Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip to Greece was a trip we will never forget! Overall, the experience was fantastic. We had one issue where there was a miscommunication with the date we were arriving and leaving, Angela quickly jumped to action accommodating us with a hotel for us to stay at that first night in Athens and adjusting our stay in Santorini. The taxi for us to get to the port in Athens never showed up to pick us up to the hotel, we had to get a cab and Angela made sure we were reimbursed. She made sure everything was fixed and checked in to make sure our trip ran smoothly.

The excursions Angela selected were absolutely amazing and were catered to what we were interested. There was a perfect mixture between "touristy" attractions and tours that took us through how the locals live. It was all so informative about the history of Greece.

Naxos was hands down our favorite island we visited. I WILL BE RETURNING THERE! It was not full of people and felt very traditional. We loved the scenery, the food, and the people we encountered on Naxos. We went on a fishing tour with Evan with Naxos Fishing Experience and had the best time. He ended up giving us a good bit of fish to take and one of the restaurants cooked it for us! A truly unforgettable experience.

Overall an amazing trip! :)

Our trip consisted of Sossusvlei (2 nights), Swakopmund (2 nights) and Damaraland (3 nights)
We opted for a driver and guide and this was a significant part of the enjoyment of our trip. Vincent Taylor is not just a driver and guide but a senior person with in-depth knowledge and experience in Namibia and the region which provided us with deeper insight into Namibia and visiting places that other might miss. I would encourage others visiting Namibia to consider having a driver and guide since 80% of the roads we travelled on were not paved and distances between gas stations and facilities are far, driving around 5 hours every other days is tiring even as a passenger and if something happens having a local expert is helpful. Travelling on your own would be a completely different experience and much less interesting. The dunes of Sossusvlei are like a gigantic art installation with the changing light and shadows on the dunes with the unique vegetation and salt pans. The accommodations at the Desert Homestead Lodge were super with the roomy individual cabins. Swakopmund with its cooler temperatures was a relief from the heat, the Swakopmund Luxury Suites were comfortable and a good location. We would encourage visitors to do the combination cruise on the bay in the morning and the Sandwich Bay dune ride in the afternoon, both were memorable. Damaraland was unique to be staying among the boulders and going out one morning for tracking the desert elephants which we found and appreciated. Afternoons were too hot to do very much. We could have done with a less fancy accommodations at Camp Kipwe but it was very unique and beautiful. Travelling the roads and experiencing the vastness of Namibia was an experience in itself. The final accomodation at the Windhoek Luxury Suites was fine with a restaurant in a courtyard mall in the Spanish style was quite unique and enjoyable. The staff at all the accommodations were very helpful, friendly and professional.
The CapeTown portion of the trip was totally different. Staying at the Commodore next to the wharf was very handy for restaurants and shopping. Hotel staff were helpful and friendly was we were able to do most of the things that CapeTown is famous for. A great final stop on our very memorable trip.

Hotel Reviews

The Commodore Hotel

Cape Town

Our room overlooked the city and Table Mountain.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Being next to the wharf is probably the best location in Capetown because of the mall and the restaurants and bars near by

Staff

Very helpful with a few issues and needs that we had

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Windhoek Luxury Suites

Windhoek

Quite and peaceful.

Authenticity & Character

The restaurant neary by in a Spanish style mall was quite unique

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camp Kipwe

Windhoek

This is a top end hotel set among boulders on a hill in the desert and barely visible from a distance. Each hut has a outdoor bathroom that we liked. Bar at the top of the hill for sunsets. Food was great and staff were friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is part of the landscape, very unique and special

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swakopmund Luxury Suites

Swakopmund

Good location and helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Nice place, very modern design

Location

Near the beach and restaurants

Staff

Staff were very helpful when we had some problems

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Homestead Lodge

The setting of the hotel, the main building with a thatched roof and tasteful design and facilities. The rooms were large and very nicely done in a rustic way

Authenticity & Character

Unique design

Location

Beautiful setting

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Premier OR Tambo Hotel

Great for being near the airport. Helpful and friendly staff. Nice rooms and a good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Friendly staff

Location

Near the airport

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Twyfelfontein Tour

Damaraland

Tracking the desert elephants was a great experience in a dry river bed. We did find the elephants and a few giraffe. The cultural center experience was interesting. The petroglyphs were interesting though the trail is a bit difficult. The organ pipes and black mountain were interesting but not as much as the other activities

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We will press repeat in capital letters

Every guide and every place was amazing. The trip was so well organized that it felt stress free. It felt like a trip of a lifetime. We already have given several friends, family and even complete strangers your name and recommended you highly..

Hotel Reviews

Tigh Grianach Bed and Breakfast

Barra

This definitely earns the title of 5-star. Spotless, comfortable. Jackie is an amazing cook, gifted hostess and kind and friendly. Rob our tour guide was over the top. He was very knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. He took interest in researching information about Donna’s family even after the tour was over. When he finds info he emails me and we will keep in touch. Wow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oban Bay Hotel

Oban

Clean, beautiful views, friendly and accommodating staff.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coolin View

Portree

Loived everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Bluebell House B&B

Inverness

Ken was friendly, organized and a great cook. Too bad he got sick the next morning and we missed breakfast but the place was pristine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Garrison Hotel

Fort William

Clean, with everything we needed very handy and accessible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Stirling Highland Hotel

Stirling

Clean, comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

24 Royal Terrace

Edinburgh

Very clean and unique.

Authenticity & Character

Location accessible to most sites.

Location

Great breakfast and great location.

Staff

Very accommodating. Karen needed a charger and they supplied one to borrow.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean- room tidied everyday.

Activity Reviews

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Good- informative. But short. Didn’t take us in to anything. Was just an introduction.

Quality of Experience

Longer more detail

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One way to Mallaig on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)

Scotland

Was extremely hot.

Quality of Experience

The tour guide was great. Told us about sites along the way in time to take pictures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a pleasure working with Emerson. He gave us a framework from which we planned our trip, made suggestions of things we wouldn’t have done, especially our day trip to Tallinn,
Estonia. The guides he found for us were all very good. Logistics were easy. The whole trip went smoothly and was great fun.

Hotel Review

Hotel F6

Helsinki

Hotel F6 was wonderful. The room was great, service was excellent, and the people were nice. The breakfast was fantastic, and the hotel's location was very convenient. We stayed there for four nights and had no complaints.

Location

Activity Reviews

Sauna Tour

Tampere

You can’t go to Finland without going to sauna. Our guide, Matti, is a sauna expert. He took us to a beautiful place, taught us how to “do” sauna, and made the afternoon very special.

Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea

Helsinki

The guided hike was in a beautiful location, although it was a beginner-level hike. Since we are pretty big hikers, we probably would have enjoyed a more challenging route. The people we went with were very nice, and the guide was excellent. It was a good experience overall.

Tallinn Day Trip

Helsinki

The Tallinn day trip was a big plus and not something we had originally planned. The ferry ride was fine, and our guide was knowledgeable and proud of his country. We learned a lot about the old city of Tallinn and Estonia. It was a fun and unexpected addition to our trip.

Canoe Tour on Lake Näsijärvi

Tampere

Initially apprehensive about the canoe tour, it turned out to be a great experience. We were all in one canoe with our guide, who was fascinating and knowledgeable about his business, which included plowing a skating route on the lake in winter. The lake was beautiful, and the weather was perfect.

The trip checked all the boxes. The food tour was good (the guide was pretty soft-spoken and there were 14 in the group.). The hotel was perfect for the location - it could not have been more convenient. However, because of the child safety closures on the windows, they only opened a few centimeters so there was no airflow and it was especially warm weather. I can't imagine staying there in the summer with no AC. Additionally, the windows for our room were over the back alley so we heard the midnight glass recycle dump from the nearby restaurants when they closed. I felt quite poorly on Sunday, so that may impact this next comment, but I would send people to Rosendal first, then to Flam. We went to Flam on Saturday and Sunday to Rosendal. After 5 hours on the boat Saturday, in the "King of the Fjords," the Roesndal trip was slightly disappointing in comparison. It was still lovely, but one's mind naturally compares to prior similar events. But like I said, I was feeling quite poorly Sunday, so it might have just been my mood. We had great food and really enjoyed our time. My husband had never been and enjoyed the Sognefjord the most. I usually plan all our trips and appreciated being able to just "show up" for this without having done much work.

Hotel Review

Scandic Torget

Bergen

The location can not be beat. It has got to be the most convenient location in old town Bergen. The breakfast was fabulous. They said they started serving at 0730 but when we went down around 0700 to get coffee, they let us get started early since we had an early ferry. However, I can't recommend it for summer travel. The windows have child locks on them to keep kids from falling out (good thing) but they restrict air flow so significantly, that we baked all night long without airflow or air conditioning. And our room faced the alley so we heard the midnight glass recycle from the nearby restaurants. If you're going in the cooler weather, stay here. If not, find a place that might be cooler for sleeping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bergen to Flåm "The King of Fjords" Sognefjord in a Nutshell Day trip

Bergen

We loved this experience. It's such a lovely day on the boat (in good weather).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

You need to do this while in Bergen. Then walk down - that was one of our favorite parts of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food and Culture walk in Bergen

Bergen

Great tour to local eating/drinking establishments. The guide was great, if a bit soft spoken. I recommended this tour to others we met later in our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tina did an exceptional job of putting together an amazing adventure for a family of 4 (2 adult sons). The activities were wonderful, the hiking guides were superb. The actual rental units were fantastic and unique. The locations were perfect. We enjoyed especially amazing views in Hvar and Dubrovnik. The central locations in Rovign, Split, and Zadar were perfect. We managed 3 beautiful hikes, 2 day long boat rides, river kayaking, truffle hunting, mountain biking, national park visits, a rental car, multiple ferries all without even a hiccup. Well done Tina. Well done Kimkim. Thank you.

We recently had the most amazing trip thanks to Nadine, and we can't thank her enough for the incredible experience. From the moment we told her what we were looking for this trip, and met her in person, it was clear how kind and thoughtful she is. Nadine accompanied us throughout the journey, ensuring that every detail was perfect.

What truly stood out was her remarkable attention to detail. On May 19th, she surprised us by booking a stunning hotel in Belgium to celebrate our anniversary. Her thoughtful gesture made our special day even more memorable.

Nadine went above and beyond, making sure everything was perfectly organized. She patiently taught us how to navigate each mode of transportation, making the entire trip smooth and stress-free.

Her warmth and dedication transformed our trip into an unforgettable adventure. We felt so cared for and looked after. Thank you, Nadine, for your incredible service and making our journey so magical. We can't wait to travel with you again!

We even got the chance to meet in person Nadine, and Emma; who also did a wonderful job making our special trip :)
A big shout to the kimkim team and Beat the Dutch!

Suki, Daniel, and Julian

When thinking of the best trip imaginable, I had nothing but ideas and no direction. Thats where the travel team came in ! They brought to action all my Irish dreams. This trip was full of adventure and beautiful sights, and it was coordinated beautifully by Claire. From the pick up at the airport to every nights stay, all accommodations were book, confirmed, and enjoyed without problem. The places we visited were beautiful and the drive around the country was filled with spectacular views. The first few days were spent in Dublin, and the local rail system was well utilized. It was advised that we go to a small fishing village Howth, and while there I wish we would have known to do the cliff walk.... this was a missed opportunity. We also visited Malahide (not on our itinerary) and we wish we could have spent an entire day here. There is a castle worth seeing with paid admission, adding this to the itinerary would have been a great addition. The hotel in Dublin was comfortable with great breakfast options. We did partake in the cocktail tour at Roe and Co distillery, and this by far was the most fun part of Dublin. Next stop was Galway, and this was wonderful. Highly recommend we-wheels electric bike tour, and the authentic Italian restaurant "Osteria". Next stop, Cliffs of Moher. I would reccomend seeing the cliffs from a more local point of view, and booking a Doolin cliff walk tour. This would have been about a 5 mile walk but really worth it. This night we were supposed to stay in Doolin but our hotel was actually in Ennistymon. We stayed at "Falls House Hotel and Spa" and I would not recommend this town or hotel for a stay. The bed was not comfortable and the dining was less than impressive. Next stop, Dingle. We loved dingle and exploring the town, next trip I would love to stay multiple days here. Slea Head drive is the most beautiful of the country and highly recommend taking your time driving it. The cliffs of Kilkee, which start and end at a coffee shop, were absolutely stunning. Defiantly recommend! Kenmare was a cute town, but would have rather stayed in Killarney or had a few nights stay in kenmore to drive to surrounding towns. We did hear of a night time kayak on a bioluminescent lake which would have been an amazing addition that we did not get. There are also nightly shows in Killarney of Irish dancing, which I would have liked to pay, book, and watch. Last stop, Waterford. Highly recommend a private tour of the factory. Overall, we really enjoyed the trip and the travel team !

Hotel Reviews

Butler Townhouse Kilkenny

Great hotel, Breakfast was tasty. Easily walk to the castle.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Happy Pig

Kenmare, Co. Kerry

Lovely bed and breakfast ! The owner was friendly and cooked an amazing breakfast. The rooms were clean and very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cute and quaint, can drive to town for dinner or shopping.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dingle Bay Hotel

Dingle

Loved this hotel. Staff very friendly, and easily walked to dinner and shopping. Also, parking is available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Falls House Hotel and Spa

Co Clare

This Hotel is not in a great location. While the surrounding is pretty, the town does not have much to offer. The beds were very uncomfortable and the room temperature was too warm. The food was available, but was not tasty for the price.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Stay in Doolin and not here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but not comfortable.

The Hyde Hotel

Galway

Breakfast here is great, hotel was clean and comfortable, staff is wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is no onsite or free parking.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fleet

Dublin

Great room with comfortable beds and large breakfast selection. This hotel is great location for walking the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny

This was a nice experience, I would not spend a whole day at the castle but I would spend a whole day in Kilkenny exploring other things. I wanted the castle to show more history or to tell a story, but many of the rooms were empty from character.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Waterford Crystal Factory Tour Private Tour

Waterford

I would highly recommend this activity. The factory was very interesting and intimate.

Quality of Experience

Being alone with the tour guide allowed us to ask questions and take time with each stage of the process.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dingle Food Tour

Ireland

I don't think this tour was worth it. The food was not impressive. I was expecting more of a local flare to the offered food, that was not what was provided. However, we did enjoy the guide and the stop at the local brewery to learn more about irelands beer market and his local business.

Quality of Experience

We did not enjoy the stops on the tour and food offered.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very nice tour guide

Transport

Walked the town, easily walked.

Guided E-bike Tour Of Galway City

Galway

Electric bike tour is highly recommended. Our tour guide was great and the bike was easy to operate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Roe and Co Distillery FLAVOURS Experience

Dublin

This was the most fun experience in Dublin. I am not particularly fond of whiskey, that being said this experience was exceeding expectations and served delicious cocktails. Our tour guide and bar master was not only charming, but knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

uber/taxi to location

We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica and this is the second consecutive international trip we have used KimKim to make the arrangements. It saves considerable time doing research and hoping you are choosing the right hotels and experiences. Websites for vendors can be highly deceptive and using someone like KimKim who knows the country and various locations, resorts/hotels and excursion experiences is incredibly helpful. And never having to worry about transportation between locations, airport, etc. is a huge relief when traveling in a foreign country. I would highly recommend KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Excellent location with plenty of dining options on the premises and close to other shops and restaurants. The facilities were great and staff was very friendly. Highly recommend the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Springs Resort

La Fortuna

This hotel was beautiful, the grounds were amazing and close to La Fortuna and the Arenal volcano. The villas were great and the staff was extremely friendly. We saw several other hotels in the area but I doubt any were nicer than Arenal Springs Resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling to Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

This snorkeling trip was one of the weaker ones we have been on. The company used caters principally to divers so a lot of time was spent dropping them off and picking them up. Our snorkel guides were very nice, no issues at all but the underwater snorkeling wasn't that great. And it took quite a while to get to the boat since you have about a 30 minute drive from Tamarindo Beach with the traffic, then stop at the dive shop to get fins, then shuttle to the beach where you have to go in groups out to the boat on small tender barge since the dive boat is not in a marina. And then all in reverse at the end. And no cocktails and limited snacks at the end. All of our other snorkeling trips have been on better boats and for snorkelers with nice amenities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Very cool experience. The views from the gondola, zip lines and walking bridges were amazing. Our guide for the bridge and country tour was incredibly knowledgeable about both wildlife and the fauna and made it an enjoyable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tamarindo Horseback Riding to Conchal Beach

Costa Rica

A very fun morning ride on some beautiful beaches of Costa Rica. Very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

The walk through the park was fine, nothing super special but a relaxing couple of hour nature walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco exceeded all our expectations. It was an excellent agenda. All the tours and tour guides were excellent, but Younes our driver, really made the experience exceptional. He was always very professional, and offered us so many great tips. He was always ready with very good meal recommendations and would book the reservation. He even helped us get laundry done. Younes made the whole trip very seemless. All the individual guides were very good and each one was special in their own way. We will always remember this special trip.

Hotel Reviews

Les Jardins De La Medina

Marrakech

Wow - This was an amazing oasis, right in the Medina of Marrakesh. It looked very modest on the outside, but inside was a tropical paradise. We found we just wanted to spend time at the hotel and lounge by the pool. I also used the spa for a manicure and Hammam treatment (both were wonderful). The breakfast had a wonderful variety and the dinner was also excellent. This was our favorite hotel in Morocco and I hope to return someday.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caravane

Ouarzazate

Another beautiful Riad. The room was very nicely decorated and we had a very nice dinner at the Riad. The staff was very accommodating, warm and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Faraj Suites & Spa

Fès

We really enjoyed how this was multiple Riad’s combined into a single Palais. Each separate Riad had a unique character and the overall Palais was beautiful. Our room was very nice and spacious. The breakfast was particularly good with lots of options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nila

Chefchaouen

This Riad was right inside the Medina and was beautifully decorated on the inside. Like many of the Riad’s it was very modest on the outside and opened up into a beautiful courtyard. The room was spotless and unique. The staff was warm and very welcoming. We enjoyed out stay very much.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

This was a beautiful Riad. Our room had 2 bedrooms and was beautifully decorated. It felt very Moroccan and was a special treat. The staff was very warm and welcoming. This was one of our favorite Riad’s in Morocco.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

We had a wonderful time staying in such comfortable accommodations in the desert. The staff was very welcoming and endearing. Our room was beautifully appointed and was a very fancy tent for being in the desert. The staff did a wonderful job with music entertainment in the evening and worked hard to make sure everyone had a good time. In the morning, we went for a sunrise camel ride. This was a very special experience and the guide was very patient and knowledgeable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class

Morocco

We absolutely loved this experience. It was very fun to shop in the market for the ingredients and then to make each course. The chef was such a wonderful person. She was very warm, knowledgeable and just a delight. I can’t recommend this enough. And her foods were better than most of the foods we got in the restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Ourika Valley: Hike to a Waterfall

Morocco

This was a beautiful hike. We initially hiked up to the waterfall and then Mohammad adjusted to do a hike around the Atlas Mountains (there was an option to hike up to more waterfalls, but it involved a lot of scramblings). We absolutely loved the scenery and getting to better understand the Berber culture. This was one of our favorite activities. Mohammad was an excellent guide and even welcomed us into his home for tea. He and his family were very endearing and we felt very honored to have tea in his home.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Food Tour in Marrakesh

Marrakesh

We loved having food from small local favorites. All the food was delicious. We enjoyed the donuts, the harissa soup and walking across the square for the main course. I would caution vegetarians, that the main course is a meat dish without an option for vegetarians (even though the guide knew there was a vegetarian). But it was still a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Imperial City and Medieval Medina of Fes

Fes

Zara was a very knowledgeable guide and we really enjoyed both the tour and shopping in Fez.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Medina and Historical Sites Of Marrakesh

Marrakesh

We enjoyed all the historical information. The only downside is the chaos of the Marrakesh Medina (beyond the guides control).

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in the Sahara Desert with Sunset Camel Ride

Morocco

While it was a long drive for this activity, it is a very unique experience. It was wonderful to be in the desert and to ride the camels out to the sunrise.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Meknes: The Versaille of Morocco & Wine Country

Morocco

While we enjoyed this activity, we would have liked to have had more choices over the wines we tasted. Generally they were giving us very generous pours, but we would have preferred more tastings with smaller pours. The wine and appetizers were all very good, but after doing price comparisons later, the prices for wines at the winery were expensive. But the setting for the tasting was absolutely beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

This was a very unique experience. We all enjoyed the traditional body scrub. This included a sauna, followed by a full body scrub and rinse. Afterward we were all ready to just fall asleep. I would highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets per person and the operator was getting a little flustered with us. We had a great time once we were able to get on the Matterhorn Railway. Grindelwald was beautiful and amazing. We loved, loved the Schilthorn-Piz Gloria. So beautiful! We loved riding the cable cars. The little village of Thun was okay but we could have skipped this visit. It would have been nice to visit Jungfraujoch as well, now that I know more about this area. Also, we missed seeing the Trummelbach Falls because of all the excitement of Schilthorn. Maybe the Falls could have been part of the trip details when going to/from Schilthorn. Luzern was nice but we were there less than 18 hours. Our tour guide (Adrian) was very enjoyable, likable, and knew the city. He was an okay guide. Lugano was beautiful and our tour guide (Patricia) was amazing and incredible. She recommended a small village, Ascona, for us to visit on the second day and it was perfect! We loved Patricia! Zurich was nice but we were there less than 14 hours. It would have been nice to spend an extra night there. Our tour guide was nice and had interesting facts about the city. Also, Valentine put together a nice trip for our family. She was very responsive on all our questions. If she was not available someone else assisted us.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Rebstock

Luzern

Did not care for this hotel. It was confusing to find the room, the room felt dark and victorian, and had to use an actual key to lock and unlock the door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Felix

Zürich

Very nice, but the rooms were just a little too small.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a hotel in America.

Location

Location was good; 5 or so minutes from the train and close to cute stores and shops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hirschen - Grindelwald

Grindelwald

Beautiful, quaint hotel. Loved our room! Beautiful view of the mountains from our balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Wonderful location. Beautiful view of the mountains.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Hotel Excelsior

Zermatt

Quaint hotel with a view of the Matterhorn.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view of the Matterhorn.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking

Lugano

Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise

Lucerne

Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)

Lugano

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Schilthorn - Piz Gloria

Switzerland

Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket & Priority boarding)

Switzerland

Swiss Travel Pass

Switzerland

Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich

Zürich

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good morning Arianna,
This is Alfredo Vichot writing to you about the fabulous trip that you tailored for us. It was a wonderful experience on all counts. Hotels, selections of villas and drivers were outstanding. The guides were superb. All three gave us a lot of information. Even the free time we had matched perfectly to discover more of Milan and Lake Como.
Valeria picked us on time and talked not only about the Lugano region and sites we visited, but added history and anecdotes which made her a jewel when you put all her knowledge together.
Both Katerina and Barbara gave us an excellent tour touching on certain points of interest and also history. Both spoke with intensity and emotion in their voices proud of their heritage and Italy.
The drivers were courteous and on time. Tino was very good in handling curves and avoiding possible accidents on our way to Monte Bre. I must mention Stefano, who was our driver from Milan to Como and back. He was engaging, pleasant and time flew by fast.
The Hotels were perfect. The Palace Hotel was centrally located--walking distance to the ferry boats piers, Plaza Cavour, restaurants and the Duomo. The staff was friendly and helpful. The breakfast room was outstanding, as well as, the breakfast selections.
The Lancaster hotel was located in a very nice neighborhood. It was clean and the staff was always willing to help. The young man at the front desk in the am, who speaks Spanish, was exceptional. He managed to get us a taxi when an unsuspected taxi strike was declared the morning we were supposed to see The Last Supper. Thanks to him we were able to get there on time. Kudos to him.
The Lancaster hotel was also 20 minutes away through a pleasant walk to the Duomo, going through the Arco, Parco Sempione and the Castello Sforziano. There were excellent restaurants a few blocks away on Corso Sempione. We would definitely will stay again at the Lancaster.
Finally, we would like to thank you for making our vacation an unforgettable experience. We are planning a trip to Puglia in a not so distant future and we hope to enjoy that trip with the same intensity that we enjoyed this adventure.
Grazie mille!

Hotel Reviews

Lancaster Hotel

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palace Hotel Lake Como

Como

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Milan Last Supper Tour with City Highlights

Milan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Express Milan Duomo Tour with Terrace Access

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lugano and Monte Bre' Day - Trip from Lake Como

Lake Como

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villas of the Lake Boat Tour with departure from Como - ONLY TICKETS

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lise created a wonderful trip for our family to visit France. She definitely took into account our family's passion of history and created a tailored experience that could be enjoyed for all of us.
D-Day Tours - our guide, Valentine, earned the fan favorite award from our kids! He definitely knew his history and engaged our kids along the way. Thankful for his time in ensuring we truly experienced the heroism of the allies on D-Day and how it shaped the culture of the region. Enjoyed lots of laughs at lunch!
Mont St.Michel - our guide, Corinne, was so patient with our young family and was sure to point out the beauty and history of Mont Saint Michel as well as the local region. With the airline luggage mishap, it was nice to have another mom understand what I needed to fill gaps and ensure my family had a nice vacation.
Tour of the medieval cite with Raphael was full of animated descriptions of history and culture! She did a fantastic job of engaging my family and we felt very safe with her navigating us through the heightened security present that day!
Christina was our tour guide through the Sweet Side of Paris and brought a level of chic elegance to the afternoon! We really enjoyed the added stop through the Saint-Germain de Pres and sharing her knowledge of history!
The Louvre tour guide, Raphael, really eliminated the overwhelming vastness of the museum. She flawlessly taught my non-artistic family about the various pieces through the museum and incorporated history in a way my young children could understand.
It was wonderful to see my children make connections about the culture, history and geography through the teachings of the tour guides! Not only did we get to visit and see a beautiful country but we were able to learn about its culture and develop a greater appreciation for its people and past!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Belle Normandy

Bayeux

An absolute jewel! The hotel provided a wonderful space for our young kids and the staff were incredibly helpful and understanding to our stress of luggage not arriving with us. Breakfast was delicious and the space incredibly relaxing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Bourdonnais - Tour Eiffel

Paris

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sweet Side Food Tour of Paris

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy walk through the sweet shops of Paris

D-Day U.S beaches tour

France

My children adored our tour guide, Valentine, and have asked if they could write to him!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Priscila did a fantastic job planning on a trip that was a perfect fit for us. The farm tour and ziplines were definitely highlights but it was all wonderful. Would highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Fortuna

Rooms were spacious and service was wonderful. Pools are rather small and location can be a bit further away from activities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

Very clean, excellent service and location on the beach can't be beat. Hotel is slightly older and rooms are smaller on side.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Zip Lines & Hanging Bridges Guided Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mistico preserve was rather crowded with many tourists, which made it challenging to observe the animals. Would highly recommend the zip line experience, everyone agreed it was the highlight of the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Tour guide was very informative and able to find multiple sloths as well as other creatures throughout the forest. The whole experience felt very personalized.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

Would highly recommend this interactive experience. Learned how to make coffee, chocolate and sugar. Also got to taste along the way - you'll be full after!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

Tour operator was more focused on scuba divers than snorkelers. Snorkelers spent a long time on the boat waiting for the scuba divers to get on and off as there were multiple drop-offs for the divers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Tram & The Hand of Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ed was a great local guide! Our trip was a little unique because we had a bike accident on the first day resulting in a broken wrist and surgery. Ed and Nick were massively helpful, providing translation services and basically babysitting me in a coffee shop while my partner was in surgery and recovering. Ed rescheduled or swapped activities on the fly as necessary. He could not have been more accommodating or helpful.
Once we got on the road we found the itinerary to be exactly what we had asked for- lots of beautiful hiking, rafting, strolling through ancient cities, no tourist traps, accommodations all mom and pop operations run by the sweetest people you'll ever meet. Highlights were a cooking class in Gjirokaster, dinner at Lili's in Berat, the view from the glamping tents at Nivica. A day spent hiking up to Borsh castle, poking around the ruins and taking in the incredible views, then doing then same at upper Qeparo village are experiences we'll never forget. Ed clearly has great working relationships with his vendors and it shows when you show up somewhere and people are expecting to see you and already know who you are.
This was our second time using a local guide (kim kim both times) after 35 years of planning trips all over the world by ourselves. I'm not sure there is any going back because we had experiences that we never would have found on our own! Thanks Thanks Ed, Nick, and Elio! You are the best. We are looking forward to the next trip!

Hotel Reviews

Camp Nivica

Staying at Camp Nivica was a really cool experience. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and it was made even more interesting by the presence of a Swedish film crew shooting a documentary. The setup was like glamping, and it was a refreshing change from traditional hotel stays.

Berati Castle Hotel

Berat

Our stay at the Berati Castle Hotel was fantastic. The hotel is in the old part of Berat, which gave us a real feel for the history and culture of the city. The ambiance was exactly what we were looking for, and the location made it easy to explore the beautiful “City of a Thousand Windows.

Activity Reviews

Mt Dajti MTB Experience

Tirana

This was a huge letdown. What we were expecting was an easy ride up to the foot of Mt. Dajti, take a cable car to the top, and then gently ride down winding country roads with a nice lunch break somewhere. Instead, we ended up riding through city traffic, which was a nightmare, and then up a steep, dirt road filled with heavy construction traffic. It was brutal and not at all what we signed up for. The guide didn't even mention the cable car anymore. My wife had a bad accident on this trip, which just added to the frustration.

Quality of Experience

Berat - Exploring The "City Of A Thousand Windows"

Berat

We did get to explore Berat, and it was a lovely experience. The city is just beautiful, and the architecture is something you don’t see every day. The atmosphere in Berat was calm and relaxing, which was a nice change from the chaos of Tirana.

Berat organised a wonderful holiday for my daughter and I in May 2024. The trip design was great capturing lots of major sites from the extraordinary landscape and cave dwellings in Cappadocia to Greco-Roman sites at Ephesus, Aphrodisias and Hieropolis to the thermal waters and travertine terraces at Pamukkale. We ended our trip in Istanbul exploring Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Cisterns, a boat tour of the Bosphorus and the Bazaar. The tour was exceptionally well designed with a full itinerary, great hotels ranging from 5 star to small characterful boutique hotels in lovely places. All transfers and travel arrangements were sorted for us so our trip was completely hassle free and seamless. But what made the trip was our wonderful guide Volkan who guided us every step of the way. He was a superb professional, immensely knowledgeable and helpful, thoughtfully managing every part of our tour. He filled us in on all of the amazing history of the region and made it all fascinatingly accessible to us. He finely balanced his guiding, warmth and support with giving us time to explore and spend time to ourselves. I’ve travelled extensively and this was my best holiday ever. We loved it and were very sad for it to end. I couldn’t recommend it more.

Leo was a very good guide. He was most helpful in getting to and from the various sites. He was knowledgeable and patient with us. The food tours and the guides were also excellent

Scotland is stunningly beautiful. We especially loved Oban and the standing stones of Kilmartin. Neil and Emily were excellent to work with.

Hotel Reviews

Eden Locke

Edinburgh

Eden Locke in Edinburgh was the perfect place to stay. The little apartment was fantastic, and it served as a great base for exploring the city. We loved visiting the castle, walking around the Royal Mile, and even catching the marathon. There were also some sweet little spots off the beaten path that we enjoyed discovering. Overall, it was one of our better trips, largely thanks to Eden Locke.

Location

3 Oban Self catering Apartment with seaview

Oban

Staying at the 3 Oban Self Catering Apartment was a bit different, but fun. It felt like an Airbnb and was fine for what it was. We did have to deal with a lot of steps up to the door, but it was enjoyable to be in a shared living space with the other couple we travelled with. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was comfortable and suited our needs for the stay.

The g Hotel & Spa

Galway

The g Hotel & Spa in Galway was a fantastic place to stay. The rooms were great, and the staff was kind and accommodating. It had a nice boutique feel while still offering top-notch amenities. Overall, it was a very nice experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Galway.

Activity Reviews

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher were absolutely breathtaking. The visitor center provided a lot of interesting information about the cliffs and the surrounding area. The views were stunning, and it was a must-see on our trip. I loved every moment of it and would visit again in a heartbeat.

Dingle Distillery Tour

Ireland

The Dingle Distillery Tour was a fantastic experience. The distillery has been around for 50 years, and our tour guide did an excellent job explaining the history and the distillation process. I loved learning about the craft of Irish whiskey-making and even ended up buying some whiskey to take home. Highly recommended!

This was our fourth Kim Kim trip. They did a fantastic job as they always do in Vienna and Bratislava. Morjca, our guide in Vienna , was everything we hoped for. She was extremely knowledgeable and experienced and showed us what we wanted to see. Milan , our guide in Bratislava, was outstanding and gave us a memorable two hours.

We had the most amazing time in Egypt. Ibrahim was able to build a package to suit our itinerary perfectly. We were taken care of by a company called Egypt Promotions. Our guides throughout were fabulous, especially Mohamed for our last two days in Cairo. The drivers and attendants were also faultless. The 4 day boat trip on the Nile was spectacular with all the staff making it so good. We have learned so much in our week and plan to read up some more to better our comprehension of the history of the ancient kings and gods of Egypt.
The only negative comment would be the hotel we stayed in Cairo - Helnan Dreamland - not the accommodation but the staff, especially at the restaurant, who were less than attentive making us get up ourselves to request service and at one time we waited 40 minutes for a bottle of wine because there was no corkscrew to be found. Twice we had restaurant staff knocking at our door at night because they had made mistakes on the bill. We then made a deliberate effort to finalize the account the night before checkout (as we had an early morning pick up) only to be confronted with extra charges, but as we tried to explain we were simply told we could not check out until it was settled and they brought in the heavy weight to make sure we understood!!! I would never recommend this hotel to anyone.