was a great experience. We especially loved hearing about Thor's experiences growing up and some of the history of Balestrand. I think we had wished for just a bit more history mixed in such as of the vikings and of Norway as a whole. Fishing was fun too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thor was an amazing personality

Transport

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

A very fun walk through the town that brought us to many beautiful places. I think it would be amazing if we stopped off at some places along the way to try local foods, or see some local craftsmen etc. Also would have loved just a bit more history. Overall a great morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Flåm to Aurland

Norway

Driver didn't know we had already paid. However, our KimKim guide was able to get our money refunded quickly!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer Aurland-Borgund

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer Borgund-Aurland

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Aurland to Flåm

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my first time using KimKim to plan my trip and I travel to over 20 countries so far.
Pros: I can say there is a huge advantage by using KimKim cause they connect you with a local travel specialist who knows the county very well and can advise on best things to do, best tours to take and get you the best deals!
Nuria, is a great specialist and she takes the time to customize your trip to what you like and want to do and tries her best to accommodate all your needs. We went back and forth several times to update and customize my itinerary and she replied very quickly in short notice and without any hesitation to help me plan my trip and answered every question I had. If you are lucky enough to work with her, I highly recommend her.

Cons: the only main downside I see with KimKim and honestly only thing that might prevent me from using it again is that they do not allow the travel specialist to provide the cost break down of your trip. This was a huge downside for me as it would not allow me to make informative decisions as what I would think is worth for the activities or tours I want to do. All I see is a package deal and cannot make informative decisions. For example, we love to do ziplining, but there would be decision making that I would want to do it, if I know the activity is $50 or $200! However, you can't see the breakdown, therefore you are making decisions blindly.

Tips: We loved the "El Tiger Waterfalls" in Monteverde and is a most see! As Nuria suggested, we did a by ourselves and did not get a guided tour. Because you want to take your time and really enjoy this wonderful place as you go through ~6 large waterfalls and several mini ones. Do the complete tour which comes with a 3km hours back ride at the end which is wonderful.
We also loved the "Manuel Antonio National Park", however, we felt a little rushed by using a guide. I would preferred doing by myself to take my time and really enjoy the amazing park. Although, having a guide is nice and they explain many things you counter, I would just suggest if you do use the guided tour just leave them at the "Manuel Antonio Beach" and do not continue with them the rest of the way back as it will be a rush walk back anyway. 10 to 15 min beach time at this wonderful beach does not do the justice and you want to kick back and relax and enjoy it.
Lastly, I suggest making it further south to the "Parque Nacional Marino Ballena". This National park has an beautiful very large beach that you can enjoy (check out the pictures on Google for yourself".

Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kokoro Mineral Hot Springs

La Fortuna

Amazing and friendly staff and service. Loved the view and how this wonderful hotel looks and how the rooms are set up. Breakfast was local and very good as well. Hot Springs were daily filled, the hot spring water would be pumped from the underground to fill up the nice springs and then they dump it later on after midnight and get it ready for next day, which was great. Overall great hotel and loved it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the down and all other activities you would want to do.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cala Lodge

Monteverde

Over all great. Clean and nice rooms. Views were great and loved how the building was made. Loved the breakfast area and the view as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Espadilla Gardens Hotel

Manuel Antonio

We absolutely loved it. Very friendly staff. Clean room and amazing service. Not that many people and the pool area was great. Had everything we needed and could chill 24/7 by the pool if we wanted to, so a late night deep in the water was no issue and very enjoyable cause the water remained nice and warm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. Also a short walk to the beach, etc.

Staff

Leo was great and answered every question we had!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Diana our room service was great. She would make animal shaped with towels or do little surprises for us everyday!

Activity Reviews

Private: Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike and the tour guide was nice to explain to use regarding the area and show us all the cool things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private: La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

You really don't need a guide for this hike. Do it by yourself and take your time to enjoy this amazing waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was a great person, however there is not much to explain for this area and does not require a guided tour.

Boating in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Arenal/La Fortuna

Amazing, and you get to see so many animals. If you came to Costa Rica to see different animals and spices, this tour is for you.

Quality of Experience

Food

I really enjoyed the testing after lunch and get to try the locally made Guaro, which is stronger but much smother what you can get at the stores. You get to learn about it too!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

The tour guide was great, however the season was not right as we could not see all the coffee making in action. Also, we were not lucky enough to see many things at the Nature Walk and you never know what you get to see, but overall was good experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Amazing, and you need a guide to explain you about the importance of these forest and all it has to offer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges

Monteverde

Amazing zip lines and hanging bridges! You even get to do a Tarzan swing! Go Big or Go Home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

Felt little rushed by using a guided tour. Would have loved to enjoy more time specially at the beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mieke was a great agent. She listened to what we liked and delivered exactly the trip we wanted. It was a great mix of hiking and culture, and spa. She was extremely easy and efficient to work with and she really knew the details about traveling to and in Bhutan. Would highly recommend her.

We had a great trip to Turkey in May. Berat did an excellent job with our itinerary and was very flexible when we had to change our dates. She was a pleasure to work with. Berat very organized and each step of our trip was planned perfectly. She was able to combine all the sights we wanted to see including Istanbul, Capodoccia, Ephesus, and the Mediterranean coast into a 10 day trip for 4 family members. Fortunately, the weather cooperated and allowed us to do everything in our itinerary. The guides and drivers were very good as were the accommodations that Berat recommended. I wholeheartedly recommend Berat as a trip planner when considering traveling to Turkey.

This trip was so much better than I ever expected it could be, and I have to send massive kudos to our trip planner Christina. We told her what we wanted to see and do, she over-delivered. There’s a restaurant in Oslo I wanted to experience, but was told by friends “there’s no way you’ll ever get a res there”. They were wrong. Christina took care of it. I wanted luxury accommodations. Christina delivered. How about seeing the fjords, too? Of course. She set us up at 29/2 Aurland. I NEVER would’ve found this on my own. Never. Our guide there, Anders, was an absolute gem. He anticipated our needs without us even having to ask. Truly an amazing person. And the property was just beyond. We’d travel back to Norway just for 29/2 and Anders! Christina, you truly went over and above for us and the result was the trip of a lifetime. Can’t wait to use kimkim again, hopefully our next planner will be just as wonderful as Christina. Btw, I didn’t even mention her lightning fast responses to my every inquiry during the trip planning process. Christina definitely the gold standard.

Hotel Reviews

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

Perfect location. Great breakfast. Rooms sumptuous. No complaints at all. Once the renovations are complete I’d be sure to ask for a loft room!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across from the train station. Convenient to everything.

Staff

They made you feel like you were the only guest they were accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

29|2 Aurland

Aurland

I can’t recommend this destination enough. Easy transport from the train, and hugely authentic accommodations. The real deal, not faux. Amazing dinners in a beautiful setting. If there’s a candle shortage in Aurland it’s because of them. Be sure to ask for the wood fired hot tub. The experience of a lifetime. But, moreover, be sure to ask for Anders as your guide. He’ll customize an itinerary for you and treat you like his best friends. We’d go back just for Anders!

Authenticity & Character

This property has been in the owner’s family for generations. It doesn’t get any more authentic.

Location

You’re on the fjord. The best views. The best hikes.

Staff

There wasn’t a person on staff who didn’t go out of their way for us. Not one.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oslo Dinner Cruise

Oslo

We did a dinner cruise on our first night in Oslo which was suggested by Christina. It was a good way to see the city while we were tired from traveling. The cruise was fine, but not the greatest.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Waterfall Hike

Norway

We had a private group waterfall hike with our guide Anders. He was super cooperative and adjusted the hike to our capabilities since we were in our 60s and 70s. It was a great experience, especially because he was more than willing to customize the hike for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pasture farm and Local handcrafters

Aurland

The farm tour was amazing. The woman who owns the farm took us on a hike on her property and showed us a summer cabin where she made us Norwegian pancakes. We learned about her family's life there and how she is trying to preserve it for generations. It was a unique and special experience that we wouldn't have had as average tourists.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was wonderful. Rome was crowded and crazy, I’d been there before, but a magnificent city with unmatched history and energy. The colosseum tour with Marta was excellent, with a chance to see the underground that wasn’t available last time I was there. The architecture and engineering that took place 2000 years ago is mind boggling. The hotel was good, full of travelers. Transportation to and from the airport was perfect, both drivers arriving early.
The driver, Fabio, who took us from Rome to Sorrento was wonderful. Very friendly, knowledgeable, speaking excellent English, he was a tour guide as well as a driver. The stop at Pompei was amazing. The tour guide Yulia was excellent, so intelligent and articulate. The hotel in Sorrento was beautiful, on a cliff overlooking the sea. The room was spacious and pleasant, although a bit cave-like with no outside light. One of the desk clerks was very helpful in setting up my Google Maps app. Our Amalfi coast driver, Angelo, was friendly and entertaining, and a veteran at the challenging coastal drive. The day was beautiful despite rain and fog.
A good driver (name unremembered) got us to the Naples airport for the car rental. The car rental was perhaps the most difficult and stressful part of the trip. Very busy and rushed. I upgraded because that was the only option to get navigation, and a very helpful lot attendant got the car computer to work in English. The car was new and beautiful, a Lynk and Co. model, but the electronics were overwhelming and the scant manual was in Italian. We were able to utilize the navigation but couldn’t figure out most other functions. Nonetheless it was a beautiful car and the actual driving was fine. Returning the car at the Termini train station in Rome was very stressful. The station is a frantic and extremely busy place, and there are no signs directing you to the car rental return. A helpful maintenance worker told us how to get to the return lot, or we may still be there driving around. The check out man spoke very little English, and I signed a lot of papers with no idea what I was signing. I received an invoice several days later and I have no idea how much was prepaid or how much I actually am paying for the rental, including a damage surcharge for unknown reasons. I’ve rented cars many times, and its a stressful process, even in your native language, and the rental car industry is well known for mysterious charges. I’m not asking for anything to be done, but just letting you know that the whole process was stressful.
Matera was a surprise and an amazing place. Alina was a wonderful guide, the city was breathtaking, and the experience there was definitely a highlight of the trip. The hotel was very nice and the proprietors were friendly and helpful.
Bari went well. Our guide Giorgio was fantastic, and gave us a very personal and enjoyable tour of the old town. The hotel was central and worked out fine.
Lecce was enjoyable. We had a lot of trouble parking and finding our B&B in the very confusing maze of streets in the old town. There was no one there to greet us when we finally found the place, but was able to call and talk with someone who informed us about parking and actually getting into the room. The door code didn’t work but someone eventually came to let us in. The accomodation was very nice, but we missed the availability of a proprietor who could provide advice and direction. We did a walking tour through the tourist office with a very good guide, and took the narrated tram ride that was informative. The orecchiette class was wonderful, entertaining, interesting, and fun. The owner of Strada del Vino was very supportive and friendly.
The trip was a resounding success, and KimKim’s services were absolutely what we needed. Setting up accommodations and guided events, prepaying, and developing an excellent itinerary made it easy for us to relax and enjoy beautiful Italy.
The app made it easy to know what we were doing and going, and we consulted it dozens of times through the trip. Having you and Jessica available and checking in with us was helpful and reassuring.
A couple of suggestions (not complaints): It would be helpful if parking information was included in the hotel descriptions in the app. Not knowing about parking when coming into busy cities, sometimes
with narrow, winding streets is stressful.
In terms of itinerary, going first to Lecce and ending in Bari would reduce the long drive back to Rome by nearly 2 hours.

Thank you again for your hard work and genuine concern. I won’t hesitate to recommend your services to others.

Grazie Mille

Arrivederci,

Ken and Diane

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Marina at KimKim to plan our honeymoon to Spain, and I cannot express enough how grateful we are for her exceptional expertise and incredible dedication. Marina made the entire process a breeze, taking away any worries or stress that we had about planning a trip to a country we had never visited before.

From the very beginning, Marina's warmth and professionalism shone through. As first-time international travelers, my husband and I were feeling a bit overwhelmed by the logistics and intricacies of planning a honeymoon. However, Marina's extensive knowledge and experience put us at ease. She patiently listened to our desires and aspirations for our honeymoon and took the time to truly understand what we were looking for.

We explained to Marina that we wanted a romantic and immersive experience, where we could truly soak in the beauty of Spain's nature, architecture, and culture. And let me tell you, she exceeded all our expectations. Marina's deep understanding of the country, combined with her innate creativity, resulted in a meticulously crafted itinerary that catered perfectly to our desires.

One of the aspects that made working with Marina truly outstanding was her invaluable insider knowledge as a native Spaniard. This added a level of authenticity and depth to our trip that we would not have achieved otherwise. Marina was able to suggest activities and private tours that were "off the beaten path," allowing us to uncover hidden gems and experience Spain in a way that felt more intimate and personal.

In fact, two of our most memorable experiences during the honeymoon were activities that Marina initially suggested, and at first, we weren't particularly drawn to them. She encouraged us to visit a Sevillan olive oil estate, where we learned about the intricate process of olive oil production and indulged in a tasting that left our taste buds dancing with delight. Additionally, Marina arranged for a private tour of Granada's St. John of God Basilica and St. Bruno Monastery, led by the remarkable Ruth. We were completely captivated by Ruth's deep knowledge of history, art, religion, and culture, and her engaging storytelling and sense of humor made our tour truly enchanting.

Throughout our journey, we were continually impressed by the quality of the tour guides Marina had in her network. Each guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing their love for their respective regions. They went above and beyond to ensure that our experiences were immersive, informative, and truly unforgettable.

Thanks to Marina's impeccable planning, attention to detail, and unwavering dedication, we had the honeymoon of our dreams. Every aspect of the trip, from the carefully selected accommodations to the seamless transportation arrangements, worked harmoniously to create an experience that exceeded our wildest imaginations.

As we reflect on our time in Spain, one thing is certain: Marina's expertise and guidance were instrumental in making our honeymoon an unforgettable journey. Her professionalism, creativity, and genuine care for our experience truly set her apart. We are eternally grateful for her tireless efforts in crafting a trip that perfectly encapsulated our desires and allowed us to fall even more deeply in love with Spain.

In the future, without a doubt, Marina at KimKim will be our go-to resource for all our travel needs in Spain. Her unparalleled expertise, unwavering commitment to excellence, and ability to create personalized and extraordinary experiences make her an invaluable asset for anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure in this captivating country.

Thank you, Marina, for curating a honeymoon beyond our wildest dreams. Your passion, dedication, and exceptional service have left an indelible mark on our hearts, and we eagerly look forward to our next adventure with you at the helm.

Activity Reviews

Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided visit of Monasterio Cartuja & Basilica de San Juan de Dios

Granada

Marina arranged for a private tour of Granada's St. John of God Basilica and St. Bruno Monastery, led by the remarkable Ruth. We were completely captivated by Ruth's deep knowledge of history, art, religion, and culture, and her engaging storytelling and sense of humor made our tour truly enchanting. Our experience with Ruth was one of the highlights of our honeymoon, as we learned so much from her!! 10/10 recommend Ruth for all tourists visiting Granada!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a beautiful two-week trip in Costa Rica for our honeymoon. Our goal was to be able to have a memorable trip without all of the stress associated with booking guides, hotels, rental cars, etc. Nuria made it super easy for us to enjoy ourselves while still have a unique and amazing experience.

Would highly recommend our itinerary for anyone who has a passion for adventure. Great balance between relaxation and experience.

Thanks to Silvia and the KimKim Team we had an amazing time in Iceland. Our trip was short but Silva created an itinerary that was well placed and let us explore the Golden Circle. We saw geysers, waterfalls, black sand beaches, explored caves, rode Icelandic horses and got up close to icebergs. We did a lot but never felt rushed. We ended each day with time to relax at the hotel. We loved that Silvia planned our itinerary with Blue Lagood on the last day. What a wonderful way to end the trip. This was my first time to use a company to plan an itinerary fir me and now i can't imagine not using KimKim travel. From the thoughtful well organized itinerary to ensuring small details like a car that had excellent navigation tools and the portable wifi (i would not have though of that!). Plus Silvia was just a text away ready to help us wuth an on the spot recommendation for an indoor activity during a downpour to rebooking a tour. Knowing she was available made our experience worry free. We loved the local lunch spots, visiting Efstidalur II Farm Bistro, Hella Caves, Vik adventures and Blue Lagoon zodiac tours. The guides were all so knowledgeable and kind. We left Iceland knowing we would want to come back to explore more.

Hotel Reviews

Stracta Hotel

Hella

Cozy plesant accomidations. The food was fantastic! We learned the have a greenhouse where the chefs puck their herbs. The hot tubbs and sauna were a welcome bonus.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful inside.

Location

It was easy to get to.

Staff

So helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cozy, clean, welcoming

Hotel Laki

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Rooms were a good size and there were nice areas for gathering with big subdued to admire the labdscape. The dinner buffet was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to find with wonderful views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Icelandic horse riding tour

Iceland

The staff were so friendly, horses included! The weather did our original date was not safe for riding. The staff offered us options and we rebooked for the next day. So glad we did! It is wirth noting that near Vik Adventures is a grocery store and an icelandic shop. Great stop to also pick up snacks and souvenirs (best prices we saw)

Quality of Experience

{

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

The experience was unforgettable! We're glad we did the zodiak boat as the grouo was smaller and the tour took as all around the lagoon. The guide explained a lot about the icebergs, the different colirs and even some troll legends about the blue ones his grandfather told him when he was a lad.

Quality of Experience

Loi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Made us feel safe every step of the way. Explained a lot about what we were seeing.

Transport

Lunar Landscapes & Healing Waters – Blue Lagoon Immersion

Iceland

What a prefect way to finish our trip. Lockers are povided and acessed with a wristband. The waters are amazing and there are so many different areas including a quiet zone and a refreshing waterfall. You will probably find the swim up bar first as your first drink is on the house. You also have a free mask treatment included... Just swim up the mask bar. When you need a break there is also a wet and dry sauna. We enjoyed our time there so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed our trip greatly. The planning and execution were very good overall. We enjoyed many of the places we stayed at, especially Amora Jamison in Sydney and Mandalay apartments in Port Douglas.

Hotel Reviews

Adabco Boutique Hotel

Adelaide

This was a good hotel in a central location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Suites Gateway

Melbourne

The location and overall experience were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Southern Ocean Villas

Port Campbell

The location of the hotel was great and it was very spacious for our family of 5.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We did not interact with any staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Melbourne Airport

Tullamarine

Overall the hotel was OK but did have a restaurant next door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandalay Luxury Beachfront Apartments

Port Douglas

Excellent all around!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

American River

Nice hotel in a good location on Kangaroo Island.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney

Sydney

Very nice and posh hotel in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phillip Island Private Tour

Melbourne

We very much loved this experience and our guide took excellent care of us. He was a wealth of information.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

This was a great experience that was enjoyed by our whole family.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Classic Kuranda Tour

Australia

We truly enjoyed this experience. The skyrail and train were great! The experience at Kurranda was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim and Across Portugal were wonderful to deal with! We went to Portugal with our kids and their grandparents and everything was very organized, timely, and efficient. Everyone enjoyed the tours that were arranged too. Across Portugal was affiliated with KimKim and had an assistance service line available so if you had any questions or needed details from the itinerary they were readily available! Joao was awesome and always available!

We had a walking tour in Lisbon and Elsa our guide was fantastic and told us some hidden gems about the city. The following day we went to Sintra with the arranged transportation and saw Peña Palace. Our tickets were pre purchased already so everything was hassle free! The parents wanted a date night so we had a cooking class arranged and we enjoyed making traditional dishes of Portugal and eating their infamous pastel de natas. The next day we headed to Algarve at Cascade resort and relaxed and saw some beautiful views. The grandparents were interested in a bike tour and explored Lagos with their wonderful guide from Volta do Mar. As well, the kids were interested in a boat ride so we enjoyed a beautiful boat tour through the grottoes.

If you are planning to go to Portugal we highly recommend using KimKim and Across Portugal — airport transportation, tours, and hotel rooms were all arranged based on preference and made travel planning seamless!

Activity Reviews

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Elsa was a wonderful tour guide! She showed us hidden gems in Lisbon, best places to eat, and fantastic views! Her knowledge was great and we got a great understanding of the history and culture of Portugal! As well, we had two younger children so she moved with our pace and accommodated us well! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Courteous and knowledgeable

Transport

Authentic Portuguese Cooking Class – 3-Hour Small Group Experience in Lisbon

Portugal

This was my first international cooking class and it did not disappoint! Our chef/ instructor was awesome and had a great sense of humor! It was great to meet other people from all over the world and cook together to make a delicious meal! We made traditional dishes from Portugal and it was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering the Trails of Lagos on a Scenic Bike Tour

Portugal

We enjoyed a beautiful bike tour from our wonderful guides from Volta do Mar! We explored the town of Lagos, learned the history from the town, and saw some beautiful views!

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Our family enjoyed the boat tour! We learned about the history of the town and beaches and saw some beautiful grottoes! The kids highlights were squeezing through the rock transformation with the boat! It was beautiful!

We spent three weeks exploring Chile (north, south, center and Easter Island). All of this was booked through kimkim. As kimkim relies on third party tour operators, you can imagine that there can be a few hiccups here and there, but it's how our personal representative (Jesse) handled those hiccups that was most impressive. Any time we had a question, request or concern, she was there to help. Having Jesse every step of the way was like having a guardian angel watching over us. We would definitely recommend kimkim for planning and booking a Chile vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Apart Hotel Valle Exploradores

Puerto Río Tranquilo, Aysen

Small hotel, with a slight language barrier with the staff, however, very friendly and brings breakfast to your room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Taha Tai

Easter Island

Nice hotel, close to all of the restaurants and our activities!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabo De Hornos

Punta Arenas

Upscale Boutique Hotel with a very nice restaurant in the heart of the financial district of Punta Arenas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal

Santiago

It's literally AT the airport, but no airplane noise!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Renaissance Santiago Hotel

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cumbres San Pedro

San Pedro de Atacama

Lovely resort hotel, not exactly downtown. The hotel has a shuttle that stops at 9 PM. Overall good experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

We were there for four nights. The breakfast is a very nice breakfast. I would make sure you have breakfast and bring snacks and lunch if you're doing the Torres del Paine hike.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

The stargazing tour was changed to moon gazing due to the weather and lack of stars. The tour was eventually canceled, but a refund was received.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marble Caves Boat Tour

Chile

The original tour operator closed for winter, but an alternative tour was found. Nice private experience on the boat tour, exploring the unique marble caves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking in the Magellan Strait

Chile

The tour was canceled due to weather conditions and replaced with Punta Arenas City Tour. The city tour was basic and overpriced compared to the original kayaking tour. The city tour included visiting a hill for a panoramic view and a short tour of a cemetery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings

Chile

Extremely challenging hike and the guide's pace was very fast. Some participants struggled with the pace and intensity of the hike. We suggest bringing breakfast/snacks for the hike due to its demanding nature.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orongo Morning Tour and Ahu Akivi Afternoon Tour

Easter Island

Great experiences exploring the history and culture of Easter Island. We enjoyed the excursions and the opportunity to see the unique moai statues up close.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Viña del Mar & Valparaíso

Chile

We enjoyed the tour, exploring the vibrant coastal cities of Viña del Mar & Valparaíso!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Base Torres Hike

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rano Raraku and Anakena Tour

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fantastic experience from start to finish. The experiences chosen were a good variety and things I may have not discovered on my own. Our entire group loved the trip. Eleni was great to work with, very knowledgeable and responsive. It was also nice having a contact while we were away to answer our questions. I'll never travel without kimkim again!

Hotel Reviews

GCF Luxury Suites

Roma

Amazing hotel in the heart of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Badia Sorrento

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Food Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with lunch and wine tasting

Pompeii

Quality of Experience

I'm

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giuseppe was very knowledgeable and patient.

Transport

Private Amalfi Coast Driving Tour

Italy

Our guide Guieseppe was very knowledgeable and patient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sorrento Sea Kayak Tour

Italy

Fun unique experience and great guides

Quality of Experience

I'm

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Capri Island & Grottos Boat Tour from Sorrento

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The experience was overall amazing. Samir was very helpful with the planning, even when we had quite particular requirements and were changing the plans before committing. He was always super helpful and responsive, happily adapting to our ideas and requests. This took a lot of stress away from us.
The service was great, starting with the visa support in the airport and throughout the trip. Our main driver Khaled (with us all days expect the last two) gave us great tips and was very flexible if we wanted to change route or change the plan. We had the chance to have extensive chats with him, went to dinner together but also always had our space and time for just the two of us. The hotels were all very nice and some exceeded our expectations (Aicha camp in Wadi Rum and Mövenpick in Dead Sea in particular).
We were positively surprised that our two guided tours in Jerash and Petra were private (just us 2 and the guide), we weren’t expecting it and it was a great experience.
We would totally recommend both KimKim, and namely Samir and Khaled (and have done so already). Thank you for a great trip and wonderful memories. Jordan, we will see you again!

Hotel Reviews

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

Wadi Rum

Amazing overall! It was one the best places we have ever been to!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Movenpick Dead Sea Spa & Resort

Sweimeh, Amman

It was really nice and we also were upgraded to one of the rooms in the village. The beach access was well maintained. Some of the beach chairs in the pools were a bit broken but overall great experience. Excellent breakfast and great service. Loved the lemon refreshment at our check in and the chocolate hour!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Jarash

Jordan

The private tour was great and our guide really knowledgeable. Really enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Petra (With Site local Guide or private guide)

Petra

The private guide was great! It was an amazing experience, the guide really took his time and gave us so much information and answered all our questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Diogo did a great job planning our trip. We had a wonderful itinerary that took in city and country visits. Joao was an amazing tour guide in Lisbon. He was so knowledgeable about the places and history. He was patient and let us explore at our own pace. The sunset sailboat ride was a perfect evening. The restaurant with Dado music was such an unexpected experience that we all enjoyed. All of the hotels we stayed at were nice, clean and had fabulous breakfasts included. The wine tasting at Seixt winery was a great choice. All of our reservations went off without any issues. Also, Diogo and Joao were always quick to respond to any questions or concerns. Kimkim was just great to work with and did an excellent job. I will definitely make future travel arrangements with Kimkim and have already recommended them to all my friends.

Every detail was thought through. Our guides, driver, tours, and hotels were exactly what we hoped for. Every tour guide had a Ph.D. level understanding level of the art, history, and the people that made it. Our whole experience was astonishing and far beyond our expectations.
Valeria organized and knew exactly what we wanted and every aspect of our trip was seamless. This left us able to enjoy every minute of the beauty, food, and people of Italy. This was the family vacation I hoped to achieve. My husband and adult children had unforgettable times together and time to explore on our own. Every hotel exceeded the next and the history and beauty of Rome, Perugia, Assisi, Spello, Florence, Lake Como, and Milan gave us memories to last a lifetime.
I interviewed several tour planners in the US, Valeria, from Kim Kim, who resides in Rome delivered with "local" knowledge and expertise I could not get in the U.S. Don't hesitate in hiring the Kim Kim experts. I am so grateful that I did.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Della Conciliazione

Rome

The rooms are fine, but there was an unfortunate smell that the hotel tried to cover with air fresherners.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The

Hotel Sina Brufani

Perugia

A really great breakfast and an excellent location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk to anywhere from here.

Staff

so helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

Great location.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Albergo Terminus

Como

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Cannot image staying anywhere else. Their terraced par/restaurant was an excellent to wind down with friends and family

Location

Your could walk to anywhere from here. The rooms were great!

Staff

Answered every request.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean. The staff answered every request.

Star Hotel Rosa Grand

Milan

What a hotel! You will love the location. The best.

Authenticity & Character

Corporate hotel but in an excellent location.

Location

So close to the Doumo, castle and the best shopping.

Staff

Every request was met with a no problem.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The turn down service was really great.

Activity Reviews

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Julia was amazing. We learned so much. Her pace was perfect and she arranged for me to take the elevator in the Colosseum, that was a game changer for me because I have a damaged right knee. The weather was perfect! Julia was able to answer our endless questions without taking a beat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driving in Rome is CRAZY our drivers were able to navigate it all. I can tell you this is quite feat.

Private golf cart tour

Rome

Dario was unbelievable. We had a blast on our golf tour. These golf tours are a great way to see Rome!

Quality of Experience

The park that provide a spectacular view of the city

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dario was great. I would recommend his services for this tour to anyone

Transport

Rome drivers are crazy, but the golf cart is a great way to go. You need to be an expert driver, that is for sure.

Small group tour of Vatican City , Sistine Chapel & saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Wow, learned so much. It was a great family experience. Ev/Ava was wonderful. We learned so much from her and she was warm and knowledgeable. She clearly loved her work and made us feel so welcome

Quality of Experience

learned so much.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were so good. Could expect more.

Transport

Private Pizza-making class

Rome

Tony was unbelievable! We love the experience. Tony was so generous and knowledgeable. All five of us loved it. We were fed so well and by the fruits of our labor with Tony. We ate a lot of pizza during our trip. I can honestly say we ate our best pizza here, in this class.

Quality of Experience

We were to walk through the oldest open-air market in Rome. It was outstanding.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was on time time and even though we ran over for our next tour, he was ready to take us to our next destination.

Transport

Who cannot love a Mercedes?

Full day Private tour of Assisi and Spello with car and guide at disposal

Italy

We had an unexpectedly great tour here. We didn't know what to expect but Isabella made the entire time spectacular! She knew where to go and HOW to go. Avoiding crowds and difficult climbs. The views were wonderful and the blooming flowers were smelling wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The warmth and generous treatment of us through sun and rain. You can't go wrong with the wonderful services of this group.

Transport

We always had late-model Mercedes that sat us comfortably

Private guided tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries (4 hours)

Florence

The crowds were crazy but Simona guided us through the crowds and the museum staff. We saw so many beautiful things and she was able to answer all our questions. I was particularly slow and stopping often to look at things that only interested me. My family despaired of my frequent stops but Simona was patient and able to answer all my questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Small group Tour of Tuscany Oil & Wine Tasting with a personal sommelier

Florence

We had been traveling and touring in our small family group, this was our only group tour, a small group tour. Probably the only misstep we took. I thought we would all love wine tasting. We did not. The views were wonderful, but the wine, not so much.

Quality of Experience

Food

Everyone loved the food and the pairing with the wine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Boat Tour of Lake Como - Explore Bellagio

Italy

We started out the morning, it was cloudy and cold, but without rain. Our guide Laura helped us get comfortable on our boat and off we went. We saw George Clooney's house and every beautiful palace/home on the lake. We laughed and laughed and had a great time.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food included.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bernina Express and St Moritz full day tour from Milan

Italy

It was raining and expected to be in the 30's F. so we canceled the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamer did an excellent job planning and arranging our trip. Our guide, Pablo was knowledgeable and personable. The crew onboard our boat were hardworking and attentive. We enjoyed all of the activities provided and we were amazed at all the wildlife we got to see.
However. If you have a chance to read our comment card that we left on our boat, you will see that we were very dissatisfied and disappointed with our boat because of all the roaches and the sewer smell in our cabin.

Hotel Reviews

Wyndham Quito Airport

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M/Y Monserrat

Quito

Roach infested and smells of sewage

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Roaches and sewer smell.

JW Marriott Hotel Quito

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kapari Natural Lodge & Spa

San Miguel de los Bancos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrival to Baltra Airport - Transfer to Cruise Ship & Santa Cruz Highlands (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Galapagos Islands

Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) - Chinese Hat (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

El Barranco - Darwin Bay ( Genovesa Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

Black Turtle Cove - Flamingos and Relax in Bachas Beach (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

Tagus Cove - Urbina Bay (Isabela Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island) - Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Galapagos Islands

Puerto Egas - Espumilla Beach - Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

North Seymour Island - Highlands (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

Rabida Island - Bartolomé Island (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

South Plazas Island - Santa Fe Island (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

Punta Pitt - Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Galapagos Islands

Lobos Island - Tijeretas Hill & Interpretation Center (San Cristobal Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Galapagos Islands

Gardner Bay - Suarez Point (Española Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D )

Cruise Ship

Cormorant Point - Post Office Bay (Floreana Island) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Galapagos Islands

Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz) (M/Y Monserrat 15D)

Cruise Ship

Explore Mindo Cloud Forest at Kapari Natural Lodge & Spa

Galapagos Islands

Kapari Natural Lodge & Spa Experience

Mindo

Another day at Kapari Lodge & Return to Quito

Mindo

Can not say enough positive things about our trip to Dubrovnik. We are new to KimKim, and decided that since we have pretty busy lives to use them to make the trip planning easier. Bruno was very communicative prior to our trip and while in country. He made sure everything was to the best possible standards. He set up some amazing private tours which made our trip one of a kind. All of the guides that we worked with were phenomenal humans, and they seemed to genuinely love what they were doing. IWe LOVED this trip. We will absolutely be coming back to Croatia and will be using their services again.

We loved traveling with KimKim. It was the perfect combination of recommended itineraries and personal flexibility in creating our ideal vacation. The guides were excellent and communication with Bea (aka KimKim) was easy and accessible. We would totally travel with them again.

My parents and I greatly enjoyed our 8-day vacation in Portugal with the help of our amazing local specialist, Catarina. From the very start of planning, Catarina was super attentive and collaborative. I let her know our preferences for places to go and the types of things we wanted to do on our trip and she helped us craft a fitting itinerary filled with tours and activities that allowed us to immerse ourselves in the local foods/wines and thoroughly experience the deep culture/history that Portugal has to offer.

In the days leading up to our trip and during our entire trip, Catarina always remained communicative and responsive to all my questions. She was always very professional in her communications and even when we encountered one mishap with a driver one day and unfortunately missed one of our city tours (to no fault of Catarina or KimKim), Catarina didn't fail to keep in contact with us and work through the issues / process a refund for the tour we missed. Aside from this, the rest of our trip felt seamless as Catarina had given us all the information we needed to easily go about our activities each day. She also made sure we had a good amount of rest time built in, especially toward the end of the trip when we were in Albufeira, so we had a good chunk of time after all our tours in the bigger cities to just relax near the beachside before returning home.

If you're thinking of heading to Portugal and looking for a company and local specialist to help plan/book your next vacation, I highly recommend working with KimKim and specifically Catarina from The Host Portugal for all your travel needs!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Star inn Porto

Porto

The hotel in Porto was pretty good. It had breakfast included, but the options were limited.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Real Bellavista Hotel & Spa

Albufeira

The Real Bellavista Hotel and Spa in Albufeira was great. It had a 4-star rating, and the breakfast options were excellent. They also provided a shuttle to the downtown area, which was a nice addition.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Vintage Food & Wine Tour

Porto

Our food and wine tour in Porto was enjoyable, but we had a slight issue with the meeting point, which was farther than expected from our hotel. We took an Uber and got reimbursed for it. The tour itself was good, but since my parents don't drink much wine, it would have been nice to have more variety in the activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Regular Tour Douro Valley

Portugal

The Douro Valley tour was one of my favorites. The scenery was beautiful, and we had a great lunch at a villa with a pool and an amazing view of the vineyards. The food was really good, and the tour was well-organized.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon on a TukTuk

Lisbon

The TukTuk tour in Lisbon was fantastic. The company was very accommodating to our interests, and the driver took us to all the places we wanted to see while explaining everything nicely.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Regular Tour to Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

The tour to Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril was really enjoyable. The tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and the transportation was comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour to Benagil Caves & Dolphins Sigthing

Portugal

The boat tour to the Benagil Caves and dolphin sighting was a lot of fun. The tour took us around the coastline, and we enjoyed the views, dolphins, music, and cruising on the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport