Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our Chile experience was the best! Francisco was definitely top of the line! Completely customized to our needs and all the local teams were phenomenal in every city we visited.
The experiences were great! We will definitely use Kimkim again!

Great planning and activities, we really felt Vicky helped us get the most out of our 8 days in Australia. Tight schedule for a country as big as Australia, but we feel we hit some memorable highlights. Staying 3 days at the rocks in Sydney was a great introduction and the hotel was in the perfect location for newbie’s like us. Trip to cairns was seamless and the scheduled activities were memorable. Loved the Great Barrier Reef, bucket list checked!

Hotel Review

Harbour Rocks Hotel

The Rocks, Sydney NSW

Perfect introduction to Sydney, extremely helpful staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helpful and enthusiastic

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kuranda Deluxe with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (departs Cairns)

Australia

Pleasant drift over the beautiful rainforest.

Seastar Luxury Outer Great Barrier Reef Island and Reef Tour from Cairns

Cairns

4 hours of snorkeling available during the cruise, really nice staff and cruise

Blue Mountains Full Day - Private Tour

Sydney

Rebecca was a friendly informative guide, introducing us to a beautiful area of the country

The online staff was quick to respond and super helpful. Our guide Daniela was knowledgeable and fun.

Our Premier Soccer League trip was the experience of a lifetime and Meghan planned an amazing trip for us. Everything from the games, to our hotel accommodations, to the restaurant choices were outstanding. Meghan was easy to work with and always flexible when we made changes to our itinerary. She booked several lovely tours for us in each city we visited. Our guides were very knowledgeable and conducted the tours based on what we hoped to accomplish each day. My husband, two sons and I all agreed that this was a trip we will happily look back on for the rest of our lives. Thank you, Meghan for all that you did to make this trip so memorable.

All of three of the all-inclusive hotels provided great service, food, and amenities. Jaime the chief of activities at Remota did a great job of explaining options and booking suitable activities. His staff, particular Renota, was great. The second resort, Mallin Colorado, had fewer amenities, but the guide they used Andreas, who took us to all our activities, was responsible and fun to be with. At Puyhuhuapi, the last resort, the staff, again, was excellent. It is a beautiful and unique hotel that is a great place to relax as well as to hike.
The hotel in Punta Arenas, Carpa Manzano, where we spend just one night, was suitable. Staff was quite helpful.

The only problem with the trip was that we did not understand the driving times between Balmaceda airport and Mallin Colorado or from Mallin Colorado to Puyhuhuapi. On a map the distances suggested about 3 hours and 4-5 hours, respectively, but a large portion of the roads were dirt, so the actual times were nearly double. It took more than 5 hours for the first trip from the airport and nearly 8 hours for the second trip to Puyhuhuapi. That meant that 2 of the 8 vacation days (excluding the arrival and departure days) were just travel. In a pickup truck and then a van, the drives were not scenic enough to compensate for the very long and uncomfortable drives. I am not sure of the solution. Both spots were beautiful and we are happy we saw both, but we felt that

First of all and most importantly, we had an amazing trip! Some highlights for us included: epics hikes in Tongariro, Mt Cook, Queenstown, and Wanaka; kayaking in the Milford Sound; ziplining in Rotorua; and wine tasting in the Gibbston Valley. The incredible scenery, unique flora and fauna, great accessibility to all the sights, and the friendly people combined to make New Zealand one of our favorite trips.

On the kimkim side for booking and planning the trip, we had a pretty easy, good experience overall, with just a couple points of feedback that we think could have made things better. One is that when we made changes to our itinerary and Uma sent us a new itinerary for review, it was not easily clear to us what all the differences were from the previous itinerary. Some activities had been removed, others added, and some changed from included to optional. Over a 19 day trip, this was difficult to keep track of, and we were surprised by a couple things after final approval that were actually different than we thought because we didn't realize they had changed from a previous itinerary. The second point is that it was not clear to us which activities cost money and how much they cost. We also had no idea how much accommodations cost. We weren't working with a strict budget, but there were certainly some things we would have not included or done differently if we had known more about the cost. We're aware that kimkim can't provide an itemized invoice, but we think something like a $-$$$$ ranking similar to Trip Advisor would be very helpful.

Our local specialist Uma was very responsive, helpful, and friendly throughout. I think we definitely had a positive experience there. There were a couple times that we weren't quite on the same page when forming the itinerary or adjusting an activity, and I think we were maybe expecting to discuss options or get her opinion on something before deciding how to proceed, while Uma took our question as more of a direct request and went ahead and made changes. But that didn't detract from our trip, and we really appreciated Uma's great responsiveness.

Hotel Reviews

Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

Comfortable, good location. Pretty generic hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oakridge Resort

Wanaka

Comfortable room, good amenities on site, though it's a bit out of town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's a bit out of town, so you have to drive to go anywhere

Staff

Very helpful in arranging a boxed breakfast and helping with our laundry

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Te Anau Hotel And Villas

Te Anau

A fairly generic hotel with a medium quality breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good enough for Te Anau

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Great view, good location, very comfortable. The breakfast is subpar, so we recommend just going to town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

The room had a great view, but was small. The buffet for dinner and breakfast was mediocre for the price. The staff were very helpful when we were trying to reschedule our start gazing tour. Overall, we would have preferred to stay in the motel for less money.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Best location for the Mt Cook area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Distinction Christchurch Hotel

Christchurch

Great location, clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Just a generic large hotel

Location

In the center of everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Prince's Gate Hotel

Rotorua

The room was a bit old and let a lot of light in. The breakfast was only ok. The staff was a little bit difficult when we tried to verify the boxed breakfast that our travel agent had arranged for an early morning departure. We did enjoy the thermal baths on site.

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a feeling of character and old British charm.

Location

Just a couple blocks from the main street. It's a small town so everything is close.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and bed were a bit old and not the most comfortable. They were fine, though.

Rydges Auckland

Auckland

Clean and comfortable. Location is great. Staff was helpful - lending us an umbrella for the day when it was pouring rain. We didn't eat there, so can't comment on the restaurant/bar.

Authenticity & Character

It is kind of a generic big hotel, so nothing really stands out.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cruising & Kayaking in Milford Sound

New Zealand

This was definitely one of our favorite activities. The scenery during the cruise was truly incredible. Then the underwater observatory was also really cool. We even got to see an octopus, which is pretty rare. Finally the kayaking was a perfect way to move around while spending more time in the Sound, paddling around surrounded by these massive cliffs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spectacular Tranz Alpine Scenic Train Journey

New Zealand

It's a great way to get across the country while soaking in the views. The audio guide was a nice touch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking in Franz Josef

Franz Josef Glacier

This was a lovely and pleasant kayak trip on a rainy morning. Luckily it rained much less on the lake than at Franz Josef. It was nice to hear a lot from our guide about the local wildlife.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen Hot Pools - The Outdoor Onsen

Queenstown (NZ)

This was pure luxury for us. A private hot tub overlooking a beautiful river valley with drinks and snacks included - it's an ideal way to end a day. Of course it's not an actual onsen, but we knew that going in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy a Gondola Ride for Stunning Views of Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The luge track is really fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak, BBQ Dinner, Farm Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

The steam ship was very cool. We couldn't believe it's been operating the same way since 1912! The buffet dinner was out of this world good, especially the meats and desserts. And the farm show was thoroughly entertains, especially the sheep dog.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Sky Stargazing

New Zealand

Unfortunately the tour was cancelled both days we were at Mt Cook. They did offer a planetarium show instead, which was a nice consolation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Te Pō Indigenous Experience

Rotorua

The buffet dinner was great and overlooked the geyser, which put on an impressive display. The cultural show was a lot of fun as well. Ending up with hot chocolate and a close up view of the geyser was really nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glow Worm Kayaking in Rotorua

Rotorua

The guides were very nice and paddling around at night into little caves with the glowworms was pretty cool. Ultimately, we were hoping for a bit more in terms of size of caves or length of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did have to drive ourselves due to a staff shortage, but that worked out fine.

Zipline Canopy Tour Ultimate Experience

Rotorua

A great experience all around. The guides were super fun and engaging throughout. We really appreciated the conservation efforts that the tour was supporting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Waiheke Island Vineyard Explorer

New Zealand

It's a pretty good value and very easy logistically. One downside is that the bus can get full, in which case you have to wait for the next one, and the timing of the buses is pretty unpredictable. There was also a range of experiences at the wineries, from personable and attentive at Batch to corporate and efficient at Stonyridge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the panoramic view of Auckland from Sky Tower

Auckland

It's not worth the cost and queueing. But once you do get up there the view is nice.

Quality of Experience

Queues are too long

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was out first trip to Japan,Angel took the time to organise the trip taking into consideration our special needs. The guides organised were exceptional. I will highly recommend Odynovo and Angel for your Japan trip.

Fabulous trip to Sri Lanka!

Dhanushka worked with us to design an ideal trip and listened carefully to our preferences regarding hotels, meals, and specific sites we wished to visit. Kapila, our driver, was very careful and attentive and was a great source of information about the country and the sites. The country offers so much to see and exceeds our expectations. Thanks to all the people of Sri Lanka who were so friendly and welcoming!

Activity Reviews

Ancient Sites of Anuradhapura

Sri Lanka

The complex at Anuradhapura is so interesting and the whole part is very well maintained.

Explore the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex

Sri Lanka

The cave temples were stunning!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Kalaniya ancient Royal Buddhist temple

Colombo

Morning visit was very beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mr Minh and his team provided superior service from the planning stage through the trip support. He was knowledgeable, responsive and caring. My friend had a birthday during the trip and Minh not only helped with the restaurant booking for a special dinner but also arranged for a special birthday cake from him and the team. Very much appreciate the experience and will recommend to others.

Hotel Reviews

Pavilion d'Orient

Siem Reap

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not centrally located but serene and relaxing - a true oasis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Harmony Saigon Hotel & Spa

Ho Chi Minh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoian Central Boutique Hotel & Spa

Excellent and responsive service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Despite the name, the hotel isn’t very centrally located, but within walking distance from the center.

Staff

Excellent service!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dragon Legend Cruise

Hon Gai

Very friendly staff and excellent food. Too bad the ship common areas are equipped to deal with the cold temps we had during the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Clos Du Fil Hotel

Ninh Binh

Taking off a star because the restaurant wasn’t staffed for dinner and had very limited choices.

Can Tho Ecolodge

Can Tho

The ceiling fan was not working in the room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Remote and away from anything other than the river

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Anatole Hotel Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A half day exploring the historic Ho Chi Minh city

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide (Ms. Vivian) was very nice. We had a great time with her!

Transport

Hoi An Fishing Village - Ancient Town Walking with Street Food Tasting

Hoi An

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide in Hoi An (Mr. Nhat) was very good

Street food tour on Vespa in the evening (Private)

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The leader (Hero?) was amazing. The rest were ok - friendly.

Transport

Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay with Dragon Legend Cruise

Vietnam

From the planning to the execution, working with Michael and team was been a pleasure. Before we left, Michael responded to every question promptly and patiently. While we were in Columbia, every driver was courteous and on time, and every guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Our lodgings were all comfortable and in excellent locations. Columbia is a beautiful country, and its people are kind and lovely. Thank you for helping us enjoy this wonderful place!

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

We had an exceptional stay at the Sofitel Calablanca. The property is beautiful. All rooms are lovely, have spectacular Caribbean views, and are beautifully decorated. The food at all the restaurants was excellent. But, what makes this place truly exceptional is the service. Every member of the staff is well-trained, kind, friendly, and focused on the customer experience. We took the high speed boat from Cartegena to the hotel. Fun experience and so much faster than taking a car service back! One note...while the beach at this hotel is lovely and quiet, it is not the "white sand" of Playa Blanca on Isla Baru, which was a slight disappointment. The beach is pretty gravelly--I'm guessing the jungle originally came right down to the beach (as it does on either side of the property), and when Sofitel developed the property, they dredged the coastline and brought in sand. We wanted to avoid crowds, so this did not diminish our enjoyment of the property, but if you are looking for soft white sand gently sloping into the ocean, that is not what this beach offers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quinta Ladera

Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location. Easy walking distance to all the shops and restaurants in Provenza, but nestled on a quiet block--the best of both worlds!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Legado

Bogota

Beautiful hotel, great location, outstanding service. Clearly lots of thought put into the design of the hotel to make it not only lovely, but comfortable for guests.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Social Dinner-Experience: Colombian Food

Bogotá

We didn't really understand what this was until we arrived that evening. While the food was okay (honestly, it might just be that we don't love traditional Columbian food, which doesn't use very many spices), we really enjoyed the young woman who hosts this experience. She was a fascinating person with great ideas and observations about food, culture, and Columbia.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Streetfood Experience

Medellín

We enjoyed going to the market, and trying the fresh Arepas con Chocolo (literally right off the grill). Otherwise, we're not big juice drinkers, and perhaps we are just not big fans of street food in Columbia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daytrip: Silletera Culture in Santa Elena & La Piedra de Guatapé

Medellín

Great day. We really enjoyed and learned a lot at the flower farm (the gentleman who hosted us there was delightful!). We were a bit surprised (honestly disappointed) at how commercial Guatape was, but very much enjoyed the drive and the view from the top. The walk through the town afterwards was fun as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Absolute highlight. The guide was excellent, and really helped us understand Medellin's unique history, and all that has been accomplished in the last 15 years. Loved taking the authentic experience of taking the metro system and the gondolas around town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Anna-Marie and her team were absolutely incredible! They made scheduling a breeze and we never had to worry about any miscommunication. Booking was easy and Anna-Marie was always available during our trip to answer any of our questions. She even made a point to come meet us in person one of the days of our trip! I highly recommend her and her team to anyone looking to book a trip through kimkim and especially anyone looking to book a trip to South Africa.

Hotel Reviews

Umkumbe Bush Lodge

Sabie Park

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tree House Boutique Hotel

Cape Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel

Hermanus

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oude Werf Hotel

Stellenbosch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak with Penguins

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day in the Kruger Bush with Two Private Game Drives

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Biking in the Winelands

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Wine Tour

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My friends invited us to their wedding in New Delhi this past holiday season. We were overjoyed to go, so we began the planning process. We decided that after the wedding, we wanted to travel around India to see some of what it had to offer. A good friend mentioned a site called KimKim.com, which is a fantastic aggregator for vetted travel agencies. We were presented with ACTIVE INDIA. We were quickly introduced to Ravi. We were impressed with his constant professionalism, flexibility, and attentiveness. We changed our plans a few times due to changing circumstances and some indecisiveness, and everything was always handled graciously.

When we got to India, we attended the wedding, which was incredible! After the wedding, our adventure began with the help of Active India. We traveled from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur, then from Jaipur to Agra, and then back to New Delhi. Below is a partial list of everything we loved about our trip.

- The tour GUIDES were terrific! At each stop, we had tour guides who were extremely knowledgeable, courteous, and kind. They took pictures of us anytime we asked. We even became friends with one of them. (Some pictures above are with our guides.)

- The DESTINATIONS were well curated. We felt like we saw the best attractions in each city. India is so rich, so clearly, we couldn't see everything, but we didn't feel like we missed out on anything either.

- Our DRIVER was superb. Driving in India is daunting, and Mahesh was always professional, on time, safe, and caring. We liked him and were sad when we had to say goodbye. (He is also pictured above.)

- The HOTELS that were curated all had a unique flare to them and were consistently well run, safe, comfortable, and clean.

- There is MUCH more to list, but you get the idea. We highly recommend ACTIVE INDIA to anyone looking to adventure and experience India. They went out of their way to ensure we had a great experience and were warm and wonderful every step of the way.

Our 3 guides each had unique personalities and different perspectives on Vietnam history. It was interesting to sense how each perspective varied on life in the Country in the post-Vietnam War era. We did not focus or dwell much on the War itself. Only at the Cu Chi Tunnels and My Lai Massacre sites which were both very interesting.

Our top places included Ha Long Bay, the Old Town Hanoi District, and Hoi An (especially the Red Bridge Cooking Class). Our favorite days included Mai Chau Homestay with Guide Cuong and Mekong River trip with Guide Phat (Kelvin). Our favorite experiences were time spent with local people such as the Home Meal in Paco (near Mai Chau)and the various boat drivers and small family businesses we visited in the Can Tho/Mekong areas (like the noodle factory and coconut candy factory). I would say our small group interactions with local people was the single most enjoyable aspect of the trip. If I were to visit Vietnam again I would try to schedule as much small group contact with local people as possible.

The least favorite part of the trip was Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City. The traffic was very slow and the City too loud and hectic for our liking.

Hotel Reviews

Victoria Can Tho Resort

A very nice resort Hotel with French architectural influence. The grounds and pools areas are spacious and immaculate. It is an easy walk along a large river to get to downtown Can Tho. We really enjoyed our stay at this property.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Premium Sai Gon

The Hotel itself was fine. The rooms were very nice, new, and clean. However, as older travelers, we did not like the Ho Chi Minh City traffic and bustling crowds. If you don't mind the City traffic and crowds the hotel is in a good location to explore the primary downtown area of HCMC.

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Hoi An

A fantastic resort hotel in a great location. The facilities, grounds, pools and walkways that connect them are beautiful and perfectly maintained. It is an easy walk to the Historic Town area and very quiet on the property itself. This was by far and away our favorite hotel stay in Vietnam.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mai Chau With Love Homestay

We happened to hit Mai Chau in an unusually cold and foggy spell in January. The property itself was beautiful and the owner was on-site and provided great service. The area is beautiful but the cold and fog we experienced was uncomfortable. So just beware of January north of Hanoi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Soleil Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

A very nice hotel in a great location from which to explore the Old Town District of Hanoi. The staff were very friendly and we considered the breakfast buffet here to be the best we experienced in Vietnam.

Authenticity & Character

Very friendly staff. Not too much hustle bustle in the lobby and great location.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Afternoon City Exploration and Street Food Tour

Hanoi

We explored the city and tried some street food. It was a great way to get a taste of the local culture and cuisine, however we didn't enjoy the chaotic atmosphere of the city and the traffic.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Can Tho - Visiting Cai Rang floating market

Can Tho

We had a private group tour to visit the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho. It was a unique and vibrant experience to see the market on the water and interact with the local vendors and all the small businesses. We enjoyed the bustling atmosphere and trying some delicious fresh fruits.

Quality of Experience

Private Cooking Class at the Red Bridge Cooking School

Hoi An

We started with a trip to the market to learn about local ingredients, and then had a hands-on cooking class. It was a fun and interactive experience, and we learned some new recipes to try at home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My local specialist, Minh, is very patient in organizing the trip according to my needs. She provided the valuable guidance in picking hotels. All the hotels are centrally located. Thuy Vu was the local coordinator who was always checking and updating on local drivers/ guides. Local guides assigned in all towns ( Lee in Hoi An, Benny in HCM city and Borey in Cambodia) are amazing. Customer service is unparalleled. Assigned drivers are extremely professional and always on time.

Everything was very well coordinated between the activities and the drivers between cities. They were always on time and we found the naturalist guides to be very informative. The lodging options worked for us and we loved being able to refer to the one single itinerary. Also when our flight was cancelled and we had a day delay, our kimkim contact was helpful and responsive in making changes.

We had great excursions in all the areas of Costa Rica we visited. Some of the highlights were Luis guided walk through Manuel Antonio Park. We wouldn’t have seen 90% of the animals without him. Street art in Joca was also a great stop on travel day. Monteverde night hike was a great chance to see insects, bats and sleeping birds. Sky Adventures zipline in Arenal was amazing. The Mistico Hanging bridges with David was phenomenal. He was great explaining the different climates and spotting animals (vipers, coati, howler monkeys and sloths).

Hotel Reviews

Villas Sol Hotel And Beach Resort

Playa Hermosa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Shuttles or a car are recommend for getting around as the grounds are steep and roadways narrow for pedestrians. But the hotel does have a good shuttle service that addresses this. Great sunset views from the hotel/pool area overlooking the bay.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We needed to ask housekeeping to clean the room at checkin, the floors were still dirty and had leftover hair ties from the previous guests. But the bathroom and bedding/towels were fresh. No cleanliness issues aside from this. The lighting in rooms should be improved. There are small overhead led lights (2 above the bed headboard, and 1 in the entry) but I needed to use a flashlight to find items in my luggage after sunset. The hotel does not have an elevator, this was not an issue for us, but could be for others.

Casa Luna Hotel & Spa

La Fortuna

Check in was easy and the staff was helpful in explaining how to get around town and in setting up a trip to a hot spring. Their spa, pool and breakfast were also great.

Authenticity & Character

The spa is excellent, there is a pools, multiple hot tubs, and small hiking trail on premises. The landscaping is also very nice and makes you feel more secluded from the other guests

Location

Near town for restaurants and night life and they had two great restaurants (Chante verde and Dona Liz Pupuseria) walking distance. The rainforest chocolate tour is excellent and also walkable from the hotel.

Staff

Very helpful in making recommendations for activities and helping setup reservations

Cleanliness & Comfort

The only negative was being able to hear our upstairs neighbors through the ceiling.

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

The hotel was nice and staff were great, but everything does feel a little run down. The pool wasn’t fully operational and wifi was spotty or out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Access to the park can’t be beat and it is walkable to the beach. I would feel unsafe taking the access tunnel to the beach alone. But it might be better to stay closer to Quepos for restaurants and excursions outside the park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The staff kept everything cleanly but the hotel feels a bit rundown. The pool fountains and hot tub were broken, the room door had large gaps, the patio door can be opened even when locked and a lot of visible tile/caulking repairs in the bathroom

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Everything was amazing. The room, the view, the staff, the food…. The only negative is we didn’t stay long enough to explore the grounds, restaurant and pool

Authenticity & Character

Views are unbeatable, the spa is also amazing.

Location

Sunset views from the room and top of the property were great. Centrally located in town to access stores and restaurants

Staff

Friendly, courteous, helpful, friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was excellent at keeping the group organized, engaged and has an incredible talent for spotting animals and explaining their habitats and actions

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ian has an incredible knowledge of the forest, particularly the plant life. Would have preferred if he was a little more professional towards other guides/groups (they’re walking too fast and missed this orchid, he always takes groups too big to experience the forest, etc.)

Transport

Morning Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure

Costa Rica

The crew was very nice, informative, and quick to offer drinks/snacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures Zip Lines

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great experience on the zipline, helpful guides and ground staff. Great views of the volcano and lake from the deck.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

You can stay for lunch at the cafe and enjoy the views. There is a schedule with shuttle times to plan your return.

Night Walk: Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

It was nice to see and hear animals that are normally not visible during the day

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Kayaking Adventure

Manuel Antonio

Pleasant kayak and snorkeling experience with a snack and lunch included.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kudos to our driver making pickup/dropoff on the other side of the bay where the roads were narrow, winding and full of traffic.

Thos was our first trip to South East Asia as a family group of 5 and as I was the one putting the trip together, was unsure as to where to go or what to do as we realy wanted an authentic experience of life in Vietnam.
Huyen and I put together an exceptional itinerary that accommodated all our needs
Going on a large group tour was not what we wanted, as we had slower members in our group, also we normally do a self planned holiday, so a private tour was the perfect solution.
Our drivers and Guides where exceptional!
Gavin, Jerry and Han qickly became friends that where super knowledgeable and caring and patient with our group. Our guides where also generous in sharing their families stories which gave us an insight to Vietnam's past.
We visited the "mustn't miss" sites but also loved the street food tours and bicycle trips to see how rice paper, rice wine, farming, pottery making and other family run business. These everyday experiences made it for me.
10 out of 10 Huyen and her team.
Will be definitely using KimKim again!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hoa Binh 1 Hotel

Staff

Very helpfull front desk staff with finding dinner options

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Rose Garden Hotel

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

A 20 min walk to town or a quick taxi trip

Staff

Arranged taxis to town, very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Swan Cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rosaleen Boutique Hotel

Hue

The front desk staff arranged scooter hire for our group and when one of the group backed out they didn't charge us, very kind.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hong Ngoc Dynastie Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Long Xuyen Floating market

Vietnam

Very little activity. The floating markets are almost gone. Tiger Island on the other hand was a wonderful experience Tiger temple and local industries with rickshaw and lunch at home stay was delightful

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh- Ben Tre - Long Xuyen

Vietnam

We realy enjoyed visiting the brick works and the coconut product area and mat weaving, lunch was spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour

Ho Chi Minh City

I realy enjoyed hearing about the ingenious ways in which the inhabitants of the tunnels survived and outsmarted the invaders.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An - Cam Thanh Coconut Village - Tra Que Village

Hoi An

When we where approaching the Cam thanh coconut village it looked like a cheesy tourist activity. Jerry assured us it would be fun and he was right. We had a lot of fun and our boat guides looked like they where enjoying their jobs. An absolute blast!! The bike ride through quiet countryside and the visit to the farm with lunch was a huge highlight for our group. Perfect day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved the cooking class

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue City tour full day

Hue

Found the Imperial citadel and the tomb of Khai Dinh fascinating, if you love history. Mind you the gothic architecture and the lavish main room of the Khai Dinh tomb must be seen to be believed!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda - Thuy Bieu Village

Hue

Lovely relaxing lunch and foot massage. Loved the bike ride around surrounding village and local industries

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoa Lu & Trang An Grottoes - Ninh Binh Train Station

Vietnam

We where blown away with the beauty of Trang An. The boat rides through the extensive cave systems and the landscape is breathtaking. Don't miss it!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had the most amazing time thanks to Anna Marie and her team! Steph with Earthstompers was such a fantastic guide as well. All of the activities selected were such fun. The pace of the trip was perfect with blocks of free time scattered throughout. It was a treat to get to meet Anna Marie in person at one of the wine tastings. The ebiking was a bit of a challenge for me but I appreciated the opportunity. I loved Gold restaurant and getting to try so many different kinds of food. Each of our accommodations were perfect and so cute. All the rooms were clean and beautiful. The one in Hermanus had the most amazing view and Oude Werf was a palace! Overall it was a phenomenal first taste of Africa!

Hotel Reviews

Umkumbe Bush Lodge

Sabie Park

This was such a neat experience! First time staying in a place like this and it was great! Had everything needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tree House Boutique Hotel

Cape Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

One Marine Drive Boutique Hotel

Hermanus

The view here was incredible!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oude Werf Hotel

Stellenbosch

The room was gorgeous and palatial! I really enjoyed the dining area as well!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kayak with Penguins

South Africa

This was such a neat way to start the trip! The weather was perfect and it was a cool outing in the water and being so close to seals and penguins.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E-Biking in the Winelands

South Africa

The activity itself was a good challenge. It did seem more of a mountain biking activity-a little tougher than expected.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Wine Tour

South Africa

The full day wine tour was a good time. The three wineries we went to were absolutely gorgeous. The wines were delicious. The restaurant we went to for lunch in town wasn’t the greatest but it was a nice view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stanford River Cruise

South Africa

This was a nice leisurely activity, very low key. I do think it was for more of a mature crowd but we still had a good time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

This was such a neat dinner. The food was delicious and the entertainment was so fun!!

Our trip was fantastically planned by Connie. Connie was amazingly fast to respond and had answers to every little question that my wife and I had.

The events that had been planned were a blast and we got as much in as we could. The only thing I wish was that I had planned to be there for more time.

If you need help organizing a trip, Connie was absolutely amazing. I'm sure we'll be using Kimkim again and will reach out to Connie in the future!

Thank you Ana for the great support and planning for our trip to Patagonia. We had expressed some concerns regarding mobility and she was very responsive in arranging a personalized tour for both of us at El Calafate and Natales. The sights were amazing and the local guides were very well informed and accommodating. Overall a great experience and one we would recommend.