Kimkim Trip Reviews

Michael and the Kim Kim group were amazing to work with. They shaped a wonderful itinerary for our group. We loved Bogotá and the great neighborhood they had us stay with a great tour guide who let us try all the local fruit. Medellín exceeded our expectations. We loved this city and our only regret was that we didn't adjust our itinerary and spend more time here. We had Andres for 3 days and he made us fall in love with the city. All the activities (white water rafting, touring Comuna 13 & the local coffee farm) were amazing. We also loved Tayrona and again we didn't have enough days in our trip to extend this portion, but it was beautiful. The hotel the group booked for us was wonderful. We ended the trip in Cartagena. Anther amazing city. I personally am not a fan of the heat, so fewer days here would have worked better in my itinerary, but that is just because of my personal preference. Again, we are so happy to have used Michael and the Kim Kim group and we would not have had such a great trip without them.

Activity Review

Cartagena Bike Tour

Cartagena

Not a good place to bike and received not a lot of city information. The Guides did their best to keep us safe, but I wouldn't have recommended this tour.

Quality of Experience

Have a walking tour instead with more details of the city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

More city information and interesting information

Transport

Not a good way to see the city

Our 2 week trip to Colombia was excellent and provided a nice variety of experiences. Our highlight was our guide Andres in and around Medellin. He was incredibly informative, kind and generally a pleasant person to be around. He made this part of our trip really amazing, from the city tour to our experience at a coffee farm.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kartaxa Cartagena

Cartagena

The hotel room was small and not comfortable. Our room received strong kitchen smells every morning from the restaurant below. Noise from guests in the central atrium was constant and disruptive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa Deco

Bogotá

The hotel was in an excellent location near area attractions. However, the rooms were a bit dated and the noise from the street was loud. Having ear plugs at this hotel is a must.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Campana Hotel Boutique

Medellín

We enjoyed the location, comfort and staff at this hotel. The rooms were very comfortable and the staff were some of the friendliest and helpful people on our trip. The short walk to restaurants in Poblado was a nice perk.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Very nice hotel in a beautiful location. The staff was attentive and helpful throughout our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bogota Highlights Tour

Bogotá

We had an excellent guide, were able to visit Monserrate without waiting in a long line, and tasted a variety of native fruits. It was a great way to begin our trip.

Medellín Day Tour

Medellín

Excellent trip with our guide Andres. We explored areas of the city that we would not have visited otherwise. The lunch was also excellent.

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

Despite not feeling well, I enjoyed the trip to these areas. Guatape was beautiful and I wish we had more time to explore this town.

Rafting on Río Calderas

Medellín

Highlight of the trip. Excellent guides and fun experience.

Cartagena Bike Tour

Cartagena

The trip felt dangerous due to cycling through traffic. It was hard to enjoy and learn about the city due to this.

Rosario Islands Day Trip

Cartagena

This day trip was a disappointment. The accommodations were very basic - we didn't even have access to towels to rent. There was no water to wash hands at the bathroom. The water and beach were also very dirty with plastics and prophylactics.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee-Culture Tour

Medellín

Wonderful guide and interesting experience to explore this natural farm.

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Interesting experience that we would not have done otherwise. Some of the tastiest food of our time in Cartagena.

Cartagena Dance Class

Cartagena

Very good instructor.

Here are some thoughts about our recent trip to Morocco -

A good vacation in Morocco begins with your driver/guide and Samir was the BEST! He was waiting for us at the airport when we arrived and was on call every minute until we departed. He was reliable (always on time) and a wonderful representative of Morocco. He told us about the country's history and culture and gave us his personal perspective, making it even more interesting. He is an amazing guy! We had some long days of driving - from Marrakesh to Essaouira to Casablanca to Fes to the desert to Boumaine Dades and back to Marrakesh - but they were wonderful. Morocco's topography and scenery are stunning and Samir's driving made us feel safe and in good hands. We laughed a lot and had some terrific discussions. Samir was the key ingredient to making our vacation a special one.

We started vacation planning with some general idea about where to go in Morocco but we needed lots of help. Emailing and texting with Ali was wonderful - he answered every question and gave us suggestions that we were better than the ones we had come up with. We even had a chat on WhatsApp. I can't believe how he transformed our original mixed-up plan into a smooth and well-organized journey.

One of the best things about going with a private driver is that you have control over timing - when to get started in the morning, when to stop, how long to stop, and flexibility about when to eat along the way. So much better than group tours we've been on. We had a chance to meet people during our two nights in the desert and at breakfast in our roads. Along the way, we had a nice encounter with a group of young girls at a pastry shop. Samir saw that they wanted to talk with us and made an impromptu introduction - it was lovely.

The riads! We loved them. They are generally small with around 10 rooms - ideal for the two of us, with no large tour groups to contend with. Breakfasts were abundant and delicious! The riads were utterly charming. Loved the style, staff, and beauty of the riads.

There is so much more to say but simply said Morocco was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure! We couldn't have asked for more. One thing for sure - we will use KimKim again. The match they made for us with Original Travel in Morocco was perfect. Now we know we can trust their referrals and relax when we plan our next trip. It was sooooo easy. Here's to many more once-in-a-lifetime adventures.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

This was my favorite riad because of the great food!!!! Dinner was a complete surprise - gourmet cooking in the middle of the Dades! The food was traditional but with a contemporary flare that made it amazing. I'd give the chef a 5-star rating!!! Even more for his ingenuity :) The style of the riad is interesting - it retains its authenticity but has a flare with modern elements. The terrace and the pool!!!! Beautiful in the setting of the mountains and greenery of the valley!!! The entry to the riad is simple, giving no hint of what is to come. The welcome of lemon tea was a lovely surprise...an elegant switch from the mint tea. I LOVE DAR RIHANA!!!

Authenticity & Character

Great blend of old and new.

Location

So close to the glades! Perfect for hiking or just roaming around.

Staff

Abdul and his brother seem to do everything with ease yet pay attention to every detail. Abdul handles the front desk, and serves the meals. His brother is the chef and he works with a young woman in the kitchen. They are all incredibly modest. I had to congratulate the chef and his assistant directly and peeked into the kitchen and saw that it scrupulously maintained.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Absolutely perfect!

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

This large riad is sumptuous! Its furnishings and design are beyond belief beautiful. You feel like royalty. The rooms are huge with charming details. Breakfasts are delicious and the dining room is lovely. Highly recommend staying at this elegant riad. It is a one-of-a-kind!

Authenticity & Character

The riad is the real thing. Makes you wonder what living there was like when it was a home.

Location

Staff

We were warmly welcomed when we entered for the first time. Staff were helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect!

Riad Chbanate

Essaouira

Our stay at Riad Chbanate was memorable - we would definitely stay there again!!! Its central location was great, making it easy to get around - down to the beach and for shopping. In contrast to the activity out of doors, the interior of the riad was calm and lovely. The rooms were very, very large with a swing in the center of the room (it was very comfortable :) The bathroom had a deep tub for soaking and was very separate from the bedroom. Breakfasts were huge and prepared to order. So delicious. We ate dinner in one evening and it was very romantic - roses, a wood-burning fireplace, candles, and excellent food. Loved this place!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Le Pèlerin

Marrakech

We loved Le Pelerin!!! This small riad is elegant and welcoming. Every detail is perfect. The style is a modern Moroccan with a sophisticated style. The staff were over-the-top great! I would highly recommend this riad to anyone. It is a sweet oasis in the chaos of Marrakesh. Breakfasts...terrific! Rooftop open for relaxing or a bite to eat. Finding the riad would be a challenge without the help of a driver/guide. Arrangements were made and the staff came to the main road and guided us back into the medina. Walking through the narrow alleyways was daunting for a first time Marrakesh visitor but the dark alley opened into a glowing gem of a riad. The surprise factor made it even more beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the way in which the old structure was maintained and enhanced by the contemporary updates.

Location

Being in the medina was a terrific advantage. Really liked the close yet remote location

Staff

I wish I could remember their names. Each and everyone was excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meticulously clean!!!

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

I would not recommend this hotel. There was a terrible smell in the hallway, our ac didn't work correctly, the teapot was broken, and the service in the rooftop restaurant was very slow (more than 45 minutes to get our order), and the pizza was terrible. On the good side, the breakfast and the morning staff were terrific.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Our review matches those of others - Tiziri Luxury Camp is AWSOME!!! The men who run the camp have perfected the art of welcoming new visitors and making them feel at home. The tents are wonderful - luxurious yet simple. It gets cold in the desert at night but the radiator and 20 lbs. of blankets kept us warm. The heating pads helped, too.

Authenticity & Character

The dunes may be ancient but the accommodations are modern. The guys taking care of us were cool and "authentic" whether dressed with a turban or just wearing jeans.

Location

The middle of the desert is precisely where you want to be :)

Staff

Cool guys who know how to laugh, joke, sing, dance, and take care of guests!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and well-tended grounds.

Activity Reviews

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Going into the desert is an amazing experience. The tents at Tizeri camp were beautiful, clean, and well-maintained. The desert experience was at the top of our list of adventures in Morocco.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

This is a must-do when in Morocco. We drove into a snow storm in Morocco's "little Switzerland" and we saw monkeys there. The Roman ruins in Volubilis are not to be missed!

Quality of Experience

Transport

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

This was a terrific experience. Being welcomed into a local family's house was an honor. After the family warmed up to us (and we to them), the visit was fun. We were joking and laughing. Couldn't have been better.

Quality of Experience

Food

The visit wasn't really about the food. It was about meeting a Moroccan family.

Transport

The son of the family picked us up and dropped us off.

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

We took the tour on a Friday and much of the medina was closed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Essaouira to Casablanca

Morocco

The scenery along the coast is interesting, however, it is flat, and little to see other than the ocean. It was good that about halfway through the trip our guide/driver took the highway. It made the trip faster and I don't think we missed anything along the way.

Quality of Experience

Scenery was not as interesting as the rest of the country.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

The guide was a very nice gentleman.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Fun roaming the main square and trying street food. Felt safe that the food would be good based on our guide's recommendations.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of the food was great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Dades Valley via Todra Gorges

Morocco

A beautiful drive through the high Atlas mountains. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

The mosque was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Marrakech to Enchanting Essaouira

Morocco

It was a nice, simple orientation to the city.

Quality of Experience

Going to the Jewish area and learning more about Jews in Morocco was interesting.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nice gentleman.

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Great overview of Marrakesh! Terrific guide. Felt more comfortable roaming around the medina after the tour.

Quality of Experience

Our tour guide! He was cool, good sense of humor, and was flexible about how long we spent at each location and took us where we wanted to go.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Boumalne Dades to Marrakech via the Atlas Mountains

Morocco

The gorges were amazing! A big surprise to find such beautiful cliffs and valleys. Would recommend staying longer. The trails look wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

The mosque is an amazing structure but having to stay over in Casablanca to see it was not pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fei was awesome and very helpfull with everything throughout this vacation! She helped me to make plan and changed everything if I needed something different. While I was in Japan, she was very helpful when I had any questions. It was very convenient for people like me who isn’t great at planning trips, she planned everything and all the hotel and tour guides were great! I had blast while I was in Japan!
Thank you Fei for everything! I can’t wait to go back to Japan again and plan everything with you again!

Hotel Reviews

HifumiRyokan Kyoto station

Location was great, right by the Kyoto station and great places near by! Super clean hotel and also I had the best breakfast there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Keio Presso Inn Tokyo Station Yaesu

Staff was very helpful! Great location for everything. Good restaurants around the hotel. Staff was very helpful with sending my luggage too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)

Kyoto

Great thing to do if you want to see historical sites in one day when you are in Kyoto for short time! Guide was awesome, he was very helpful with everyone! He checked in if everyone is doing okay! It was great tour and loved our tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour(join-in)

Tokyo

I got super lucky on being the only person on the tour so whole day was awesome! My tour guide was great! She showed me great historical sites and great lunch together!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jimena planned a wonderful trip for us and our friends. Everything on the trip went very smoothly and as expected. We really enjoyed all of the experiences from seeing the penguins in Isla Magdalena, hiking to the base in Torres del Paine, and trekking on the glacier at Perito Moreno. The hotels, drivers, tour guides were all top notch and we could definitely recommend Jimena and Nara, and the overall experience to others! If you’re looking for a great adventure this is it. They were also very helpful in organizing communication when we had a couple items left at one of our hotels.

Hi Joseph,
Doug Fishman and I completed this form in person and gave it to Aggrey, our fantastic guide. I have nothing but praise for his warm personality, animal knowledge, habitat and geographic expertise, and ability to light up a room with his friendly manner. All the camps and lodges were excellent with very kind hosts. Aggrey was adaptable to our needs and showed kindness to the other guides and staff by sharing our uneaten food. We saw all the animals we had hoped to see and Aggrey was skilled in using the cell phone and binoculars to get great images. Thanks to Kim Kim for arranging this once in a lifetime trip. Fred Pinkney, Takoma Park, MD USA.

I did not go on the trip, but I was one of the administrators who works on the trip from Mohawk College. The KimKim team and Robi were extremely well deserving of this rating. They were communicative, appreciative, consistent, and gracious. The travelers, after returning from the trip, had nothing but good things to say about the KimKim team.

The trip was planned very well , with a driver at the airport to drive us to our Hotel , Harbour Rocks Hotel . Fantastic location within easy walks to restaurants ,Sydney Bridge, Sydney Opera house etc. The hotel included breakfast which was excellent !! Nice 2nd floor outdoor sitting area at rear of hotel where we could enjoy a beverage or a meal . The Sydney Bridge climb was awesome . The sights were awesome ,guide talks you through entire procedure ,harnessed at all times . Photos available to capture the moment .

Hotel Reviews

Fable Auckland

Auckland

Clean very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location , breakfast was good the only negative was rooms were small

Location

Close to Ferry ,beautiful restaurants.

Staff

Very quick with a special request , brought up to our room quickly

Cleanliness & Comfort

All good

Pullman Cairns International

Cairns

Beautiful Hotel Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Clean & well kept

Location

Staff were great , walkable to sights

Staff

Courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice bathrooms

Whitsunday Apartments

Hamilton Island

Large rooms ,good beds , necessary utensils in Kitchen . Staff warns you to keep sliding doors closed when not using as Cockatoos will walk into your room & destroy everything looking for food . Nice view from room , pool & Ocean . Coffee cart located outside lobby 7 am opening was nice to grab a great coffee to enjoy outdoor tables or on your balcony .

Authenticity & Character

Pool & Beach right across the street

Location

Little bit of walk to the Harbor but sidewalks are plentiful & clear well lit at night . Everybody uses golf carts to get around ,but walking is good as you see a lot .

Staff

No all were very good

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice to sit on balcony & enjoy the view

Harbour Rocks Hotel

The Rocks, Sydney NSW

Clean rooms , deck 2nd floor at back to sit outside , enjoy the sounds ,weather & just relax ,maybe have a beverage or read a book . Happy Hour was nice ,staff were very courteous . A few stairs to get to things . Good exercise but if mobility is a problem .

Authenticity & Character

Old building with lots of character !

Location

Very close to all of Sydney 's finest

Staff

Very kind & available

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were lovely & nice bedding

Activity Review

Sydney Bridge Climb Summit

Sydney

The bridge climb is very safe the preparation is good & all questions answered . The guide talks to you for the climb & tells you history of bridge & all interesting facts . Looks a lot tougher then it actually is . A few tight spots so if your a large person forget this adventure . Everybody on our climb had HUGE smiles after .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We scheduled a relatively last minute trip to Morocco. We were very happy to have an 8 day itinerary with just a few changes available to us from Kimkim. Before finalizing we appreciated the knowledge and opinions of Ali based on all of his experience so we didn't make any bad decisions. Our driver and van were fantastic. Samir made us feel safe and guided us throughout the many cities and stops along the way. It seemed like he knew everyone. Our local guides in the various cities were very beneficial in navigating all the necessary sites, history, religion and of course shopping adventures. There is more to explore in this great country and we look forward to returning someday.

Hotel Reviews

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Fantastic experience. The tents were very comfortable and gave us a beautiful view of the desert from our room. Food and staff met all of our expectations. This place is a well oiled machine of glamping in the Sahara.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Amani

Fès

Beautiful Riad in the heart of the Medina. We found the amenities a bit expensive compared to other Riads along our trip but a write up in the NY times will do that. It is beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

We had a great walk through this beautiful city and our guide, Hamal was very helpful. By the time we got to Marrakech we were interested in more history and religion aspects of the country rather than shopping. It was a wonderful day! Although not part of this tour the botanical gardens are quite small and not too impressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was great.

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Very interesting spot with both ancient and contemporary stories. We had a guide which was very helpful in navigating the Kasbah and giving us perspective on the site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Samir our driver once again exceeded our expectations and made sure we saw everything we needed along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Very interesting 4x4 trip through the desert. The bed of fossilized turtles is not to be missed. The views were expansive and unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Quality of Experience

LP

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

Our first journey with Samir our driver was a long one. We felt safe and comfortable and with a few stops along the way.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had the opportunity to spend six weeks in Southeast Asia going to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Hien did an excellent job of planning and providing support for the whole trip. She was quick to respond to my questions and patient with me throughout the planning process. She met with me in Hanoi and showed me around a bit, which was very kind.
* The places that I visited were terrific! I had the opportunity for some input, and I appreciate the way my ideas were infused with the ideas of someone who knew the area.
* The guides often took my interest into account and made minor adjustments in my itinerary, which I really appreciated.
* I felt the price was very reasonable!
* Hotels overall were very good.
* Breakfasts were also very good . I loved the lunches and dinners I ate during the trip also.
* There were a few long days, but it was necessary to have these in order to accomplish the itinerary.
* The whole itinerary flowed smoothly. On one occasion, my ride was not there to pick me up at the airport. I contacted Realistic Asia. They were immediately able to help.
* I would highly recommend this trip and this company!

I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Ashley listened to exactly what I wanted and what I didn't want. All four of my guides were reliable and spoke great English. They were real pros, yet at the same time were able to convey the beauty of their people. This area of the world is brimming with history, culture, art, nature, and culinary delights. I was able to accomplish everything I had set out to do and more in the comfort of reasonably-priced hotels, and never felt rushed! Thanks again Kimkim; as a multiple-time repeat customer, you never disappoint!

We had an excellent experience with Kim Kim travel, from beginning to end. Marta took her time planning the perfect itinerary for us, and really listened to us. Her English is perfect and the response time to our messages and questions, was wonderful. While vacationing, my husband experienced a health issue, and Marta quickly changed and adjusted our plans. Nothing was too much to ask of Marta. I have already told all of my friends about your company, and would use you again. The accommodations were just what we wanted and the guided experiences were excellent. We had a great time with Ivan on our Frigiliana tour. Our guided day in the Andalusian countryside was fabulous and we loved our guide. Highly recommend! The arranged "Jewish themed" tour in Cordoba was just ok, and the guide left us 30 mins early. He was nice, and very knowledgable. The Equitation show in Malaga was great. We enjoyed our tapas tour in Malaga. Our city guide in Madrid was AMAZING! Our tour of the Prado Museum followed by a tapas tour, was great.Our guide was lovely and filled with knowledge about Madrid, food and art history. We chose to self drive, and the highways between cities were very good and easy to navigate. However, the driving in the old cities was anxiety provoking! Once we parked our car, we never took it out again, until leaving the location. All or our accommodations were very well located for walking everywhere. We utilized your restaurant suggestions and found all of your ancilary materials to be very useful.
We LOVED the Bibo Suites Oro delDarro in Granada, and although there was a mixup with our room reservation, things were made right. Apartasuites Alberca in Cordoba was in a great location, and while the suite was just ok, the front desk staff was great. El Museo Living & Experience Club Apartments in Malaga was a good choice and very well located. Senator Cadiz Hotel was so so, but well located and the hotel was welcoming and offered great service and amenities. The Westin Palace in Madrid was well located, but under construction. Our suite was beautiful, and they offered some nice amenities, but there was a problem with the lighting and the TV and there was a strange smell in the suite. The hotel staff was excellent and the breakfast good. I know that I've rambled, but, in short, WE LOVED KIM KIM and felt very well looked after and cared for.

Hotel Reviews

The Palace

Madrid

Our Jr Suite was gorgeous, but there were several glitches, including TV, lighting and a strange odor due to ongoing construction in the building. Perfect location and great staff. Lovely buffet breakfast, with eggs to order. Walked everywhere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bibo Suites Oro delDarro

Granada

A perfect location and view with good front desk staff. There was a glitch with our reservation, but they made it right. The 2 BR apartment with Alhambra view was amazing! We were able to walk EVERYWHERE.

El Museo Living & Experience Club Apartments

Málaga

Funky duplex apartment in fabulous old town location. Walked to everything. Enjoyed having the washer/dryer combo in our suite.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Senator Cádiz Spa Hotel

Cadiz

The hotel is tired, but very well located with helpful staff and large Jr. Suite room. Nice amenities. They tried.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Córdoba in Bloom: Stories Behind the Patios

Spain

The guide was lovely and knowledgeable. The communication was excellent, and the guide provided a good experience overall.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

The group tour in English was fine, but not the best we've done. The three-hour duration was more than enough. It was informative, but not the highlight of our trip.

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

The guide in Madrid was amazing. The tour provided a great experience and insight into the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Inside the Prado: A Private Experience

Madrid

Our guide was fabulous! Personable and VERY informative. LOVED our visit to the Prado and his guided tapas tour. HIGHLY recommend our guide, Antonio Santiago Abastas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Excursion in the Andalusia Countryside

Spain

A perfect day of exploraton. Our guide was fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Night of Flamenco in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

Very authentic experience

Frigiliana Hike with Wine Experience

Spain

Ivan was a wonderful human who provided a beautiful tour. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tapeo Like a Local: A Tapas Walk Through Málaga

Málaga

Enjoyed our tour and learned much about the culinary/tapas scene with our American/British guide.

A Day to Explore the Andalusian Countryside

Spain

Our guide was fabulous and VERY fluent in English. We enjoyed our exploration and having her help with ordering our delicious lunch. We enjoyed our guide so much, we invited her to visit us in the states!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip included a portion supported by KimKim and 9 days organized through a different cycling company that we have travelled with previously. Overall, our trip was very good/excellent. Planning the trip with Ruth, in advance of leaving Canada was a very positive experience. Ruth was knowledgeable, flexible and understanding, very pleasant, responsive and helpful.

We were not as impressed with Southern World after arrival in New Zealand. We did not receive the package from them in our hotel room until the second day, although that might have been a hotel issue. Otherwise, all of the logistics worked according to plan, with one exception. All of the tour guides were very good and punctual.

Up until the point we left Canada, our itinerary included a sunset walk in the National Park at 7:-00 pm which was a minimum 1.5 hour drive from Taupo where we were staying (this was our first experience driving in NZ and thus it likely took us a little longer even than the predicted 1.5 hours). We were asked to call the day before (during business hours) to confirm the time of the sunset walk the following day. Unfortunately, although we were scheduled to arrive back from the rain forest the prior day by 4:00 pm, we did not get back to our hotel (where we had internet service) until 5:30 pm, so could not call; we were in areas with no service during the entire window provided to us to call to confirm. We had not noticed that the time in the booklet for this sunset walk had changed to 5:45 pm. However, even if we had noticed it, we would not have been able to make it in time for this rescheduled walk (and it would not really have been a sunset walk either!) - we did not arrive in Taupo until 12:30 pm, had lunch and took the cruise on Taupo Lake from 130 to 3:00 pm. We then had to go and check in to our hotel. So the earliest we could have left Taupo for the National Park would have been around 3:30 pm or so.

Even if we had seen the change, we had to drive to the park and would not have arrived prior to 5:00 pm at the earliest, but needed to grab a quick bite to eat for dinner, so this change in time could not have possibly worked for us.

We did not find the communication with Southern World very sympathetic to say the least. When we called the office, the timing was not acknowledged as being tight and we never received any sort of apology. I am not sure what the cost of this sunset walk was - we arrived at 6:45 pm, waited til 7:00 pm and contacted the office to learn it had been changed. Needless to say, we did not have the experience of the sunset walk in the national park and our only choice was to get back into the car and drive 1.5 hours back to Taupo. This was most unfortunate. The last communication on this matter that we had from Southern World was that the time had not changed - it was always 5:45 pm, which is categorically not correct.

On our final day in Queenstown, there was a pick up from our hotel which was not really necessary as he dropped us off a half block from our hotel! We arrived back at the end of the day from Doubtful Sound about 15 min early; we looked around for a taxi, as we didn't want him looking for us; we could not find one, so we just walked back to our hotel, which was our preference anyway - but we just thought you should know. We hoped that he had not arrived later looking for us - we did stay around for about 5 min.

Our only suggestion is that ground/local operators communicate via imessage/what's app as a rule of thumb since these are internet-based communication mechanisms. We had eSIM cards while in New Zealand and could do calls and messaging through What's App, messages through imessage, or via email - however, we did not have access to phone which was their default method for communicating. 

So, overall - a great experience doing the planning with Ruth; a generally good experience with all logistics on the ground in New Zealand, with one exception - which did colour our perspective a bit in regard to Southern World - not because it happened, but more the tone of the communications about the issue with their staff.

Activity Reviews

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise (ex Queenstown)

Queenstown (NZ)

Beautiful scenery, guide on bus very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Should plan to make a stop on the two hour drive

Full Day Famous Routeburn Trail

Queenstown (NZ)

Excellent guide; did this in torrential rain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daily Scenic Cruise

Taupō

Enjoyable, pleasant staff; just the right amount of time; comfortable boat

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Whirinaki Forest Walk with Lunch

Rotorua

Excellent guide; punctual pick up; very knowledgeable Note that they did not ask about allergies and i could not eat the lunch as a result

Quality of Experience

Food

Ask about allergies

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Quito and the Galapagos. Planning and communication from Tamer and Alejandra was exceptional — both were extremely responsive and Alejandra checked in with me throughout my trip to ensure things went smoothly. The itinerary planned was amazing, action packed, and full of great scenery.

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SeaSide Hotel

Galapagos

Wonderful and hospitable small hotel in San Cristobal. The service was outstanding, huge rooms with views, clean and comfortable. We felt completely at home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Lucia was incredible throughout our stay. She did laundry for us,

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fiesta

Puerto Ayora

Great location on Santa Cruz Island Gorgeous pool area Rooms themselves are not the greatest quality. Very small rooms, uncomfortable beds, and poorly appointed (no shampoo or bath products other than hand soap, no room amenities beyond drinking water which was well supplied). It was difficult to find coffee outside of breakfast, little things like this. But honestly the pool area was gorgeous and it was a fine place to call home base.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Size of rooms, amenities

Activity Reviews

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería (Speedboat from Santa Cruz)

Galapagos Islands

Tijeretas = great, beautiful. Lovely hike and scenery Interpretation center = super informative Speedboat = not great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Expedition to Mindo Cloud Forest

Quito

The cloud forest was amazing. And our guide Sebastian was extremely fun to hang out with, knowledgeable, and overall made the trip a joy. The forest was beautiful, we took a great hike, and also got to see the town of Mindo, including a tour of a chocolate producer. A wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian is amazing! He’s a great conversationalist, which serves you well in a day that involves long car rides! But he’s so knowledgeable about lots of things, curious, and fun. He set expectations really well about how things would go. I’d send anyone to Sebastian for a tour!

Transport

Working with Monika was a pleasant experience. She did a phenomenal job helping us plan our trip. Once we arrived in New Zealand we had a few changes to our itinerary due to weather and Monika was quick to respond and help us with our updates. We would highly recommend working with Monika if you are looking to travel to New Zealand.

When you initiate a travel plan with Kimkim, the company will assign you to a local agency who makes all the travel arrangements for you. The price was steep and was a black box, there was no breakdown when I asked for it. I should have stopped by this hint.

The agency works with certain hotels that give them an agency rate that’s lower than the consumer rate. They put me in fairmont, an Arab owned establishment. The problem was that they have a party every other night hosted by the Arabian Club/ casino (yes hotel has a casino) until 3 am. The noise could be heard from the highest floor of hotel(20th). For the Cairo Representative he was very nice but didn’t speak much English. I was a little devastated by the difficulties of communication as I just arrived in a foreign country. The tour guides, their English are mostly heavily accented. At the end or middle of the tour days, they take you to commissioned shops for overpriced and roughly made souvenirs (not included in the itinerary, you are on your own to defend from the hard sell ). The extra events are also marked up with a lot of room for the guide/company. For example the hot air balloon at Luxor is marked up very steep, for 140USD per person, if you book through the hot air balloon business directly, you can easily get a quote at 30 USD/person. It is a very dark industry with people who are careless about your wellbeing.

The flight returning home was a breaking point for me. You pay everything with a fat margin but you don’t get the best in line, or not even a professional service. The Egypt agency(Egypt Promotions) was careless as to mistaking the flight times to return home. After the first negotiation, they refused to book the flight for me. They think it is my fought for not checking the travel plan they made. Told me that I should buy another ticket out of my own pocket(3000usd). After desperate attempts to battle with the agency. they were finally able to change the flight for me when they discovered that the airline can put me on the same flight for only 300 usd, a discounted price. (I bought business) Perhaps also fearing that kimkim will no longer send them quality clients. egypt has its enchantment but the business is rotten. During the entire event kimkim did not care to reach me via phone or to apologize.

A dark price breakdown:
I paid kimkim 5000usd for 7days in Egypt, not including flights.
fairmont hotel was 200usd/night on Expedia agency should have better price.
200*4nights=800usd
Tour guide + driver: 64 usd/day*5days=320usd
Movenpick cruise: 400usd/day *3= 1200usd

Total paid: 5000
Total cost from agency: 800+320+1200= 2320
They earned about $2700 from me on this trip.

If I booked on my own I could have stayed at four seasons or at St Regis (best line of hotel in Cairo with much better service and no noise from casino/club) and an upper deck suite at movenpick. And I will still have surplus.

And it is a shame that I had to flight for my ticket back home. I was on the edge of experiencing a full mental breakdown at the airport.
If you decide to travel to Egypt, it’s best to book the hotel by yourself, tours with a local company separately.

What a great trip! The itinerary provided by both Erin and Nara was spectacular! Everything was laid out for us and all of our questions answered in a timely manner. The activities, lodging, and logistics were well planned and very accommodating. Our group even made a last minute change at the briefing and we were able to experience a truly unique and adventurous hike from one of Erin’s suggestions ( via ferrata and private glacier hike!). We did take longer than the suggested time frames for hikes but that wasn’t a big deal. Overall, a great experience and I recommend Dittmar agency without reservation!

Jesse was awesome and made our trip planning breeze. She was very responsive during the planning process and proactively asked us questions and shared draft itineraries. Everything was completely seamless during our trip and coordinated perfectly. Jesse was also very responsive during our trip whenever we had questions, and proactively provided her direct contact information in case anything came up. Thank you so much for making our trip unforgettable, Jesse!

Hotel Reviews

Rochester Calafate

El Calafate

The staff at this hotel made the stay a pleasure. Rooms were comfortable and the hot restaurant was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Comfortable and clean

Location

A little outside of city center but that was okay with us. They also provide a regular shuttle into main part of town, but we ended up just walking back and forth because the weather was so nice and the walk was on 30 mins or so

Staff

The staff was lovely and so accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

My only gripe is that the hot water on the dual tap was really hot, so you had to be careful!

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Great views and location. Staff was very accommodating to early morning trekking schedules and making sure we were fed an caffeinated before pickups!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the look of the hotel and how it fits in with the special aesthetic of Puerto Natales

Location

Right on the lake

Staff

All staff that we met over our 5 day stay were great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very clean. Didn’t like the rainfall shower as it seemed inefficient and the beds could have been a little more comfortable

Hotel Cabo De Hornos

Punta Arenas

Fantastic location. The rooms were a bit dated but very comfortable

Authenticity & Character

A little dated but very clean and comfortable

Location

Right in the city center

Staff

Really helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was very clean and beds were comfortable

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

Loved the location of this hotel and the decor.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the decor

Location

Safe and walkable location

Staff

The staff was excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was spotless

Activity Reviews

Free Time in El Calafate

El Calafate

We ended up liking the outskirts of El Calafate better than the main downtown area. There were lots of restaurants and shops, but none of them seemed particularly unique or authentic as what we experience in the areas of Punta Arenas, El Chalten, and our favorite Puerto Natales. Downtown El Calafate seemed a little too resort for our tastes, but the places we visited outside of that area we liked better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All guides and staff in El Calafate were fantastic

Transport

Transport was great

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Chile

This was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen between the glaciers, waterfalls and mountains. It was also very cool to visit the ranch and see the horses and dogs. Lunch was also good!

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenery, transportation was really well run, the lunch was tasty and in a beautiful facility

Food

Very good, several options

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff on the boat and servers at lunch were great and very accommodating

Transport

Clean, well run

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

It was so amazing to see the penguin colony on Magdalena Island. This was definitely worth the trip down to Punta Arenas to do. We also saw an amazing amount of sea life on the boat ride to and from the island (whales, tons of dolphins, orcas feeding, a Sea lion…)

Quality of Experience

Seeing the penguins, sea life

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat was very well run and it was a comfortable trip to and from the island

Transport

Seamless transfer to the docks and to and from the island

Valparaíso & Wine Tour

Santiago

We loved visiting the vineyard first and having the personal tour of their grounds to understand their approach to winemaking. It was definitely the most informative and comprehensive vineyard tour and tasting I’ve ever had, and I learned a lot. The murals were the highlight of the Valparaiso tour and it was cool to walk through the city and see how the art is incorporated throughout.

Quality of Experience

Our tour guide at the vineyard and Lauturo made this experience great

Food

Enjoyed the restaurant in Viña Del Mar

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guides

Transport

Comfortable

Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Excursion

El Calafate

This was our top experience in Patagonia. Do not miss this, as it’s one of the most unique experiences you can have. This was challenging but so incredibly worth it. I also learned so much about the current state of Perito Moreno glacier and the lifecycle of glaciers. The guides are so passionate and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

This was an amazing experience that I had I’ll reflect on for years to come

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis and Guillermo were knowledgeable and passionate about glaciers, trekking and Patagonia. Could t imagine better guides, they were amazing!

Transport

I loved that we saw the glacier from the observation decks by foot, from the ferry on our way to trek on the glacier and then from the glacier itself. This was an amazing experience

Trekking Torres del Paine Active

Chile

This was our favorite trek of the trip and one of the most beautiful parts of the “W”. If you are able to do this trek do it, but it is challenging. Again, no bad weather just bad clothing so pack appropriately as the weather is constantly changing during the trek. Also, wear proper trekking shoes as the trail gets challenging so it’s essential to have appropriate foot wear.

Quality of Experience

This was a awesome trek, made even better by the guides

Food

Arranged for packed lunch through hotel

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were so funny and personable. They made the day even more fun!

Transport

They got us there safely and quickly

Base Torres Hike

Chile

This was such an incredible experience and one that I would recommend not missing if you’re able to do the 10 hr trek! It was challenging but so rewarding. Remember, there’s no bad weather just bad clothing (I.e. pack for all weather and wear appropriate trekking shoes!)

Quality of Experience

The trek was awesome, the guides made it even better

Food

We arranged a packed lunch through our hotel which I highly recommend doing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were helpful and very personable. Made the day even more fun!

Transport

Got us there quickly and safely

Santiago City Tour

Chile

Loved seeing the city sites, including the Presidential Palace. We also were very interested in the history leading up to and after Pinochet, and also in modern day Chile. Our guide was so knowledgeable and we appreciated his honesty and perspective. I also really liked learning more about Mapuche culture and history.

Quality of Experience

Lautoro was an excellent guide and we appreciated how open and honest he was!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Interesting and honest

Transport

Great mix of driving and walking. We like to walk so this was perfect for us and allowed us to see more of the city by foot

Private Dinner Experience

Santiago

This was one of our top two favorite activities of our trip, second only to our big ice excursion in Patagonia. Gloria is an amazing cook and their hospitality was unmatched. Such a special evening for us!

Quality of Experience

Unique, authentic experience. Outside of the typical tourist experience

Food

So good, and we loved the wine pairings as well

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was like having dinner at a friend or family member’s. They were so warm, friendly and fun

Transport

We got a 9 day tour with Original Travels.
Ali helped us plan the trip with all accommodations we asked for. Ali was very prompt, friendly and we got a plan exactly as we needed.

Right before the trip, we got confirmation on an emergency contact number and our driver. Everything happened smoothly in the trip- airport pickup, all accommodation bookings, handoffs to guides and back.

Our driver Soufiane was the epitome of punctuality and professionalism, always ready with a friendly smile. From the get-go, he had us feeling like old friends rather than passengers. With his expert driving skills and easy charm, he made sure we felt safe and comfortable throughout the journey.

It wasn't just about getting from A to B with Soufiane; it was about the journey itself. Our time on the road was a blast, filled with great music and even better conversations. Soufiane's vibe made the whole experience ten times better.

Sharif, our guide in Fes was friendly, knowledgeable but we felt overwhelmed - should’ve kept an extra day for the medina.

Ismail, our guide in Dades valley, immediately made us feel at home. We loved the hike and especially the lunch with his very warm and beautiful family. He even went above and beyond to take us on a river walk after lunch!

Saeed, our guide in Marrakech, was also awesome! Friendly, knowledgeable and really fun!

Seriously, I am running out of adjectives. Just go with Original travels and you’ll have an amazing trip to Morocco!

The trip was pretty good. I was expecting better hotels. The transportation was a 18 person mini van every where, but that is standard for the country. Even when we has a private transport booked between places it was still the same van.
The excursions were all nature driven, which is what we expected, forests, parks, waterfalls, hot springs (which we loved), a tram in the clouds, unfortunately it was pouring rain, windy and nasty that day. we went on walks to see animals, but they were not many to see on the time/day were there. One of our hotels did not have air conditioning, and when we called to discuss it - it was not possible because it was our Specialists day off. So, no problem solving coverage on Sunday.
The business is email and text message based, if that works for you great, it was not for me. I also, think some of our problems occurred because of language structure or something like that.
KimKim tried very hard to create a very nice trip for us..