Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 16,004 ratings
Read 16,004 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Lovely Morocco
Morocco | Dec 26 - Jan 3, 2023

J
Jaime R.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023
We are finally back from our trip and although we are glad to be back, we will cherish this trip as it was a phenomenal experience. From our first day in Chouen to our last day in Casa Blanca everything worked smoothly and when there was anything to be fixed, Said delivered immediately I'd like to thank the whole KimKim team for making this possible. From Said's constant follow-up on our trip to Abdoul's very friendly and efficient service to the job done by both our guides in Chouen and... Read more

We are finally back from our trip and although we are glad to be back, we will cherish this trip as it was a phenomenal experience. From our first day in Chouen to our last day in Casa Blanca everything worked smoothly and when there was anything to be fixed, Said delivered immediately

I'd like to thank the whole KimKim team for making this possible. From Said's constant follow-up on our trip to Abdoul's very friendly and efficient service to the job done by both our guides in Chouen and Marrakesh, every little detail made our trip a memorable one.

Our day in the Blue City, the ruins at Volubilis, the Riad in Fez, our trip to the Market in Marrakesh, the donuts Hasan took us to in our culinary tour, our ATV tour in Agafay were only some of the memorable highlights of the trip

Hotel Review
Hotel Dar Mounir
Chefchaouen

Simple but very nice and the service is super friendly - one amazing fact: teh best WiFi of the whole trip!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Marrakesh Evening Food Tour
Marrakesh Evening Food Tour
Marrakesh

We had an amazing day visiting the city of Marrakesh, it's mosques, streets, and the Majorelle Gardens, and closing the day with a wonderful private food tour of the market. She took us on an interesting, colorful, and rich experience while giving us wonderful memories and flavors we will always remember. I would always contact her if we plan on visiting Marrakesh again.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Abdoul, our driver, made us feel at home from the moment he picked us up at the airport, until he saw us off to come back home. He was always warm, funny, kind and friendly and by far, one of the best drivers we've ever seen. His expertise was palpable at every moment of the trip. We couldn't be more grateful for having Abdoul take us all around Morocco!
Local specialist: Mohamed El Asely
Mohamed
Mohamed El Asely
Local specialist in Atlas Mountains | Replied on Jan 05, 2023

Hi Jaime,

Thanks for devoting some time to leave us such positive feedback.

We are really thrilled to hear that you had a great trip in the Moroccan Kingdom and that we made your experience unique and memorable. All the staff is happy to hear your kind words, that really means the world to us.

Thank you so much for your positive review and looking forward to having you again in our country.

Best Wishes,
Mohamed

Just fabulous!
New Zealand | Dec 18 - Jan 1, 2023

J
Jaya S.
San Mateo, CA | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023
Lydia and her team at New Zealand Self Drive Tours were fantastic! They were quick to respond when there was a minor issue at one of the wine cellars and the issue was resolved immediately. And this was on Christmas eve!! The app was extremely helpful throughout our drive. Just one suggestion for the folks at the New Zealand Fine Touring-- The Milford Fly Cruise Fly website is inaccurate about the pick up times from the hotels in Queensland for the 10 am trip. Please let them know that people... Read more

Lydia and her team at New Zealand Self Drive Tours were fantastic! They were quick to respond when there was a minor issue at one of the wine cellars and the issue was resolved immediately. And this was on Christmas eve!! The app was extremely helpful throughout our drive. Just one suggestion for the folks at the New Zealand Fine Touring-- The Milford Fly Cruise Fly website is inaccurate about the pick up times from the hotels in Queensland for the 10 am trip. Please let them know that people will be picked up at 8:45 am and not 10 am as stated in the app and on the website.
Thanks again, Lydia & team for a memorable NZ vacation.

Hotel Review
QT Wellington
Wellington
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges
Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges
Auckland

Murray and Erin are excellent guides!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cloudy Bay - Bookable Experience
Cloudy Bay - Bookable Experience
Blenheim

A beautiful winery and a great tasting experience. The lunch at Jack's Raw bar was just great.

Local specialist: Lydia Ford

Highly Recommended!!
Thailand | Dec 22 - Jan 3, 2023

S
steve s.
Mesa, AZ | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023
I can't say enough about the KimKim process and their team. Our first trip with them was a family trip to Italy in July 2022, and everything that they either arranged or suggested was perfect for us and our expectations. Immediately following our family time in Italy, our kids (19 and 21 years old) traveled by themselves for a week under a KimKim arranged itinerary, and most recently, our kids just came back from a trip to Thailand, also coordinated through KimKim. They have proved... Read more

I can't say enough about the KimKim process and their team. Our first trip with them was a family trip to Italy in July 2022, and everything that they either arranged or suggested was perfect for us and our expectations. Immediately following our family time in Italy, our kids (19 and 21 years old) traveled by themselves for a week under a KimKim arranged itinerary, and most recently, our kids just came back from a trip to Thailand, also coordinated through KimKim. They have proved themselves to be responsive, flexible, and reliable for each of our trips, and we have since recommended them to others.

Local specialist: Emilie Khautisen
Emilie
Emilie Khautisen
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Jan 22, 2023

Hello Steve, thank you for the lovely review and we are so glad you had a great time with your family in Thailand :)

This company is the real deal. I was skeptic...
Ecuador | Dec 16 - Dec 30, 2022

Lisa
Lisa T.
Burleson, TX | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023
This company is the real deal. I was skeptical to use a travel agent to book a trip but I am so glad I did. I found Kim Kim on a Facebook page and decided to give them a try. Matthias communicated with me in a timely fashion and listened to what I wanted and made it happen. We were greeted as we walked out of the airport and from there everything was very close to perfect. We had great hotels; great excursions; great tour guides and food. We felt safe every where we went and could not... Read more

This company is the real deal. I was skeptical to use a travel agent to book a trip but I am so glad I did. I found Kim Kim on a Facebook page and decided to give them a try. Matthias communicated with me in a timely fashion and listened to what I wanted and made it happen. We were greeted as we walked out of the airport and from there everything was very close to perfect. We had great hotels; great excursions; great tour guides and food. We felt safe every where we went and could not have asked for a better service.
From Quito to Galapagos to Banos and finally Archidona, it was a Fantastic Vacation! Thank you so much.

10 out of 10, would highly recommend

Hotel Reviews
Kuyana Amazon Lodge
Archidona

The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed! Amazing It’s kinda scary to get to but so worth the drive.

Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The food and staff were amazing. Gorgeous place
Ikala Galapagos Hotel
Puerto Ayora

Great location, friendly staff and clean rooms

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Casa Alquimia
Quito

Very quaint Was not expecting it to be warm but we got a fan and that was cured.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Holiday Inn Quito Airport, an IHG Hotel
Tababela

Nice Hotel Close to the airport Provides a shuttle

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Cooking Class
Cooking Class
Quito

My son and I did this and loved it. I came home and tried to recreate the potato soup. It turned out famously.

Quality of Experience
Learning new fruits and recipes
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Josue and Alex
Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz
Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz
Ecuador

I love turtles and tortoise so this was a real treat.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Middle of the World
Middle of the World
Ecuador

I really enjoyed this visit to both equator destinations.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Galapagos Islands

Great snorkeling on Bartolome! Penguins, sea lions, shark, octopus, sting Ray. The boat was great, the staff was amazing, Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Scuba Diving - Day Trip from Santa Cruz
Scuba Diving - Day Trip from Santa Cruz
Galapagos Islands

The dive company is fantastic. I felt safe and would absolutely recommend them and dice with them again. The only reason it was rated as a 4 is because the water was super cold and visibility was not great. My son really enjoyed the dive on the second day. Schools of sharks and rays.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Canyoning in Baños
Canyoning in Baños
Baños

Fun excursion. You do have to hike out but it’s moderate. Great time

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Explore the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Transfer to Archidona
Explore the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Transfer to Archidona
Ecuador

This waterfall is beautiful! Danny was our guide in Banos and he was fantastic. He took such great care of us.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rafting Río Jatunyacu
Rafting Río Jatunyacu
Ecuador

Super fun excursion!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Exploring El Gran Cañon & natural caves
Exploring El Gran Cañon & natural caves
Ecuador

I am out of shape but I still really enjoyed this hike and the waterfall. We did get tired and skipped the cave portion so I can’t comment on them. I would recommend this canyon hike and swim in the pool under the waterfall. Shawn was out guide at the hotel and on this excursion. He was awesome

Quality of Experience
You need to be somewhat in shape to hike this
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit
Mathias
Mathias Onisseit
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Jan 15, 2023

Lisa,

thank you for this wonderful review, I'm very happy to hear that you and Tyler had an unforgettable trip to Ecuador & Galapagos and that your decision to use a travel agent was the right one.

It's also nice to hear that your stay in the rainforest area was an outstanding experience for you; the lodge has sent me some photos of your time there which I would like to share with you through the chat!

Always safe travels,
Mathias

Fantastic Family Adventure!
Costa Rica | Dec 23 - Dec 31, 2022

Laurie
Laurie L.
Onaway, MI | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Our family of 6 adults just returned from a fabulous week-long visit to Costa Rica thanks to Bryan and Nancy at Serendipity Adventures. We flew in and out of San Jose and took private transportation to visit the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manual Antonio National Park. We worked with Bryan to book our transportation, accommodations, and most importantly our guides. We could not have been more pleased with his knowledge, professionalism and timely responses to our... Read more

Our family of 6 adults just returned from a fabulous week-long visit to Costa Rica thanks to Bryan and Nancy at Serendipity Adventures.

We flew in and out of San Jose and took private transportation to visit the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Manual Antonio National Park. We worked with Bryan to book our transportation, accommodations, and most importantly our guides. We could not have been more pleased with his knowledge, professionalism and timely responses to our questions. We were in touch with Nancy during our trip confirming pick up times and making schedule changes if needed.

From end to end the private transportation was clean, comfortable and on time. The drivers were friendly, brought snacks for us, and happily stopped for bathroom and lunch breaks. We considered renting a van and driving ourselves and are very glad we chose to leave the driving through winding mountain roads to professionals!

Christmas week was very busy but Bryan was able to find excellent accommodations in the small, locally owned hotels we requested. Each one was different but they were all conveniently located, clean, comfortable and included a hearty breakfast. We felt welcome and cared for by everyone we met.

We now know that the key to seeing wildlife in Costa Rica is getting great guides. Chris and Roy (Arenal Star), Andy (Forest Alive), Chris (Sky Adventures) and Andres (Endemic Bird) were fantastic! We appreciated their vast knowledge of each ecosystem along with its flora, fauna, insects and reptiles. They carried high-quality equipment and helped us capture amazing pictures and videos. We highly recommend them all!

Costa Rica is a beautiful country, rich in natural beauty and wildlife. We are grateful that the friendly people of Costa Rica have chosen eco-tourism over deforestation and are preserving their rain forests, cloud forests, fog forests and beautiful beaches for themselves and those of us lucky enough to visit.

Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge
Fortuna

If you are looking for an authentic ecolodge experience, this is the place for you! Rustic, individual bungalows set in the rain forest. Bungalows were spacious, clean, comfortable with modern amenities. There were howler monkeys in the trees throughout our visit and colorful tropical birds on display at the restaurant. We enjoyed walking the nature trail and were lucky to see a large Fer de Lance off to the side of the trail at a safe distance. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Not for everyone but we loved it!

Authenticity & Character
Location
10 minutes taxi outside Fortuna.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were large, clean and comfortable but kept rather dark. That might be because they don't want to disturb the wildlife...
Hotel Heliconia
Monteverde

Great location at the top of a hill outside Santa Elena. Nice views of the valley. We stayed in 3 family garden rooms in the main lodge close to the restaurant. The rooms were large, comfortable and clean with a big bathroom and walk in shower. The restaurant was great for breakfast and dinner, not open for lunch.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy 20 minute walk down hill into town but you'll definitely want to get a taxi for the trip back.
Staff
The staff at the front desk and in the restaurant were very friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa
Manuel Antonio

Resort style hotel with two pools and beach access located adjacent to the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. Very relaxing place to end our trip. Our standard rooms were large, clean and comfortable on a lower floor. Future guests might chose to be on a higher floor to have a better view of the forest or the ocean. The family pool looked great but we'd highly recommend the adult only pool, bar and sushi restaurant on the 6th floor! Excellent breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We avoided all the traffic in town because we were so close to the entrance to the park.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Studio Hotel
San José

Excellent location for arriving and departing from San Jose International airport. Very artsy vibe, clean, comfortable, very friendly staff. Nice bar and restaurant, hearty breakfast. We especially appreciated the friendly airport shuttle drivers who picked us up and dropped us off on time at all hours.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike
Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike
Arenal/La Fortuna
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Chris and our driver Roy took great care of us!
Transport
Local specialist: Bryan Leon
Bryan
Bryan Leon
Local specialist in Cartago, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 04, 2023

Hola Laurie,

Thank you for your detailed review and constructive feedback! We are glad to know that you had a nice time in our land :)

We are proud of our tour guides because they are passionate about sharing the details of our biodiversity. We will share your comments with all partners involved. It was a pleasure to work with you! Please, let us know if you like to plan a second visit.

Have a Pura Vida Day,
Bryan

Catherina and her team were very welcoming, h...
Guatemala | Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2023

E
Elena G.
Brandon, FL | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Catherina and her team were very welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a fantastic time and felt completely at ease with their guidance. Every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations! I would highly recommend Catherina and Columbus Guatemala Travel. They made our vacation run smoothly from transportation to guides, to tours, everything was perfect! Read more

Catherina and her team were very welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a fantastic time and felt completely at ease with their guidance. Every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations! I would highly recommend Catherina and Columbus Guatemala Travel. They made our vacation run smoothly from transportation to guides, to tours, everything was perfect!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Colonial
Antigua
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lomas de Tzununá
Tzununá
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Replied on Jan 04, 2023

My dear Elena, we are very grateful for being able to share time with you. We only wish the best for you and your lovely family.
Columbus Guatemala Travel will always be with wide-open arms and I will be more than happy to give you a huge hug again.
Our purpose in life is to make your experience extraordinary and all of our team members are very excited to read your kind words, thank you.

Using Kimkim to plan my honeymoon was so easy...
Italy | Dec 20 - Dec 29, 2022

J
Jillian S.
San Leandro, CA | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Using Kimkim to plan my honeymoon was so easy and definitely worth it! I recommend to anyone planning a big trip, especially in a foreign country to use this service! It can be really stressful to look up reviews of places, compare pricing, and then need help with the language after booking. Fabio and Deborah were fantastic to work with. Fabio created the itinerary and helped adjust it after some feedback. Deborah was a great contact before the trip. To start my trip, my husband and I... Read more

Using Kimkim to plan my honeymoon was so easy and definitely worth it! I recommend to anyone planning a big trip, especially in a foreign country to use this service! It can be really stressful to look up reviews of places, compare pricing, and then need help with the language after booking. Fabio and Deborah were fantastic to work with. Fabio created the itinerary and helped adjust it after some feedback. Deborah was a great contact before the trip.

To start my trip, my husband and I experienced a delay in our flight and ended up arriving very late at night. Our Italian concierge, Roberta, was phenomenal. We communicated through Whatsapp and she reassured me that we would be taken care of once we arrived and not to worry about any delays in our flights. She also helped us get recommendations and reservations for a Christmas Day lunch which was very helpful. It was also really nice to have private transfers when we moved from city to city and to and from the airport. The train station in Milan would have been a little difficult to navigate on our own.

I thought our itinerary was a great mix of small private tours and days where we were free to explore on our own. In Milan, we did a tour of Duomo as well as La Scala theater. Our guide, Barbara, was wonderful and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed this on our first day as we got our bearings in the city and were able to walk around a bit and explore the Christmas markets nearby. We also did a cooking class that was awesome. Our cooking teacher, Debora was very friendly and made it seem so easy to cook up some delicious pasta and tiramisu.

In Florence, we did a wine and olive oil tasting tour in Tuscany and a walking tour of the city that included museum tickets to see Michalangelo's David sculpture. We enjoyed all aspects of these itineraries in Florence.

In Rome, we did a tour of the Coleseum, Palestine Hill, the Roman Forum, and a separate tour of Vatican city and the Sistine Chapel. These were really crowded, so I was glad to have tickets and not worry about entrance into these tourist destinations. Additionally in Rome, we did an Aperitivo tour/food tour which was delicious and had us returning to a few favorite spots while we were still in town. Valeria, our food tour guide, was great company and we really enjoyed eating our way through Rome.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Balestri
Florence

This hotel was so lovely and perfectly located along the river. They had a bottle of Prosecco and fruit for us waiting in the room as a congratulations and that was so lovely to start our trip in Florence. The breakfast was delicious and staff was very helpful. The hotel provided umbrellas for guests and honestly the location couldn't be beat. It was so close to everything and had a beautiful view from our room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rose Garden Palace
Rome

The hotel is located right across from the US embassy and very nearby one of the large parks. The rooms itself was nothing too special and it was fine for us to just rest and be out exploring the rest of the day. The beds were a little more firm than I am used to, so it was not very comfortable for me. It was about a 20-minute walk to most attractions.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Small group Tour of Tuscany Oil & Wine Tasting with a personal sommelier
Small group Tour of Tuscany Oil & Wine Tasting with a personal sommelier
Florence

Using Kimkim to plan my honeymoon was so easy and definitely worth it! I recommend to anyone planning a big trip, especially in a foreign country to use this service! It can be really stressful to look up reviews of places, compare pricing, and then need help with the language after booking. Fabio and Deborah were fantastic to work with. Fabio created the itinerary and helped adjust it after some feedback. Deborah was a great contact before the trip. To start my trip, my husband and I experienced a delay in our flight and ended up arriving very late at night. Our Italian concierge, Roberta, was phenomenal. We communicated through Whatsapp and she reassured me that we would be taken care of once we arrived and not to worry about any delays in our flights. She also helped us get recommendations and reservations for a Christmas Day lunch which was very helpful. It was also really nice to have private transfers when we moved from city to city and to and from the airport. The train station in Milan would have been a little difficult to navigate on our own. I thought our itinerary was a great mix of small private tours and days where we were free to explore on our own. In Milan, we did a tour of Duomo as well as La Scala theater. Our guide, Barbara, was wonderful and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed this on our first day as we got our bearings in the city and were able to walk around a bit and explore the Christmas markets nearby. We also did a cooking class that was awesome. Our cooking teacher, Debora was very friendly and made it seem so easy to cook up some delicious pasta and tiramisu. In Florence, we did a wine and olive oil tasting tour in Tuscany and a walking tour of the city that included museum tickets to see Michalangelo's David sculpture. We enjoyed all aspects of these itineraries in Florence. In Rome, we did a tour of the Coleseum, Palestine Hill, the Roman Forum, and a separate tour of Vatican city and the Sistine Chapel. These were really crowded, so I was glad to have tickets and not worry about entrance into these tourist destinations. Additionally in Rome, we did an Aperitivo tour/food tour which was delicious and had us returning to a few favorite spots while we were still in town. Valeria, our food tour guide, was great company and we really enjoyed eating our way through Rome.

Quality of Experience
The tastings were a lovely experience, along with the food provided.
Food
The combination of foods paired with wine was fantastic. I enjoyed the olive oil tasting as well!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Everyone we encountered was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Transport
Small group tour of Vatican City , Sistine Chapel & saint Peter's Basilica
Small group tour of Vatican City , Sistine Chapel & saint Peter's Basilica
Rome

While it was really cool to see Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, it was overwhelmingly crowded. I felt we didn't have the full freedom to walk around and view things on our own until after the guided tour was over, in which case you had to go back around and start at the beginning. The art was beautiful though and it was nice learning about the history.

Quality of Experience
Crowd control- even though it was a small group tour, the area was crowded and we often were separated from the tour guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very friendly tour guide
Private tour of Milan Highlights (3 hours) with La Scala theatre
Private tour of Milan Highlights (3 hours) with La Scala theatre
Milan

We got lucky and were able to hear an orchestra practice at La Scala theater which was special. I also enjoyed hearing about the history of the city and exploring the Duomo with our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Evening Aperitivo Tour
Evening Aperitivo Tour
Rome

I enjoyed learning about the Jewish "ghetto" and how it's been preserved in Rome, as well as trying the different kinds of Italian foods. Even though I was full at the end, I wish there was one more stop for pizza or pasta. Unfortunately one of the places the guide was going to take us to was closed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Fasone
Fabio
Fabio Fasone
Local specialist in Venice, Italy | Replied on Jun 30, 2023

Dear Jillian,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your excellent feedback.
It was great to plan your honeymoon trip to Italy,
I am happy we were able to meet your expectations and that you liked our tours and services such as the personal concierge. Roberta is very nice and knowledgeable.
Thank you again for traveling with us and I will be very happy to arrange another trip to Italy for you.
Best regards
Fabio

Oleksandra did an amazing job of planning our...
Argentina | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2023

Sarah
Sarah B.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Oleksandra did an amazing job of planning our trip. Everything she planned was perfect and just what we wanted and needed. The shows she arranged for us were a lot of fun. All of the transportation she arranged was on time and easy to use. The hotels were perfect for our family and were clean and well located. The tours and tour guides were very informative, friendly, and interesting. Read more

Oleksandra did an amazing job of planning our trip. Everything she planned was perfect and just what we wanted and needed. The shows she arranged for us were a lot of fun. All of the transportation she arranged was on time and easy to use. The hotels were perfect for our family and were clean and well located. The tours and tour guides were very informative, friendly, and interesting.

Hotel Review
Yvy Hotel de Selva
Puerto Iguazú

It was well located and a lot of fun!

Authenticity & Character
Great character
Location
Being in the forest was fun!
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfortable and clean
Activity Reviews
Dinner at one of the Restaurants
Dinner at one of the Restaurants
Buenos Aires

Great dinner!

Explore the Argentine Falls
Explore the Argentine Falls
Puerto Iguazú

Our guide, Regi, was very friendly, knowledgeable, and made it an amazing visit!

Dinner & Tango Show
Dinner & Tango Show
Buenos Aires

This was a great show and an excellent dinner

Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Oleksandra
Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Replied on Jan 13, 2023

Hi Sarah!

Thank you very much for the review. I am glad that you enjoyed the trip!
Looking forward to your next trip to Argentina, in order to visit the "End of the World" and walk with the penguins! :)

Thank you!
Oleksandra

Checked all of the checkboxes!
Galapagos Islands | Dec 12 - Dec 17, 2022

Hillary
Hillary P.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
All of our local guides and experts were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and quick to respond with help and recommendations. In our relatively short trip, we felt like all of our major interests were planned out and we didn't feel like we missed out on anything at all. Plenty of snorkeling, hiking, and sight-seeing, with just enough downtime to check out the towns and local digs. We don't normally travel with so much hand holding, but for the Galapagos where so much is protected and must... Read more

All of our local guides and experts were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and quick to respond with help and recommendations. In our relatively short trip, we felt like all of our major interests were planned out and we didn't feel like we missed out on anything at all.

Plenty of snorkeling, hiking, and sight-seeing, with just enough downtime to check out the towns and local digs. We don't normally travel with so much hand holding, but for the Galapagos where so much is protected and must be visited with a National Guide anyway, this process and itinerary were perfect!

The lodgings selected for us were also right up our alley--quaint and boutique with a local touch, while still providing respite and privacy.

We had one morning with miscommunicated tour times, but it was not a big deal and it just meant we had more time for breakfast!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Galapagos Suites
Puerto Ayora

Photos don't do this place justice, honestly! The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with lovely balconies equipped with hammocks. Run by a mother/daughter dream team, we felt so welcomed and comfortable every night we stayed!

Authenticity & Character
Location
A close walk to local restaurants and shops while still off the main road enough to be quiet.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Casita de la Playa
Puerto Villamil

Incredible location and very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hiking Sierra Negra Volcano
Hiking Sierra Negra Volcano
Galapagos Islands

We were nervous in the morning that the overcast and misty weather would keep us from seeing the caldera, but it was actually a blessing in disguise to keep us covered and cool from the sun on the first half of the trip. By the time we were out and back from Chico, we had a wonderfully clear view and made it home without too much sunburn. Easy hike, but long with the amount of stopping and sight seeing along the way.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer Baltra Airport - Puerto Ayora with visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz
Transfer Baltra Airport - Puerto Ayora with visit to the highlands of Santa Cruz
Galapagos Islands

Our guide, Astrid, was incredible. So knowledgeable and insightful--she made all the difference to our experience of what was already fantastic sight seeing.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras
Kayaking & Snorkeling at Las Tintoreras
Galapagos Islands

Best snorkeling of the trip in my opinion. Wide, open cove with very clear waters that don't get too sandy or crowded. You're able to see a lot of sea life without too much hard work or feeling rushed by the group.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Our tour didn't actually include kayaking, which is fine in retrospect as it was the last day of our trip and I probably would have been more tired!
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

I would have liked a bit more time here, but our guide, Astrid, was extremely knowledgeable and it was so great to see the babies.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Galapagos Islands

A full day on the boat! A fairly large group, but accommodations were adequate (and lunch was so good!) and we got a bit of everything--light hiking on North Seymour with plenty of wildlife sightings, snorkeling in clear coastal waters, and beach time to relax and swim.

Quality of Experience
Would have been nice to see the boat's sails in its full glory, but not a big deal! A pretty big group, which means more chances that people are late/slow/affecting the overall experience. Really not a deal breaker at all, but we ended up preferring some of the smaller group activities. I just wish we saw more flamingos!
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkel at Los Túneles
Snorkel at Los Túneles
Galapagos Islands

Great guide who shared photos and videos after (love that!), but really a crowded location that made it hard to see all of the wildlife. Felt a little rushed. Everyone in the group seemed to have very different levels of swim skill, so it was really hard to stay focused on a given area for sea life spotting.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Isabel Pérez
Isabel
Isabel Pérez
Local specialist in Quito | Replied on Jan 05, 2023
Hi Hillary,
Thanks for sharing your trip with us! It sounds like it was an incredible experience in the Galapagos. I'm happy to hear that everything went smoothly and you were able to do all the activities and see all the sights you hoped to. I'm glad the hotels were to your liking, they're are just great, especially Galapagos Suites! I apologize for the miscommunication with the last tour pick-up time, but I'm glad it didn't impact your trip overall. Thanks for choosing us for your adventure...
Read more

Hi Hillary,
Thanks for sharing your trip with us! It sounds like it was an incredible experience in the Galapagos. I'm happy to hear that everything went smoothly and you were able to do all the activities and see all the sights you hoped to. I'm glad the hotels were to your liking, they're are just great, especially Galapagos Suites! I apologize for the miscommunication with the last tour pick-up time, but I'm glad it didn't impact your trip overall. Thanks for choosing us for your adventure in the Galapagos, I hope to work with you again in the future so you can explore more of the wonderful landscapes Ecuador has to offer.

Best,
Isabel

Overall, wonderful trip. The excursions were...
Chile | Dec 21 - Dec 30, 2022

K
Kelly R.
Crossville, TN | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Overall, wonderful trip. The excursions were great and the trips were well organized and planned. The hotel in Santiago (NH Ciudad de Santiago) was NOT a very nice hotel and not 4 star. I would not recommend this hotel. The tour guide in Santiago got lost herself multiple times and had us walking in the poor section of town for over 45 minutes before admitting she was lost. I would not recommend this company for the city guided tour. The hotel in San Pedro de Atacama was wonderful and... Read more

Overall, wonderful trip. The excursions were great and the trips were well organized and planned. The hotel in Santiago (NH Ciudad de Santiago) was NOT a very nice hotel and not 4 star. I would not recommend this hotel. The tour guide in Santiago got lost herself multiple times and had us walking in the poor section of town for over 45 minutes before admitting she was lost. I would not recommend this company for the city guided tour. The hotel in San Pedro de Atacama was wonderful and the staff was very nice. Our transfer to the airport for the flight from Santiago to Calama was way too early. As such, we caught an earlier flight and had to arrange our own transportation to San Pedro de Atacama. The excursions in San Pedro were very satisfactory. Again, we had ample time arriving to the airport in Calama prior to our flight to Punta Arenas via Santiago. I believe the flight status changes quickly, but I would have recommended a later flight so as to avoid the over 3 hour lay over in Santiago. The hotel in Punta Arenas was NOT good- the staff was very rude, the beds were uncomfortable and would NOT recommend this hotel. We had a nice trip to Magellan island and the bus ride to Puerto Natales was very comfortable. We again loved our hotel in Puerto Natales. The guided tour of the National Park Torres Del Paine was nice, but the guide did not speak good English and other than the views, we did not understand anything from the explanation. The guides on our hike to the base of Torres Del Paine explained more and spoke better English. This hike was one of the highlights of the trip. On our way back through Santiago we had an 8-9 hour layover and self arranged a half day in the Hyatt Centric hotel which was very nice. The kids enjoyed Santiago much better the second time largely related to the area of town and the niceness of the hotel.

In terms of planning, in the future a more detailed outline of the excursions may be helpful. Some included breakfast which was not always noted on the itinerary.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Costaustralis
Puerto Natales

Beautiful views from the room. Very nice hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
NH Ciudad de Santiago
Santiago

Horrible hotel- not clean. Not in good section of town. Breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás
San Pedro de Atacama

Wonderful hotel- clean and very nice staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel José Nogueira
Punta Arenas

Very rude staff. Mattresses in the rooms were very poor.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Stargazing Experience
Stargazing Experience
San Pedro de Atacama

Amazing views and experience.

Santiago City Tour
Santiago City Tour
Santiago

Guide was very nice, but she got lost more than once and took us for 45 minutes in the wrong direction around a poor area of town.

Valley of the Moon Tour
Valley of the Moon Tour
San Pedro de Atacama

Great tour- nice staff.

Hidden Baltinache Lagoons - Currently unavailable
Hidden Baltinache Lagoons - Currently unavailable
San Pedro de Atacama

One of our favorite activities. Guide did not speak much English but we were able to understand enough.

Puritama Canyon Trek
Puritama Canyon Trek
San Pedro de Atacama

Nice tour and beautiful hike.

Tour of Tatio Geysers
Tour of Tatio Geysers
San Pedro de Atacama

Amazing experience. The guide did not explain a lot. The driver seemed to know more about the area than the guide but he did not translate what the driver was saying.

Buggy Safari Through the Desert
Buggy Safari Through the Desert
San Pedro de Atacama

This guide was GREAT! He spoke wonderful English and took time to explain things.

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Chile

Kids loved seeing the penguins. Seas were too rough to go see the sea lions.

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings
Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings
Chile

The guide did not speak good English and we did not understand anything she really said. Would recommend a different guide. The ride was pretty and we were able to see a mountain lion.

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Chile

This tour was very organized despite being very large. On the itinerary it said small group. It included a nice large lunch. The lamb lunch was delicious!

Base Torres Hike
Base Torres Hike
Chile

These guides were great! Spoke wonderful English. There were 3 guides so the group could get broken into smaller groups based on speed.

Local specialist: Lorena Huidobro
Lorena
Lorena Huidobro
Local specialist in Houston, TX & Santiago, Chile | Replied on Jan 03, 2023

I appreciate your comments, Kelly, and will keep them in mind for future reference. Glad to hear overall it was a great trip.
I wish your family a fabulous New Year 2023 with many more adventures to enjoy!
Best,
Lorena

Eva was an excellent resource before and duri...
Iceland | Dec 28 - Dec 31, 2022

Kristin
Kristin T.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Eva was an excellent resource before and during the trip when things didn't go exactly according to plan. I highly recommend her, as well as Sky Lagoon, the Lava Tunnel, the Lava Show in Vik, and driving around the magical landscape that is Iceland. Read more

Eva was an excellent resource before and during the trip when things didn't go exactly according to plan. I highly recommend her, as well as Sky Lagoon, the Lava Tunnel, the Lava Show in Vik, and driving around the magical landscape that is Iceland.

Hotel Reviews
Reykjavík Marina - Berjaya Iceland Hotels
Reykjavík

Thoughtful, funky decor, great food and excellent hospitality.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Berjaya Hotel Vík
Vík

Excellent restaurant. Rooms functional, but not much more. Staff less friendly / hospitable than elsewhere.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lava Tunnel Tour
Lava Tunnel Tour
Iceland

Tour guide, Soleil, was informative and charming. Lava tunnel was impressive. A unique experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Icelandic Lava show
Icelandic Lava show
Iceland

Fascinating experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Katla Ice Cave- under the Volcano
Katla Ice Cave- under the Volcano
Iceland

This tour was a negligent disaster from start to finish. A 3 hour tour that consumed 9+ hours. The van was not properly equipped to handle the snow on the way to the cave. Consequently we got stuck and were pulled out dozens of times. It took over 6 hours to get to the ice cave after the sun had already gone down. During that time the driver provided no updates and refused to turn around even after being asked to do so when it had become apparent that we were well beyond the time allotted for the tour. At the ice cave we were not provided with either the helmets or head lamps other groups were using. As a result, we fumbled around in the dark. And the only provisions were one snack size bag of peanuts and a snack size bag of raisins that were shared by 13 people. We were towed out the entire way to the road, otherwise it would have taken us the same amount of time to get out of there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Eva Sigurðardóttir

Overall good tour but with lots of snags
Mexico | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2023

SARA
SARA R.
Gaithersburg, MD | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
The kimkim team (Leslie and Ximena) were very helpful in:
1) Planning my trip, giving me options, suggestions, etc. The trip was well planned (for the exceptions see below).
2) Helping me with any and all issues during my trip. Ximena was very responsive to all my messages and very nice.
3) My tours of Puebla and Oaxaca were very good.
Suggestions for the future: 1) Please book hotels that have a return policy, even if it costs a bit more. Something always comes up, hotel fees need to be... Read more

The kimkim team (Leslie and Ximena) were very helpful in:
1) Planning my trip, giving me options, suggestions, etc. The trip was well planned (for the exceptions see below).
2) Helping me with any and all issues during my trip. Ximena was very responsive to all my messages and very nice.
3) My tours of Puebla and Oaxaca were very good.

Suggestions for the future:

1) Please book hotels that have a return policy, even if it costs a bit more. Something always comes up, hotel fees need to be returnable up to 24 hrs before the stay, this is international practice.

2) If a tourist needs to spend a night near the airport, the hotel needs to be near the airport and not in the Historical Center. I feel silly even writing this. I mean, hello? All the traffic and 250 pesos to get to the airport in the morning, for what?

3) That my original flight was cancelled due to the cold weather is nobody's fault. But in the end I was in the MC for the two full extra days. And the team that was SO helpful in planning everything before I bought the tour kind of left me hanging. I went on internet and booked my own tours, one tasting tour in Polanco and one private guide tour through the Historical Center. The hotel staff recommended museums and how to get there. It probably cost me more, I am sure you have your contacts and your discounts. I could not even get into Palacio Nacional because there were no tickets. I was expecting, for this price, that the team would come through and help me plan those two unexpected days with the same care they helped plan the original tour BEFORE I paid. But I guess when you don't have anything else to sell, it's not that important. It left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth.

4) Xochimilco is a tourist trap. That was a unanimous opinion of all 18 people in our group. There are no flowers - they say they don't buy them anymore due to the inflation. There were a million of garishly painted cheap wooden boats in dirty water. No flowing at all because there were centimeters between these boats and they kept hitting each other. No views except the aforementioned garish boats and huge crowds. Mariachi that wanted $10 (that's $220 pesos) for ONE song. Noisy sellers of junk and drinks coming over all the time. Nothing to see, really. Maybe it was nice 30years ago but now during the holiday season? Plain awful.

That whole tour was not very successful. The guide gave a saliva-spitting raging rant about the conquista (get over it, it's been 500 years; a guy from Chicago next to me commented, "what sore losers") and kept bragging about his sexual conquests while in college. Coyocan was nice but we spent less than an hour there. Xochimilco, as I said, was awful, long waits, huge crowds... I could have spent my day better.
A good tour would be to visit Coyocan, visit the Frida Kalo museum, visit the Trotsky museum, etc.

Final note: they came at 9:07 am, not sure why I was told to be ready at 8:30 am sharp. I have no problem waiting but I need to be told that there is a time range. I worried they forgot about me.

5) The tasting tour in Oaxaca is a LOT of food. Please tell your guests not to eat anything before. I was told to have a light breakfast and in the end completely missed the last two tastings because I physically could not fit anything else in me. It's a feedback for them, not for kimkim, but it needs to be related to them. Each stop is a lot of food. They need to plan it better. They are very nice people and I really enjoyed working with them, don't get me wrong. But one can only eat so many big pieces of dough stuffed with meat/veggies.
For example, the tasting tour in Polanco in MC had seven stops but was PERFECT in terms of the quantity of food: a small cup of tortilla soup here, a (very) small tortilla with some topping there, etc. In Oaxaca they want to feed you all the good stuff that there is to eat in Oaxaca, in regular portions. It's like eating six lunches in a row. I was almost sick after it.

Again, thank you for all your help. Please take my suggestions with a good heart - I am simply trying to make it better for the next tourist. Mexico is a beautiful country with a lot to see. I will be back.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Punto Mx
Mexico City

This is a VERY nice, borderline luxurious hotel. Fantastic breakfast with a million choices that lasts till noon. Great rooms, great stuff.

Authenticity & Character
It's not authentic or anything. Just a nice hotel that could be anywhere in the world. This is not criticism.
Location
It's right in the historical center, 5 min walk to Zocalo. Taxis there cost a lot though.
Staff
Very helpful, lovely people.
Cleanliness & Comfort
That part was perfect.
Casa Pepe Puebla
Puebla

A nice hotel in the center of Puebla. Clean rooms, helpful staff. The breakfast options are limited. They charged me 25 pesos to add a slice of tomato and a couple of mushrooms to my omelet in the morning (I am serious).

Authenticity & Character
Location
The location is perfect.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Boutique Casa Garay
Oaxaca

The location is great, right in the center. The staff is very nice. The rooms are clean. It is probably the most authentic of all the hotels I visited. But it's in the old building, so the bathrooms are old. My biggest issue was the shower. You know how you turn on the water and then wait till it heats? Well, there was no way to wait OUTSIDE. You have to be in the shower to turn on the water. And it's cold for a while, plus adjusting the temperature and figuring out takes time. I kept squeezing against the wall, but still got a bit of a cold shower.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
See above about the shower. Generally the bathrooms are outdated, the drain in the sink does not work well. The room is clean though.
Histórico Central Mexico City
Mexico City

That place was almost too high-end for my tastes. I did not really need it. This is not the hotel's fault of course - I highly recommend it to those who like top-notch hotels and are willing to pay for it. If you need to just stay overnight, you can go with a cheaper and simpler option. This is a fancy-shmancy option.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Fantastic Costa Rica experience
Costa Rica | Dec 19 - Dec 26, 2022

Jaya
Jaya C.
Hermosa Beach, CA | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
We decided to use kimkim for our Costa Rica trip in December. This was our first time and we had a fantastic experience with them. Jessica planned out a wonderful trip for us based on our likings and needs. She was flexible with changes and was prompt in her responses. We visited La Fortuna, Arenal, Monteverde and Guanacaste region. All the hotels and activities were as described. We enjoyed the safari float, zip lining and night time sloth observation a lot. We had one hitch with our hotel... Read more

We decided to use kimkim for our Costa Rica trip in December. This was our first time and we had a fantastic experience with them. Jessica planned out a wonderful trip for us based on our likings and needs. She was flexible with changes and was prompt in her responses. We visited La Fortuna, Arenal, Monteverde and Guanacaste region. All the hotels and activities were as described. We enjoyed the safari float, zip lining and night time sloth observation a lot. We had one hitch with our hotel reservation not paid and had to pay out of pocket. But Jessica took care of it by immediately refunding! Overall, it was a very positive experience.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Fortuna

We got upgraded to this hotel with the views of Mount Arenal. Room was very convenient with Jacuzzi and perfect view of Arenal volcano. Staff were very courteous and helpful. Food was decent and vegetarian options were there. There is a gift shop and was quite helpful. Only issue was distance from the town. We got to use the Titoku springs for free and there was shuttle to take us and bring back. Over all a great place.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was good mix of nature and modernization
Staff
Helpful staff including the housekeeping.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Property was well maintained and beds were comfortable
Hotel Bosque del Mar
Playa Hermosa

More like 3.5 stars. Hotel is set right by the beach and very convenient to hang out. Staff was very friendly. Food was average. They did try to accommodate vegetarian food for Christmas dinner. We had ocean suite but jacuzzi didn’t really work well but since was close to beach we didn’t bother complaining. Pool was average. Loved the sounds of ocean, birds, monkeys

Authenticity & Character
Casual vibes
Location
Close to beach but far from anything else
Staff
Accommodating and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
The jacuzzi was dirty and shower setting was very low
Senda Monteverde Hotel
Monteverde

Very nice property right next to the Aguti reserve. We could see lot of birds and Animals in the property. Food was fantastic and very accommodating to kids and vegetarians. There were daily activities for family. Our suite was far away from lobby which was little painful. Housekeeping was excellent and they even did laundry.

Authenticity & Character
Setting was beautiful and property was very beautiful
Location
Quick walk to town though uphill on the way back
Staff
Staff was quite friendly especially at the restaurant. Front desk was fine but seemed not so accommodating with checking out an hour late due to our morning activity
Cleanliness & Comfort
Housekeeping was excellent and very warm. Nightly warm hot bags, chocolates!!
Activity Reviews
Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk
Sloth Observation - Day or Night Walk
Arenal/La Fortuna

Guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. He took us around a private farm and we got to see two toed sloths, toads, bull frogs, red eye tree frog, sleeping toucans and more. He took great pictures and shared with us.

Quality of Experience
Knowledgeable and friendly
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
On time
Waterfall & Volcano Hiking Adventure with Lunch
Waterfall & Volcano Hiking Adventure with Lunch
Arenal/La Fortuna

It was a small group hike. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Hiking was not very hard except for few areas. La Fortuna falls was 500 steps down and little challenging on the way back. Lunch afterwards was fantastic at the farm.

Quality of Experience
Food
Fresh and vegetarian friendly. Quite tasty
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve
Guided Walk at Curi-Cancha Reserve
Monteverde

Felt like a small reserve compared to sky. We didn’t really see much more wildlife. It was raining quite a bit so that didn’t help. We saw a male quetzal, humming birds, few other birds.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Staff could be more engaging
Transport
Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float
Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float
Arenal/La Fortuna

Wonderful experience doing slow raft on the penas blancas river. We could see monkeys, toucans and few other birds. Carlos, our guide was fun and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Carlos was fantastic
Transport
On time and comfortable
TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
Monteverde

It was our first time zip lining and with a kid. Crew was very supportive and gave all safety instructions. They repeated every time and encouraged us. Views were amazing and needed for true cloud forest view. Main lobby staff was little rude and not accommodating. Our zip lining ended late and so we were late for hanging bridges guided tour but they had us wait an hour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)
Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)
Costa Rica

We really wanted to do this adventure and we’re lucky to see a few turtles coming offshore. Couple didn’t nest but one did and we saw it digging in sand and laying eggs. It was surreal experience. You’re involved a car drive to a place and then a van drive with a group to a beach. Guide at the beach was knowledgeable but little rude. He was watching out for wild life which is very admirable but would have helped to know some of the rules/things before hand.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Catamaran Sailing Adventure
Catamaran Sailing Adventure
Costa Rica

Catamaran sailing adventure was good. Boat was clean and crew was quite friendly. Bar served drinks all the time. We got to see couple whales and sting ray but not much other wild life. It was more of party boat with music and alcohol. Would not recommend highly for kids. Snorkeling was ok. Was hoping to get some help from crew but there were lot of people on the boat so guess not possible. Food was basic but tasty. Sunset was very beautiful. It’s worth for a relaxed sailing and drinks and views.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Jennings

The overall experience of planning and bookin...
Costa Rica | Dec 29 - Jan 2, 2023

Leo
Leo Z.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
The overall experience of planning and booking was really smooth and easy. Randall provided lots of options and was patient when we wanted things to change or were unsure about certain things.
All of the tours were also great. Our tour guides were all very knowledgeable in the places we were going to and were helpful to take photos and answer questions as needed.
Read more

The overall experience of planning and booking was really smooth and easy. Randall provided lots of options and was patient when we wanted things to change or were unsure about certain things.
All of the tours were also great. Our tour guides were all very knowledgeable in the places we were going to and were helpful to take photos and answer questions as needed.

Hotel Review
Arenal Country Inn
La Fortuna

The hotel was good, the staff were all super helpful, friendly and nice and the area is conveniently located near the town center of La Fortuna with easy access to restaurants and grocery stores. Only thing would be the door is super hard to figure out especially since you can potentially be locked in the room if the key leaves the room with someone. There aren't door handles on the inside, it was a scrolling mechanism that was difficult to figure out. I think a demonstration from staff at check in could be helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Zip-Lining Tour
Zip-Lining Tour
Arenal/La Fortuna

The zip-lining tour was great. It was a lot of fun and the guides were knowledgeable, skillful and helpful. Picture service was also included at an additional fee. The only complaint would be it did feel a little too rush but was still a great time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rio Celeste Day Trip
Rio Celeste Day Trip
Arenal/La Fortuna

Great experience overall. The hike was not strenuous. It was easy and relaxing. The walk down to the waterfall was very enjoyable. Guide was knowledgeable. Food at the restaurant however had chicken that was undercooked and still pink.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall with lunch
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall with lunch
Arenal/La Fortuna

The experience was great overall however our guide flipped the schedule around where we did the Volcano hike early in the morning, waterfall during mid day and Mistico hanging bridges in the afternoon so we were thrown off a little bit but overall both experiences were a lot of fun. The waterfall was a great view and fun place to hang out. The hanging bridges was great too, there were not a lot of people since we went much later in the day but wildlife spotting was more difficult.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna

This was great and probably one of my favorite activity most of all. The Arenal Volcano Hike was not strenuous and you get to see a great view of the volcano, take pictures and walk through hardened lava. The Baldi Hot Springs was also super enjoyable and very unique. The facility was relaxing and enjoyable. Wish we could stay longer.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arenal Volcano - kayaking or canoeing on the Peñas Blancas River
Arenal Volcano - kayaking or canoeing on the Peñas Blancas River
Arenal/La Fortuna

All of guides during this safari tour of the Penas Blancas River were all super helpful and experienced. It was a little difficult trying to coordinate so many people on kayaks however and can get a little stressful since some people would miss some of the wildlife we were seeing and others will others depending on who is close. Because the group was so large, whenever we stopped to look at something, it was really difficult coordinating the stops. I think having a smaller group would be much more manageable as it was very hard for our 2 guide (1 in front and back) to manage around 16 kayakers.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 05, 2023

Hi Leo,

Happy New Year!

I appreciate your comments and feedback about your trip to my country last week.

We will be checking with the local tour operators about the maximum number of participants so everybody can enjoy a pleasant experience and also checking with the hotel in Arenal for a more friendly method of keys in the rooms.

I wish you and Tyler all the best!

Regards,
Randall

The Galapagos Island Tour
Galapagos Islands | Nov 18 - Nov 27, 2022

Parveen
Parveen I.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
First and foremost a big thank you to our travel agent Linda. She was very responsive, knowledgeable and great to work with. All the tour guides were excellent. Read more

First and foremost a big thank you to our travel agent Linda. She was very responsive, knowledgeable and great to work with. All the tour guides were excellent.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Fiesta
Puerto Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Katarma
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Vieja Cuba
Quito

Only drawback at this hotel was there were no elevators - we had to drag our bags 4 stories up.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Interpretation Center & Tijeretas Hill
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)
Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)
Galapagos Islands

The water was very cold even with wet suits.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
Puerto Ayora

Guide was excellent. Research center was worth the visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Excursion to an uninhabited island
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
El Junco Lagoon & Puerto Chino Beach
El Junco Lagoon & Puerto Chino Beach
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Linda Schulz
Linda
Linda Schulz
Local specialist in Quito | Replied on Jan 03, 2023

Dear Parveen, thank you so much for your kind words and your review! It was a pleasure to help you and your children plan this trip to Galapagos. I am happy to hear that you've enjoyed your time on the islands. Hopefully you can come back one day to explore other parts of Ecuador as well!
All the best,
Linda

5 Stars for Kimkim!
Costa Rica | Dec 10 - Dec 17, 2022

Bianca
Bianca S.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
I absolutely loved my experience using kimkim. I couldn't ask for a better specialist than Nuria to plan our Costa Rica adventure. She understood exactly what we were looking for, planned the ideal trip, and made herself available for phone calls and messages at all times. She started feeling like a friend after a while. All of the companies kimkim works with for your onsite experiences are top-notch. Every driver for transport around the country was friendly and punctual. All our guides for... Read more

I absolutely loved my experience using kimkim. I couldn't ask for a better specialist than Nuria to plan our Costa Rica adventure. She understood exactly what we were looking for, planned the ideal trip, and made herself available for phone calls and messages at all times. She started feeling like a friend after a while. All of the companies kimkim works with for your onsite experiences are top-notch. Every driver for transport around the country was friendly and punctual. All our guides for excursions were knowledgeable, seemed to really enjoy what they were doing, and went above and beyond to create a memorable experience. By using kimkim, we felt in good and reliable hands and would definitely use them again for another trip in the future.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Paraíso Resort, Spa & Hot Springs
La Fortuna

Wonderful staff and great amenities. Breakfast buffet is just ok but lunch/dinner food is fantastic. And what a view! Some hot springs pools and swim-up bar pool could be warmer and the bathroom in the rooms could be updated but overall, it was an incredible stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
quick ride La Fortuna
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco
Monteverde

Staff, food, location, and amenities were all wonderful. Lots of places to dine within walking distance. There was no A/C in our bedroom but luckily we did not need it as it was very cool at night.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Naoz
Manuel Antonio

Clearly, a new hotel as everything was modern, clean, and new. Such a nice staff and within walking distance to many places to go out at night. Only a $10 cab to the beach.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Arenal/La Fortuna

Our tour guide was sensational and so knowledgeable. A must do to get great views of the volcano.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Nuri R
Nuri
Nuri R
Local specialist in Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 07, 2023

Hello Bianca,

I appreciate your feedback so much. It was really nice to meet you both!
I'm very happy to know you had an amazing experience in Costa Rica, we will be waiting for you to back and continue exploring our country :)

Wish you the best and ¡PURA VIDA!
Nuria

Overall, we had a fantastic time in Jordan.
Jordan | Dec 24 - Dec 31, 2022

Kishore
Kishore R.
India | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
We travelled to Jordan with great expectations and we really enjoyed every moment as we travelled through this country. People were friendly and ready to help when requested. We visited Jerash, Ajloun, Amman, Mt Nebo, Madaba, Petra, Wad Rum and Dead Sea. We were able to cover all these places due to fantastic planning by the Enjoy Jordan team and I have to mention the valuable support provided by our driver Mowafaq Ahmed. He was our guide and a good friend during the travel. He was very... Read more

We travelled to Jordan with great expectations and we really enjoyed every moment as we travelled through this country. People were friendly and ready to help when requested. We visited Jerash, Ajloun, Amman, Mt Nebo, Madaba, Petra, Wad Rum and Dead Sea. We were able to cover all these places due to fantastic planning by the Enjoy Jordan team and I have to mention the valuable support provided by our driver Mowafaq Ahmed. He was our guide and a good friend during the travel. He was very prompt and punctual always. He gave us valuable advise at every place we went.

Our experience with all the hotels was very good except for the one in Petra (Petra Boutique Hotel). The staff was not very helpful and did not really heed to our needs at the time of our stay there.

Overall, we had a fantastic time in Jordan.

Hotel Reviews
Shams al weibdeh hotel apartment
Amman

Great location in the city. Courteous staff and friendly. Room seemed a bit crammed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to great food places
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Petra Boutique Hotel
Wadi Musa

Great location; near the Petra visitor center. Staff not so friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Palmera Camp
Wadi Rum

Excellent location and friendly staff. Great experience in the desert environment.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Movenpick Dead Sea Spa & Resort
Sweimeh, Amman

Fun place to stay. Liked the restaurants and the fact that it had private access to Dead Sea made the place even better to stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Meet & Assist - Queen Alia Airport
Meet & Assist - Queen Alia Airport
Jordan

Very smooth process

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amman-Jarash-Ajloun-Amman city tour
Amman-Jarash-Ajloun-Amman city tour
Jordan

Loved the place and overall experience here.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amman-Madaba-Mount Nebo-Karak-Petra
Amman-Madaba-Mount Nebo-Karak-Petra
Jordan

Loved the place and overall experience here.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Petra (With Site local Guide or private guide)
Full Day Petra (With Site local Guide or private guide)
Petra

Loved the place and overall experience here.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Petra - Morning Free
Petra - Morning Free
Petra

Did not use the day here

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wadi Rum (2-3 Hrs Jeep ride)
Wadi Rum (2-3 Hrs Jeep ride)
Jordan

Loved the place and overall experience here.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Samir Bishara
Samir
Samir Bishara
Local specialist in Jordan | Replied on Jan 05, 2023

Thank you Kishore
Was our pleasure
Regards
Samir

The best decision I made before leaving for a solo trip
Costa Rica | Dec 24 - Dec 30, 2022

Tiphanny
Tiphanny C.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
I am the type of traveller who hates pre-organized group travelling (cruise type). Kimkim was amazing because it allowed me to safely plan a trip in a country I didn't know (it was a nightmare to try to plan for ground transportation remotely on my own) without feeling stuck in a pre-organized trip. I really designed my own journey, on my budget, at my pace. Their agents were super communicative prior to the departure to make sure all of my questions were answered and everything ran... Read more

I am the type of traveller who hates pre-organized group travelling (cruise type).

Kimkim was amazing because it allowed me to safely plan a trip in a country I didn't know (it was a nightmare to try to plan for ground transportation remotely on my own) without feeling stuck in a pre-organized trip. I really designed my own journey, on my budget, at my pace.

Their agents were super communicative prior to the departure to make sure all of my questions were answered and everything ran super smoothly during the trip, I was able to get so much done in such a short period thanks to them.

Will use them again in the future 100%

Hotel Reviews
Selina Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

I booked a teepee, and as nice and cleaned it was, it was also not sound proof at all, which was really the only bad thing. The location and staff was great :D

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mar Inn Costa Rica
Monteverde Costa Rica

Nice little hotel, clean and 5min away from the main area of Monteverde. I know the view is advertised in the description, I wasn't mind blown, but the hotel is worth its value for the cost. Would stay again Note: I had a bit of an issue checking out early, I had to wait until 7 for somebody to open the reception. If you need to check out early, make sure you arrange it prior to the day

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Selina San Jose
San Jose

I was upgraded last minute, and it was the best way to finish the trip

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk
Coffee Experience and Nighttime Nature Walk
Monteverde

OK.. this was honestly beyond my expectation. I was picked up at my hotel by the coffee farmer, his wife and his daughter. This experience felt super authentic ( I think most other coffee tours and night walks in Monteverde are more touristy). We saw a tarantula, a toucan sleeping and got a full intro to how coffee is made and how it is supposed to be consumed

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
Monteverde

This was fun and it felt very safe. Lots of zip lines and high sensations. Downsize: the shuttle was late to pick me up, and once down with the activity I had to wait 45 min at the zip line office to get a ride back (they only have shuttles every hour, so if you miss one, you have to wait for 1h)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River
Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River
Costa Rica

I cannot stress enough how amazing this was. I almost cancelled this activity because it was a 5 am pickup, but I am so glad I didn't. This day was the highlight of my journey in Costa Rica. Beyond the adrenaline of rafting through the rapids, the scenery of the river Pacuare is fantastic. You feel like you are in a movie. Plus breakfast and Lunch were included

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Jennings

Birthday trip to Japan (Tokyo and Kyoto)
Japan | Dec 26 - Jan 2, 2023

Maria
Maria O.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
This was an amazing trip thanks to Claudia and then Kristy, who made it all possible. My husband turned 50 on 12/31 and to make it a memorable birthday, we spent a week in Japan. We were off to a rough start due to the airline delay of 1 whole day! That made us miss a couple of planned events in Tokyo, but we still tried to make up for it. We are foodies, so we tried absolutely everything - from Japanese street food, to a local Ramen dive, to a preplanned multi course Teppanyaki place at a 5... Read more

This was an amazing trip thanks to Claudia and then Kristy, who made it all possible. My husband turned 50 on 12/31 and to make it a memorable birthday, we spent a week in Japan. We were off to a rough start due to the airline delay of 1 whole day! That made us miss a couple of planned events in Tokyo, but we still tried to make up for it. We are foodies, so we tried absolutely everything - from Japanese street food, to a local Ramen dive, to a preplanned multi course Teppanyaki place at a 5 star hotel in Kyoto. We visited a number of shrines and walked through the busiest shopping areas of Tokyo and Kyoto. Bamboo forest in Kyoto and a couple of parks (like Nara that has deer roaming around) were amazing. We also got the JR and metro systems figured out in both cities and were very comfortable getting around. Cat and mini pig cafes - fun! We will be bringing our sons with us next time and experience a different season in Japan. A day hike at Mount Fuji is in our plans for next time!

Hotel Reviews
Nishitetsu Inn Shinjuku
Tokyo

Very clean, friendly service. Breakfast was provided.

Authenticity & Character
We loved staying at authentic boutique hotels and this felt like one
Location
Close to everything we needed
Staff
Friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Small (which is to be expected in Japan) but cozy and very clean
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Shijokarasuma
Kyoto

Great location, clean, very helpful staff. Breakfast is provided

Authenticity & Character
Small boutique hotel, very authentic
Location
Close to transportation and local dining and shopping
Staff
Helpful and friendly staff. Very accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and cozy
Tokyu Stay Shinjuku Eastside
Tokyo

Very nice clean place

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful design
Location
Design and character were unique. Larger of the few hotels we previously experienced in Japan
Staff
Helpful and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and cozy
Activity Reviews
Traditional Tea Ceremony
Traditional Tea Ceremony
Kyoto

This was one of our favorite experiences. We dressed up into authentic kimonos with the assistance of very nice staff who helped us expertly and expeditiously to look amazing. Then we walked through Kyoto’s cozy winding streets for a bit taking pictures. Then we experienced a very informative and fun tea ceremony with a lovely instructor. She was very friendly and explained all the details of what was involved in the making of a perfect cup of Matcha tea. We would love to bring our sons here next time.

Quality of Experience
Immersive experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very friendly and informative
Explore Arashiyama
Explore Arashiyama
Kyoto

We spent about half day at Arashiyama - walking through the bamboo forest and the adjacent park and shopping area. Very pretty, although I am certain it would be even more beautiful in other seasons (we were there at the end of December).

Quality of Experience
Amazing views, lots of photo opportunities
Local specialist: Claudia Martinez Sierra

Wow, what great service!!!! This was the firs...
Mexico | Dec 27 - Dec 30, 2022

Michelle
Michelle D.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
Wow, what great service!!!! This was the first time I've worked with a travel agency and they made our last minute mother daughter trip an absolute breeze! It was so nice having someone on-call to answer any questions I might have while traveling out of the country. We truly had a seamless experience and I'm SOOO HAPPY I used them. Highly recommend! Read more

Wow, what great service!!!! This was the first time I've worked with a travel agency and they made our last minute mother daughter trip an absolute breeze! It was so nice having someone on-call to answer any questions I might have while traveling out of the country. We truly had a seamless experience and I'm SOOO HAPPY I used them. Highly recommend!

Activity Review
Rio Secreto: The Mayan underworld
Rio Secreto: The Mayan underworld
Cancún

The highlight of our trip!!! It was so cool being underground and swimming! The caves were absolutely beautiful and I felt completely safe the entire time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Leslie Pérez

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.