Kimkim Trip Reviews

KimKim and Berat provided an outstanding vacation in Turkey for us. It was particularly helpful that whenever we had a question or needed a suggested activity, we could always contact Berat. She always promptly responded, often with specific suggestions such as excellent dining choices and places to go.

When there were huge lines for the mosques in Istanbul, KimKim's guide suggested an alternative, the cisterns, as a place to start. Not only did that provide an memorable sight, by the time we finished, the mosque lines were completely gone allowing us to walk right in.

All the travel logistics were in place -- people to pick up us and reservations in place.

For anyone considering a vacation in Turkey, we highly recommend booking it through KimKim. This was our second KimKim vacation. Now that we're back, time to start thinking about the next trip with them.

Hotel Reviews

Pera Palace

Istanbul

Charming, well located, hotel responsive to some plumbing issues.

Authenticity & Character

Oldest elevator in the country.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kayakapi Premium Caves

Urgup / Cappadocia

Restaurants were amazing, especially the vegetarian tasting meal. Friendly waitstaff.

Akra Antalya Hotel

Antalya

Hotel was fine. Blaring music in one of the restaurants but the next night it was quieter.

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

Weird environment; smell from thermal waters. Only buffet dinner available which was just adequate. Not up to the standards of the other hotels on the trip.

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

Huge accessibility issues for anyone over 30 years old. Very rocky road from the reception desk to the room making the walk to meals treacherous. Layout of the rooms not idea with bathroom on a different level from the bedroom -- again an issue for older travelers. On the other hand, the staff were over the top friendly and accommodating. Meals, once you got the the dining room were very good.

Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Excellent location looking out over the Bosphorus, walking distance to many of the key sites, tasty Indian restaurant on site.

Activity Review

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Beautiful views, magical scenery, felt perfectly safe

We loved Indonesia. It is such a diverse country. But the common denominator is that all the people are so friendly and they seem stress-free. Jessica and her team provided us with a lot of different experiences and were really on top of everything. The whole trip was super well organized and coordinated. All the local guides were fantastic, they all give a wealth of knowledge and each have their own personal flavour to add to the stories which we loved.

Booking the trip with Mieke was so easy and effective through the group chat function. Loved the flexibility to build itinerary as per our preferences.

Everything worked smoothly on the trip, no time was wasted. Our guide Tashi and driver Funso were so helpful, thoughtful and experienced.. They generously shared their knowledge..

Incredible experience, thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Druk Hotel

Thimphu

Love love love. Authentic and beautiful rooms, great dining room food and service. Small gym.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zhingkham Resort

Punakha

Great views and rooms. Climb to the rooms get tiring. Dining experience poor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba

Paro

We left early and beat the crowds. Incredible day that I will remember for ever.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tashi and Funso were amazing

Transport

First the positives:
1. Guides: Friendly, punctual, accommodating.
2. Vehicles: Clean and very comfortable (except in Kanazawa which had cigarette smoke).
Most interesting places/activities:
1. Miho Museum
2. Hiroshima - tear-jerker.
3. Ina
4. Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
5. Bullet train rides (made better by travelling in Green Car).
Room for improvement:
1. Guides: Often difficult to understand (except Wesley). This was a major issue.
2. Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto: Very small, uncomfortable esp. since we stayed there for 5 nights, probably equivalent to a 2/3 star hotel in USA. Would definitely not recommend it.
3. Ina: would have liked to spend more time there by getting there early. Advise visitors to carry own food and drinks as the few eating places there close early.
4. Explore purchasing tickets for cable car, Skytree, etc in advance, if possible, as it will save a lot of time.
5. Itinerary:
a. Share the final itinerary with ALL changes a few days before the tourist's departure.
b. Include addresses of hotels, train stations, etc in JAPANESE so that we can show these to the taxi driver. We ended up at the wrong hotel in Kyoto because the 2 hotels had identical names.

The trip was great.

Highlight was the desert camp, but it was all fantastic. Driver was very helpful and thoughtful. Guide in Marrakech was the best.

Only suggestions I would give is better communication from the driver on the long days. It was sometime unclear when we would stop and what for. There were a couple of stops we probably would have skipped (movie studio) if we knew they were happening. Also there were a few times we had to pay admission or guides that we were not told about ahead of time. - including guide for Aït Benhaddou. That guide was particularly disappointing. It would have been good to know this so we were prepared or could have decided if we wanted to do that. Other trips I have booked included the cost of admission to places in them so I was surprised kimkim had not already included those in the prices we paid.

Hotel Reviews

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Braya

Fes Medina

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Guide was best of all we had. She was respectful of what we wanted to see and took the time we needed. Did a great job explaining local culture and customs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Nomad Family and the Music of the Desert

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Aït Benhaddou via the Draa Valley and Ouarzazate

Morocco

Would have liked to have a better understanding of when and where we were stopping so could have decided if the stops were of interest. Would have skipped the movie studio if we had been asked. It was not worth the time spent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had to pay for guide in Aït Benhaddou ourselves. It did not seem to be prearranged and driver just connected with a local there who was doing tours. He rushed us through and gave limited info. Did not allow us to stop when we wanted. It seemed like he wanted to get back early to take the next tourists. Pretty disappointing.

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes: Morocco's Spiritual Heart

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quad Biking the Erg Chebbi Dunes

Merzouga

The guides were fantistic. Very high energy and ensured we had a great time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had the most memorable time with Ismail. And even now when we tell our family and friends about our Moroccan adventure, Ismail was one of the highlights of our trip! He taught us so much about their culture, religion and country! We encountered some very difficult weather and floods but he was such a skilled driver and has calm demeanour that we all felt very safe. We have an amazing appreciation for Morocco …all thanks to Ismail!

Activity Review

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Marrakesh

Our group was a hesitant in taking this sunrise balloon ride especially with the slight wind. But Yousef the operator was amazing! He was able to put us all at ease! And on a cloudy day , took us above the clouds just in time to see the sunrise. It was almost spiritual! It was SO moving. And then we saw other balloons start popping up thru the clouds. It was spectacular! It was the most memorable thing we have ever done! Many many thanks to Yousef! 🙏🤩

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Croatia was AMAZING!!! Sarah planned a perfect trip for my husband and I, I gave her some information on what we wanted to do in Croatia, and she pulled it all together beautifully. From the gentleman that met us at the airport to the gentleman that dropped us off to return back to the states, it was seamless. The guides we had for touring were incredible, so knowledgeable and very helpful. ( Sorry, I will not attempt to type their names, because I know the spelling would be way off) The hotels that Sarah made reservations for us were beautiful, and the staff at all of the hotels were amazing. Nick at Hotel Giordanno was very gracious and kind during our stay, the ladies at Irini Luxury Rooms were very helpful during our stay in Split. We had a tremendous time on this "bucket list" trip. We wanted to go to Croatia as my paternal grandparents immigrated from this country, it was very moving to go to Samobor and find where my Dad's roots began. Croatia is a beautiful country and all of the people that we met along the way were very welcoming. We are hoping to return one day with our children. Sarah, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this trip a dream come true.
Susan Leonard

Hotel Review

Villa Giardino

Bol

This hotel is beautiful!!! If we are lucky enough to return, we will stay here again. Nick and his entire staff were absolutely wonderful and so helpful. Location was perfect, the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a short walk to the town center and to the beautiful beaches.

Staff

Very helpful and so kind!!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel was spotless, beds were comfortable and it was very quiet.

Activity Review

Private Day Trip to Cavtat & Family Farm Day for Traditional Lunch or Dinner

Croatia

This was such a lovely experience, to be welcomed into some ones home and enjoy a delicious traditional Croatia meal. Our guide that picked us up at the hotel and drove us there, gave us a tour of Cavtat, which was so beautiful. Then she drove us to the farm. It was incredible!!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver/ guide was so very friendly and we had so much fun with her on this part of our trip.

Transport

The entire trip could not have been better. Andrea worked with me through every detail prior to the beginning of the trip and checked in during the 11 days in October. He provided advice on keeping activities to an enjoyable level for our group of six - the right mix of sightseeing and relaxation. He also took special care in providing for a traveler with mobility restrictions. I worked with Andrea to organize the trip on behalf of our group and, with Andrea as close as a text, I could thoroughly enjoy myself too. We had no glitches whatsoever and Andrea was even able to coordinate some time changes in our itinerary that we requested along the way.

All accommodations exceeded our expectations. While all hotel staff were helpful and friendly, the staff at Martis Palace Hotel was particularly warm and welcoming for all three days. Our experience at The Hotel Belvedere di San Leonino was exactly how I had pictured a stay in Tuscany, including dinner at their on-site restaurant. Corte dei Sogni Hotel, Hotel Nazionale and Hotel Palazzo Veneziano were equally enjoyable. All breakfasts provided far more than I am accustomed.

In Rome, the golf cart tour on our first day was a great way to see the city up-close and a good use of time. We enjoyed Mariapaola as our guide of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Basilica as she is knowledgeable, entertaining and passionate.

When driving in Tuscany, we especially enjoyed the cities of Bagnoregio, Orvieto and San Gimignano. Cooking class and wine tasting at La Marronaia Winery was very fun! "The wine was made from those grapevines right over there."

It only took the first train ride to figure out how to navigate the Cinque Terre trains with our hop on/off pass. They were clean, convenient and ran on schedule. All five villages were interesting to see. The Via dell'Amore trail is an easy and accessible walk along the cliff and sea and is, of course, beautiful. Hotel Nazionale was in the village of Levanto which we found to be less crowded and slower paced and is also available on the train pass. Due to weather, our boat tour was cancelled for which we received a full refund within just a couple days.

Everything about Venice is unique so I have no particular comments other than to say we are glad we chose to end our trip there as, at one time, we discussed skipping this city.

All guides and drivers were friendly and professional and on-time or usually early to meet us.

We indulged in the local wines, limoncello, chocolate, coffee, olives, oils, balsamics, meats and cheeses. It was all fantastico!

This was my first international trip. KimKim and Andrea set the bar high for the next adventure. I plan to use KimKim again if I get the chance.

Hotel Reviews

Belvedere di San Leonino

Castellina in Chianti

Scenery was beautiful. Dinner on-site was convenient and delicious. Many places to sit and relax including scattered tables and chairs, bar, pool and hot tub.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corte dei Sogni Boutique Hotel & Spa

Florence

Great hotel with wonderful rooms. Don't let the nearly hidden outside entrance and ground floor lobby fool you.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Veneziano Venice

Venice

Amazing entrance. Comfortable outdoor courtyard. Nice bar and breakfast area. Rooms are beautiful. We also took advantage of the complimentary visit to a Murano glass factory.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Private Golf Cart tour

Rome

A great way to see the city up-close. A good use of time, especially on your first day in Rome. Fredricko and Fabio were fun guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

We chose a self-guided tour. We should have gotten a guide or headset as there was so much information to take in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket (with guide)

Rome

Important to be able to skip the line.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

So much to see. Guide was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Winery visit with wine tasting and cooking class

Italy

Fun class and learned a lot. Olive oil and balsamic tasting were bonuses that we didn't know we would be doing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cinque Terre Sunset cruise with aperitif (Private)

Cinque Terre

Canceled due to inclement weather. We were informed during the entire day as to whether to cruise would take place. Received a full refund.

Accademia Gallery - skip the line entrance

Florence

Skip the line tickets were behind schedule which happened to put us in the middle of a downpour of rain. We waited it out and are glad we were still able to see "David." Amazing.

Quality of Experience

Venice exploration and Cicchetti on a water taxi

Italy

Guide was knowledgeable and weather was beautiful for this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I rarely get the opportunity to travel together. The trip to Morocco was rather impromptu. The Kim Kim team was fantastic every step of the way, helping us choose excursions and day trips. One element different from our previous travels was the use of a single driver for travel throughout the country. We are so lucky to have met Hamsa, our driver and travel expert. What a fantastic young gentleman. Hamsa arrived to greet us every morning with a rundown of where we would be travelling each day. The car was always immaculate and Hamsa was always perfectly dressed , ready to answer questions and pack the car with water and coins for incidentals, like bathroom stops and fresh pomegranate juice. The good relationships between the KimKim tam, Hamsa and our guides in the various cities made for a seamless and memorable trip of a lifetime. When unforeseen torrential rain washed out roads, the KimKim team worked to make accommodations for travel changes, and even plan new experiences in the event we were stuck due to road emergencies. The guides in each of the cities were wonderful, each a wealth of knowledge. Every single guide was so happy to share with us the history and progress and remarkable features of their city. Every single guide was happy to help us learn enough of the language (even Berber)to say "hello"and "thank you", so we could be respectful guests in their lands. My favorite guide was Hanyn, who we were able to see twice while in Marrakech. Hanyn guided our evening food tour, which I highly recommend, and the tour of the city the following day. Hanyn's historical knowledge of Marrakech and Morocco in general, brought the ancient sites to life. Hanyn's relationships with the shopkeepers gave us access to their knowledge of their products, how they came to work in their craft, and their love for their community. One takeaway that was distinctly notable about every aspect of the KimKim Morocco experience: these knowledgeable individuals have great pride and love for their country. Their hope is to share the wonderful, exotic delights that make up the beautiful place that is Morocco. Their pride of place in their individual cities is apparent in their teaching. So many wonderful experiences that we will remember . I invite you to let the KimKim team plan a fantastic journey for you and embark upon the same quest we took, with mountain hikes, coastal walks, desert stars, rally cars and a country full of friendly, remarkable people. We cannot wait to go there again.

One of the most incredible trips we’ve ever had the privilege of taking. Every day and place was just stunning, from Preikestolen and Lysefjord to Lofoten (our favorite, but doesn’t diminish the beauty of the rest of the country) followed by the Lyngenfjord Alps, whale/orca safari and the northern lights. One of the most beautiful countries with wonderful people. We will definitely return. Thank you for all the help you gave in making it such a memorable and beautiful experience 🙏

Hotel Reviews

The Bolder

Forsand

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

No contact with the staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HATTVIKA LODGE

Ballstad

An incredible place with great staff and access to outdoor activities from heaven! Additionally, the restaurant there, Fangst, is seriously good! The owner Kristian and his team there do an incredible job (while living somewhere pretty close to heaven at least for me :)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything. Lofoten is amazing!

Staff

Kristian, Maria, Tim and Jennie

Cleanliness & Comfort

Glass Igloo Lyngen North

Lyngen

Staying at the Glass Igloo Lyngen North was an indredible experience. Lying in a glass hut, watching the Northern Lights was just outrageous. It’s hard to put the experience into words, but everything about our stay here was perfect. I couldn’t imagine a more unique way to experience Norway.

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

The Scandic Ishavshotel was just a large chain hotel without much character. We stayed only about eight hours, so it was fine for a brief rest, but certainly didn’t stand out like other unique accommodations on our trip.

Activity Reviews

Kayak Tour on the Reinefjord

Norway

Quality of Experience

LLP

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kristian was a great guide

Transport

Northern Lights Sailing Cruise

Tromsø

The Northern Lights Sailing Cruise was a wonderful experience despite the rain. Sitting in a hot tub on the Norwegian Sea was crazy, though we didn’t see the Northern Lights. The crew was fantastic, and we still had a great time.

Impeccable choices by our friend, Yuliana, starting from pick-up at the airport. Her planning and attention to detail allowed my family to enjoy a vacation free from arguing, uncertainty or poor planning. Thank YOU!

Costa Rica for a family of four to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. Our two sons (16 & 13)came along for their second international trip. We started in San Jose to acclimate and pick up a rental. Hotel was perfect for one night with teens. Service was excellent and super helpful with car rental communicators. Alamo provided a new Toyota Rav 4 for our journey.

We ventured to La Paz Waterfalls for a stop off on the way to Arenal / La Fortuna. Fantastic spot and worth the time to explore the waterfalls and zoo.

Next stop was Arenal Parasido Resort in La Fortuna. Stayed in a villa ( 2 bd/ bath house with micro kitchen). Private and spacious with beautiful grounds. Zipline, safari river tour, eco thermal springs are some of the amazing activities we enjoyed. All companies provided were top notch!

Next area we explored was Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Parc. We stayed at Los Altos Resort in Quepos which was pure luxury! Accommodations were stellar including our own elevator, balconies off all rooms, 3 bd 3 bth, concierge service! Wildlife on the property rivaled the national park! Sloths, monkeys, macaw, agouti, toucans, hummingbirds and much more all on the property. Some of our favorite moments were observing the natural beauty poolside and experiencing wildlife completely free. Stunning views across the property. Staff was legendary and a pleasure to get to know. Breakfast was another standout.

Caterina worked very closely with us to plan the perfect trip. She listened to our suggestions and accommodated our changes and requests. The trip and plans were smoothly executed seamlessly.

Hotel Reviews

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Universe Lucca

Lucca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private full-day tour to discover the Cinque Terre

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Aperitivo Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Airport Transfer

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cinque terre Card

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of Lucca with bike tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Pisa

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The most memorable was of course Machu Picchu. Our guide Javier was excellent and a great photographer.
Inkaterra Hacienda was amazing. Enjoyed the privacy.

Our guide Paolo was incredible! Such a great guy, lots of fun, and very knowledgeable. The driver, Johnny, was also spectacular.

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Japan. Our local specialist, Angel, was amazing. The tour guides and activities she selected were perfect. We were also very appreciative of Angel's communication, both before and during our trip. She was always available for our questions with a quick response. When we decided on short notice to modify one of our last nights, she quickly helped us arrange a new hotel and transportation. I would highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Osaka

Osaka

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Wood Takayama

Takayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

福智院（Koyasan Onsen Fukuchi-in）

Wakayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour

Tokyo

We loved getting out of the City and into the mountains! Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour Shirakawa-go Village

Takayama

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More

Tokyo

This was one of our favorite activities!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Rural Bike Tour

Takayama

Enjoyed seeing a town that was a little less touristy. Nice area for bike riding.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO

Kyoto

Overall this trip was most enjoyable and well planned. The few glitches were taken care of in a timely manner. Our accommodations were all excellent. Our guided trips were also well planned and our guides were very knowledgeable and flexible. In particular our guide in Killarney and Cork, Joe O'Donnell, was a pleasure to travel with. He was well prepared, kind, and highly professional. We appreciated how Kim Kim was able to help us plan such a personalized trip with all the sights we wanted to visit and activities we wanted to participate in. Our thanks to all the individuals who communicated with us and helped make our time in Ireland so memorable.

Hotel Reviews

Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast

Great location in Dingle. The hosts were most kind and accommodating. The B & B was very clean, rooms were very comfortable and the breakfast was simple, but tasty. We felt very welcome and had a pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to town. Beautiful view.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doolin Inn

Doolin, Co. Clare

Great accommodations. The rooms was spacious, quiet and comfortable. Anthony's Restaurant was a true gem. Wonderful breakfasts and the dinner was 5 star!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Old Weir Lodge

Killarney

Great location. Easy walk into Killarney town. Accommodations were excellent. Staff was very kind and rooms were spotless. Breakfast was delicious with many choices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The River Lee Hotel

Cork

The hotel was a short walk to the main part of Cork. Our room was clean, comfortable and quiet. We enjoyed the meals we had - breakfast, dinners and cocktails in the lounge. The staff was very kind and helpful. My husband was ill while there and they put us in touch with medical assistance within minutes! I am so appreciative of their help.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Explore the Beara Peninsula

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and driver, Joe, was very knowledgeable and shared much information about the area's history and culture. Made our day unforgettable

Transport

Doris arranged a great personal tour for us. From pick up at the airport, drives to various hotels and locations and back to the airport for departure, all was pleasant and comfortable. Doris got back to us immediately if we had any questions. Our guide, Mr. Cau and driver, Mr. Huy were professional and caring. We had a wonderful stay in Vietnam. Our only regret is that we did not allow ourselves more time to explore this fascinating and ancient country.

Our group of eight had an amazing trip to Italy thanks to the planning and preparation of Arianna at kimkim. It was a relief not to have to worry about the details.

The guide for the walking tour was outstanding. The guide for the bike to Chianti was good, bikes and safety measure were not great. The bike team for Fiosole was outstanding as was their equipment. A transfer should have been recommended given the distance and obscurity of the meeting point. Again, the distance to the bike trip in Bellagio from our hotel should have been pointed out. It seemed there were closer options available for ebiking. Boat trip was fine. Both hotels were great, especially Villa D'Este. Thanks for all!

Wow and Incredible
We had an amazing experience in Kenya and Tanzania. Stephan pulled together an adventure that was perfect for us! We saw everything on our Must-See list and more. The guides and lodging were all great. The transportation was safe and convenient. The welcome booklet from Stephan was so valuable. Because of it we had everything taken care of and had no problems in either country.
Kenya:
Stephan and our Guide/Driver Norman from Truly Swahili were at the airport to greet us when we arrived in Nairobi. On the drive to the 1st hotel, we went over the plan and discussed logistics. This was great so when we took off the next day for Lake Nakuru, we were ready.
Norman was our driver and guide while we were in Kenya. It was great to have the same person the whole time we were there. Norman was great, what a nice and caring person. He is also a great guide. He found so many birds and animals. It is amazing to watch him work. The number of small hidden birds he saw was incredible. We would have never seen as much as we did without him. We spent 2 full days on Safari in the park with Norman. We would do it again
Skynest Residences by CityBlue - this was an apartment/hotel which I really appreciated. We stayed here twice as we were going in and out of Kenya. The unit had clothes washing machine which was helpful. We did not have to pack for the whole time we were away. The people were all very friendly, the unit was clean and comfortable. The view from the roof of the building was wild. Nairobi is HUGE!
Sopa Lodge Nakuru - This is a beautiful lodge above Lake Nakuru. The views are incredible. The location is in the park, so our safari began when we woke up with Zebras just nearby. The room was clean and comfortable. Maggie and Mary in the restaurant took amazing care of us!!! They were so friendly! We felt welcome and safe the whole time
Cliff Lodge Sunrise Boat Safari. This was fun. We were treated to a boat cruise on Lake Nakuru. We were able to cruise the shoreline to find all sorts of different birds, and 100’s of Pelicans and Flamingos. It is an early start, so a delicious breakfast is provided. Milka really knew her birds and what we could expect to see. And the Milka/Suleman team were great together spotting everything!
Tanzania
This time we were met at the airport by Truly Swahili’s Irene and our guide Kaka. We met our driver Jambo the next day. More on Kaka and Jambo later! Irene went over the plan for our 8 days in Tanzania on the drive to the hotel in Arusha. This was great so we again knew what to expect.
Sanna Boutique Hotel in Arusha was quite nice. It had an amazing rooftop view, and we were just at the base of Mt. Meru. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Gofrery in the restaurant talked birds with us and made sure we were always ok! It was a good stay before the long drive to the Serengeti.
Kaka and Jambo our guide and driver. I do not think there is enough good to say about these 2 guys. They were a power team! Driving is long and challenging. Jambo got us where we needed to go every time. We were so impressed how he knew how to get around in the Serengeti. There are no roads or signs, yet we always arrived at our lodge at the end of the day. Jambo has crazy skills to be able to drive and find birds and game as we go. Then there was Kaka, he was joy to be around. He saw the positive in everything. And he also saw everything. He knew what was most important to us (birds) and took us to the places that had birds. He knew where a fig tree was that all sorts of bird life. Amazing! Both Kaka and Jambo listened to us, stopped the car when we asked and never rushed us to get going again. Both laughed easily and knew so much! We were able to enjoy the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater game drives to the fullest! The combination of being in Tanzania with Kaka and Jambo was incredible. I will want these 2 to guide me next time. Tanzania without Kaka and Jambo – I don’t think so!
The Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp was amazing. It was the iconic staying in a tent-cabin in the Serengeti. What fun. We heard lions from our bed the 1st night. That is not something that happens in the USA! The rooms were clean and comfortable. There were plenty of people to escort us to our room in the dark. So, we always felt safe! Mariska took care of us in the restaurant, and she was great! The lodge is doing a big update and from what we saw it will be even more luxury than it was for us!
Karatu Simba Lodge – we enjoyed this lodge a lot. It was also clean and friendly and safe. The rooms were very comfortable. Sitting on the deck looking over the hills and farms was beautiful! The meals were buffet style so there was lots of variety and all of it was very tasty!
A last minute add on to our trip was Lake Manyara Biking, Canoeing & Cultural Experience with lunch, instead of a second day in the Ngorongoro crater. This turned out to be one of the most memorable days of our trip. This one we went into not really knowing what to expect. Teresa from The Cultural Tourism Programme in Mto Wa Mbu was an excellent guide. We learned more details about the different tribes and their cultures and skills. We have the opportunity to purchase art from small local artists. We had a traditional Tanzanian lunch prepared for us in a Banana Plantation. YUM! Biking through the village was an interesting ground view of the area. We enjoyed the day! Now I think we will always add a cultural day to any trip! Had I known more about the day I would have brought more cash with me. We encountered so many different people all who are so proud of what they do! I wanted to bring home a little of everything they made.
Irene met us again before we headed to the airport. How wonderful to have a personal touch to be sure the trip not only met our expectations but exceeded them. Stephan took this time to call us and check in before the long trip home as well. 5 Stars!!! Will Recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Skynest Residences by CityBlue

Nairobi

This was an apartment/hotel which I really appreciated. We stayed here twice as we were going in and out of Kenya. The unit had clothes washing machine which was helpful. We did not have to pack for the whole time we were away. The people were all very friendly, the unit was clean and comfortable. The view from the roof of the building was wild. Nairobi is HUGE!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karatu Simba Lodge

We enjoyed this lodge a lot. It was also clean and friendly and safe. The rooms were very comfortable. Sitting on the deck looking over the hills and farms was beautiful! The meals were buffet style so there was lots of variety and all of it was very tasty!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a good balance between getting to the Ngorongoro crater and having out day in teh village of Mto Wa Mbu.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sopa Lodge Nakuru

Nairobi

This is a beautiful lodge above Lake Nakuru. The views are incredible. The location is in the park, so our safari began when we woke up with Zebras just nearby. The room was clean and comfortable. Maggie and Mary in the restaurant took amazing care of us!!! They were so friendly! We felt welcome and safe the whole time

Authenticity & Character

Very 'classic' safari lodge. It was everything you woud expect .

Location

It is in the National Park so Safari is just out side the lodge.

Staff

Maggie anfd Mary - AWESOME. Everyone was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was large and comfortable. The Lodge its self was beautiful

Sanna Boutique Hotel

Arusha

It had an amazing rooftop view, and we were just at the base of Mt. Meru. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Gofrery in the restaurant talked birds with us and made sure we were always ok! It was a good stay before the long drive to the Serengeti.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Godfry - He was awesome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acacia Central Serengeti Camp

We ended us staying at another Acacia lodge in the Serengeti ..... The Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp was amazing. It was the iconic staying in a tent-cabin in the Serengeti. What fun. We heard lions from our bed the 1st night. That is not something that happens in the USA! The rooms were clean and comfortable. There were plenty of people to escort us to our room in the dark. So, we always felt safe! Mariska took care of us in the restaurant, and she was great! The lodge is doing a big update and from what we saw it will be even more luxury than it was for us!

Authenticity & Character

another classic safari -tent lodge. It was amazing

Location

I mean we are IN the Serengeti. The location can not be any better!

Staff

everyone so friendly. Mariska was a special person.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sunrise Boat Cruise on Lake Nakuru

Nakuru

Cliff Lodge Sunrise Boat Safari. This was fun. We were treated to a boat cruise on Lake Nakuru. We were able to cruise the shoreline to find all sorts of different birds, and 100’s of Pelicans and Flamingos. It is an early start, so a delicious breakfast is provided. Milka really knew her birds and what we could expect to see. And the Milka/Suleman team were great together spotting everything!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Milka and Suleman

Transport

Evening Game Drive at Lake Nakuru National Park

Kenya

Norman was a amazing guide. Lake Nakuru is beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Safari Experience at Serengeti National Park

Tanzania

WOW The Serengeti is Amazing. But we had the BEST gukdes Kaka and Jambo! They made more amazing than it was going to be anyway!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

JAMBO AND KAKA!!!!! YES!

Transport

Full Day Safari Experience at Ngorongoro

Tanzania

What an amazing place. there is SOOOOOO much to see

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport