Kimkim Trip Reviews

We booked with original travels through kimkim and had a great time. Our specialist was Said and our Driver was Lahcen. We had Hinan as our food and history tour guide in Marrakech. Badr was our local guide in Skoura (not sure if he works for original travels). Youssef and Mustafa took great care of us at Tiziri Camp in Merzouga. IT ended in Fez with out guide Sharief.

The guides were all amazing and friendly. They tolerated my constant questions and inquiries. We had a great time bonding with them, learning about the culture, country, music, food, daily life, education, careers, Berber culture, language.

All of the guides did their best to accommodate me with my gluten allergy. The car was comfortable and spacious/clean. Our Driver took great care to follow the law and rules when it came to driving, safety and seat belts. He also did his best to communicate any needs/changes and requests and make the appropriate arrangements while we were on excursions. He was easily available by whatsapp and so was Siad. Our driver was available to us anytime if we needed to get a ride somewhere though we were so well taken care of, we did not end up needing to utilize this privilege. Lahcen also made plenty of spots for pictures along our long drives. He was aware of all the drives, routes, alternate options and restaurants/bathrooms/picture spots along the way. He also made sure to only stop at reputable looking clean places for restroom and snack breaks.

Getting our food tour on the first day of our trip really set us up for success because food is a big part of life so we knew what we wanted to ask for when we would eat and what I would specifically need to avoid due to my allergy. It was nice to get a background.

When I first contacted them about my requests for a tour, they were able to modify the trip to our likes/dislikes and needs.

If I were to give a suggestion to future guests and redoing this specific tour, I would recommend not to spend more than a few hours in Casablanca (definitely visit the Hassan II mosque and go on their tour). I would not spend time in Fes except to visit the tannery and ceramics workshop so maybe I would stay for one day and night but if you don't care for it then I would cut out Fes. I would spend majority of my time in South Morocco which encompasses Marrakech, the desert, Skoura and surrounding areas. Rabat was a capital city like every other city in the world. It is definitely beautiful and gave us Los Angeles feels with the beach.

All in all, we would love to go back to Morocco and use this company again.

Hotel Reviews

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

My favorite hotel in the entire trip because it was so personalized. It was small and intimate, romantic. Had avilability of all amenities. We did not use the pool or spa but love the garden and room. The room was beautiful and spacious. the tub in the bathroom drained too slow so water would stay stagnant while showering. The chef and food was so amazing. They accomadated my gluten free allergy and made me moroccan breads that were gluten free so I could experience true moroccan cuisine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

It is literally a palace! The garden is breathtaking! Good amenities and quality. The staff is very friendly. It is located right in the medina. The walk up to it was cool because it looks like you are lost in a tight labyrinth until you suddenly face the large door and walk in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Love love love! Do not skip this experience. The people make this camp. They are so kind, and hard working and they do everything in their power to make your stay comfortable. Remember it gets realllly cold at night. Your excursion from here to the nomads, camel rides, atv, berber village, garden, music performance at another tribe, nighttime music and "hangout" by the fire are all worth it. Remember it is a desert and they try their best to be eco friendly so you will have to be mindful not to be wasteful. You can charge your phone and small electronics and use them but NOT a hair dryer. Bring shoes that area easy to clean after being out in the sand and avoid walking on the carpets with them. Some people break up their night stay and do 1 - 2 nights in the tent and another night or two at the hotel nearby to be able to get their regular comforts and thorough showers in, use a hair dryer etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe Hotel

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

A variety of tasting. Go hungry! She knows a lot about the foods

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All of our guides were very friendly, accommodating and went above and beyond in helping Paula Olsen, who had leg issues from breaking her leg 9 weeks ago. They went above and beyond for me also. Enjoyed all the excursions and enjoyed the lunches also. Amazing experiences that couldn’t have been Better!

Loved the authenticity of Coban.
Semuc Champey was great but we would have liked more warning/info about what the "water cave" experience was going to involve. This was complicated by the fact that the guide's English was inadequate.
Flores was lovely.
LOVED Yaxha - Guide Oliveiro was superb. Tikal also great.
Really enjoyed Rio Dulce, the hotel we stayed at (Tixal?) and the whole river experience. Livingston was very interesting. Great guide too - Fernando.
Best was the hot springs!! Great experience!
Chichicastanango was absolutely fantastic - the market! and the cemetary.
Lake Atitlan was beautiful. We loved the kayaking & hiking experience. The towns we visited were tourist-y (San Juan, San Pedro, Santiago) but the things we visited (chocolate factory, weaving cooperative, shaman house) were really! interesting.
We really, really enjoyed this trip - it exceeded our expectations.

I would like to thank Franck for helping us plan a magical trip to New Zealand! Going to NZ is like going back in time. The country is beautiful and so clean, the people genuinely friendly and the food and wine delicious. We absolutely loved the places where we stayed and overall the tours we took were great. We travelled from Auckland to Queenstown and in each place had wonderful experiences. Highlights included: wine touring on Waiheke Island, nighttime kayaking to see glowworms and exploring the Waimangu Volcanic Valley in Rotorua, boat tour to Apawapa blue pearl farm, whale watching in Kaikōura, staying in the remote and very private Scrubby Bay at Annadale, 2 different 4WD tours one with Micheal on “The Road to Mesopotamia and Christine on the Cass Valley Backcountry Tour, our fabulous stay at Azure in Queenstown and finally our private wine tour with Kate from BlackZNQ.
There were a couple of things that stopped me from giving this trip a 5 star. Franck, overall, did a wonderful job organizing the trip but we found his Travel Book somewhat confusing and sometimes lacking in detail. One situation in particular we ran into difficulty when flying from Rotoura to Blenheim. We did not have detailed flight information and when we showed up at airport we found our flight had been delayed and we were not on the flight we expected. If it wasn’t for the amazing Air New Zealand staff we would have lost a whole day of travel. As well, I was disappointed with our Marlborough wine tour. We were happy Franck had arranged a private guide but unfortunately the guide knew nothing about wine and the vineyards we visited for tastings gave little information about region or wines. I would recommend asking for an experienced guide with in-depth knowledge of wine and region and request to talk with the guide to plan the day. Luckily we had very knowledgeable guides for our other 2 wine tours but it still would have been helpful to discuss expectations before hand. We loved our trip to New Zealand and appreciated the service KimKim provides!

Hotel Reviews

Lakestone Lodge

Lake Pukaki

The Lakestone Lodge is a great place to stay if wanting to explore Mount Cook but not stay in the village. The lodge had great service and the staff were friendly and helpful. The lodge is situated at one end of Lake Pukaki and looks up towards Mount Cook. We arrived late in afternoon on a gloomy day. Following a delicious dinner the weather had cleared so we climbed up the hill behind lodge. The panoramic view was spectacular but Mount Cook remained hidden. After sleeping in a clean, comfortable but smaller sized room with a private outdoor sitting area we awoke to a spectacular view of Mount Cook. It was a perfect sunny day without a cloud in the sky and this view was memorable. I will never forget the stunning blue of the lake and the distant snow peaked Mount Cook. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

Azur Lodge

Queenstown

This place is amazing. The staff were so professional, friendly and helpful. We enjoyed the delicious breakfasts and canapés with cocktails and appreciated the shuttle to and from the Azure. Thanks for the great stay!

Authenticity & Character

The private villa had amazing views of the mountains, was beautifully decorated with natural woods and neutral luxurious fabrics and colours.

Location

This was a secluded enclave of a number of private villas outside of Queenstown.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful. Special thanks to Linda for the excellent restaurant recommendations!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vicarage Geraldine

Geraldine

We enjoyed staying at the Vicarage, Geraldine. We stayed here one night on route to Queenstown and found it clean and comfortable and located right in heart of Geraldine.

Annandale

Pigeon Bay

Wow, this place is exceptional! From the personalized thrilling cliff hugging drive to the secluded private bay with Caroline leading the way, to the beautiful, fully stocked home with floor to ceiling windows across the front, to the gourmet meals provided daily by the chef, this place exceeded all our expectations. The food was abundant and delicious, the hot tub spa provided a fabulous place to star gaze and soak sore muscles after climbing the cliffs on both sides of the bay. We loved our stay at Scrubby Bay, Annadale and can’t wait to plan our next visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses

Kaikoura

It was a pleasure to stay in this unique hotel. Loved everything about it. Only wish our stay was longer

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Marlborough Boutique Hotel and Vineyard

Marlborough

We loved this hotel! The property is spectacular and staying there feels like you have gone back in time. We loved our room, it was spacious, beautifully decorated and filled with extra goodies, the delicious breakfasts we had each morning and the creative canapés and cocktails we had each evening were memorable. The heated pool area was a favourite place to drink wine, swim and enjoy the summer weather at the end of our busy days. All the staff were friendly and helpful but want to give a special thank you to Chris for her outstanding service. We can’t wait to return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel

Rotorua

The Black Swan was lovely, clean and comfortable. We enjoyed wine and cheese by the pool and the breakfast was good. We also enjoyed our dinner in the restaurant. We were disappointed the morning we had to leave early when we understood breakfast was served from 7 and no one was there. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would recommend this hotel.

Park Hyatt Auckland

1010

Location fantastic, rooms clean and beautiful with great amenities and breakfast fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whale Watch Kaikoura by boat

Kaikōura

The VIP Captain Cabin feature was well worth it! The spacious comfortable seating, the top level viewing deck and the friendly and knowledgeable staff made the experience of viewing the male sperm whales memorable!

National Hatchery

Rotorua

It was very educational to learn about the endangered kiwis and how NZ and volunteers are making a remarkable difference in their survival! Well done!

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

Such a memorable experience. Imagine paddling along in a tandem kayak with your husband on a star lit warm night. Then imagine gliding into small caves with glowing worms on the sides and ceiling. Magical!

Waiheke Wine tour exclusive

New Zealand

We loved the island, our guide and learning about the wine produced on this paradise!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ahi Restaurant - 4 snacks and 4 courses

Auckland

The creative menu and variety of unique foods was memorable. We enjoyed meeting Christian one of the owners of restaurant and particularly appreciated when he realized one of our party was not eating much and brought her a lamb dinner which she loved! Thanks so much for the exciting journey through NZ foods.

Our trip was terrific and exceeded our expectations. With the itinerary that was created for us, we saw many different areas of the country. What we hope to have, on a trip like this, is a wide variety of activities and experiences. This trip delivered. We were in cities and villages; we saw nightlife and wildlife; we were on lakes, in mountains and in jungles; we hiked, walked, swam, motor-boated and kayaked ; we visited wide open plazas and packed markets; we explored centuries-old pyramids and temples and modern churches; we learned ancient customs and current practices. Our local guides, lined up by Eduardo, were knowledgeable, personable and flexible. And the people of Guatemala were friendly and welcoming. Definitely a great trip overall.

This was the best service I have ever received for trip planning and follow thru. Tom Christer did a wonderful job in helping us plan a great itinerary, and then keeping up with this during our trip. We couldn't have asked for better service and we have been referring our friends to your company.
Thanks, again to Tom.

Activity Review

Full Day Ice Dome visit with Activities and Dinner

Tromsø

This was a fabulous day. Everyone was very friendly and extremely helpful

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow! New Zealand is BEAUTIFUL!

I am so glad we planned our honeymoon with Kimkim because I guarantee we would not have experienced as much as we did without it. Our itinerary was very well thought out by Carly, making sure that we did not drive too much on any particular day and getting to experience so many of New Zealand's beautiful towns. Each town had it's own unique attractions and the drives between them had stunning views!

Some of our favorite places/activities were the Mount Cook region, where you are surrounded by majestic mountains, and the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. Waking up in the Doubtful Sound with dolphins swimming next to the ship was truly magical! Getting to learn more about the Maori culture everywhere we went was another highlight that I will remember forever.

Thank you for everything!!

We had blast. Our tour guy for first few days was amazing. Mr. Betty taught some much in the small amount of time we had with him. Drivers were nice and helpful as well. Phuket was an amazing escape from the city of Bangkok. That’s not to say Bangkok wasn’t, but both places had a beauty to them that’s hard to describe. You just have to see for yourself. We loved the activities that were planned for us. For my first trip out the country since I was 15, it was nice experience. Thank you so much.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Bangkok City Tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scuba diving around Phuket!

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was perfect! I cannot remember the guides names, but everything from our hotels to our tours, etc. were wonderful. The trip was well-planned by the KimKim team!

We have always planned trips ourselves, however this trip we decided to use KimKim for our trip to Argentina and we could not have been more pleased.

The execution was completely flawless as we went from Buenos Aires to El Chalten and to El Calafate. Ana designed the trip based on our likes and everything was better than we could have expected. Our drivers were fantastic, always on time and ready to go and our guides were a 10 out of 10.

In Buenos Aires, Enrique showed us around the city with great detail and patience, while Aime showed us a fantastic time at the Estancia excursion. On the next leg of the trip, Monica met us in El Calafate to transfer us to El Chalten which was a highlight of our trip. Our hiking guide, Virginia, took us on a 9hr hike to the summit to view Fitz Roy and it was special. Virginia was informative, patient, fun to connect with and made our experience very special. On day 2 we did the rafting experience which, again, was fun and flawless. Next we ventured down to El Calafate where we visited Estancia Christina which was another unforgettable experience in remote Patagonia. Next, Vanessa met us and took us into Glacier National
Park for an unforgettable experience. After hiking the glacier, Vanessa spent the next 3 hours walking us along the walkways of the glacier and educated us on everything about the culture, the park, and the glacier.

In summation, all of our guides truly loved what they did and they took the time to share what they knew with us which made the experience that much better. Ana and the team from KimKim did an unbelievable job creating an itinerary that was perfect for us and delivered on everything from flights, transfers, guides, hotels, and overall execution. I’m not sure we have ever traveled and had everything go perfectly according to plan……until now! Thanks Ana and KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Mirador del Lago

El Calafate

Beautiful accommodations at the far end of the main town. Wonderful staff, and very nice rooms. Breakfast included each morning to get you ready for your day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CasaSur Palermo Hotel

Buenos Aires

Really nice location in Palermo away from the business of the city. Plenty of restaurants and cafes in the area. The staff was all very nice, professional, and accommodating. We left something in the room and the team notified us immediately to let us know. Very happy with this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

If you want to be just on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle of the city then this is a great location. Just a short cab ride to all places.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hosteria Senderos

El Chalten

Very nice hotel at the beginning of town. It’s a small mountain town so no frills but we weee very happy with our accommodations. Each morning they had a nice breakfast to get you ready for your adventurous day. The staff was all very helpful and nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rafting in Rio de Las Vueltas

El Chaltén

What a fun experience. It was just hard enough to make it interesting and fun yet eat enough for all levels to enjoy as we have never crafted before. Our guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and made us all feel part of a team as we made our way down the River.

Quality of Experience

Great guides, beautiful views.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and thorough on safety and made it fun.

Transport

Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

An absolute must experience! Words can’t describe the views and experience of hiking on the glacier. Our guide, Vanessa, met us at the hotel and took us into Glacier National Park for an experience of a lifetime. After the mini-trek hike on the glacier she then spent another couple of hours taking us along the walkways to view the glacier from a different view. All the while always patient and taking the time to educate us on the glacier and its’ history.

Quality of Experience

Words can’t describe this experience! Unbelievable!

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable and took time to educate us and help us with pictures and any assistance we needed.

Transport

Estancia Cristina Discovery

El Calafate

What a cool experience. You travel a couple of hours out on Lake Argentina to a remote ranch where guides take you to the top to view the Upsala Glacier field. Once back down to the estancia you enjoy a great meal and museum tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Really good authentic cuisine and wine

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gustavo was excellent and you could tell he loved what he was doing

Transport

Very knowledgeable and cautious as the 4x4 trek is on bumpy roads

Laguna de los Tres Trek

El Chaltén

What a fantastic hike, however make sure you are prepared for a 9hr, 12.5 mile hike which will test you. This was our favorite excursion of our vacation. After approximately 4-5 hours you new h the summit and are treated to an unbelievable view of Fitz Roy and all of the accompanying scenery including beautiful teal colored lakes Our guide, Virginia, made our experience by observing the pace that made us feel most comfortable and never made us feel like we needed to move faster or slower. She explained all of the history of the different trails and mountains as well as the culture. It was easily our most memorable experience!

Quality of Experience

Great vistas!

Food

The pre-packed meal was very good with plenty of nutrition for the hike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Virginia, our guide, was awesome!

Transport

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

A must experience if you visit Buenos Aires! Great meal and fantastic cultural experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Estancia Gaucho Day

Buenos Aires

Our guide, Aime, was fantastic! What a fun experience seeing an estancia with a great meal, horseback ride (easy), and cultural dance show after lunch. Well worth it!

Quality of Experience

Our guide, Aime, was great!

Food

Empanadas, salad and all meats were great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

Our guide, Enrique, was fantastic and took us around San Telmo, La Boca and other interesting areas of Buenos Aires. He was very informative, took us to a local Choripan restaurant and made our experience fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Enrique was great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eduardo was fantastic!

Transport

Always on time and no delays

I’ve been all over the world, but I found Patagonia to have its own special and unique beauty that sets it apart from other destinations (New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Alaska, etc.) Highlight for me was setting foot on Cape Horn after being welcomed by a stunning sunrise and spectacular double rainbow before boarding our Zodiacs. The Australis cruise was phenomenal in every way, especially the crew’s service ethic and organization. Transfers and tours departed right on time. Quality of the guides was mixed, but overall satisfactory. Other personal highlights were the lamb at Jau Restaurant in Natales and my stay at Singular Patagonia— most unique place I’ve ever hung my hat with an exceptional staff. Grand finale was Pepito Moreno— best day of all! The Chilhoe Island tour was the only one I did not care for— too much driving, too little time out of the bus. Also unreasonably long- pick up 8am return to hotel 9pm. Overall, I’m very pleased with my journey and Lorena’s great work in making it happen. Also enjoyed meeting and getting to know Juan on the transfer from Natales to Arenas.

Hotel Reviews

Australis Cruise Ship

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Staff

We all received personal escorts to our cabins upon check in. The staff was fun, upbeat and very well organized. The excursion briefings were thorough and excellent. Felt very safe getting on and off Zodiacs because of the way the crew prepped and assisted us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nightly turndown service was a great unexpected touch! Loved the giant picture windows in the cabins!

Radisson Hotel Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

My stay was replete with issues… no towels for 2 days, had to call and request, reception let phone ring off hook. TV volume did not work, 4 different people tried to fix but couldn’t. Electric outlets in room didn’t work. When I reported these problems, the staff at reception were a bit rude to me. They need more customer service training— very mediocre — except for Jose Alfredo— who was kind and ultimately changed my room. I will say the location was very good, as was breakfast selection.

Authenticity & Character

Location

On lakefront

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Most unique property I’ve ever stayed at. Lots of history, excellent cuisine and a super exceptional staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Omar, Ivan, Daniel, Kelly, Angelo, christian

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Perito Moreno Glacier Tour

Argentina

Best scenery of the entire trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Tierra del Fuego National Park

Ushuaia

I found the scenery to be underwhelming here compared to the rest of Patagonia. The End of World train ride was a joke— total waste of time, would not recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jose the guide was very mediocre

Transport

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ana was the best guide on the whole two week trip

Transport

Excursion to Chiloé Island: Castro & Dalcahue

Puerto Varas

Tour was way too long— -13 hours! Pick up 8am drop off 9pm. I found the stops underwhelming and there was too much driving involved.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a amazing second trip to Costa Rica thanks to Olman! Again, he was extremely helpful setting up just the right mix of adventure, culture and relaxation. All of our accommodations and activities were prearranged adding to the ease and enjoyment of this trip. The plan was to experience and explore the wonderful and unique culture of Costa Rica as we self-drove through the country. We were able to enjoy a Local Flavors Cooking Class where we were taught how to prepare a traditional chicken and rice lunch, complete with ceviche and corn tortillas. Additionally, we were able to participate in the making of homemade Chocolate and Coffee; observe the harvesting of Sugar Cane; explore the Nauyaca Waterfall; and enjoy a vast array of local dishes. The people of Costa Rica are most gracious and welcoming. We always felt right at home; so much so that there may be a third trip in the future. Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

Azura Beach Resort - All Inclusive - Adults Only

Samara

Authenticity & Character

This resort offered everything as advertised - truly an all inclusive. With five restaurants and four bars - all meals, snacks and libations were easily accessible.

Location

Located steps away from Playa Samara, the Azura offers a host of beach and ocean activities. The resort is very quiet. And for those looking for more activity, the town of Samara is only a 5 minute drive away or a 30 minute walk along the beach.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms and property were well kept. Given the open air design, it is not uncommon to find a leaf or two blowing through the hallways or floating in the pool.

Lomas del Volcán

Fortuna

Hotel Lomas del Volcan is an amazing property nestled in the tropical rainforest at the base of the Arenal Volcano. The luxury bungalows provide a unique lodging experience where you can enjoy nature from your room.

Authenticity & Character

The luxury bungalows afford you the opportunity to experience local architecture in a tropical rain forest situated at the base of the Arenal Volcano.

Location

The views from your bungalow are spectacular. Secluded or social, you decide. Hotel Lomas del Volcan provides them both.

Staff

The staff was authentic and always willing to help you out with the local language.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The facilities, rooms and property were kept very clean. The bungalows come with all the amenities of home.

Parador Nature Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

Far and away the Parador is our favorite place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

The facilities boast a elegant European influence, yet sport a warm tropical touch giving it an old world feel with all of the modern day amenities.

Location

Located high above the Pacific Ocean on a quiet tropical peninsula, the Parador offers a host of activities to enjoy. Swimming, sunning, nature walks, exploring farmers markets and going to the beach.

Staff

The Parador's staff are extremely personable, professional and efficient. No detail goes unnoticed. They are the best staff we have experience in Costa Rica.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Parado is pristine. Nothing is ever out of place, be it the dinning areas, the pool areas, the general grounds or your room. They are always need and clean.

Activity Reviews

Samara Trails Nature Hike

Costa Rica

The Samara Trails tours allows you to experience nature in a remote portion of the Dry Tropical Forest located on an old family farm. Our guide Alex was extremely knowledgably and passionate about the habitat that he led us through. He showed us exotic plants, native fruit trees, colorful birds and even a hut home to several bats. Howler monkeys were all around us with their bark echoing through the forest. A very fun and informative tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Ecotermales Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

There is no better place to eat, drink, soak and relax than at Ecotermales Hot Springs. After a day of adventure, what better way to remove the aches and pains of the day. With six pools, ranging from 90 to 106 degrees (32 to 41 C), you are sure to find one to your liking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

A very fun, educational and delicious adventure. Our host Brian was extremely informative and entertaining. We had no idea of what it took to make a chocolate bar or a cup of coffee. Now we do. Thanks Brian.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Canyoning Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

The ultimate Costa Rican activity. Imagine jumping off of a platform 165 ft. (55 mtrs) above the canyon floor, with a waterfall raging along side you in a lush tropical setting with only a rope, a harness and a helmet; then this activity is for you! The guides are extremely skilled, helpful and safety conscious. They continually encourage you to take it to the limit for the ultimate experience.

Quality of Experience

We liked it so much last year, we came back this year for a second time.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Allen was our guide. He is incredibly good at his job and was always encouraging us to "let it rip". He is a great host.

Transport

Local Flavor Experience - Cooking Class

Manuel Antonio

What a fun day. Our guide Cesar did an amazing job. From immersing us in the culture of the farmer's market; to educating us on the Coast Rican use of vegetables, herbs and spices; to putting the finishing touches on our tortillas. He was a wealth of knowledge. If you want to experience the true taste of Costa Rica, this activity is for you.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have an absolutely incredible adventure!!! Suranga was an amazing driver and guide. I am a single mom and traveled from the US to Sri Lanka with my 4 year old daughter. I felt completely safe traveling with Suranga which was the most important to me, but besides that he was friendly, fun, knowledgeable and passionate about what he does!! Highly recommend!!
Kim Kim set is up with an incredible guide and I’m very thankful for that. As a mom with a young daughter I felt the itinerary was a bit ambitious on some days, but other than that it was wonderful!

Hotel Reviews

Koragaha Lodge

Tissamaharama

Location was amazing. Elephants on property two nights in a row but not a disturbance to guests. Food was really great and staff incredibly friendly!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lankavatara Ocean Retreat

Kalametiya

Loved this beach side hotel!! Right on the beach!! Fun, great food and restaurant and wonderful spa!! Even my young daughter got a 20 minute massage which was a fun experience for her!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mountain Heavens

Ella

Incredible views and friendly staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taru Villas Kandy

Kandy

Beautiful and clean hotel, maybe not the most kid friendly, so just to be mindful if you are traveling with young children.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kumbukgaha Villa

Sigiriya

Very nice place. I much appreciated our guide telling us to expect lizards in the room, because there were a couple!:) Good was good and the staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Leisure Day!

Sri Lanka

Absolutely beautiful beaches!!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sea Turtle Hatchery

Sri Lanka

Phenomenal!!! Once in a lifetime activity, not incredibly thankful our guide Suranga was willing to carry my daughter!!! It was late at night and my daughter was too tired to walk the distances this activity required and Suranga carried her so we could witness a sea turtle laying eggs! Incredible!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Safari at Yala National Park

Sri Lanka

Wonderful Safari!! There is so much diversity in this National Park!! Fun and exciting!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Village Tour at Hiriwadunna

Sri Lanka

Wonderful village tour!! The people were incredible, friendly, hospitable, kind and overall just wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

Beautiful history that came to life here!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Suranga has a ton of knowledge on the history and passionate about sharing it!

Transport

Afternoon Safari at Minneriya National Park (F)

Sri Lanka

So many elephants!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of tea plantation & factory

Sri Lanka

The tea factory was great!! It was just a little long for a 4 year old when doing all other activities that day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The plan was exactly what we wanted, and Kimkim took care of the parts that were the most overwhelming - booking domestic flights and hotels, arranging for people to meet us at airports, and arranging a few excursions. It was a great combination of being on an independent trip but still having someone to guide and support us. The scenery was fabulous throughout. Kristy was very responsive and helpful every time we reached out to her. We look forward to traveling with Kimkim again and have already recommended it to a few friends!

Activity Reviews

A Day of Adventure at Iguazu Falls: Exploring the Argentinian Side

Iguazú Falls

Unbelievably beautiful, awesome falls.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly to Ushuaia - Explore the City

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is a special place and there really are four seasons in a day! We enjoyed our short stay there very much.

Free day in Mendoza

Mendoza

The hotels in Mendoza were wonderful, the wine was fantastic and it was a very relaxing stay in the region.

Quality of Experience

Buenos Aires City Tour- Private

Buenos Aires

Our guide was very informative and flexible. Great way to see Buenos Aires!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tina was a fantastic help planning the trip. The coordination and organization was incredible. We effortlessly moved from one location and activity to the next in total comfort. The guides were very personable and truly invested in creating a memorable experience . I would recommend this service with zero reservations.

My wife and I had a great ten day trip in Guatemala. We told kimkim the kinds of things we were interested in and wanted to do (Antigua, hiking, shopping, markets, maybe a cooking class, Tikal, Lake Atitlan), and they put us in touch with Matt at Old Town Outfitters in Antigua, who helped us come up with an ideal itinerary, using local guides and drivers. We especially enjoyed our four days with guide Lucas, whose skill and knowledge and patience and joy of life and spirit of adventure captivated us. Matt was responsive to our questions and needs, and added a last-minute coffee tour that was one of the highlights. He choreographed all the details of the trip - transportation, local guides, plane tickets to Tikal, and lodging, and everything worked out perfectly. So much easier than trying to figure it all out ourselves!

Great trip in Argentina - the trip was well planned and each transfer was smooth without hiccup. Managed to visit all key attractions in Argentina.

Ecuador

The trip was excellent as we got to see both the old town and the new town of Quito. The country side of both the mountains and jungle gave us interesting perspectives of the culture. We enjoyed eating at the local places that our guide recommended.

And a special shout out to Ramona, our simian assistant who enjoyed taking free rides on our families shoulders.

Ruth was extremely helpful, mindful of local activities and our limitations. We had the best time.

I highly recommend KimKim and in particular Pedro if you are planning a trip to Portugal! The entire experience beginning with the initial planning to enjoying 10 days “on the ground” was exceptional. Portuguese love their country and that passion was evident in all the guides, drivers, walking tours, wine and port tastings we experienced.
I was nervous about planning a trip but doubts immediately disappeared when I began talking with Pedro. There’s nothing like talking to someone who lives in the country and has the knowledge and resources to make the best trip happen!
I will definitely use KimKim for our next trip.
Leslie Breaux