Kimkim Trip Reviews

The quality of the guides were mixed, but always very lovely people, who tried hard, who loved being guides, and ambassadors of their country. Often difficult to understand (like guides in most SE Asia countries) - not from their lack of a command of the English language, but from their Vietamese accent.

This was our first time using Kim Kim and the service that Ángel provided and the care and attention to detail was excellent.
He proposed an itinerary that enabled us to see the best of Chile and a range of trips and tours that were tailored to our interests and was flexible when we wanted to add some alternatives.
The tours and excursions suggested were all of greag quality and highly informative . We particularly enjoyed the experiences in the Atacama Desert and on Easter Island. The connections/logistics provided were all extremely reliable and the hotels excellent. Angel was on hand and extremely attentive for the entire trip and responded quickly to some last minute additional requests and dealt effectively with a few small trouble shooting islands.
In general we were extremely impressed with the service and information from Kim
Kim and would highly recommend them. We shall use them again for our next trip

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

A very comfortable clean and modern hotel with excellent services - close to the bustle of San Pedro but nicely quiet and secluded

Authenticity & Character

A more modern and luxurious hotel from the range of options in Atacama

Location

It feels a little outside the main part of town which can be quite noisy. It has a quiet and secluded location but is a short walk from the restaurants and bars

Staff

Lovely staff especially those working at the reception over night - a lot of tours end late or begin very early in the morning and they were very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very very clean. They have a lovely pool which is just perfect to come back to after a dusty desert tour

Hotel Gomero

Hanga Roa

This was an absolutely wonderful hotel - it is family run by lovely staff who were so helpful and really made our visit special. The garden and grounds are beautiful with sculptures. murals and gorgeous tropical plants and flowers with a pool, which gives so much character and is a lovely place to rest after touring around. I highly recommend staying here - it is a magical hotel on a magical island!

Authenticity & Character

Full of local sculptures, art and plants

Location

Very near the town centre and the airport

Staff

This is a family run hotel - they are all so friendly, helpful and seem to love their jobs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely rooms with beautiful touches

Activity Reviews

Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

It’s a great experience to go out to desert in total darkness and see the sky lit up with bright stars and look through a telescope at some of the planets.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cochamo Town and Termas del Sol - Relax at the Hot Springs

Chile

If you have been doing a lot of tours or trekking in Chile - this is a lovely time to relax and unwind in the beautiful setting of the hot springs. It is quite a long and scenic drive to get there, but it is worth it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rano Raraku Volcano & Anakena White Sand Beach

Easter Island

This is a must- do tour taking in some of the most unforgettable sights of the island. Our guide Sebastian was very informative and entertaining - he responded to lots of questions and has a wealth of knowledge beyond the key points of the tour

Quality of Experience

The most memorable sights on Easter Island

Food

The lunch at the restaurant provided was delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian was a fantastic guide and hugely informative

Transport

Had a great trip. Ethel and Fenne were responsible and attentive. The tours they booked were just what we wanted for our stay in the Lofoten Islands.

An amazing and memorable trip to Melaka & KL!
Faida was great from start to end - patient in developing a perfect itinerary, regular updates and a very clear process. Then on hand (with Ieqa) to answer any queries during the trip.
Our local driver & guides (Vikram, Sha, Eddie, Fuad & Eddie) were wonderful, offering deep local insight and genuine friendship.
One minor factor is allowing & being prepared for longer transit times if travelling by car in and around KL.
An unforgettable experience, thank you to Faida & team ❤️

Francisco was very attentive to our needs and quick to respond. There were some minor miscommunications that were frustrating but ultimately resolved. The communication model through Whatsapp is a bit confusing, requiring multiple points of contact. Once we got used to their way of doing business, we were able to relax a bit.

The excursions were good quality overall. We loved the Mendoza wine tour. The lunch at the end of the end was excellent. There were only a couple of half day tours in Puerto Varas that seemed like a waste of time. We would have been better off relaxing at the beach than sitting in a car for hours.

Overall, I would say it was a positive experience; though, like anything of this complexity and duration, there were some snags along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa de la Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Diego de Almagro Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We had arranged to have laundry done while we were on an overnight trip, but when we got back, it had not been done, resulting in an emergency trip to the store for clean clothes.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Inn by Radisson Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

There were some areas of the hotel that were only accessible by stairs, making a difficult for those with mobility issues.

Pullman Santiago El Bosque

Las Condes, Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer to Santiago Airport for your flight to Puerto Montt - Transfer to Puerto Varas

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Group Tour

Santiago

“Wine tasting” in the title is a little misleading, because the only wine that you taste is what you get at a rest stop on the way to the coast. Unfortunately, some of the experiences we had planned on were closed when we got there, so the driver had to make alternate plans. Valparaiso is a charming and busy town with some picturesque streets. Overall, I would say not my top experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Wine and Olive

Mendoza

The tour was well rounded, and the lunch at the end was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Chiloe - The Island of the Legends

Puerto Varas

The guide was very knowledgeable and an excellent planner, accounting for delays and transfers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation Excursion - Serrano Glacier and Patagonic Lunch

Chile

The glaciers were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Full Day (drop-off in Puerto natales)

Punta Arenas

Overall excellent experience. The guide was very knowledgeable. If only the weather had cooperated to allow us to see the famous Torres.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Frutillar Town in Llanquihue Lake - Half Day

Chile

We spent a lot of time driving stuck in traffic and didn’t get to see much other than an old German settlement and a small lake town. Our time would’ve been better spent at the beach or on a boat ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was friendly, but it seems he was not experienced with this particular excursion.

Transport

We spent a lot of time stuck in traffic.

Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas City Tour

Chile

A lot of time spent on a bus and not a lot to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Each experience in Australia was outstanding. From Melbourne to Adelaide to Kangaroo Island to Sydney. Penguin Parade, wine tour, koalas, wallaby’s and kangaroos in the wild, climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House opera were rich and satisfying endeavors!!!! Also, the accommodations were superior!!!

Thanks to Liz, our specialist, only the best was recommended to make our trip memorable.

We’re grateful for the ease of planning and execution of a remarkable journey.

Hotel Reviews

Shangri-La Sydney

The Rocks

Authenticity & Character

Location

U

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mayfair Hotel

Adelaide

Authenticity & Character

Location

U

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins

Melbourne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Climb the Harbor Bridge

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights

Sydney

Quality of Experience

T

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kangaroo Island In Style — 2 Days / 1 Night

Australia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yarra Valley Food & Wine Day Trip

Australia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Blue Mountains Deluxe Day

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phillip Island Wildlife Day Trip with Penguin Parade

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We waited for a long time at the SJO airport arrival and nobody came to pick us up and we had to call CR ride 2x for the driver (Juan L) to pick us up.
Per itinerary, we had to bring our passports to Nacional Park Manuel Antonio but our guide said that we don't have to. Kimkim agency should note in the itinerary that plastic water bottles are not allowed inside the park. We had a reckless driver who drove us for Joni

I was the person responsible for contacting KimKim and organizing our trip and was extremely disappointed when my first contact Sergio, abruptly disappeared without any warning and was no longer our contact once the majority of the trip had been planned.
Once Sergio was no longer involved we were shuffled between, Charlotte, Nancy and Helen without any understanding of the role each of these persons had in finalizing our trip. We felt abandoned and frustrated when we tried to get answers to our questions because we no longer had a single contact who was familiar with the initial planning of our trip.
Our trip was salvaged when wonderful Wilman took over the management of the trip, but even then it took much correspondence and numerous conversations during the trip between my daughter (who had to devote many unplanned hours) and Wilman to ensure that the expectations and vision of the trip developed initially with Sergio (Serendipity) were carried out.
I would not use Kim Kim again as a booking agent for a trip because of the lack of transparency about their organization and relationship with the venders they use for putting the boots on the ground.

Hotel Reviews

Congo Bongo EcoVillage Costa Rica

Manzanillo, Limon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maquenque Eco Lodge

Boca Tapada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dive into Afro-Caribbean Culture with Exquisite Cooking Classes

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Boca Tapada to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca with En-route Rafting on the Sarapiquí River

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boca Tapada Night Tour

Boca Tapada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

San Carlos River Boat Tour

Boca Tapada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Kayak in Tres Amigos River

Boca Tapada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Birdwatching Tour in Maquenque

Boca Tapada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wow! Our trip to Lapland just blew our minds. Moonika took in all our wants and put together the most perfect trip we could have asked for. Every excursion, each accommodation, timing, transfers, all added up to an experience we will always remember.

An unforgettable trip!

Justyna and her team put together a fabulous trip that met all of our needs and wants. Our tour guide was the greatest guide bar none. He was not only incredibly knowledgable about a range of topics (culture, agriculture, history, etc.) but very personable and went above and beyond to "make all our dreams come true" while in Sri Lanka. All of our accommodations were stunning and incredibly hospitable. As someone with a gluten allergy I felt very well taken care (the guide would talk with the hotel staff upon arrival to communicate this on my behalf to ensure there was nothing lost in translation).

We could not have planned a trip such as this on our own and are very thankful to have found KimKim and to be connected with Justyna and team!

Our trip to Egypt was amazing. Our guides, Omar and Ahmed, were knowledgeable and friendly. They catered to our needs, making sure we comfortable and seeing the sights we wanted to see. Beth and I truly enjoyed our time with them. Mr. Sabry and Mr. Said were a huge help organizing local trips and upgrading our accommodations.
The food and accommodations were first class. The Nile River trip was relaxing and the ship's crew took good care of us.
One of our favorite restaurants was the Valley of the Kings. We went twice.
The Pyramids and the museums were amazing but the Temple at Abu Simbel and the balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings and Queens should not be missed.
I might add that we felt very safe in Egypt. I would gladly go back.

Activity Reviews

Wadi Rum desert tour - Overnight at the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea

Our stay at Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea Resort was incredible. The resort was beautiful, and the location by the Dead Sea was stunning. We had a relaxing time and wished we could have stayed longer to enjoy the spa and the surroundings.

Quality of Experience

Arrival Luxor- East Bank tour

Luxor

The Sofitel Winter Palace in Luxor was a beautiful hotel with a lot of history. The accommodations were comfortable, and the service was top-notch. Our visit to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple was a highlight of our stay.

Full Day tour at the West bank (Kings, Queens, Hatshepsut, Memnon, Ramsseum & Habu) - Nile Cruise

Luxor

Our Nile River cruise experience was wonderful. The boat may have been a bit older, but the crew was fantastic, and the food was excellent. We have been upgraded on a suite. We felt incredibly safe and well taken care of during our time on the cruise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cruise disembarkation- Visit Abu Simbel temple & overnight at the hotel

Egypt

Our one-night stay at Seti Abu Simbel Lake Resort was pleasant. The hotel was lovely, and the highlight was visiting the Abu Simbel temple. We enjoyed the light show in the evening, which was a memorable experience.

Quality of Experience

The light show

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day tour to visit Grand Egyptian Museum, Citadel of Salah El-Din & Old Cairo

Cairo

Another great day. The museum has more items than can be seen in one day. King Tut exhibition lived up to its reputation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour to visit Pyramids and Sphinx .

Cairo

Can't go to Egypt without seeing the pyramids. Definitely worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grand Egyptian Museum tour

Cairo

The Grand Museum will be a must see once it fully opens. It is an architectural marvel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore lost city of Petra and overnight in Wadi Rum

Jordan

If you ever need to feel like Indiana Jones, this is the place. It was one of the surprises of the trip, as it exceeded our expectations. Petra is a place you need to see. The H Luxury hotel is a great place to stay.

Quality of Experience

Food

H Luxury hotel's food was first class. The wait staff was very attentive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rasheed was our driver. He made sure we got to places on time. He also made sure we were comfortable.

Transport

What a dream come true vacation...with our excellent driver, Tayeb, we saw an amazing amount of this beautiful country. The trip into the desert at Merzouga, meeting Youstuf and driving through the dunes is a delightful experience. The camel ride at sunset, the black sky with its many stars with the added bonus of a full moon, awesome. The total staff at this camp were helpful, friendly and did everything to ensure our two night stay in a luxury tent was memorable. Moustaffa working with Fatima provided excellent food and service...Marrakesh initially strikes you as a somewhat loud, jumble of people's, cars, motor scooters etc., but thoroughly enjoyed the comforts of the Ryad and especially had fun at La Maison Arabe, with Wafa and Fatiha...top notch marketing. The food tour through the Medina , tasting different local dishes opened up the opportunity for tourists to have the real taste of Morocco...some of our Ryads had many stairs to manoueuve as did the luncheon areas selected by the local guides...to rest up before heading home, Essaouira was perfect...loved the crashing of the waves and the wind whipping through the buildings...small, easy to get around and very laid back....

Hotel Reviews

Riad Perle D'Eau

Essaouira

The dining facilities and the bar facilities are lovely, but they are certainly not geared up for early travellers. International people have to be at the airport a couple of hours before their flight time. And so there were not in breakfast facilities available for us when we left in the morning.

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

During my two-night stay at Riad Salam Fes, I enjoyed the beautiful ambiance and comfortable accommodations. The riad had bigger staircases and wider steps, which made it easier to move around. The location was fantastic, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Overall, a pleasant stay in Fes.

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

The Lina Ryad & Spa in Chefchaouen was a beautiful place to stay for one night. The riad had a charming atmosphere and stunning views of the Blue City. However, the numerous narrow and circular stairs made it challenging to navigate, especially with jetlag. The location was great, but the stairs could be difficult for some guests.

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Luxury tent with its own bathroom facilities and a king size bed certainly added to our comforts...ground was carpeted and electric blankets available if necessary...the place where dreams are made...

Activity Reviews

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

Visiting Moroccan homes was one of the highlights of the trip. You really get the taste of the culture, and we tried dishes that you couldn't try anywhere else.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

The tour allows you to discover the city's highlights and immerse yourself in its culture. From historical sites to vibrant markets, the tour offers a comprehensive experience of Casablanca. The mosque in the city was just stunning. A great way to start your Moroccan adventure.

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

A Hammam in my rahad would be more convenient and comfortable..did not like climbing stairs in slippery flip flops...the massage was wonderful just felt the atmosphere was too busy for me to find the relaxation I needed.

Quality of Experience

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Yustaff, a very handsome young Berber enjoyed driving up and around the dunes to everyone's delight...a must for anyone visiting the dunes...

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

This is an excellent class with superb skills to ensure each participant enjoyed themselves..would highly recommend even if not normally interested in cooking. Wafa and Fatiha are excellent communicators, patient and quite entertaining...

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Realistic Asia team are really great. Email responses done in a timely manner. There was great care to ensure all arrangements were to our satisfaction. Most of our guides were terrific! Big shout out to Cuong, Victor and Tommy!! thank you for being great guides - you made us feel like family. The excursions were terrific in the countryside. We loved the Eco tour outside of Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Ho Ch Minh day on the Mekong, visiting coconut plantations, brick factory with 100 year old kiln! The Mekong was beautiful The only disappointments which had nothing to do with Realistic Asia were Sapa. We found it was very commercial and Halong bay quite dirty with garbage.
I highly recommend Hien at RA! So kind, caring and professional. You can’t go wrong with this great team. Thank you Thank you! Joy and Richard

Everything was amazing. I just want to highlight that on the first day of arrival we arrived 4 hours before check in time at which the hotel were not informed that we need an early check in and we had to wait few hours until the room is ready.

The snowmobile activity at night had a huge group of 20 people which was not comfortable and the trail was pretty icy, no scenery at night and no aurora therefore i would suggest having this activity during the day. Also we did not know that only 1 snowmobile reserved for us as it was not clear in the itinerary until we got to know there itself.

Aurora as per the locals in finland doesn’t usually happen before 9pm, and mostly happens after 12midnight, most of our night activities which were relevent to the aurora started relatively early (7pm). I would suggest to not start any aurora activity before 9 pm. Also whenever there is an aurora activity we would arrive back to the hotel by 12-1am. Having activities early in the morning 9-10am we a bit hard as we didnt have enough good sleep during the night. So i would suggest if there was an activity that ends by 12-1am, then the next day should start maybe by around 1 pm to allow time for sleep, shower, food..etc.

However overall the experience waw amazing! And thank you Moonika for your always being present throughout the trip time!.

Hotel Reviews

Nova Skyland Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Northern Lights Village

Sirkka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sewage water smell was on and off and room doesnt get warm enough by the heater unless the heater is open 24/7. Shower water was not that hot even for tbe first 10 mins

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close from most activity providers and shops

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Photography Tour

Finland

7pm was too early for nothern light tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Husky Safari

Finland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finnish Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Wooden Snowshoe Trek in Levi

Finland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Adventure

Levi

Perfect but was a too short ride. I wish it was a 30-6mins ride

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auroras With Snowmobiles

Finland

Number of participants was too big 20 people. Trail was too icy and hard.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Fishing Experience

Levi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, KimKim did a fantastic job helping us to plan our trip and supporting us on the ground during our excursion.

We needed a somewhat atypical itinerary in the Torres del Paine park, and KimKim quickly understood our needs and customized the travel and lodging arrangements to fit them. Their communication was excellent during that process and in the intervening weeks before our trip started, including providing a very detailed written itinerary, maps, and vouchers for all transportation and lodging. Once we were in-country, KimKim was very responsive to questions we had, including via WhatsApp while we were in the park itself. All arrangements were as KimKim had described, and exceeded our expectations.

Aside from a small scheduling glitch regarding one bus ride (which turned out to have no negative consequences), our complex 7-day trip proceeded extremely smoothly and we had a great time. I would recommend KimKim to anyone planning a trip in Torres del Paine.

Anna and Mathia and the team helped a lot along the whole journey and enhance the trip to the best!

I hope to reach KimKim for my next trips and arrange everything through them as they ease everything in the travel.

Although we were somewhat skeptical about booking through a tour group, we relied upon Kimkim and Chaska Tours to create and execute an ambitious itinerary that took us through four discrete regions in Colombia over a ten day stay. Michael and his team put together a veritable highlight reel of food, history, art, outdoor activities, and scenic drives. The Magic of Colombia tour accounted for all of our hotels, flights, and drivers and also built in some time for us to explore on our own. Our tour guides in each location were locals with a penchant for teaching, immersing us in the culture and helping us make the most of our experience despite our somewhat loose grasp of the Spanish language. Sadly, we were forced to cut the trip short after one of us contracted an illness. In this, too, Michael and his team were exceedingly helpful, coordinating a change of itinerary on a dime and keeping in constant contact to see us out of Colombia and home safely.

Our tour of Colombia was six weeks long and included both activities and accommodations arranged by Kimkim/Chaska and our local specialist, Michael, as well as activities and accommodations we arranged directly.

Overall, we were very happy with our interactions with Michael in planning our itinerary. He made good suggestions and was very responsive to our questions and requests. In retrospect, we would have appreciated being given options ahead of time for such things as upgrades for flights and accommodations, when those were available. In a number of instances, we found out about this options "in the moment" rather than in time to make considered choices. One other suggestion is for Michael to have communicated our interests with each of our guides; a number of them indicated they did not know ahead of time that we were interested in birding, for example, which did affect the activities on some days.

Michael was also outstanding in how quickly he responded to our questions and requests during the trip, sometimes multiple times in a day. One improvement would have been for us to have the names and contact information for each guide and driver at least a day in advance; we understand that sometimes this might not be possible, due to changes in staff scheduling.

Overall, the guides we were assigned were quite good. Likewise, all the drivers were prompt and safe and the cars were comfortable and clean. Specifics:

Bogota - Guide Jose Luis Borbon was excellent, very informative.
Villa de Leyva - Despite some logistical complications, Guide Carmen Trujillo was excellent, very flexible.
Barachara - Our guide for the walk from Barachara to Guane, Jose Luis, tho fairly new, was good, very informative about local culture as he grew up there. Hotel Mission, one of the oldest in the town, was very well situated, and comfortable.
Minca - Our guide Joi Guia, was very enthusiastic and personable. Our hotel, Sweet Harmony, was great, as was the food prepared in its kitchen. Minca is pretty overrun with tourists and the shops that cater to them, so we wouldn't necessarily recommend it.
El Dorado Nature Reserve - This is an amazing place, with views from the high Sierra Nevada to Santa Marta and the Caribbean. This is one instance when we would have liked to know our options for accommodations ahead of time; the two options are very different in many aspects, including proximity to the restaurant, coffee, and wifi. We were very disappointed with our assigned room, a 20 min. dusty walk up hill 3x/day. And downright dangerous in the dark. Our birding guide, Jaruen, was excellent, one of the first trained birding guides in Colombia.
Tayrona - We really like having Jaruen and Joi as guides again here, so we didn't have to get used to new personalities, etc. They each led us on a day's adventure and birding. Our hotel, Senda Koguiwa, was excellent, a welcome change from the relative rusticness of El Dorado, and very near the entrance to Tayrona National Park.
Cartagena - Cartagena is a visually beautiful city, but very very busy with the tourist trade. Our guide, Neybor, was very good and led us on a city bike tour, tour of the food market, and a cooking class.
Cali - We had a great day with Catalina, walking around the city and, especially, learning about salsa. Our hotel, Aiko Hotel Integrado, was ok as it was being remodeled at the time. When complete it will be lovely. It was also quite a ways out of Cali altho walkable to many restaurants and shops.
Aruacana Lodge - This is a beautiful, family-owned birding lodge in the hills about an hour outside of Cali. Luxurious spacious accommodations, excellent food and great birding. Highly recommend, especially for birding. Our birding guide, Vivian, altho just beginning, was very personable and enjoyable.
Salento - The Kawa Mountain Retreat is a beautiful spot, very comfortable, and with very good food. The staff were very helpful, especially when one of us got food poisoning (not at the hotel!), and we had to stay a number of hours after check-out time. Highly recommend. Our guide, Carlos, led us on a very enjoyable hike in the Corcora Valley and, when he learned we were birders, led a great birding walk the next day.
Manizales - The Hacienda Venecia is a beautiful coffee finca with lush grounds and good food. Highly recommend.
Medellin - Our guide for a trip to a flower farm and then Guatepe, Alejandro, was good and flexible. The flower farm was quite interesting; Guatepe is very touristed and less interesting for us.

Tina helped us plan an amazing trip to Thailand! We could not have found the activities she planned for us on our own. Even when we got put on an earlier flight on the way to Thailand, Tina was able to make sure our driver was able to pick us up two hours earlier than expected.

Our guide Lina in Bangkok was knowledgeable and very passionate about history and food. We really enjoyed getting to spend three days with her and she kept finding amazing treats for us to try no matter what type of tour we were on! She even found us a non-touristy spot to eat near the palace, which was so delicious and no easy feat!

Our hotel in Phuket was amazing, it had one of the best breakfast's I've ever seen and we were able to throughly relax with a spa day there. Tina's recommendation to stay on Kata Noi beach was perfect for us as we wanted a more calm beach experience. We were always able to find a beach lounger and the beach was perfect for swimming. The John Gray Sea Canoe was a major highlight and I recommend it to anyone considering Phuket. It was our favorite activity and had some of the best food we had on the entire trip.

This trip was the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation and we could not have asked for more.

Hotel Reviews

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Phuket

We really loved the Katathani Resort. It was the perfect stay for a relaxing getaway. Right on the beach we had great views from our balcony and they even upgraded us to a nicer suite, which was large and comfortable with a nice balcony and soaking tub. The breakfast buffet is major highlight of this hotel, they have an amazing array of Thai, Chinese, and western breakfast options all hot and fresh! We did a half day at the spa one morning and it was phenomenal, it was easy to book, very affordable for the level of service provided, and the ultimate relaxing treat. If you are looking for more of a party spot this is not the hotel or beach for you. But if you want a quite place to soak up the sun from look no further!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Muse Bangkok, Autograph Collection

Great location in Bangkok a few blocks walk from the subway, shopping, and Lumphini park. The rooms are very nice, quiet, and clean and room service was excellent the day we ordered it. The rooftop bar has a very fun atmosphere too!

Authenticity & Character

It has a very cool Art Deco feel, especially with the speakeasy

Location

Great location in Bangkok a few blocks walk from the subway, shopping, and Lumphini park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This was our favorite part of our trip to Thailand! Getting to see the Hong's (sea caves) was amazing and we were so surprised when we found out each canoe got their own paddler so we got to just sit back and take in the stunning scenery. The food on the boat is also a major highlight. They say a "light lunch and dinner" will be served, but both meals were feasts of amazing home cooked Thai food. Seriously some of the best food we had on the trip. For being a large group tour you always felt like you had personalized attention, due to the individual paddle guides, and were never crowded. Cannot recommend this activity enough!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Myself (42F) and my 2 children (12M & 13F) just returned home from Costa Rica after an absolutely excellent trip. Our kimkim advisor Olman, made planning our trip across the country effortless. From the rental car (Alamo) to the 3 separate resorts (Hotel Los Lagos in Arenal/La Fortuna, Poco a Poco in Monteverde, and Karahe Resort in Manuel Antonio), every check in was seamless. Our planned excursions, (horseback riding, waterfall hiking, zip-lining, and snorkeling) were scheduled on our behalf and transportation pre-arranged, and couldn't have been better. Esteban, from the La Fortuna waterfall horse and hike, Warner, our kayak and snorkel guide from Tucanes Tours, and the guys from Selvatura Adventure Park, were professional and knowledgeable about the country and great with my kids. In all, not having to research and obsess over what to do, and where to go, and how to get there made this an actual pleasurable experience for me as well as for my kids. Olman got to know us through our continued correspondence, and then was able to provide his expert recommendations on hotels, activities, and local restaurants and towns to visit...And once we decided what worked best for my budget and available days, he put everything together and sent me an itinerary. The hardest thing I had to do was wake up and go. When we return to Cost Rica, I will again plan with Olman, and will use kimkim to help plan all of our future family trips.

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

This hotel is split into 2 main parts so if you do book here, make sure that you get a room on the ocean side of the resort, so you do not have to cross the busy road to access the restaurant and beach. From the balcony of our room, we could see the beach and could also view the on-site restaurant and pool. My kids were absolutely in love with the resort pet cat, which was really friendly, and my daughter would have taken home had we let her. There was also many other animals that were right on the resort grounds (capuchin monkeys, lizards, agouti, toucans, etc.)-- so much so that we didn't think it was necessary to go on a nature walk through the reserve park, as all the same animals were right on our resort. The only downside to this resort was the prices of the items on the on-site restaurant menu--They were shockingly high, so we made an effort to eat at other local restaurants. Shout out to the Magic Bus, a local eatery right off the beach that we ate at twice, it was that good.

Authenticity & Character

It was evident that the hotel has done a lot to retain the natural vibe of the area. There was a significant amount of wildlife that could be viewed on the resort grounds, so much so, that the local troop of capuchin were present on the grounds and around the restaurant almost all day long.

Location

This resort was right on the beach and close to a few other Manuel Antonio resorts, but of note is that this hotel is at the bottom of a great big hill that all the resorts are on, so many restaurants, etc. are a hike along a busy roadway. Walking along the beach and popping in and out of the other resort grounds was easier than accessing them from the street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

When we first checked in, the sink in our room was damaged and there was water all over the floor, but management jumped to get it fixed and it was repaired by the time we returned from lunch. Other than that, the balcony had a fantastic view, and the beds were soft and clean.

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

This hotel was very ecologically friendly, and it was evident that they went our of their way to retain the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside while designing the resort.

Location

It is outside of Monteverde proper, but still close enough that you can walk to many restaurants and local establishments.

Staff

The staff at the front desk were welcoming and very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was a bit small for 3, but everything was very clean and well kept.

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Absolutely gorgeous location and a great resort for kids! Everything about this place was HUGE from the rooms, to the property, the beautiful volcano that dominated the entire landscape. Out of the 3 places we stayed in Costa Rica, this was the favorite of my kids, and I felt completely safe letting them roam around without me glued to their sides. Our room (129) was right across from the top of the slide into the pool, so my kids were in heaven. Our room itself was enormous, with a big bathroom and great beds. The property is extensive with beautiful walking paths with plenty of activities to do directly from the resort. The hot springs and float-up bar were the best after an afternoon of hiking and horseback riding. The breakfast buffet was a fantastic mix of local and traditional breakfast foods, so there was something for everyone and the prices for on-site food options were quite reasonably priced for a resort restaurant. Only a mile or so from the center of La Fortuna, it was easy to visit town and all the excellent eateries and local restaurants. This resort will be first on our list when we return next year.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling

Manuel Antonio

Our guide, Warner, made this activity for us. He was a fantastic source of local wildlife knowledge and was able to help tow my son back to the dock when he was too tired to paddle. It bears noting that the majority of the time on this excursion is spent in the kayak. The snorkeling was great, with lots of fish and sea-life to see, but the time in the water could have been longer. In addition to the kayak/snorkeling, the included lunch was fantastic. Typical fare, the chicken, rice, beans, and soursop juice was great, but what was really amazing was the dessert of warm pineapple al a mode with caramel drizzle. It was de-lish and an excellent way to end the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Silencio Volcano Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

This hike was nice, but nothing special. It was neat to learn about the prior volcanic eruptions that impacted the area, and while it is the closest you can get to the volcano, this was a pretty strenuous uphill hike for a mediocre photo op.

Quality of Experience

This was a nice experience, but it does not compare to other activities in the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very knowledgeable and funny.

Transport

The pick up and drop off at the hotel was timely and without issue.

Self-Guided Adventure to Monteverde's Hanging Bridges with Ziplining

Monteverde

We had originally just booked this for the zip lining and hanging bridges, but ended up adding on the sloth rescue, which really was a great decision. Zip-lining was a fantastic, outside the box adventure, that couldn't have been more exhilarating. The guides that were at each platform made safety their number 1 priority, so even though we were several hundred feet in the air at times, I felt completely safe for both myself and my kids (12 & 13). The hanging bridges were a nice walk throughout the park. We did not join a guided tour, and just walked at our own pace. The sloth rescue/rehabilitation unit was phenomenal! It was amazing to be able to view and learn about these animals and the rehabilitation process of the park. In all, we spent about 5-6 hours completing the zip line course, the hanging bridges walk, the sloth habitat tour, and having a light lunch at the onsite restaurant. It makes for a full afternoon, so great for those looking for several activities in a single place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did not utilize transport to or from the park, but the drive from the hotel to the park was very exciting and all rural dirt roads.

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Horseback riding up the mountains is a unique way to appreciate the surrounding countryside. The horses were well taken care of and were used to people. Our guide, Esteban, was fantastic and clearly cared about the horses in his charge. He was knowledgeable about the area and very personable. In addition to the horseback riding was the waterfall itself. Down 500 steps into a river gorge, the climb down and then back up is pretty strenuous, but it was truly magical to be able to swim in the river and feel the spray from the water hitting the rocks.

Quality of Experience

The unique combination of the activity and being a part of nature.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Estaban and his dog, who accompanied us on our ride and hike, were fantastic!

Transport