Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had the best trip ever! Everyone was so nice. The attention to detail was amazing. I highly recommend Team KimKim. Their communication and accessibility was on point. We could have never organized the adventure that we had, without them. They were so organized with every excursion, driver, event, and anything else that you wanted to do. Truly an amazing experience.

Hotel Reviews

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, San Jose Aeropuerto

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leyenda Boutique Hotel and Spa

Hojancha Guanacaste

This place was amazing! Diego was the best. We went deep see fishing and brought back Mahi Mahi filets and the prepared us cerviche for appetizer, phenomenal garlic butter filets for my wife and I, and fried fish fingers for my kids. It was phenomenal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

This place is the best!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Night Walk

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges & Zip Lining

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Rafting Trip on the Río Pacuare

Arenal/La Fortuna

Phenomenal trip. Perfect rapids and a ton of fun for the whole family

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fishing at Samara

Sámara

Great time. Reeled in some monsters!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with Said and planning our trip was smooth and easy. He was responsive and was very accommodating when we had a sudden change of plans. Our driver, Soukaina, was punctual and greeted us each day with a hug and a smile. I would definitely request her! The trip was a good balance of tours and free time and we didn't feel rushed despite seeing many cities and stops.

My family of four (my husband, myself, and two sons ages 8 and 6) just returned from an incredible 10-day tour of Morocco with Kim Kim and Original Travels. Our itinerary was Casablanca > Chefchaoen > Fes > Merzouga > Ait Benhaddou > Marrakesh > Essaouira. Kim Kim did an excellent job of helping me start the process of planning the trip. Original Travel, and my contact Said, were meticulous, helpful, and responsive in suggesting an itinerary, answering my questions and concerns, and above all planning an amazing trip. They provided extraordinary service and attended to all our needs. When I had a credit card mishap and delay, they extended the payment deadline to accommodate my needs. Said, my contact, even went out of his way to meet with us at our Marrakesh hotel with one of the owners to offer us a personal welcome and ask for our input on how things were going. He was eager to hear any of our suggestions for improvement, of which we had very few! The itinerary was amazing, featuring some of the places that I had requested and others I wouldn’t have known to request but would have regretted missing.

The hotels were well chosen, curated to give us a sense of the best of the country and its hospitality. A couple of the hotels were some of the most exquisite buildings I had ever stayed in after four decades of travel over six continents. The tours were comprehensive and engaging. The pinnacle experience of many was the overnight stay in the Sahara desert. Riding camels for 2-hours into the dunes over sunset to stay in a luxury camp with full bathrooms in fancy tents, eating delicious fresh grilled food and then gathering around the fire for live music played by our hosts is a memory I will not soon forget.

Besides the incredible scenery and the introduction to a vibrant and beautiful culture, the standout of our experience was our driver Abdelhadi. He was kind, caring, professional, prompt, personable, and helpful. He provided outstanding service as a driver-guide, sometimes taking the lead in interpreting the towns and sites we visited, and sometimes taking backseat to another local guide. In all cases, he made us feel utterly taken care of. He was always ready when we needed him, checking in every morning and evening via What’sApp to see if there was anything we needed and to coordinate our plans for our next meeting. He was our boon companion for 10 full days, sticking around when needed and giving us space whenever appropriate. He also had a preternatural ability to anticipate all of our needs and provide for them before we realized that we had them. He was gifted in relating to people, making people feel comfortable, and most of all in engaging with our children. He bought them treats and toys and was always making sure to converse with them. By the end my kids were hugging him every morning. My kids insisted on staying in touch with Abdelhadi! My 8-year-old son made sure I included the following quote about Abdelhadi in this review: “He is amazing and we will miss him.” It takes an incredible range of skills to be a driver for a foreign family for 10 full days and be just the right balance of present and respectful of our needs.

I highly recommend Original Travel and their Morocco tour. My only complaint with our experience comes down to my own ambition: I wanted to see everything in the ten days we had. I ended up asking to do too much in too little time! For anyone reading this, we could have done the same itinerary in twice the time, giving us more time to soak in the experiences and be sure to have enough down time so that we could enjoy one incredible cultural destination after another.

It was a nice trip overall. The tours were great and we enjoyed learning about the history of Portugal. The food tour with Ilana was awesome, especially as it catered to my friends taste being vegetarian.
The day trip to Sintra was also good. In hindsight I would probably just do only Sintra and spend the day there.

Karenina was great - she answered all my questions prior to the trip. She also re-arranged things for us when things didnt go according to plan which was really nice of her.

Hotel Review

Hotel Dom Carlos Park

Lisbon

The service at the hotel was not good at all. My friend encountered a lovely receptionist on the first day. But the person we spoke to on the fourth night was very unhelpful and couldn't be bothered to help with us having a breakfast bag the next day as we were leaving early. We did have the breakfast bag only because the nice receptionist on the first day had made a note. But it did sour our experience of the trip just because of one person. Would definitely not be recommending this hotel to anyone or to have it as your place of stay in Lisbon.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

Good choice of food, especially catering to vegetarians.

This was our second time booking through KimKim and it was easy and convenient. Saïd at Original Travels was responsive and accommodating throughout the booking and planning process and continued to check in with us throughout our trip. We really appreciated Saïd’s patience in designing our itinerary options, and flexibility when we requested alternative accommodations after reading reviews online from other sources. In the end, every place we stayed was superb. Our driver Soufiane simply made the trip for us. Soufiane was with us from airport pickup in Fes to airport drop off in Marrakech. Throughout that whole time he made us feel safe and well taken care of. He’s an excellent driver and his English is very good. We had several long drives. I would not have wanted to do any of the driving myself. There are frequent police checkpoints on the highways and some of the highways in the mountains are not in the best condition. In the cities, driving habits of other drivers, motorcyclists and bikes require you to be an experienced driver of Moroccan streets. Finally, Soufiane really embodied the best aspects of Moroccan hospitality and warmth. By the end of the trip we really felt like family. We did a 7-day itinerary. It was enough time, but it required several long drives. Ideally 10 or more days would have allowed more time in each place without back to back driving days but we didn’t have the extra days. In Fes, we stayed at Riad Laaroussa. Beautiful, serene and intimate Riad in the Medina. We did the haram and massage at their spa which we really enjoyed. Very reasonably priced for a private spa. The Desert Luxury Camp in the Sahara was great and unique. We stayed in a geodesic dome tent with a glass wall that allowed us to go to bed to a view of the starry night sky and wake up before dawn to ride camels to a peak in the sand dunes to watch the sun rise. The Ksar Inghnda in Ait Benhadoo was beautiful and our suite had a private patio. The food at the Ksar was not great but we didn’t mind. All of our other food experiences were memorable. In Marrakech, we splurged on La Mamounia. It really is luxurious, a large hotel, and the most western of the places we stayed, but it was a bit over the top and everything there costs extra and is expensive. Be warned. We are glad to have done it as it is a thing, but there are many other great options in Marrakech that may be preferred by others. Overall, we highly recommend going to Morocco. If you use KimKim and Original Travels, you can expect a seamless and effortless travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Laaroussa

Fez medina

Riad Laaroussa is a beautiful oasis in the Fes Medina. We had a hammam and massage at its private spa. It was a great way to have the Moroccan hammam experience. We did it as a couple together. We also ate dinner and breakfast at the Riad. Food was very good and in a lively rooftop restaurant. The staff was very friendly and always looking for ways to make our stay enjoyable. They had double booked our room by mistake and upgraded us to their best suite at no extra charge. The room was clean and the bed comfortable. They also packed a breakfast for us on our last day because we were departing very early.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

I commented on this camp in my main review. I’ll only add that the staff was very pleasant and the amenities really very nice for being in the desert. It was very peaceful and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

The only reason for the 4-star rating is that the food was not great, but it was just fine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Mamounia

Marrakech

It lives up to the hype, but it comes at a price.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Unfortunately, to experience the sands of the Saharan Desert, you have a long drive to get there. Our driver Soufiane made that a most enjoyable drive with stops along the way for quick sightseeing or views at which we stretched our legs. Soufiane never seemed to tire of the driving. The vehicle was also very comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Soufiane took us to his favorite date vendor in a small town who gave us free samples of the most delicious dates.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Again Soufiane made this drive easy and enjoyable. We stopped for lunch at a place that served the most delicious oranges for desert. Morocco has great produce and the oranges are plentiful and sweet.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

This was our shortest drive and had stunning views as we wound through the mountains. The train changes dramatically as you cross Morocco, something you would miss if you just flew from one city to the next. Soufiane offered us some excursions but we were eager to get to Marrakech.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The week-long journey into Lantang was one of our most memorable experiences. We are so glad to have worked with Kripa baini even before our journey began. She is an amazing planner, super responsive, and highly professional at what she does. Naresh dai, our guide, instilled in us, a sense of belonging in the mountains and a taste for mountaineering. And Dhiraj bhai, our porter, kept us entertained throughout the trek so much that 5-6 hours of walking went by like nothing. This is an incredible team to partner with. See you all again soon!

We had an absolutely amazing trip. Right from the start Abdellah and Said from Original Travel were great, responsive and professional. Trip was very nicely planned according to our requests and budget.
Choice of hotels was excellent. Very intimate , comfortable and cosy. Our driver guide Karim was really awesome. He was truly perfect. Kind, gentle , smiling, punctual, knowledgeable, caring. He has superb communication skills and spoke proficient English. At Tiziri desert camp Yousef and Mustafa were out standing doing everything and anything to make our stay enjoyable. The driver who took us to Essaouira and bavk to Marakesh Faisal was also great.
All on all it was a great experience !!!

Hotel Reviews

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

Nice and intimate. Staff was very curious. Food was great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance from many attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Unique, adventurous still very comfortable experience

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

These guys were went over and above to make it fun , interesting and comfortable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

Magical and mystical place

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Chbanate

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Samira was gray host. Always ready to help and smiling. Her communication skills and English was excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Marrakech to Boumalne Dades

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Dades to Merzouga via Todra Gorges & Erfoud

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Marrakech to Enchanting Essaouira

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I just got back from an amazing 9-day trip across Morocco with KimKim and Original Travels.

From the planning of the trip with Mohammed to the hotel booking with Said everything for simple and seamless. The riads we stayed at were extremely beautiful and we met friendly people along the way. Mohammed and Said were both very responsive and helpful whenever we had any questions or concerns.

We were welcomed at the Casablanca airport by Aziz our driver who set the tone for our entire trip. Aziz was always on time, took good care of us ensured we had water and snacks and stopped at the best spots for pics. He shared a lot of information about the countryside, vegetation and culture and also played some great Moroccan and Indian music on the long drives.
Our trip started at Chefchauoen and ended at Casablanca with knowledgeable guides at every place - huge shout out to Mohammed, Adil, Said at the Orient Desert Camp and Hanan in Marakkesh. The highlight of our trip was the Sahara desert - from the camel ride, to the extremely comfortable camp with hot water, the berber music and the most beautiful sunrise.

Highly recommend going with Kim Kim for your next trip!

Overall, my husband and I had a great time on this trip we planned through KimKim. It was nice to have all the hotels, domestic air tickets and excursions handled by someone else as we typically do it all ourselves. All the guides were well-educated and friendly, arriving on time and were versed in the activity we were doing. We used "WhatsApp" to communicate directly with our guides which was very helpful. The hotels we stayed at were lovely and we will definitely go back again.

The down side to this experience was that there was a lot of changes once got to Panama which made things a bit confusing. Times changed significantly for many of our tours (though we actually liked the changes), but it was an effort to communicate to make sure everyone was on the same page. We also did not get the bed type we requested at our first hotel and were a bit cramped in a queen vs. a king or two doubles.

This is the second time I have used KimKim to assist with a trip. My first experience was to Columbia and our specialist resided in that country. This experience was very smooth and the communication among all parties was excellent. The specialist we worked with for Panama was located in Nicargua and was more complicated. Given this limited experience, my recommendation is to check out the bio of the specialist to whom you are assigned before you begin planning your trip. Make sure they reside in the country you are visiting, and if they don't, check out their reviews for planning trips there.

We were very pleased with the trip planning and support Pedro provided us prior and during our recent trip to Portugal. We had an excellent experience in Portugal and found most of the itinerary interesting and fun. Most importantly our guides and drivers were all 5 stars++. Communication among all was excellent.

We stayed in Lisbon at the Tivoli a truly first-class hotel with a beautiful lobby and attentive well-trained staff. Our guide in Lisbon was Ricardo who showed us the beautiful city and took us to a number of spots for a better understanding of the city and what it has to offer. He made some very good recommendations as to other places to visit and shop.

Our only disappointment in Lisbon was the Fado performance. The food and wine were terrible and the performance okay. If this is something of interest to you, we suggest finding a restaurant with a good meal, and going to a Fado performance afterwards. There seemed to be a number of places offering this type of music.

Our trips to Sintra and back/forth to Porto were excellently guided by our driver Eduardo. We cannot say enough good things about him. He was knowledgeable, offered excellent suggestions as to things to see and do, and even made lunch reservations for us at places we had our best meals at.

In Porto we had a super guide in Tereza who showed us the city and provided the Gastronomic Tour. We enjoyed some decent food and a very good wine and port tasting. She also made suggestions as to other sites and shopping. With a tour, lunch and wine tasting, we skipped the Port tasting, and chose to explore the city. Our disappointment in Porto was the hotel Pestana Porto. It is understaffed, and a somewhat tired hotel. The location while having beautiful river views, is in a very touristy area with many bars and restaurants that produce noise well into the night.

Our tour of the Douro Valley was excellent. Our driver Luis has and encyclopedic knowledge of the area, and wineries. Our lunch, winery tour and tasting at Pacheca was very good and we had a wonderful day.

Lastly, in Cascasi, we stayed at Pestana Cascais which was a unique experience. The hotel is well run and was very enjoyable. Cascasi was a fun last stop at a beach resort prior to heading home.

We were very pleased with KimKim and Adventure Portugal and would highly recommend Pedro and team.

Hotel Reviews

Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa—A Leading Hotel of the World

Lisbon

Excellent in every way. The hotel is well staffed and they are well trained. The food was good to great and our entire experience there was 5 stars.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Like staying on the 5th Avenue of Lisbon.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Vintage Porto

Porto

Disappointing. Our room was tired, and the hotel is understaffed, and need training. While the location has beautiful views it is nearby restaurants and bars and very loud. Lastly, getting in and out of the hotel is a challenge given cars cannot pull up to the hotel but must park a block away.

Authenticity & Character

Odd decor for a hotel in the Historic District

Location

Staff

They tried, and high marks to Bruno who was juggling the front desk and playing bellman.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

We were able to stay in the historic castle part of the hotel. This was a unique experience. The staff is plentiful and well trained. Food was good and the location is beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Nice use of the historic buildings.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Ricardo was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Terrible food and wine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

An amazing place well worth the visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eduardo is a great drive and guide.

Transport

Exploring Porto's Rich History on an Exclusive Gastronomic Tour Through Time

Porto

Tereza was fantastic and we greatly enjoyed her company and knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

An excellent day. Luis was a super guide/driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

We had a beautiful spring day and we had a smaller private boat. Our driver was friendly and knowledgeable. It is an hour ride which was just perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Portugal

One of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to the UK was seamless from beginning to end! Drivers were on time and transportation to/from airports, trains and hotels was super easy. The hotels were all amazing. The Bloomsbury in London was perfect. The hotel staff knew us by name. The hotel bars were lovely and just what we needed after full days of sightseeing. Stephen also arranged breakfasts to be included with our stays which proved to be very helpful in starting our days. Day one we saw the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. We ate at Skye Garden for lunch which has breathtaking views of London. From there we walked across the London Bridge to Borough Market for dessert. Day two we saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and toured Westminister Abbey. We had high tea at The Savoy which is a must-do! Later that evening we went to a club called Ballie Ballerson which was so much fun, perfect for those with children over the age of 18. Day three we went to Covet Gardens and shopped and also hit Harrod’s, which is a site to see! Mr. Foggs in Covet Gardens is a darling pub with the best fish and chips I’ve ever had! Day four we had a private driver take us from London to Oxford for a day trip. Definitely a highlight of the trip. The University is so beautiful and incredibly interesting with lots of history and stories based on it. Our tour guide was full of great stories. Definitely stop at The Turf Tavern for lunch! Day four was a much needed day of rest in the Cotswolds. The Wild Rabbit Inn in the Cotswolds stole my heart! Everywhere you looked was Instagram worthy! We stayed in a two bedroom cottage that was the coziest place we’ve ever rented. The inn and pub were steps from our front door and the pub served great traditional English food and drinks. We spent hours in the pub sitting by the fire playing card games. Daylesford Farms is a must see and perfection everywhere you look. We did the walk from the inn to the farm which was really pretty although very muddy. Day six we had a private driver take us on a tour of the villages in the Cotswolds. Each village is equally beautiful and quaint, but there is not a lot to get out and do. Many of the shops have closed. This was our least favorite day. Then we took the sleeper train to Edinburgh which was a really fun experience! It was a lot nicer than I thought it would be and I actually slept very well. My husband, who is 6’3” would probably not agree with me. In Edinburgh, day 7, we stayed at the Balmoral, another exquisite hotel. Edinburgh is walkable and you can see a lot in just one afternoon. Probably my least favorite city, but it was my 18 year old son’s favorite. He loved hearing the history and the old buildings and we toured the underground tunnels and graveyards complete with ghost stories to go along. Day 8 another private driver to the fishing villages of Fife and St. Andrews. This was a perfect day trip and end to our holiday. The villages are quaint and a lovely drive and St. Andrews was very cool to see both the University and the golf course. Don’t for get to stop for a pint at the Jigger Inn!

Hotel Reviews

The Bloomsbury

London

Loved this hotel! Loved the smallish size and personal attention received. The hotel staff knew us by name. The Coral Room bar was the perfect place to relax after a full day of touring. The downstairs bar with live music was also pretty great. Beds were very comfortable. And the bathroom! The bathroom was amazing from top to bottom! Even came with a Dyson hairdryer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wild Rabbit Inn

Kingham

My favorite! The comfiest coziest cottage ever! Perfection everywhere you looked. Perfect place to build a fire, sip some tea and read a book. The inn was darling and a great place to settle into for hours playing games and sipping pints!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved the tiny village of Kingham. Perfect for a couple nights to unwind.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The comfiest coziest cottage ever!

Caledonian Sleeper

London

A fun experience.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Balmoral Hotel

Edinburgh

Beautiful room and bathroom. Great service for such a large hotel. The staff was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private transfer to your accommodation. Then check-in or bag-drop

London

Loved the black cab experience! Very knowledgeable driver.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver/guide

Oxford

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day in the Cotswolds with small group and driver/guide

England

The driver was great. The villages are all beautiful. Just not a lot to get out and do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight Caledonian Sleeper Train between Scotland & London

London

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fishing Villages of Fife & St Andrews from Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful trip Spain and Portugal! All aspects were extremely well organized, planned and executed. All guides, drivers, hotels and all aspects of travel were excellent. Not one detail was lacking. I am usually extremely picky about hotels and look for great deals. They did both! I don’t think I have ever stayed in such unique and accommodating hotels that were of such good class. They talk with you on the phone to make sure that your personal interests ans well ans unique needs are included in your tour. Just wonderful.

Nicaragua is still relatively unspoiled and has great natural beauty. We were impressed by the accommodations, food and knowledge of our guides. We felt safe everywhere we went and didn’t get sick at all.
Reyna did a great job capturing who we were and the kind of experiences we were looking for - we felt like we had great exposure to authentic Nicaraguan customs and life. We learned a lot about the importance of coffee, chocolate, cigars and farming in general to the economy.
We plan to return in 2 or 3 years!!!

This trip was arranged by Ibrahim & Amr perfectly! We were a group of 15, all the sites, transport, guides were absolutely amazing. We selected the 'luxury' trip and it was exactly that, the hotels were out of this world, nothing less than 6 star. The dahabiya was beautiful and so relaxing. Mostafa, our Egypt guide was the best guide ever - he was so engaging, smart, knowledgeable about everything we saw - he made everything so relatable and so interesting. he has a wonderful sense of humour and got on so well with each of us. Akram, our guide in Jordan, was so kind and calm and knowledgeable and ensured we all enjoyed all our site visits in Jordan. This trip was a once in a lifetime trip and everyone loved it and will remember it forever. The contact from Ibrahim and his team was constant even once the trip started. He even organized a surprise birthday cake for me in Jordan . Perfect trip. Could not recommend highly enough using Kim Kim to organise

We had a very nice trip in Torres Del Paine National Park and really appreciated all the arrangements and help provided by Jesse. We'll definitely recommend KimKim service to our friends in the future.

Hotel Review

Hosteria Pehoe

Authenticity & Character

Location

Natural beauty

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The mainland portion of our Ecuador adventure and our guide, Christian, were wonderful and exceeded our expectations. This includes the visit to Asuni National Park and Napo Cultural Center with our guide for that area, Jose.
Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for kimkim's travel vendor in the Galapagos. Who that vendor actually is, we were unable to determine. We had carefully and intentionally scheduled a down day for our first full day on Isla Santa Cruz so that we would have a chance to rest and recover from our busy and arduous many days on the mainland, plus another rest day for after the island trip. This did not happen. We were informed on arrival to arise the next morning for a 6am departure to Isla Bartolome. The guide who met us at the airport was unsympathetic. The trip itself was great, but we were not prepared (no previous contact about a change to our itinerary, let alone agreement on our part) for a full day trip on our first day there, and suffered accordingly. Not only was the schedule changed without our knowledge or agreement, but they couldn't even get the departure time correct. We were told to be outside our hotel at 6am and we were. Our pickup was late and had to speed to catch up to the bus halfway back to Baltra. Unbeknownst to us, the bus had actually left at 5:30am from a pickup point we didn't even know about. After a full day of sun and fun, instead of taking us to our hotel, the bus took us to the pickup/drop of point we had not even been to and we had no idea how to find our hotel. Fortunately, our guide for the Bartolome tour, Elizabeth, did not abandon us. Although she didn't know our hotel, the bus driver did and amid much confusion agreed to drop us there. Thank you Elizabeth!

We paid big bucks for our private tour and an itinerary that met our needs. But instead of our carefully planned rest days before and after the Bartolome trip, we had first the taxing trip then two unnecessary rest days after. Simply unacceptable and prevents a five star review and recommendation for kimkim. We are flexible, but not that flexible. Otherwise we had a great trip, but are not likely to use kimkim again as a result.

Hotel Reviews

Napo Cultural Center

Quito

Wonderful people and experience! Bring an appetite - they give you enough food for an army!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Jungle canopy tower, parrots and parakeets at clay lick, blackwater canoe trip.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de Vista Alta

Mindo

A beautiful area and bed and breakfast. Very nice and accommodating hostess.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Las Plazas

Quito

Beautiful old (but renovated) hotel with very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

All the highly polished wood and the unique dining area.

Location

In Old Town. Area seemed safe enough to us.

Staff

No elevator but desk clerk took care of our heavy bags.

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Floresta

Baños

Modern and convenient.

Hotel Spa Casa Real

Riobamba

Adequate and spacious, but funky electrical outlet locations. Adequate but unremarkable restaurant with less than stellar menu. Surrounding area appeared possibly unsafe/unwalkable for a alternative restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Carvallo

Cuenca

Wonderful old but fully renovated hotel with very helpful and courteous staff. Conveniently located in Old Town Cuenca.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada del Mar

Santa Cruz

This is not a luxury hotel but was comfortable and more than adequate for our needs. Very kind and helpful owner and his staff. Conveniently located to the pier area and central restaurants/activities in Puerto Ayora. The deli downstairs is one of the best places to eat that we found in Puerto Ayora.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditioning was great and essential for the hot and humid climate. A spacious balcony overlooking the port.

EB Hotel by Eurobuilding Quito

Quito

This was by far the most luxurious hotel we stayed in during our Ecuador trip. Unnecessarily luxurious and over the top. The automated room lighting system was a constant pain with lights coming on and off unnecessarily. Hard to imagine how much the designers/architects must have been paid to design this inconvenient system.

Authenticity & Character

This building belongs in Europe. not Ecuador

Location

convenient to the airport

Staff

Very helpful and stored our luggage for us on the day after we checked out.

Cleanliness & Comfort

With three shower head to choose from, we think we got pretty clean!

Activity Reviews

Indigenous Encounter and Hike to Mama Cuna Path

Yasuni National Park

Don't know what Mama Cuna Path is, but we had a great time in the Amazon, and all the staff and people we encountered were friendly, helpful and professional. We were well cared for.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Cuenca and surroundings, Gualaceo, Chordeleg

Cuenca

See previous. The old weaving factory was a high light as was the amazing "Panama" hat factory where we acquired our beautiful hats.

Colonial Quito City Tour & the Middle of the World

Quito

Our Quito tour was good but a few too many churches, though they are all beautiful in their own ways. Mitad del Mundo is the worst tourist trap we visited in Ecuador.

Quality of Experience

Food

Ecuadoreans have some strange ideas on "dressing up" a hamburger.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Adventure to Teleferico Cablecar

Quito

We skipped this so can't really rate it but are forced to give one.

Sacred Wayusa Ritual, Goodbye and return to the City (Yaku Kausay Experience)

Yasuni National Park

We were given the opportunity to skip this early early morning activity, and the staff seemed as relieved as we were. We enjoyed the cultural activities we experienced in the village on the previous afternoon.

Relaxing Free Afternoon in Mindo

Mindo

We didn't have the free afternoon because our faithful guide, Christian, took us to a hummingbird sanctuary where we fed these beautiful creatures from a bottle cap placed in the palm of our hands. Having wild hummingbirds perched in our hands was a big highlight of our trip. Christian also took us to an amazing butterfly research and propagation station where we observed all life phases of many beautiful and fascinating butterflies.

Expedition to Mindo Cloud Forest

Quito

See previous

From Cotopaxi Hacienda to Hiking in Cotopaxi National Park, then onto Baños

Ecuador

Saw some interesting birdlife, but owing to the rainy season, we couldn't see Cotopaxi. Nobody's fault, just the season.

Reconnecting with Nature at Baños de Agua Santa

Baños

The waterfalls, especially the Devil's Cauldron, were truly awesome. We were looking forward to a soak in a hot pool, but this turned out to be unavailable and uninviting.

Journey to the Peak From the Center of the Earth: Chimborazo!

Ecuador

A snow and ice storm on top of the world! Again, because we were here in the rainy season, we didn't see much of the mountain, but we saw many wild vicunas including a heard running through the snowy countryside. Our local park guide, Alfredo, was a great and humble guy and local farmer who we much enjoyed meeting. The surrounding agricultural areas outside the park were a green checkerboard of fields extending to unbelievable heights up the mountain slopes. Much interesting local color and indigenous people in these areas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Ancient Ingapirca Ruins: A Journey through History and Culture

Cuenca

Very interesting and well maintained historical area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Cuenca's Charms: A Journey Through History and Culture

Cuenca

A beautiful, modern yet historic and cultural city and surrounding area. We can see why it's so attractive to expats. The artistry and craftmanship exhibited in nearby villages is outstanding.

From the Highlands to the Coast: Cajas National Park to Guayaquil

Ecuador

Beautiful mountain and lake vistas. Many landslides on the highway due to the recent rains, but we made through thanks to Christians excellent driving. The clouds parted at just the right time for us to have beautiful vistas above Guayaquil.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

The tortoises at the farm were truly amazing and a big reason for our visit to Galapagos. We would have preferred to have gone straight to our hotel for check in and refresh ourselves and gone to the farm later.

Quality of Experience

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

The actual trip to Isla Bartolome was fantastic and we were able to see Galapagos penguins! Screwing up our agreed upon itinerary was not appreciated.

Indigenous Market Adventure and Cuicocha Lake Exploration

Otavalo

An interesting/scenic drive to Otovalo and a great unexpected side trip to a local park and waterfall. The market itself was repetitious and of varying quality, but useful if you want to buy items to take home. I wouldn't drive all the way there just for the market, but there is much else to see.

It was such a pleasure to work with Christina to plan a winter wonderland trip to Norway. We had one rainy day and one gloriously sunny day in Oslo, but loved walking all over the city. Our trip then took us to Sommarøy - I had never heard of it, but Christina put it on our itinerary and it was awesome. Our room had a balcony with an amazing view and we could see the Northern Lights from there. We also went to a Northern Lights Park where we watched the Northern Lights for hours - a true once in a lifetime experience. We then continued on to Svolvær (after a lovely day in Tromsø) where the snow interrupted our plans, but we still had a good time walking around in the snow and enjoying the beauty there. Thank you for the trip!

It was a wonderful trip. Kim kim travel agent with Wanderlust was good choice to travel Morroccan style. Loved staying in Riyad and the Palace Hotel. Would Highly Recommend.

Kimkim did a great job of helping us put together a trip in a rather short window. Highlights included Hotel B on Cozumel, but do not get the Jungle Room - it is well worth the upgrade to get ocean side; then to Nojoch Keej where Manuel showed us around (we enjoyed him very much); then Ek Balam and Valladolid, and a few days to chill on Holbox. Chichen Itza is a must-see, but Ek Balam is more fun and we were able to see both in one day, along with a cenote' and get a little more time at Holbox for relaxing at the end of the trip. Vallodolid is well worth a stop and fun to stay on the main square, lots of great food and just a nice city center. Leslie did a great job of being available when we needed assistance. The Kimkim website saves your trip for viewing, but to access it you need wifi. I ended up saving a pdf of the trip on my phone so that I could follow along without wifi. Our drivers and guides were very friendly and knowledgeable in their arena. All in all a great trip - thank you. n & k

Lorena had organised a perfectly co-ordinated 2 week Chilean trip for us. Packed with adventure, amazing views and friendly tour guides…it exceeded our expectations.

Hotel Review

Hotel Boutique Le Reve

Santiago

Friendly boutique hotel where nothing was too much trouble for staff. Comfortable beds and beautiful communal courtyard to sit out in. Perfectly located for access to bars and restaurants

Authenticity & Character

Location

Access to local restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Puritama Canyon Trek

San Pedro de Atacama

It felt amazing trekking in an actual canyon in the Atacama desert and the highlight was our own personal ‘spa’ at the end of it…delightful to swim in the natural mountain water

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport