Kimkim Trip Reviews

My local specialist was not Natalia, it was Ximena. Natalia booked the initial trip and then it changed for some reason that I was not made aware of.
There are several areas of improvement in communication and research that could have/should have been done prior and during to make the trip better. I had to make decisions on my own a few times due to the specialist not understanding timing/our needs etc. and the roads in the Yucatan. They clearly have not traveled there, or not driven themselves or to make arrangements with more time allowed because of construction/closures/ road issues etc.
Just having some more life experience would be helpful for your specialists, and also knowing the area well is even better. Taking in mind lack of cell service in areas we were going to, and the cultural differences taken into consideration. Thankfully, I can figure my way around without a cell phone and have traveled to many different countries in the past. It was a little exhausting having to explain to communicate better to the specialist and why things weren't doable. We ended up doing about 70% of the planned trip and was able to find my own way around but it ended up costing us more money. One of the more expensive hotels (Hotel Okaan) we booked on my birthday (Dec 24th- xmas day 25th) had no working toilet inside the rooms and they didnt seem to care or want to refund any money. I will be returning to Nuevo Durango on my own and that was worth it. The pueblo was great, The experience was great. The specialist....was OK.

Our trip to Morocco was a big hit with our family. We started from Casablanca going to Chefchaouen and then moving down to Fez and then Marrakech. Our driver Mohamed and the guides chosen for us especially Hafid and Hanan were very knowledgeable and awesome! Overall, everything arranged by Said and the owner Abdel was very well organized and professionally handled. Highly recommend Abdel and his team for Morocco 🇲🇦

Hotel Reviews

Movenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi Marrakech

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Odyssee Center

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad El Yacout

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-guide

Morocco

Quality of Experience

G

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip from Marrakech to Agafay

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We cannot recommend Sharon and our tour manager, Abdou. Throughout the entire trip planning process, Sharon answered every question and was ready to tackle all obstacles. We traveled to Morocco with 19 people, with three different arrival dates. Sharon helped coordinate complex room assignments, a private family event in the desert to celebrate a birthday, and so much more. The trip philosophy of Abdou and Sharon is to focus on locals in Morocco and to show a picture of Morocco that focuses on its true essence, the culture and local food of the people. During the actual trip, Abdou made everything seamless and everything was arranged without hesitation. He had a positive spirit and encouraged us to live in the moment the entire time. Every accommodation and activity was wonderful and would do this trip again in a heartbeat! We highly highly recommend a night in the Sahara desert camps and spending time in Dades. If we could do this again, probably would spend more time in Chefchaouen and Dades, and one less night in Marrakech.

Hotel Reviews

Merzouga Dunes Camps

Merzouga

One of the best accommodations during our entire trip to Morocco! Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Hicham

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Camel trek to your Camp

Merzouga

Extremely scenic and we can't recommend enough. Sunset over the desert on Christmas eve via the camels was just surreal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We really enjoyed working with Lucas to build a custom trip that would meet our needs and travel plans. I get overwhelmed with activity choices, and it was nice the the service help narrowed down the options to some top choices. The real treat was having the private or group transfers pre-arranged for most of the trip. It was nice to have everything planned out with plenty of time between activities and travels.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

The hotel lounge was nice but the rooms were very dated and not super cozie (felt more akin to a hostel). They also requested we leave our key at the front desk whenever we left, which we weren't super comfortable with. Staff were all very friendly though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loi Suites Iguazú Hotel

Puerto Iguazú

The setting is beautiful! There was a good breakfast spread as well. Rooms were definitely starting to show age, but they were nice otherwise. The staff was very friendly and even helped arrange a taxi just for an item we left in the room after we had already been taken to the airport.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful, but also far from town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Laguna de los Tres Trek

El Chaltén

Our guide was great and kept the group at a comfort but necessary pace. The tour took a bit longer than anticipated, but would have been sooo much longer of we didn't have Lucas to keep us on schedule!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting the Argentine Waterfalls of Iguazu

Argentina

The falls are beautiful and impressive, but the crowds and our guide really detracted from sights for us. It was hard to get a scale of the falls since you are so close to them and don't see the whole expanse until the end. Our guide really rushed us through the park and didn't allow much time for pictures or watching the wildlife. He also took a literal roll-call every 30 minutes or so, so the whole tour felt very micro-managed. By far the best part of the day was the boat ride. Without the boat experience we would have been very disappointed.

Quality of Experience

It was all very rushed and we would have liked a little more freedom to explore.

Food

No food provided and what was available in the park was expensive and just ok.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide rushed us through and kept doing a roll call very frequently throughout the day. We felt treated more like irresponsible children.

Transport

Iguazú Falls Great Adventure

Puerto Iguazú

This was by far the best part of visiting the falls! The tour was a little intense as they drive literally into the waterfall, but it was definitely exhilarating! You will be soaked, but dry off quickly in the heat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

The show was nice and the food was pretty good. However, there wasn't much excitement or chemistry between the dancers. You could tell it was just another day on the job for them. The highlight was a section in the middle of the show were they show other, more traditional types of dances. The venue is beautiful.

Quality of Experience

I wish the show felt more authentic or passionate.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, nothing was bad about the event, but none of the staff seemed to enjoy the job or dancing.

Transport

Our driver was almost an hour late and we didn't have a number to contact. The timing all worked out, but a phone number would have been helpful so we could have checked to make sure we weren't forgotten!

Biking the Heart of the City

Buenos Aires

The bike tour was a great way to tour Buenos Aires...which is massive! We only saw a small portion of the City but were able to get a better sense of the areas. The guide was excellent with hand signals, and the pace and difficult level was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch stop was excellent! Way better than I expected based on a similar looking venues from back in the states.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Argentine Experience – A Culinary and Cultural Adventure

Buenos Aires

This was a wonderful, multi-part experience. We loved all aspects: the cocktail making, the empanada tutorial, and all the food. The staff were all wonderful and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As a family of 19 ranging from teens to senior citizens there was a lot of anticipation for what was to come. After many flight delays and hours of travel we were met with Abdou who made sure the rest of our trip was trouble - free. Abdou is full of great energy, very kind, patient, and wants to make sure you have the most fun possible. As we traveled across Morocco Abdou introduced us to the amazing culture and history that this country holds. Immediately you can tell he loves Morocco and that he's very passionate about sharing his culture with everyone. Some of the highlights were watching the sunset next to a Spanish mosque on top of a mountain, riding the camels through the desert, and being invited to his home where we met his wonderful wife, Sharon.
During the bus rides, Abdou kept us entertained. We played guessing games and the kids even wrote a paragraph based off the game :
"The country of Morocco is represented by it's flag which include the colors red and green. So far on this trip we visited the city Chefchaouen which is known for being the the blue city. Some of the meals we have eaten so are are Tagine which consists of potatoes, carrots and other vegetables and Couscous. We also visited Volubilis where we saw Roman ruins. Then we went to Fez where we saw many donkeys and stayed in the riad. Lastly we have tried Hammam which was an interesting experience for us all"
If you are looking for an adventure where you truly feel immersed in Moroccan culture without complications, then we highly recommend Morocco Immersion Tours and Adventures to plan your trip. We are very grateful for them and we will be sure to use them for our next trip!

Activity Review

Camel trek to your Camp

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I am a well-travelled individual and I have to say, the service Hervé at KimKim provided was second to none. He was able to listen to our intereste and build a detailed, custom trip to exceed our expectations. Not only was every last detail tended to (he would check us in for our flights without being asked, he would make every transfer confirm our pick up, etc) but everything he arranged was top notch. I literally texted Hervé every day of our trip with some question or new request, and he was always quick to respond and provide whatever help we needed. I have never experienced such great service and really cannot praise him enough. I will definitely use their services again!

Hotel Reviews

L'Hôtel Palermo

Buenos Aires

The service was great, however we experienced issues with the shower plumbing when we were there that caused the bathroom to flood every time we took a shower.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Reserva Virgin Lodge de Selva by DON

Puerto Iguazú

This resort was really cool but was somewhat isolated from town. We consequently ate at the restaurant multiple times and luckily to food was pretty good there. Pool was a hit aged and needs to be resurfaced

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blanca Patagonia Boutique Inn and Cabins

El Calafate, Santa Cruz

Hotel itself was great, the location was just a little too far out of town to access it easily

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I’m

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires Walking tour, La Boca & City centre

Buenos Aires

We walked over 7 miles in this tour but it was totally worth it. Our guide was so informative and accommodating. We learned so much about the city which made the tour a must do for any visitors.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Was a mix of walking, subway and buses

Day Trip to the Pampas & Estancia Lunch

Buenos Aires

Our tour guide and the staff at the estancia provided a great experience. We felt like celebrities when we were greeted by the staff upon our arrival at the estancia.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pioneros Experience: Estancia Visit & Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

This guide did a great job of navigating the tour in both English and Spanish. Lunch at the Estancia was amazing as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation to the glaciers

El Calafate

Was not a fan of the crowded boat transport but the scenery was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The transport driver drove like a maniac

Transport

Nativo Experience: 4x4 tour to the footsteps of indigenous people

El Calafate

The scenery and cane lunch were amazing. However, the tour guide provided most of his attention to a Spanish speaking blogger and did not provide much narration in English

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day to the Argentinian side of the falls

Argentina

This tour requires several miles of walking and our guide was not very helpful at all. In fact she told us we would only get misted in the optional boat tour when in fact we were completely drenched (and consequently not prepared with towels or dry clothes).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Did not provide really much narration at all

Transport

Half day tour to the Iguazú Falls (Brazilian side)

Argentina

This Troy guide what’s much more informative and accommodating. And overall the view/experience from the Brazilian side was much better than from the Argentinian side.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zala and Tomaz planned an excellent, detailed itinerary with transportation, tours and lodging. Hotel Mio in Munich was the best. Located in the old city on a pedestrian shopping zone, rooms were quiet and one had a view of an old church clock tower. The rooms had espresso machines. Berlin's Hotel 38 rooms were very small and the bathrooms were tiny- similar to a train, but the breakfast was superior with plentiful offerings and fantastic staff. It would have been nice to have had lotion in the hotel rooms in both Munich and Berlin but they did have water bottles. The one night we were at Ruby Louise Hotel in Frankfurt was good- there was lotion in the rooms, but no water bottles. Breakfast didn't start until 7am which was a little tight since our airport ride was scheduled for 7:30am. The restaurant that was booked for us on New Year's Eve, Zu den 12 Aposteln, was perfect and tasty, like eating in a cozy wine cellar. We would not have found this on our own.
High-speed trains were efficient, stress-free and a great way to travel- much more comfortable and better than renting a car.
Mr. Harald Zawuski was an exceptional guide! He was very knowledgeable, engaging, compassionate and thorough as he walked us for 6 hours around Berlin. Time really flew by and we gained a rich appreciation for the history and culture and were lucky enough to even see famous people- Angela Merkel and Christoph Waltz!
In Munich, Mr Thomas was great and took us to places we would not have known to go to on our own, such as inside the Preysing Palais.
The Neuschwanstein bus tour was excellent- we saw Linderhof, Oberammergau and Neuschwanstein. Our guide Barbara and driver were attentive and informative with a reasonable number of about 30 people with bananas, apples, cookies, peanuts, and snack pretzels on the bus as well as a bathroom. They also offered us a local bottle of beer on the way back to Munich. We walked the strenuous trail from the start of the visitor center to Marienbrucke and further up to the overlook at Neuschwanstein. Not for the faint of heart, it was an invigorating work-out but with amazing panoramic views.
This was a nicely organized adventure and I was happy to have their planning expertise. This was a rewarding time-saver for a memorable holiday family trip with our college son and teenage daughter.

Everything was exceptional - guides knowledgeable and well spoken. Drivers were on time. Lodging was great. Enjoyed the Arenal area more then the Caribbean location but both were fine.

EXCEPT The trip to the Maleku

After a one-hour drive through the northern plains, you'll arrive at the Indian community Palenque Tonjibe and be warmly received by their people. Following a brief presentation, you'll begin a hike through the village where you'll see many important cultural aspects of this special place. The antique home structures, and their unique artwork and craftsmanship, the use of cocoa in their farming, and the creation of their clothing. Next, you'll take a trail through the forest to learn about medicinal plants and how they're used by the tribe. Here you'll also be able to observe antique huacas or indigenous tombs. Finally, you'll pass through a Palenque where you'll be treated to a dance presentation with dialogue in the native Maleku language and customary dress, followed by a traditional meal. You'll depart around 1:00 pm back to La Fortuna, where you have the rest of the day at leisure.

Meeting time: 12:50 pm
Confirmation # AMA-2463

There was no brief presentation. There was no hike through the village in fact there looked like 3 buildings from where we stood one of which was the bathroom. No antique home structures, and their unique artwork and craftsmanship. No explanation of the use of cocoa in their farming, and the creation of their clothing. No trail trail through the forest to learn about medicinal plants and how they're used by the tribe. No observation of antique huacas or indigenous tombs.

What did happen - Entered a Palenque where we were treated to a dance presentation with dialogue in the native Maleku language and customary dress. There was some discussion about life style and maybe the use of cocoa but it was hard to follow. His English was good, his descriptions were not. We were shown a dance around the fire and then danced with the man and his wife. The only 2 Maleku on site. The room was filled with "artworks and crafts" for sale. Some stuff okay but most was of lower quality seen in other sites.

Everything else we did was so top notch that this was a real disappointment.

Ro said you seemed to be reluctant about this excursion. You were right. Big difference in the advertisement and the reality maybe since Ed and Claire were the only two visitors????

Hotel Reviews

Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana

San José

great entry into Costa Rica

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

wonderful grounds - good morning views of Arenal

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

courteous and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cariblue Beach & Jungle Resort

South Puerto Viejo

step below the Arenal Monoa - If the Arenal Manoa had not been so good .....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to beach -

Staff

Guy (not gentleman) at the desk bordered on being rude with my wife

Cleanliness & Comfort

Delta Hotels by Marriott San José Aurola

San José

just what I would expect in a downtown hotel. Clean, comfortable and well located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Maleku Tribe Village Visit

Arenal/La Fortuna

covered in opening

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

hot spring were warm - needed to ask for hotter water

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall with lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mistico Hanging Bridges were great. Lots of animals and birds. Guide had good eyes. Claire and I being 80 did not hike down to the waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano - Unique Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge Boat Trip

Arenal/La Fortuna

nice easy trip. Saw lots of neat flora and fauna. Good guide - good boat operator. Everything moves at the right speed to see everything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano - safari float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

liked the raft more than the boat. river was up so no getting out and dragging the raft. Flow was such that the trip was too short. Guess we can.t have everything. GOOD GUIDE. Had good eyes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Sanctuary - Buttercup Tour

Costa Rica

interesting. Good info on sloths

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jaguar Rescue Center

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Ain't no jaguars here. Rescue center for others. mainly baby sloths. CCTV would have been appreciated, Understand the need to keep them isolated. Short trip and worthwhile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bribri Indigenous Territory, Chocolate Process and Waterfall

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Good intro to Bribri. Enjoyed introduction initial presentation. Nice tour of medicinal plants. Understand thee chocolate process better. Will buy some beans stateside and try it. Good video of cracking the roasted cocoa beans.

Quality of Experience

Food

likes the banana leaf bowls

Guides, Drivers and Staff

excellent guide. second time we had her

Transport

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica! Charlotte was the perfect agent to work with and provided us with an individualized schedule for an adventurous family with active teens. We traveled to Jaco Beach, Monteverde, Arenal/La Fortuna, and Sarapiqui - a place I never heard of before but a haven for white water rafting and chocolate tours. As a mom, I loved that she combined educational hiking tours (lead by experienced guides) with family bonding time (outrigger canoeing, zip lining, white water rafting). All of our transportation ran like clockwork which allowed us to experience all the “Costa Rica Essentials” in four different towns. My husband enjoyed the surprise private room to celebrate his birthday too. I highly recommend Charlotte and her team at Serendipity. Pura Vida!

Hotel Reviews

El Establo Mountain Hotel

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tilajari Hotel Resort

Fortuna

I realize that we were traveling during the peak season, so finding a place to stay was challenging. One of our rooms was a little smelly but that may have had to do with the septic tank. The staff were not as happy as the other hotels, but again, I appreciate that we had a clean safe place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location to La Fortuna was a $40 cab ride each way.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Quinta Inn Sarapiqui

Sarapiqui

Very cute, family run lodge. Loved that they were so friendly and cared about everyone who stayed here. The staff made sure that we had a large enough table for every meal of our stay (8 ppl) We really enjoyed taking the cooking class - made empanadas. Bring a magnet from your home town so that she can display it on her wall. (I will be sending her one)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Club del Mar Oceanfront

Jacó

Authenticity & Character

Location

I loved the property, but not much to walk to

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Chris was very knowledgeable and engaging!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ocean Outrigger Adventure

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rafting Sarapiquí River, Class II-III

Costa Rica

Walter and Kiki were excellent guides

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Festive Dinner for all hotel guests!

Costa Rica

Cloud Forest Reserve Privately Guided Hike

Monteverde

Andy was amazing! He knew so much about the history of Costa Rica and the different regions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

100% Aventura Zip Line and Hanging Bridges Monteverde

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Geiner was an excellent host and knew so much about the history of chocolate and fermentation process. We really enjoyed our tour/demonstration.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Naturalist Hike at La Selva Biological Station

Sarapiquí

I'm so glad that Charlotte scheduled us to visit this Institute. It seemed like our guide was used to more scientific groups than a family with four teens. But we did learn a lot about the region and original rain forest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The overall experience of KimKim was great. I have to admit, when it started it out, it was very slow at first. My assigned specialist wasn't very responsive. But then, Erin took over, and she was excellent in terms of her timliness and her knowledge. Then, she referred me to an even more localized specialist, Nara, who also was great. I was very happy with their organization and their efforts!

The overall trip to Patagonia was wonderful. The highlights for us were the hikes on both the Argentina side and the Chile side. The Perito Moreno glacier hiking tour was also very memorable. We loved our Santiago city tour guide as well.

The only thing that wasn't so great for us was the hotel accommodations. I understand some of the regular partners that Kim Kim uses were booked up for the times we were going, so that is understandable. But our accomodations in Buenos Aires and Chile were less than ideal considering availability and pricing during the time. All other parts of this trip were amazing, and I would not hestitate to use KimKim again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Intersur Recoleta

Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Overall hotel location was pretty good. But the rooms and bathrooms were very dated and not what I would consider normal for a four star accommodation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathrooms very dated, rooms very small

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

This was more of a hostel experience as I believe KimKim's normal partners were booked up. The rooms were fine. The breakfast was okay. The staff was very friendly. Location was great. For a hostel experience, I think this was good, though we usually prefer staying in nicer places. I think "luxury" is not something that is in abundance when you are in remote Patagonia though, so this was fine for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostería Schilling

El Calafate

This was more of a hostel experience as I believe KimKim's normal partners were booked up. The rooms were fine. Heat was not working properly the first night, was better the second night. The breakfast was okay - did like that they cooked fresh eggs if you wanted it. The bathrooms were very barebones. The staff was very friendly. Location was great. For a hostel experience, I think this was good, though we usually prefer staying in nicer places. I think "luxury" is not something that is in abundance when you are in remote Patagonia though, so this was fine for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Establo B&B

Puerto Natales

We typically like to stay in hotels, but all typical partners of KimKim were booked up. However, we loved this charming little bed and breakfast. The host was great - so friendly, so helpful, made great breakfasts every morning at the time we wanted. The rooms were cute - everything we needed was in there. Location was a bit far walking from the town square, but it was fine. Would 100% recommend anyone to stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ismael

Santiago

Heat was not working. Not only could we not control it from our rooms, we had to call the reception any time we wanted it to be warmer or cooler - they said rooms do not have the ability to make temperature changes, only the front desk could. We waited 30 minutes to check in. There was only one person ahead of us - there was no issue, they were just extraordinarily slow. The rooms were tiny, but the bathrooms and sleeping arrangments were fine. The breakfast was a good one - but they ran out of eggs (one hour before breakfast shut down), and there was a line to get a table at 9am. I ended up having to stand and eat my breakfast. There was one staff member - Fernando - who was extraordinarily patient and friendly despite all of the frustrated guests. Kudos to him. With all of the other accommodation options in Santiago, please don't have anyone stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fernando was great. The rest were very slow and overly willing to help with the issues that kept arising.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires Bicycle Tour (South Sector)

Buenos Aires

Tour guide was 45 minutes late - but we gave him a pass. Traffic was crazy because of the World Cup win. Great bike ride around the city. However - it's dangerous for kids. You often ride in the street, right next to cars and buses. Please know this if you are booking with children.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had to get there on our own, which was fine.

Traditional Tango Show with Dinner

Buenos Aires

Wish we could have done the tango without the dinner. Not worth it for vegetarians. Also - if you have kids - the show starts after 10pm and ends after midnight. Still, the show was great, and a very cool experience for us all. Hated that they picked up five other guests along the way - it took us more than 45 min before we even got to dinner, even though the location was so close to our hotel. Would have rathered saved on the transport expense and uber'ed ourselves

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Lago del Desierto

El Chaltén

In theory, this is a great experience. Our weather was not great, so it was hard to kayak against the wind. Totally not the fault of our company. All that being said - the gear was great, and they provided most of it. Wish they would have explained a bit more about what to wear and not wear. What our tour operator told us was not accurate. Of the five kayaks on our trip, two were not perfect - the end of one kept sinking, and another had no backs to the seats. The guide was nice and enthusiastic. Loved the raft to help our kids along. However - the guide never sent us any pictures as he promised after. That's a big problem when he tells us not to take our phones on the kayaks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

This was an amazing hike. Not sure we needed a private guide. But all was great about it. A must do. It's tough - be warned!

Quality of Experience

Food

Packed lunch - hard to make it better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Minitrekking Ice Hike on Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

What an incredible day and site! It's VERY commercialized, but despite that, we thoroughly enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wish we didnt spend 45 min plus picking up others - we were almost always the first to be picked up on all of these tours. And when they are early mornings, 45 extra min is huge.

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

Not sure how needed this was as it was the end of our trip. But it was great to meet Nara in person.

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Chile

This was a great way to see the park. Our tour guide (Vincenze?) was so friendly and fun. But he was chatty with almost every other guide he came across, so we would have to wait for him at every stop to finish talking with others before we could move on. We also didnt get a chance to see the eastern part of the park. We were told it was too windy. But we met others who were on private tours and they all got to go to that side of the park, so we felt let down by that. Too much time spent at Hotel Lago Grey - we didnt need a snack, we would have liked to take that time and seen another site.

Quality of Experience

Food

Packed lunch - was okay.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided hike to Las Torres lookout [Central - Base - Central]

Chile

We were hesitant about the group tour. But it worked out well. Guide made us keep on pace, and we had an incredible view at the end

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour

Chile

Nice guide, nice tour, great to learn about the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had very memorable and cherished travels during a week long trip to Cambodia over December 2022. From planning to execution, Steve's support and advice was perfect. He understood what I was looking for as a solo traveler and kept my suggestions in mind. I am grateful for the attention to detail and very quick response time nearly always. After two months of planning, it was time to meet Steve before I wrapped up my journey, which was great!

The guides during my trip, both Sreypich and Sophoan, were kind and patient with me. They were knowledgeable and answered my many questions on Cambodian culture and history. In addition, the people who drove me around, and those who worked at the places I stayed, were most courteous and professional.

The local specialist and guides are highly recommended anyone planning a trip to the country. With such a layered political history and world famous monuments, Cambodia deserves careful planning and time.

It is helpful to communicate clearly at the time of planning the trip, in putting together a personalised travel plan. Thank you, Steve and colleagues for this refreshing break.

Hotel Reviews

Sambor Village

Kompong Thom

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phnom Penh Katari Hotel

Phnom Penh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bopha Wat Bo Residence

Siem Reap

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tuol Sleng & Killing Fields

Phnom Penh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phnom Penh to Kompong Thom via Skuon & Santuk Silk Farm

Cambodia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kompong Thom to Siem Reap

Cambodia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sosoro Museum

Phnom Penh

Quality of Experience

Short cyclo tour to Wat Phnom

Phnom Penh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch at Eleven One Kitchen

Phnom Penh

Quality of Experience

Food

Banteay Srei & Ta Phrom (same day as sunrise)

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day temple exploration by remork (with lunch) - Angkor Thom/Grand Circuit

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sophoan is very knowledgeable and excited to share her country and culture with visitors. Grateful for her kindness and expertise.

Transport

Sambor Prei Kuk afternoon visit

Kompong Thom

Magical place. Highly recommended. Do not skip this in favor of more famous landmarks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise (and return to hotel for breakfast)

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Riverside Walk Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phare, the Cambodian Circus (Seat C - free seating in the two side sections)

Siem Reap

Refreshing introduction to contemporary Cambodia after being steeped in history!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning at leisure (car & guide at disposal)

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We’ve traveled extensively through Europe and always planned our own trips but we didn’t have time to plan this year. Luckily we found kimkim which focuses on independent travelers.

Our journey started in Barcelona. We flew to southern Spain rented a car and stayed in Granada, Seville and ended our trip in Madrid.

Marina planned a wonderful trip for us. From the moment we started planning and throughout the actual trip Marina and her team were very responsive and always available to answer any questions.

All the activities Marina organized went off beautifully. The guides we had for each walking tour of the cities were on time and excellent.

In Barcelona we enjoyed a tapas dinner and Marina got us excellent seats at a concert in the marvelous Palau Música and tickets to Gaudi locations.

Loved the Scents tour of Granada and all the recommendations given of what to do and where to eat in each city. We had a particular interest in Pedro Almadovar and Marina provided lots of information from film locations to where he lived and personal background.

The app was incredibly helpful and easy to use so all four of us knew the itinerary. The tickets were easy to pull up in the app and guides phone numbers available.

Thank you Marina for all your help. We look forward to using kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

Midtown Apartments

Barcelona

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments - Madrid Suites

Madrid

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chez Moi - Plaza Nueva Luxury Apartment

Granada

Incredible views of Alhambra from apartment and rooftop. Meticulously cleaned. Management very helpful. Loved this place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luz de Sevilla Apartment

Seville

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

Private Tour of Barcelona & La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Guided Visit of Granada Through Its Scents

Granada

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Show

Granada

Quality of Experience

Private Guided Visit of Seville

Seville

Self Drive {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Córdoba

Spain

Cordoba is a wonderful stop along the way to Madrid.

Guided Visit of Toledo

Spain

Take this day trip. High speed train excellent. Cathedral fabulous. Toledo incredible.

Guided Visit of Madrid: History, Culture & Architecture of the Capital of Spain

Madrid

We had a wonderful time cramming a lot of activities in multiple cities into a 12 day period. I am a stickler for excellent communication. Tricia lived up to my expectations. She consistently followed up and did a good job making adjustments to unexpected difficulties.

When we started to organize our trip until the very end was fantastic! Ngima organized our trip perfectly and when we met him we clicked immediately and became friends. He is really a great guy! Our guides for sightseeing Kathmandu and Pokhara were excellent, showing us every little detail and shared stories of both cities. Annapurna panorama trek was such unforgettable experience with beautiful sights and nature. We had great guide Angelo who took care of us as we are his family. Together with the best porter with the most beautiful smile ever! Acconodation and food during trek were amazing. We will surely come again and will give our faith in Ngimas hands again!

Activity Reviews

Trek from Landruk to Ghandruk (6,365 feet / 1,940 m)

Nepal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Kathmandu

Kathmandu Int. Airport (KTM)

Ngima waited for us and welcomed us! Felt really welcomed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kathmandu Sightseeing tour to Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Pashupatinath

Kathmandu

Guide and driver fantastic! Talked a lot! Find some great stuff about Kathmandu and Nepal!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Drive to Astam.

Astam

Trek from Astam to Dhampus (1700m)

Dhampus

Eco lodge and their owners fantastic people! Food was exceptional!

Trek from Dhampus to Landruk (6,234 ft / 1900 m)

Dhampus

Trek from Ghandruk to Kimche, Drive to Pokhara

Ghandruk

Pokhara Sightseeing Tour

Pokhara

Fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu

Pokhara

we had a wonderful trip to vietnam for 15 days , Our specialist Ha helped me plan the trip . we conversed many texts and she answered all my questions in detail. we first went to Hanoi, the Halong bay for overnight stay, then Hue, Hoi An, Danang , HCM city then to Siem Reap Angkor Wat . we booked our international flight ourselves, but Ha arranged all internal flights, from Hanoi to Hue , then Danang to HCM city , then HCM city to Siem Reap. the flight arrangements were very smoothly . all our guides were very attentive and all drivers drove very safely. total we had 7 guides throughout our trip , all very professional and spoke good enough English to understand

Hotel Reviews

Le Pavillon Hoi An Luxury Resort & Spa

Authenticity & Character

Location

not in the downtown area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Somerset Ho Chi Minh Hotel

Ho Chi Minh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Somerset Grand Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Era Cruises

Hai Ba Trung Dist., Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Indochine Palace

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Somadevi Angkor Resort & Spa

needs to update the interior

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hanoi Full day city (S) - water puppet show

Hanoi

Our guide Cheung was very attentive, answered all our questions, took us many places

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Morocco was absolutely FANTASTIC! The itinerary was flawless. The destinations, riads, guided tours, transport, just everything! A special shout out to our amazing driver yusuf, who was with us throughout. Morocco is a must visit destination, where every city we visited was unique in its own way. My favorites, however were ChefChaouen, the hike to the Berber village in the Atlas Mountains and the piece de resistance, was the amazing Inara camp in the Agafe desert. Communication with Said was prompt and efficient and i have to say, this was one of my most memorable vacations ever! I will definitely be recommending your services to all my friends and family!

The good, the bad and the ugly…
Pros:
1 Samir, our local specialist was easily available whenever I needed to contact him. This was necessary as there were multiple hiccups. Additionally, the people he subcontracted to, Bethlehem tours were in touch with me and readily available.
2 We had assistance with the border crossings to make sure that process went smoothly.
3 Our drivers were on time and affable.
4 Our tour guide Hussam was amazing! He really made the trip for us in the Israel portion of the trip!
5 Nick was quite entertaining and willing to do anything for us.
6 Israeli breakfasts are amazing.

Cons:
1 I had been given our drivers phone number by Samir, and when that changed, I was not informed of the name change or the telephone change.
He also did not let me know that we were not doing the sunrise hike in Masada. These changes should have been communicated to me.
2 The hotel in Nof Ginnosar was an absolute dump and should have had a rating of two. Extremely dated with bugs. The food was mediocre and there was nowhere else to go.
3 We liked the personality of our driver Johnny and He met us promptly at the airport in Israel. He was always on time and most importantly, he showed up at 3 AM to take us to the airport to go home. However, He took the long way from the airport to our hotel which was clearly obvious to us because we were mapping it on our phones. He would not take instruction and we went in circles taking an hour and a half for a half an hour trip. We were then taken to the incorrect hotel. We eventually made it to the correct hotel. When we returned to Israel, he again took the long way to the hotel through the downtown traffic instead of the freeway, even though I showed him multiple times on my phone how to go. He ignored my suggestions and was on the phone with his wife/family.
3 When we started booking with Kimkim, we wanted to book our own hotels, and they would not let us. I understand that that is likely one of their biggest sources of revenue. However, with that comes the responsibility of making sure the bookings are correct. It was extremely important to me that we had the panoramic tents in Wadi Rum. When we got there, we were told they were no panoramic tents. After many calls to Samir and the office and many delays, we were given one panoramic tent. This was a huge disappointment because my adult son was particularly looking forward to the stargazing which is the whole point of the panoramic tent, and the price that you pay for it. Samir tried to blame it on the hotel, but it was truly the responsibility was his. He apologized for the hiccups on the trip, but was not straightforward with me concerning the tent situation. I am still awaiting the refund from Kimkim for the difference between the panoramic tent and the tent that my adult children ended up staying in since we were unable to get the second panoramic tent. The office should have confirmed these reservations and clearly did not. This is inexcusable, particularly given the expense of this trip. This reservation should have been confirmed. They tried to make it up to us with a dinner in Tel Aviv, which was appreciated , but cannot really make up for the disappointment.
I will make an addendum to this review to let the reader know if I receive the refund due to me for the downgraded room.

Hotel Reviews

Ambassadore Hotel Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Tal By the Beach Hotel

Tel Aviv

Nof Ginosar Kibbutrz Hotel

Tiberias

This hotel should’ve had a rating of less than two. It was extremely extremely dated. They were bugs in my daughters room. The food was mediocre at best. They need new beds, new furnishings, new sheets, comforters, and pillows. Do not stay in this hotel. Very disappointing.

Shams al weibdeh hotel apartment

Amman

It was nice to stay in apartment with a little more room as opposed to a hotel room. The breakfast, however, was very mediocre. There were multiple restaurants we could walk to in the area that were good.

Movenpick Petra Resort

Wadi Musa

Activity Review

Masada Sunrise

Israel

We didn’t get to do this because the site did not open until 8 AM and the sunrise hike would have put us there at 6 AM with nothing to do but to wait until the guy could take the cable car up to the side at 8 o’clock. Make sure you work out these details before you go.

The activities and planning provided by Martin were fantastic - we couldn't have asked for a better combination of places within the 11 days we were honeymooning in Thailand.

Having KimKim book all of these locally and provide transportation to and from was much easier than us managing it ourselves.

That being said, there were some hiccups that I think Kim Kim can improve on. It should be clear what level of service the local specialist is obligated to provide while on the trip -- as certain activities got delayed because of transportation issues. One clear example is when we landed in Surat Thani to go on a night safari in Khao Sok, we were severely delayed (1+ hour) because our driver incorrectly took another passenger! When we faced this issue, we tried communicating with Martin to fix things, but ultimately had to call multiple different kimkim lines to get the driver -- and they ultimately called a taxi to get us there. It would probably make it way easier if they just directly connected us with each local transportation driver.

I also think the digital organization of the trip on kimkim.com could benefit from having a mobile app or some place to clearly attach all of the invoices within a singular trip itinerary. Mobile App makes sense given that you are traveling but always have your phone on you. I had to get around that by uploading this all to my iCloud and managing through folders. It could also make it easier to communicate with local service providers (like drivers).

Hotel Reviews

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

Bangkok

Amazing hotel - we had a lot of fun here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

So central to everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bodhi Serene Chiang Mai Hotel (SHA Extra Plus)

Chiang Mai

Good location, needs some renovation in the rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our Jungle Camp - Eco Resort

Tambon Klongsok, Ampur Panom, Suratthani

Staff were amazing and very helpful. Food was great, and I wish we got to stay longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Spend a Day with Elephants in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient & Hidden Ayutthaya by Bike

Bangkok

Great for people wanting to learn about Thai history!

Canals of Bangkok & Temple Delight

Bangkok

Loved this to kick off our trip!

Take a Thai Cooking Class

Chiang Mai

Amazing to see that we could make thai dishes ourselves!

This was an excellent and amazing vacation!

Hard to single out one place. I learned a lot about a part of the world that I never really thought about. It was exciting to be in Buenos Aires when they won the soccer championship. We were there at the right time to share their joy. All places we visited were beautiful. The guides were excellent. I can only say that it opened up a whole world I was ignorant of. We have been to Europe several times. This trip gave me a new understanding of the world.

This is our first time using kimkim for our travel. We were a little hesitant to go with travel agencies but wanted try it out on this trip since we could not find any local specialists for our Thailand visit. Kimkim and our local specialist Dat came through and made this trip a memorable one. We enjoyed the trip and Dat was just a WhatsApp call away through our entire trip. We were able to reach him any time of the day and he was ready to help us right away. Thanks Dat for that. It made us feel safe and secure while traveling without having to worry about where to go, who to meet and what our next destination would be.
We were in Bangkok for 2 days, Chiang Mai for 2 days and Koh Yao Yai for 3 days. The itinerary was just right. Not too full and not too empty. We all enjoyed the visit to the Doi Inthanon National park and the elephant sanctuary the most. The local guides in Bangkok and Chiang Mai were very knowledgeable and were able to guide us to all places and explain the history and provide context. If only we were able to secure our overnight train tickets to Chaing Mai from Bangkok, it would have been a perfect visit for us.
After Bangkok and Chiang Mai, our expectations were raised for the relaxing visit to Koh Yao Yai but was a little underwhelmed. We shared our thoughts on this to Dat and he immediately contacted the resort and did his best to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Thanks again for your prompt action on this Dat. Much appreciated.
Overall we enjoyed this trip to Thailand and we will be recommending Kimkim and Dat to our friends and families.
Some recommendations for future travelers to Thailand:
1. It would be good to have some input before the travel on what type of dress to pack. Especially if we are visiting temples, we need to get long pants for women.
2. Bangkok traffic is notorious. We felt that we spent a lot of time in traffic going to various places.
3. Flying between destinations takes away nearly half day in each airport visit. Overnight trains preferable where possible.

Hotel Reviews

Century Park Hotel

Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

White Boutique Hotel and Spa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Baan Taranya Resort, Koh Yao Yai

Authenticity & Character

Location

There were boats moored at the beaches. The beaches had low tide every single day of our visit making playing the beach for kids next to impossible.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Tour (join-in) - Doi Suthep Hill (N)

Chiang Mai

It's a family experience not to be missed. The elephants were super friendly and the staff were very knowledgeable and accommodative.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Ayutthaya (N)

Bangkok

The guide was very knowledgeable and patiently explained the history behind the palace, ruins and temple in Ayutthaya. The trip back to and from Bangkok was very long. We felt that we spent more time on the road than actually visiting places in Ayutthaya.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damnern Saduak Floating Market - City tour (N)

Bangkok

The long tail boat ride to this market was fun. The market itself was very vibrant and one of a kind.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Doi Inthanon Hill (N)

Chiang Mai

The hike in the national forest was a highlight of this trip. We all enjoyed it the most. The weather was also perfect. Visit to the waterfall and the temple was also very good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport