Kimkim Trip Reviews

The view from here is amazing. This is my second trip to this ethereal land within a year of each other. First was the Southern provinces of Patagonia. Which lead to the craving to see so much more of South America. The Northwest regions of Argentina’s frontier lands, to stand on the Tropic of Capricorn, And who better to make it happen than my trusted friends at KimKim. Ana, my darling one of kind planner. Give her your wish list and she will make it happen. Take it from me, I’m hard to please and Ana didn’t fail me on this second go-a-around.

I can truly say that I’ve managed to see a forceful awe-inspiring wonder that is Argentina’s Northern provinces. Mendoza, Tunuyán, Luján de Cuyo, Salta, Cafayate, Maimará, Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca, Pucara de Tilcara, San Salvador de Jujuy, Guachipas, the Wetlands of Pellegrini, Lago Iberá. Folks you have to be in good physical shape for the wetlands, (no back injuries, no anxious behavior, or motion sickness if you are prone.) As this road is treacherous to getting to your destination. Approximately a 7 hour drive from Misiones to Corrientes to Pellegrini. But so worth it. If you are game. The beauty and its powerful effect of mindfulness and tranquility is absolutely incredible. A land untouched by time. Animal enthusiasts will sure want to experience this land.

A sincere shout out to the guides, drivers, and hotel staffs who become part of my family while visiting and exploring their beautiful country. Daniel- a kind sprint his dedication in getting up at an un-godly hour of the morning to take me to the airport in order to catch my domestic flights to my destinations. Ramiro my triple AAA 1# Trekking and mountain explorer who took me to 4500ft above sea level elevations just to catch a view of the highlands and into the life of the Vicuñas territory. Guided me through the Salinas Grandes Salt Flats, showed me the beautiful history of Andean culture and the ruins of Pucara de Ticara as old as 5000 bc. And managed to share a meal with me and my family in the Pena’s of Salta to drink and laugh hysterically as we listened to folklore music and the history of samba culture, where the youth of today still is passionate of its music and heritage that is Salta to this day. A beautiful and kind city full of music, dance, and history, and the best empanadas this side of my beautiful Mendoza. I can go on and on, but you need to experience this for yourselves. I’ve just given you a small taste of what South American means to me. My pachamama. Love to all. Sandra Rawlings

Hotel Reviews

Las Marias Boutique Hotel

Tilcara

PROS breakfast service - perfect. spa services - loved it. CONS WIFI - since we are in such a remote town, the service was nonexistent, was difficult to communicate with family

Authenticity & Character

great views of the mountains.

Location

very out of the way hotel, but close to town we can walk and shop

Staff

pleasant and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

very hot room during the nights. No AC. but understandable, nights are cool.

Grace Cafayate

Cafayate

PROS Excellent. the villa met all my expectations. Clean, beautiful grounds. everything contained on property Food excellent. Servers - Patricia - lovely in our first night evening meal. the ASADO under the stars - AMAZING !!!!! catered our every need. Too much food, we shared with the staff afterwards, so that it would not be wasted. They were so Grateful. Pottery class - Loved it. Personal attention. CONS they should offer more amenities with the villas, I was fortunate enough that I didn't have to pay for a 20 minute bike ride, they comp me on that. but they should provide other amenities within the property.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Balcón de la Plaza

Salta

the staff are excellent. the room and balcony, the authenticity of the hotel was my favorite. 1892 built. WOW!!!!!!!!! the charm and character is unsurpassed. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

10++++++++++

Location

right in the heart of town. PERFECT !!!!!!

Staff

charming and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

No complaints

Aguapé Lodge

Colonia Carlos Pellegrini

PROS the food is excellent the full board experience is un matched. when it comes to food. I commend the chief. 5-stars. The room is clean and for a ranch. Activities the best - especially the horseback riding guide - went out of his way to show us monkeys. CONS WIFI needs to be broaden to many lost signals especially if you haven guests that do a lot of writing drive is long and unpleasant. Being kind.

Authenticity & Character

Location

the roads may be too much for seniors to take. I would give them a disclaimer of the hazards and the length of road travel. I've heard stories from Oscar the driver on a particular traveler that was not to happy with the experience. It's just to protect the agency against any unlawful lawsuits due to injuries.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Hotel

Tunuyán

food is excellent, and the staff very attentive to my needs. I recommend that they purchase golf carts for those that are older and can't get around. The on-sight activities are fantasic, archery glass, and bikes a plus, horse back riding and the villas are top notch. the cleaning staff are excellent. worth the price.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit Salinas Grandes

Argentina

Lot's of tourists, and super hot when the sun beats down on the salt flats. But a sight to behold, on how they mine the salts from this volcanic paradise. Make sure you take protection and drink plenty of water the elevation is brutal to those that push themselves too hard in this valley. you reach height of approx. 4200km back to 2500km within hours, so try to have fun without the expense of pushing your body to hard, slow and easy wins the race.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colors of Humuhuaca

Purmamarca

local town is full of artisans selling their wears. the food is simple but tasty. fall weather in the afternoon is warm and sleepy. and the nights are cool and entertaining. lots to see and do, trekking and to see the Cerro las Senoritas and behold the beauty that the multi color limestone mountains show is breathtaking. can say enough of my experiences here in the land of wonder.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It's wine time!

Cafayate

Quality of Experience

I can't stop raving about the smaller wineries in this region. Salta's Torrentes wines are one of a kind, especially at this little winery that specializes in sparkling wines. Burbujas Winery. I met Andres and his lovely wife. His family owned winery is custom to small runs but his story and legacy from the Noruega blood line is what you need to stop and listen as he describes his craft as enólogo. And how he nurtures the land, Ecosistma. and cradles his craft. I highly recommend these type of vineyards to the larger ones

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Road trip to Cafayate

Argentina

the drive didn't phase me. when you love this country the way I do. the hours fly by and when you have great guide and licensed drivers like KimKim's partners even better. They stop for photo ops and continue on. the Devils Throat, EPIC and to hear Salteños sing the national anthem of Buenos Aires, brought tears to my eyes as their voices filled the cavern. No words.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic road from Cafayate to Purmamarca

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of the City - Discovering Salta's Hidden Treasures

Salta

From the 1892 Colonial Mission Style hotel, to the town square with all its shopping. I was fortunate enough to see Salta celebrating their Anniversary this day. Parade of Gauchos and China's on traditional attire, dancing through the town of Salta, gauchos yipping and hollering while the crowd watched in awe. Taking pictures at the marvel coming down the street. Our guide Ramiro, knew one of the gauchos and flagged him over to where we were on the steps of the Cathedral and I took a picture with a gaucho. Getting my shoes shined by an old world traditional back in the 40's was a treat. Eating pastel de papa, at an outdoor cafe while a troop of young Salteños matching through the town in uniform and wearing the Salta flag, all ages from 5 to 18. Wow!!!! can't get any perfect than that. Late night shopping, make sure you bring extra luggage to carry it all back with you.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canoeing adventure

Iberá

can't rate this adventure, as we didn't get to experience. due to weather, but we had an alternative by small boat where we managed to see numerous flora and fauna.

Horseback riding!

Iberá

Personal attention on this ride. I truly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the guide came to the ranch and we rode straight to the everglades. Nothing can match this experience. Truly EPIC.

Transport

Lujan de Cuyo Wine Experience

Mendoza

Marcos, was a great. And to see him again, after last years wine tasting and he remembered me. I was taken back that he would remember our talk and asked about my family.

Quality of Experience

Food

lots of quality wines and brought home a case.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

SUV straight to the winery. Perfect. Sol also accompanied us there.

Welcome to Iberá!

Iberá

the Estancia where we stayed was amazing, and having the VIP experience only 2 people in a large ranch that overlooks the wetlands, rain or shine, just the vast beauty of this place sets it apart. The wildlife....in AWE.

Quality of Experience

I love the wildlife and the solace of the wetlands, land, and forests.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Oscar - top notch experienced driver over 20 years driving through these road conditions. Commendable.

Transport

for future travels, please make them aware of the long drive and the rough terrain to get there, for safety concerns.

Cooking Class at Casa de Uco

Mendoza

Had to cancel this experience. It would have been great if....

Sunset Horseback Riding in Mendoza

Mendoza

long ride through the mountain terrain, very narrow trails, but amazing to view the Mendoza valley below. Be prepared on dusty trails, and cool weather. Prepare to gallop at some points on the trail.

Quality of Experience

would love to see 2 gauchos on trails, one in front and the other at the back end to help manage travelers expectations and help move the horses along if they are not comfortable with riding.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

earlier start on the pick up time of guests in order to make sure that the ride is not set in the dark when coming back for the Asado.

When I began the planning process for our trip to Italy months ago I was referred to KimKim. One of the best recommendations I have ever received! I began working with Chris who worked with me for weeks to come up with the perfect trip, the perfect tours and the perfect accommodations. Chris was super easy to communicate with and work with and he was very responsive to all my questions. We spent 12 days in Italy visiting Naples, Rome, Florence and Venice. From the minute we arrived to the minute we left we knew that Chris and Maria, our wonderful Italy contact, had everything under control! Every reservation, every tour, every hotel transfer, every train ride, water taxi ride, etc. was planned out with precision. No one was ever late, no tour guide was anything less than absolutely amazing, and all of our hotel accommodations exceeded our expectations. I will not hesitate to use KimKim for all of our future travel. They simply made it so easy and so enjoyable! Kudos to Chris and Maria for making this trip to Italy truly the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel White

Rome, Italy

During my three-night stay in Rome, I stayed at Hotel White. The hotel was not my favorite as it felt too modern and not authentic to Italy. One meal recommendation from the concierge was disappointing. Not particularly impressed but it served the purpose.

Authenticity & Character

A bit too modern for my taste ... especially in Italy. I was expecting more "old world charm"!

Location

Really IS in the middle of everything!

Staff

Do not ask the front desk for restaurant recommendations!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Olimpia

Venice

In Venice, I stayed at Hotel Olimpia for two nights. The hotel was charming and unique, located on the fifth floor with a cozy atmosphere. Ours was the only room of the floor and almost felt like being in a cottage. The breakfasts were delightful, and overall, it was a fantastic stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de La Ville

Florence

We were traveling with our daughter and the accommodations (for 3) were perfect! Beautiful hotel! Great location! Breakfast was amazing! Staff very professional and helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli - MGallery

Naples

We were traveling with our daughter and the accommodations (for 3) were perfect! Beautiful hotel! Great location! Breakfast was amazing! Staff very professional and helpful!

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully appointed!

Location

Close to everything!

Staff

Very helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire property was clean and inviting ... very nice to "come home to" after a day of Naples ;)

Activity Reviews

Colosseum - Palatine Hill - Roman Forum

Rome

The tour guides were extremely informative, and I enjoyed every moment of it. It was a wonderful experience.

Pompeii guided tour & wine tasting paired with food on Mt. Vesuvius

Naples

The tour was fantastic, and the guides were very knowledgeable. The wine tasting was great, and overall, I had no complaints.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This is our second time using kimkim and I would not travel abroad without it in the future. This particular time we traveled to the Netherlands and the last trip was to France. We knew very little about each destination other than a few specific places we wanted to visit. Emma made our Netherlands experience flawless. She laid out a perfect schedule for us with time built in just to explore on our own but still being able to see the places we wanted. I did add a couple things at the last minute and she performed some magic to make it happen. She was very quick to respond to any questions that we had, both before and during our vacation. I would highly recommend Emma to plan your trip to this area. And because of the ease of planning, the layout of the travel plans, and the overall experience, I highly recommend kimkim for any travel. I will not travel abroad without it in the future.

We had a wonderful time in Amsterdam. Emma communicated well and set everything up so we didn’t have to worry at all. Our food tour was excellent and Dirk was a wonderful guide. Our boat tour was very informative and relaxing. Overall we were very pleased with our trip and the service provided by Kim Kim and Emma.

Hotel Review

Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel

Amsterdam

Excellent location, comfortable beds, very helpful and attentive staff. We had breakfast and dinner at the restaurant and their food is delicious. We were only mildly disappointed in the limited room service offerings, however the staff recommended and delivered to our room Uber Eats. Check in was easy and we were happy the room was ready when we arrived in the early afternoon. We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Amsterdam - Private Grand Dutch Food & History Tour

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Marken, Volendam, Edam, and Zaanse Schans

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amsterdam - Private canal cruise to Van Gogh Museum

The Netherlands

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public transport pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Emma set us up with an unlimited travel pass. It worked great and we were able to go anywhere we needed to go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ashley did a great job for us.
From planning the trip, to the necessary paperwork. And once we were in Vietnam she was very attentive to our needs. She made sure all arrangements were followed through and met expectations.
Her involvement really allowed us to fully enjoy our trip to Vietnam!

The Serendipity team of Holden, Nancy and Wilman provided excellent advice and support for our trip to Costa Rica, both before and during our three weeks in CR. They were knowledgeable, friendly and always responsive. The Kimkim website made it easy to plan our visit and communicate. We had to make a few changes ‘in real time’; these were done promptly and professionally. Thanks for helping us have a great experience in Costa Rica!

Hotel Reviews

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

Very nice hotel. Excellent staff and restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Charm

Location

Easy to get to; near other restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

Very comfortable, clean. Excellent staff. Easy in and out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the airport. A little tricky to find on googlemaps.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Very nice hotel. Beautiful views to the ocean.

Authenticity & Character

Layout of hotel restaurant, pool area and our room.

Location

Staff

Randall in the restaurant was great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Monteverde Lodge & Gardens

Monteverde

Nice room. Pretty grounds with trails. Comfortable restaurant and pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Natural setting with birds and some small mammals.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Nice room. Friendly, helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Off the main road. Pretty grounds.

Staff

Very attentive. Helpful during a temporary illness.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

Beautiful room, great hotel staff, excellent food, very nice pool, pretty grounds with hiking trails. Saw a sloth when we arrived and colorful birds every day at breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Design, rooms, staff, common areas, wildlife on grounds

Location

Lots to do and see. Rio Celeste river.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything!

Activity Reviews

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Excellent variety of plants and animals. Awesome butterfly area. Very good lunch, too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Excellent hike with lots to see and learn.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Andres was great!

Transport

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Private Hike

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

A strenuous hike of 3+ hours. Go early!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide helped us with trail challenges, shared cultural info., , not much re: flora and fauna.

Transport

Tapir Valley Nature Reserve Night Walk

Bijagua / Rio Celeste

Very cool night hike! Saw tapir and her baby.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ecocentro Danaus Guided Rainforest Walk (without Transportation)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent guide. Interesting place. Rained all morning!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had an amazing trip in Ireland! We travelled from Dublin to Cork to Killarney to Dingle to Galway and finished in Athlone. We met lovely people, ate great food and stayed in comfortable accommodations. One tip is to be prepared for any kind of weather although we had mostly sunny skies 😊. We can’t wait to visit again!

Hotel Reviews

Hodson Bay Hotel Athlone

Athlone

The Hodson Bay Hotel was very beautiful and full of character. The staff was friendly and suggested and offered reservations for complimentary whiskey tasting which we enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clayton Hotel Cork City

cork

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ross

killarney

The Ross has a lot of character, friendly staff and we stayed in a beautiful suite. We were able to use the swimming accommodations at their sister hotel and the hotel is centrally located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Green

Dublin

We loved the Green and immediately felt welcome and comfortable in our accommodations. The green is centrally located and had lovely staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel is centrally located

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menlo Hotel

Galway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dingle Skellig Hotel

Farran, Dingle

The Dingle Skelling was very comfortable and beautiful. The staff was friendly and the restaurant was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Galway Cathedral

Galway

Quality of Experience

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Gap of Dunloe & Lakes of Killlarney Boat Tour

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sailing in Kinsale Harbour

Kinsale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Owen was very patient and knowledge and made sailing great!

Self-Guided Guinness Storehouse Experience

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Hidden homes of Dublin

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Transport

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

Dublin

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Entry into the Emigration Museum EPIC

Dublin

Quality of Experience

We had an incredible trip. Tricia was very helpful during the planning process, incorporating our wishes and adding suggestions to create a fantastic and sometimes complicated itinerary tailored for us. She was patient during a lot of back-and-forth and was able to pivot when we made adjustments before our departure. On the actual trip, we were always well informed on where to be and what was next. For one exception — during one day's confusion about a booking confirmation — Tricia was very responsive on her day off, helping us get things sorted out.

We were able to pack a lot (but not TOO much) into a 9-day trip, and would absolutely recommend KimKim and Tricia to anyone planning a trip to Norway.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

A comfortable place to stay between flights. Somewhat long wait to check in. Advertised photos of a "family room" led us to expect partition walls that we didn't have in our room. Still, amount of space was good. Excellent included breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manshausen

Leinesfjord

What a special place, what special people who run it. We made incredible memories with fun excursions. The staff was very accommodating in adjusting the menu for our children. Know that the mountain hike is a bit more strenuous than we expected, but was wonderful all the same.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

A very special spot in the world, with great charm and unbelievable views. Finding our cabin was a bit confusing, as it was easy to confuse our cabin number with a private home with the same address. Upon check-out, we were taken aback at having to strip the linens and take out the trash ourselves (or accept a penalty cleaning fee), but that was not enough to deter from our fond memories of this stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bjørvika Apartments

Oslo

Fantastic location, convenient access to sights and transportation, great amount of space. Bare bones with no services. Cheap furnishings and thin walls. Having to go to a nearby office to get the key and then double back to the apartment is no fun when you're tired from travel, but the access was simple enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

A nice woman checked us in and gave us directions to our building, but there was no interaction with staff beyond that.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and as-advertised, but bedding was not especially comfortable. Towels were few and small.

Activity Reviews

Fishing Trip with a Guide

Norway

The experience we had landing a monstrous halibut was certainly more luck than anything else. Still, even if we had caught nothing, the location and staff and equipment had the makings of a great fishing trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lofoten by horse: Guided tour

Norway

A beautiful tour with sweet horses and lovely guides. A real highlight of our trip. The restaurant is excellent as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Taste of Oslo's Culture and Cuisine

Oslo

Less food than we expected, but the walk was scenic and our guide pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day hike with a guide

Norway

A beautiful hike with varied terrain. Incredible mountaintop views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a terrific time on our trip to Costa Rica. Randall was very helpful and everything he organized happened like clockwork.

Hotel Reviews

Mar Inn Costa Rica

Monteverde Costa Rica

Great place to stay in Monteverde. Big, clean and comfortable rooms. Balcony with a view. Fun, friendly, informative staff.

Authenticity & Character

Cute place with nice staff. Loved the sister hotel next door where we had breakfast was call Hotel Don Taco and they had a good bar with unique drinks. The resident dogs were the best!

Location

Very close to downtown. Need to climb a hill to get back to hotel, but not a big issue.

Staff

Super friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, big and comfortable rooms

Arenal Country Inn

La Fortuna

Beautiful hotel grounds with individual bungalows for rooms. Loved all the gorgeous plants and flowers. The staff was super nice and friendly. They went out of their way for us. We arrived very late at night, but someone was there to greet us and take us to our room. The front desk staff was very helpful and friendly, too.

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous plants and flowers and individual bungalow rooms.

Location

Very close to downtown

Staff

Super nice and friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable rooms.

Activity Review

Maleku Tribe Village Visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

I enjoyed learning about the culture of the tribe. What they eat, how they dressed, their music and their language.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Matias was extremely knowledgeable about the places we traveled to and so enthusiastic and helpful in planning our trip to Chile and Argentina! Even for my million questions, Matias always provided timely feedback and was willing to hop on a video call, which made the trip and planning feel that much more personable. Couldn't have had a better experience, the trip was so well organized. We had an app to track our daily activities, pickups, and contact info, and everybody from Matias to the lodging front desk to our tour guides were so well coordinated.

Elena did an amazing job of communicating with us throughout the entire process of itinerary creation, booking, and execution. Our guides were very knowledgeable and Elena always provided their contact information prior to the Tours. Two of our best guides were Mariapaola and Riccardo. Mariapaola was really amazing as our Rome Tour guide, our driver Riccardo, took us from Napoli to Sorrento gave us great local info along the way. This trip was a great balance between education and relaxation for our family of 5. Thank you Elena for customizing for us.

What an incredible trip! Our group of 6 family and friends had the best time in Morocco. First, when we starting booking this trip we were connected with Ali. He did a fantastic job creating the itinerary and answering all of our questions. Then Said was our emergency contact and while we didn’t need to interact much, it was always pleasant and professional. We were LUCKY enough to have two driver guides in Saadane and trainee Hamza. Saadane was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions during the trip and took our safety very seriously. Thank you brother! Hamza was always helping during the trip translating and buying roadside fruit and taking photos (have him take your photos!!!). We all agreed he will make a great guide! Chefchaouen was stunning and Saadane showed us some wonderful spots there. Then on to Fes. Our Riad was A+ and we spent a day with our local guide Mo Mo. He showed us all the historical spots and gave all the details. Then also brought us to all the best spots to shop! On to the desert! The Sahara is breathtakingly beautiful and the guide and experiences we had there I will never forget. Ride the camels and visit the Nomads. You won’t be disappointed. Ait Ben Haddou is a great pit stop on the way to Marrakesh. The Red City is another highlight and the energy in the Medina in undeniable. We got to experience both a walking and food tour with Hanan and it was such a treat to get to know her. She was so fun and I’m so grateful that we got to have deeper conversations on the second tour. She showed us all the great food stalls! Don’t leave Morocco without heading to the Hammam for a scrub! After 10 glorious days we had a tearful goodbye (maybe that was just me). Sending lots of love to our brothers Saadane and Hamza from MN and WI.

Hotel Reviews

Les Jardins De La Koutoubia

Marrakech

Very nice hotel in a great location. Just walk right out into the souks and enjoy great shopping and street food. Head right around the corner and get a Moroccan crepe with olives in it from Fatima!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was always asking for our room number which made us feel like we didn't belong there. Otherwise generally friendly and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

One of the most fun experiences of my life. Driving the 4x4s out to the camp is super fun and the drivers have some fun with it on the dunes. Staff are very welcoming and accomodating. The food it great! Tents only have AC at night but that was fine as we were out partaking in all the fun activities. Music and fire at night is really special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff are so friendly and willing to make adjustments to make your stay special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable glamping accomodations!

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

A great spot to stop on the way to Marrakesh from the desert. We ate at the restaurant on site which was convenient after a long day of driving.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to Ait Benhaddou.

Staff

Easy check-in and friendly staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room as a little small, but we only stayed for 1 night so it wasn't a big deal.

Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux

Fès

This is one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed at and loved the rooftop bar and terrace.

Authenticity & Character

Stunning details.

Location

You have to walk a little way through the alleys to get to the hotel. Not a big deal and reception will come out to help with the bags.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly. They made us breakfast to go the morning we had to leave because it was too early for breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable.

Dar Jasmine

Chefchaouen

We didn't get to spend a lot of time at the hotel, but it was beautiful and clean and the view are spectacular. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views of the whole city.

Staff

Helpful and friendly staff. Carried our bags up all the stairs!

Cleanliness & Comfort

comfortable bed and great shower pressure!

Activity Reviews

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Experiencing the Erg Chebbi was something I will never forget. I enjoyed meeting the Nomad family and playing with the kids, they were so welcoming. I wish we would have know more about the family and any gifts we could have brought to them.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Three Hour Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

This is a great activity if you love to cook or enjoy good food! Really fun to work with the chefs!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Hanan was a fantastic guide and all the food was super good!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

Do this experience! Spending time with the family was so special. We ate and talked and asked so many questions and wore kaftans and danced. Very memorable.

Quality of Experience

Food

We loved experiencing the family recipes and traditions!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day 1 Arrival: We especially enjoyed the prompt and efficient pick-up service at the airport. The transportation to the hotel was comfortable as well.
Areas for Improvement:

Accommodation: While we understand the need for efficient logistics, MJ Suites Hotel fell short of our expectations. The hotel seemed dated and lacked amenities. Fortunately, our short stay minimized any inconvenience.

Transportation: We requested a comfortable bus for the entire group. Traveling in 3 cramped vans caused discomfort, especially with limited legroom. A larger, more comfortable van with ample legroom would have been greatly appreciated.

Itinerary Planning: We began planning our itinerary in January 2023 and booked flights in August 2023. We were disappointed to learn upon arrival that the whale shark watching activity couldn't be done on Sundays. Perhaps including Paullete, who is based in the Philippines and familiar with local restrictions, in the planning stages could have helped avoid this scheduling conflict. Additionally, considering the travel time for those arriving from Australia (approximately 12 hours flying time + 4 hours transit) and the limited sleep in the hotel MJ suites (around 20 minutes), a slightly later start time on the first day would have allowed for more rest and a smoother transition into the trip.

Day 2 & 3 Positive Feedback:

Guide: We truly appreciated our guide, Raymond. He was friendly, jovial, and approachable, making the experience enjoyable.
Canyoneering: The safety precautions and assigning one guide per person for canyoneering exceeded our expectations and highlighted MangoTiger's commitment to safety, which is commendable, especially in Asia. The lunch was delicious with special mention to the extra sweet mangoes. 
Hale Manna Resort: We were happy with the spacious rooms, ample luggage storage, clean and well-equipped bathrooms, a nice pool, and good food at Hale Manna Resort.
Areas for Improvement:

Transportation: Traveling in 3 cramped vans with limited legroom on Day 2 was quite uncomfortable, especially for a long distance in spacious roads. A comfortable, larger bus would have significantly improved the experience. Additionally, the driving style of two of the drivers was aggressive, adding to the discomfort.

Accommodation:

While Hale Manna Resort was good, St. Mark's rooms lacked sufficient space for luggage storage. While the lift, breakfast, and proximity to attractions were appreciated, the rooms themselves fell short of our expectations.
Itinerary Planning:

We encountered some resistance from Paullette regarding using the pre-booked rooms for the photographers when some guests from Dubai did not join. These rooms were already paid for, and Paulette shouldn't have objected.
Similarly, there was hesitation from Paullette to simply adjust the photographers' accommodation for the whale shark watching activity in place of the absent guests.
Suggestions:

Including Paullete, who has local knowledge, in the earlier stages of itinerary planning might help avoid scheduling conflicts like the whale shark watching on Sunday.
Offering a larger, more comfortable van or bus option for longer journeys would greatly enhance the travel experience.

Day 4: Cebu City to Bohol Island & Bohol Scuba Diving
Transportation: The comfortable, spacious luxury bus with push-back seats for the Cebu to Bohol transfer significantly improved the travel experience compared to the previous day's vans.

Ferry: We enjoyed the ferry ride itself; however, there was a discrepancy regarding luggage fees. The itinerary contract stated that all domestic transfers, including ferry tickets, were included in the trip cost. Yet, upon boarding the ferry, Paulette and Raymond requested additional payments for luggage (100 PHP for large bags and 50 PHP for small bags, totaling over 2500 PHP). This unexpected expense felt like an attempt to extract extra money and contradicted the terms of the contract. Finally Raymond and Paullette agreed to follow the contract as per the itinerary since we objected.

Accommodation: Our stay at Twin Tides Panglao unfortunately fell short of our expectations. While we appreciate the polite and helpful nature of the receptionist and kitchen staff, several aspects of the hotel detracted from our overall experience.

Room Size and Amenities: Both the double and triple rooms were quite small, creating a cramped feeling for our group, especially considering we had two absent members. Since we had already paid for their room, we discussed with Paulette utilizing that space for the photographers. She initially agreed.

However, due to the congestion in the triple rooms, we still required two additional rooms to comfortably accommodate three extra guests. While we understood this might have been a MangoTiger planning oversight, we were surprised when they only offered one additional room. This meant asking the photographers to vacate the room we had already paid for, causing them inconvenience..

Air Conditioning: The outdated window AC units lacked proper thermostats, forcing us to keep them running even when not in the room. Additionally, the lack of a second key card meant relying on reception to switch on the AC during our absence.

Convenience: The unavailability of room phones and a lift made communication with reception and luggage transportation inconvenient.

Breakfast: The limited set breakfast menu with few choices did not offer the variety we were hoping for.

Positive Aspects:

Hotel Staff: We appreciate the receptionist's politeness and helpfulness, as well as the kitchen staff's willingness to prepare breakfast early on our check-out day.

Social Gathering: The hotel staff kindly allowed us to use the reception hall and pool area for socializing, as the rooms themselves lacked space.

Laundry Services: The lack of laundry services at the hotel was an inconvenience for a three-night stay .

Scuba Diving: The highlight of our stay in Bohol was the amazing scuba diving experience. The organizers prioritized safety standards, which we truly appreciate, and we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

Overall: While we appreciate the surprise birthday dinner and cake arranged by MangoTiger, the accommodation at Twin Tides Panglao significantly impacted our experience during the longest leg of our trip to a beach town. We believe a more suitable beachfront hotel option could have significantly enhanced our overall satisfaction. However, the exceptional scuba diving experience saved the day!

Day 5, 6 & 7 .
Positive Feedback:

Transportation: The continued use of the comfortable luxury bus for these days was much appreciated.
Guide: We enjoyed having Emilu as our guide. He was intelligent, joyful, pleasant, and approachable, making the experience more enjoyable.
Loboc River Cruise Lunch: The cruise lunch on the Loboc River was a highlight – it was super awesome, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Balicasag Island: The island hopping trip and dolphin watching were good experiences. The brunch served on Balicasag Island was particularly appreciated for its variety, including seafood specialties like seaweed, sea urchin, crab, shrimp, and delicious mangoes and other fruits.
Domestic Flight: The foresight to include extra check-in baggage allowance for the domestic flight from Bohol was a valuable addition and helped avoid any last-minute issues.
Areas for Improvement:

Bohol Tarsier Conservation:  While we understand the importance of keeping time to reach the river cruise, a slightly longer time allocated for shopping at the souvenir shop would have been appreciated as it seemed to have a good selection.

Snorkelling Equipment:  Unfortunately, a few members of our group experienced faulty snorkeling equipment, preventing them from fully enjoying the snorkeling activity. It would be beneficial to ensure all equipment is properly checked before each use.

Overall:

Days 5, 6, and 7 offered a good mix of activities and experiences.  The comfortable transportation, Emilu's guidance, and the enjoyable meals made these days memorable.  We appreciate the effort to include the extra baggage allowance for the flight.

Day 8 & 9 , Trasure mountain and Mount Pinatubo.

Transportation:

We understand a large bus might not be suitable for the final stretch to Treasure Mountain due to the narrow road.

However, our disappointment regarding transportation continued. Despite the spacious roads on Manila airport to Clark ( 3 vans) and to Mount Pinatubo , we were again assigned two cramped vans ( instead of 3 ) for 16 guests. This caused significant discomfort, especially considering our lack of sleep and exhaustion from the early morning start for Mt. Pinatubo.  These vans were of such poor quality that they seemed better suited for short-distance hotel shuttles, not long journeys.

The situation worsened upon returning from the trek.  Exhausted and yearning for rest after minimal sleep the previous night, we were further inconvenienced by the third vehicle provided.  A small MPV like a Toyota Innova lacked the space to accommodate the luggage of 18 people (both check-in and carry-on).  Many suitcases were left outside the vehicle.

Reaching out to MangoTiger contacts yielded no immediate response.  The absence of a guide on this day further compounded the problem.  Finally, after contacting a driver who provided a different contact number, we were promised a replacement van (a solution that seemed like basic common sense).  However, this resulted in a frustrating wait of 1 hour and 45 minutes in the hotel lobby, adding to our fatigue from the trek.

We also believe the itinerary planning could have been optimized.  Clark has an international airport with connections to various destinations.  Since we booked our return flight from Manila after receiving the itinerary, a more experienced travel planner like Thao could have suggested a return flight from Clark. This would have saved us a long unnecessary travel back to Manila, allowing for much-needed rest at the same hotel upon returning from Pinatubo.  
Mt. Pinatubo Tour:

Despite the transportation issues, the Mt. Pinatubo trek itself was an amazing experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. The Aeta community guides and drivers were very friendly and helpful. The base camp guide was knowledgeable but could have benefited from additional training. The packed breakfast and lunch were satisfactory
Accommodation:

The room at Clark was outdated but offered sufficient space and had a good bathroom. However, the lack of a lift might be inconvenient for some guests..
Treasure Mountain:

Schedule: The activities at Treasure Mountain seemed poorly timed.  Ideally, they could have begun after 3:30 PM to avoid the hottest part of the day.  Unfortunately, they closed at 3:30 PM when the sun became cooler, preventing our participation.

Facilities:  The tents were good, but the additional 30 PHP charge for mobile phone charging felt like an unnecessary expense in this day and age.  The bathrooms were clean and sufficient in number.

Food: The dinner and breakfast were satisfactory.

ATV Ride: The ATV ride itself was an amazing experience despite the age and stiffness of the vehicles.

Guide: Our guide, Neu, appeared to be a last-minute replacement and lacked essential knowledge about the itinerary and activities. This significantly impacted our experience.

Day 10: Last Day in Manila

Positive Feedback:

Accommodation: We appreciate the last-minute upgrade to LubD Hostel, which exceeded our expectations for a hostel. The rooms were clean and comfortable.

Farewell Dinner: The surprise dinner arranged by Adam the night before our departure was a delightful and delicious way to end our trip.

Areas for Improvement:

Breakfast: Although we appreciate the upgrade to LubD Hostel, there was a discrepancy regarding breakfast. We were initially promised breakfast included on the check-out day, but upon arrival, we were charged 300 PHP each. It would be helpful to ensure clear communication regarding what's included in the accommodation package to avoid any surprises.

Itinerary Planning: As mentioned previously, considering Clark has an international airport, the itinerary planning could have been optimized to include a return flight from Clark instead of Manila. This would have saved us a day of unnecessary travel back to Manila, allowing for more rest and a smoother conclusion to the trip.

Overall:

Despite the minor breakfast confusion and missed opportunity for a more efficient return travel option, we appreciate the last-minute upgrade to a better hostel and the surprise farewell dinner. These gestures positively impacted the final impression of our trip.

Additional Thoughts:

Overall Experience with MangoTiger Tours:

Overall, we had a memorable experience in the Philippines with MangoTiger Tours. While there were a few areas for improvement, particularly regarding transportation choices, communication on some occasions, and missed opportunities for itinerary optimization, the positive aspects like the friendly guides, some of the accommodations, and the unforgettable activities outweighed the shortcomings. We would recommend MangoTiger Tours to others with the suggestion of considering these areas for future improvements, especially regarding transportation options and clear communication throughout the planning and execution of the itinerary.

Regards
Saneej

Hotel Reviews

Z Hostel

Manila

Did not satyed

Clarkton Hotel

Clark

The room at Clark was outdated but offered sufficient space and had a good bathroom. However, the lack of a lift might be inconvenient for some guests

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Twin Tides Panglao

Bohol

Our stay at Twin Tides Panglao unfortunately fell short of our expectations. While we appreciate the polite and helpful nature of the receptionist and kitchen staff, several aspects of the hotel detracted from our overall experience. Room Size and Amenities: Both the double and triple rooms were quite small, creating a cramped feeling for our group, especially considering we had two absent members. Since we had already paid for their room, we discussed with Paulette utilizing that space for the photographers. She initially agreed. However, due to the congestion in the triple rooms, we still required two additional rooms to comfortably accommodate three extra guests. While we understood this might have been a MangoTiger planning oversight, we were surprised when they only offered one additional room. This meant asking the photographers to vacate the room we had already paid for, causing them inconvenience.. Air Conditioning: The outdated window AC units lacked proper thermostats, forcing us to keep them running even when not in the room. Additionally, the lack of a second key card meant relying on reception to switch on the AC during our absence. Convenience: The unavailability of room phones and a lift made communication with reception and luggage transportation inconvenient. Breakfast: The limited set breakfast menu with few choices did not offer the variety we were hoping for. Positive Aspects: Hotel Staff: We appreciate the receptionist's politeness and helpfulness, as well as the kitchen staff's willingness to prepare breakfast early on our check-out day. Social Gathering: The hotel staff kindly allowed us to use the reception hall and pool area for socializing, as the rooms themselves lacked space. Laundry Services: The lack of laundry services at the hotel was an inconvenience for a three-night stay .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

St. Mark

Cebu

St. Mark's rooms lacked sufficient space for luggage storage. While the lift, breakfast, and proximity to attractions were appreciated, the rooms themselves fell short of our expectations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hale Manna Resort

Moalboal

We were happy with the spacious rooms, ample luggage storage, clean and well-equipped bathrooms, a nice pool, and good food at Hale Manna Resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MJ Suites

Cebu

MJ Suites Hotel fell short of our expectations. The hotel seemed dated and lacked amenities. Fortunately, our short stay minimized any inconvenience. Avoid this hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Travel from Treasure Mountain to Clark

Clark

Bad vans, crampy ride

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flight Bohol - Manila, Transfer to Treasure Mountain

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island Hopping & Dolphin Watching Day Trip

Bohol Island

Nice.Some snorkelling gears were defective

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Countryside Tour

Bohol Island

ATV was good

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Scuba Diving

Bohol Island

Safe and good

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslob Whaleshark and Aguinid Falls Tour

Cebu City

Nice one

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Adventure

Moalboal

Canyoneering: The safety precautions and assigning one guide per person for canyoneering exceeded our expectations and highlighted MangoTiger's commitment to safety, which is commendable, especially in Asia. The lunch was delicious with special mention to the extra sweet mangoe

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt. Pinatubo Tour

Manila

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wanted to do a motorbike tour of the Ha Giang loop but was feeling very overwhelmed by all the different tour operators online. I was very worried about having a bad experience, as i had seen reviews of people who went on bad tours.

Thankfully, I reached out to KimKim and Ashley helped me to book the perfect tour! I let her know what I was looking for, and she got me set up with a great tour group. She also fully managed my travel to and from Ha Giang, making the whole trip totally stress free. She was very responsive to any questions I had, and also reached out independently to make sure things were going well. Overall a great experience!

Our trip was amazing. Thanks to Samir for coordinating it.

A multi-faceted and amazing experience of one of the world's oldest nation states. So well organised by Mohammed who was incredibly patience and approachable in helping me organising a trip in which I saw many sides of Egypt from world famous sites that need no introduction to the lesser seen parts where the experience was both unique and memorable. Staring with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the great Egyptian Museum in Cairo followed by a relaxing day to Alexandria on the Mediterranean, guide Ahmed gave me a really good introduction to Egypt both ancient and modern from the Pharaohs to Egypt's role in the modern world, giving a great in depth description of all the sophisticated symbology including the hieroglyphics and exploring ancient Egypt's relationships with ancient Greece and Rome in the amazing Alexandria Catacombs. Ahmed's superb introduction to Egypt provided a great foundation for the next part of my trip which was a Nile Cruise visiting Egypt's great monuments including Abu Simbel, the Kom Obo, Edufu, Philae, Hatshepstut and Karnak Temples and the Valley of the Kings where the guide really brought over 3,000 years of history to life. The hot air balloon trip was also a great recommendation, seeing the valley from above at sunrise.

When planning trips, including this one, I try as best as I can to optimise the experience to the full, including selecting locations that enable this, but often, locations deliver so much more than one anticipates, and this was where the second week of my trip became special, including providing me with a personal 'Triple Crown' of memorable experiences starting with diving in the Red Sea at Hurghada seeing some amazing marine life while feel so assured underwater courtesy of a great instructor, Mohamed Ali, whose instructions were so clear that I felt so calm and assured underwater and got a good command of the scuba equipment, one of the finest diving experiences I have had. From beautiful underwater sites, the next stop was an amazing night sky while camping in the Black Desert, one of Egypt's lesser visited parts, looking so other-worldly, as if it had never been visited. The experience was made extra special by guide Evram who was so friendly and fun. His enthusiasm for camping and the outdoors was so evident, which made me feel safe and welcomed in a thrilling remote location. The Milky Way shone like jewels in the Triple Crown, but the crowning glory though was summiting Mount Sinai at sunset, a special experience. in between the desert safaris recommended by Mohamed were also excellent, especially the camel rides.

The first week was Historic Egypt, and the second was Adventure Egypt, both of which were special experiences which will last a lifetime, including in the stars seen in the Black Desert where the Pharaohs believed their eternity was. Tips for future Egypt trip planners - if visiting the deserts, be sure to get Evram as your guide, as you'll have a great time!

My partner and I left our trip planning for 3 weeks in Mexico very late! We were inundated with a hectic work schedule, the X-mas/NY holiday period having just been and a wedding to negotiate. The thought of sitting down and coming up with an itinerary, researching each town and finding accomodation was daunting. We didn't have a great first impression using a travel agent in Sydney who was suggesting all the wrong activities for us as a gay couple to see and do in Mexico and the hotels he suggested were dated and drab. He also gave us "homework" to research what we liked and feed back to him which sort of defeated the purpose of using a travel agent.

We went home that day and discovered some pre-made examples of itineraries on the Kim-kim website with Maps and pictures. We loved the idea of customising/combining two of the suggested itineraries presented to suit our plans with a wedding smack bang in the middle of the holiday.

The process was easy - fill in some information about yourselves, what you like, what you dont like, what you're open to trying, your aversion to noise kids/tourist hot-spots, how many rest days you prefer and how often you want to travel plus any other comments.

Within 3 days we had a draft itinerary which included funky boutique hotel suggestions, and a list of optional activities. Charlotte our trip planner was from France but travelled Mexico extensively and loved it so much she moved to the Yucatan province to live. She knew personally all the good things a young couple would enjoy along our travels with flexibility to change. An easy tick box/comment box below each activity let Charlotte know our thoughts on each activity/destination. 2-3 iterations later (about 2 weeks) and our trip was pretty much planned and paid for.

The only thing left to book was flights which was not included (smart of KimKim as dealing with airlines is a nightmare for traditional travel agents so this makes their business model more sustainable).

Our favourite large city was Oaxaca which was an eclectic mixing pot of fabulous art, colourful architecture, friendly people, punchy delicious food and great cocktails. Cooking class here is highly recommended! We felt most zen along the beaches of Zipolite and Mazunte which attracts a young, textile-free bohemian crowd. We saw turtles and dolphins on the beaches here and had superb food. Chichen Itza site in the Yucatan was absolutely mind-boggling and the area was surrounded by hundreds of natural crystal clear cenotes to take a dip in during the heat of our days driving around. Once back on the east coast our boat tour of Sian Ka'an to see dugongs, flamingo's, pelicans, and swim in a warm crystal clear pirate channel was our best of many boat experiences of the trip. Finally after 3 weeks of driving around the country by ourselves it was nice to be back in the vibrant beach-side town of Playa Del Carmen (a less confronting town than Cancun but still with enough stimulation to bring us back to reality).

As with all trips there are times things don't quite go to plan. Kim-Kim sets up a WhatsApp group with the trip planner and a local booking guide (Monica in our case). They are available 24/7 to assist you in your own language with any misunderstandings with bookings, interpretation, rescheduling etc. Such an easy and personable experience and always super friendly encounters. They also send daily reminders of activities with hints on best parking places and how to ignore scammers/false signs etc.

Looking forward to using Kim-Kim again next year for our upcoming trip to Spain.

Hotel Reviews

Mereva

Tulum

Mereva - this was a gorgeous little hotel 20 min drive out of Talum. It had good facilities and THE BEST breakfast i had at a hotel the whole trip. It is also right on the water with its old private little stretch of beach. The reason it lost some starts from us is it was 20 minutes away from the cute little town of Talum (Again we probaby would have prefered to be in Talum and wander around rather than be stuck in a resort 20 minutes away with kids splashing in the swimming pool around us). Some people however just want a private get away to lounge in without having to visit local towns. The cocktails were also insane expensive here ($370mx for a cocktail!!! which is double what we pay at a nice bar in Sydney, Australia and triple what everywhere else in Mexico was charging).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rancho Encantado

Bacalar

Hotel Rancho Encantado - we probably would have preferred to stay in Bacalar town itself as the town was quite vibrant and had lots of places to eat and drink. This hotel was quite isolated out of town and down a VERY bumpy dirt road. The hotel itself was beautifully situated on the lake with a lovely picturesque wharf on the water but besides that the food and drinks were average, the people working there were quite surly and menu prices quite high. Rooms were big and bright but a bit dated (think the Flintstones). Grounds were so big it was hard for them to keep things clean with rotting fruits all over the pathways (we can look over this as it was a "jungle get away" although some people may not appreciate this. We did see monkeys here which was a highlight).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great if you want to be secluded and hang around the resort all day but not in town so need a car to do anything else.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Piedra de Agua Hotel Boutique

We didnt love Piedra de Agua Hotel in Merida. Despite it being situated in an incredibly historic old building with a grand central foyer and elaborately ornate doors the rooms themselves were horrendously small with NO WINDOWS! The room was pitch black until you could find a light switch and the balcony did have two sets of opaque wooden shutters that could be opened with some difficulty. Breakfast was 4 slices of fruit and 2 tablespoons of yoghurt. I wouldn't recommend anyone stay in this hotel at all unless they get a presidental suite which apparently has a different setup. You can see similar reviews on google maps for this place. The best thing about this hotel was the central location.

Authenticity & Character

Great building, poorly executed rooms and underused central lobby. Could install an elevator to make rooms accessible to elderly and disabled people.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Olbil Valladolid

Valladolid, Yuc.

What a romantic and well executed build this is. This hotel is hidden inconspicuously along a busy and slightly shabby street. once the front door is open you get a view right down the middle of the hotel across a serene pool surrounded by flowers on vines and tropical trees. Thick wooden furniture in the bar/restaurant area gives a funky safari vibe. Very pleasant staff and gorgeous rooms (high ceilings, massive bed with crisp linen, a macrame hammock stretches across the room and the bathroom has a mayan/Incan temple vibe - truly executed wonderfully.

Authenticity & Character

Location

This hotel was a little far from some of the funkier streets of this city/anywhere to get good food. We recommend having a car to explore from here. Also the street felt a little unsafe at night.

Staff

The bar tender was overbearing - constantly hustling guests to buy more drinks/food/give a tip for service. He was super enthusiastic and invested in his job which is obvious but for most people wanting to relax on holiday it was unwelcome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villas Caracol

Holbox

This is such a cool Island and a very lovely hotel. Absolutely MASSIVE rooms with open plan bathroom/shower and expansive balcony. Great food and cocktails Great pool area and general ambiance. Be aware this is a family hotel and you will see children running around

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Escondido Oaxaca

Oaxaca

Absolutely stunning what they've done with this place. As the name suggests it is a true hidden gem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to some large food and craft markets. Ideally should have a car here as its not that close to the historic centre. The location however is a little less impressive right next to a main road so if in the pool area or bar it is reasonable noisy with trucks going past. The location however is a little less impressive right next to a main road so if in the pool area or bar it is reasonable noisy with trucks going past.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Circulo Mexicano

Mexico City

Stunning architecture and rooftop terrace bar. Grand spacious rooms with high ceilings and crisp luxurious linen. Location was so central and easy to get everywhere in the historic centre. The Wifi did not work in our room but the whole building is made out of thick architectural concrete slabs so I suspect this may be a challenge to deal with.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Breakfast staff were a bit surly/disinterested. Frequently had to get up to get stuff ourselves. Bar staff and front desk staff are wonderful however.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zoa

Loved this place and the staff here. Super picturesque, LGBTQI+ Friendly, outstanding service with all tips included, spectacular food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Situated right on a cliff looking out to the ocean with a very natural jungle hut vibe but high end. Very close to Mazunte main town (2 min drive)

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Snorkel in Akumal

Mexico

You will see turtles which is cool and there are some lovely clumps of fan coral at the furthest most point where you are dropped in the water. I was not a fan at all of the huge tourist machine that was made of this Akumal bay. Hundreds - if not thousands - of tourists coming and going by the bus load to jump in the water and harass a handful of turtles in this spectacular bag. Stirring up sediment with their fins and pushing on the barriers to get closer look at the turtles. It's great that we can see these majestic animals in their habitat but some thought needs to be put into sustainable tourism at this location. All surrounding parts of the beach have been privatised by the hotels that occupy the forshore so you cannot enjoy a drink or slice of beach along this bay unless you are a hotel member or happy to sit down among the throng of life-jacketed tourists coming and going from the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat tour in the Natural Reserve of Sian Ka'an

Mexico

Best boat activity we did in Mexico. The early start to the day was acknowledged and breakfast was provided (most hotels dont open breakfast until 7.30/8). The breakfast was homely and welcome. The boat was tiny but super fast and we sped across crystal clear fresh water lagoon towards a channel cut through the mangroves by The Mayans for trade hundreds of years ago. We could see fish and all sorts of water birds along the mangroves here. Another ultra fast blast across a second fresh water lagoon brough us to a natural "pirate channel" where we floated effortlessly in 29 Celsius fresh water through a mangrove river. This was unimaginably peaceful and unique experience. Finally we blasted out into brackish water at the mouth of the river to spot crocodiles, manatees, flamingo's, dolphins and make it back in time to wash off in a rain storm. Lunch was provided before we departed and we can both highly recommend the banana leaf chicken - so succulent and tasty. I wish i could eat this again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour on the lagoon

Mexico

It was an insanely windy day when we went out but this didn't put a damper on my very first experience in a crystal clear, bath-warm, fresh water lagoon. We couldn't believe such a huge expanse of fresh water would be so clear and devoid of polution/algae. This lagoon is pristine in so many ways. It was also a delight to swim in. Our trip was unfortunately cut short as our boat broke down and we needed to be rescued. The driver couldnt speak English and unfortunately we missed out on the second hour of our experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chichen-Itza site with an English speaking guide

Mexico

This is a must see. Incredible site on so many levels. Wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly private tour guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour in the natural reserve of Rio Lagartos

Mexico

Very chilled and pretty experience.

Hierve el Agua – Mitla – Teotitlán del Valle - Tule Tree - Mezcal Testing

Oaxaca

A really great introduction to the area surrounding Oaxaca. A mix of history, culture, architecture, natural beauty, local art/trade skills and of course mezcal production and tasting at its finest. The buffet lunch was also one of the highlights, showcasing an incredible variety of delights exclusive to Oaxaca and Mexico - you can see why it got its UNESCO world heritage listing for cuisine.

Safari Magico - Between Sea and Mangrove

Mexico

1. The snorkelling boat trip through Dive Center Puerto Angel was so incredible. The day was sooooo windy but this didn't put a damper on the journey. The boat punched through waves as we spotted dolphins and schools of morbula rays. We had 3 snorkel spots - each one more vibrant and impressive than the last. The guides/driver were also super lovely. 2. The second part of this trip (the afternoon Mangrove Safari with Ventanilla Ecoturismo) was average. We were 15 minutes late travelling between the two destinations but when we arrived they sent us to another tour operator as they had no English speaking guides. Eventually our lovely Kim-Kim representative Monica spoke to the company on the phone and 45 minutes later we had an English speaking guide drive in from home and take us out. The boat itself did not have any shade and it was a baking 37 degree celsius (so bring an umbrella). The guide also seemed disinterested and lacked genuine friendliness except where it was time to give him the tip at the end. We saw some crocodiles and birds and some deer in captivity but probably could have given this afternoon activity a miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch/breakfast at the end is included (excluding alcohol) so be sure the waiter doesn't charge you like he did with us (we paid twice)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour 3 islands

Holbox

Very tranquil and pretty half day experience.

Quality of Experience

Cooking Class - Oaxaca

Oaxaca

This was one of the highlights of our trip. Super friendly and informative guide/chef who takes you through the market to buy produce and then back to his house which has a colourful kitchen within the courtyard to prepare and cook 3 different delicious meals.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Xochimilco Tour Trajinera

Mexico City

Cool to do and see but not the highlight of my day.

Lucha libre in Mexico city

Mexico City

So much fun. Really colourful and energetic play-fighting. Great costumes and entrances. Love the improvisations and the level the crowd got worked up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lovely driver.

Private car with Spanish speaking driver

Mexico

The driver seemed sweet but was soooo slow, couldn't understand us, and didn't want to use the air conditioner.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Tequila and Mezcal tasting

Mexico

This was a really cute, personalised tasting experience paired with snacks at intervals. Located in a gorgeous hotel bar in a really quaint neighbourhood i would stick around for dinner afterwards if we had our time again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The five of us travelled through eastern Java with two different drivers, and one train trip. Everything went smoothly, and we saw everything we wanted to. The cooking lesson, jamu making class and batik lesson were all very worthwhile - great to interact with local people. Any small problems or required rescheduling was handled swiftly by Ana at KimKim, and there was not one sour note in the whole trip.

Activity Review

Cooking class in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta

Run by a sustainable tourism organisation with lots of different activities supporting local artists and providing great experiences for visitors. The cooking class was a wonderful opportunity to meet a local who could answer a thousand questions we had about food culture and daily life in central Java.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was an incredible and action packed trip! Our family of four (two teenagers) had an amazing time. We followed Gummi’s recommendations and were not disappointed, from excellent restaurant picks to perfectly timed driving and touring information, he made the experience smooth. In just five days in Iceland, we visited two hot springs, a lava cave, ice cave, hiked up a glacier, rode Icelandic ponies, saw amazing waterfalls, geysers, canyons and more. Bonus, we even got to see some puffins, who had just returned to the area for the summer. Using Gummi’s guide made this trip so easy. We told him what we liked and he made everything happen smoothly. Even set up our rental car with WiFi so that everyone could connect without needing international cell service.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Selfoss

Selfoss

This is a great location if you are doing the Golden Circle and was a great place to spend the night on our way East! Comfortable rooms and a nice breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Puffin Hotel Vík

Vík

Great location, friendly staff. Rooms were simple and clean. Nice basic breakfast spread, too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Icelandic horse riding tour

Iceland

These ponies are adorable. Enough said!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Glacier Hike & Ice Cave Visit

Iceland

One of the highlights of our trip. It may seem like a long drive, but it was worth it. We had a great time climbing up to the glacier and exploring. The guide, Kate, was so lovely and brought a perfect energy to our group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katla Ice Cave

Iceland

Starts with a fun jeep ride from the lovely little town of Vik. Then you get to walk up a way towards a glacier and see these otherworldly ice formations. The ice melts and changes every day, so each tour is different. The guide kept everything fun and knew how to get the best photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Secret Lagoon

Iceland

A more rustic hot spring than the Blue Lagoon. It was the perfect end to a long day.

Quality of Experience

Lava Tunnel Tour

Iceland

Such a unique experience! Our guide Michael was very informative and we had an incredible time. Bring a jacket. It gets cold.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lunar Landscapes & Healing Waters – Blue Lagoon Immersion

Iceland

The best place to start your vacation in Iceland. Right between the Airport and Reykjavik. Get refreshed and rejuvenated after a long flight!

Quality of Experience

Our trip to Vietnam was amazing. The travel agents from Asia Aventura were great. Our trip was seamless. We were there for 14 days and visited Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Hoi An, Quy Nhon and Saigon. There was some overlap with the cooking classes and a trip to the coconut groves in Hoi An and Saigon which was a little disappointing, but it did not take away from the overall trip at all. We would definitely use Asia Aventura again for our next trip to Vietnam. Thank you!!