Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 21,541 ratings
Read 21,541 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Awesome Cape Town/Kenya trip!
Kenya | Jul 28 - Aug 9, 2024

K
Kelly J.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Aug 15, 2024
I loved the customized trip and personal service, it made everything so easy! The excursions and accommodations were amazing. All the drivers and guides were very good, but especially our guides in Cape Town and Amboseli, who treated us like family. Read more

I loved the customized trip and personal service, it made everything so easy! The excursions and accommodations were amazing. All the drivers and guides were very good, but especially our guides in Cape Town and Amboseli, who treated us like family.

Hotel Reviews
The Commodore Hotel
Cape Town

Nice accommodations in a great location. The breakfast was delicious!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tawi Lodge
Amboseli

Loved everything about this place! The location, the accommodations, the food, and the people. It was beautiful and we enjoyed every moment!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Joseph Thuo
Joseph
Joseph Thuo
Local specialist in Nairobi, Kenya | Replied on Aug 15, 2024

Hi Kelly,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on your trip, it sounds like our time spent together to plan this great adventure created a truly memorable experience. We love hearing that our suggestions for where to stay and what to do are well received and especially happy to hear that you connected with some wonderful people along the way.

We hope to welcome you back to Africa for more great times (Uganda gorillas and chimps? Cape Town penguins and whales?) and until then wish you all the best.

Asante sana (many thanks),
Joseph

Dolomiti
Italy | Jul 31 - Aug 8, 2024

Candy
Candy C.
Hong Kong SAR China | Reviewed on Aug 15, 2024

Andrea provided exceptional support in preparation as well as immediate assistance during our travels. His efforts made our trip much smoother and more comfortable. We are truly grateful for having him as our agent thus created wonderful memories in this beautiful country 💚🤍❤️

Local specialist: Andrea Gambino
Andrea
Andrea Gambino
Local specialist in Turin, Italy | Replied on Aug 15, 2024

Thank you so much for this wonderful review. It was a pleasure working with you.

Fantastic 13 day family trip to Brazil
Brazil | Jul 27 - Aug 8, 2024

N
Noaman S.
Clayton, MO | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024
Our family of 4 (2 boys age 16 and 13) just returned from an amazing 13 day trip to Brazil. Bruno and his team at AAA Bahia crafted an unbelievably well thought out and perfectly executed itinerary which included eco-tourism, cultural sights, sporting events, and beach fun. Our trip started in the Amazon then Salvador and wrapped up in Rio. At every location the transportation was seamless and the bilingual guides were extremely knowledgeable, fun, and had great enthusiasm about sharing their... Read more

Our family of 4 (2 boys age 16 and 13) just returned from an amazing 13 day trip to Brazil. Bruno and his team at AAA Bahia crafted an unbelievably well thought out and perfectly executed itinerary which included eco-tourism, cultural sights, sporting events, and beach fun. Our trip started in the Amazon then Salvador and wrapped up in Rio. At every location the transportation was seamless and the bilingual guides were extremely knowledgeable, fun, and had great enthusiasm about sharing their homeland with us. Leading up to the trip Bruno and his team were so easy to work with, they always listened to what we wanted out of the trip and and provided great recommendations on sightseeing activities as well as dining and nightlife. The kimkim platform was a breeze to use and was invaluable for communication with Bruno as well as handling all payments. This is the second time we have used kimkim for an overseas trip (Colombia 2023) and both times the local travel companies they hooked us up with were perfect. If you plan to go to Brazil I highly recommend using the kimkim platform and AAA Bahia to craft the perfect vacation for you.

Local specialist: Bruno Madeira
Bruno
Bruno Madeira
Local specialist in Brazil(Rio de Janeiro) and Portugal | Replied on Aug 14, 2024

Hi Noaman
Thank you very much for your words and your trust in our work. We are delighted that you and your family enjoyed our country.
We hope to see you again soon.
All the best to you and your family.
Bruno

Kenya Adventure: Safari Magic, Beach Bliss, and a Dream Engagement
Kenya | Aug 3 - Aug 12, 2024

Dylan
Dylan J.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024
Our trip to Kenya, organized by Joseph from KimKim, was nothing short of a dream come true. My partner and I, now happily engaged, wanted to witness the Great Migration and experience a hot air balloon ride over the breathtaking landscapes of the Masaai Mara. Joseph meticulously planned every detail, making this a trip we will cherish forever. During our stay in the Masaai Mara, we were fortunate to have Thomas as our private game driver. His kindness and extensive knowledge of the area... Read more

Our trip to Kenya, organized by Joseph from KimKim, was nothing short of a dream come true. My partner and I, now happily engaged, wanted to witness the Great Migration and experience a hot air balloon ride over the breathtaking landscapes of the Masaai Mara. Joseph meticulously planned every detail, making this a trip we will cherish forever.

During our stay in the Masaai Mara, we were fortunate to have Thomas as our private game driver. His kindness and extensive knowledge of the area truly enhanced our safari experience. We stayed at the Matira Bush Camp, which exceeded all our expectations. The service was exceptional, and the staff went above and beyond to make our stay special. Matira played a crucial role in organizing our engagement, arranging private cocktail drinks in the bush followed by a romantic private dinner. It was an unforgettable experience.

After the excitement of the safari, we transferred to Diani Beach for some relaxation. Our stay at the Diani Beach Resort was equally incredible, with top-notch service and a beautiful setting. We even had the opportunity to snorkel with the vibrant marine life, which was a perfect way to unwind after the adventure-packed days in the Mara.

In summary, this trip was a perfect blend of adventure, romance, and relaxation. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a memorable and personalized safari holiday in Kenya. Thank you, Joseph, and everyone who made this trip so special!

Hotel Reviews
Diani Sea Lodge
Diani Beach
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Matira Bush Camp
Nairobi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fair Acres Boutique Hotel
Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The car made a beeping noise constantly, it was frustrating.
Diani Beach Activities
Diani Beach Activities
Diani Beach
Quality of Experience
Food
Deserts can be improved. And for the buffet, a lot of flies. Need some kind of solution. (Eg: Maybe citronells scent / fly strips to catch them.. something.)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maasai Mara Game Drives & Hot Air Balloon Ride
Maasai Mara Game Drives & Hot Air Balloon Ride
Masai Mara
Quality of Experience
Food
Breakfast was incredible.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
David the pilot was incredible!
Transport
Was a very smooth, magical ride. We felt safe the entire time.
Maasai Mara National Reserve Game Drives
Maasai Mara National Reserve Game Drives
Masai Mara
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
same as previous answer
Local specialist: Joseph Thuo
Joseph
Joseph Thuo
Local specialist in Nairobi, Kenya | Replied on Aug 15, 2024
Hi Dylan, First of all, congratulations on your engagement! You really created an epic proposal story to remember forever and we were so happy to play a supporting role in creating the scene. We appreciate your kind words about our planning efforts as well as the positive feedback on your lodgings and activities. Our partnerships with exceptional people throughout Africa are a big source of pride for us and we will pass along your recognition of their efforts as well. And we also recognize... Read more

Hi Dylan,

First of all, congratulations on your engagement! You really created an epic proposal story to remember forever and we were so happy to play a supporting role in creating the scene.

We appreciate your kind words about our planning efforts as well as the positive feedback on your lodgings and activities. Our partnerships with exceptional people throughout Africa are a big source of pride for us and we will pass along your recognition of their efforts as well. And we also recognize some areas where things could have been better and will share that feedback as well.

We hope to welcome you back to Africa sometime to create more wonderful memories (Rwanda or Uganda gorillas and chimps? Victoria Falls, Egypt, Seychelles or Mauritius?) and until then wish you all the best as you plan your wedding day to come.

Asante sana (many thanks),
Joseph

Paris Family Vacation 2024
France | Jun 24 - Jun 30, 2024

Debra
Debra V.
Bedford, NH | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024
We had such a Wonderful time with our family of 9 in Paris. Thank you to our travel planner Lucie who hit on every highlight we wanted to see. Lucie was so so patient with us as it was a lot & she setup more than we could have asked for in 6 days. We took in a ride down the seine river, saw Eiffel Tower which was Amazing. Went to Versailles Museum & The Louvre so impressive & the art…Gorgeous! Took the kids to Disney which they enjoyed thoroughly. We went to Normandy for the day & there... Read more

We had such a Wonderful time with our family of 9 in Paris. Thank you to our travel planner Lucie who hit on every highlight we wanted to see. Lucie was so so patient with us as it was a lot & she setup more than we could have asked for in 6 days. We took in a ride down the seine river, saw Eiffel Tower which was Amazing. Went to Versailles Museum & The Louvre so impressive & the art…Gorgeous! Took the kids to Disney which they enjoyed thoroughly. We went to Normandy for the day & there are no words how impactful it was. We had a great guide for the day who made our adventure great. On our last day we went to Montmartre…Beautiful
& went on a lovely tour with our guide as well as a food tour which we enjoyed immensely . Also took in the Arc de Triomphe. This trip was a vacation of a life time that we will never forget! Thank you to Lucie & the tour guides for making this such an Amazing trip!

Hotel Review
Le Basile Hôtel
Paris

The hotel was very accommodating & very nice. The night man at the desk one of the nights was abrupt with answering questions which we didn’t appreciate but overall Very good. The rooms were clean & comfortable. Breakfast was lovely with croissant, meats, cheeses, yogurts & fresh Orange juice.

Authenticity & Character
The Art decor & decorations
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Full-day excursion from Paris of D-day beaches - U.S. sector
Full-day excursion from Paris of D-day beaches - U.S. sector
Paris

Made such a difference having a tour guide & being it was a 2.5 hour ride we had a vehicle pick us up (9 people) & the ride was great & so glad we did noth

Quality of Experience
Lucie from KimKim
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were very sociable & respectful
Transport
The driver
Local specialist: Lucie Rousseau
Lucie
Lucie Rousseau
Local specialist in Montpellier | Replied on Sep 02, 2024

Hello Debra,
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback about your trip to Paris. I am glad you had such a great time with your family and made such great memories. It was a pleasure for me to organise this trip for the whole family and I'd be happy to help again in the future. Do not hesitate to reach out.
Best,
Lucie

Family Trip to Azores outstanding!
the Azores | Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2024

Amy
Amy P.
Panama | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024
Rita collaborated with me and my family every step of the way and was very flexible. She found a trip itinerary that was pleasing to multiple age levels ranging from age 83 to age 11. Our time in the Azores was fabulous. It is heaven on earth. She arranged guided tours for two days, a beach tour, a sunset boat cruise, and a walking food and wine tour. She also helped with other suggestions throughout our time there and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. I found the process to be... Read more

Rita collaborated with me and my family every step of the way and was very flexible. She found a trip itinerary that was pleasing to multiple age levels ranging from age 83 to age 11. Our time in the Azores was fabulous. It is heaven on earth. She arranged guided tours for two days, a beach tour, a sunset boat cruise, and a walking food and wine tour. She also helped with other suggestions throughout our time there and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. I found the process to be very smooth.

Activity Reviews
Explore Gruta do Carvão: São Miguel’s Largest Lava Tunnel
Explore Gruta do Carvão: São Miguel’s Largest Lava Tunnel
São Miguel Island

We did not end up going here this was a free day

Volcano Cooking Experience
Volcano Cooking Experience
São Miguel Island

The Kim Kim description of this tour was not accurate. Was described as a hands on cooking class, going to market for ingredients, chopping and cooking etc. Luckily we asked for a specific detailed itinerary from the guide as it turns out it was a demonstration and presentation instead. It was also a total repeat of our full day furnas experience. Kim Kim gave us a partial refund and did not charge us for making last minute change. Ended up have the same drivers take us to a beach and some other stops.

Quality of Experience
Better understanding of what the guides are offering
Food
Best food at Bar Caloura which was picked by us.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Manuel was our driver, and valdamar. Neither spoke great English. Lovely people, they were passionate about their culture and wanted to show us a good time. Unfortunately, we kept saying we wanted to explore beaches and instead he took us to one beach and then drove us to see multiple beaches but never stopped at any. He also took us to the tea plantation even though we said we weren’t sure we wanted to go there. He was LOVELY, but he kind of had a plan of his own.
Transport
Cars were perfect
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience
São Miguel Island

Hungry whales, Fred was our guide and we loved him! He was fun with the kids!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Na
Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience
Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience
São Miguel Island

Loved seeing the fumaroles in furnas. Guides were excellent again, Natasha and Jose. We were supposed to go to a thermal baths but these were closed due to a bacteria. Lagoa do fogo was breathtaking. Lunch at alabote was delicious in ribiera grande, on the coast delicious seafood.

Quality of Experience
Just dissapointed about the baths but that was not in our control.
Food
Alabote.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunset Sail Along São Miguel’s Volcanic Coast
Sunset Sail Along São Miguel’s Volcanic Coast
São Miguel Island

Great! They provided good food and wine, and the guides even let our kids try out their fishing poles for a while. We brought our own music. If I could do it again, I may have wanted to do this on our second night since we were tired from traveling but we all loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
São Miguel Island

Natasha and Jose our drivers were very knowledgeable. The sights were out of this world. I think that it might have been nice to give the young people in our group the option to do the hiking portion (boca do inferno) while the older group members just do the lookout point but we were not aware that this was an option. If I were doing it again, I would have asked to have us split up possibly for that portion. Also, our description from Kim Kim that day did not say anything about going swimming at termas de Ferraria. So on the day of our tour, Natasha had us go grab our things for swimming. It wasn’t a big deal, but I felt like the Kim Kim description and the detailed itinerary from our in country guide didn’t quite match. Better communication advised for this in the future for this excursion and for all of the excursions.

Quality of Experience
Good drivers with good knowledge and great English speaking
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We could maybe have used two larger vehicles for more leg room, or perhaps three smaller?
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Naples & Madrid | Replied on Aug 26, 2024

Hi Amy, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed your trip to the Azores. Your feedback means a lot to us, and I will make sure to forward it to our local guides! It was a pleasure for me to work with you and your family. Hopefully, we will keep in touch for your future family adventures. All my best, Rita 🥰

The RIB boat ride and goat cheese farm tour f...
Norway | Jul 31 - Aug 12, 2024

T
Timolyn E.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024
The RIB boat ride and goat cheese farm tour from Flåm was excellent, though our room at Fretheim hotel was very sub par and unfortunately KimKim was not able to do anything about it. We loved everything about Lofoten Islands and especially the Reine Robeur hotel. We mainly did self guided hikes and ate really really well. Best part of the trip. We also enjoyed Oslo and the Christiana Teatro hotel. I would not recommend the Hidden Gems tour…. Our guide brought along her 2 year old dog so... Read more

The RIB boat ride and goat cheese farm tour from Flåm was excellent, though our room at Fretheim hotel was very sub par and unfortunately KimKim was not able to do anything about it.

We loved everything about Lofoten Islands and especially the Reine Robeur hotel. We mainly did self guided hikes and ate really really well. Best part of the trip.

We also enjoyed Oslo and the Christiana Teatro hotel. I would not recommend the Hidden Gems tour…. Our guide brought along her 2 year old dog so the ‘tour’ was very much about keeping the dog under control the whole time.

Hotel Reviews
Thon Hotel Svolvær
Svolvær
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Reine Rorbuer
Reine
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
HATTVIKA LODGE
Ballstad
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Home Hotel Bryggen
Bergen
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fretheim Hotel
Flåm
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Christiania Teater
Oslo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Arctic Horseriding Trip
Arctic Horseriding Trip
Norway

Horses were fun but our group was really big. They spent a lot of time asking about our experience with horses, only to walk them in a line for all but 6 minutes of the tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Summer Fjord Safari and Hike
Summer Fjord Safari and Hike
Flåm

Our guide, Rose, was excellent and made the whole experience amazing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Summer Kayaking Excursion
Summer Kayaking Excursion
Reine

Kayak tour was suppose to be 2-6 people but 10 were on our trip. We spent a ton of time just getting everyone in kayaks and on water. Our guide did not know much about the area we were touring.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hidden Gems City Walk
Hidden Gems City Walk
Oslo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kadri Talvik
Kadri
Kadri Talvik
Local specialist in Norway | Replied on Aug 20, 2024

Hi Timolyn!

Thank you so much for your review and your trust in us! Lofoten Islands are definitely one of the more amazing parts of Norway! :)

I am happy to hear you enjoyed the trip and hope to welcome you again to Norway!

All the best!
Kadri

Fantastic Trip!
Italy | Jul 30 - Aug 8, 2024

P
Paul M.
North Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2024
Our trip took us from Bologna, to Florence, to Rome over 10 days. The itinerary and accommodations provided by Lorenza went off with nothing more than two minor issues noted below, which I offer only as constructive advice. And "Thank You" to Andrea for his real-time support in Rome.
In Bologna, accommodations at Hotel Aemilia were excellent--our favorite place on the trip. The only minor issue in this leg of the trip -- not enough time to enjoy Museo Enzo between arriving by train at...
Read more

Our trip took us from Bologna, to Florence, to Rome over 10 days. The itinerary and accommodations provided by Lorenza went off with nothing more than two minor issues noted below, which I offer only as constructive advice. And "Thank You" to Andrea for his real-time support in Rome.
In Bologna, accommodations at Hotel Aemilia were excellent--our favorite place on the trip. The only minor issue in this leg of the trip -- not enough time to enjoy Museo Enzo between arriving by train at Modena Centrale, and catching the shuttle bus to Museo Ferrari (40 minutes total were allowed, including time to walk to/from the Museo and train station. Too short. I missed the shuttle bus and took a taxi from Modena to Maranello so I could enjoy the Enzo museum). We also had a day trip to tour and sample parmigiano/reggiano, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar in Emilia-Romagna. A real treat to have a private tour guide (there, and in every city we visited)-- we HIGHLY recommend this format. All of our tour guides were super-knowledgeable, fun, patient, etc.
Florence was our favorite place--SO much history. One highlight was our tour of the Chianti region (the only group tour we had, and there were only 11 of us in total, so no issue). Drinking wine and eating great food makes for quick fun together! Would go back to Florence and the Tuscany region without any hesitation. Accommodations there were excellent at Hotel Garibaldi Blu--very quaint, right near the train station but very quiet inside.
Rome was a whirlwind. Accommodations at Hotel Navona Colors were comfortable but a notch down from the other places we stayed. Private tour guide was absolutely, positively worth it! The only concern on this leg was actually in Frankfurt, our one stop on the trip home. We had 1 hr 20 min between our scheduled arrival in Frankfurt, and departure from there to Raleigh/Durham. Rome flight was 20 min late arriving, and then the German border/passport control process was SLOW and CROWDED. We narrowly escaped missing our flight from Frankfurt to Raleigh/Durham, being the last two persons on board. For a transatlantic trip, we like to avoid cutting this so close!

I would recommend KimKim, and Lorenza, without hesitation. THANK YOU for making our first trip to Italy memorable, and we are certain to return there soon. Ciao!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Navona Colors
Rome

Not as endearing as other places we stayed. Not bad at all, but not a hotel that we'd put on the top of our list. The room itself was fine but the breakfast, and caffe area, were not as good as others.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Garibaldi Blu
Florence

Great location, friendly and informative staff, quiet. Breakfast was excellent. Clean and spacious bathroom.

Authenticity & Character
Neat decor, calm, some funky figures in the public spaces (batman, captain america, etc.)
Location
Close to everything.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Phi Hotel Emilia
Bologna

We stayed here due to business at the Department of Veterinary Sciences, which is within walking distance of the hotel. Breakfast was excellent! The two are located in Ozzano, just East of Bologna, which is a small town. When put into this context, Phi Hotel was fine. Ratings below reflect the context.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Some of the staff at the front desk were courteous--others, not so much.
Cleanliness & Comfort
No problems in this respect. Typical tiny Euro shower!
Activity Reviews
Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket
Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket
Rome

It would be crazy not to get a Skip the line ticket!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Accademia Gallery - skip the line entrance
Accademia Gallery - skip the line entrance
Florence

Once you see for yourself the lines to get in without a Skip The Line ticket, you'll know!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery
Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery
Italy

Outstanding. Our private guide was native to Florence and was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to the Museum and Ferrari Factory
Visit to the Museum and Ferrari Factory
Italy

Fabulous, especially the Enzo museum. The two museums are complementary, not duplicative. A must-see for Ferrarista, car nuts and F1 fans.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rome Private Guided Walk
Rome Private Guided Walk
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide
Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chianti Full Immersive Wine & Olive Oil Experience from Florence (small group)
Chianti Full Immersive Wine & Olive Oil Experience from Florence (small group)
Florence
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wine and food tour in Florence
Wine and food tour in Florence
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Food day including Balsamic Vinegar, Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano - from Bologna
Food day including Balsamic Vinegar, Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano - from Bologna
Italy
Quality of Experience
Food
Everything.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private, guided tours are the way to go.
Transport
Local specialist: Lorenza Cannarsa

Unforgettable Birding Trip to Colombia
Colombia | Jul 30 - Aug 10, 2024

Thea
Thea B.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2024
Booking our trip through Kimkim was incredibly easy. For many years now, I've wanted to go birdwatching in Colombia but knew so little about the country and where to go. Michael put together an amazing itinerary starting in Bogota, ending in Santa Marta, and including Manizales in the "coffee triangle". We saw over 200 species of birds, most of which were lifers, and stayed in some of the most beautiful places I think I've ever seen. Hacienda Venezia was a spectacular historic home on a... Read more

Booking our trip through Kimkim was incredibly easy. For many years now, I've wanted to go birdwatching in Colombia but knew so little about the country and where to go. Michael put together an amazing itinerary starting in Bogota, ending in Santa Marta, and including Manizales in the "coffee triangle". We saw over 200 species of birds, most of which were lifers, and stayed in some of the most beautiful places I think I've ever seen. Hacienda Venezia was a spectacular historic home on a coffee plantation; El Dorado had "glamorous" huts on the top of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, with panoramic views of the entire planet, it felt; and Senda Koguiwa felt like a luxurious tropical resort. Even the HAB hotel, where we stayed in Bogota, was chic, comfortable, and upscale. The guides were incredibly knowledgable and everyone was kind and attentive. There were some live changes to the itinerary, but that's par for the course.

There were just a few issues, all of which could be ironed out with a few adjustments:

1. The breakfast box supplied by Senda Koguiwa was awful: a dry bread roll with tasteless cheese and ham, and nothing else. It was clear to me that they don't usually put these together for guests.

2. The accommodations at El Dorado were beautiful but they were dangerous. The pathways that lead from the huts up to the main restaurant were loose, slippery, and muddy and didn't have any hand railing to help people stabilize themselves. The wooden boards that were used to create steps in the mud were rotting and collapsed when stepped on. Someone literally could break their leg hiking this path. They also haven't strung up any lights along these pathways and so when you walk back from the restaurant at night (it's a good 8-minute walk to the furthest cabins!) you essentially do that in the pitch blackness. We weren't prepared for this: no one told us to bring torches for the journey.

3. Our final guide for the trip (and I won't mention his name here) was extremely knowledgeable but he lacked experience actually GUIDING people, particularly larger groups. He didn't really look after us at all but rather walked ahead, birded, and told whoever was closest to him what they were seeing. He didn't explain anything, didn't make sure the whole group had seen the birds, and didn't wait for the stragglers to catch up. We had some older folks in our group and he never waited to help them up/down slippery slopes or difficult obstacles. He just forged ahead and if someone had dropped off the edge of the mountain, he probably wouldn't have noticed. I learned how to work with him—by sticking closely to his side and asking him relentless questions—but the rest of the group struggled. He also never explained what we were doing or what to expect so we were often ill-prepared for the activities we were doing. I'm able to say these things about him because the other guides we had were so wonderful with the group.

4. Finally, birding is a long and physical activity. It would be nice if all the guides kept a cooler in the back of the van with bottles of cold water, soft drinks, and perhaps some snacks (health bars / fruit or whatever) on trips that are longer than 3 hours. There were many early mornings we left to bird and weren't given any coffee or tea at all, and had to wait until mid-morning breakfast or lunch to eat or drink again. It would take so little to address this and it would have a major impact on the happiness of your future birders.

5. Recommendation for Senda Koguiwa: put up bird feeders! They have such a gorgeous property with so many birds already but with feeders, you'd attract birdwatchers by the thousands!

None of these are criticisms but rather intended as feedback to help Kimkim fine-tune its services for birders. Overall, we had the adventure of a lifetime and it was wonderful to sit back and enjoy the ride!

Local specialist: Michael Gold
Michael
Michael Gold
Local specialist in San Agustín, Huila, Colombia | Replied on Aug 19, 2024
Dear Thea, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. I'm thrilled to hear that your group had such a memorable birdwatching adventure in Colombia and that the itinerary met your expectations, allowing you to see over 200 bird species in these diverse locations. WOW! It’s great to know that you enjoyed your stays, particularly at Hacienda Venecia, El Dorado, and Senda Koguiwa, and that our guides were knowledgeable and attentive throughout most of your trip. I... Read more

Dear Thea,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. I'm thrilled to hear that your group had such a memorable birdwatching adventure in Colombia and that the itinerary met your expectations, allowing you to see over 200 bird species in these diverse locations. WOW! It’s great to know that you enjoyed your stays, particularly at Hacienda Venecia, El Dorado, and Senda Koguiwa, and that our guides were knowledgeable and attentive throughout most of your trip.

I truly appreciate your constructive feedback regarding the areas that could use improvement. Your comments are incredibly valuable as they help us enhance the experience for future travelers. We will discuss the points you mentioned with the hotels and guides to ensure these improvements are made!

Thank you again, and we hope to welcome you back soon.

Best regards,
Michael & The Chaska Tours Team

Amazing family vacation to Peru with our teen...
Peru | Aug 4 - Aug 11, 2024

L
Lindi V.
Memphis, TN | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2024
Amazing family vacation to Peru with our teenage children. Peruvian Soul did a great job, all activities and tours were booked, transportation was seamless, and guide Edwar was knowledgeable and friendly. Read more

Amazing family vacation to Peru with our teenage children. Peruvian Soul did a great job, all activities and tours were booked, transportation was seamless, and guide Edwar was knowledgeable and friendly.

Hotel Reviews
Los Portales Cusco
Cusco

Good location. Rooms are small but clean. Excellent staff, responsive to concerns. No air-conditioning, and windows open to enclosure, not fresh air.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Across from Qorikancha, and close walk to main square
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
We had internal rooms with windows that opened to atrium, not fresh air. We were hit and there is no AC or temp control in the rooms.
Hatun Inti Boutique Machupicchu
Machu Picchu

Clean large rooms. Well situated at the bus stop for MP. Simple breakfast. Thin walls.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Rooms on the river are lovely
Staff
Receptionist should have kept our rooms together.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Loud with thin walls.
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Urubamba

Beautiful hotel, large rooms. Generous breakfast. Coffee and ice cream shop at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close drive to urubamba and ollantaytambo
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Sandboarding in Chilca Dunes
Sandboarding in Chilca Dunes
Lima

Fun activity for active teenagers. Took longer than anticipated, so should have brought food.

Local specialist: Anne Godoy
Anne
Anne Godoy
Local specialist in Lima | Replied on Aug 16, 2024

Hi Lindi 🎉
Thanks for traveling with us. I am glad you had a great family trip in Peru and congrats on hiking the Inca Trail. Thanks for sharing this valuable inside with us, it helps us always to keep doing better and better.
Best regards from Peru
Anne Godoy

Great trip to Japan.
Japan | Aug 6 - Aug 12, 2024

M
michael d.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2024

Excellent experience with Kimkim. A pretty complicated trip, with lots of destinations, transfers, trains and planes and everything was seamless. Communication during the trip through WhatsApp was instantaneous.

Our travel specialist, Leny, was outstanding. She was able to suggest or modify activities on the fly, to suit the weather or teenage preferences. Her personalized recommendations on restaurants and shopping areas (Amerika-sura) were highlights of our trip. I will seek her out for any future trips to SE Asia.

Local specialist: Leny Vergara
Leny
Leny Vergara
Local specialist in Tokyo, Japan | Replied on Sep 23, 2024

Hi Michael, thank you for your positive feedback! I’m glad to hear you and your daughter had a wonderful time in Japan. It was a pleasure helping with your trip, and I look forward to the opportunity to design your next adventure to Japan!

Memorial Finland trip
Finland | Jul 26 - Aug 6, 2024

M
Melissa L.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2024
Our trip was catered to our preferences. When we had suggestions or changes they were flexible and adjusted. Our accommodations and breakfasts were great. We were able to experience Finland how we wanted. We got to see four different cities and many different saunas. The agenda was clear and we were able to follow our transportation schedule. I would recommend Kim Kim to others. Read more

Our trip was catered to our preferences. When we had suggestions or changes they were flexible and adjusted. Our accommodations and breakfasts were great. We were able to experience Finland how we wanted. We got to see four different cities and many different saunas. The agenda was clear and we were able to follow our transportation schedule. I would recommend Kim Kim to others.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fabian
Helsinki

Only stayed one night. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to shops and restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Boutique Hotel Yöpuu
Jyväskylä

Cute hotel. We only stayed one night. Breakfast was good. They also gave us a welcome drink.

Authenticity & Character
Each room was decorated differently. Ours was based on Finnish fashion designers.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lillan Boutique Hotel & Kök
Tampere

Super cute hotel. They were so nice to provide a welcome drink. The breakfast was amazing. The sauna room was a surprise and so amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
A little away from things but the city bicycles were very helpful.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Scandic Hamburger Börs
Turku

Newer hotel in a great location. Wonderful breakfast. They have bikes you can borrow.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy to walk to many things.
Staff
Super nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clarion Hotel Helsinki
Helsinki

Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
The pool and roof top bar were fun:
Location
A little ways from the main area…about a mile.
Staff
Very kind and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
One of our rooms was very hot. Air conditioning didn’t work. They did provide fans, which helped.
Activity Reviews
Evening Canoeing on Tourujoki
Evening Canoeing on Tourujoki
Jyväskylä

Beautiful lakes to canoe around. If it is windy, it can be challenging to paddle back.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Island Whispers: Archipelago Cruise
Island Whispers: Archipelago Cruise
Turku

A lot of Finns do this as mini trip. Our group isn’t used to sitting so long. We would have liked to get out and explore some of the islands. It was great to see the area. On the way back we booked the spa/sauna. That was a fun experience on the boat. Then we had a fancy 3 course meat. The food may have been a little too fancy for most of our group but it was a fun experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Forum Sauna
Forum Sauna
Turku

Authentic sauna experience. Very historical. You get washed, sit in the sauna, foot soak, face mud, and rinse. Sauna momma gives you blueberries and currents along with blueberry juice.

Quality of Experience
Löyly Sauna visit
Löyly Sauna visit
Helsinki

Great to have a variety of saunas and the opportunity to swim in the Baltic (Gulf of Finland).

Quality of Experience
Helsinki Walking Tour
Helsinki Walking Tour
Helsinki

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and did a great job of giving facts and adding humor. The 4 hours went quickly even though it was warm and a lot of walking.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Harmony in Stone: Temppeliaukion Church
Harmony in Stone: Temppeliaukion Church
Helsinki

We did not do this experience because we didn’t realize that the tickets were only good for the day. We had too many things booked for one day with the walking tour and the trip to the island.

SkySauna: An Elevated Finnish Experience
SkySauna: An Elevated Finnish Experience
Helsinki

Definitely a tourist attraction. So amazing to be in a sauna on a Ferris Wheel. The private hot tub and changing room was also a bonus. What a great way to start our vacation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Miglé Mikenaite

Wow...
Italy | Jul 26 - Aug 5, 2024

Jessica
Jessica B.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2024
Wow.. what an amazing trip to Italy all thanks to Luca!! He helped plan an action-packed trip with just the right amount of relaxation. From Florence to Sorrento to Rome, Luca helped curate the perfect itinerary that included tours, a cooking class, and a boat ride to Capri. The private transfers to and from the airports/ train stations eased our minds so much in knowing there was a ride waiting for us. Luca was a DREAM to work with and answered all our silly questions, helped when we were in... Read more

Wow.. what an amazing trip to Italy all thanks to Luca!! He helped plan an action-packed trip with just the right amount of relaxation. From Florence to Sorrento to Rome, Luca helped curate the perfect itinerary that included tours, a cooking class, and a boat ride to Capri. The private transfers to and from the airports/ train stations eased our minds so much in knowing there was a ride waiting for us. Luca was a DREAM to work with and answered all our silly questions, helped when we were in a bind, and gave some amazing recommendations. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but can honestly say it exceeded my expectations and I will 100% use kimkim again.

Hotel Review
Palazzo Starace
Sorrento

The staff was AMAZING- so helpful, gave food recommendations and the best bubbly personalities. Was super clean and the location was everything. So easy to access the downtown and walk to the beach. Couldn’t speak highly enough!

Authenticity & Character
The staff!!! The yummy breakfast!!!
Location
Extremely central… perfect location for all ages
Staff
Some of the kindest people
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean, always smelt nice.
Activity Reviews
Capri and the Sorrentine Peninsula by boat
Capri and the Sorrentine Peninsula by boat
Italy

SO fun!! Get to jump into water, enjoy beverages, and see the island by water. It’s gorgeous and completely exceeded our expectations. The boat ride was a highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tuscan Cooking class and S.Lorenzo Market
Tuscan Cooking class and S.Lorenzo Market
Florence

One of our FAVORITE activities. Step-by-step directions for how to make two different pasta dishes and homemade tiramisu. We are already buying the ingredients to re-create this activity for our families at home! Alice was the best teacher ever. Cannot speak highly enough.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Luca D'Arcangelo
Luca
Luca D'Arcangelo
Local specialist in Rome | Replied on Aug 26, 2024
Hi Jessica!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking some time to share your experience! 😍
It was my pleasure to help you and your friends planning this amazing trip to Italy, and I'm thrilled and extremely happy to see that you enjoyed it! I was sure you would enjoy the cooking class and have real fun! And what about Capri? It was a true not-to-miss spot and I can't really imagine how much you liked it 😍 Thank you for all your feedback, it is super appreciated and helps us... Read more

Hi Jessica!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking some time to share your experience! 😍

It was my pleasure to help you and your friends planning this amazing trip to Italy, and I'm thrilled and extremely happy to see that you enjoyed it! I was sure you would enjoy the cooking class and have real fun! And what about Capri? It was a true not-to-miss spot and I can't really imagine how much you liked it 😍

Thank you for all your feedback, it is super appreciated and helps us understand what to offer our future clients and where to improve! I am super happy you liked the centrally located hotels and could enjoy the best of each city staying there! I hope you have already prepared some of the dishes you learned to do during the cooking class, I would love to taste them! 😉

Thank you again for your trust and for choosing us to help with your trip!
Should you plan another trip, I would love the opportunity to assist you once more and make your new trip unforgettable!!

Sincerely,
Luca

Margoth and her team planned a wonderful trip...
Colombia | Aug 1 - Aug 10, 2024

M
Megan H.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024

Margoth and her team planned a wonderful trip for us to the coffee region, Medellin, and Cartagena. Every detail was thoughtfully planned. And, when we were traveling, they were extremely responsive to our needs and helped us make a few changes along the way. I would highly recommend a trip to beautiful Colombia. Be sure to use Margoth and Arcanto travel when you do!!

Local specialist: Margoth Rico
Margoth
Margoth Rico
Local specialist in Bogota | Replied on Aug 12, 2024

Dear Megan,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this review. It was a pleasure meeting you and Lucas, and we appreciate you including us in your trip! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience and enjoyed your time in Colombia 😊!

Sending you our very best wishes from Colombia, and we hope you stay in touch!

Best regards,
Margoth and The Aracanto Team

Day in Rome
Italy | Aug 10 - Aug 11, 2024

Dan
Dan V.
Clermont, FL | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024
Everything was perfect. Our hotel in Rome was spectacular and the location was perfect. Valeria and IIaria were the best!! The transportation they arranged worked out perfectly and the tour in Rome was fantastic. Thank you so much for a perfect ending to our Mediterranean Cruise. Read more

Everything was perfect. Our hotel in Rome was spectacular and the location was perfect. Valeria and IIaria were the best!! The transportation they arranged worked out perfectly and the tour in Rome was fantastic. Thank you so much for a perfect ending to our Mediterranean Cruise.

Hotel Review
47 Boutique Hotel
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
 Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill
Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valeria Arcangeli
Valeria
Valeria Arcangeli
Local specialist in Rome | Replied on Aug 13, 2024

Hi Dan,
Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad to hear that Rome was the perfect ending to your cruise!

Next time, I'm sure your daughter will love spending more days exploring our country. Ilaria and I would be more than happy to assist you with everything.

Looking forward to seeing you again in Italy,
ciao valeria

Spectacular first experience to Rome and Sorrento/Amalfi
Italy | Aug 4 - Aug 11, 2024

Jeff
Jeff W.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024
Our trip was spectacular. It was incredibly well organized, custom to our preferences, and the entire team was attentive throughout our trip. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with them. Even during the trip when flights were canceled, this team was always available and made necessary transportation changes to keep our trip on track. All of our interactions and tours were an A+. We did everything from rooftop tours, the Vatican, the Colosseum, Wine Country/Small towns outside... Read more

Our trip was spectacular. It was incredibly well organized, custom to our preferences, and the entire team was attentive throughout our trip. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with them. Even during the trip when flights were canceled, this team was always available and made necessary transportation changes to keep our trip on track. All of our interactions and tours were an A+. We did everything from rooftop tours, the Vatican, the Colosseum, Wine Country/Small towns outside of Rome. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this wonderful company and will use them again!!!!

Hotel Reviews
Maison La Minervetta
Sorrento

Honestly, one of our favorite hotels that we have ever stayed in. This was an incredible mix of the well-appointed high-level hotel with the charmed mix of Bread and Breakfast. A very limited number of total rooms made it feel incredibly personal. Our room and view were unbeatable. We had an unobstructed view of the entire bay. Everyone working remembered you by name and was extremely courteous and happy to see you. Incredible homemade Italian-style breakfast and Happy Hour charcuterie tables were out every day. The pool was RIGHT on the ocean, with arguably the best view in all of Sorrento. We had private steps down to the marina, shops, restaurants, and beach clubs. The style and decor were incredible. It has been featured in numerous travel magazines etc. This is a can't-miss stay. It elevated our entire experience of our spectacular trip!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Capo d'Africa—Colosseo
Rome

Fine. It checked every box for a city hotel. It didn't have anything great, but nothing terrible. Food was below average for this nice of a place. The bathroom was below average. The location to the Colosseum and Forum was exceptional. The room was average. If we were to stay in Rome again, we would stay elsewhere.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Frascati Tour: Enjoy Wine Tasting & Visit "Castelli Romani" area
Frascati Tour: Enjoy Wine Tasting & Visit "Castelli Romani" area
Italy

Incredible. Unexpected, because we knew the least about what this entailed prior to our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Carlo was incredible!
Transport
Seamless!
Private Early Morning Vatican Tour: Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
Private Early Morning Vatican Tour: Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
Italy

Leah was INCREDIBLE! She absolutely made this tour!!!!!!! Livtours

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
This was the best part! Lea/Leah was what made the tour so incredible.
Transport
N/A. none provided.
Local specialist: Jessica Proietti
Jessica
Jessica Proietti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Aug 13, 2024

Hi Jeff,
Thank you for taking the time to review us! We understand that challenges can arise during international travel, which is why we offer 24/7 support to ensure you don’t miss a moment of your Italian experience. We hope to see you again soon!
Arrivederci until next time!

Camille and Renata were kind, patient, detail...
Brazil | Aug 4 - Aug 11, 2024

Danielle
Danielle L.
Collierville, TN | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024

Camille and Renata were kind, patient, detail-oriented, and responsive. Our trip to Brazil was our 3rd trip with KimKim. We can't wait for the next one!

Local specialist: Camille Terra
Camille
Camille Terra
Local specialist in Brazil | Replied on Sep 04, 2024

Hi Danielle,

I am super happy to hear from you and learn that you enjoyed your trip to Brazil. We can't wait to help you plan more awesome adventures if you ever decide to return to our country!

Best,
Camille

Truly the trip of a lifetime!
Italy | Jul 22 - Aug 6, 2024

Elio & Jenn
Elio & Jenn Q.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024
Truly the trip of a lifetime! Elisa was incredible. She listened to what we wanted, took care to plan every detail and was super responsive with any questions both before and during our trip. Planning for 11 people across 3 families is a challenge, but Elisa and the KimKim team made it look easy! Read more

Truly the trip of a lifetime! Elisa was incredible. She listened to what we wanted, took care to plan every detail and was super responsive with any questions both before and during our trip.

Planning for 11 people across 3 families is a challenge, but Elisa and the KimKim team made it look easy!

Activity Reviews
Milano Aperitivo Street Food Tour
Milano Aperitivo Street Food Tour
Milan

Our tour guide genuinely went above and beyond!

Quality of Experience
Rialto Market & Cicchetti Food Tour
Rialto Market & Cicchetti Food Tour
Venice

The food was spectacular and our guide Frederico was amazing! He had great stories, knew so much about the area and treated us to some of the most amazing dishes.

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Elisa Sciabica

Trustworthy, honest, and efficient agency!
Ecuador | Aug 1 - Aug 9, 2024

enrique jose
enrique jose g.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024
We could not be happier with our experience with the Ecuador-based KimKim team. The service provided by Maria Jose, who was our trip coordinator, was outstanding from day one. She made sure to understand our goals and vision for the trip, and was patient enough to work through multiple itinerary versions until we finalized it together. The chose the correct hotels, routes, and activities based on what we spoke about, and the guides/personnel on the ground that they reserved for us were... Read more

We could not be happier with our experience with the Ecuador-based KimKim team. The service provided by Maria Jose, who was our trip coordinator, was outstanding from day one. She made sure to understand our goals and vision for the trip, and was patient enough to work through multiple itinerary versions until we finalized it together. The chose the correct hotels, routes, and activities based on what we spoke about, and the guides/personnel on the ground that they reserved for us were trustworthy, puntual, and very knowledgeable. Every day they checked in on us with a text, to make sure that everything was going accordingly, which is a sign of excellent service. I highly recommend working with Maria Jose/Tamer and the ecuador KimKim team - I will do so for my next trip as well, and will even look into working through KimKim for visits made to other countries. 5/5, thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Hacienda El Porvenir
Machachi

Great team and managers, Mattia was very polite and respective of our needs during our stay. The rooms are very pretty, warm, and comfortable, and the views are breathtaking. I would definitely stay there again, and hope to return soon! Oh, and the restaurant was delicious.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hacienda Abraspungo
Guano

Excellent service, very nice people. Make sure to request the horse riding trip, it was stunning. The rooms were very comfortable, and the restaurant is 5/5. The view of the volcanoes is breathtaking.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Dairy Farm Visit in La Alegria
Dairy Farm Visit in La Alegria
Cotopaxi

Great experience horseback riding, and the operators/owners were very nice. They even had lunch with us.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Tamer Obeid.
Tamer
Tamer Obeid.
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Aug 19, 2024

Dear Enrique,
Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you and your father had such a positive experience working with us. It was our pleasure to tailor-make your trip to meet your expectations, if not exceed them :) We’re glad the hotels, routes, and activities were just right on the spot. We’re also pleased that the daily check-ins left a very positive impression :) Your recommendations mean a lot to us, and we’d be delighted to help you with your next adventure, whether in Ecuador or elsewhere in the region. Thanks again!
Best regards,
Majo & Tamer

The flexibility of Angel and the organisation is outstanding!
Japan | Jul 19 - Aug 9, 2024

Nicoline
Nicoline v.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024
We planned our trip to Japan together with Angel, who has been very flexible along the way. Whenever we wanted to make changes she was able to do so without complaints. Overall contact with Angel has been amazing. It feels like we have been friends for ages.
We selected our own hotels and Angel fitted these hotels into our plan.
We managed to grab some tickets for the Sumo tournament in Nagoya by ourselves and so at the very last moment we could make arrangements to skip a day in Hakone...
Read more

We planned our trip to Japan together with Angel, who has been very flexible along the way. Whenever we wanted to make changes she was able to do so without complaints. Overall contact with Angel has been amazing. It feels like we have been friends for ages.
We selected our own hotels and Angel fitted these hotels into our plan.
We managed to grab some tickets for the Sumo tournament in Nagoya by ourselves and so at the very last moment we could make arrangements to skip a day in Hakone and change it to a day in Nagoya. There are so many things to mention, but the bottom line is that we have had the trip of our lives, and we fell
in love with Japan. Since there is just so much and at the same time so little you can do in 2 weeks, we figured that we might need to go back some day in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai
Dubai

The hotelbuilding, it’s location, the staff, the breafast: all very nice! Upon arrival at 2 in the morning, our room was not ready. This was a bit confusing. The staff acted properly but it took a lot of time. At 3 in the morning we could finally go to bed. They do not offer 3 person rooms, so they added a stretcher, which was not so very comfortable as a normal bed. The rooms are small, a bit too small for 3 beds. So please make sure to ask for a big room if you decide to make it a triple.

Authenticity & Character
The hotel is nice, but not very special
Location
Just around the corner of the Dubai Mall and the Burj Kallifa
Staff
The general staff is nice and friendsly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cleanliness is perfect, comfort is not as expected
Hotel The Lutheran
Osaka

The hotel is situated nearby the subway station and just a heartbeat away from the Osaka Castle. It has friendly staff. Rooms are equipped with 3 equal beds. Service is good. Breakfast is very good with a lot of diversity and fresh fruits.

Authenticity & Character
Just nice
Location
Close to highlights
Staff
Friendly and helpfull
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice and clean
Dormy Inn Premium Nagasakiekimae Natural Hot Spring
Nagasaki

Fine hotel, close to the railway station. Maybe a bit outdated but the beds are nice and comfortable. There is little room for stalling big suitcases but it is fine. The breakfast is truely amazing with fresh fruits and a lot of different types of good.

Authenticity & Character
Okay
Location
Nearby the station and Shopping Centre
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice and clean
THE KNOT HIROSHIMA
Hiroshima

The hotel building itself is amazing. The reception desk is on the top floor with amazing views on the city. Staff is a bit rude and service is poor. Breakfast is served in the restaurant downstairs and offers not much to choose from. But the food is okay. The rooms are nice, with quite some space for 3 big adults. The hotel is very close to the memorial centre, so location is great. You’ll need to grab a Streetcar in order to reach the hotel; taxi’s are too small for 3 adults and 3 big suitcases.

Authenticity & Character
Super nice architecture, with a fine rooftop bar
Location
Very close to the epicentre and memorial park
Staff
Friendliness and service. Make sure to please your guests and be clear about the breakfast times (when last order). If you’re sales to call for a taxi, do not hesitate to arrange it without complaints and make sure to ask for luggage wishes (bus would be preferred when suitcases are big)
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice and clean
Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami
kyoto

Very close to the central big railway station, which makes it easy to get around. Very nice interior and friendly staff. The beds are comfortable and equal, so no bedcouch or stretcher. Breakfast was okay, just simple and not very specific.

Authenticity & Character
It’s a good, clean and fine hotel
Location
Very close to the railway station
Staff
Friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice and clean
Nikko Style Nagoya

Wauw! This hotel is truely perfect. It is situated on a 15 minute walking distance from the Shinkansen railway station. It is on walking distance from the Centre. Personel is super friendly and the room for 3 adults is very well designed. The beds are equal and very comfortable. The room has a seperate toilet and a really cool setup for the bathroom. Breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character
Very nice ambient and super well designed
Location
Close to nearly everything
Staff
Super friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Yumoto Station Hotel MIRAHAKONE
Hakone

This hotel is more like an appartement home. It does not have an elevator, so you have to Carry your luggage up the stairs. The room is equiped with 4 bunk beds and a small couch. The room is small, so navigating with 3 big suitcases was a bit of a challenge, but the facilities are great and clean. It had it all. The Nespresso machine is perfect. Upon arrival we found the entry code in an envelope on the front door. It is very nearby the railway station. The restaurant downstairs serves very nice pizza’s!

Authenticity & Character
Authentic, original, creative and clean.
Location
Very close to the main Street and railway station
Staff
Even though we did not meet the staff, the communication was fine and the service with the entrance code worked.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nice and clean
Sotetsu Grand Fresa Takadanobaba

We had a 3 person room with 3 large beds. The beds are very comfortable. There was room for our 3 suitcases, but little space for walking. Bathroom and toilet are fine. There is a waterboiler in the room and the accessoires are available in the public hallway near the elevators. Very nice breakfast buffet. Good hotel!

Authenticity & Character
Just very friendly and neat
Location
It’s positioned opposite the train/subway station, which makes it very easy to reach highlights of Tokyo.
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean
The Bali Bubble
Sanur – Bali

If you are looking for a nice place to stay in Sanur: look no further. The appartment is nice and clean and offers a lot of space. There are two huge bedrooms, both with a nice bathroom that has two showers (semi-inside and outside) The living room and Kitchen are well equiped and if you want they can serve breakfast in the appartement. Just outside out appartement there’s the swimming pool. The swimming pool is located in the inner space of the property, it is clean and big enough for all the guests. Towels for the pool are in the rooms. Staff is super friendly and they offer a bring-away service to a location in Sanur. Super flexible.

Authenticity & Character
Very authentic and super friendly
Location
This is a more quiet area in Sanur, which makes it very comfortable.
Staff
Amazing staff!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Activity Reviews
Arrival in Dubai
Dubai

We arrived at the airport at 1.30 am in the morning. Upon arrival our guide, Ali, for the next days was waiting for us with a sign with our names on it. His english is very good. He guided us to the taxi and helped us check inn to the hotel. It was 2am when we arrived at the hotel, but they switched rooms and so the room was not ready for us. If there is one thing you’d like to do in the middle of the night after a long flight (9hrs) it is going to bed and get some sleep. In the end - and with help of Ali- it turned out right, but the room was not ready until 3am. Ali was very nice and helped us the next morning with our talk with the hotel manager. Arrival in Dubai turned out to be succesfull after all.

Quality of Experience
Pick up itself was great! Check inn into the hotel a bit confusing at 2am in the morning.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Perfect drive to the hotel, accompanied with Ali who is a very enthousiastic guide
Transport
Perfect taxi bus with lots of space for the luggage.
Abu Dhabi City tour from Dubai
Abu Dhabi City tour from Dubai
Dubai

When in Dubai, visit Abu Dhabi! Absolutely stunning city with so much to offer! Many great architects have established works here, Jean Nouvel’s Louvre, Zaha Hadids bridge and museum, and so some others. But if you have one day, do the Abu Dhabi city tour. You’ll get to see and visit some great highlights and the main event is the visit to the Grand Mosque Sjeik Zayed. This amazing building, made of marble, natural gemstones, 24 karat gold, Murano glass, Swarovski Crystals and flowery mosaics is just stunning! This mosque was openend in 2007, it houses the mausoleum of Sjiek Zayed, who is the founder of the UAE and the first president. The mosque covers 22.000 square meters of ground, and 7000 people can pray inside the main hall and another 33.000 people can pray on the central square. There are 1000 columns and 82 domes. The main hall counts 3 huge chandeliers made of Swarovski Crystals. The biggest has a diameter of 10 meters and is 30m high. Wauw! Take your time to see everything. It’s just amazing.

Quality of Experience
Very interesting tour, that shows the highlights of Abu Dhabi
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Yahia is amazing! He is very knowledgeable and knows all the inns and outs about the history of the UAE. He has written a book (in Spanish) about it - Luna Catorze. Need to read!
Transport
Perfect transport along the day.
Afternoon Dubai Desert Safari (Join in Coach)
Afternoon Dubai Desert Safari (Join in Coach)
Dubai

Imagine 42 degrees Celsius and no shade in the red sand desert of Dubai… imagine a 4x4 bashing a sand dune, splashing sand… at sunset; making the sand even more red… This is an amazing and great adventure and the driver is nailing it! Wauw! Sometimes it feels like riding the waves of the ocean, and the speed, very nice. At the desert gate we could ride a camel, saw a falcon show and we drove a quad through the sand! Suddenly outside temperatures did not matter anymore. Pretend to be like the nomads. Smoke the waterline, enjoy the dance of the bellydancer and the traditional dancers. All that in combination of a BBQ under a starry sky. One word: MIRACULOUS

Quality of Experience
Exciting experience!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazing driver and nice guide
Transport
Very cool ride in the 4x4
Full Day  Lembongan Snorkling Experence(join in)
Full Day Lembongan Snorkling Experence(join in)
Sanur, Bali

If you like the sun and the sea and everything in between, this is a day you should experience! The boat to the island, the mangroves, the trip to the devils tear and the dream beach, snorkling and swimming, it all adds up to a wonderful memory of a wonderful day! Our guide Gidde was great! He knew his way around and he spoke very good English. He told us so many interesting things! He’s a very smart and funny guy. We had a great time. You don’t need to bring your own gear for snorkling , they have it for you and they have a brand new mouth piece and hose for everyone. Our guides had a GoPro to make under water pictures. They dropped all the pictures in a onedrive so we could download them. Very nice. The homebase is very relaxed and they have cold drinks. It’s just a piece of paradise on earth.

Quality of Experience
It’s just a piece of paradise on earth! Don’t miss it!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gidde our guide was truely amazing! Very nice and interesting stories. And a really nice guy.
Transport
The boat was fast and safe. The trip by car on the island was interesting and it gave us a chance to see a bit of the island along the way
Osaka Cooking Class
Osaka Cooking Class
Osaka

This is such a nice activity! We are food lovers and part of this trip is to get to know more about the Japanese kitchen. This cooking class took us along the journey of creating dashi, sushi and sashimi. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed our ‘own’ dashi, sushi and sashimi. It was a small group, us three and a woman from Hongkong. The location was a bit hard to find, but while we we wandering around to look for the entrance, one of the cooks came to pick us up.

Osaka-Nara Day Trip
Osaka-Nara Day Trip
Osaka

Nara trip from Osaka. And look who’s our guide: Mr. Masato! Yay! Very nice to see him again. Nara is huge yet amazing. The deer, the amount of temples and shrines, the overwhelming nature. We loved it! Despite the heat, we just had a wonderful day! Mr. Masato appointed a small Japanese restaurant to us, which was conveniently tug away in the basement of a building. We would not have found it if it wasn’t for Mr. Masato. The food is amazing there!

Quality of Experience
Truely a location you should visit when in Osaka
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Mr. Masato stole our hearts
Transport
Public transportation is perfect to get around.
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and  Oshino Hakkai
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Oshino Hakkai
Tokyo

We skipped the lake Kawaguchiko Cruise but instead we took the ropeway up the hill for stunning views over lake Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji. Oshino village is nice and pittoresque, with the natural ponds and the traditional house it looks amazing, but it was very hot and there wasn’t much shade, so we did not stay long.

Quality of Experience
We got some magical views on Mount Fuji
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mr. Bae was very kind
Transport
Mr. Bae knew his way around in a nice car
Full Day Nagasaki Peace Park and Glover Garden Tour
Full Day Nagasaki Peace Park and Glover Garden Tour
Nagasaki

Nagasaki peace park and museum and Meganebashi bridge was guided by sweet guide Yoshi. Yoshi is very knowledgeable and speaks with experience about the past. She’s very interesting, as is Nagasaki. Ask her to take you to a typical Nagasaki restaurant and she takes you to a Chinese restaurant. The Chinese cuisine is well adopted in Nagasaki and the dishes are huge, yet very tasteful. We loved it! We skipped the Glover Park because of the heat. We headed to the 9th floor in the new city hall for a nice view over the city of Nagasaki. The rooftop hall shows a short film about the city and it’s history with the A-bomb.

Quality of Experience
Yoshi Made our day so special! She’s a really nice guide and she knows her way around, being born in Nagasaki.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yoshi was indeed very helpful and understanding. Due to the heat we skipped the Glover park and so she took us to a Donki to do some Japanese candy shopping.
Transport
Public transportation just works really good
Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour
Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour
Hiroshima

Hiroshima memorial park and Miyajima Island guided by Remi was impressive and unforgettable. We loved the way Remi told us amazing stories about the Hiroshima history and all it’s facets of the A-bomb. At Miyajima Island we walked around leisurely and had a great time! Remi told us about the fireworks at the docks later in the evening and advised us to go and see the event. So we did at our own pace, it was absolutely beautiful! Quite a lot of people attended the show. Nice!

Quality of Experience
Remi is a wonderful sweet and knowledgeable guide. She’s also very flexible. Nice company!
Transport
Public transportation and a ferry to the island, just really nice ways to get around.
Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride and Bamboo Grove
Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride and Bamboo Grove
Kyoto

Mr. Masato is a very well educated and knowledgable gentleman who took us to and through the highlights of Kyoto Arashima (boat trip), Togetsukyo bridge and Bamboo grove and Tenyuji Temple gardens. His English is good and his humour is nice. He’s a great guide.

Quality of Experience
Very fun and interesting trip! The boatride was cool, a bit splashy, but very enjoyable. The bamboo grove is just stunning and even though it was so hot outside it was worth the walk.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mr. Masato is just really amazing
Transport
Public transportation works perfect in Japan!
 Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto

This was a self-guided item. We found our way easily through the city towards the location of the tea ceremony. The entourage is memorable. The kimono’s looked amazing and these garments add a special emotion to the ceremony. The ceremony itself is done by someone who speak English very well. The tea tastes fresh but is different from your regular green tea. The gardens look stunning! Do not miss this if you want to take pictures of yourself and your family in typical Japanse outfits!

Quality of Experience
Very Nice way to get to know a bit of the traditional and cultural habits.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The woman who guided is through the tea ceremony was very nice, with a good english narrative.
Transport
Self guided with public transportation and a little help from Google maps
Half Day Classic Dubai City tour
Half Day Classic Dubai City tour
Dubai

The tour would probably be very interesting but since we had to be at the airport 3 hours prior to departure, we skipped this tour.

Drive to Hakone by Private Car
Japan

Mr. Bae is a very kind, gentle driver and guide. His English is not very rich but his efforts and kindness are great! He gave us a wonderfull guided trip from Tokyo to Hakone, passing Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi and several highlights and amazing views on Mt. Fuji and a visit to Oshino Hakkai village.

Quality of Experience
Beautiful places!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was very sweet and kind. Mr. Bae knew his way around. Unfortunately he did not speak English very well but we managed to communicate nevertheless.
Transport
Nice roomy car
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo

We had a marvelous day with Yumi! She is an amazing guide with a lot of nice stories and enthousiasm! We had so much fun!

Quality of Experience
It’s very nice to have someone like Yumi guide you around a big unknown city. The knowledge and the stories are very much appreciated.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yumi (you & me) is very enthousiastic and friendly. We had a great day!
Transport
Transportation in Japan is very well organized and air conditioned
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Aug 14, 2024
Dear Nicoline, Hope you are doing great and thank you for your amazing feedback.We are thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful trip to Japan and that it is my great pleasur to provide you a flexible and unforgettable experience. It's also good to hear about your experiences at the different hotels, both positive and negative. It's always helpful for other travelers to hear about real experiences at different accommodations. It's clear that you really enjoyed your time in Japan and... Read more

Dear Nicoline,

Hope you are doing great and thank you for your amazing feedback.We are thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful trip to Japan and that it is my great pleasur to provide you a flexible and unforgettable experience. It's also good to hear about your experiences at the different hotels, both positive and negative. It's always helpful for other travelers to hear about real experiences at different accommodations. It's clear that you really enjoyed your time in Japan and are already thinking about going back in the future. Look forward to assisting you again.

Best regards as always,
Angel

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