Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had so much fun in Finland! Overall, we had a great trip. Moonika helped us plan some amazing excursions and we had a great time. The excursion to Riisitunturi National Park was incredible. It was expensive, but Moonika told us that it would be worth it, and it completely was. The one Overall, very happy with our experience with KimKim yet again.

Hotel Review

Scandic Rovaniemi City

Rovaniemi

Exactly what we expected and paid for. A very nice hotel that was clean and efficient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Tour

Rovaniemi

Didn't see the Northern Lights, but our guide worked hard to get us to the perfect location. It was a completely clear sky with a great view of the milky way. If the lights were closer, it would've been incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver/guide was really nice and worked hard to get us in a good position! But, she had worked a long shift earlier that day hiking and nearly fell asleep driving. One of us had to talk to her on the way home so she didn't swerve off the road.

Transport

Husky Sledding Safari

Rovaniemi

Nice working with a local family, and visiting a place that wasn't too touristy. So much fun on the sleds!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aurora Hunt by Reindeer Safari

Rovaniemi

Definitely the more touristy excursion of the trip. Saw the Northern Lights! Definitely a lot of people that took some of the "special-ness" away, but the talk afterwards where we got to learn of the reindeer was so interesting.

Riisitunturi Private Photography Expedition

Rovaniemi

This was the best excursion of our time in Finland! We had a clear, sunny day with no wind. The snow was just incredible on the trees. So happy with this experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

What you'd expect for a bbq in the forest

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Anna-Maria did such an amazing job for our trip to Split, Croatia. All of our transportation was arranged, our tour guides were awesome and knowledgeable and the experiences she set up for us were so cool! She was quick to respond and willing to be flexible. This was my first time using kimkim and it will not be my last! Croatia was amazing and we learned that March is the best time to go. Definitely want to go back and explore more of this beautiful country!

Activity Reviews

Visit of the Bibich winery

Croatia

Delicious wine and cool family ties. Filipe, the son, gave us the best experience and he was really fun to talk to. They gave us an 8 course experience and it was truly incredible. Definitely worth a visit to this winery.

Quality of Experience

Delicious food and a great variety of wines

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The family of the winery was amazing and so kind

Transport

Private driver is great! Didn't have to worry about sobering up

Split food tour

Split

Loved our tour guide Christina! She was really fun to hang out with and had so much knowledge and history of Split. Getting private service at a local restaurant was the best and the variety of the food was great.

Quality of Experience

Such a great way to see and experience Old Town Split.

Food

Yummy food! Got to try all the local dishes and it was a great way to try it all.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christina was amazing!! So fun to spend the day with and so knowledgeable.

Transport

Day Trip to Krka National Park

Split

Krka is a beautiful park! Lots of walking which was nice after a long flight. March is a bit cooler in temperature, but it's a great time to visit. Less crowds and the waterfalls were incredible.

Quality of Experience

Excellent activity for families. Some easy spots for walking and some areas with lots of stairs.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dino was our driver and he was great! Dropped us off right where we needed to be and was prompt in his pick up times.

Transport

Not a bad drive from Split. Worth the drive for a day trip to the park and easy to head to BIBICh winery from there.

Private Day Trip Split- Klis-Salona-Trogir

Split

Klis was amazing, lots of cool history in Salona and Trogir is beautiful. I wish the tour was longer and we could have spent more time Trogir. Antony was our tour guide and he was awesome! Very knowledge and chatty.

Quality of Experience

Wish we could have spent more time in Trogir. Solana was historical and interesting. Klis fortress of course was amazing. That view is incredible!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Antony was a great guide!

Transport

Nice to have someone else drive and navigate the back roads and cities.

This was my dream trip and it waited too long in my bucket list. I enjoyed Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. The hotel Sol y Mar was lovely; enjoyed visiting Darwin Station and Chato Ranch. The Millenium catamaran was a nice boat to see the islands and the cabin was very comfortable and clean. The crew was friendly and our guide Javier Picaza G. was very knowledgeable. The food was not so good; everything served except the shrimps, was overcooked.Loved the scenery and landscape of all the islands we visited:Santa Cruz, Isabela(the biggest), Fernandina and Santiago.My favorite was Punta Espinoza in Fernandina.It was heaven on earth. Truly magnificent.We did wet and dry landings and saw those blue footed boobies, iguanas, turtles, sealions,whales,sharks, pelicans, cormorants, penguins, finches, flamingoes, and amazing volcanoes. If at day time we saw all these plus beautiful sunrises and sunsets, at night time we were able to see the whole Milky Way plus other galaxies;literally you could see stars all the way to the horizon where the sky touches the water.Indeed it was epic and loved the fact that there was no phone connection as it made it a true vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Solymar

Galápagos

Loved this hotel, the food, the rooms, the location.And the gardens plus amazing views from my balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was near everything!

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfy.

M/C Millennium

Ecuadors, Galágados, Peru

The catamaran was very nice and clean; the cabins were comfortable and had a balcony where you could enjoy the sunrises. Wonderful terrace in the top deck and another terrace in middle deck. The crew was friendly and helpful, unfortunately the chef was not the best. The food was overcooked (chicken, beef , pork and fish) making it impossible to enjoy. The shrimp (one time only) was fine though.Had they had a better chef, I would have given this catamaran 5 stars. But food is an important part of any vacation and when in five nights only one meal was good and the rest mediocre, it takes away a lot. Specially because this was a pricey vacation for any pocket.

Authenticity & Character

It was a nice looking catamaran.

Location

I had cabin # 1 with a nice balcony; very comfortable and plenty of room.

Staff

They were friendly and helpful in every way.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patio Andaluz

Quito

My flight was super delayed so in essence couldn't enjoy as much, but this hotel was lovely and the food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

It was very colonial looking.

Location

Nice neighborhood.

Staff

Very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely rooms and comfy beds.

Activity Reviews

M/C Millennium (6D): Punta Espinoza (Fernandina) - Tagus Cove (Isabela)

Cruise Ship

This was my favorite! Truly loved Punta Espinoza! Divine!

Quality of Experience

Food

Get another chef at the Millenium.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival to Santa Cruz Island - Charles Darwin Station

Puerto Ayora

It was interesting visiting the Darwin station and strolling along in beautiful Puerto Ayora.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boarding M/C Millennium (6D) - Highlands of Santa Cruz

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Need to change chef in the Millenium.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Villamil : Tintoreras / Wetlands / Breeding Center / Wall of Tears or Sierra Negra

Cruise Ship

This was a long hike, but worth every effort. the views were fabulous and though it was pretty warm, the rain afterwards made things cooler.

Quality of Experience

Food

Sandwich was awful, but we had time to eat in Puerto Villamil and I had an exquisite lobster served with asparagus soup, rice and lentils, patacones , mixed veggies and salad plus a glass of mora juice. All that for $12.00! Amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

M/C Millennium (6D): Punta Moreno (Isabela) - Punta Mangle (Fernandina)

Cruise Ship

The bluefooted boobies were everywhere! It was divine!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

M/C Millennium (6D): Puerto Egas (Santiago) - Chinese Hat

Cruise Ship

Incredible landscape. The views were wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Change the chef.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

M/C Millennium (6D): Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz) - Baltra Airport

Cruise Ship

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco is an incredible country! We loved our driver Samir. Everything we saw was spectacular.

Brittany’s recommendations were spot on! She was such a huge help and knew Costa Rica so well that we experienced the best.

Hotel Reviews

La Fortuna Downtown Boutique Hotel

La Fortuna San Carlos

Wonderful hotel in the heart of the city. Fabulous restaurants all with in walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Fabulous view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fabulous experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & EcoTermales Hot Springs Visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fabulous hike!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

One of the most fabulous experiences I have ever done!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate & Night Hike Experience

Monteverde

Wonder hike with a fabulous guide! Experiencing the rain Forrest at night was truly magical.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Fabulous hike with an outstanding guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Kayaking

Manuel Antonio

Loved our knowledgeable guide who pointed out wonderful wildlife allow our journey!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire planning process was wonderful. Beatriz was a pleasure to work with and very responsive for developing a customized Itinerary. The serviced provided went beyond planning our trip. During the trip Bea stayed in contact with us and ensured we had support of weekends. Rita who was available on the weekend also went above and beyond to resolve an minor tour issue. This team is outstanding.

Hotel Reviews

Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid

Madrid

Incredible hospitality.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect central location for exploring Madrid

Staff

The staff were so friendly and always available to address your needs and questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vincci Albayzin Hotel

Granada

Hotel is located just out side of the City Centre which is ideal for exploring the city but not in the mix of the busy areas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They could not have been more accommodating. All staff were available to provide the support needed…

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is in need of updating

Hotel Regina

Barcelona

Great location for walking to all places of interest as well as access to the Metro…Staff were wonderful and happy to answer and and all questions… very familiar with great restaurants

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapas Culinary Experience

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train Seville to Córdoba, Guided Visit of Córdoba, Train Córdoba to Seville

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Ronda

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Show in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Barcelona & Gaudí: An Architecture Walk

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Montserrat & Penedès Region Wine Tasting

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jenny was responsive and understanding of most of what we were looking for during our time in Iceland. I was skeptical of some of the process and how the system and planning worked. Everything was so well coordinated and she was very responsive when we had one hiccup in Iceland. It was a terrific and busy trip that we won't soon forget! Thankful for KimKim and Jenny!

Activity Reviews

Crystal Blue Ice Cave

Iceland

Our tour guide Tate was amazing and made this a terrific experience we won't soon forget!

Quality of Experience

Small group, unique experience, adventurous, but safe!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tate was an expert, funny, and very personable

Transport

Myrdalsjokull glacier snowmobiling

Iceland

The only reason I give it 4 stars is because we didn't actually get to go on the snowmobiles due to a snow storm the day prior to our experience. The super jeep would not be able to pass through the snow. They had to pivot and take us on the ATVs. We were very disappointed, but had a really good time on the ATVs anyway. They did offer a full refund, scheduling a different day with snowmobiles as an alternative, but we couldn't schedule another day so we decided on the ATVs. It was still a terrific experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Quality of Experience

This trip was amazing! I had such a good time and our local specialist was so helpful and made an extra effort to make our trip special

I usually plan my trips independently but I may never do it again. The KimKim service was amazing. Our local specialist, Irene, developed a plan for us based on exactly what we wanted to do, with a lot of back and forth - we never felt like we were being plugged into pre-existing plans, and she was very responsive to any questions that we had. We might never have explored Chania in Crete without her advice, and it was lovely. The local private guides that Irene arranged were very knowledgeable and excellent, especially the chef/guide in Athens (Acropolis and food tour) and the guide in Heraklion (Knossos). Our driver in Chania gave us a very personal tour, with oranges from his orchard and lunch in his home village. Everything was prompt and efficient - from pickup at the airport to our departure.

The KimKim support team was especially helpful when we encountered a crisis - an airline traffic controllers strike. We could not get through to the carrier to reschedule our flight by phone or email. Even though we had made the reservations independently, the KimKim team was able both to reschedule our flight and arrange for an extra night at our hotel in Chania - this really made us appreciate the value of working with them. They also helped us recover a camera that was left on the bus of a small group tour in Chania.

KimKim might want to consider making sure that travelers know about hotel accessibility issues. We very much liked the hotel in Athens, but it would have been a challenge for someone with mobility problems (stairs) - we had no problems, but it would have been good to note this in case it was relevant.

I don't know how much more expensive this trip was than if we had arranged everything ourselves. However, there was a great deal of value added in what KimKim provided. We are somewhat picky travelers, but we have only good things to say about KimKim's services.

Our trip was breathtaking....We were met at the airport in the middle of the night by Ruwan who was to be our fantastic, knowledgable and generous driver and guide throughout our 16 day trip. I highly recommend to ask for him specifically. He made sure entries into all the sites went smoothly and he was a safe and careful driver on very tricky roads. We were greeted at the hotel at 3am with fresh juice and a lovely hotel team. Next morning we met Ishan who was our amazing guide as well, predominantly but not only , when we were on our bicycles which was up to 6 hours a day. He cycled us, a party of 4 - 50 something old parents and 2 strapping 20 something old sons, through the gentle quiet roads, through forests pointing out all kinds of stunning scenery, the magnificent birds that he knew by name, up and down hills and through jungles. All are requests for what we were interested in...mainly the Sri Lankan life and as little as possible touristy places, were met gracefully. Every evening we sorted out the route for the next day....exactly according to our ability, interests and his advice regarding the best path, scenery. Both Ruwan and Ishan I can recommend very highly for their unfaltering reliability, knowledge, humor, kindness and understanding....The hotels were all superb...quiet places that all provided breakfast on the go and a wonderful dinner. We particularly enjoyed the camp sites in the countryside with fabulous views and our own lake to canoe in. Yasantha was in touch with our guides throughout and had been in touch all the time as we planning...with patience and understanding helping us plan our trip and with irreplaceable advice. I recommend everything about the trip.....Even after the trip was over our wonderful guides offered unlimited support to our son who stayed in Sri Lanka another 2 weeks. We would like to thank all of the kimkim team that provided the platform for Yasantha Ishan and Ruwan and for a life long memorable holiday.

Hotel Reviews

Blue Magpie Lodge

Sinharaja

Loved it. Great large room. Beautiful surrounds. Very kind staff and great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Big Game Camp - Udawalawe

Udawalawe, Angunakolapelessa

Ecocamps are a must for any trip in Sri Lanka....they are outstanding....on everything....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lady Hill Hotel

Galle

Very interesting renovated hotel....super staff lovely swimming pool great views

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Morning Star Resort

Negombo

Loved it, great garden lovely dinner perfect swimming pool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just a short ride from the airport. Quiet steet

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Big Game Camp -Wilpattu

Wilpattu

Middle of the jungle, camping in incredible style. Fantastic dinner and night nature walk....unforgettable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amaara Forest

Sigiriya

Loved it. Lovely rooms Beautiful surroundings, cool refreshing pool. Great service. Nearby lots of historical sites at Sirygia.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thilanka Hotel

Kandy

Stunning room. Great views....lovely dinner including live music and European food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake View Comfort Bungalow

Nuwara Eliya

Unexpectedly unique place. Lovely staff cooked us a delicious meal. Great scenery all around us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kinchigune Adventure Camp

Belihuloya

Camping for real in the heart of the country surrounded by birds, monkeys. The guy who runs the place was fantastic, welcoming and knowledgable. And the lake was incredibly warm and we could swim and canoe. Breathtaking scenery and wild life....birds, buffalo, dear....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping with all its charm!

Fairview Hotel

Colombo

Very convenient and quiet in the midst of busy Colombo...Very comfortable and clean. Relaxing...perfect place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

City Tour in Colombo

Colombo

Ruwan took us on a fascinating tour of the city. Memorable, interesting and diverse. Help us with some lasting minute shopping as well making sure we got a good deal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling Trail in the backyards of Sigiriya

Sigiriya

Ishan was a wonderful cycling guide and was the best we could have imagined. He fulfilled our dream of a cycling holiday....we cycled through villages, past lakes with countless birds, though forests and jungles and even through bustling towns...always with our warfare and satisfaction foremost in his thoughts....thank you

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a fantastic trip to Patagonia and KimKim/Natalia did an excellent job in putting the itinerary together. Keeping in mind that you are visiting some of the most remote places in the world the quality of tbe experiences was very good - hotels, transfers, guides, restaurants. Best guide goes to Sonia in Ushuaia who was a fund of information and a great companion for 2 days. Best transfer goes to Patricia who brought us from El Calafate to El Chalten and back 3 days later. Best restaurant goes to Isabela’s in El Calafate where you much try one of their Plough/Disco dishes. Best hotel setting is a top gh call but was probably the Los Cauquennes in Ushuaia overlooking the Beagle Channel. Best Hotel was the Noi Hotel in Santiago - they even gave us a late checkout room gratis as we toured the city. Their rooms, breakfast and service were all excellent. Patagonia is an amazing part of the world. Comparing things to do is difficult. I will give my Top 3 to Torres del Paine Base, Mount FitzRoy/Chalten and Pietro Moreno Glacier. Every site is stunning. Some of the hikes are tough especially the last mile or two to the top - but the reward of seeing the spectacular Mountain views was always worth the effort. You don’t always need a guide especially those hikes where it is more about the experience of reaching that final destination. We found our local costs cheap especially in Argentina - you could have a very nice dinner including drinks, taxes and tip for less than $25 per person. Patagonia may be the end of the world but it is a view of what it was like when it all started. If you have the opportunity you will not be disappointed.

Patrick
Natalia we had a great once in a lifetime trip to Patagonia, overall the guides were great and everything ran on time getting us from one location to another. Thank you for a great experience.
Patrick & Joanne

Hotel Reviews

CasaSur Recoleta

Buenos Aires

Nice hotel great location,breakfast lnot so good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Attentive staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was always clean

Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa

Ushuaia

Authenticity & Character

Decor fitted in well with the surrounding area

Location

Great views and shuttle bus to Ushuaia

Staff

Attentive and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable seating in the lounge area

Destino Sur Hotel

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location near hiking trails

Staff

Attentive and courteous staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well taken care of hotel

Lagos Del Calafate

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Weird layout and noisy room

Location

Close to town center

Staff

Nice staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Hotel Las Torres Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic and rustt

Location

Great location near hiking trails

Staff

Staff in general we're okay not very responsive when we had a problem with our safe,supposed to take of it next day but it never got fixed

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hallway was stained and not cleaned

Noi Vitacura

Vitacura, Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Modern and functional

Location

Great location and safe area

Staff

Great staff and excellent breakfast

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bedroom

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

The tour was fine,got to see major areas of interest

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek & Canoeing in Lapataia Bay

Ushuaia

Great trip and our guide in Ushuaia Sonia was excellent

Quality of Experience

Great guides

Food

Great food cooked by staff on the tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again great guide just give me other alternatives when weather doesn't cooperate

Transport

Hike to Esmeralda Lagoon

Ushuaia

Sonia our guide made the trip to the Laguna,very knowledgeable about the area and the its characteristics

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide, Esteban, was incredible. From the moment he picked us up at the airport until he dropped us off 2 weeks later, we felt incredibly safe and well cared for. Esteban was very engaging with our children and had each of us excited for the adventures ahead with his delightfully enthusiastic daily greetings. His passion for his country shone through with everything we did and his knowledge of Guatemalan and Mayan history is exceptional! The entire team at Columbus made us feel more like family than clients. I would highly recommend this company.

Hotel Review

Hotel Villa Caribe

Livingston

Excellent food and entertainment! Great pool. Friendly and helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

Unique opportunity to see authentic Mayan tradition and lifestyle. Opportunities to support local families and to purchase beautiful, unique textiles.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Esteban’s respect for and understanding of Mayan culture

Transport

Iguana was our boat driver. Super happy and pleasant guy!

All of our guides were amazing but especially Danny and Louis for our Quito/Banos piece!! Absolutely amazing! Will definitely recommend all of our activities!!

This was a wonderful trip and James and his team made the planning and execution seamless. We loved the hotels they chose, especially Casa Balthazar in Lisbon - very intimate, beautiful and charming hotel with a spacious room, helpful staff and in a great neighborhood. We loved Lisbon and Porto. The walking tour in Lisbon was really fun and informative, as was the bike ride there but a little scary (for me) with so many people walking, riding scooters, some cars etc. on the bike path. It was hard to navigate. It was not a big deal but I just hadn't anticipated that from the description. But seeing all the people was also quite fun and it was a very scenic ride.
Possibly my favorite place was Coimbra, the old and very picturesque university town. I liked seeing a smaller city that was very walkable, historic and interesting. I would have liked to spend more time there and skipped Aveiro. This was not a fault of Kimkim; I could have done more research about it beforehand. Our guide for a bike ride in Porto, Jose, was very informative, patient, and took us to a fabulous restaurant where we chose our fish (in Afurada, near Gaia). We also really liked our guide for the trip to the Douro Valley, Francisco, who was fun and interesting, and the trainee Paulo who came along. The quinta we went to was beautiful. I think Kimkim did a great job of planning for us considering I had said I didn't want to stay in too many different places. I might ask next time for suggestions about something a little more off the beaten path to do, particularly if we have more time, such as meeting with a family or a cooking class. The additional suggestions that Kimkim provided for places to see and eat in each city were also great!
We found and went to the Museum of Liberation and Resistance in Lisbon, which I highly recommend. It's a smaller museum in a former prison that explains all about the dictatorship, censorship, jailing, exiles and resistance movements, so we learned a lot we didn't know before, and it is in the Alfama district in a picturesque area.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Balthazar

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Teatro

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very convenient, on a beautiful street, but less character to the area than where we stayed at Casa Balthazar.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Lisbon with a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Lisbon Riverside Bike Tour

Lisbon

A little scary due to so many people on the bike path riding scooters, walking, running, and having to navigate in traffic and around cars, but the guide was very informative and it was fun to go along the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wander the Historical Streets of Coimbra with a Private Walking Tour

Coimbra

Coimbra is interesting and fascinating. Sara knew so much history and interesting information. She also showed us the fado organization/ school where she works and explained about the type of fado music in Coimbra and how it is unique.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Travel from {{start_location}} to Aveiro & Arrive in Porto

Portugal

Our guide, Walter, was really nice and informative. However, personally I was not thrilled with Aveiro. We were allotted a lot of time there we did not need. They call it the "Venice of Portugal" but the canal ride and scenery is overhyped (in my opinion - others might love it!). There are a lot of nice cafes and interesting history of salt production in Aveiro, and some good architecture but overall I could have spent more time in Coimbra, or go to Obido instead I think. Not the fault of Kimkim, I just didn't really think about this. It sounded like there are lots of canals to wander around the city but that isn't the case. We were on a boat ride with a huge bunch of schoolchildren and couldn't really hear or undersatnd the information from the guide on the boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to the Douro Valley for a Wine Tour & River Cruise

Porto

Loved our guides, the scenery, learning about the wine and port production, the wine tastings and learning about the industry. We had an amazing lunch at a very scenic restaurant on the river. Really a great day! it is a long day trip so an alternative would be to spend aa night at a lovely inn in the Douro Valley.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take a Bike Tour of Porto & Visit the Fishing Village of Afurada

Porto

Really fun to pedal through Gaia and have great views of Porto. We had a great lunch at an outdoor restaurant in Afurada. The guide was very understanding of my fear of riding through the Porto streets at the begnning and took it slowly. He even stayed with us for a while after the tour and showed us more things in Porto, such as some of the famous and beautiful churches, but we did then want to determine ourselves what we were going to do after that. He had a really interesting background and it was great getting to know the various guides and learn more about their lives.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meree was incredibly patient and a wealth of information. We were trying to meet long-lost family AND keep up with my daughter's surprisingly fluid (their itinerary kept changing) school mission trip. Meree was able to make suggestions according to what we thought we wanted and what we ended up needing and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

Activity Review

Return to Oslo, Explore

Oslo

We returned to Oslo from Stockholm towards the evening just before shops closed and there wasn't much to do other than go to our hotel and get ready for our return flight. We booked our flight to Stockholm and back and chose a later flight on purpose so not a reflection on Meree or the Kimkim team at all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We reserved our own flights to Norway and then within Norway and to Sweden. We booked the flexible/refundable tickets which came in handy as we ended up rescheduling once. They are a bit pricey but worth it if you at all think you might need to make adjustments along the way. Also learned that the less expensive tickets increase in price substantially about 2 weeks out from the date you want to fly.

My friend and I recently returned from a 9 day trip to Morocco and we had a spectacular time! We had very limited time to plan the trip so we decided to use an online travel agent to help us. The kimkim platform is excellent - very easy to use and Hamza helped us put together a custom itinerary based on one of their recommended routes.

Having them take care of the accommodations, overall itinerary, and finding us a driver removed so much stress from the planning process. If we were to return to Morocco, we would definitely feel comfortable doing our own planning, but for the time we had available and what we needed, it was great. We were able to request days without a tour guide so we could explore on our own, and they were receptive to specific requests about types of activities we were interested in. The one thing I'll say is that because kimkim is working with a local tour company, certain days didn't follow the original itinerary exactly. We were pretty easy-going about where we went but if you prefer to know exactly what's happening and when, make sure to communicate this and do a final itinerary overview before your trip.

One of the best parts of our trip was our driver, Said, who ended up feeling more like a friend. He did an amazing job, was fun to hang out with, and was proactive in giving us advice on feeling safe as two women travelers. I'd recommend him to anyone interested in visiting Morocco and we'll certainly be calling him if we return. Other highlights: the night in Merzouga and 4x4-ing through the desert, the gorgeous scenery between Merzouga and Ouarzazate, the Berber Museum, and just about everything in Marrakech. Make a few restaurant reservations in advance to take advantage of Marrakech's amazing food scene and if you have any interest in contemporary art, be sure to spend a day exploring the galleries and museum in Gueliz.

It was so easy and lovely working with Rachel especially when we had a missed connection late at night and having to rearrange travel plans. Our favorite day in Rio was because of Vincent the tour guide operator where we walked around together in Santa Teresa & Faevla. The hotels Rachel picked for us in Rio & Amazon were also amazing (and Santa Teresa Gallery hotel had such good food at their restaurant). I would definitely come back and use Rachel again and recommend to friends.

I had a wonderful trip to Colombia, and I am so happy that I worked with KimKim to plan this experience. I had three wonderful city guides in Bogota, Santa Marta, and Medellin. I also had a number of hiking guides for various outdoor excursions in Bogota and on the trek to Ciudad Perdida. Each guide was extremely well-informed and did a great job sharing the history and culture of the place along with time for me to just enjoy and take it all in. The trip was a great balance between activities and free time: I was so happy to have a series of scheduled activities, but I was also glad to have plenty of time to myself to make my own plans or to explore the cities I was in. I wholeheartedly recommend booking through KimKim and working with Wendy and her team in Colombia!

My husband and I just returned from a two week tour of northern Argentina. Our private tour was arranged by Ana and she put together a perfect trip. We spent time in Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Salta. We loved all of these areas. She arranged our domestic flights and I received our boarding passes very timely (I'm a little fanatical about details). Our guides in each area were very friendly and took such care to make sure we did and saw the things we wanted and at our pace. This was important as we are not spring chickens. Flo was our guide in Buenos Aires for our city tour. She was knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Our guide in Iguazu Falls was Matias who is a fantastic guy. We spent two great days with him and they are two days we will never forget. When he picked us up at the airport, he immediately asked if we had our proof of covid vaccination as this is required to enter Brazil to see the Falls from that side. I didn't have mine but was able to immediately reach our son who messaged it to me. I highly recommend seeing the Falls from both sides as the views are so very different. I appreciate Ana including this as I hadn't looked into it and we loved the experience. Matias also suggested a local place to have lunch in Puerto Iguazu that was one of the best meals we had the whole trip. Our guide in the Salta Area was Jorge, We spent three day with Jorge and had a blast. There is so much to see in this area that appears to be off the beaten path. Everything from rainforest to desert. We visited small villages, traveled through mountains with views that take your breath away. Jorge was our driver as well as our guide and did a great job of both. I tend to be a bit of a nervous passenger as I usually am the driver as I love to drive as did Jorge. I was totally relaxed with him as the driver on the harrowing roads used in this area. Our activities in Buenos Aires included a city tour, an asado dinner, a dinner with a tango show and a day at a gaucho ranch where we rode horses. All these were great additions to our trip. The hotels chosen for us by Ana were perfect. You can book your custom tour with Ana and KimKim with full confidence of having a wonderful vacation.

Hotel Reviews

CasaSur Palermo Hotel

Buenos Aires

This hotel is in trendy Palermo with tons of restaurants. We felt totally safe walking throughout the area. The staff are friendly and the rooms are extremely clean.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean, good breakfast and very helpful staff.

Location

Great neighborhood.

Staff

Helped us in many ways.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed, very clean and fast elevators.

Loi Suites Iguazú Hotel

Puerto Iguazú

Great resort type hotel. Beautiful views. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is that the buildings are connected by suspended walkways. I have never been a graceful person and had some trouble keeping my balance on the walkways if anyone else was on them at the same time.

Authenticity & Character

Top rating for a beautiful hotel.

Location

Beautiful location but secluded so it doesn't leave you many options for eating unless you take a taxi into town.

Staff

The wait staff in the restaurant weren't very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Legado Mitico Salta Hotel Boutique

Salta

I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this hotel. It is unique, beautiful and has a great location. The breakfast has a lot of options including eggs cooked to your liking. The staff are really friendly and helpful. The rooms are beautiful, comfortable and extremely clean.

Authenticity & Character

This is an old building that has been renovated into a beautiful hotel. You are greeted with your own wine, cheese, and olives reception. Has a library and outdoor area to relax and enjoy some downtime. Our room had it's own secluded patio.

Location

Great location. .

Staff

All the staff were great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and roomy.

Activity Reviews

Asado Dinner at El Fogón

Buenos Aires

This is a really unique experience. What was suppose to be a seven course dinner ended up an eight course dinner. It is just fun. The staff interact with the customers all during the meal. The food is cooked to perfection.

Quality of Experience

We felt very welcomed and were treated so well. The food is excellent!

Food

All of the courses were great. Just remember to take it slow as the best is last.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was very friendly and fun.

Transport

We arranged our own transportation to the dinner and used Uber.

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

Beautiful part of Buenos Aires.

Quality of Experience

Very colorful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Flo was informative and fun. Our driver did a great job driving in very heavy traffic.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle and good driver.

Gala Tango Dinner & Show

Buenos Aires

The food was good but for us the dancing went on too long. Ignore the previous if you are a late night person.

Quality of Experience

Food

Good but not memorable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was professional but not as friendly as other places we ate.

Transport

Used Uber.

Day trip to San Isidrio & Tigre with Lunch at Vivanco Restaurant

Buenos Aires

For my husband and me, this was a really good experience. The boat ride was very interesting and enjoyable. Seeing life along the river was fun and enlightening. Seeing the El Tigre area was a nice addition to our experience.

Quality of Experience

Our guide did a great job of making sure all of his group kept informed although we did spread out on the boat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was a very fun person, the driver was good.

Transport

Really enjoyed the boat ride.

Estancia Gaucho Day

Buenos Aires

The guide had so much information she shared with us on our way to the Gaucho ranch. Enjoyed the horse ride. The food here was excellent. We didn't participate, but really enjoyed watching others learn the dance.

Quality of Experience

Was a fun day.

Food

Really good food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very informative and the staff did a terrific job.

Transport

Comfortable van and a nice drive.

Brazil Falls & Birds Park

Argentina

Iguazu Falls are spectacular from the Brazil side. You get the full panoramic view. The bird park provides a lot of information regarding the native species and was definitely worth the time spent there.

Quality of Experience

Just a totally awesome view of Iguazu Falls.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and driver were both extremely friendly and professional.

Transport

Very comfortable vehicle.

Visiting the Argentine Waterfalls of Iguazu

Argentina

What a fun day we had with our guide. The Falls are so close. We took the train first thing in the morning and avoided the crowd for this first viewing of the Falls from the Argentina side. Then took the two upper paths. These are long walks but very much worth the effort. It was a hot day so really enjoyed the mists. Lots of nature to enjoy on the path walks. My husband and guide then took the third (lower) path and there they saw the monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Great day of walking and seeing the falls.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide and driver could not have been better.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle.

Tour of the City - Discovering Salta's Hidden Treasures

Salta

Was a fun way to get to know the city of Salta.

Quality of Experience

Saw local crafts, museum and wine tasting.

Food

Had some really good coffee, lunches and dinners.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jorge was both our driver and our guide. Great at both.

Transport

Enjoyed riding in the pickup truck through the mountains.

Scenic Drive to Cafayate

Salta

Beautiful drive through the mountains. The echo chamber was fun. My husband enjoyed the wine tasting and the wine museum was interesting.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Quebrada de Humahuaca

Salta

Another great day of driving through the mountains with beautiful views. The small villages are definitely where you want to purchase locally made items. They are displayed on tables around the village square. The hills of seven colors is gorgeous.

Purmamarca & Salinas Grandes

Argentina

We did not get to see this.