Kimkim Trip Reviews

We took quite an independent approach- limited guides (just one morning in Bergen with John who was great). However it was really good knowing Mathia was “there” ready to respond immediately to any queries or to communicate ahead for us such as when one of our scheduled buses was late. We stayed in really lovely hotels, saw amazing scenery, did some big hikes and had a fabulous time. We’re confident travellers but it was so good having initial ideas and guidance from Kim Kim in planning the trip. I’d definitely recommend the service

Duncan was a terrific planner and guide for our first trip to Iceland! He listened to our interests and provided terrific options. The itinerary, restaurant suggestions, and optional activities were all first-rate! When we had a few questions during our trip, Duncan was immediately available & always helpful! Overall a great experience! Thank you Duncan!!!

Dat was incredibly responsive as we were planning the trip, as we went through 4 iterations before settling on a final itinerary. And during the trip when there was a hiccup, he was quick to be responsive and made mid trip adjustments. He was clear about all that was included and set us up with fantastic hotels and guides. We learned so much about Vietnam and the wonderful people who live there.

We are very grateful for a wonderful experience in Tanzania organised by Joseph and his team. Our driver/guide for the safari part of the trip was Agrey who was tireless in ensuring that we had every opportunity to see the wildlife and looked after everything for us. We also enjoyed his company and willingness to share his expertise, experiences and insights. The cultural aspects of the tour gave us an opportunity to interact with the people of Tanzania as much as could be expected in the time we had. We felt that we had some special experiences and not as if we were on a tired tourist trail. The accommodation arranged and the activities were perfect for us and fitted the type of tour we requested. On the basis of this trip, we would have no hesitation in recommending KimKim to others. Many thanks to Joseph and Agrey for a special time.

Tamer was great with local color and super responsive. And our guide Sebastien in Quito/ Cotopaxi/ Otavalo/ Baños was awesome. He showed us all the highlights and provided tons of inside color. Would highly recommend!

Activity Review

Canyoning in Baños – Quito

Ecuador

Our guides were super knowledgeable and genuinely loved what they do - and the feeling was contagious. It was a great day

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Melardo was super high energy but really tuned into how everyone’s comfort level

Transport

All guides and drivers were excellent

We could not have done this trip without Terri and her guidance. The sites were incredible. The guides at each attraction were helpful and knowledgeable, and even accommodated my walking with a broken foot (that was kind of a crazy thing to do but I was determined!). We worked with Terri for 3 years to plan the perfect visit for my son, who has Icelandic roots. We had to cancel and rebook because of COVID and other factors, and she was patient and understanding. The do-not-miss pieces were the trip into the volcano and the zodiac boat to the icebergs, but everything was breathtaking.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

Fabulous location, great location, excellent staff, outstanding meals.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Laki

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Very comfortable, excellent staff, great breakfast, good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hjardarbol

Ölfus

This was the calibre of a hostel, and we expected better. There were so many deficiencies that could have been corrected: light bulb out in the hallway so we couldn't see to put our key in the door; no daily room cleaning; hard to find staff at the desk; no ice available (I needed to ice my broken foot daily); 2 hot tubs, one of which was not very hot and both were dirty, including a rusted out canister that probably held the chlorine for water cleaning; no screens on the windows at a time when we were told not to open our windows because the midges were biting; and more.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

Great location, nice room, helpful staff, excellent breakfast.

Staff

very helpful and understanding

Cleanliness & Comfort

great room

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Lovely way to relax at the end of the trip, especially after all of the driving we did.

Quality of Experience

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

beyond my wildest dreams to see glaciers up close.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Inside the Volcano Tour

Iceland

Breathtaking

Quality of Experience

Reykjavík Classic Whale Watching in the Midnight Sun

Reykjavík

We saw whales and dolphins dancing at the back of our boat. Our guide said that was very fortunate - and amazing.

Quality of Experience

the guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Actually we had our own car to get there.

We planned this trip inspired on the movie Encanto and it paid off! Our group included two seniors, 2 adults and 2 kids (7,8 y/o). We started in Medellin and then visited the Eje Cafeteo. Everything was taken care of. All tours were gear to both adults and kids. My daughters loved the visit to the Silletera Farm. Don Nacho showed them how to build their own flower arrangement. The coffee tour was also super interesting and the whole process kept the seniors and children engaged. It was a little difficult for my mom due to mobility issues but overall Hacienda Combia was an excellent choice. We also went to a chocolate farm (El Turpial), where we learn how to make our own bar of chocolate from scratch, a wonderful hands on experience. We also planted palm trees at Cócora Valley and made baskets in Finlandia. The meals that were included were delicious. Communication was excellent. Overall, I highly recommend going to Colombia. It was an unique lifetime experience for my kids to enjoy w their grandparents.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

I would consider this luxurious. Because it is an eco g friendly hotel it does come w some bugs, but nothing that would stop me from staying again. Rooms were clean, beautiful and spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostería Mi Mónaco

Armenia

Family own and away from the noise. Peaceful. Well kept.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little tricky to come and go from but if you plan ahead or if you have a car it would be perfect.

Staff

Always willing to help w a smile!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bh El Poblado

Medellín

Close proximity to all and very convenient to access food and entertainment.

Location

Next to Santa Fe shopping Mall

Staff

Breakfast was served with delight!

Activity Reviews

Cacao Experience - Finca El Turpial

Colombia

We love the Turpial. Mr. Pierre was wonderful and the experience was amazing for all ages. Not only we were able to enjoy making chocolate from scratch but also other fruits from his farm.

Quality of Experience

Visit of Cocora Valley, Filandia & Salento

Salento

Carlos, our tour guide, was amazing. His knowledge of the fauna and flora of the area was very educational. The views were stunning. Planting a palm tree was one of the highlights for my children

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We love Carlos and Guillermo. They made our experience fun.

Transport

Peñol Boulder & Guatapé Boat Trip

Medellín

Beautiful sightseeing. Some of us were unable to do the hike to the top but were able to enjoyed the views from the Mirador while enjoying snacks. The boat was a surprising experience that we were not expecting. The boat guide was very entertaining!

Quality of Experience

Food

We enjoyed our lunch. We met the owner and chef of the restaurant and were very please with his offerings. He went out of the way to please our picky eaters.

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

A most do. Bringing to my children the aspects of different ways of living in other countries was refreshing and educational for them. We really enjoyed the art and the culture behind Comuna 13.

Quality of Experience

Pablo Escobar History Tour

Medellín

Without glorifying Pablo Escobar, the story behind the recovery after the damage he did was interesting and enlightening. From a historical and educational point of view, we enjoyed learning how Medellin grew to be the city it is now.

Quality of Experience

Lina, our guide was very knowledgeable and was always attentive to our needs. She adjusted the tour based on our preferences and capabilities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both Fabian and Lina made the tour interesting. We felt comfortable and at home with their grace and kindness.

Transport

Visit to Parque del Café

Colombia

A most do if you have kids. Following the recommendations from our tour guide Carlos, we got there early and were able to do w/o lines. The cafe show was very colorful and professional.

Interactive Coffee Tour in Hacienda Combia

Armenia

The tour and experience were amazing. Very informative and engaging. The walk is not for anybody who has mobility issues though, but for those able it is a most do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Silletera Culture & The Flowers of Santa Elena

Medellín

Amazing! Don Nacho was one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Streetfood Experience

Medellín

Our experience was limited due to my mom’s mobility issues . What we had was great. We wish we would have been able to do more.

This was our first time using KimKim, but it won’t be our last. Thomas was excellent and was in top of everything throughout our trip. And the app he sent us was excellent. It even worked offline for all of our hikes through the mountains.
Highly recommend KimKim and Thomas.

Mathia was fantastic. He found places and recommendations we would not of known on our own and each one was perfect. His level of service was outstanding. He was proactive and responsive. Everywhere we turned was another beautiful view and friendly face. I can't wait to come back and discovery more of Norway.

Thanks to Kimkim we were able to experience yet another amazing vacation! Taking us through the breathtaking Highlands of Scotland, this trip left nothing to be desired! We were able to enjoy every minute of it and are already reminiscing of our great hiking trip on the West Highland Way.

We booked a roundtrip through the Scottish Highlands and were assigned Stephen as our local travel specialist from the High Point Holiday Team. He customized our trip and included all our special requests such as visting the Isle of Skye, taking the Jacobite train and including some cultural activities (e.g. visit Culloden battlefield).

Hiking the West Highland Way was our highlight and gave us the long desired opportunity to really experience the Scottish wilderness and raw beauty.

The accomodations along our journey were very well chosen and also included a brand new hotel, with cute little eco pods, spa facilities and delicious dining options (The Bracken Hide)!

The local travel agency "High Point Holidays" was very responsive and helpful, especially in assisting us in altering some of our travel plans due to a missed flight connection. Here, the emergency number they provided us with turned out to be of crucial help more than once! Moreover, they definitely managed to sweeten our journey along the West Highland Way by providing a great roadbook, a personal hand-written message and a little customized gift. A thoughtful gesture that made us feel very welcome in Scotland.

The Isle of Skye day tour seemed a bit rushed and touristy, leaving us almost little to no time to explore certain places (e.g. 20 minutes at Dunvegan Castle, only a quick pit stop at the Talisker distillery). Thus, we got to see plenty of nice spots, yet, we personally would have prefered to visit less places in order to be able to walk around and have more time to take it all in. The tour advertised whisky tasting and local hikes, but gave us no chance to actually do these activities. Nonetheless, the Isle of Skye was a beautiful place and definitely an absolute must-see!

Our specialist Stephen was very helpful in organizing this amazing trip and always showed interest in our well-being by checking in with us multiple times throughout our journey. A minor point of critizism would be the slight lack of responsiveness to the questions we asked prior to our travel departure. We did make use of the KIMKIM platform by commenting on specific details of the trip plan and posting some questions below the descriptions but often did not receive any answers to those questions. Stephen did, however, initiate a final call to ensure that we were sufficiently prepared for our journey. Worth mentioning is also that all members of the travel team seemed to really care about the successful conclusion of our trip. We very much appreciated this personal touch to our journey and would like to thank Stephen and the team once again for making it such a memorable trip!

All in all this is a travel itinerary that we can highly recommend.
Warmest Regards,

Marc, Nelly & Jessy

Hotel Reviews

Blackfriars Hotel

Inverness

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bracken Hide

Portree

Some ongoing constructions. Tools and nails on the floors of the spa area. Pretty dangerous and also unprofessional

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Restaurant is overpriced and the staff is really young and inexperienced.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Garrison Hotel

Fort William

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the Loch. Plenty of shops and restaurant nearby

Staff

Didn't feel very welcome here. The woman at the reception barely noticed us. During breakfast the crew wasn't very helpful either (e.g. did not notice us or offered us a seat)

Cleanliness & Comfort

MacDonald Hotel and Cabins

Kinlochleven

The manager was really friendly and helpful! Breakfast was also really good. Might be good to have some additional healthy options, like fruit. Facilities were nice and clean.

Authenticity & Character

The Bothy Bar is a truely iconic place.....

Location

Very close to the WHW; Nice view from the restaurant!

Staff

They failed to consider dietary requirements for the lunch package. The sandwiches were soggy and inedible

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kings House Way Inn

Glencoe

Definitely book way in advance to secure a spot in the hotel. The bunkhouse is very rustique and does not offer the same level of comfort some may seek after a long day on the WHW.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bunkhouse was quite hot & smelly. No one told us that we could borrow some towels. The quality of breakfast was not very good and badly organized: Coffee machine needed to be fixed in the morning. Toaster was only brought after asking for it for several times. Only jam was offered but no cheese, no yoghurt, no scrambled eggs or fruit - so no healthy options. The crew was friendly but incredibly slow.

Bridge of Orchy Hotel

Bridge of Orchy

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful and responsive. Ramona deserves a special thanks for helping us with some special requests made due to our late arrival (after midnight)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience the best of Isle of Skye from Portree - day tour

Portree

The tour was an overall nice experience and offered many beautiful sights such as Neist Point, the Fairy Pools, Fairy Glenn and particularly the Quiraing-formation as well as the notorious Old man of Storr. However, the driver Martin seemed quite rushed and on a very thight schedule, which led to interesting driving manoevers as well as some hasty visits without the necessary time to really appreciate places. The "visit" at Dunvegan Castle for example was meant to be a lunch-break or gift-shop-consumption-stop instead of an opportunity to explore the castle - which we actually did not see at all! The tour was advertised as a "guided tour" which was somewhat misleading, as the guidance offered was merely the drive-around! Martin was friendly and did his best in offering some explanation, but those turned out to be more anecdotal. Personally, we would choose quality over quantity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Less "Need for speed", more time at scenic places such as Neist point

Culloden Battlefield private tour

Inverness

The privat tour with our very experienced guide Rhona was a special highlight for us. She really was able to vividly describe the battle of Culloden and patiently answered the many questions we had. She definitely knew all the true and untrue tales and stories about what had happened on this historic field and impressed us with her knowledge of the gaelic language. We highly recommend this tour and especially Rhona as a guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was an amazing trip to Iceland and so perfectly planned! Highlights include the puffin tour (including sand dune slides!), dog sledding, and horse back riding!!! And all the amazing waterfalls and natural wonders!!! We and the kids loved it! The only note - the ice caves were too much for half of our family - not for the height challenged. Thanks to Eric for all his help in planning!

Activity Reviews

Horses and Hotsprings

Iceland

We had a great time. We’ve gone horse back riding on other trips - this was too on the list. Beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV to the Black Beach and Plane Wreck

Iceland

So fun!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were great

Transport

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

My daughter loved it despite getting soaked. It was very challenging - walking over boards suspended above rushing water. I’d call it a challenging activity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dog sledding on dry-land

Iceland

We loved it. Our guide was adorable and so fun even when the dogs were a little naughty. Lolz We all had a great time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puffin watching tour at the Ingolfshofdi cape

Iceland

It was really great. Puffin were adorable! And added bonus of sand dune slides - kids didn’t want to leave!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was really easy to plan our trip with Nick and he made everything seamless. Even at the last minute when our flight was disrupted, he managed to change our Orangutan trip so we didn't miss out.
We wouldn't stay at the Ranee Boutique Hotel again. The room itself was OK but the breakfast is very average - weak orange juice, weak filter coffee, only bananas if you wanted fruit for breakfast (most other places at least have watermelon, pineapple or papaya.
It also advertises that there's a bar but there isn't. We wouldn't want to stay in a Hilton or Pullman but somewhere with a bit more ambiance and better breakfast would have enhanced everything.
On the plus side, all our organised tours were great. John was an excellent guide, as was Farhah who took us on the cycle tour and we felt very lucky to see proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys and the orangutans (though no dolphins).
All in all, I'd definitely recommend Kimkim and we would book with them again as the itinerary felt well balanced and still gave us free time to explore on our own.
Some other companies like yours do suggested other things to do while in an area and some recommended restaurants so if you were to enhance anything then this could be something to add - just a suggestion based on our experience in the tourism industry.

Hotel Review

Ranee Boutique Suites

The rooms are fine for a short stay with a safe and daily bottled water. We thought the breakfast was very average with a poor selection of continental options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location on the riverside in Kuching near the Chinese and Indian area - good access to a variety of restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Departure Transfer to the Kuching Airport

Kuching

All good - John dropped us directly to the airport after we'd seen the orangutans

Arrival Transfer from Kuching Airport to Hotel

Kuching

All good. John was at the airport to welcome us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mangrove & Dolphins Cruise

Kuching

We really enjoyed being out on the water for this tour. You will join a small group to do the trip even if you start out with a private guide. We didn't see dolphins or crocodiles but did get a glimpse of a proboscis monkey and a group of silver leaf monkeys. A snack - fruit, cake and biscuits along with water are provided on the trip which was good as we didn't get back to Kuching until around 8:30 pm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Really enthusiastic and vey informative about the local fishing village and the area we visited. They so wanted us to see the wildlife, even if it was a bit elusive on our trip

Transport

Bako National Park Daytrip

Kuching

Loved our trip to the National Park. John is really informative. We were able to see proboscis monkeys and do an add on trip around the shore line to see the rock erosion and rock stacks nearby.

Quality of Experience

Food

John took us for an authentic noodle lunch - very inexpensive

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of Kuching Cycling Tour

Kuching

Farhah was an excellent guide and took us around a great variety of areas. Being able to have good e-bikes made it easy for us to experience this trip although it is pretty much all on the flat so we needn't have worried. We had plenty of time to get off and take photos while she explained the history and significance of each of our stops. We visited back lanes, the spice market and the local produce market as well as historic places which made for an interesting variety. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E bikes were good quality and easy to use

Semenggoh Orangutan Centre Visit

Kuching

Loved this trip and seeing the orangutans. It is quite commercialised with a lot of people visiting at the same time, however, seeing these amazing animals in the wild was a wonderful experience. There are set feeding times each day so you have to fit in with these for a chance to see the orangutans and the park does warn that you are less likely to see them in fruit season. We saw 6 orangutans in all including a large male and a mother with baby.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rangers had walkie talkies to communicate where the orangutans had appeared

Transport

We had a wonderful time exploring Ireland. Our accommodations were top notch all around. Especially we would like to say how much we enjoyed the hospitality at our B&B stay in Cork. Our rental car from Hertz workedut inspite of the stress over the age restrictions we learned of only after full payment of our trip was made. Our only complaint was not receiving our driving and points of interest instructions.until we were already in Ireland. Overall your planning made this a very good experience. Thank you.

Mar and fenne were excellent in quickly putting together a jam packed active vacation. After weeks of trying to plan it on my own, in frustration I turned to Kimkim especially after seeing the WSJ approval. Our agent put together 2 plan options complete with costs and schedules. We chose one then changed one or two things. They had a detailed itinerary, addresses, phone numbers, confirmation numbers, emergency contact numbers…It was brilliant. I will definitely use this service again. Thank you Mar and Fenne

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Neptun

Bergen

Comfortable clean. Great location and view

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quality Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Really nothing wrong with this hotel but it was our least favorite of our trip. The rooms were small. Not really much of a view from our rooms. The very young woman at the front desk seemed new and lacked warmth as well as critical knowledge which made our interactions and stay a bit too much work, and a bit less pleasant. The slightly older woman at the front desk seemed top notch. The view from g to be patio bar was tremendous. No parking so you must fend for a spot.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small rooms

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Views, space, right in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Hotel Lægreid

Sogndal

Clean, spacious. Easy parking.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loen Apartments

Loen Apartments Fjordvegen

Clean large space. Nice balcony and views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tyssedal Hotel

Tyssedal

Amazing view. The industry near the waterfront was a bit loud as we like to sleep with the windows open. Dinner menu was good and slightly more affordable than others. Near enough to town if you have a car.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Got stuck in a quad with our grown sons. Wasn’t too bad as there was an extra toilet across the hall. We enjoyed our stay very much. Most of our time was spent outside hiking.

Fleischer's Hotel

Voss

Beautiful woodwork, patio and views. Loads of charm.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy stroll to town, the gondola, right at the train station, near the mountain bike rental

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

E-Mountain Bike Guided Tour

Voss

Amazing what the e mountain bikes can get up and over. Different than traditional mountain biking but still a heck of a work out and fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Nepali guide whose name meant sunflower (sumann??) was great. Kind patient supportive I’d highly recommend him

Fjord Safari by RIB

Flåm

Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I do not remember the young man’s name that gave the tour but he captained with Maya. He was great. He had interesting quirky stories and facts. He was funny and worked to keep all ages engaged.

Transport

Smooth

Art Nouveau Kayaking in Ålesund

Ålesund

Nice to get out on the water and see the city from a different perspective. Got lucky on the weather and the never ending twilight.

Quality of Experience

Our guide Daniel was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Daniel was professional and kind. He shared interesting stories about the history of the city as well as insight into Scandinavian culture and traditions. He recommended a good place to eat as well.

Transport

Deep Sea Fishing Excursion

Balestrand

Loved being out on the fjord. Had a great time with our captain Mons. Caught a blue ling, a sea pike and a dogfish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mons had a great sense of humor, was kind, patient, very knowledgeable. He shared some interesting stories about living in the fjords.

Transport

Guided Hike to Trolltunga

Odda

Jostin our guide was fantastic. The hike the views the stories…we loved it. Definitely a trip highlight. We also had no crowds no lines and brilliant weather.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jostin was top notch

Transport

These are the only places on earth where eastern and western architecture can now meet in harmony. The architecture tells a social history translated into excellent English on this tour! The hotels were clean, comfortable, and safe. The food was outstanding as well, I only wish I had more time!

Scotland was an excellent adventure, that was not on my radar. Kim Kim soothed the rough edges, and made our visit a memorable experience.
Parking was an issue twice, due to major concerts near our accommodations. The last required turning in our rental car a day early, just because of the parking issue in Edinburgh.

Erika planned an amazing trip for us. Every little detail was thought of. From the Birthday cake waiting in my room to the welcome I received at each and every place we stayed and activity that we took part in.

The guides were incredible. Very knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions and take care of us really well. Christian is a walking encyclopedia of plants, birds, geography, you name it! He knows it! We also adored Francisco!

The highlights, are too many to name, but in Ecuador: Hamadryade Lodge in Tena was magical and their food was five star!! River rafting on the Jatunyaku River was incredible. I wish I had stayed 2-3 nights in the Hamadryade Lodge. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But alas, we did not have the time.

Highlights in the Galapagos: The snorkeling at Kicker Rock was outstanding!! This is not something you can do with any cruise ship. Only if you stay on land. I highly recommend it. We went to a private beach later where we were the only ones with turquoise waters, sea lions, and Boobies!! My husband won't stop talking about the Hammerhead shark he saw on that trip as well as the 30 to 40 sea turtles.

There is just so much we did and I can't thank Erika enough for all of the work she did in planning this trip.
All of the places that were booked were incredible except one. Avoid Hotel Blue Marlin in San Cristobal. The Acacia Hotel in Santa Cruz was Really great and we had a balcony overlooking the town and sea. Just perfect. Our guide, Sophia, took us to see the Tortoises in the highlands and she was pure joy. We absolutely adored her. She also took us on a lot of side trips that were extra special and not on the itinerary.

Things to avoid or beware of: Always bring plenty of water and 100 sunscreen. No matter where you go. A couple of times we were caught off guard and not quite prepared as we should have been. Even a short walk can be difficult in the heat. And we had a few long ones. Pack extremely light! only a carryon. It really helped to get us from place to place and all the travel on taxis, boat taxies, etc. Beware of altitude sickness in Ecuador. HIGH elevation even in Quito.

Again, Erika's knowledge of Ecuador and the Galapogos is beyond anything we could have hoped for. She and Andrea planned the best trip. Made us feel welcome, and cared for. I hope to plan another trip with her soon.

Hotel Reviews

Hamadryade Lodge

Tena

This is one of those Once-in-a-lifetime places that is not to believed. The pictures don't do it justice. Because it is even more amazing in person. The staff are incredible. The owners wonderful. Clean, exotic, fabulous. Plan for at least three days. No less. You won't want to leave. The food should be Michelin rated it was so outstanding! Incredible dining that is not to be believed. All locally grown and fresh ingredients. What a magical place.

Authenticity & Character

Something out of a magazine. Just incredible.

Location

It is in the middle of the Amazon, yet no mosiquitos were encountered. Just amazing.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

JW Marriott Hotel Quito

Quito

Pretty nice!!! Great spa, great restaurants. Outstanding customer service everywhere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sangay

Baños de Agua Santa

Pleasant enough.

Authenticity & Character

The chandlier in the bedroom is hysterical. Very pleasant. Nothing outstanding.

Location

Right next to a beautiful waterfall. Just on outskirts of very noisy town. So perfect.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acacia Galápagos Boutique Hotel

Puerto Ayora

We got in at 9:00 am and they had already finished serving breakfast, but they reopened the kitchen just for us and quickly made our rooms available. The staff were warm and friendly and did everything possible to make us feel taken care of. Caroline was fantastic as well as the night manager. Our room was clean, fabulous, and in perfect working order. The view from the balcony overlooking the sea was exceptional. I can't recommend this place highly enough.

Authenticity & Character

It was a villa apparently that they turned into a hotel. Quite fantastic!

Location

It is nice that it is two blocks off the hustle and bustle of Main st. Quiet and fantastic.

Staff

Caroline was amazing. Sweet, patient, joyful, and took care of us so greatly. The night desk clerk was also fantastic.

Cleanliness & Comfort

perfect.

Hotel Blue Marlin

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos

Moldy room, lacking in basic necessities. Just terrible. Staff didn't provide breakfast for us which was paid for. Noisy. Run down. Everything about it is bad.

Authenticity & Character

everything

Location

four blocks from the main street and no views of the island

Staff

Didn't make us feel welcome or provide breakfast we were promised

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moldy room, to get the lamp to work you have to find a decent outlet and then screw the lightbulb in to turn it on. OMG. Janky. Beds were hard as rock. Bathrooms were modly. Awful.

Activity Reviews

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería

Galapagos Islands

Interesting museum. Tijeretas Hill was just ok. The swim at the beach with all of the Sea lions everywhere was fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Highlands Tortoise Reserve & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

So many giant tortoises! Beautiful place. Even the lunch was fantastic. Not to be missed!! our guide Sophia was fantastic. Took us to many places that were off the beaten track and felt very exclusive. Lucky us! Delicious lunch on the preserve as well. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sophia was fantastic. Really lucked out with her. She was so great!!

Transport

Reconnecting with Nature at Baños de Agua Santa

Baños

Afternoon Visit to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)

Quito

We really liked this strange little museum. It was quite fun and extremely interesting. We didn't get to the acutal monument as we just loved the museum so much and after our long day decided to head back and relax.

Quality of Experience

Food

Francisco took us to a very authentic dining experience which we really enjoyed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francisco was so wonderful!

Transport

Transfer to Airport on Baltra Island - Flight back to Mainland

Galapagos Islands

It is quite tricky getting from town to the airport. Car taxi, to boat taxi, to bus. It really helped to have a guide take us. Especially as it was at 6;45 for a 9 am flight. It went really well. In great hands.

Quality of Experience

everyone was very nice and helpful in handling our three carry on suitcases.

Food

Food was provided by our hotel. They got up extra early to help us out. so nice. Hotel Acacia.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora

This was not one of our better trips. The guide got double booked. So we had to walk to the trail head from our hotel. Really hot day, trail is about 3 or 4 km to the bay. HOWEVER, it was a really lovely walk and the beach is unbelievable. Sand like flour. SOOO many igunas. Eventually , we got to the bay for kayaking and had to wait two hours for the kayak person to show up. The bay is perfect for swimming and the water was warm. It is difficult to see much in the water. We had to then walk back and it was very hot. And find our way back to hotel as guide left us. Also no guide with kayak either. Not my favorite trip, but still worth going out there.

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Quito - Cotopaxi National Park - Baños

Galapagos Islands

Couldn't summit as it was too windy. We are talking REALLY windy. But it was fun to get up there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Christian was full of knowledge about the place.

Transport

Kicker Rock: A Snorkeling Adventure

Isla San Cristóbal

The rock formation itself is stunning! Hammerhead sharks, white fin sharks, sooooo many sea turtles and So Much More! Amazing. I believe this is only available on land tours, not cruises, so I would opt for the land stay. It really is something spectacular. And they took us to a private beach with turquoise waters and sea lions afterwards. We had the place all to ourselves. So wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was pretty good for a sea tour on a small boat. :)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jatunyaku River Rafting - Misahualli

Galapagos Islands

We really enjoyed seeing the Amazon from the perspective of the river. Outstanding. Ronnie, our guide, was fantastic! So much fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

In the middle of the rafting trip they served a delicious meal! Just yummy!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ronnie knows this river inside and out! Felt safe and he made sure to have surprises for us at every turn. Tricks up his sleeve that were quite entertaining. We had a blast!

Transport

Morning at Teleferico

Quito

The most difficult part was doing this the first day. You need aclimating to the climate first. But that said, I was still able to do the short hike at the top and REALLY< REALLY enjoyed the swings at the top! So fun and incredible view. Best swings in the world.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francisco was so great!! Loved him so much. He was very helpful, friendly and entertaining. Helped with the altitude as well.

Transport

Review from my girlfriend (who was also traveling with me):

I recently went on an amazing private tour in Morocco, and it was absolutely fantastic! We had a bunch of friendly local guides and an awesome private driver who made the trip incredible.

The best part was how the tour was tailored just for us. The company really listened to our interests and preferences, so every day was filled with activities we loved. And whenever we needed help or had questions, they were always there to support us.

The accommodations they picked were top-notch. From charming riads in bustling cities to breathtaking desert camps, each place was comfortable and in a great location.

Overall, I highly recommend this tour. With the local guides, private driver, and personalized service, it was an unforgettable experience.

Tasos is, in a word, fantastic. He had his work cut out for him, creating a 3-week trip to disparate parts of Greece, for us 2 couples with some varying priorities and preferences, and yet equally perfectionistic in our own ways, all hoping to devise a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We decided on legs in Athens, the Peloponnese, 5nights on a private sailboat around the main Cyclades islands, and a week on Crete. The trip planning was protracted, then stymied and postponed by Covid, and yet Tasos and Kimkim effortlessly allowed for this, honoring the trip plan details such as the same hotels/villas, day trips, and guides without penalty or hiccup. From the initial lengthy phone call with Tasos, to the many many email exchanges over 2 years, Tasos demonstrated complete professionalism, enthusiasm, keen attunement to our trip planning vision and wishes, as well as gentle push-back and welcome guidance when inherent contradictions called for it. Quite simply, his listening and planning skills are A+. I had never used a trip consultant before, having previously researched our own trips in extensive detail, and so was skeptical of relinquishing some control. However, I most certainly would do it again with Tasos. My husband and my favorite guides and day trips revolved around a blend of in-depth history and archeology, picturesque scenery, plus learning of local cultures and foods; for example, one fabulous day trip was to Nemea, where Dominic toured us around the fascinating ruins and archeology undertaking of the Temple of Zeus and ancient stadium, then a bike ride through the gorgeous vineyard hillsides and on to a boutique winery, followed by a visit to a local vinegar manufacturer whose mother also cooked us our best meal of our trip! Another memorable day trip was hiking the castle of Acrocorinth with Niko, and hearing all about ancient history as well as more modern challenges for Greeks. I could go on…
My husband and my only regrets, in retrospect, were not weighing more carefully the pro’s and con’s of hotel/villa locations vs amenities: were we to plan it over, we would prioritize being within a small city vs 15-30minutes drives to our beautiful remote hotels. I plan to offer Tasos lots more detailed feedback and shout outs to our favorite guides, hotels, and restaurants, but hopefully this review will highlight just how much Tasos and Kimkim has to offer!

Hotel Reviews

Villa Kyma - Chania, Crete

Akrotiri, Chania

The modern villa itself was beautiful, clean, and comfortable, with spectacular views and pool, but it was a 30minute drive to Chania. We now regret choosing a large pool over the convenience and ambiance of a luxury hotel in Chania. The villa was clearly luxurious, yet simple things were lacking like no screens on one of the view-centric master bedroom’s sliding doors and windows (lots of mosquitoes on Crete in summer!), and strangely, this large master bedroom also had no en suite bathroom, like the other, smaller bedrooms did.

Location

Too far from Chania for us, but pretty spot.

Cleanliness & Comfort

See above.

The Vasilicos

Santorini

Absolutely gorgeous in all ways, elegant but not stuffy, supremely comfortable, with artistic character and many beautiful touches, and stellar service to boot. Ideal setting, postcard perfect views, spacious rooms and storage, and they seemed to think of everything. Couldn’t be better. Well, the only disappointment was the in-house chef’s dinner on our private patio, which we had expected to be superb but was only mediocre in quality and presentation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Away from the crowds, yet walking distance to many upscale restaurants and cafes all along the gorgeous caldera.

Staff

Extremely solicitous, attentive, and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perivoli Country Hotel & Retreat

Nafplio

This hotel was situated in a pretty spot with beautiful views, and it had its comforts, but overall really underwhelming. We regret staying so far from Nafplio (though we had requested a large pool, so this must have been the deciding variable), and the location did not really allow for walks despite advertising itself as such. The common areas and rooms were quite sterile and basic, though there was plenty of room to spread out. Breakfast buffet was plentiful but mediocre. Similarly, we were pleased they had prompt laundry service, but they returned the clean laundry stuffed, completely unfolded and wrinkled, in the bag. Overall, more of a 3-star experience, where we had anticipated a more luxurious hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Zillers Boutique Hotel

Athens

My husband and I really enjoyed Zillers and would stay there again. It had immense charm and character, something we look for when traveling abroad, and a terrific location for easy walking to historic sites. It was informally elegant, as we prefer. The pretty rooftop restaurant breakfast was a highlight of the stay, serving a gorgeous array of foods and treats, with excellent service. We wish we had had dinner there! The only con’s regarding the hotel was the tight hotel room space: though we apparently had the most expensive rooms, there was limited space to walk and especially store our belongings, to the point that we couldn’t really unpack our suitcases due to insufficient closet and bureau capabilities, yet also not adequate room to keep two suitcases open either. We made it work, but this issue was a large drawback and something Tasos should know and discuss with clients in advance.

Authenticity & Character

It’s unique. As a former residence, it retains a warmth while providing a casual elegance and charm.

Location

Close to all historic sites, cafes, and on a pretty square.

Staff

Excellent customer service all around.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Only big problem Re comfort, as stated, was the poor storage space in the rooms.

Activity Reviews

Useful Information

Greece

The Athenian Democracy tour

Athens

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cretan Villages Food & Culture Tour

Greece

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Rethymno & Palace of Knossos from Chania

Chania

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Old Town of Chania guided walk

Chania

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Santorini Panorama

Drama

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Private Santorini Villages Walking tour

Santorini

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Private Farm Tour with Lunch

Paros

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Naxos Mythology Private Tour

Naxos

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Private Delos Guided Tour

Mykonos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

At sea in the Aegean

Greece

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Epidaurus Guided Tour

Greece

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nemea Farm, Wine & Mythology Tour

Greece

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Nafplio & Acronafplia Guided tour

Nafplio

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hike the Castle of Acrocorinth

Greece

One of our best days of the trip! Outstanding guide Niko, who provided not just a great hike to the castle as well as the fortress, but also extremely knowledgeable and open about life and current events and challenges in Greece, which was especially fascinating. The day ended with a fantastic luncheon at a seaside taverna, one of the other best meals of our trip.

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Acropolis of Mycenae Guided Tour 

Greece

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Premium Riviera & Cape Sounion Guided Tour

Athens

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Premium Dinner in the Athenian Riviera

Athens

(See my prior note; already reviewed).

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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