Kimkim Trip Reviews

We began our planning with Debra months prior to our trip and she was always helpful with information and flexible for our requests about the area and what was the most important places for us to visit.
Our hotel, Queen Victoria, was gorgeous and right next to the waterfront. The transportation from our ship to our hotel and to our different destinations was impeccable. We did have one problem with a lost credit card and they took care of that. Our guide to the cape and to the wine country, Christine was fabulous! We had a rainy day at the cape and honestly it made it more fun. The vineyards chosen for us to visit were first class. No one should miss Table Top Mountain. What a fantastic view. From there we went to Umkumbe Safari Camp and had a fabulous five days full of game drives where we saw all the big five. Again transportation was right on point. The staff at the camp were fun. The luxury tent accommodations were nice. All in all, you expect a great experience when you go that far and that is what we had!! First class.

Hotel Reviews

Umkumbe Bush Lodge

Sabie Park

The staff here are what make it. The game drives with Charne and our trackers were great and we saw all the big five! The food staff, reception staff and the food were also terrific. Abagail and Sharon were particularly wonderful. If it weren’t for the staff I would rate the accommodations at a four, as we had a toilet that ran even after they tried to fix it. Lighting in the tent was poor and we never could regulate the shower temperature. However, the beds were very comfortable, linens first rate and we even got hot water bottles in the bed at night!!

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic. Sundowner game drives and drinks as well as coffe in the bush perfect!

Location

Right next to Kruger National Park

Staff

They were all amazing!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were very comfortable and linens great.

Queen Victoria Hotel

Cape Town

Amazing hotel in a perfect location next to the waterfront dining and shopping center. Daily breakfast was more than you could ask for and gorgeous. But what made it was the staff. They were so friendly, helpful and professional. Loved this hotel and would recommend it to anyone.

Authenticity & Character

History and decor

Location

Next to the waterfront

Staff

All the reception and dining staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Final morning game drive & next stop

South Africa

We had not yet seen lions and hoped to see them on our last drive and voila - we did.

Quality of Experience

Best last drive.

Food

Lovely pancake breakfast on this morning.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Found the Lions. Knew right where they would emerge from the bush.

Transport

Another Day in the Kruger with 2 private game drives

South Africa

Another awesome day viewing lots of animals!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day in the Kruger Bush with Two Private Game Drives

South Africa

Fabulous game drives. We ended up seeing all the big five and the elusive Cheetah and Leopard. The animals were often within ten feet of us. Each day was different but you had the same ranger. Chantae was very interesting and a great ranger. She knew exactly where animals would pop out. The scenery was beautiful. It did rain on one drive but we still saw animals. Ponchos were provided.

Quality of Experience

Lots of animals and so close!!

Food

Coffee and pancakes in the bush.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great tracking

Transport

Loved the fact every seat was great.

Arrive at Your Lodge in Kruger & First Game Drive

South Africa

Lovely arrival and we were greeted by a drink and warm staff. We jumped right on the safari jeep and took off for gorgeous and peaceful scenery. Luckily we saw lots of animals and then had our sundowner drinks in a perfect setting.

Quality of Experience

Saw lots of animals. So different to see them in their environment.

Food

Loved the evening snacks and drinks.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good ranger. Charnae.

Transport

Lots these land rover safari jeeps. Blankets and panchos in case you need them and you can see perfectly from each seat.

Full-Day Wine Tour

South Africa

Napa Valley move over because the vineyards in Africa were fabulous. Our favorite was the Babylonstroen, but we liked the two others for professional knowledge of wine, staff and different wines paired with chocolates as well as the views. A day that should not be missed!

Quality of Experience

Variety of experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helpful and fun

Transport

Nice van

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

It was windy and pouring rain that day but we still had a fabulous time. Christine was great and the scenery perfect. Loved the funicular.

Quality of Experience

The scenery is beautiful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christine was knowledgeable and flexible- also picked out a great place for lunch.

Transport

Nice van

Dinner at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

This is obviously for tourists but so amazing we were blown away! The entertainment fabulous and the sixteen different food items were simply delicious! The decor beautiful and the staff terrific!

Quality of Experience

Just the whole very unique experience!

Food

Authentic and delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was totally mixed up but Kim Kim kept in touch with us to get us there and back.

Transport

Driver needs to know where he is going.

We had a wonderful time during our trip. The boutique hotels (and attached restaurants) were excellent. We particularly enjoyed our guides in Assisi (Ms. Cinzia) and Rome (Ms. Simona). Weather was perfect all week, except for one rainy afternoon in Gubbio. Italians were all very friendly during our trip. We enjoyed the food and wine during our trip. Your representatives were on-time and helpful.

We were disappointed in Arezzo as it was Sunday, as the shops were closed, and churches had morning mass. We did not make it to Cortona.

GPS was amazing, could not have driven the routes without it, although a few times, it directed us in one way city centers! It was also a little confusing on where to drop the car off at the Rome train station.

In retrospect, we should have stayed in Rome one additional day as there is so much to see.

Thank you again.

Activity Review

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Excellent Guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Slovenia/Croatia trip was so amazing and beyond our expectations! Nikola did an exceptional job in planning, orchestrating and following up on everything, start to finish. He listened attentively to the kind of trip we wanted and worked to make it all perfect! We especially appreciated the evening before check ins and availability 24/7! In Slovenia we had a car which was loads of fun for exploring and making it an adventure. The side trips in both Slovenia and Croatia were especially enjoyable: the beekeeper, Skocjan caves, truffle hunting, cycling tour, wine and food tour, Ston oyster experience, cooking dinner on a local farm. Accommodations were perfect and we especially loved the winery in Bale, hotel in Hvar. All in all ours was a great trip ! Than you, KimKim and Nikola for a truly remarkable memory!

Bruno did a fabulous job helping us design a perfect Croatia coastline itinerary — and was patient when we needed to make a few changes in the plan. He provided great suggestions on how to spend our limited time in the cities we visited, including restaurant suggestions. The places we stayed were just what we asked for. He arranged wonderful guides — Ana in Dubrovnik and Mia in Split — who were personable and knowledgeable…and knew just how much detail we could absorb. Bruno also arranged drivers to take us from city to city, with some stops along the way. He stayed in touch with us each and every day, and when we asked to change the pick-up times, he made it happen. We could not have asked for a more meticulous planner. Our trip was amazing, and much of the credit goes to Bruno’s guidance.

I was a skeptic in the beginning, but Holden nailed it. We had an amazing trip. Resorts and activities were exactly what I was looking for. Spent 5 days on the beach and 4 day in the rain forest. Both were spectacular. Can't say enough about Holden and his team of advisors. Never felt alone or confused. Serendipity Adventures was the local specialist that helped plan, organize, and manage our trip. Holden, Nancy, and Wilman were awesome! Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

I loved this place! It was quiet and easy to feel relaxed and comfortable. Close to all the activities. The views were so amazing. So many birds, animals and beautiful flowers right outside my door.

Authenticity & Character

Hidden away from the business of the cities. Felt like I was in paradise.

Location

So easy to come and go. Parked right outside my room. The drive from Libera was incredible, so much fun.

Staff

Everyone was super nice and took pride in there work and the resort.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean and well maintained resort.

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Everyone was so helpful and friendly. Super clean and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful beach and secluded rooms.

Location

Close to the airport, but never felt busy or full of people.

Staff

Super helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and well maintained property. Good food and drink selection on property.

Activity Reviews

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a great activity. The views were exceptional. The staff was great and full of fun and information.

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

It was a great introduction to the area. Our guide was great.

Introduction to La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

Costa Rica

Tropical Sunset Sailing Adventure

Costa Rica

We had a great time. The weather was just okay, but it was so nice to see the sites and swim in a private bay. Unfortunately no sunset to view that day. Crew was great, always there for questions and conversation.

We found the KimKim team to be well informed, quick to respond, sensitive to our needs and tolerant of our many questions! When there was a hiccup (one of our guides was told to meet us at the hotel and we were told a different meeting place, as well as one of our futures tours being cancelled at that same moment!), Jessica bent over backwards to get each problem resolved. The trip was well paced, we had great guides and our hotel location was fantastic! We would absolutely use them for travel in the future.

Hotel Review

Hotel Regina

Barcelona

Hotel Regina was very well located, clean, comfortable and the staff were friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Felt a little too comfortable to be European! (There was air conditioning.....)

Location

One block from a square that led to the Gothic Quarter, Shopping, Gaudi house.....

Staff

Helpful with suggestions of restaurants, directions, where to find things etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private El Born Walk with Flamenco & Tapas

Barcelona

Guide was great, El Born was lovely, tapas were yummy. Flamenco dancing was not too impressive though the venue was. Set in an old castle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had an increadible trip in Vietnam thanks to Hien and Realistic Asia. The planning and recommendations were excellent, and Hien went out of her way to adjust our itinerary until it was perfect. When were were travelling she checked in with us and helped us coordinate and change last minute details, it was so helpful to have a local contact who was so responsive and supportive. All the tour guides were amazing, and the hotels and cruises/ events booked were of a really high standard. Thank you Hien for a memorable and enjoyable anniversary trip to Vietnam. Would not hesitate to recommend you and your team.

Hotel Reviews

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silk Path Grand Hue

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Classic Ma May

Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Ms. Vy’s Cooking class - Holiday Master Class - Joint in tour

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Robert was wonderful, he was so patient with helping us plan our trip . He then supported us and was in constant contact with us every day for 2 weeks
Pero the local guide in Split and Antea in Dubrovnik were both very knowledgeable friendly and taught us a lot
We loved our trip and it was all thanks to Robert and all his planning and being there for us
Thank you

Just an amazing experience. The trek was well thought through and fit the level of skill and challenge I was hoping to get. Guide and Porter were, simply put, Professional,
Friendly, Respectful. We had some great laughs and pushed through some challenging spots as a team.

Excellent organization and help throughout my multi-city stopovers in Japan. Fei was in touch throughout my stay with daily updates. I will be in touch again soon for another memorable trip.

We had a wonderful time in Morocco celebrating my friend’s birthday. Ali did a wonderful job organizing and planning our trip. We hope to return. Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. Thank you!

Mathia did a wonderful job putting together an itinerary for our family. We had a fantastic vacation.
He was flexible and listened to our wishes. We wanted to incorporate some hikes and experience as much as possible the beautiful country .
Until a month before departure we were not sure how many travelers were going to be able to join and Mathia was flexible with booking the accommodations.
We did a 6 nights trip going from Stavanger , Bergen, Flam and Oslo. The hotels choices were great conveniently located short walking distance to the center.
The top 2 attractions of our trip were the hike to attain Pulpit Rock and our stay at Flam.
Thank you Mathia for an unforgettable trip.

Hotel Reviews

Heimen Hotel

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

I couldn't have chosen a better location arriving from the train. It was great so close 3 minutes walk! The hotel was very nice and just perfect. Breakfast was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is next door to the train. Wonderful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

I wish we had an extra night in Flam at the hotel! The hotel was beautiful with lots of area to sit and relax and enjoy the views. Breakfast was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Excellent location next to the train and beautiful view of the mountains and Fjords

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Stavanger City

Stavanger

Wonderful breakfast ! We arrived by bus from the airport and we were dropped just in front of the hotel. That was wonderful. Stavanger is a small city and the hotel was close to the center of the city.

Authenticity & Character

The decor in the lobby was nice and they had outdoor seating

Location

Close to the ferry

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit Stegastein Viewpoint

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was very fun

Transport

Short Hike with a Local in Bergen

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjord Cruise & Pulpit Rock Hike

Stavanger

We enjoyed a lot the hike. Arriving with the cruise and coming back with the bus was perfect. I am 60 years old so the hike was a good effort for me but so worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an incredible experiencing exploring Greece. We started our trip in Athens and rounded it up staying on the islands of Sifnos and Santorini. Every aspect about our trip was amazing from the accomadtions, activities, and transport. Ioannis made sure our trip was seamless and was easy to communicate with. He was very responsive when we needed assistance during our trip. We will be back to Greece to explore this beautiful country and it's various islands, mostly part to the wonderful trip we had using Kim Kim.

This is the 2nd trip that we've used KimKim and we had a great experience both times. Our travel agent Melanie was great; responsive, professional, perfect English and very upbeat and fun to work with. When she didn't have first hand experience of a location, she spoke with her colleagues and provided us with suggestions. The reason for a 4 start vs 5 star is more related to the virtual nature of planning a trip online vs in person. There are just some inherent challenges of not working live with someone, but that is not reflective of KimKim as a service or Melanie. As a busy, full time working person, it is a great solution and I plan to use for a 3rd time.

We had a great time! Kimkim and Chris you did great job with everything you planned and it went very well. All our hotels, tour guides and drivers were great. Thank you for such a great trip. This was the first time booking with Kimkim.com and it was a fantastic experience. Everything I asked for was planned. Our trip was 5 star all the way. We will definitely will book our next trip with Kimkim.com. Your pricing was way better than the company we usually book thru and did the exact same things and stayed in the exact same hotels for less money. We always had someone to contact if we needed them 24/7. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Kimkim.com and their contacts. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

So so convenient to airport just outside of the exit doors. The room was very nice and bathroom was spacious. It was also very quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Very nice.

Location

The best, just outside airport exit doors.

Staff

Very nice and quick to check you in.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean and good breakfast. The only negative thing was evening dining was too close to the outdoor smoking area, bad design for non-smokers.

Bill & Coo Mykonos

Mykonos

This place is amazing. Anything you want they deliver. The food was amazing. The staff was amazing. The room was amazing. The pool and views were amazing. You won’t be disappointed with staying here. Highly recommend Bill & Cooz

Authenticity & Character

Had lots of character.

Location

10 minute walk to downtown.

Staff

Amazing. Always near to accommodate your needs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless

Canaves Oia Suites Santorini

Santorini

The best location, views, spa, staff. Our room had a wonderful expansive view and so convenient to everything.

Authenticity & Character

It has that cave vibe, because part of it is inside a cave. Very unique and 5 star all the way. The breakfast patio is spectacular.

Location

Best location and right where taxi drop off is located.

Staff

Everyone was so willing to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless

Phaea Blue Palace

Agios Nikolaos

What a newly renovated hotel.! This place was amazing. You won’t be disappointed with this property, staff, spa and service. A must stay.

Authenticity & Character

Very hip vibe! Loved the decor.

Location

Great views and located on a hillside, but access to a private beach.

Staff

Everyone was great and always helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything spotless.

Grande Bretagne Hotel

Athens

This is a must stay hotel. Best views, service and beautiful hotel. Great location in Athens with lots of history. Loved our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Historical hotel, so beautiful

Location

Convenience and near great shopping.

Staff

Everyone was so willing to help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was so clean and neat!

Activity Reviews

Useful Information

Greece

I would recommend to do this trip private all the way. The only way to travel and get the best experience. We had a great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day-Trip to Delos Island

Mykonos

We had to do this with a group, not what we like to do. It was ok, but not worth the boat rides and wait times to get there and back.

Quality of Experience

It was ok.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very knowledgeable.

Transport

Too long wait time in boarding.

Historical Santorini Guided Tour

Santorini

This is a must SEE! Very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great and very knowledgeable.

Transport

Mercedes, great.

Private Knossos & Museum Tour

Greece

Very interesting.

Quality of Experience

A must see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Was great, very knowledgeable.

Transport

Mercedes, great.

Spa Day in Elounda

Elounda

What a great relaxing day. Massage was great.

Quality of Experience

Masseur was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Always willing to help.

Transport

Staff can take you where you want to go on property.

Private Cape Sounion Driving tour

Greece

Great afternoon, our driver made this tour great.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful views and drive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was very informative and accommodating.

Transport

Great Mercedes.

Private Flavors of Athens Tour

Athens

Great experience of local foods.

Quality of Experience

Nice to experience different foods and places.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Was great with getting away from some of the crowds.

Transport

Great!

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Was nice but very crowded. Glad we went early.

Quality of Experience

Very interesting, but too crowded.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were all great.

Transport

All the transport was Mercedes vehicle, which was very nice.

Local Transfer in Mykonos

Mykonos

Very easy with our private driver.

Quality of Experience

Everything we did was private.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was great and always on time.

Transport

Mercedes, great.

Kimkim put together an amazing 10-day trip for us to Portugal. It was my husband and me. It was our first time using Kimkim, and we were not disappointed. We stayed in Lisbon, Porto and Lagos, and Kimkim arranged tours in each location. We loved the hotels in Lisbon and Lagos, and every single tour was AMAZING (I was running out of cash from all of the tips ;) but it was cash well spent. We had a few little hiccups that come with traveling and were no fault of Kimkim. In those instances, Kimkim was quick to respond and help. With the convenience of the Internet, I have always planned my own trips of late, and was very reluctant to use an agency. I am very, very glad I did, as I could have planned the trip, but I don't think I could have had the "local touch" that Kimkim provided. We will definitely use them again for our next journey, and highly recommend their services.

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

We were in and out of this hotel quickly. Most people probably come in the night before an early morning flight (we did.). This would be a great hotel in which to spend more time - the room is modern and nice, there is a spa service, and the food was good. The breakfast starts at 4 am, which gives people with early morning flights time to eat before leaving. There is a shuttle that will take you to the airport, but if you don't mind a quick walk, you can also walk to the airport terminal (yes, it's that close). The breakfast here was excellent. We'd stay here again and highly recommend this hotel. The staff was very welcoming, and we enjoyed the "Lisbon" welcome cookies upon checkin.

Location

Super convenient for travelers with early morning flights.

Staff

They were friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Costa D'Oiro Ambiance Village

8600-544

Loved, loved, loved this hotel. It is super convenient to the beaches and walking trails of Lagos. We love to hike and specifically asked for a vacation experience that made this easy. There are so many walking trails near this hotel. The city center is about 15/20 minutes by foot. It's easy to get there and you see a lot of people walking/doing the same. We always felt very safe here and while walking anywhere. The hotel staff was kind and courteous, and this hotel has an AMAZING breakfast. We didn't come to sit by the pool, we did go there for several hours one afternoon. The bar service for the pool was efficient and quick, and the pool side food was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto Charming Hotel

Porto

I am not one to leave bad reviews but we did not enjoy this hotel. My husband and I were in the room. The room was very small and awkward. We could barely move throughout the room together. The closet was behind a curtain. The bathroom was tough to use. By this I mean when you leaned over to wash your face, your head hit the glass shelf over the sink. It was made more awkward because apparently many Portuguese hotels do not have bath clothes (small and square) but instead give you what at least an American would call an hand towel, and a large one at that. It's hard to wash your face with a hand towel, especially when you whack you head on the too-close shelf. For the breakfast, the food was very good and local, but the stated times were 8-10 am. Many times we had tours at 8:30, so we really needed the breakfast up and ready by 8 am. It was never fully ready until about 8:30 am, including the coffee. There was a very sweet lady setting up the breakfast, but it felt like she could have used some more help. Also, there was a sign that said coffee would be available pretty much all day, but it never was. (Coffee during breakfast was also an issue - it constantly ran out.). One day our room was not cleaned because the cleaning person didn't show up. Okay. Perhaps I am overacting, but we paid a lot for this room (including daily breakfast and a daily serviced room), we didn't feel this hotel delivered. Overall we didn't feel super welcome here - we felt like we were an inconvenience. Maybe it was just us - I noticed great reviews throughout the lobby. The only comment I can end with is I would not stay here again.

Alecrim ao Chiado

Lisbon

We loved this hotel! It is charming and in a good spot. It did get a little loud late at night as it's near a few clubs, but we slept right through it. The breakfast is amazing. I believe the hotel is part of a former palace, and it has some of the old exposed walls that come along with it. We had a suite and it was roomy and clean. The room included a Nepresso machine which was convenient. Our bathroom had a double sink and large shower. There was ample storage space. Check in was easy and everyone was super friendly. We would stay here again, and highly recommend it.

Authenticity & Character

It was old but had modern conveniences. We were comfortable and slept well.

Location

It was easy to walk everywhere.

Staff

Everyone was great and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean.

Activity Reviews

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Portugal

What a great tour to end our visit in Portugal with this adventure in the Algarve. This is more than a quick peek at the sunset. Our guide picked us up from our hotel in Lagos, and we made our way village by village over to Cape Saint Vincent, the most southeastern point in Europe. Because he grew up in this area, at each stop our guide gave insights into what made each little village special from his perspective. We ultimately made our way to Cape Saint Vincent where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, but this is not where we saw the sunset. Our guide timed it perfectly, and we went further to a very secluded spot and celebrated the setting of the sun. It was an amazing day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Nicholas was great. He was a local, and knew the cities and the coastline well. His ability to time the sunset viewing experience perfectly was admirable!

Transport

On time, vehicle suitable for the purpose.

Peneda-Gerês National Park Experience: Easy Hike & Cultural Experience

Porto

While all of our excursions in Portugal were awesome, this trip to Geres may have been our favorite. This park is simply gorgeous. We came to Portugal to get some hikes in, and that is exactly what we did on this full day tour. We had several challenging hikes throughout the day. The landscape was beautiful and at times rugged, but our guide made sure we always felt safe and were ready to keep going. The views from the day were incredible. The mid-day meal was exceptional - it was a lot of food. We enjoyed seeing the small village and learning about its history. We really liked how the tour company worked along with the community to help give back by letting us plant a seedling (oaks and chestnuts) that in the future would be replanted in the forest.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch at the restaurant was very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Antonio was a great guide. His knowledge of the area and the local village was great. I personally liked his playlist, and will always remember going through the Geres park listening to Guns-n-Roses.

Transport

On time, perfect vehicle for the terrain, which was rough but expected (this is NOT a complaint.).

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & Hiking Routes

Porto

For us a trip to Porto without going to the Douro Valley would have been incomplete. So we went to the Douro :) This day trip was extremely worthwhile. We were worried because the weather in Porto had turned wet and chilly. Everyone kept saying "The Douro Valley has its own microclimate - it could be raining or sunny." Everyone was right. It was sunny but windy. It's over an hour and a half drive to get where we were going, but wow, was every mile beautiful. The bends and turns each brought a different view. We had a great picnic with local wine and food, and enjoyed an informative tour of one vineyard. We saw a hawk and several falcons, plus a few other native birds -- we love seeing birds so this was a highlight for us. We stopped on the way back in Amarante and had a great (despite wet) walk around the town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Ria Lagos was excellent. He really made sure we had a good experience because the weather was tricky.

Transport

On time, very sufficient for the tour. Once in the Douro Valley, some of the roads to the winery were twisty and mountainous. An off-road vehicle was a must and this one was suited for its purpose.

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

We didn't have much time in Porto, and this three-hour tour gave us a great overview of the city. Our guide was born in Porto and knew the ins and outs of the city. He was clearly very proud of his city, and his enthusiasm was contagious. We covered a lot of ground, and Porto is a hilly city. We got a good workout!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Ricardo was awesome. We had another tour with the same tour company the next day, and everyone said Ricardo was the "Porto expert." We highly agreed!

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

This full day tour was incredible. Sintra was like walking into a fairy tale. We had a misty, cool day, and the castle decided it didn't want to be seen during our visit ;( but exploring the grounds was amazing. There was something at every turn. we loved seeing all of the different plants and trees, and hearing (and seeing a few) birds. We asked for options to hike during our tour of Portugal, and this spot didn't disappoint. We opted to hike to the top near the old Moorish fort. It's a good 45 minute hike pretty much straight up. Coming down was a good workout as well. Sintra is definitely a hilly adventure and well worth it.

Quality of Experience

Sintra is magical.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Jorge was excellent. He was born in Sintra and provided interesting memories from his childhood. He grew up roaming around the castle grounds, and really gave insights that made the tour very special.

Transport

On time, suitable for the experience, roomy and clean.

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

We enjoyed the Fado show. The singers were soulful with their songs. We had read in advance that one should not clap at Fado shows, but everyone in the audience did, so we did too. This Fado spot is in a lovely spot by the Cathedral of Se, and made for a charming walk to/from our hotel. The food was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

This three-hour private tour of Lisbon was awesome. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and we covered a lot of ground. He explained architecture, history, and so many other things. He hit all of the sites that we wanted to see, and provided introspective details that we clearly would not have gotten on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing. I'm pretty sure his name was Alec or Alex, and I included him in one of the photos.

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

What a great way to get to know Lisbon! We enjoyed this three-hour tour with our host Dani. We arrived in the morning, and took this group tour at 3 pm. There was less than 10 of us. It was the perfect way to 1) see the city 2) get a meal without having to think about it and 3) make some new friends.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was Dani and she was fabulous.

We had a terrific trip to Jordan and Egypt planned by Samir. The hotels were just what we wanted, the guides and drivers top notch. Samir anticipated exactly the trip we wanted and brought everything together. beautifully.

The only disappointment was the car in Jordan. It had some issues that should have been addressed before use. It also was fairly old and probably should be retired from a a trip of this caliber. That said, the driver - Amin - handled the challenges with grace and humor.

Another suggestion would be to remind clients of the need to secure an Egyptian visa themselves. I discovered this quite by accident a couple weeks before the trip.

Overall, we will continue to recommend KimKim and were very happy with Samir and Enjoy Jordan. Many, many thanks for a memorable visit.

Hotel Reviews

Helnan Dreamland Hotel & Conference Center

6th of October City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Laundry was delivered at 11 pm after we were asleep even though we didn't ask for immediate turnaround. Love the service but please be sensitive to the hour.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petra Moon Luxury Hotel

Petra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Steigenberger Achti - Luxor

luxor

Authenticity & Character

Absolutely loved the Middle Eastern restaurant

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Movenpick Dead Sea Spa & Resort

Sweimeh, Amman

Incredible location, team and spa!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

(South Egypt) LUXOR /East West Banks

Egypt

Same as the earlier Egypt comments. So nice to have John with us in both locations!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luxor Visit 2

Egypt

Same as the earlier Egypt comments. So nice to have John with us in both locations!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly From Cairo to Luxor

Egypt

A quick one hour flight

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo - Tour3 - Museum & Mosques

Egypt

See earlier review of our time in Egypt

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giza Pyramids Tour with Sakkara & Memphis

Egypt

Our entire trip to Egypt was perfect, largely because of our knowledgeable and sensitive guide, John. John is an Egyptologist who is incredible knowledgeable and passionate. He brough the history and monuments to life. He also carefully gauged how much time and info we wanted and did not tire us out or overdo it. This review applies to the entire trip in Egypt.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo Airport - Cairo (Transfer)

Egypt

So helpful to have someone help navigate this process.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wadi Rum (2-3 Hrs Jeep ride)

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meet & Assist - Queen Alia Airport

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car in Jordan was sub-par. Egypt vehicle was just fine. Would have been nice to have wi-fi in both

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

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We are particularly grateful to our guide, Aruna, for his professionalism and his kindness. By leading us on this journey, he helped us discover a magnificent and endearing country, making this experience a memorable one. A perfectly organized and easy stay with unique hotels.
Our best visits/activities: Dambulla cave temples. treks in nature, breathtaking landscapes, flying Ravana, cooking a curry in a village garden, train journey between Kandy and Ella, elephant orphanage, crossing paths with wild elephants in different places.

Hotel Reviews

Centara Ras Fushi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ginganga Lodge

Bope

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hide Ella

Ella

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kandyan Manor Homestay

Kandy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jetwing Lake

Dambulla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore the Dambulla Cave Temples

Sri Lanka

My experience booking through KimKim and with our local travel agency Original Travel in Morocco was fantastic!
Having no personal referral to KimKim OR Original Travel, I was admittedly nervous up to the day we arrived - what if the quality was not what we want? What if our driver smokes or our car doesn't have AC?

KimKim proved to be a very easy to use and highly valuable tool in our planning phase for this trip. I knew I didn't have the time to piece together our itinerary, book all the tours and lodging, etc. I went through multiple rounds of feedback via chat with Mohamed at Original Travel and 3-4 different itineraries before we landed on the one that had us super excited!

Original Travel showed time and again their immense dedication to service and ensuring we had a great time in Morocco. 2 weeks before the trip they had to rebook all of our reservations to shift them by 1-day. Then on the day we arrived we realized we had too much car travel in our itinerary and we significantly rearrange our plans. Said and Mohamed were super responsive and supportive, helping us to coordinate this change and they were able to do it allowing us to simply extend our stays at our already booked lodging, reserve NEW tours for us in different cities and rearrange scheduled walking tours. Honestly, I was SO pleased and a bit surprised that it worked out so well after an audible on the first day. We even DID have an issue with the car AC at one point - heading into Marrakech when the temps kicked up the AC in our car began to fail. Last 90min of that drive in were very uncomfortable. I said something to Said via WhatsApp chat (how we communicated the entire time) and he coordinated to have the AC fixed before the next time we used the car.

Then there is our driver, Mustapha. First I will say the service level of having a private driver from airport pickup to dropoff throughout our whole trip was off the charts! We felt very spoiled, and yet we recognized at numerous points in our trip just how magical it allowed things to be. It made everything SO easy and relaxing, whereas if we had to navigate ourselves it may have been very different. Wherever we needed him to be to pick us up, take us, wait for us while we shopped... he was there without a question. Mustapha was a superb driver and navigator... drove ALL over the country and into the depths of old cities without a single map reference. He knew places and people along the way. Served as a resource and guide for where to eat, or NOT to eat, where to buy certain goods and where NOT to buy. And he helped us learn about Moroccan culture in a way you only can by befriending a local. He was dependable, and friendly and by the end we were inviting him to come stay with us on a visit to the states. I cannot stress the value and pleasure we got from having Mustapha on our trip.

All in, i would do it again in a heartbeat. I would recommend using KimKim as a travel booking tool. And I would recommend Original Travel and all of our contacts there to any of my friends or family traveling to Morocco.

Hotel Reviews

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

This hotel was lovely. The staff were very kind and helpful both at the restaurant for breakfast and at the front desk. 3/5 stars for a couple reasons: - the place felt a bit rundown to me. Furniture and finishes were a little beat-up and the quality felt like it took a hit because of that. - the rooftop bar/restaurant was terrible! We ate there one night when we had had a long day and wanted the convenience. The prices were exceptionally high relative to the rest of our time at much better places, and the food was sub-par. It was the worst tagine I ate the entire trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location was close to the edge of the Medina, which allowed our driver to easily drop us off and pick us up. But it was a rather far walk from the central parts of the Medina where we wanted to spend our time and at times not the most pleasant

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux

Fès

Off the charts. One of the most beautiful accommodations I've ever stayed in. The Riad is an amazing display of all the Andalucian-influenced architecture and design of Northern Morocco. Honestly I thought the tile and wood and overall design of this hotel rivaled many of the historical sites we visited specifically to see this work. The courtyard where we dined for breakfast everyday was the most beautiful and peaceful place. We ate dinner at the restaurant one night and the food was delicious. Service in our room was precisely as you would want - multiple services per day but we didn't notice or encounter them in our room or even in the hallways once during our entire 3-night stay! We also used the spa, which was small - 1 practitioner working on the days we were there - but the facility was beautiful and the massage I had was one of the best I've EVER had. And the value of the spa treatments is incredible compared to what you would pay in the US.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

A super charming small hotel in Chaouen. We only stayed one night but the service at the desk was personal and super helpful. Our room had windows facing the inside light shaft of the building, so there wasn't a ton of natural light, but that design seems to be pretty typical in the Morocco old cities. The breakfast was AMAZING! We thought it was the best we had the whole trip. Rather than a buffet like other places, they brought everything out to our table fresh and hot and setup a beautiful spread!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Heart of the medina. Streets nearby were super touristy, but convenient for us for one night.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Our tour guide Hanan was incredible. She spent nearly 8hrs with us taking us through the Souk, showing us all the best stalls and making sure we got to see and buy what we wanted her. At one point I asked when she had to leave and she insisted she was staying with us to ensure we had seen everything we wanted to see and then she walked us all the way back to our riad. I would recommend her 100x over to anyone visiting Morocco.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanan was the BEST!

Transport

Mustapha drove us for a bit in the beginning outside the Medina.

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

One of the best Roman ruins outside of Rome that I've visited!! My wife taught me how to really enjoy this place - walking the town and orienting to the inside of the homes as though we were actually living there 2000 years ago. We really enjoyed this visit. We did not take a tour guide and so relied heavily on internet searches and the info from our Lonely Planet book. If I did it again, I would take a guide - of which there are many sitting at the front waiting to be hired.

Quality of Experience

Food

Amazing restaurant nearby with a beautiful backyard garden with peacocks and ducks and their babies walking all around.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Mustapha brought us here

Transport

Thank you Jane for arranging a very nice trip! We had a great time on the Emerald Isle.
Here's some thoughts/feedback:
- Transportation to and from the airport was on time both ways. The drivers were friendly and easy to find.
- The Maldron Hotel Shandon was in a great location. The breakfasts were good and beds comfortable.
- We did have a bit of a glitch getting to the train station on Tuesday morning. I had arranged a taxi from the hotel the night before, but they didn't show up in time due to rain. The hotel's general manager drove my dad and sisters to the train station - my daughter and I had a mad 1 mile dash through the rain to make the train in time. We really appreciated the general manager stepping in to help! The mad dash made for a good story once we dried out.
- The Cork City History Tour City Ramble was pretty good. Don't know that I'd recommend it again, although it did give us the lay of the land.
- We did have a night at Sin e listening to Irish music. This was a real highlight!
- We did go to St Anne's church and ring the bells. Another highlight.
- The Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin was a very nice place to stay, too. Comfortable and busy. Good breakfasts. It would have been a different experience to stay in a smaller place, but this worked well for us. The location was good!
- The Hidden Homes of Dublin was good! Ruth was very accommodating of my dad, making sure to stop in places where he could sit. We had a very nice cup of tea with her in a fancy tea shop! She gave us the lay of the land.
- The Literary Pub tour was a real highlight, too. Perfect! The actors were very entertaining - loved it!
- The EPIC Interactive Museum was a real highlight, too. We spent a lot of time in here. Every visitor to Dublin should stop here. We all learned a lot! Great museum.
- The Famine Ship was also another real highlight. Would recommend this one to everyone too. The guide provided us with a lot of history - and walking on the ship - below deck - really gave us a sense of what the journey across the Atlantic.
- Another highlight - the Irish Dancing & House Party. Real highlight, too! Wonderful to see the unusual instruments.
- Trinity Trails and Book of Kells Guided tour - this was a bit underwhelming. The guide was just ok. She walked us around Trinity's beautiful campus. Once we got into to see the Book of Kells, we were on our own. We were expecting a guided tour through the exhibits.
- For the Dublin Castle, we did pay for the guided tour instead of the self guided tour. I'd highly recommend the guided tour - EXCELLENT! - We saw the original Viking fortress walls and the Chapel Royal, which wasn't on the self-guided tour. We ended up spending a couple hours there.
- Didn't make it to St Patrick's Cathedral! A reason to return someday.
- Highly recommend Theresa, who took us on the Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour. Jameson was small and intimate. Guinness was like Disneyland. On the walk from Jameson to Guinness, Theresa provided all kinds of Irish history, a stop in John's Lane Church, and the oldest pub in Ireland ;). I loved the walk!

All in all, we had a wonderful time. Thank you, Jane, for setting all this up. I will definitively use kimkim again!!