Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica that was made easy through Kim Kim.
We loved our three hotels and our transport between locations was seamless.
We are not in the habit of pre-booking tours, but really enjoyed all the tours selected.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use Kim Kim again!

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

A beautiful hotel with fantastic views of the volcano. Friendly staff who went out of their way to ensure we were enjoying our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

Stunning views, beautiful gardens and an excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

A nice hotel in an excellent beach location. Helpful staff and nice rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat tour to Las Catalinas Islands

Costa Rica

A fantastic day out. An excellent tour guide, delicious lunch, great snorkeling and wildlife and plenty of drinks available!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

A great experience with our guide Bernie. I would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

An enjoyable trip with our guide Mariano. Beautiful scenery, a swim and great lunch. Mariano was knowledgeable, good company and flexible. Would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I decided not to read up about Morocco beforehand as I had some preconceived ideas about the country after reading various WWII accounts. The ideas got blown away and I came away with a different perspective and understanding of the country and the great people. The landscape changed continuously and much comparable with our western USA. This immersive package is really the way to go, but some caution in that it is a rigorous trip and one should be prepared for a lot of walking and up and down steps. Fortunately we were all fit for it. The accommodations were particularly interesting and beautiful and added to the cultural experience. Ayman and Waleed looked after us and our safety was never in doubt. Overall a great vacation with many memories and photos

Our family of 4, including two kids, aged 9 and 11, just had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica with kimkim doing much of the heavy lifting in terms of planning. Highlights would be our day spent at Rincon de la Vieja's adventure park, Hacienda Guachipelin as well as a hike to El Tigre Waterfall near Monteverde, which was not booked with kimkim.

kimkim pros: Overall, it was easy to review different activities and hotels prior to booking via the kimkim website, which made the stress of planning a vacation much less. Communication was easy with Jessica via the kimkim website. Having activities booked ahead limited time scrambling trying to book activities when we arrived. Almost every activity that we booked through kimkim was high quality with an excellent guide with only one or two exceptions.

kimkim cons: The variety of activities and hotels that kimkim offers on their website are not exhaustive and we realized once we arrived that there were better options available in many cases. No special attention paid to flight arrival times or transfer arrival times relative to hotel check in times. You do pay a premium for having a laid out itinerary before you go-we realized that had we booked the activities independently from kimkim, the cost would have been about half, in general.

Overall, we would recommend kimkim's services. Having a laid out itinerary prior to arriving decreased the stress and increased the amount we were able to see and do on our 2 weeks vacation. Unfortunately, you pay a bit more of a premium for this peace of mind but it was a positive experience.

Day 1: We arrived to Liberia at 0600 and drove 1.5 hrs to Blue River Resort via CR Ride. The driver was excellent. Feedback for kimkim would be to pay special attention to the flight arrival time and hotel check in. We arrived at our hotel at 9 am after an overnight flight and check in for the hotel was not until 2 pm.
Blue River Resort is a beautiful destination off the beaten path. Cabins are basic but comfortable. Restaurant on site was ok. It is close to Rincon de la Vieja but it's on the north side of the volcano and to get to the activities at the adventure park, it's a 1.5 hr drive around the volcano to the National Park. Not the location we were expecting and we would not recommend this hotel for anyone that is planning to spend time going over to do activities in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Day 2: Day at Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Big highlight for our family. We were expecting a 2.25 mile hike and a hot springs visit but when we arrived, we were informed that we had a full day planned- ziplining, horseback riding and tubing down the rio Colorado. Although it was a surprise, we agreed and had a great time. These were large group activities. Ziplining included 9 cables over beautiful canyons, a Tarzan swing and an option to rappel and climb at one point. There is an option to do the zip lining tandem with your kids, if needed. After a short 5 minute break, we walked down to the stable and hopped on a horse for a 45 min trail ride, which the kids really enjoyed. The tubing, which was a short 5 min drive to the starting point in the rio Colorado, was so fun! There were some small rapids and some slower sections and we managed to see a white faced monkey and lots of little creatures, like frogs and spiders along the way. Overall, the guides at Hacienda Guachipelin were excellent throughout the day. Unfortunately, because we were not expecting a water activity, we were not prepared to get our hiking shoes wet, but shoes are mandatory during the tubing. We ended the adventure day with the Rio Negro hot springs. The hot springs boasted "mud baths" but seemed to only be mud mixed in a 5 gallon pail and handed out in bowls to be rubbed all over our bodies.

Day 3: We were set to head back to Rincon de la Vieja National Park for a self guided hike that was planned via kimkim but with the drive being so long around the volcano and it being a 3 hour detour to our next destination, we opted to forego this activity. In our opinion, a local specialist planning the trip should have foreseen both the poor location of the hotel in relation to the activities planned as well as the major detour this day of hiking would have been, knowing our next destination. Instead, our driver picked us up from the hotel and we headed towards La Fortuna. On the way, our driver suggested we go to Rio Celeste for a 4 km hike to a waterfall. We paid $38 US for entry to the park. It took us about 2.5 hrs there and back. There were multiple flights of stairs down to the waterfall then onto a lagoon where the natural water meets the blue water (from the minerals from the volcano). Challenging hike in parts and some difficult terrain but worth the impromptu stop. The driver with CR Ride was amazing and stayed with our things in the car all day.
Our hotel in La Fortuna was the Country Inn Arenal. This place was in a very convenient location for the respective activities planned during the next few days. Beautiful grounds, swimming pool, breakfast included, walkable to grocery store.

Day 4: Hanging Bridges in Mistico Park and La Fortuna Waterfall with Jacamar Tours. 16 other folks on this tour. We walked 2.5 miles on paths, stopping along the way to look at venomous vipers, a boa, hummingbirds, and other creatures. Our guide, Diego, was super knowledgable but not overly energetic. There were a series of 6 hanging bridges, all various lengths and heights from the ground. They offered amazing views of different layers of the canopy. We then took a 10 min drive over to La Fortuna Waterfall. There are 2 areas to dip in the water. This is a fairly developed area, which comes with high numbers of tourists and guides. Both the kids and the adults in the group enjoyed getting in the water! Next we went to a small farm owned by Jacamar Tours to eat lunch. TIP: Lunch seemed to consistently be served around 2 pm so if you're travelling with kids or you get hangry easily, bring some snacks.

Day 5: Farm Tour with Eco Terra. This was a 3 hour farm tour to a small organic farm that keeps some cows, turkeys, chickens, goats and some rescue animals. The owner grows medicinal plants and restorative trees. We saw ginger, turmeric, taro root, cilantro, oregano, wild and commercial cocoa trees, and the list goes on. They generously allowed us to pick and sample whatever we wanted. Our small group was made up mostly of kids and some energetic adults. The activities of milking a cow, crushing sugar cane and making chocolate were all hands- on activities, which the kids loved! Amazing hospitality and generosity of this farm family. Would 100% recommend this tour.

Day 6: Arenal Volcano Hike and Tabacon Hot Springs with Jacamar Tours. This was a 2.5 km hike loop at the base of the north side of Arenal. Our guide was knowledgable about the history of the eruption of 1968. Total hike took about 2 hours, seeing new growth on the lava rocks along the way. We were then dropped off at Tabacon Hot Springs, which is a resort. We chose how much time we wanted to spend there and were told that someone would come and pick us up later in the day. It was strange knowing that we paid a tour company for a day of guided activities and we were simply dropped off. It poured rain almost the entire time but it was warm and we enjoyed the various hot pools around the site that happened to be in the natural river. Beautiful site, very much set up like a resort. This activity was definitely a crowd pleaser.

Day 7: Safari Float on the Penas Blancas River. 2 hours, 3 miles, float on a small raft. Our guide was knowledgable about the birds and animals found along the river and eager to point out wildlife. We saw a lot of different species of birds, a turtle and some howler monkeys. Boat was uncomfortable for 2 hours, sitting sideways but the family were shared this little adventure with was lovely.
We ended the day with a cooking class at the grounds of Desafio Adventure Company. We made a traditional Casado with Kathy. Kids loved it, it really was a fun experience.

Day 8: Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde via car and boat with Ride CR. The boat ride across Lake Arenal was really amazing and really only available to those traveller who did not rent a car.
Hotel in Monteverde was Los Pinos. This beautiful site with its own small system of hiking trails is a bit out of town and not walkable to anything of note except a small grocery store. It has a full kitchen which was great to make some of our own meals.

Day 9: We did not have any day activities planned via kimkim this day so we booked ourselves a ride to El Tigre Waterfalls. Highlight of the trip. Paid $30US per adult and $20US per kid to do a 8 km hike - "the big hike". Last 3 km was tough uphill but amazing day hike.
We ended the day with a "coffee experience and nighttime nature walk" with Coffee 'n Jungle. This was a weird experience and not one that we would recommend. The owner, Junior, buys most of his beans from other farmers. We learned a small amount about growing coffee, the drying process, and the roasting process. Because Junior had just cut down most of his coffee plants (which they do apparently every 6 years), and it was not harvesting season, there was not much of a tour. They do not grow cocoa in this area of the country, therefore the chocolate tasting was a mixture of cocoa powder which Junior mixed with brown sugar, powdered milk and peach liquor and then poured it on bananas. Junior was very sweet and friendly and was good with the kids but the educational component of the tour was limited and poorly organized. The nature walk was nothing more than an hour of walking around the cut down coffee plantation. Would not recommend this tour.

Day 10: Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Hike with Ocotea Tours. This hike was through new and old growth forest. Our guide, Bernie, was also our driver and very knowledgable about plant life, birds and symbiosis in the forest. He was able to engage the kids and keep them interested. Overall, really great experience.

Day 11: Children's Eternal Rainforest Hike with Ocotea Tours. This was a 2.5 hour walk. Our guide, Guilliano, was great. Conditions were very dry. Overall, by this point, the kids were tired of walking around forests for the last few days and got bored with this hike but done at another time in the trip would have been a bigger success.

Day 12: Transfer from Monteverde to Tamarindo. 3.5 hour drive.
We booked Hotel Mar Rey without the help of kimkim. The options for hotels in Tamarindo were not great on the kimkim website. The activities that we had been super interested in doing in Tamarindo, like snorkelling, were not available through kimkim because the water was too rough. These activities, we realize now, could all have been booked once we arrived.

Day 14: Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Marlin del Rey. This was a 5 hour sunset tour including a 1.5 hr stop in the middle to swim and snorkel. There were about 35 people on board which was about half capacity. There was a bar on board and the drinks were included as well as a served chicken BBQ lunch mid afternoon. A big highlight was stopping in the middle of the tour and swimming and snorkelling in a secluded bay. Overall this was a great tour and a nice way to get away from the beach activities. Pros: shady interior of the boat, on-board bathroom, free drinks and friendly staff. Cons: it was a bit long for the kids.

Activity Review

Catamaran Sailing Adventure

Costa Rica

Overall a really great experience. Pros: shady interior on the boat, on board bathrooms, free drinks, friendly staff, lunch included. Highlight for us and our kids was the stop in the middle to swim and snorkel in a secluded bay. It was a great way to get away from beach activities. Would 100% recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a lovely trip to Ireland, London and Scotland. This was my first time traveling out of the USA and I was a bit apprehensive but our specialists took care of all of my requests and answered all my questions. The accommodations were great and convenient except for one. However, we reached out to KimKim and they were able to assist us with other arrangements quickly and it made our stay so much more enjoyable. We enjoyed all of our excursions that were pre-arranged. We did miss out on one castle visit because the timeframe just did not allow us to make our reservation. I would recommend KimKim and I will reach out again when we decide onour next trip. Thank you Stephen and William for assisting us with a "Once in a Lifetime Trip".

Hotel Reviews

Claymore Guest House

Perthshire

Authenticity & Character

The home has so much character. The landscape was lovely.

Location

Loved the quaintness of the town and enjoyed the local dining establishments.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Native Glasgow

Glasgow

We ended up not staying here because the city was just so busy and there was no where to park close to the hotel. We finally found a parking garage but our rental vehicle would not fit through the gate. We had a 3 year old with us and we did not want to walk through the city and crowd with all of our luggage. This may be a perfect place for a couple wanting to visit the city but it did not suit our needs. I am giving it 3 stars just because of the location and inconvenience for our needs.

The Green

Dublin

We enjoyed our stay at The Green. The location was great! The staff were so helpful in giving us directions when needed. The breakfast was delicious! We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residence Inn by Marriott London Tower Bridge

London

We enjoyed our stay at the Residence Inn. The location was convenient for our visit. We were thankful we had a taxi to deliver us to the inn because it is difficult to find. Our visit was short but we would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Destiny Scotland - Hill Street Apartments

EDINBURGH

We enjoyed our stay at Destiny Scotland-Hill Street Apartments. The rooms were nice, clean and comfortable. We did not cook any meals but the kitchen was nice and available if we needed it. We did have a little issue upon arrival with which room was ours and our room code but we reached out to KimKim and it was taken care of. We did not see any staff to ask for assistance or phone numbers to call if you needed help. We felt safe and we would stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was just a short walk to everything we wanted to see and do in Edinburgh.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The accommodations were well taken care of and clean when we arrived.

Activity Reviews

Irish Dancing - The Irish House Party (Dinner & Show)

Dublin

We loved this show! The talent was amazing! Loved the stories!

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was delicious and in a timely fashion.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We believe they were training some new staff the night we visited. The service was not exceptional but they were trying really hard.

Transport

We decided to walk through the rain and cold. But it was so worth it!

Private transfer to or from the airport

Dublin

We enjoyed talking to our driver. He was very knowledgable about the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The vehicles were clean and comfortable.

Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist

Scotland

We loved the excursion! The staff were so knowledgable about the local wildlife and terrrain. We would love to visit again and see what other trips they could take us on. Beautiful country!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from Portugal and had an outstanding vacation. A great part of it was because of the tour designed by Tiago and the tour guide that he had assigned to our care. Tiago put a package together that checked all the boxes that we asked for and everything was handled with perfection and not an issue with anything. We were picked up at the airport and in their care until we were dropped off 5 days later. Excellent job by our tour guide. We hope we have the pleasure of returning some day and will definitely, start our dream vacation again with KimKim tours. Thank you again Tiago.

I want to start off by saying that Kim Kim is hands down the best travel agency I have ever worked with. From start to finish, they made the planning process simple and stress free and curated the most amazing Portuguese experience we could have ever asked for! Tiernan, our local specialist, worked very hard to plan a dream Portugal vacation for my husband and I to celebrate our anniversary! He was extremely helpful, communicative and attentive and made appropriate changes to the itinerary when needed. We both work in the wine industry in the United States and wanted a true wine experience in Portugal and Tiernan went above and beyond to make sure we had just that! It was also very easy to get in touch with him while on our trip if we had any last minute needs or questions. The hotels that Tiernan chose were perfect and convenient to everything we wanted to do! The tours and suggestions he made throughout our trip were all amazing! If you are traveling to Portugal, I highly recommend reaching out to Tiernan and letting him plan the vacation of your dreams!

A few experiences that we want to point out:
We had a lovely dinner at a local's home on our second night in Lisbon. Our host Margarida and her son were fabulous! We were only supposed to stay for 2 hours and ended up staying for 4! Margarida was so friendly and welcoming and cooked us an amazing 3 course meal paired with wine! She is definitely one of the highlights of our trip and we will never forget our night with her!

We visited several vineyards throughout our stay and all were incredible. We would highly recommend visiting all of these amazing operations and we bought several bottles from each that we visited! Tiernan did a great job choosing some wineries that were larger commercial operations and much smaller, family owned operations as well! We enjoyed the experience and the wines at each stop! If they are offering tapas with your tasting, we highly recommend trying them as they enhance the experience!
Wineries we visited:
Casal Santa Maria
Adega Belem
Prova Wine Bar
Quinta De Crasto
Quinta Do Infantado
Sem Igual
Vale dos Ares

I also want to give a huge shout out to two of our drivers: Ronado Santos and Pedro!! Ronado took us to Colares and Sintra and we had a wonderful time getting to know him! We took him up on his suggestions for lunch and dinner and both were absolutely delicious! He was extremely helpful and friendly and didn't mind when we took too long at our first vineyard stop! Tiernan then set us up with Pedro, our local guide/winemaker, who met us on our first day in Porto and was with us for the rest of our trip! He truly was the best guide we could have asked for and we appreciated how helpful, friendly and passionate he was! His knowledge of Portugal's history is extensive and there wasn't a question he didn't know the answer to! Pedro took us to Douro Valley and Vinho Verde and we enjoyed every minute of getting to know him! It was very exciting being able to spend so much time with a local winemaker so that we could compare notes on everything wine! I cannot recommend Pedro enough and we hope to see him again on our next visit!

Again, we cannot thank the Kim Kim team and especially Tiernan enough for a magical, dream vacation to Portugal! We could not have asked for a better anniversary trip and learning experience. We look forward to working with Tiernan again in the future! Obrigada!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Convento do Salvador

Lisbon

We truly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Convento do Salvador! It is located in the beautiful and historic Alfama district and is within walking distance to great cafes and restaurants. A short walk up the hill provides one of the best views in Lisbon and you can easily walk to the city center! The staff was amazing and very helpful throughout our stay! Our train went on strike and the staff helped us book the correct bus to get us to our destination! If you are visiting Lisbon and don't want to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle every night, I highly recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aeminium Coimbra Hotel

Coimbra

We only spent one night in this hotel but it was beautiful! A very convenient location to the bus and train stations and a beautiful walk to the river front where there are lots of great restaurants! The rooms were clean and spacious and the staff was extremely helpful! They made our reservations for dinner and also helped us get a taxi on time to make our train! We would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Legendary Porto Hotel

Porto

This hotel was beautiful and in the perfect location, convenient to any attractions or restaurants! Maria at the front desk gave us a room upgrade which had a marvelous view of the cathedral from our balcony! She made our stay extra special and was always smiling! The staff was extremely helpful and gave us great recommendations throughout our stay! They also helped us a lot in the process of shipping wine back over to the United States! The breakfast was delicious! If Antonio is working the lobby bar, be sure to try his famous Port Tonic! We would definitely stay in this hotel again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Portuguese Dinner at a Local Home

Lisbon

This experience is one that will always be a fond memory for us! Our host, Margarida and her son, were absolutely wonderful people! They were so friendly and welcoming and we enjoyed spending our evening with them! Margarida cooked a delicious meal and paired it with some of her favorite wines! Everything was superb and it was a very special evening on our trip! Obrigada, Margarida!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Colares, Cascais & Sintra

Lisbon

Pena Palace is beautiful and definitely worth seeing! Be sure to take your time to take in the amazing views and history! It may be a bit crowded but the experience is worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Casal Sta. Maria Winery Visit & Tasting | The Most Western Vineyards of Europe

Lisbon

We visited Casal Santa Maria for a wonderful wine tasting experience! We toured the vineyards with our guide and she was extremely knowledgeable! The wine tasting and tapas were absolutely delicious! We spent so much time enjoying the wines that we had to skip Cascais but it was totally worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Winery Experience

Lisbon

We visited Adega Belem and had a beautiful experience. Catarina and her husband, the owners, were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their wines! The tapas provided enhanced the entire wine tasting experience! We spent several hours talking to the owners and other guests and left with several bottles of their delicious wines!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rabelo Boat Cruise of the Bridges on the Douro River

Porto

This was a great one hour cruise with a wonderful view of the bridges with lots of history!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto Street Walk and Wine tasting with a Local Wine Maker

Porto

WE highly recommend Pedro as your local guide if you have the chance. He was wonderful and took us on a very informative walk around Porto! He knows a lot about Portuguese history and showed us some of the beautiful architecture around the city. He then suggested that we end our evening at Pravo wine bar which was a wonderful experience. WE met several Portuguese winemakers at the bar and drank lots of delicious wines from all around the country!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro Valley Wine Country with a Winemaker

Porto

No trip to Portugal is complete without a visit to their most famous wine region. Douro Valley is definitely worth the drive from Porto and offers amazing views and delicious wines! We highly recommend visiting a larger, commercial style operation as well as a small, family owned operation! Again, if you can request Pedro, you won't regret it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Vinho Verde Wine Country with a Winemaker

Porto

The Vinho Verde wine region was definitely one of the areas that surprised us the most. The wines are very unique and delicious. It is also pretty amazing to drink wine in Portugal while staring at the mountains of Spain!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip exceeded all expectations and dreams! Amanda was wonderful planning this trip with us over a two year period, and it was fantastic to finally get to meet her after all that correspondence! Our guide, Rajive Shakya, could not have been better! He was a wealth of knowledge! I had a million questions and he patiently answered them all! Our lodgings each night were beautiful - the people we met were so kind and lovely. At Rajive’s suggestion we watched the sun rise over the Himalayas in Pokhara! Bandipur was simply gorgeous - it was like being on a movie set, it was so unreal! Chitwan was unforgettable - hugging and feeding the elephants was simply a dream come true! We actually were fortunate enough to receive a blessing from a Hindu Living Goddess on our last day! I could go on forever - it was THAT amazing and so well planned out! And we learned SO much from Rajive! Our drivers were wonderfully skilled in navigating the rocky unpaved roads! It was perfect! We are already planning our next trip with Kim Kim! 🙏 Dhanyabad! ❤️

Our trip in Spain was better than anticipated, from North to south what a beautiful country. Our guides really did make it Toledo was an incredible stop totally unexpected
Irene was helping all the way thru we had a couple of hiccups but Irene looked after us all the way
Thanks to everyone at KimKim

One of the best things we ever could have done was worked with Liz to organize our trip to Australia and New Zealand. The process of organizing our trip (hotels, transfers, events) was so much easier working through Liz as it narrowed down the millions of options and she kept us within a reasonable amount of our budget. What really stood out was when our flight to Australia was completely canceled. Between Liz and Leslie in Australia, they helped reorganize our trip, working with the tour companies to ensure our trip was still amazing. They were both so helpful and we would have been so much more stressed without them during that time. Also, Liz was able to coordinate our tours so that all but maybe two tours picked us up at our hotel, eliminating the need for a rental car everywhere we went.

A couple highlights for others planning to go to Australia and New Zealand who love the outdoors:
Sydney
- Explore the Gardens
- Do a harbor cruise at night, the views are worth it!
- Full Day Blue Mountains Tour -> One of the top things we did, the most amazing day and most amazing guide
Cairns
- Great Barrier Reef is a must, Passions of Paradise was the company we took and the experience and what we learned was amazing!
- Wait-a-while Evening Rainforest Tour was amazing! The guide was so knowledgable and friendly!
Brisbane
- We rented a car and did the Australia Zoo ourselves which was perfect because we got there right when it opened and left just as is was closing. You need a whole day!
Auckland
- Afternoon Wilderness Experience
- We did a shared tour to Hobbiton that dropped us off in Rotorua, cutting down on travel time which was great!
Rotorua
- Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience was a must to learn about the culture and the history of New Zealand
- Loved the Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel, it was central and near tons of places to grab a bite to eat!
Queenstown
- The Rydges Lakeland Resort was stunning and made it easy to walk to places in Queenstown
- Full Day Routeburn Hike --> Absolutely stunning!
- Milford Sound
- Full Day Funyak Safari Trip --> So much fun! JJ led our group as we kayacked down the Dart River and was just so much fun to chat with and explore!

After heavy research, my friend and I wanted to see Ecuador more than the “typical” Galapagos trip so we thought KinKim provided that to us. It delivered what we were looking for when we went, from the ornate gilded churches of Quito to the Mitad, the dizzying scenery of Quilotoa, to the spectacular waterfalls of Banos and views of the mighty Cotopaxi from a full day’s hike. Our itinerary manager, Alvaro, was very thorough but we found the asset of KimKim Ecuador was our guide, Sebastian. Ecuador is a jewel in the crown for sure so I’d highly recommend KinKim to anyone who wishes to explore it.

Last August, I Googled "14 days Netherlands and Belgium" and I found Kim-Kim. It proved to be the best search result ever! Throughout the planning process and when we were on the trip, Mieke was very professional and full of great ideas. She steered us away from the ordinary and suggested terrific alternatives. For example, as opposed to staying in Amsterdam (which we have visited before), she suggested Haarlam and as an alternative to Bruges, we directed us toward Ghent. Moreover, she was available to help during our trip. When our flight to Europe was delayed, she was quick to help us adjust our schedule. And we even had the opportunity to share a glass of wine with her during our trip. We were particularly grateful that In the weeks before we began our trip, she offered to get us tickets to the Vermeer exhibit in Amsterdam. We didn't even know this much sought-after exhibit was an option.

We loved Harrlam and the Frans Hal Museum. We had a really fun boat ride in Giethoorn. The Freedom Museum and the Flanders Field Museum were informative and impactful. Ghent was excellent; a beautiful city and some great restaurants. And the tulips!

What a wonderful, wonderful trip we had in Morocco. While we only had three nights, we really made the most of it and our wonderful guide was so great at ensuring we got where we were supposed to both safely as well as giving us a ton of information and history. Our guide was Ahmed Oussidi and he really was terrific. In Chefchouen we stayed at the darling Dar Laman riad and just loved it. Our room was so comfortable and the deck upstairs was a perfect place to unwind after a long day. In Fes we stayed at the AMAZING Riad Salam Fes and I can’t say enough about this place. It is like a Moroccan palace and the staff was wonderful. Our guide was Kamal and he was the best guide of our trip. We learned so much visiting the Royal Palace, Ceremic factory and most of all the Medina. I can’t recommend him enough. Finally we arrived in Tangier and stayed at the Hotel Fredj which was very nice and central. Can’t wait for my next trip with KimKim. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Laman

Chefchaouen

This place was so charming, and such a relief from the hot day we were having. Our room was just delightful with a small sitting area, and the host was able to keep my mom and I on the ground floor, which minimized the stairs she had to require. We also loved the deck at the rooftop where we were able to have our dinner as well as our breakfast in the morning. The family who runs this riad were so kind and we really enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character

So charming and decorated beautifully

Location

Above the city on a quiet street

Staff

Very helpful and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellenr

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

There are not enough words to describe the beauty of this riad. It was four houses that were combined to become one large riad and the interior is absolutely spectacular. In addition to a lovely large courtyard and beautiful, reflecting pool there is also a rooftop deck that overlooks the city. Our rooms were incredibly comfortable and we really enjoyed our meals there as well. Highly highly recommend this for anyone.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So very helpful and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fredj Hotel & Spa

Tangier

This hotel was very nice and located in a very central area of Tangier. We were able to sit at the restaurant overlooking the water and had a really delightful meal. While the rooms were basic, they were clean and the interior of the hotel is very nice. I would absolutely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

We really enjoyed our tour of Chefchouen however, it was quite hot and the nature of the town and all of the stairs did make it a bit difficult for my mother to maneuver. Our guide was very kind and didn’t have so much about the town, and went out of his way to find a return to our Riyadh that had less steps. Really enjoyed this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Kamal was an amazing guide. His tour through the Medina really blew our minds and we learned so much. He was so patient and really explained so much about the culture of Fahs and morocco. I can’t recommend him enough.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food Tour

Marrakesh

Our guide and Tangier was really great and unfortunately for him we were pretty exhausted so we loved the Medina. He took us through, and we had some wonderful food that he introduced us to. But having just visit to the Medina in Fes, we were just exhausted. But I would definitely recommend booking a tour with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall a very good trip. Hotels were for the most part OK. Rooms were small as they tend to be in Europe. Last hotel in Lisbon was very dated. Tapas trip with guide in Barcelona was great. The one in Madrid was disappointing. Dinner at the host family in Lisbon was outstanding. Sightseeing suggestions were great. Flights, trains and transfers were all very good and on time. Thank you Karenina for setting up our vacation, thoroughly enjoyed.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Dom Carlos Park

Lisbon

Very small room and bathroom. Had to put suitcase on the floor to open making it impossible to walk around the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Location

Needed an airport hotel and it was right at the airport

Cleanliness & Comfort

Andante Hotel

Barcelona

Good hotel with an excellent buffet breakfast every morning. Professional staff. Room was spotless.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near all the attractions

Staff

Every employee was courteous and friendly and provided excellent service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

Bathroom was very small. Old fashioned high tub, hard to get in and out of at my age. Breakfast was good each morning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good location near attractions

Staff

Staff was great. Friendly and efficient

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom tiny

Eurostars Regina

Sevilla

Our room was fine. Breakfast was of low quality. Eggs appeared to be microwaved, very tasteless. Suasage was a mini hot dog and bacon was often undercooked and raw.

Authenticity & Character

Nicely decorated

Location

in walking distance to everything

Staff

Staff was good

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

What a beautiful church, should not be missed when in Barcelona. Advance tickets really helped out.

Quality of Experience

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

Our guide was Gislane ( I hope I spelled this correct ). She was the best. All five food stops were really good. I felt like I wouldn't need to eat or drink for a few days.

Quality of Experience

Guide and food

Food

Every stop we went to had delicious tapas

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gislane awesome!!!!!!!!!

Highlights of Old Madrid Walk

Madrid

Jorge was our guide, very informative

Quality of Experience

Took us to all kinds of areas we would have never visited on our own.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jorge was great

Seville Culinary Experience

Seville

Wasn't much of a culinary experience. One place we had our tapas outside of the restaurant as there was no room for us. First stop was good with good and plentiful food, the rest were OK at best.

Quality of Experience

Food

Only the first stop was good tapas wise, last stop was a dessert that was very good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Avi was our guide. Did a good job.

Flamenco Experience

Spain

What a great experience. Dancers, singers and musicians were very entertaining and gave it their all.

Quality of Experience

Great performances by all involved, they were very passionate about their craft

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk

Spain

Had a fantastic dinner at a host house. Margarita was our hostess and she was accompanied by her friend Amelia. They could not have been nicer. Three in our party arrived on time for the 7 o'clock dinner and three of us difficulty getting an Uber or a cab so we were about 20 minutes late. No problem with Margarita. She served wine to the early arrivals and waited for us to get there. The food and wine that Margarita served was wonderful. We had a vegetable soup appetizer, a cod casserole for dinner with a fresh salad and fresh cut fruit, coffee and cookies for dessert. We ate like royalty and both ladies made us very comfortable with good conversation in their home.

Quality of Experience

One of our best nights of the trip

Food

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our hostess was the best

All the local guides and drivers were excellent. A special thanks to Long who put the itinerary together and checked in with me each day to see how the day went and to prepare me for the next day. Long was on top of everything. He's also so courteous. I would recommend Long and Kim Kim to anyone looking to travel to Vietnam.

Hotel Reviews

Meliá Hanoi

Hanoi

This hotel was awesome. The breakfast buffet was better than any other hotel I have ever stayed at if my entire life.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The concierge XC (I think was his name) and Sarah were great and the front desk was great too. In fact, I spoke to the manager to congratulate them on their staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Era Cruises

Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Exactly what I was looking for.

Staff

Lee was terrific.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pilgrimage Village Hue

Hue

Authenticity & Character

Location

The location was really too far from the main centre of Hoi An.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anantara Hoi An Resort

Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good location to centre of activity.

Staff

Very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tirant Hotel

Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great central location

Staff

Very helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apparently, this was a 3 or 4 star hotel. It was not rated a 5 star hotel. It probably is not a 5 star, but it is well worth the cost. It had everything I needed at a lower cost.

Activity Reviews

City Tour & Water Puppet Experience

Hanoi

This was a surprise and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Ninh Binh (Hoa Lu & Trang An)

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay 3D2N by shuttle bus

Ha Long Bay

This is no one's fault, but we never saw the sun. It was disappointing to have cloudy days while we were on this trip.

Quality of Experience

Lee (Li) was an amazing host. He's the best.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Continue exploring Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay

Please see my prior review. It was meant for this.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lee (Li) was an amazing host.

Transport

Halong Bay - Hanoi 3D2N - by shuttle bus

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue Imperial City Sightseeing Full Day

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Hue - Danang - Hoi An sightseeing - Lantern making (B)

Hoi An

I'm not much into these activities but it was fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Cam Thanh Village

Hoi An

Fun activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Free & Easy

Hanoi

By this time, we had seen all we needed to see of Hanoi.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a private, two-person tour. We had a single driver for the whole trip, and specialty guides in each place. Everything was taken care of. Our trip was Casablanca->Volubilis->Fes->Rabat->Marrakech. First, our driver Mohamed, was such a decent and mature young man who drove us around the city and was available whenever we needed him. He was such good company, especially on the drives between cities. Even after the trip, we miss him. Our guide in Volubilis was very knowledgeable. We had a guide for two days in Fes, another Mohamed. We bonded with him immediately and it was like a good friend showing us around his favorite city. In Marrakech, we had Ismail as our guide who was an encyclopedia of knowledge. Between the two guides and our driver, we learned so much about the history of Morocco and it’s culture, including everyday family life. Megan arranged really interesting 5 star hotels for us in every place. I will say, the stay at the Royal Mansour at the end was a fabulous escape from reality (for us). Even though they really do cater to the rich and famous, they made us feel perfectly welcome and ensured we were happy and completely comfortable. Do splurge and stay there for a treat you’ll never experience again! I am so happy we found Megan and her company, Wanderlust Voyages, to arrange our trip. Her company seems to have a good sense of people’s character as everyone she arranged for us was decent, smart and a pleasure to be around. I’ve never had a better experience with a tour company.

Hotel Reviews

Palais Amani

Fès

Really lovely riad right in the Medina. Breakfasts and dinners in the garden were a real treat - an oasis from the excitement of the Medina.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful Moroccan tile and plasterwork. It feels like you are in another century, but comfortable.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Mansour Marrakech

Marrakech

This is not a five-star hotel — it is way above that scale. Your private riad and the gardens all around are beautifully designed.

Authenticity & Character

The riad is designed using authentic tiling and plaster techniques. The restaurants a truly amazing.

Location

Close to the Medina.

Staff

As gorgeous as this place is, the staff is even more remarkable. Even though they do cater to the rich and famous, that is not us, but they treated us so warmly and made us so comfortable. Every staff member we encountered made us so happy to be there. What a treat this whole experience was.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything is kept spotless. One night we ordered room service before going to bed. While we slept upstairs, the cleaned up downstairs. They never even missed a speck of dust.

Riad Dar Chrifa

Rabat

The hotel was beautiful and recently renovated. The location was great, close to the Medina. However, there was an issue with noise from a party happening downstairs. This hotel does salsa dancing nights, I recommend checking with the hotel prior to booking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Casablanca Hotel

Casablanca

This hotel was good, and we were tired from traveling. Breakfast was included and was a mix of Moroccan and Western options.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

During our trip, we visited the beautiful mosque which was truly a sight to behold. The architecture and intricate details were stunning, and it was fascinating to learn about the history and cultural significance of the mosque from our knowledgeable guide. This experience was definitely worth it, especially since it was conveniently located near our arrival point.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Morocco

We also had the opportunity to explore some amazing Roman ruins during our trip. Despite the hot weather, our guide was enthusiastic and well-informed about the history of the site. We marveled at the preserved tile floors and appreciated the chance to learn about the ancient civilization that once thrived there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Marrakech with a private guide

Marrakesh

Our guide took us on a tour of the medina, which was a complex maze filled with shops and local artisans. It was great to be shown authentic local products and handicrafts, rather than the mass-produced items found in other areas. Our guide also helped us navigate the winding streets, ensuring we didn't get lost in the process.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Our guide took us to various museums and guilds, where we were able to learn about and appreciate the local handicrafts. It was fascinating to see the skill and effort that goes into creating these unique items. We were able to get a taste of various aspects of the local culture and even made some purchases to take home as souvenirs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our time in Germany was more than we could ever have imagined! The trip plan put together for us was absolutely perfect! We really enjoyed the 2 days we spent with our guide, Miha. Day 1 was a walking tour of Berlin and Day 2, he drove us to Potsdam to see the palaces and so much more. He is so knowledgeable and kind. It was an absolute treat! He recommended we visit the Pergamon Museum, so after our trip to Potsdam, he dropped us off at Museum Island. We not only saw the museum, but the Panorama and the Neues Museum, as well. We were glad that the trip to the Eagle's Nest was cancelled and we were able to visit Salzburg. It was a beautiful, sunny and warm day for us to tour the Mirabelle Gardens and the fortress. The bus tour to the Neuschwanstein Castle was really nice. We appreciated the break from trying to figure out public transportation, but we were able to go on our own hike in the mountains and then join up for the tour and departure at the designated times. We were glad we weren't corralled from place to place in a big group without the ability to think for ourselves. Our tour guide in Weimar, Marion, was delightful! She is so knowledgeable and animated, so she made history come to life! We loved our time with her! Both hotels were excellent and the breakfast buffets were so wonderful!

I initially tried to plan our trip with US travel agents, but they could not put together a plan that was anything close to the options and personalization that Tomaz and his team did. They were always easy to communicate with and quick to respond - before the trip and while we were in country. All in all, this was a perfect trip for us!

Activity Reviews

Guided tour of Berlin

Berlin

Our guide, Miha, made this tour fascinating! He is exceptionally knowledgeable and so kind.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Miha loves what he does and it is apparent in the quality of his interactions

Transport

Day trip to Potsdam

Berlin

Our guide, Miha, made history come to life with his knowledge and personal connection.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Miha is outstanding!

Transport

Our personal concierge and our guides were very knowledgeable, very articulate and very fun. Our first guide, Simona, is an expert in all things Florence in particular the art and history of Florence. She set a standard for others to Follow.

Our Driver,Simone, to the Chianti region and Siena, added personal touches and really went above and beyond. We later learned that the girls in the winery we visited referred to him as Sean Connery! Gabriella in Piza was great, and Lucia in Levanto and the Cinque Terra was truly amazing and had a command of the Italian Train system, like no other. Even though our boat tour was cancelled due to wind ( thanks for the refund Fabio) Levanto and the Cinque Terra may have been our favorite!
Svetlana in Como was fun gave us a peek at Italian Pop Culture. The trip ended in Milan with Barbara, who knows art, in particular the Opera at La Scala, shopping and even taught us songs that Italian school children learned.

The drivers were all professional and on time and while the pace was rigorous everything just worked. I could not imagine having a better first trip to Italy!

My husband and I had an amazing 8 days in the Netherlands! I initially tried to book our trip with US agents, but because we wanted to visit the Vermeer Collection and attend other specific events, they were unable to provide what we were looking for. Bas and his team, however, provided exactly what we were hoping for and more! We enjoyed walking tours with very knowledgeable guides like Jelte in Amsterdam and biking through tulip fields and the sand dunes on our own near The Hague. Our schedule was a perfect balance of scheduled events and free time for our own interests. It was especially helpful to have Bas and his team available while we were in country to help with any questions we had. From the beginning to the end of this process, Bas has been easy to contact and quick to respond. This was our first time traveling in Europe and, although we were certain it would be wonderful, Bas created what we consider a perfect experience for us!

Activity Reviews

Zaanse Schans visit

The Netherlands

Having a background in farming and engineering, my husband particularly enjoyed our visit to the windmills because he was able to discuss specifics about the inner workings of the mechanics and processes. This is not to be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Having the OV-Chip card made our travel much easier.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Museum Card Netherlands

The Netherlands

This was great to have included in our trip documents! We went to many museums, even the Panorama in The Hague, which our hotel receptionist recommended. It was unbelievable— and free! because we had this pass!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We thoroughly enjoyed our whole Costa Rica experience. The wildlife, people, hospitality and food were fantastic. All the guides displayed a wealth of knowledge and spoke very good English. We were particularly impresssed with Randy at Selva Verde, Kike at Aguila de Osa and Agneli at Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge who stepped in at the last minute due to the illness of our intended guide, Carlos, who had nonetheless got up to take us to see quetzals at 5.30am. Agneli then took as for an unforgettable hike up around the local peaks. A particular shout out to Guillermo, the manager at Aguila de Osa who rescued my phone following an unfortunate dip in the sea!
Amongst so many great experiences, particular trip highlights were watching howler monkeys in full voice at Tortuguero and snorkelling at Cano Island.
Transportation pick ups and car hire all worked faultlessly. Everyone at Serendipity, the local tour agents, responded well and very quickly to all our many queries.
What a wonderful country! The UK has many lessons to learn about conservation from Costa Rica.

Gelu (our guide) and Lapa (our porter) were wonderful and the trek was exactly what we needed.