Kimkim Trip Reviews

The whole team at Himalayan Trails were excellent from start to finish. They were extremely accommodating including:
- Grishma, who tailored our trip to our (multiple) changing needs
- Pratikshya, who guided us around a hectic but historic Kathmandu area, giving us a real sense of the amalgamation of so many different cultures
- Raj, who ensured the trip went smoothly
- Dawa and Kumar, who guided us around the Kathmandu valley, weaving through beautiful towns and villages, getting us to amazing places to see crisp views of the Himalayan Range
- Ritesh, who made the quiet town of Panauti come alive with his stories, and both Ritesh and Dawa for a lovely home made dinner!

110% worth the experience, and according to Dawa, Annapurna and Everest base camps will be no problem for us! Looking forward to visiting again!

Great trip thanks to KimKim and Serendipity Adventures. Everything was very well planned and hotels were all as, or better than expected. They did a great job arranging all the private/shared transfers between all six destinations so all we had to do was show up on time and be ready to move. Wilman was our main contact in CR and he did a great job checking in periodically. He also arranged a tour for us with little notice and accommodated our request to change the itinerary and stay an extra night in one spot in record time. Couldn’t recommend KimKim and Serendipity enough.

Long did a great job in organising my solo Vietnam adventure. The trip was seamless, everything was perfect. The accommodation was great, tours as advertised and drivers to collect me when required. I want to return to Vietnam to see more. I would highly recommend KimKim

This has been the 4th and probably the last of our trips, organized by KimKim.
Our experience this time left us disappointed and on some occasions angry.

First of all our experience with Ailleen was characterised as very slow. In the beginning we delayed in giving her the answers. We acknowledge that we made a lot of changes regarding our chosen activities but every time we sent the answer, we had to wait more than 2 days.
In addition to that, we dod not have all the details needed (time of pickup, duration of the excursions, time of return etc) and even though we asked for this at least twice, we only received limited information. Even though we asked to have a group in WhatsApp (we had this in previous trips and was successful), the delay in giving answers was the same.
If we didn't ask, there would be no information given to us.
One other detail that made us feel embraced was the prices we paid for the tours. Upon checking locally for the cost of the excursions, even the private ones were some times half the price of the one we paid to Kim Kim and some times even lower. If we add the fact that the boats that took us were among the worst ones, this makes it even worse.
No need to mention the fact that in no boat did we eat our lunch, simply because there was not the slightest rule of hygiene respected. We saw what was offered to other boats, where there was no private transfer and the conditions were mach better.
Last but not least, in two excursion, one in El Nido and one in Boracay, the return transfer was not there when we arrived at the port. The second time we even called the number given to us as a contact but no one replied. So we paid for our transfer back to the hotel. I received the call much later.
That was the time when I decided to complain and after some discussions they reimbursed 250USD to us.
I said thank you as this was a right gesture but in no case did this compensate us for the whole fuss.

We could have simply booked everything ourselves and have the same or better experience.
I see no reason why we should use KimKim any more, after this experience.

Costa Rica stole my heart with its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and endless adventures. My trip was packed with highlights, each offering a unique taste of this incredible country.

Chill Beach Vibes in Carrillo & Samara:

First, I traded city noises for the gentle sounds of waves at Carrillo beach. Relaxing on the pristine sand, soaking up the sun, and swimming in the turquoise waters was pure bliss. Kayaking in Samara allowed me to explore hidden coves and marvel at colorful fish while snorkeling. These laid-back beach towns set the perfect pace for unwinding and connecting with nature.

Thrills & Spills in Tamarindo & Catalina Islands:

Tamarindo brought a touch of energy to my trip. Its lively atmosphere, delicious restaurants, and beautiful beach kept me entertained. But the real adrenaline rush came underwater! Scuba diving in the Catalina Islands unveiled a mesmerizing world of coral reefs teeming with diverse marine life. This experience left me awestruck by the ocean's hidden beauty.

Rincon de la Vieja: A Journey into the Wild:

Rincon de la Vieja National Park transported me to another world. Lush green forests, majestic volcanic mountains, and a sky ablaze with stars created an unforgettable backdrop. Here, I embarked on several adventures, each exceeding the last.

First Horseback Ride: I felt invigorated exploring the trails on horseback, immersing myself in the wilderness.
La Leona Waterfall Hike: Following a surreal path through a sulfur-water river devoid of life, the thundering La Leona waterfall was a sight to behold.
Tubing Bliss on the Colorado River: This was a fun and relaxing way to cool down, surrounded by stunning scenery.
Rincon de la Vieja National Park Hike: This diverse hike encompassed waterfalls, volcanic activity, and a variety of ecosystems, leaving me awestruck by Costa Rica's rich natural tapestry.
Overall:

My Costa Rican adventure was more than just a vacation; it was a transformative experience. From the serene beaches to the adrenaline-pumping activities, the wild beauty to the welcoming locals, this trip had something for everyone. I highly recommend Costa Rica to anyone seeking relaxation, adventure, and a connection with nature. Pura vida!

Additional Tips:

Tailor your trip: Costa Rica offers something for everyone, so plan your itinerary based on your interests.
Embrace the culture: Learn some basic Spanish phrases and immerse yourself in local customs.
Support local businesses: Choose eco-friendly tours and stay in locally-owned accommodations.
Pack wisely: Be prepared for both sun and rain, and bring appropriate footwear for diverse terrains.
I hope this review inspires you to plan your own unforgettable adventure in Costa Rica!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Pasatiempo

Tamarindo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff could be more polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

the room could be more comfortable, we got a corner room

Amazilia Guest House

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Scuba Diving Catalinas Island – Discover Diving Non-Certified

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Trail Lovers: Rincon de la Vieja Volcano & La Leona Waterfall

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colorado River Tubing

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cowboy Horseback Riding Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla Chora Kayak and Snorkeling Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One of our favorite adventures. Amanda was extremely helpful and responsive in planning and making adjustments to accommodate our input. The guides were great, always flexible and kind. The trek was beautiful with lots of interesting sights and villages along the way. It was exactly what we were looking for.

Everything was well planned and very enjoyable. The driver was very accommodating and all the locations and services were top notch.

When starting the process, we had no idea that planning a trip to Lappland in Winter required so much planning. Our specialist Moonika was very patient as we understood the value we would get coming at Christmas versus another time, and helped to shift our plans into February. Traveling from Asia with a large family we were not sure about booking transit privately or through ride-sharing, but I'm glad we chose private cars for the plane/train transfers for the flexibility and help with all our bags, better to be comfortable when on the clock. On lodging, we found the right spaces where the entire family could fit comfortably and affordably. The activities and their providers were fantastic, regardless of the cold snap that hit us in Rovaniemi, and they were supportive of the needs of traveling with a 2-year-old. Overall we are left with great memories and thankful for the support we had to make this trip a reality.

We had a wonderful vacation in Japan and Fei (our coordinator from KimKim) was with us along the way, taking care of all the details and making our experience a memorable one.
We enjoyed all the places that we visited (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto Kanagawa and Osaka), with everyone of them offering something different. We enjoyed very much the visit to the Himeji castle that is south of Kobe.
Very good experience overall and thank you to Fei again for taking care of all the details.
Adrian Iancu

Our entire trip was amazing. Our guides were wonderful and gave us a lot of information and answered our questions. They were always helpful at every location. Our driver was excellent and skilled. The most memorable part for us was the overnight cruise on Ha Long. These cruise ships are small with only about 25 passengers. Our quarters were spacious and beautiful. The food was gourmet. In addition, every place we visited was interesting. One place where we did a river tout, many of the rowers, rowed using their feet. This was in Ninh Binh. With the help of the guides, we learned a lot about Vietnamese culture and religions. Their religious practices were particularly interesting to me. Our only issue was the weather and I would have rather gone in another season, not winter.

We were first greeted by our cheerful guide, Andrea, at the airport. We spent a day with her traveling around Bogotá. She was enthusiastic and had lots of knowledge re Colombian history, art, food, and culture. We had a great first breakfast at Hotel Coco in their top floor sunroom with views of the mountains surrounding Bogotá and a colorful spread of delicious Colombian fruits and other tasty foods.

Next, we went to Medellin and were met by Claudia and Martin. Claudia was a most excellent guide! Her knowledge, friendliness, and passion for her country was well complemented by English speaking driver, Martin, who added his own perspectives on various parts of Medellin culture and sights. We were so fortunate to have the two of them together. Our time with them was the highlight of the trip.

We then went to Cartagena and enjoyed our time there. We had a different guide for each event (Cartagena walking tour, kayaking, drum demonstration, horseback riding on the beach).
We then ended our trip with some time at the Caribbean resort island of Baru. We enjoyed kayaking to nearby islands and walking around an aviary where all the birds of Colombia are highlighted. Then one last night in Bogota before returning home.

Important points:
- so helpful to have someone greeting us at each airport and facilitating each departure (we took 3 domestic flights since driving within Colombia is too time consuming)
-very impressed with Avianca and LATAM Airlines
-easy and timely communication with trip organizers and guides using WhatsApp
-hotels were all modern and comfortable
-the best part of the trip was learning about the country by spending time with guides that were eager to show their love of Colombia, especially those that we spent multiple days with

Trip highlights not to be missed
-cable ride to Monserrate, a mountain that overlooks Bogota
-Museo Botero and Museo Del Oro- in Bogota, museum of the artist and sculptor Botero and nearby museum of gold
-Mercado de Paloquemao - tasted exotic fruits, a fun place if you like local markets
-Museo Casa de la Memoria, Medellin - museum dedicated to honor the memory of victims of urban conflict, paramilitaries, and drug trafficking in Medellin
-coffee plantation (Café de la Cima) - we visited a great family run place 1.5 hours from Medellin in Fredonia
-Guatapé - big rock to climb with stunning views and a boat ride on a nearby reservoir; tuk tuk ride in colorful town of Guatapé
-Comuna 13 and Santo Domingo neighborhoods in Medellin - use metro and metro cable car with guide
-Plaza Botero and Museo de Antioquia
-Getsemani neighborhood of Cartagena
-rum and chocolate tasting in Cartagena
- kayaking at Isla Baru
-aviary at Isla Baru
-street food: grilled corn, empanadas, arepas, fresh mango slices

Hotel Reviews

Aura Hotel Barú By Sport Barú

Cartagena, Bolivar

Nice to have some time to relax. This was a low key retreat which was perfect for us. Kayaks, ping pong, paddle boards and other activities and games available.

Location

Very beautiful and picturesque Caribbean retreat but isolated.

Staff

Helped get us a ride to the nearby aviary.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa La Factoria by Faranda Boutique

Cartagena

Beautiful decor in an historic building. Great location in the old city within a few blocks of Plaza de Simon Bolívar and Plaza de Santo Domingo.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Appreciated the air-conditioning.

Quinta Ladera

Medellin

Interior design was very artistic. Quiet, safe neighborhood, close to El Poblado restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Poblado neighborhood can get noisy at night though this hotel is far from the noise. Laureles neighborhood is a good alternative though not as lush with greenery.

Hotel Coco

Bogotá

Such friendly staff! And a spectacular breakfast spread in a room that views the Bogota skyline and mountains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Safe neighborhood with close by pharmacy and grocery store and tons of restaurants.

Staff

So friendly! Freddy was super helpful and welcoming!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We would recommend this hotel to all travelers.

Activity Reviews

Free day in Baru

Colombia

This was a relaxing place to close out a wonderful two week trip to Columbia. The views were beautiful from the various dining rooms. There were lots of comfortable places to sit and areas where you could play games like ping-pong or volleyball. They had kayaks and paddle boards that could be used at any time. The friendly bartender was available to make great drinks like limonada de coco and exotic cocktails. Paddling around the resort was easy in the morning when the water was still. We did manage to find a ride to a nearby aviary, which is well worth the trip.

Quality of Experience

Hotel Aura Baru was well situated, relaxing, and low-key, but isolated. There is no town nearby to visit. It would been great to have an opportunity to go by shuttle to the aviary. Perhaps the hotel could provide a daily trip to the aviary for visitors who are interested.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly staff.

Transport

The ride to the aviary, which took 10 minutes, was quite expensive for Colombian standards. The hotel should provide a shuttle to the aviary once a day for anyone interested.

Drum Safari - Sounds of Cartagena

Cartagena

We had a fascinating experience learning about the Afro – Colombian rhythms presented by an ensemble of drummers and dancers in a small beach town north of Cartagena. The event didn’t include a tour of the neighborhood as the description suggested. we appreciated the importance of maintaining this heritage.

Quality of Experience

Better with a bigger audience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and interpreter Jhoker, who is also a musician, was really wonderful in helping present the info the drummers were relating.

Transport

Great driver! I left my phone in the car and he came back to give it to me.

Horseback ride at the Beach

Cartagena

First visited the horse farm of Paso Fino horses and learned about their unique gate. We then went to the beach and met the horses there and rode them on the beach. After that we had a nice lunch at a nearby resort.

Quality of Experience

We were met at our hotel by Maria, who it turned out, was from the family that owned the horse farm. During the drive to the farm, we learned about her life experience riding horses.

Food

Great ceviche!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon-Night Walking Tour

Cartagena

We learned about Cartagena‘s history walking through the old city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Colorful Colombia: Hike to Guatapé Rock, Guatapé & Peñol-Guatape Reservoir

Colombia

We enjoyed a boat trip on Peñol reservoir viewing vacation homes and beautiful scenery. Some of the properties were owned by Pablo Escobar. We then climbed up the famous rock El Peñol, which was not as difficult as we thought it would be. The views were spectacular. We then went to the town of Guatape, which is a fun colorful place to visit and walk around. After that we had a really tasty lunch at a Spa/Glamping restaurant called Bosko.

Quality of Experience

Great scenery, town, guide, driver, and food.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Cartagena by Kayak

Colombia

Pleasant time kayaking but the trip did not match the description. Guide did not speak English so we did not learn much. Though Cartagena is a beautiful city from the inside, it wasn’t as interesting from the water.

Quality of Experience

Full day Coffee Workshop - "From the plant to the cup"

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Walked the steep hills with the coffee farmer as he explained the the coffee process. We also harvested the coffee berries our selves.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claudia translated for us as the farmer talked about coffee growing and roasting. Also, we tasted coffee and learn to discern different coffee types.

Transport

The City of The Eternal Spring & Street Food In La Comuna 13

Medellín

We didn’t now much about all the factions that was part of the violence in the earlier decades in Colombia. That changed after we visited the Casa de la Memoria museum. It was an emotionally moving set of exhibits that is a must visit for anyone interested in understanding the violence that Medellin and the rest of Colombia suffered under. Saw both comuna 13 and Santo Domingo. Two different and fascinating neighborhoods. Comuna 13 gets all the attention and as a result is very touristy but Santo Domingo is quieter and maybe more authentic. The cable ride to Santo Domingo was a breath taking view of the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved the dynamic duo Claudia and Martin.

Transport

Travelled on the clean and modern metro and the cable car transportation.

Paloquemao Farmers Market | Colonial Downtown & Monserrate

Colombia

One highlight at this visit, and for the whole trip was that our guide presented us with a sample of 6 exotic juices and their corresponding fruit.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andrea was great! She bought us some samples of fruit to take back to the hotel.

Transport

We went for a family trip to Costa Rica in February, we had our 3 grown children with us, and we added my sister after booking. We had prompt communication from Bryan- our travel agent from Serendipity tours. I was able to modify recommendations easily. Both hotels we stayed at were great- Mariposa in Manual Antonio and Mano Hot Springs resort in Arenal area.
Transportation pickup was also great. We had, Alex, as our driver majority of the long drives and also one day of our excursions. He is amazing. Informative and punctual.
We went to state park in Manual Antonio and our guide was very passionate about nature- his name was Susio.
We went on a river rafting tours and few of us had never done river rafting- was grade 1-2 and was perfect, on the way and back from the river, we went through some small local villages and saw unique plants and animals. Our lunch afterwards was good, ate local food.
All tours recommended were great, only tour I would have skipped was hanging bridge tour, only because our Manuel Antonio guided stated park tour earlier in the week was better. The hanging bridges were ok, we have seen better in Whistler, Canada. Because this tour was booked in the afternoon, animals were sleeping.
Zip lining in Arenal was good with Sky Adventure.
We added a chocolate/coffee tour on our last day, this was fun, me made our own chocolate bar. Coffee, per my husband was very good that we grinded in the tour. He usually doesn't drink it black, but he said it didn't need any sugar of milk.

Only glitch was our driver was 30 minutes late going to the airport he apologized profusely, and we made it in enough time for our flight.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Amazing view of volcano from our room. Liked that are rooms were next to each other. Had shuttle service from our room to front of resort, if were too tired to walk the distance. Grounds were beautiful, we saw many different plants and animals. Rooms were clean. The restaurant had amazing food for dinner. Breakfast was good, with many different varieties and open to nature, saw many plants and birds while eating. We ate at the pizzeria twice, enjoyed playing cards at their large tables in evenings. Hot spring were amazing, nice to soak after all our adventures. I would suggest the hotel acquire a shuttle to La Fortuna area for guests, taxi ride prices added up easily.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Views from the hotel were amazing. We had issues with staff leaving enough towels in our rooms daily. We had 3 people per room. Hotel grounds had cool animals walking or flying around- macaws, lizards, monkeys etc. Their food was expensive for dinner but bland. Breakfast was good, with an omelet bar, fresh fruits. Liked location, can easily walk i to town and we caught the local bus to Quepos and saw the sunset and ate at Sanchez- a local restaurant. Falafel place was great in Manuel Antonio and Angels restaurant. All of these recommended by our Serendipity driver- Alex.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

four star because of issues with room staff. Servers at restaurant/pool area were great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Río Savegre Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Manuel Antonio

Rafting was great, not to hard, got wet. Ride to river was through some villages. Lunch after was good local food.

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Susio, our guide was great, very passionate about nature. Saw a lot of animals with his help.

Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved zip lining, sky tram ok, sky walk was ok also. We have seen better hanging bridges in Whistler, Canada. Hike was ok compared to Manuel Antonio hike

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

It rained so hard to see volcano after we went to base. Guide was good and informative. For the water fall, amazing. Steps up were hard because of the humidity but did it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was the second trip that I worked with Jay Kajaria with Bespoke India Holidays to plan. The first trip was to Delhi and various areas around Rajasthan. It went so well and I was so pleased that I booked a trip to North Eastern India. And this was also a remarkable trip. Simply tell Bespoke what you are interested in and where you would like to go and they will take it from there. You are assisted every step of the way, from being picked up from the airport and later being dropped at the airport and being assisted in checking in for your flight from India.

Many of the famous tourist areas of India were covered by the first trip and now I wanted something different -- and this is Northeastern India. It is a land of unusual tribes, different topography and different animals. Make sure you go to Kaziranga National Park -- and also take the elephant safari in the morning.

Also impressive were the lodgings in which I was booked and my guide and driver were top notch.

I am so pleased with this trip (and the prior one) that I am already looking talking about and looking forward to working with Jay on a third trip.

Thank you Bespoke India Holidays (and Jay and my guide "Dee-poo" and driver "Harem."

The entire trip was fantastic. Most all scheduled events took place on time and as advertised. Any questions were answered promptly and satisfactorily. It was nice to have Kimkim check in with us daily.

Of particular note, were the informative, helpful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides.

1. Montse greeted us in Mexico City on our first full day and shared her love of the city, its culture and food.
2. Pablo was a wonderfully informative guide through museums and Teotihuacan. Both days with him were great. We had spectacular meals in Mexico City and enjoyed walking through a few of its charming neighborhoods.
3. In Oaxaca, we were expertly led by and taught by Alex through the old city, to the awesome ruins in Mount Alban, and wonders of Teotitlan del Valle (including the hike!). We were fortunate to have had multiple days with Alex.
4. We rounded out Oaxaca with an expert led mezcal tour and tasting with Daisy. That was great fun.
5. To end with relaxing days in Salchi was perfect! The boat trip guided by Captain Isidro Cruz (including seeing whales) was a great way to see the coastline and snorkel.
6. Our drivers (if not included above) were also great.
7. We hope we didn’t leave anyone off—all were great!

The hotel Casa Mauna at Salchi was very good (and peaceful). We had room 3, which seemed likely to be the very best at the small hotel. The vegan food was also very good—the drinks excellent. The pool delightful. We highly recommend it.

We will now share comments about the hotel choices in Mexico City and Oaxaca. Both hotels were beautiful and well-staffed. We were always made to feel welcome. The restaurant at the Zocalo Central was very good.

However, both hotels were situated in the center of vibrant, busy, and very loud areas:
• It was about impossible to sleep soundly in our room, 515, in Zocalo Central. The noise from the square continued most of the night (drumming and crowd noises), and then the sound of heavy chairs dragging noisily on the dining room floor just above our heads started about 6:15AM. One additional, seemingly minor but noteworthy item, was that we found out on Saturday afternoon that there would be no laundry service on Sunday—which we knew about-- but also on Monday (due to the national holiday on Monday. It would have been useful if we had received this advisory on Thursday or even Friday night, as then we would have had our laundry done on Friday or Saturday. As a result, our carefully planned light packing was confounded—we spent time doing our own wash in the room. When traveling, little things like this matter.
• For the first two nights in Parador de Alcala, we slept well. Then things changed. It was Thursday, and Friday, and Saturday and Sunday when the noise became a real issue again. The local bars blared music until 3AM (or later), and then the party goers continue the festivities in the streets until dawn, at which time the street traffic noise becomes quite high. I know the hotels do not have control over the bar noise or the traffic—but for Kimkim, we think charming hotels chosen away from the noisy parts of the city centers would be better.

Finally, as it goes for Kimkim:
• Mariana did a fantastic job of providing on-the-ground assistance for the inevitable adjustments which were needed. She was prompt with response and follow-ups. She provided a very reassuring and effective backup to situations that came up.
• Our first point of contact was Isabelle, who also did a great job of helping us design our perfect holiday. She was very responsive and helpful in discussing with us our preferences, and making adjustments to, our itinerary.
• The Kimkim service and platform worked well and we would recommend Kimkim to others. We plan to do so ourselves. We were able to focus more on enjoying the trip then on logistics. There were two minor changes to the itinerary that came to light during the trip—it’s possible a Live Itinerary would help alleviate these inevitable discrepancies – but no problems arose from this either.

We were pleased with adjustments and we happy with Kimkim and their entire team.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Mauna - Boutique Hotel

Crucecita

Casa Mauna was a lovely boutique hotel located near the beach. It had only six rooms and was a short walk to a private beach area. The location was peaceful and quiet, perfect for reflection on the trip. We enjoyed the tranquility and privacy of the hotel, making it a highlight of our stay in the Huatulco Bays. The vegan food was also very good—the drinks excellent. The pool delightful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Zócalo Central

Mexico City

I stayed at Zócalo Central in Mexico City for five nights. The location was right on the square, but unfortunately, the room was very noisy due to being under the restaurant. The noise made it difficult to sleep, especially with chairs moving early in the morning. The staff offered to move us to a quieter room, but we decided to stay put. Overall, the hotel was nice, but it might be better to check for quieter rooms if noise bothers you.

Staff

Hotel Parador de Alcalá

Oaxaca

Hotel Parador de Alcalá in Oaxaca was located right on the street, making it a bit noisy. The hotel itself was nice, and the staff were great. It could be a good option for a short stay in the city center, but maybe not ideal for multiple nights if you value a quiet night's sleep.

Staff

Activity Reviews

Explore the archaeological site of Teotihuacan

Mexico City

The private group tour of the archaeological site of Teotihuacan was amazing. Walking through the ancient ruins and learning about the history of the site was a memorable experience. The guide was excellent and shared a wealth of information with us. It was a day filled with awe and wonder

Archaeological Tour in Monte Albán

Oaxaca

In Oaxaca, we were expertly led by and taught by Alex through the old city, to the awesome ruins in Mount Alban, and wonders of Teotitlan del Valle (including the hike!). We were fortunate to have had multiple days with Alex. Exploring the ancient ruins and learning about the Zapotec civilization was truly captivating. The guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was great

Transport

One of the best trips we've taken! From start to finish, everything was carefully and expertly planned. Our driver Tarek went above and beyond to take us to the best spots for local cuisine, added additional stops for shopping and made our stay feel as close to being a local as possible. Special thanks to Samir for his flexibility, thorough explanations and recommendations. I'll definitely recommend them to prospective travelers.

Hotel Reviews

Petra Guest House

Wadi Musa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SEAS HOTEL - AMMAN

Amman

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dead Sea Spa Hotel

Sweimeh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

Wadi Rum

Glamping with a celestial touch. Exceptional food, amazing views, very hospitable staff in the midst of a surreal landscape...what's not to love!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

RUM - FREE TIME ON YOUR OWN

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rum Valley SUNSET TRIP

Wadi Rum

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amman-Jarash-Ajloun-Amman city tour

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Petra - Morning Free

Petra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amman-Madaba-Mount Nebo-Karak-Petra

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meet & Assist - Queen Alia Airport

Jordan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip climbing Kilimanjaro followed by a safari organized by Kimkim was fantastic. Our lead guide on Kili, Abu, was professional and really helpful. Our other guides, Nazoru and Lulu, were equally fantastic. On the safari to Tarangire park, Serengeti and Nagorogorno crater, or guide and driver, John, was so knowledgeable about the environs and animals. He really made the long driving days special. Thank you team!

The guide in manual Antonio was great he really was enthusiastic about the national forest and all the animals he showed us.
Alec our driver was also great, funny and gave us a lot of information from restaurants and things to see in both manual Antonio and La Fortuna. We loved him . Costs Rica is beautiful, lots of adventures for all ages.

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The rooms were nice and private with patio surrounded by beautiful tropical plants and great view of Arenal volcano from our room sliding doors.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms were private and big enough that they could have added some sitting furniture.

Location

Location was nice in front of volcano, but 20 min drive from local restaurant in La forturna. We had to get cabs to go back and forth to La fortuna .

Staff

Friendly and willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was kept clean and beautiful

Hotel La Mariposa

Manuel Antonio

Hotel had great views of the Pacific Ocean, staff was good, the breakfast was good. Didn’t enjoy the dinner at the hotel restaurant. So we went to places outside the hote

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views and sunset. Near local parks and restaurants

Staff

Willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Place is clean and beautiful

Activity Reviews

Río Savegre Whitewater Rafting Adventure

Manuel Antonio

First time whitewater rafting, even though dry season, the rapids were still 1-2 level and good for beginners. We enjoyed the excursion.

Quality of Experience

They kept us entertained

Food

Driver had pineapple and watermelon ready as we finished our rafti by and drinks. The tour provided authentic costarican lunch which was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The crew kept us entertained we enjoyed the drive. To the river as they explained the surrounding landscape

Transport

A bit bumpy and curved roads , but your driving thru the back roads, not too bad

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Beautiful hike both the volcano tour and the waterfall

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alec was our driver, we enjoyed driving with him , he also did the waterfall with us. The volcano guide was good and knowledgeable

Transport

Lookout Tram, Ziplines, & Hanging Bridges Combination Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved the zip line thru the rainforest, weather was perfect

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Our guide Andre Soccio was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the animals in the park . He knew where to find all the different animal/mammals/ birds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderful and expierenced

Transport

Always timely pickups from airports to resorts. Clean cars

This is Joan and John Merriam’s review of their trip to Colombia from January 16-30 2024 which was planned and arranged by the KimKim team. We cannot say enough positive things about Margoth and Felipe and the rest of their team. During the planning stage and throughout our days in Colombia they were always quick to respond to any questions or concerns we had.

Our trip consisted of four days in each of Medellin, the Coffee District and Cartagena concluding with a two night stay in Bogota. Our accommodations were in beautiful boutique hotels in the first three locations and a very comfortable first class hotel in central Bogota. And each location included restaurant recommendation that were always superb. Our guides - Diego in Medellin, Felipe and Mauricio in the Coffee District, Gabo in Cartagena, and Maria in Bogota were all very knowledgeable and could not do enough to make our tours both educational and enjoyable.

Overall, our trip in Colombia was a great experience and one we look forward to recommending to our many friends. We think the country has much to offer to travellers and that the people of Colombia are among the warmest and friendliest people we have met on our travels in many countries all over the world.

Samir was our driver and guide. He did an amazing job….always on time and humble and willing to adjust according to our needs. He made our life easier and guided us well. He is very knowledgeable. The whole team was very responsive whenever we had any questions and and changes was had to make in our itinerary
Highly recommended!!

Overall, we had a memorable experience in Osaka and Kyoto and we're glad we opted for the private tour and driver. The accomodations recommended were authentic and excellent in service, especially the Imperial Hotel Osaka. The Ryokan in Kyoto gave us a really good feel of the traditional way of living.

The guides were all really polite, attentive and knowledgeable. The driver himself was good and acknowledged his minor technical hiccup and went out of the way to get it sorted. Overall we had a great experience and impression of the places we went.

Hotel Reviews

Momijiya Honkan Takaosansou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Imperial Hotel Osaka

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Nara Tour

Nara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Cooking Class

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Osaka City Tour

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport