Kimkim Trip Reviews

I don't know where to start but I will say this. If you are on the fence about using a service like this to help you put together an amazing and memorable trip, I'm here to tell you to just book it!! Let all your worries be taken care of from beginning to end for you by this incredible team. This was me and my husband's first trip to Asia so we wanted some assistance in putting together an itinerary as opposed to doing it all ourselves. We had an idea of the parts of Thailand we wanted to go but as far as hotels, excursions and inter-Thailand flights we were a bit overwhelmed by the idea of doing all of that ourselves. Kelly was our trip planner and I have to say she exceeded expectations by a landslide. From the start, her response time was so fast once we filled out the shell of what we wanted, she had an itinerary back to us within days. Within a few tweaks, per our request we had everything buttoned up and done within a week in terms of the trip plan. My husband is very tall so we had a couple requests with regards to leg room on the flights within Thailand and she took care of that no problem, we were in the front of the plan on all our flights she booked. Once we were in Thailand we had guides that picked us up at the airports and took us to our hotels as well certain excursions. Our favorite guide was in Chiang Mai and her name was "Toy: Tantawan". She took us on our journey to the elephant sanctuary and stayed there all day with just just taking photos and videos of the day which we did not expect at all. The next day she took us to the most beautiful temples and took so many more pictures and we learned so much history about Thailand. She was such an amazing person, we truly enjoyed our time with her. All of our guides were amazing - Golf was our guide in Bangkok and he was so great as he picked us up super late at the airport with no issue once we arrived from the states and he also took us on a tour of the Grand Palace and taught us so much as well - we were a bit jetlagged so we didn't get to do all the things he recommended but he was so personable. Honestly I could go on and on about the entire team at KimKim, but I will say the excursions and the memories we created were because we did these things with the help of this service. Thank you for a wonderful wonderful time KimKim! Can't wait to use you again!

Our travel planner, Shehara, was amazing! We asked to do very "out-of-the-ordinary" requests for our trip, and he was so very helpful and flexible and accomodating. He also helped find a driver/guide, who was also amazing, Mr. Laki, also known as "Lucky". When Air India lost Craig's suitcase, Mr Laki made numerous calls to Air India, and helped coordinate the rendevous with the courier from Air India, to get Craig's suitcase, when it finally made it from India to Sri Lanka. Both Shehara and Mr Laki were extremely instrumental in making our trip to Sri Lanka truly a dream come true!! We are really indebted to both for our most wonderful time in Sri Lanka!!
Best regards to them both!!
Rani and Craig Milldrum

Hotel Reviews

Kumbukgaha Villa

Sigiriya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Little out of the way, but worth it!! Very nice!!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tembo Cottage Wilpattu

Wanamalgama

Authenticity & Character

Wonderful hosts and great food.

Location

Just outside of Wilpattu National Park

Staff

Always smiling and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice A/C room.

Activity Reviews

Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Dambulla Cave Temples

Sri Lanka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An afternoon jungle safari ride at Wilpattu National Park

Sri Lanka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Angel was prompt at picking us up and arranging the daily events.
Eduardo was a great driver and very knowledgeable.

Our family had a fantastic time visiting the magical Christmas markets in Germany, and enjoying all that this beautiful country has to offer at this festive time of year!

Hotel Reviews

Leonardo Royal Hotel

Nuremberg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flemings Hotel München City

Munich

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse

Berlin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Day Trip to Dresden from Berlin

Berlin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nuremberg Private Guided Walking Tour (Private/2Hours)

Nuremberg

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Munich Private Guided Walking Tour

Munich

Salzburg and Salt Mines Private Tour

Munich

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Premium Tour

Munich

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Berlin, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and Potsdam

Berlin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Berlin Introduction

Berlin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

1) Several transfers had been arranged for us, of which 4 were to get us to airports in time for flights. Two of those were so late we found other ways to get to the airport. Kimkim did refund the cost of those two missed transfers, but that didn’t restore our confidence in their ability to provide timely transportation to airports. See also comments on communication below.

2) Communication was good before the trip. Agustina was our contact. When we arrived, we were assigned Nicolas as on-site contact. We met him over coffee and asked many questions. He named the person who would be our contact for the coming Saturday and Sunday when he was off. But we never were told who our contact was for our final day (Friday, a week later). That day, when our transfer was 15 minutes late, we tried in vain to contact Nicolas. Even later, we got a text from the previously-named weekend person (now working on Friday). By then we had hailed a taxi and had barely enough time to get through all the lines at the airport for our departure from the country (we’d allowed 4 hours). So, while it was helpful to have a local contact person, it was disturbing to be unable to contact him when we needed help on our last day.

3) We would have appreciated a more helpful description (i.e. what the different price ranges would be) between their strata of “comfort,” “mid-range,” and “basic,” rather than planning the whole itinerary before realizing that the total cost would be beyond our comfort zone. They did adjust things in response to our requests for less expensive accommodations and fewer arranged tours. So, we made our own lodging arrangements and chose our own activities for half the trip. We were disappointed that they didn’t give much help deciding where to splurge and where to save on our itinerary. On our last night, we were in a hotel room (booked by them) where the toilet ran continuously every time it was flushed. That hotel’s concierge, on the other hand, did an excellent job of communicating with the taxi driver we’d hailed, so that we were able to pay with the funds available to us. In the end, we had a good experience, and wish that others would be given more clarity about the prices of different options than we were.

4) The tours kimkim arranged were good, and we had a better time with the smaller groups than the large ones. For example, kimkim had scheduled our Milonga night right before being picked up in the morning for the airport at 5 am. That activity was just our guide and us, and she accommodated our request to leave the festivities at 10 pm instead of 11:30 or later. The other extreme was a boat full of people (100+). It made two stops and for each, we were told we must all be back on board at a specific time. For one of us, 50 minutes was not enough time to relax and enjoy the 0.6-mile loop path in the Bosque de Arrayanes (Myrtle Forest), much less the snack bar at the end of the path.

5) One more thing: kimkim knew our preference to communicate in English, and for the most part, paired us with competent English-speaking guides. However, the tour of Victoria Island in Lake Nauhuel Huapi was led by a Spanish-only speaker. The boat that took us there had some commentary in both languages and some only in Spanish. For the Island, we were given a firm time to return to the boat and cautioned to stay with the guide so as not to get lost (it is a larger island and has more paths than the Bosque de Arrayanes). We would have enjoyed that day better if we’d understood what was said both on the boat and on the guided tour of Victoria Island.

Hotel Reviews

Infinito Hotel

Buenos Aires

This is the third hotel that was assigned to us, but it changed at the last minute. It's too bad that kimkim doesn't have our actual hotels available to rate.

El Pueblito Iguazu

Puerto Iguazú

I can't rate this, since our booking was changed at the last minute to a different hotel.

Hotel Nevada Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche

Again, this hotel was listed as our place to stay, but at the last minute, we were shifted to another hotel. Therefore I cannot accurately rate this hotel.

Activity Reviews

Boat trip over the Nahuel Huapi lake and Victoria Island

Bariloche

This is long because there are a lot of points to be made. -We were anxious when the bus didn’t pick us up soon after 12:30, though it did eventually come. We had been switched to a different hotel and pick-up point that wasn’t written down and didn’t know who to call or text to check our information. -We had more confusion in the boat launch area because we already had our boat ticket, but needed to get a pass (the English signs said everyone needed to pay entry tax) for the park entrance later in the day. -The catamaran boat was crowded and slow, though it was equipped with a snack bar and restroom facilities. -The cruise aspect would have been more enjoyable if it had been easier to see the scenery around us (beautiful lake with mountains in the distance) out the windows but they were somewhat obscured by spray from waves on the lake. Options for clearer viewing were on a deck above the majority of passengers, reserved for some special subset, and the top of the boat which was so windy as to be unbearable for long. -Time at the two stops was shorter than we would have liked, -At one stop (Victoria Island) it was strongly suggested that we stay with the guide rather than risk getting lost. But the guide spoke only Spanish, so we missed a lot. Also, we were encouraged to stop at the snack bar there, but it took a very long time to get our order (pizza) filled, which left no time to eat it. -The amount of time on the boat felt very long compared to the short times at the two stopping places. The day was listed as 8 hours, and we spent 50 minutes at the first stop and less than 1.5 hours at the second; the rest was riding in the bus to and from the boat launch area and on the boat. -The two stopping places were disappointing, mostly because we couldn’t understand the guide who was pointing out things of interest on Victoria Island, and because we’d already seen some Arraynas trees the day before (though the Bosque de Arraynes stop this day did have more trees, we were in a hurry to be sure we’d be able to get back on the boat).

Kayak in Moreno lake

Bariloche

We did this on our last morning in San Carlos de Bariloche. The weather was sunny and not too cold or windy. It was wonderful to be inside the beautiful scene of the lake and mountains we’d been seeing from shore for two days. We were outfitted with gear including water booties, a spray skirt, and a life jacket. The kayaks were very stable, and we were given basic instructions. This activity was a great contrast to walking and driving tours. However, some of us had sore arms by the end, not being accustomed to the movements of kayak paddling. We had a nice break on a tiny beach where we were served a variety of snacks and teas. Our guide, Leticia, was very helpful and shortened our outing to enable us to get changed into dry clothes and back to our hotel in time to meet our airport pickup.

Bird's Park

Argentina

This was amazing. Wonderful! Loved it, and wasn’t prepared for how much we would enjoy wandering into the birds’ spaces. Some were protected from us, and others were allowed to fly right past us. It’s a refuge, so there are displays about various aspects of conservation and concerns with ecology. We were very pleased that we'd visited the Bird's Park (Parque das Aves).

Half day tour to the Iguazú Falls (Brazilian side)

Argentina

This half-day tour with Dario as our guide and Diego as our driver included quite a bit of walking with more wide panoramic views of the falls than on the Argentinian side. It was a wonderful complement to the views from Argentina. We stopped near the entrance to the park for refreshments and saw a chameleon in some rocks along the path. We got wet on walkways that went out over parts of the falls, and that was exciting! There was also a souvenir shop conveniently placed near the end of our walk. After we left the falls themselves, we visited the Birds Park (reviewed separately), and a large souvenir shop before heading back across the border. We were also given the option to take a helicopter tour over the falls which we declined in favor of more time in the Birds Park. With all the time that the border crossings took in both directions, it was more than a half-day total, but fortunately, we didn't have anything else scheduled.

Full day to the Argentinian side of the falls

Argentina

This was a long day which, for us, was interrupted by the Gran Aventura Navigation Tour. We followed our guide Francisco to many viewpoints of the falls. Looking at photos or a map ahead of time didn’t prepare us for how much walking up and down would be involved, nor did the photos prepare us for how large an amount of water we’d be close to. It was thrilling! The handrails were quite slick at times, making it feel a bit less secure, though the area is designed to keep people safe. We saw capuchin monkeys cavorting in the trees, and toucans just being themselves. If I had it to do again, I’d wear a waterproof hat with a brim over the waterproof poncho to better keep my head dry. The poncho hood I had didn’t provide enough cover. Fortunately, the air temperature was warm enough that getting wet wasn’t too uncomfortable, while the drizzle kept the sun from roasting us.

Gran Aventura Navigation tour

Puerto Iguazú

This was a very exciting (and wet) boat ride into the water splashing up from the bottom of the Devil’s Throat. We got very close to rocky shorelines and saw animals like capybaras and caymans on small beaches on the way. There were a lot of steps down (and back up) to get from the rest of the paths around the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls, and the logistics of putting everything into a dry bag, and changing into dry clothes afterward were tricky (no real locker room or place to change). It was almost warm enough to wear a swimsuit for the whole experience, but it still would have been tricky to dry off and change into dry clothes afterward. Our turn to do this boat ride was in the middle of the day, and the rest of the day was walking around on walkways where the drizzly weather and mist from the falls combined to keep us wanting our ponchos on, as well as a lot of walking that wouldn’t have been comfortable in water shoes. They managed to give a lot of people the experience, and it was fun, but we’d have appreciated a neater way to change clothes.

Milonga night

Buenos Aires

Melina met us on foot at our lodgings, then led us to our car and driver for the evening. First, we went to a dance studio where we had a private lesson in the basic tango step with her. As expected, I didn’t feel at all confident when the lesson was over, so when we got to the milonga (it appeared to be a hotel ballroom where the dance floor was surrounded by tables), I was filled with fears of not doing well, not being graceful, and not fitting in. Melina made things easy for us by introducing us to another tour leader, Martin who graciously agreed to dance one dance with each of us. We were grateful that Melina was willing to leave much earlier than planned (10 pm instead of 11:30 pm) because we were scheduled to leave for the airport the next morning at 5 am. The evening did leave me with more appreciation of where to start learning to dance the tango.

Valle Encantado trek

Bariloche

We can't review this because we didn't do it; our itinerary was changed because of the timing of our flights into and out of San Carlos de Bariloche. Instead, we did the Chico Circuito which did allow us to see some of the sights in beautiful Bariloche.

Walking tour: Palermo & Recoleta

Buenos Aires

At the request of our guide, Sandra, we met for this tour an hour later than scheduled. This is another of the small groups (just us three and the guide) that we appreciated for their individuality. Palermo and Recoleta is a large area, so we didn’t know what to expect. We did walk by highights that Sandra told us about, then went to Recoleta Cemetery. The cemetery was impressive, and Sandra drew our attention to some areas of special interest. Part of the tour, for us, was two brief rides on the subway, so we were able to see some of the art we’d heard about in the Subte system.

Day Trip to the Pampas & Estancia Lunch

Buenos Aires

We appreciated our driver who negotiated everything from busy Buenos Aires traffic to the bumpy and very dusty last mile or more to the estancia with aplomb. The visit and tour of San Antonio de Areco was lovely, though it seemed a bit brief since we had to leave to get to the estancia in time for horse riding before lunch. The church, museum, and inside view of some workshops (silver, and braided fine strips of rawhide) in San Antonio de Areco were worth seeing. Our guide, Laura, was proud of her local history. At the estancia (El Ombu is not as prominent in the tourist literature but was really wonderful, and we credit Agustina for steering us to this estancia), we had lovely weather for lunch outdoors, shaded by large spreading trees. A typical asado has very little in the way of vegetables, but this one included a couple of very nice salads. A highlight of the afternoon was being invited to learn a simple dance and dance with the live musicians after their performance. The last performance of the day was a young man and a horse who performed quietly and impressively with only gentleness (aka horse whispering).

Pema, our guide, was as knowledgeable, flexible, helpful and keen to cycle&hike as any guide we've ever had. He also gets five stars.
The routes were all scenic and reasonably challenging.
All of our drivers were really good.

Hotel Reviews

Wangdue Eco Lodge

Wangdue Phodang

nice place but I don't agree that no wifi in our room is eco-friendly as they suggest

Tashi Namgay Resort

Paro

beautiful place

Soednam Zingkha Heritage Lodge

Ha

Room was not well sealed and was therefore cold, but staff was very accommodating and even put in an electric mattress heater which helped a lot! I believe that we actually stayed in a place nearby with a similar name

Lingkhar Lodge

Trashigang

Beautiful place, large unit. helpful staff, nice to have a bath in the unit

Mountain resort

Jakar

Beautiful hotel

Red Fox by Lemon Tree Hotels, Delhi Airport

New Delhi

Decent place, really good breakfast

Wangchuck Hotel

Mongar

Beautiful hotel and location, Great, helpful staff.

Trogon Villa

Yonkola

Took a few tries to get a room with hot water, but otherwise was a reasonable place

Ura Homestay

Ura

interesting experience, great breakfast. It would have been better if they could have conversed with us

Chumey Nature Resort

Chumey

nice place but worst breakfast of the trip (everything was cold including the instant coffee)

Yangkhil Resort

Trongsa

really nice place. We would have enjoyed an extra night here

Dewachen Hotel

Phobjikha

nice place

Bhutan Suites

Thimphu

really friendly and helpful staff

Activity Reviews

From Trongsa to Chumey (partly cycling)

Trongsa

Another nice ride

From Chumey to Jakar (partly cycling)

Chumey

Another nice ride

Ha Valley hike

Ha

We did the hike up the ridge from Chele La, the panorama hike and the hike over the pass towards Paro during our few days in Ha Valley, The latter two were in mostly pine forests. We did see a sambar deer. The views from the ridge above Chele La were great - could see Jomohari quite clearly

From Yonkola to Mongar (cycling)

Yonkola

A good ride, with warm weather the whole distance. It felt good to walk into the great hotel and enjoy the views

Trongsa Dzong & Museum

Bhutan

The museum is interesting. We didn't have time to see the dzong. Would have enjoyed an extra day here.

Paro valley hike to Dzong

Paro

Nice short hike to the museum and dzong which are both worth seeing.

From Phobjikha to Trongsa (partly cycling)

Phobjikha

A nice ride with a lovely descent into a warm valley

Punakha - Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten & Punakha Dzong

Bhutan

Punakha Dzong was one of the nicest ones to see

Trying out bicycles

Thimphu

It was good to ride a bit to see that the bikes were working fine

Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba

Paro

Amazing place. We were well acclimatized for the hike after our 3 weeks in Bhutan. We hiked up to the next temple as well which was worth it for the views and additional photos

From Mongar to Trashigang (cycling)

Mongar

The descent in the middle portion of the ride was surprisingly chilly, but otherwse it was yet another great cycle route. Nice to see monkeys along the route.

Visit Trashigang Dzong

Trashigang

Another well built and scenic dzong

From Ura to Yonkola (cycling)

Ura

Another nice ride with an amazing descent into warm weather

From Jakar to Ura Valley (cycling)

Jakar

Another nice ride

Cycling in Phobjikha Valley

Phobjikha

We walked instead of cycling. Nice to see the cranes

From Wangdue Phodrang to Phobjikha by car and bicycle

Wangdue Phodrang

Lawa La pass is a tough climb. It gets steeper near the top. Need to be careful going into the blind corners as sometimes oncoming vehicles are trying to pass... The road down into the valley is mostly paved.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

From Thimphu to Wangdue Phodrang by bicycle

Thimphu

Dochu La pass was a good one to start with

Thimphu City Walk

Thimphu

It was good to have a look around. Best done on foot

Let me start by saying this, and i said this to my partner at least once a day during our trip, I will NEVER plan another trip WITHOUT KimKim ! I have been the trip planner for all of our vacations for years, every flight, transfer, transport, adventure, experience and meal, and of course , I then felt completely responsible for their success or failure! This is the first time in years that I have felt like I was actually completely on vacation and in the moment! I know that I did the planning with KimKim and chatted with Gustavo and Jessica and set up the plans, but I was totally along for the ride this time! We were never disappointed, absolutely AMAZING!
The KimKim team, Gustavo, and Jessica (thank you Jessica for handling things in real time !!) really listened and heard what we were looking for in out Costa Rican experience. Thank you to Christian at Relax for the best start to our trip, what a wonderful host and amazing place to stay! Thank you to Jorge and Diego at Jacamar for our adventures in La Fortuna! Thank you to both Hugos (great driving and sharing) and Alex (Tortuguero). Also, all boat rides were incredible, and the snorkeling in Cahuita and surfing in Puerto Viejo (best surf instructor Misael!!!! )I could gush all day! I know i have forgotten some names but not the experiences!!! Thank you for making our trip Absolutely Unforgettable!

Hotel Review

Relax Natural Village

Puerto Viejo

Cristian , thank you so much for making our stay so wonderful! You have created a magical place to stay in Puerto Viejo! Thank you for your hospitality, comfy beds and rooms, the delicious breakfast and coffee every morning and for every suggestion you made! We will only stay with you on any future trips to Puerto Viejo! Absolutely fabulous !!

Authenticity & Character

Cristian is just the best host and the cabins are absolutely beautiful !!

Location

Walking distance to everything we wanted to do and see!!

Staff

Breakfast was delicious every morning and staff was kind and attentive !

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cabin was spotless and comfy, outstanding!!

Activity Reviews

Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk

Monteverde

Junior is the best ! We learned so much and had an amazing time! We have a new friend in Monteverde for sure!!

Quality of Experience

Junior's passion for coffee makes this the best experience! He is a coffee expert and a great teacher!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

thank you, Junior! for taking so much time to share your world with us!

Transport

Junior picked us up and dropped us off at our lodge and shared his love of coffed with us from start to finish!

Private Surf Lesson at Salsa Brava

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Great lesson !! so patient ! great instruction , we really learned a lot and enjoyed every moment!! Thank you Misael!! and the lunch suggestion was one of our favorite meals of our entire trip !!

Quality of Experience

Great lesson, Misael really understood how to explain body mechanics so that we could make progress and make adjusments ! thank you !

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unnecessary for us, we could have walked and instead paid two cabs we did not need , but we did not know final meet up so now that we know we would have walked instead of taking cab to school and then back tracked to beach

Horseback Riding on the Beach

Costa Rica

We loved this day !!

Quality of Experience

Saw so much more than we expected!! Jungle and beach !!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was so great ! we learned a lot!

Transport

On time and kind!

Our guides and driver were great!

Overall wonderful arrangement by Kim Kim. . We had a great trip. Cape Town hotel and sightseeing was excellent. The Safari experience at Tambamati reserve was outstanding, Khaya Ndhvu was very good, and Rhinopost was OK.
All Vooma Transfers and drivers were outstanding.

Hotel Reviews

Khaya Ndlovu Manor House

Hoedspruit

The facility is an interesting lodge, combining traditional features with modern touches. The rooms were somewhat faded and earned in my opinion 3 stars, not 4 stars. A standout was the food which was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

The food

Location

Staff

Very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The infrastructure needs updating and in some cases repairs.

Rhino Post Safari Lodge

Facility Not well maintained. Staff was very average Rangers was good Food was great Overall experience- just Ok. Would not recommend to friends

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cabins need major update and maintenance

Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp

Kruger National Park

Outstanding facility. Warm hospitality and Great game viewing really up close.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Southern Sun The Cullinan

Cape Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near convention center

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour, Robben Island & Table Mountain

South Africa

Excellent driver and tour guide, Henryk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Henryk

Transport

Game Drives at Rhino Post

Kruger National Park

Andrew and Marika were good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Game Drive in Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park

Andrew and Marika were good. But not going into the bush diminishes the overall game viewing experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Panorama Tour

South Africa

Guide and Tracker were very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg

South Africa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thabamati Luxury Safari Camp Safari Days

Timbavati Game Reserve

Excellent in every respect. ranger Charlie and Tracker Oscar were outstanding and a delight and a wealth of information and knowledge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cape Peninsula Tour

Cape Town

Guide and Driver Hendricks was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A++ - A Trip Beyond Expectation... We owe a heartfelt 'Thank You" to KimKim & Ms. Kelly Lu our coordinator and specially to our many local expert tour guides in Thailand and Japan:

Our recent three-week trip to Thailand and Japan, was planned and executed flawlessly by KimKim and Ms. Kelly Lu, and exceeded every expectation at very reasonable price. From the initial consultation to the final farewell, the experience of visiting multiple cities in each country was flawless and fun and a testament to KimKim's professionalism and Kelly's exceptional attention to detail and responsiveness to our last second changes during out trip.

Kelly listened carefully to our desires, and the places we wanted to visit and why.... She then crafted different distinct itineraries that captured the essence of our interests. Her knowledge of both countries and ability to hire exceptional local tour guides was impressive, and her suggestions were invaluable in shaping what turned out to be an almost perfect adventure that my daughter and I will never forget.

Once we chose our itinerary, Kelly took care of everything. All you need to do is arrange your plane fare there and back. They tale care on everything else. For example, plane and train tickets inside Thailand & Japan that she seamlessly coordinated, Kelly, thru the local agent Kate, secured access to sold-out events like the enchanting Chiang Mai Light Festival, which my daughter will remember all her life adding magical moments to our trip.

Kelly meticulously curated a complex comprehensive timetable, including hotels, transportation, and chose exceptionally talented local guides local guides. like "Kate" (Whose Thai name is Por-kaew Limlimtrakul) in Chiang Mai who was able to get tickets to the sold out and coveted Chiang Mai Light Festival. Kate also arranged for a private visit to an elephant sanctuary where my daughter interacted with the rescued elephants and their keepers. Lastly Kate arranged for my daughter to take a Thai cooking class from a respected Thai chef. Mr. Luk in Phuket who took us in one of his new speedboats to dive, snorkel and tour the PiPi Islands where many scenes in the James Bond films were shot. Each guide was a delight: knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about their respective fields, be it sushi-making or history of their country or religion, local customs, local delicacies, out of the way restaurants where we had exquisite meals. The drivers were also talented and we felt very safe in their large new vans that we were transported in. They enriched our experience with fascinating insights and genuine hospitality. I wont forget any guide; Kate in Chiang Mai, Mr. Noon in Bangkok, Ryoji in Tokyo who took us on a wonderful all day trip to Mt. Fuji and found a tiny country restaurant with only four tables, run by an elderly local grandma, who prepared an exquisite "Hoto" pot for our lunch, Yakuso Nagal who found out of the way shops, with unique, fascinating clothing for my daughter to sample and buy, The knowledgeable and funny Mr. Son in Kyoto who was a senior executive at a large hotel chain before retiring and becoming a guide, Ms. Yumi Takahasiin in Tokyo who knew the lay of the Tokyo extremely well and was flexible and fun to be with, Hiroko in Kyoto, who was knowledgeable and explained things extremely well and last but not least, Mr. Patrick Noon in Bangkok, who taught us much about the history of the many temples we visited and the history and customs of Thailand.

Throughout the trip, Kelly remained a constant presence, via email or text, ensuring our comfort and satisfaction. Her responsiveness and proactive approach were truly remarkable. She anticipated our needs and addressed any concerns promptly and efficiently.

The trip itself was a journey into wonder. We explored bustling cities, serene temples, and breathtaking landscapes, all with a sense of ease and enjoyment. KimKim and Kelly's meticulous planning, and their indispensable local guides, ensured that we didn't miss a single beat, maximizing our time and allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the local culture.

Beyond the impeccable logistics, the most significant impact was the genuine care and dedication Kelly demonstrated throughout the process. She treated us not just as clients but as valued guests, crafting a personalized experience that we will cherish forever.

We wholeheartedly recommend KimKim and Ms. Kelly Lu and the guides mentioned (and any I may have forgot to mention) above to anyone seeking an exceptional and unique travel experience. Their expertise, professionalism, and genuine warmth transformed our dream vacation into an unforgettable reality.

Mariano was Amazing!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything was perfect here!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had such enjoyable experiences on our trip to Chile with our family and cousins spending the first 8 days in Santiago attending the 2023 Parapan Am Games to watch our son and his team 🇨🇦 athletes compete and medal in Goalball 💕and touring around an amazing city. From there we coordinated 6 days of tours and transfers with Angel and greatly appreciated the personalized service he provided us with from boating out to see the Penguins in Zapallar, visiting the Vina Del Mar beaches, watching a beautiful sunset (thanks to Alex) as well as Sandboarding on the Dunes in Concon, next we visited Valparaiso with Magdalena on an awesome food and wine oriented Gastronomic tour. We then ventured on our first ever Traditional Cooking class with Sebastian that we so very much enjoyed and also fit in a wine tour in the Casablanca Valley that also included lunch. And last but not least have rave reviews for Eduardo our driver who was fantastic and as we made our way back to Santiago enjoyed a few stops including to check out a 1.4km (I believe) pool that is oceanfront and to another locale (the name escapes me) for a fantastic lunch and some last minute shopping in the village shops!

Thanks so very much Angel, Eduardo, Alex, Magdalena, Sebastian (and his sous chef) for creating such awesome experiences for us to remember for years to come!!

Activity Reviews

Valparaiso and Viña del Mar Half Day Tour - Transfer to Airport

Valparaíso

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting and Optional Lunch at Casablanca Valley - Transfer to Valparaiso

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sandboarding at Dunas de Concon

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gastronomic Route

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking class in Valparaiso Private group

Valparaíso

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Penguin Island in Zapallar Private Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was an amazing experience !
Our tour guide John and driver Mike were so accommodating , excellent trip planning . They went above and beyond my expectations. Kudos to this team in Kimkim. I highly recommend them !

We are beyond grateful to Kim Kim for connecting us to Sharron, an incredible trip planner, and to Sallam, our remarkable tour manager. This dynamic duo made our journey an unforgettable experience.

Sharron's role in planning our trip was nothing short of brilliant. Her attention to detail, understanding of our preferences, and ability to create a seamless itinerary set the stage for an extraordinary adventure. She curated a journey that perfectly balanced adventure and relaxation, ensuring we experienced the best of each destination.

Sallam, our tour manager, was the embodiment of professionalism and warmth. His impeccable management skills and profound knowledge of the locales we visited enriched our journey immensely. He was always attentive to our needs, ensuring each day was comfortable, enjoyable, and hassle-free. Sallam's personal touch and dedication to our well-being truly made us feel cared for and safe.

This experience has not only left us with memories to cherish for a lifetime but also set a new standard for what we consider exceptional travel planning and management.

In conclusion, a heartfelt thank you to Kim Kim, Sharron, and Sallam. Your combined efforts made our trip not just a vacation, but a series of unforgettable experiences. We eagerly look forward to our next adventure with your team!

Our trek in the Himalayas arranged by Sangita and her team was AMAZING. Everything was coordinated really well and we had a terrific experience overall. The guides she set us up with, Bhim and Mahn, we excellent. They were really kind, funny, knowledgeable and provided great service. We were impressed by all of the tea houses and lodges that we stayed in along our trek and the route was well planned based on our groups needs. Sangita and her team were very professional and made sure we had everything we needed and answered all of our questions. We had 2 meetings with them before the trek so that we could hash out all the details and they made sure we were 100% set. I would definitely recommend booking with Sangita for any Nepal adventures whether it is a trek, a Chitwan jungle tour, or anything else that they offer.

This was my first time using KimKim and it will not be the last!

My friend Howard and I decided to make Morocco our destination. We decided on a date but neither of us really had time to plan a trip. KimKim to the rescue!

We looked at the various itineraries. I was impressed with the varied options. Options include how many days you want to visit as well as the kind of trip you want to take. One can choose active, historical and many others.

Once we decided on the amount of days and what kind of trip we wanted, that's when Saīd came into the process. I definitely could not have done this without Saīd and I am very grateful for all his work. Saīd is incredibly patient and thoughtful. He is clearly driven to make sure that each and every traveler has the experience they desire. My questions were often answered immediately or because of the 6 hour time difference, by the next day. As you get closer to the date, Saīd will give you his WhatsApp number so you can contact him for anything.

We were given an excellent driver. Neither of us wanted to deal with driving in Morocco. If you are planning to do your own driving, the main roads and highways are excellent. I live in New York City and I thought the driving in Casablanca and Marrakech seemed very chaotic. We were very happy with the choice to have a driver, and Lahcen was wonderful. His driving is flawless. In addition to his professionalism, he is incredibly kind and thoughtful. We were in great hands!

We had a guide in Chefchaouen, Abdessalam. I enjoyed his tour of the Blue City. I definitely learned quite a bit. You will test your fitness going up and down the steps and hills of Chefchaouen. Our tour included two nights in a Riad there. The Riad was a lovely place. Keep in mind that the “star” system there is a little different than in the States. These Riads are great, one really gets a flavor of the country there. However, the amenities may be a little more rustic than you expected. The rooms have full bathrooms, but towels might be a little scratchy. I found the beds to be very comfortable, and I am usually hard to please on that matter.
Overall, I think Chefchaouen is done in one day, maybe one overnight. I didn’t need to stay two nights.

Off we went on the road to Fes! I had forgotten that we were going to see the ruins at Volubolis. If you like ruins, think Pompeii, then you will love Volubolis. Howard and I had a great time walking around. The weather was picture perfect. Keep in mind that people might come up and offer their services as a guide. We declined.

Meknes is the next stop. First lunch. I wasn’t crazy about the lunch spot. It’s a bit too touristy, but the food was fine, service was fine. If you like dining on terraces Morocco is the place for you! Keep your eyes open for storks! Also, kitty cats are all over the place. Do not be surprised if they come right up and sit in your lap. Cats are not abused, but are not particularly well cared for. Some cats will beg for food.
The mausoleum in Meknes is lovely.

We reached Fes around time for an early dinner. The Riad there was also all that you hope a modest hotel to look like. Gorgeous lights, tiles, table and sofas. November is a little cool in Morocco, so bring your winter jammies! The area where this Riad was situated didn’t feel very welcoming. So we decided to eat dinner at this Riad both nights. The food there was very good and the service was very kind and friendly.
In the morning we met our guide for the Medina in Fes. Sharif was fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, FUNNY and patient. I learned so much from that experience. I don’t know how anyone could go to the Medina without a guide. It is an endless and chaotic maze! As promised in the itinerary, you will see the food stalls, tanneries, copper and brass stalls and so much more!

Next day, off to Marrakech. That was a long driving day. We took the highways. Lahcen always knew the best places to stop. Keep in mind that it is appropriate to tip the bathroom attendant- so hold on to your coins for that! The Riad in Marrakech was my favorite. The staff was particularly friendly. The Riad itself was beautiful. They have a lovely sunken circular sofa, a mini pool (too cold for us to swim in November), breakfast on the terrace and even a little jacuzzi. This Riad is also well located for visiting the old city. Keep in mind that sadly the earthquake in the lower Atlas mountains did have some toll in Marrakech.

We declined the guide in Marrakech because I have a friend who lives there. If we had stayed for an extra day there a guide would have been wonderful. We did visit the Yves St. Laurent museum, which was lovely. If you think you might like it, go!

We had a visit to a Hammam. If you like saunas, enjoy! There are other spa services available as well.

I recommend the restaurant OTTO. It is very close to the Riad where we stayed. This was the most elegant place we ate. Expensive by Moroccan standards, but well worth it.

Next day, a short drive to Essaouria. Finally a sea-side area! This area is an enjoyable change from the other cities. It feels more open. We took a long walk on the beach. If you want there are horses and camels to ride. Do your souvenir shopping here! If this is of interest, Essaouria is one area where you can find alcohol. In fact, it is the area where wine was produced for centuries. Another thing I noted was a lot of cigarette smoking. I am not a smoker and at times I found this to be unpleasant. Two nights there and then off to Casablanca to stay overnight and then leave.
I believe most people will say that from a tourist’s view there is not much of interest in Casablanca. We did see the Hassan ll mosque. It’s lovely and near the ocean. We didn’t do anything else in Casablanca. The hotel we stayed in is called a five star hotel. The rooms are clean and new. Again, there is something that feels a little disheveled about this hotel. Rooftop dining, pool there is even a gym. This hotel made me miss the Riads we stayed in during the trip.

Overall, this was an excellent trip. I got a taste of many places. Saīd was so helpful. I am sure that if there had been any kind of medical emergency Lahcen and Saīd would have jumped into action. Both Saīd and Lahcen made our trip a huge success and we wouldn’t have met them without KimKim!

Hotel Review

Riad Ghita

Fes

Lovely experience! This Riad is beautifully decorated. The rooms are clean and attractive. The service was lovely! Food was excellent in this Riad. The location is close to the Medina and a little chaotic. Beds were comfortable, bring your warm jammies if you are traveling in November!

Authenticity & Character

Lovely decor

Location

Staff

Very good food, friendly and professional service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Was a little chilly in November

Activity Review

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Sharif was an excellent guide. I learned a lot and I could not have enjoyed the Medina without his help.Take your time

Quality of Experience

Food

Food at the Riad was very good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So knowledgeable, friendly and professional

Transport

Excellent driver!

We had a great trip to Costa Rica. The highlight was the Monteverde Cloud Forest - very pretty and great guides. One of the best parts of this trip was simply not having to worry about any of the details - all of our transportation was pre-arranged to pick us up at our hotels and they always arrived on time or a few minutes early. The transportation was also comfortable and the drivers friendly and helpful. Erwin, who helped us with planning, made good suggestions and was also flexible to meet our specific desires. Overall, would recommend using KimKim for planning your trip if you want to be able to not worry about the details and just enjoy your time in Costa Rica.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Corcovado and Hiking at the San Pedrillo Ranger Station

Uvita

Good trip to a really remote area that many people don't get to visit. We had good guides who helped us see wildlife. We saw many monkeys and a sloth, also some really cool birds. (We hadn't seen these elsewhere in Costa Rica.) Only 2 drawbacks: at the start we were in a pretty big group which made it difficult to hear the guide; it's a 90 minute boat ride each way, which makes for a long day. Instructions said to bring bathing suit and towels, but we didn't actually swim on this trip. (There was a very short opportunity to swim in a pool in a stream, but nowhere to change from hiking clothes to swimwear.)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Great experience. Our guide taught us a lot about both the animals and plants/trees in the cloud forest. We saw many cool birds and trees, and even a couple of monkeys. Moved at an appropriate pace and got a good sense of the forest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Walk

Monteverde

Fun way to see the rainforest. Our guide did an amazing job of finding wildlife we would have never found on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Fun to learn about 3 different products in a single tour. This was informative and interactive - we got to actually press sugar cane and crush/mix chocolate ingredients. The guide was fun and informative. The only downside was that we had a pretty big group (10-12), so sometimes there was side chatter and people who seemed to distract or slow down the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

We didn't really learn anything here. It was a big group (~20 people) and really just 1 big cooking station, so we ended up watching a lot and not doing much cooking ourselves. Everyone helped chop some vegetables and made our own tortilla, but not much else in the way of cooking. The menu.. Rice - we measured some rice and water into a rice cooker Vegetable saute - chopped a few vegetables, but that was it Beans - cooked ahead of time Chicken (main course) - cooked ahead of time. No information about how it was made, ingredients/seasoning, etc Tortillas - we got to make these, which was good Fried plantains - a couple of people (on the other end of the kitchen) fried these without the rest of us knowing/seeing anything about it. The food was decent, but overall we just really didn't learn much about the local cuisine and we didn't actually do much cooking for ourselves. (We've taken classes in other countries where we each had our own cooking station and made everything ourselves.) May be an okay activity for college-aged people or people just looking to fill an itinerary, but really not good for people know love to cook and want to learn.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Walk & Sky Tram in Arenal Volcano (hanging bridges and aerial tram)

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great tour. We were in a small group (1 guide, 4 guests), which made the walk really interesting - we had time to ask questions and have personalized experience. (guide told us that sometimes the have groups of 20... that may not have been as enjoyable.) We was coati, snakes, spiders, and learned a lot about the plants and trees in the rainforest. One downside - there were only 2 hanging bridges on our walk. Given that it was called a "sky walk", we expected that there would be more bridges than that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our guide for the walk (Reinaldo) was fantastic. He found so many snakes and things we wouldn't have found for ourselves, and was very knowledgable.

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Good overall. We were the only people on the tour, which gave us personalized attention. The hot springs were nice, but it would have been good to have more instruction about which pools to visit in what order. Dinner here was just okay - nothing wrong with it but also nothing special.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just completed our trip to Iceland and we must say that our local specialist Adam went above and beyond in planning our trip. From day one, Adam showed enthusiasm in planning our trip and it carried over while we were in Iceland, as he checked in a few times to see how things were going. (I must apologize to Adam for not responding as we were too busy enjoying the trip to be on the internet!) I had previously traveled to Iceland with my son and he had used KimKim with a different specialist. I am glad I had decided to use KimKim for the return trip to Iceland with my wife this time. Adam did such a wonderful job planning our itinerary down to the last amazing detail with helpful suggestions and additional insights/places to check out along our routes. Everything, I mean everything, was stress-free and hassle-free from the minute we landed to the minute we boarded our return flight home. Rental car, hotels and our excursions were taken care of with ease. Iceland is such a beautiful country with so much to see and do. Adam was able to break down our journey into bits and pieces so we didn't feel overwhelmed. Unfortunately with the seismic activity and volcano threat, we weren't able to visit the Blue Lagoon as they were closed. Adam was very helpful in finding replacement activity and made sure we were refunded for our tickets. Thank you very much Adam, you made this trip very enjoyable and memorable for my wife and I. Your enthusiasm in planning our trip was a blessing and much appreciated. I sure hope to have you as a specialist again in the future when I make a return trip to the Land of Fire and Ice. Overall, for those of you that are on the fence about using KimKim for trip planning, I have had KimKim involved twice on trips and both times I have had a wonderful and hassle-free experiences. This company is great at what they do and I have/will recommend KimKim to family and friends that are planning trips.

We just returned from a wonderful 3-week trip in Ecuador that included Quito, Amazon jungle, touring down the Andes to Cuenca, and Galapagos cruise. Our travel agent Alvaro did an excellent job helping us plan our trip - he was very knowledgeable, patient, and kind. All our guides were excellent, special shout-out to Christian, Sergio (aka Mike Tyson), and Pablo. Our favorite experiences were the Napo Cultural Center in the Amazon, biking/hiking at the Cotopaxi and Chimborazo volcanoes, and cruising the Galapagos.

I cannot rate KimKim’s involvement highly enough. First of all Cami who helped develop an itinerary for a group of people of varying ages and abilities, with the added complication of internal flights being cancelled late on in the preparations. The hotel selections, transportation and local drivers and guides were all fabulous and knowledgable people. We felt safe and looked after throughout and couldn’t have covered so much ground so quickly, in a such a stress-free way without all the steps being put in place for us. Out thanks go out to Ana and Jhon especially, and also to Jody. I would certainly recommend to friends.

Hotel Reviews

Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel

Banaue

Huge, state owned hotel . We were only there for a night so didn’t get to explore the pool area etc. great evening buffet, welcome drink of warm ginger tea (delicious), comfortable rooms although trying to find a socket to charge phones that wasn’t falling out the wall was tricky. The most amazing views from the balcony and perfectly situated. There was a conference of actuaries on whilst we were there (who were having tremendous fun) so a local dance and costume exhibition was put on. There are shops in the hotel which have a great range of gifts - best we saw in the Philippines - but be prepared for the unwanted badgering you get if you step within 20m of the shop entrance. They would get more sales if they let you browse in peace!

Authenticity & Character

It was one of the weirdest hotels I’ve stayed in . Hard to explain why . It felt like it had been designed in Russia and lifted up and put in the Philippine mountains!

Location

Amazing views

Staff

Desk staff were very helpful . Our packed was half an hour late and you needed a magnifying glass to find the chicken in the chicken salad sandwich.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms has seen better days but we’re clean and adequate including tea and coffee making facilities.

Misty Lodge and Cafe

Sagada

Basic but friendly place .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Luna

Vigan

Beautiful hotel. It was very quiet when we were there so we had the pool to ourselves. Local food. Clean , comfortable rooms and very smiley staff.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful old building that was wonderfully restored.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Great recommendation if travelling from T2 Manilla airport . Very busy hotel with lots of security but clean, well appointed rooms and comfy beds, great breakfasts and lovely roof top pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Batad Rice Terraces

Banaue

We chose not to walk down to the terraces beyond and on to the waterfall but the younger members of our party did and loved it - although a hard, hot walk. Views from the cafe were amazing . Guides were helpful and considerate - always safety first and patient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Banaue, Hapao and Bangaan Rice Terraces

Banaue

Fabulous to see the different rice terraces, here about the history and farming practices.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unbelievable driving by Jhon on wet, dark and rock strewn roads. Views were amazing in daylight and he took less used routes so we would get the full experience.

Sagada's Echo Valley

Sagada

I was really keen to see this and understand more about it . Involved a short hike to get there . I found this interesting but was a little underwhelmed in that there is no more to see than this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and friendly - and concerned for well-being and safety

Transport

Sagada caving

Sagada

I didn’t go on this trip but the younger members of my party did and had a great time . The guides were excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great fun to be with

Transport