Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our trip to Morocco was fantastic! Our driver, Samir was the best and made our trip relaxing, easy, safe, and fun. Our conversations with him enriched our experience and understanding of Moroccan history, culture, people, religion, languages, and their emerging economy. Abdel made planning easy, listened to what we wanted to do, made suggestions and the arrangements. He has a team of excellent guides including Hannan, Mohammed, Hassan, and Josef. They enhanced our trip with their knowledge and sharing their lifestyle with us. Abdel has a network of hotels and riads, many family owned and operated so it felt like we were connecting with the people and supporting the small businesses. We definitely recommend Abdel, Samir, and their team.

My mom and I had the absolute BEST time! We kept saying throughout the trip how amazing everything Alberto arranged for us was! I gave him a vague idea of what we wanted and some feedback and he created the perfect trip. Our personal tour guide, Pedro, in Florence was great! We learned so much and had a nice stroll through the city. The hotel in Florence was the perfect location. Right on a less busy square with a rooftop terrace with wine and snackes. The winery in Chianti was magical. It's like it's own little village. There is one restaurant on the property and a wine bar that has food as well. We did tour into the cellars and then had a four course meal paired with wines. It was amazing. We think our favorite was the wine experience on the Amalfi coast at Le Vigne di Raito. The owner was so lovely and inspiring! It was really cool to see the workings of the small vineyard after being at the large winery. The drivers were all phenomenal and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of and knew where we were going.
Alberto stayed in touch with us throughout the trip. I had so much confidence that he would be able to help us if we had any issues.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Palazzo Guadagni

Florence

Amazing location with extremely kind staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Castello di Fonterutoli

Fonterutoli, Siena

Beautiful remote location! Perfect for a relaxing few days. The staff at the onsite restaurant and wine bar were so kind! They made us feel so welcomed!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Floridiana

Amalfi

The location of this hotel is right in the heart of Amalfi! It was perfect. It was a little chilly while we are there but there is a beautiful rooftop where guests can relax. The staff was so kind and the breakfast was in this charming room with great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Walking Tour of Florence

Florence

Pedro was so great! He was extremely knowledgeable. I am so happy Alberto suggested this. It was a very cool way to see the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just walked down the steps of our hotel and he was there!

Wine & Food Experience in the Tuscan Countryside

Italy

The cellar was amazing! Unlike anything I have ever seen. The food pairing at the Osteria was delicious. I was expecting a light lunch, not a four course meal with wine pairings! It was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tasting and Lunch in Amalfi Coast

Italy

This was our favorite experience! It was just the two of us and the small staff on the vineyard. The owner cooked us a delicious meal and her guide was knowledgeable. The views were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I have used KimKim several times and it keeps getting better and better. Clément planned us unique activities that accommodated my friend on her first trip to Paris while also keeping me engaged ,although I had seen many of the places before. The day trip to Reims for the Champagne tour is a must do. We learned so much and had a great time seeing the area with our fantastic guide Xavier. Our food tour in Montmartre with Carol was perfect for anyone looking to learn the culture and history of food in Paris. Carol taught us about eating what is in season, understanding the regions food comes from, and was so passionate about food it was contagious. I would have loved to shop with her and then cook as well. The private shopping was also a highlight. We learned about what shops are up and coming, where to stop for a great coffee or tea, and what to avoid. I could go on and on but the last thing I will mention is the bike tour of Versailles. It was a full day of activity and laughs. Our guide Martin was incredible and helped us shop the Sunday market for picnic supplies as well as educate us on the history of the place and grounds. We did so many things I could write forever but these are the highlights that really stood out. KimKim makes a fully packed trip so easy with all the transfers and tickets pre-booked. Each night we reviewed our itinerary for the next day and we could just enjoy knowing it was all in hand.

Hotel Review

Hôtel Bonsoir Madame

Paris

Perfect location to relax after busy days. The staff couldn’t be better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

E-bike tour in Champagne region

France

We couldn’t do the bike tour so to rain but go to join the van tour. It was incredible fun. Xavier was a fantastic guide. We wish we could have stayed longer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Xavier was fun, knowledgeable and a pleasure.

Transport

Montmartre Local Gastronomy Tour

Paris

Carol was so passionate and amazing. We learned so much about the history and culture of food in France. This was so much more than a food tour. I wish we could have spent the whole day with Carol, first shopping and then cooking. I highly recommend this with Carol.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Key to Parisian Chic: Saint-Honoré

Paris

This was great fun and our guide gave us so many ideas for other things to do in Paris. We shopped with her all morning then went back at the end of our trip to purchase items.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre

Paris

This tour is a bit long and heavy with information but the Louvre is massive. It was crowded which is not our guides fault. We learned so many interesting facts about the art. Our guide was like an encyclopedia of art history and is was mesmerizing to listen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Art of Pairing Cheese & Wine

Paris

Our teacher Agath was hilarious and so fun. We learned so much about cheese and wine and how to taste it. It really built on our knowledge from our other food tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Bike tour of Versailles

France

Martin is the best! So much fun and laughter.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vintage Paris & the St. Ouen Flea Market

Paris

This was on our last day. It was probably just bad timing but we did not find this to be super fun. We were cold and tired so sorting through the cluttered shops was not as appealing. Our guide was so kind and shared a lot of history about the market. I think this was the only poor choice of activity we had on the trip but to no fault of our guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A

6-star experience! Pedro planned an excellent trip. All drivers and walking tour guides were excellent. The drivers all were willing to chat and share their personal Portuguese life experiences

The Douro valley was spectacular!! Quinta da Pacheca was a great experience. The meal was our best meal. A recommendation would have been to skip the river cruise (it was nice) but we would’ve preferred more time at pacheca and maybe another vineyard

All hotels were in great locations. Accommodations were great in Lisbon and Porto. Cascais was fine.

We booked our own food tour with devour tours. It was wonderful. You may want to check them out.

Eduardo picked a lunch place on our Sintra day and shared lunch with us. We enjoyed that very much

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Accommodations and location were great. Staff was friendly and breakfast was excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located at bottom of the hill

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Vintage Porto

Porto

Great location overlooking the river. Easy to get everywhere

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Baia

Cascais

Great location and view of beach.

Authenticity & Character

It was more modern

Location

Staff

Staff as not as friendly and didn’t help with luggage

Cleanliness & Comfort

Didn’t have amenities such as tissues, washcloths,

Activity Reviews

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

I had a fantastic time on our guided cultural walking tour in Lisbon with Margarit as our tour guide. She took us to different popular areas, including our favorite, Alfama. We tried Ginjinha a popular beverage in a chocolate cup from a local woman and even brought some home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

We almost didn't do this because we saw some negative reviews however we thought it was definitely worth seeing. The food was good too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

We loved our private driver! He took us to Sintra and to our tour at Pena Palace. The palace was beautiful, and the views were breathtaking. Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

We went on a private guided cultural walking tour in Porto with Andre our tour guide. Andrew was wonderful and personalized our tour for us. As Jewish travelers, it was fascinating to receive a historical tour of Jewish culture from Andre as he happened to be Jewish himself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved Andre!

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

We visited a Port wine cellar and got to some tastings. I typically do not drink port wine but ended up really enjoying the port here. We learned a lot about wine and that they mix their port with sparkling water! We even bought some to bring home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

We loved having the private driver! All of our drivers were very knowledgeable and fun to chat with. We really enjoyed learning about their personal lives and creating that personal connection.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

We loved this winery tour and wine tasting. We really enjoyed all of the wines and the views. We appreciated all of the staff as they answered all of our questions. The lunch was absolutely delicious and the spread was beautiful. We almost didn't want to leave for our boat tour because we were enjoying ourselves so much.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

The boat ride was beautiful, and we were glad that we went but we almost would have preferred to visit another vineyard. Our boat ride guide and all the drivers were wonderful, super knowledgeable, and provided a personal experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guide Mae was super excellent. So too was Song.

Loved the Kimkim experience in Sapa.

It was an incredible experience to use and book with KimKim webpage, amazing understanding with the questioner of our trip to Norway.
And much more amazing the super service of their local team Tom, also great experience with his team mate Veronica. Tom contact us daily to check plans, thank you. The Captain and partner of the boat in Oslo take care of us perfectly.
Great advices.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bjørvika Apartments

Oslo

In a very good location, beautiful apartments and comfortable. Easy to contact and manage check in and out

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sommarøy Arctic Hotel

Sommarøy

So nice cabins. Espectacular views and great dinning. The outside hot tube amazing for the northern lights view. Great service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Small hotel with fantastics team. They even open earlier the restaurant so we can take our breakfast. The cabin is so nice and comfortable. What a view

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Resort, Trysil

Trysil

Ski in ski out so comfortable They have great restaurants, breakfast buffet and dinning delicious. Two Argentinians gave us great service nd advice. Great skii resort We enjoy playing boles and swimming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Park

Sommarøy

It was closed

Northern Lights Sailing Cruise

Tromsø

Great views of The sunset and fiord. The out side hot tub amazing and jumping into the water woww The Captain was a great pleasure to meet him

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I honestly don't know where to begin. From the moment we began working with Amanda to plan our trip to Nepal, to the moment we returned home, everything was PERFECT. I had no idea how impactful our week would be and I would not have a changed a thing, except to have had the ability to have stayed longer! Every detail was perfect. We were very busy and packed a lot into just one week, but we still were able to experience so many different aspects of Nepalese culture, geography, food, and travel. Our guide, Rajive was AMAZING! He was so knowledgeable, and his humor and overall personality made us feel like Nepal was home for the week. He is definitely one of the reasons my teenage son got so much out of "the best vacation ever". We have been home for over a week, and we still miss Nepal, Rajive, and all of the wonderful people we met along the way. We will definitely be back to visit and explore more of the beauty of Nepal; this trip changed us all forever and we are so thankful for the pictures and memories that will remind us that we need to get back sooner than later!

We added Norway trip to our Iceland trip towards the end. Eliise jumped in gave us options. We went back and forth few times to nail down what we wanted based on our liking and budget. She was very open with the options and suggestions. She even guided us in things that we decided to do on our own. We landed in Oslo and then spent most of our time in Bergen. There was an issue with hotel reservation and had to call emergency number. It was resolved eventually. Hotel was fantastic and location was just dead center. Loved the cruise and train rides. Only thing I would say is that there was not much follow up from the planner like our other trips.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

We had an early flight so it was perfect that this hotel was right across from Oslo airport. Staff was friendly and guided us with trip to Oslo city center. They even provided packed breakfast though we ended up eating there. Breakfast spread was amazing with so many varieties and catering to all dietary restrictions. Room was spacious. Trash can in bathroom was broken but other than that it was comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

nice views of airport. usb ports and 110volts plugs

Location

Perfect if you want to be next to airport. Train station is right next as well if you want to go to city center.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful. Helped with trip to Oslo city center, provided umbrella as it was raining, provided to go breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was clean and comfy.

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Location was the best. Right in center of Bergen. Staff was friendly and onsite restaurant was great. Little pricey but it was Michelin rated. Breakfast was great and the decor inside was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Decor, food

Location

Right by city center and walking distance to most landmarks and tours and restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and worked on resolving reservation issue. They got our luggage from airport promptly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom could have been little more cleaner but overall was great

Activity Review

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Cruise was very comfortable and some great views of the near by village, Bergen bryggen and water falls along the way. Ship was comfortable with ample space on the deck and inside heated cabin. Restrooms were there too. They had a cafe with lots of food and drink options. The crew gave a treasure hunt/bingo for kids to spot and gave ice creams. Only improvement would be better windows for the inside cabin for better view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our 16-day trip was planned around a visit to the Taj Mahal, which we saved for the end. And it was even better than we imagined! Most of our time was spent visiting forts, palaces, temples and other historic sights in Rajasthan. By our request, we mostly stayed in heritage-type hotels. A highlight (among many) was seeing a mating pair of tigers in Ranthembore National Park -- up close and personal! Our excellent travel planner, Ravi Tickoo, worked with us every step of the way to insure we were getting the vacation trip we wanted. Our driver, Vinod, was fantastic. He took great care of us and knew all of the good restaurants and nice bathrooms along the way. Our guides at the historic sights were all very good, although a few had very heavy accents. Standouts were Ketan in Delhi, Raghu in Jodhpur, and Harish in Agra -- excellent guides! Overall, a fabulous trip to an enchanting country.

Christos was amazing to work with. He provided direct communication with his assistant on days he was out to ensure we had continuous communication with someone. He is so professional and attentive to detail. He provided his great suggestions and gives his advice as you plan your trip. He truly seeks out activities so you have a true view of all aspects of Greece and the Greek islands. He is a great planner and I highly recommend him.

Johanna did a phenomenal job setting up an amazing experience. We had a complex itinerary that included the Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, Macchu Picchu, the Peruvian Amazonia and Lima.
Everything went according to plan and zero issues.
Johanna coordinated the local travel agents in an expert manner, and we have to thank Kristy at MISKI travel for the great on road support, the dedicated guide Valerio at CUSI travel and dedicated driver Carlos in the Cuzco region. In the Amazonas Treehouse thank you manager Enrique and guide Weininger for an unforgettable customized experience. In Lima the food tour was excellent. All the Hotels were excellent, providing a very quaint experience. Pick up service was always on time.

Hotel Reviews

Antigua Casona San Blas

Cusco

We liked this quaint and beautiful hotel in the artistic neighborhood of San Blas, you could see artisans working and selling their crafts out the window. We appreciated its quiet location away from the busy city center plaza but still within walking distance of attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

This hotel was also nice and quaint, it was located within walking distance to everything in the small town of Ollantaytambo. We enjoyed the nearby market and ruins and appreciated the hotel's proximity to the train station. The specialist also gave us recommendations on restaurants and we ate at Chuncho which was very good and reasonably priced.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Mapi by Inkaterra

Cusco

This hotel was more modern and commercial-looking but still tasteful and built with sustainability in mind which we appreciated. We enjoyed the overall experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Treehouse

Iquitos

This unique accommodation offered a great experience in the Amazon region. All of our hotels were quaint and locally owned which we loved.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Antigua Miraflores

Lima

We enjoyed the beautiful mansion house in the safe Miraflores district, with its perfect location near the coast and shopping centers. We appreciated the ability to walk around the neighborhood and felt safe even at night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cusco Tour

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Cusco, Explore the City

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Day to Explore Cusco

Cusco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainbow Mountain Trek

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Valley Tour

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Inca Trail Day 1: Hiking to Machu Picchu via Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Inca Trail Day 2: Machu Picchu Guided Tour and Return to Cusco

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly to Iquitos- Treehouse Lodge

Iquitos

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to Lima: Free Day to Explore

Lima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lima Food Tour

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, the experience was excellent. Elena and Kim Kim did a great job planning out travels, every thing worked out smoothly in regards to transportation, all the drivers and tour guides were on time.

Venice
We arrived into Venice in the morning from an overnight flight, we were really tired from travels. We went to our hotel and the front desk notified us that rooms would not be ready till afternoon. Admit that the hotel in Venice was not the original hotel Elena had suggested, it was a hotel we found on our own. Overall the hotel and location was great, but wish the front desk would have just told us to go and tour the city and come back as we waited for several hours for the room. When we got our keys to the room, the house service was still cleaning the tub. This was probably the only hiccup, otherwise, our tour guide Natasha was great, we enjoyed the city, Gondola Ride, and the tour of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge Palace, a great site to see!

Tuscany
We stayed in agritourism at San Leonino in Siena. The hotel and views were great!! This was a our headquarters as we went and toured the area of Tuscany, went to cheese farm and Wine tasting in Montepulciano. Tuscany is a beautiful place. On our free day, we loved our driver from the day before (Silvia) and hired her to take us on a day trip to Florence, which was great she showed us pretty much all the highlights of Florence!

Amalfi Coast
We stayed in Positano, due to weather, we had to reschedule our itinerary. Initially were scheduled for a day trip to Capri Island with a private boat tour around the island. However, the boat group had to cancel it and we were also scheduled for a sunset cruise which was also cancelled. It was surprisingly sunny and weather was overall okay, but due to wind currents for the first few days we were there did not go on the cruise. Elena and her team notified us while we were on the Train in advance and kept us updated throughout the trip. Since the private boat tour to Capri was cancelled, they made arrangements for transportation and a ferry to Capri Island from Sorrento, gave us a refund for the sunset cruise. This worked out well as we were also able to see Sorrento and enjoy the city, Capri Island was beautiful!

Rome
We were able to see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and a private tour of the city with our tour guide. Before our trip, we had expressed that we wanted to see and spend time at the Vatican. We were there on the 6th before Good Friday, as the impression we were told that everything was booked on Good Friday. We were under the impression we would see the Basilica as well, however, our tour only included the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. This was initially disappointing as we thought the Basilica was included in the Vatican Tour. Rome is very hectic this time of the year, so everything did feel rushed. We expressed to our tour guide we did want to see the Basilica. She expressed to us that it was likely going to be closed the next day and our best chance to see it would be now, it was 530pm, she told us it would be open till 7pm, when we got into the line for the basilica, they did not let anyone in after 6pm. However, they said they would be open again tomorrow. Prior to booking our trip, we inquired about the possibility of attending mass on Good Friday. The Swiss Guard has the mass tickets so our best chance was to talk to them when were there. As expected, there was of course no mass tickets available. Luckily, the next day we had scheduled a Free Day for Good Friday for the chance to attend mass and maybe catch the pope. We came back the next day early morning to stand in line, entering the Basilica is free for everyone which we were not aware. We had a very pleasant experience in the Basilica as it was early morning and only few people were there, as my wife is Catholic, this was an amazing experience for her. We took our time around the Basilica, were able to do some prayers as well. Also, the top of the Basilica, the Cupola has tickets available to purchase. They did close the basilica at Noon in preparation for evening mass, we thought we could at least stand outside and watch from the monitors, as we were satisfied from the morning. We spent the day hanging out, and we saw people entering the basilica before mass time, we thought these were only people with mass tickets, but after asking around , I found out anyone can go inside the Basilica for mass!! The mass tickets were to just sit in the front, but we were able to get in, stand in the back and attend mass, and we saw the pope!

Overall, experience with Kim Kim and Elena was great. If there were any hiccups, Elena and Andre were reachable and kept us updated. The only feedback I would give is about Rome, there appeared to be a lot of misinformation that maybe unknown, our tour guide frankly gave us wrong information. But fortunately, it worked out perfectly the next day, as we had a very pleasant experience in the basilica, attending mass, and seeing the pope from a distance! I will use Kim Kim again in the future and I do recommend Elena and Andre.

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Veneziano Venice

Venice

Overall, the hotel is great and prime location. The front desk made us wait for several hours to get into our room, wish they would have told us that room would not be ready till 2pm, exact check in time, instead of telling us to keep waiting all day for the rooms to be cleaned, and the house service was still cleaning the jacuzzi on the patio when we got our keys and checked in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Gabrisa

Positano

Views from the romantic suite are amazing! Staff was very friendly as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belvedere di San Leonino

Castellina in Chianti

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Degli Artisti

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gondola ride

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

VENICE MASTERCLASS: DOGE PALACE'S AND ST. MARK'S BASILICA AND EXCLUSIVE TERRACES WITH SKIP THE LINE VISIT

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheese farm visit and tasting in Pienza area

Italy

Pienza time at your leisure

Italy

Went to Florence instead, Silvia was great.

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

Rushed

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket

Rome

Rushed

Great experience working with and booking through KimKim! Excellent platform for connections to and interactions with local tour providers. Just returned from a week in Colombia organized by Aracanto Colombia through KimKim. Review of the experience below:
I am not prone to superlatives or hyperbole. However, I would be horribly remiss if I were to not use them to describe the service my we have received thus far from Felipe Rico, Margoth Rico, and team at Aracanto. Woefully insufficient number of stars available to grade their service!
We are in the second half of our tour of Colombia and it has been nothing short of exceptional! We travel a lot the world over, and Aracanto are hands-down among the best travel curators we have worked with! Right from the get-go, our connection with Felipe Rico was very comfortable - he was calm, understanding, very responsive and friendly, and curated a superb private tour itinerary for us, spanning sights in and around Medellin and Cartagena. As advertised, Felipe, Margoth, and team are passionate, care deeply about showing off their country and are equally, if not more, solicitous of their customers’ needs and desires. They hooked us up with superb lodging (the Patio del Mundo boutique hotel in Medellin was a magical tropical bungalow/paradise - great service, exceptional lodgings, the lovely welcome gift awaiting us at the hotel was a thoughtful surprise; Nacar Hotel Curio Collection by Hilton, is equally unique, in the walled old city in Cartagena - superb location) and equally superb guides in each city - Andres Jimenez in Medellin, a knowledgeable and passionate young man (a well-traveled, multilingual (Spanish/English/Portuguese) Chemical Engineer by education and experience, turned expert travel guide) who became a friend; and Isaac Francis in Cartagena, equally competent and friendly!
Felipe, Margoth, and team have been exceptionally organized, superbly responsive to our myriad queries, and keenly attuned to our tastes and preferences. In an instance where a certain planned event did not occur due to a miscommunication by the event owner, they promptly refunded that portion of the cost - no questions asked!
The restaurants they chose for us, the visits to picturesque/colorful Guatape and El Peñol near Medellin, to rum and chocolate tasting at the Arsenal of Rum, and cooking with Caro (owner-chef at Oh La La Bistro - see separate review), both in the Getesmani, neighborhood of Cartagena, to a resort/beach excursion at Isla Bomba tomorrow …each better than the other! Thank you, Felipe, Margoth and the rest of the Aracanto team for making our first visit to Colombia a memorable one!
Did I say I was not given to superlatives/hyperbole?? Oh, what the heck!!

Hotel Reviews

Patio del Mundo

Medellín

Lovely boutique hotel in the leafy/hilly/safe El Poblado neighborhood of Medellin. Spans two bungalows that are beautifully repurposed to serve as a boutique hotel. Incredible tropical foliage and local handicraft decor woven into the common areas - very welcoming, inviting, refreshing. The owner, Agnes(?) has fantastic taste - ably supported by dedicated staff who are eager to please. Service and breakfast were superb…rooms are elegantly appointed, shower areas have colorful local tiling with a great touch - plants/foliage inside the shower enclosure. Only regret - spent too little time at this location. Plan to return, however. Kudos to Andres/Isabel/Erica/Laura/Housekeeping, for taking good care of us!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located in El Poblado - a leafy/hilly/safe area, of Medellin. Proximate to wonderful restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Lovely Hilton hotel in their Curio Collection, located near the sea wall and within the old walled city of Cartegena. Large, well-appointed rooms with typical Hilton amenities - clean rooms, comfortable beds, good toiletries, great shower pressure and drainage! On-site Uma Restaurant provides excellent local and western breakfast and local delicacies for lunch and dinner. Great staff -eager to please. Only downsides: a) Hardly any of the staff speaks English, despite the town and hotel hosting significant numbers of tourists from English-speaking countries. Made communication very difficult - combo of our elementary Spanish and the staff’s equally elementary English. b) We were located on the 3rd floor - directly below the 4th floor bar/club, Gets extremely noisy with staff dragging furniture etc during off times and loud thumping reggaeton and other club music well into the night on weekends! Made sleeping rather difficult!

Authenticity & Character

Located in an in-character building, within the walled city.

Location

Inside walled city, proximate to shopping, sites, restaurants.

Staff

Excellent staff - eager to please; however, lack of English-speaking ability was a severe constraint for us. If you are planning to stay here, beef up on your Spanish!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Superb cleanliness and in-room amenities. Typical Hilton standards

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

All of transfers were flawless including the one from to and from the airport!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at El Correo (Y Amada) Provenza

Medellín

We enjoyed the dinner reservations made by the travel specialist, particularly our meal at El Correo in Medellin. It was a very nice and fancy restaurant, and the food was good. However, after trying a few Colombian dishes, we decided to explore different cuisines and found our own dining spots. We appreciated the flexibility provided by the travel specialist and the curated restaurant recommendations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour of Medellín (with Local Market and Comuna 13)

Medellín

Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. You can tell the people here are very passionate about their country and have a lot of pride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guatape and El Peñol Tour & Airport Transfer: {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}

Colombia

Once again we had a flawless experience with transfers and transportation, the vehicles were nice, and the staff provided excellent service.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Walking Tour of Cartagena Old City

Colombia

The guide Andres was phenomenal, the first half of the tour was wonderful, but the second half of the walking tour was more shopping. We wish they separated the shopping from the tour or let us know to come back to the shopping later, as we felt a bit rushed.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing

Cartagena

We had a phenomenal experience at the rum tasting, which included a chocolate pairing, and the local staff was very knowledgeable and attentive.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Cooking Class and Lunch (with Bazurto Market)

Cartagena

We enjoyed the cooking class with Carlina, at her restaurant, which provided a unique and enjoyable experience. We got to walk around the market beforehand with her and then she even walked us to our next tour afterwards.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Traditional Colombian Coffee Tasting

Cartagena

The coffee-tasting experience was disappointing as the host was not prepared for our arrival, causing us to cancel the activity. We appreciated our specialist, Felipe, who took care of the cancellation.

Day Pass at Tierra Bomba Island at Makani Beach Club - Pool Lounge Chairs Reserved

Colombia

We found the beach club pool lounge experience to be decent but not something we would necessarily repeat, we were glad we did it but we prefer more active and cultural activities. We also felt like the poolside lounge chairs were a bit expensive. We would recommend waiting until you arrive to book the chairs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip was fantastic thanks to our guides and porters. They were some of the kindest people we met while in Nepal and were incrediblely knowledgeable about anything we had questions about. Himalayan Trails oversaw all of our trek and there was very little we needed to do besides hike. The mountains, people, and culture of Nepal will be an unforgettable part of the world for me moving forward! I can't wait to go back again!

Our Greece experience was amazing due to the expert planning and professionalism of our guide Angela. We began our trip in Athens and right from the airport and to every new destination or experience we had a private pick up and transfer to our next stop and they were always was punctual and friendly. We stayed in Sweet Home Boutique in Athens which was adorable. The staff was friendly, the hostess was helpful and the breakfast was fantastic! We which we didn’t have to leave so early the second day do we could have enjoyed the breakfast the second morning as well. Our private tour of the Parthenon was great. Our guide met my family and I at our hotel. The tour was informative, light and just perfect for my teen girls and I. It was just the perfect touch of history, humor and culture. Unfortunately I forget her name but she was really great. From Athen we took the SuperFerry Golden Star which was not what we were expecting for a ferry. We stayed in the lounge the entire trip to Mykonos and it was so comfortable the time flew by.
Our stay at Mykonos was so memorable. Our host Armen from Milangel reached out to me before our arrival to set up a private tour before we checked into our room. This was so helpful so we knew a bit of the ins and outs of the island. Plus he took so many pictures of my family and I along the tour-I only wish we were a bit more dressed up rather then just having hopped off the ferry. Besides that his tour was informative and I highly recommend it. The weather in Mykonos was not what we were expecting but going off season has bits benefits and drawbacks as well. The view from Milangel was stunning and we had not one but 2 patios to enjoy it. Armen was bound accommodating and the breakfast and accommodations were 5 star! We went to dinner t!3 first night at Kazarma right near the water and it was one of our favorite meals. I think it was our favorite Greek salad as well, we tried to order in each time we ate to compare them all. Kazarma put a social spin in theirs. The next night we had a cooking class. Which will forever be one of my favorite memories. Teta was fun, a patient teacher and the food and laughs were continuous. Such a personal touch as she holds her classes in her home and you feel like you are visiting a sweet aunt for dinner.
From Mykonos we went to Naxos. This little town was so sweet. From the port and all its restaurants, little shops and small winding streets we explored all afternoon. The only thing to keep in mind was that most of the shops and restaurants don’t open till around 6 or 7. And after so much travel and still working on the jet lag we weren’t able to enjoy that until the next afternoon when some of the shops opened again in the morning. Our hotel-Polis of Naxos wasn’t my favorite. Again, going on their off season didn’t help us much on Naxos. There wasn’t really anyone to help us much in the reception area to find ice or coffee or to ask if we could get the hot tub running. However, we did go during Easter week and we respect that was a time of celebration for family and they weren’t exactly set to accommodate guests yet. We did horse back riding in the beach which was fine for me, however my daughter rides regularly and was a little disappointed that we were guided by a man and a rope the entire trail. We walked down a road first and then back up the beach which was beautiful, she was expecting a little more. However when we saw the 5 day old foul-that took the cake!
Our last stop was in Santorini and we stayed at the Blue Dolphin. This was a very nice hotel but the view of the town and sea was breathtaking, best view the whole trip. We were able to see the festival of Paros where the entire village is light up the night before Easter. Hearing the church bells, the priests singing and beautiful Paros light up in the hill was something I will never forget. Our last day we did a sunset cruise with Katrine and the crew in Lagoon 420 and they were amazing! We highly recommend this tour and our group we sailed with were so much fun. Perfect way to end our trip. My only regret is not getting to see Oia. All of the travel and early mornings took a toll on us and we slept in so we were. It able to fit it in. However, we’re we’re able to see some of it from the catamaran. I would suggest one more day in Santorini as there is so much to see and do here. I’m sure I left out a few amazing other tidbits but I tried to be as detailed as possible in my review so others can understand the care and work that goes into plan I g a trip, I would never have been able to do that! By far this was the most amazing trip and we could NEVER have done it without Angela. Her professionalism, patience and expertise is unsurpassable! Angela was always quick to respond d from the moment we began planning until our last few nights in Greece. She checked in with us during the trip and everything was planned just perfectly. Thank you so much Angela, you did an amazing job and we will never forget our trip to Greece because of you!

Activity Reviews

Young Heroes: a Family Mythology Tour

Athens

Our tour guide was amazing! I included details in my review. Highly recommend this tour!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Classes in Mykonos

Mykonos

The best experience! Personal, private and soooo delicious! More details in my review.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Justino was fantastic. He was funny and knowledgeable, made us feel welcome and called us family which by the time we said goodbye is exactly what we felt like.
Each of our hotel's were perfectly chosen, small thing's like hot water in Pisac or face clothes in Cusco could have made them better though to North America travelers. We did find all of our host's lovely and gracious though and enjoyed their accommodations.
Perhaps adding a down day in the middle of a 10 day tour for relaxation is something you might suggest to other groups, ours found that we were quite tired by the time we finishing but they may be our fault for not thinking we'd need one.
Ruben was a great driver, at all times I felt safe in his van.
In the end this was an amazing trip and I thank you for your time and planning.

Our ten day trip to Iceland was very memorable where the tour arranged by Emanuela allowed us to see and do a lot in a very short time. The first thing that caught our eye was the beauty of Iceland. Emanuela arranged a car rental for us and we drove over a thousand miles where we saw lava fields, dozens of water falls, glaciers, gorgeous remote coastlines, and snow capped mountains.

Emanuela also arranged plenty of activities which engaged us and our teenage kids. This included snow mobiling, hikes, an ATV tour of the coastline, ice cave hikes, glacier hikes, and hikes at waterfall sites. It was a packed schedule but appreciated the nice hotels with warm cozy rooms, plenty of hot water, and good food.

We do recommend that if you travel to Iceland in the Spring to buy offshore sailing gear (foul weather gear). It rained 8 of the 10 days we were in Iceland and when the rain comes down sideways, it does sting. Good foul weather gear will protect you and keep you toasty.

Excellent overall, guides were knowledgeable, professional, helpful. Suggestions for sights, tours and restaurants were excellent. We felt very safe with our guide.

Activity Reviews

Birdwatching in the Natural Reserve "La Romera"

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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City Tour Medellín

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Guatapé Day-Trip

Colombia

My favorite part of the trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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My 17 year old son and I went to Australia for a belated Birthday trip. We only planned the trip 8 weeks prior to going and Gary was very thorough and helped guide our short trip. We did a half day Sydney tour, a full day tour out to the Blue Mountains (with a hike and botanical gardens stop) flew to Carins and did a full day Great Barrier Reef snorkeling trip and a few days there and ended with a day at Cogee and a day at Bondi Beach. All of the tours and our transportation to and from the hotels and airports went perfectly, our rental car on Carins also was also easy to rent and return. The hotels Gary booked were fine, especially Mantra Amphora in Palm Cove. (highly recommend) Our final hotel in Cogee, Adina Apartments, was very small and had canceled our reservation at check in. We had to call Gary and he answered immediately and took care of the problem which was not his fault, and he made sure Adina checked us in and gave us our room as originally planned. We were very pleased with Gary and his prompt response to all of our questions. If I could give any future travelers advice I would say be very specific about what you want to do, the type of accommodations you expect and the bed sizes and if you prefer large or small group tours. The more specific you are the more tailored your adventure will be. The cost was reasonable for all that we did. We will us Kikiman again!

Hotel Reviews

Mantra Amphora

Palm Cove

Great hotel complete with separate bedroom, spacious bathroom, balcony and living/kitchen area. Very clean and lovely grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina Apartment Hotel Coogee

Coogee

Authenticity & Character

No character

Location

Staff

Weren't very friendly at check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but cramped

Furama Darling Harbour

Haymarket

The hotel is clean and the room is a normal size for a city. We had a terrible view of an alley and brick wall and couldn't take advantage of the free breakfast because we were scheduled for tours before the restaurant opened.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunlover Reef Cruises Pontoon - Moore Reef

Australia

The staff were great but it was very crowded and the lunch not very good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Half Day Panoramic Sydney Sights

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Pick up your rental car at Cairns for your trip to Undara

Canberra

Quality of Experience

L

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Blue Mountains Hike the World Heritage

Sydney

Quality of Experience

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My husband and I booked our trip to Guatemala for Holy Week. We specifically chose this week to view the processions and street carpets that are present during Holy Week. Our itinerary began with a trip to Tikal National Park. We visited the Mayan Temples and learned a great deal about the ancient Mayan civilization. We climbed a few of the temples , walked the complex , and connected with many facets of nature. Our guide, Oliverio was knowledgeable and very personable. He explained ancient customs, sacred rites, and ceremonies. From there we traveled to Lake Atitlan to get a better view of the volcanoes. We participated in the village tours, shopped at the local markets, and witnessed the religious preparations being made for Easter Sunday. The remainder of our trip was spent in Antigua. We watched many of the processions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week. We walked through many of the streets and watched as many of the local Guatemalans prepared the colorful street carpets. One of the highlights of our stay in Antigua was the Antigua Walking Tour. Our guide, Maribel was delightful. She was informative, humorous, and very pleasant. We explored the historic landmarks and churches. Maribel explained many of the Mayan customs and traditions. We also visited a jade factory where we learned about the mining and colors of jade. Later that evening, we participated in a Guatemalan Cooking Class. There were 12 adults in the group and each of us were assigned a different task in preparing the meal. This group effort allowed us to engage in conversation and fellowship throughout the cooking process. At the end of the class, we sat down on the roof top to enjoy the meal. The sunset and the volcanoes provided the perfect backdrop for this meal. On our last full day in Antigua, we made the most of the day by participating in a bike tour around Almolonga Valley. We rode through suburban villages and stopped to visit churches, colonial ruins, a chocolate factory and a wine factory. Willy was our guide and he was most patient when we needed to take a break. There are a few hills on this scenic ride and at the midway point of this ride, we needed to walk our bike and take a few minutes to recoup. Willy provided clear safety protocols for the operation of the bike and remaining safe on the road. Willy answered all of our questions and shared many interesting details. It was fun to spend three hours with Willy on this tour. The Casa Antigua Hotel was centrally located and the courtyard was quaint. The staff was friendly and helpful. However, the rooms were very outdated. The décor was old and the rooms needed painting. There were no screens on the windows, and the towels were dingy and frayed. If I had seen the inside of the rooms prior to the trip, I would have opted for another hotel. We enjoyed our stay at Jungle Lodge Tikal and San Buenaventura Hotel. My husband and I enjoyed this trip and am glad that we decided to visit Guatemala. Eduardo did a great job with the logistics and we were moved from point to point without any difficulty. The final itinerary met our expectations and the activities did not disappoint. Eduardo provided great suggestions for activities and we were able to travel around different parts of Guatemala in our week long stay.