Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our two week vacation in Vietnam was absolutely incredible. My husband Paul and I enjoyed going up and down Vietnam experiencing local food, culture and daily life. Each guide was so incredibly knowledgeable not only about their specific region but the entirety of Vietnam. Ms. Mai was our tour guide in Sa Pa and she was absolutely delightful. She was local to a village in Sa Pa and knew everything about the area. She spoke with us as if we were friends. I didn't care for the lunch provided in Sa Pa on the first day, but the hike through the rice terraces was an absolute delight and the lunch we had in the village was outstanding. The only think I wish we could have had more prep for was what to pack, especially for Sa Pa. We went on an 8.6 mile hike and that would have been nice to have that disclosed to us before we left the U.S. so we could make sure to pack correctly. Thankfully, my husband and I did pack correctly but we did not realize the extensive hike we would be going on. The lunch we had in Hanoi was very flavorful and delicious. It was so much food and we enjoyed every bit of it. Our coordinator Long was an absolute joy to work with. He was so responsive before and during our trip and had everything mapped out meticulously. We never had to worry about where our transfer would be or how to get ahold of our tour guide. He made any sort of anxiety of going to a brand new country wash away because of his careful planning abilities. Another thing that Paul and I would have liked to know ahead of time was the tipping expectations as well as how much cash we should anticipate to exchange. We felt a bit underprepared on that arriving in Vietnam. Nha Trang was beautiful as well, however I wish that we could have gone to a beach that was a bit more relaxing than the one we hung out at. The one we visited was a bit small and didn't have a lot of areas to relax on the actual beach. The snorkeling was amazing though, we truly enjoyed being able to explore the beautiful waters in Nha Trang. Our boat trip in Ha Long Bay was breathtaking but I would say that Ninh Binh was even more breathtaking. We did however enjoy the trip in Ha Long Bay being able to meet other travelers from other countries and enjoy some karaoke that night. For the boat trip in Ha Long Bay I would have paid more though for a five star experience. The boat we went on was nice but there were some things that I think could have been improved upon. I would also suggest a two-night trip in Ha Long Bay. There is so much to explore in Vietnam and Paul and I would definitely go back to explore more of their elephant sanctuaries and caves. Looking forward to booking another vacation with KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Au Lac Charner Hotel

This breakfast buffet was nothing compared to the others we had during our trip, it was almost zero breakfast food. It was centrally located which was good because I didn't want to hangout at the actual hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was so hard it felt like a rock

Amiana Resort Nha Trang

Five star experience at the Amiana Resort. It's not in a convenient location but you have everything you need at the resort. The staff was friendly and really enjoyed talking to us. I wish there were more food options for dinner, but the breakfast buffet was unreal. They had absolutely everything, and it was very tasty. I wish I stayed the entire time in Nha Trang at this resort.

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully built.

Location

Staff

Very kind people who work here

Cleanliness & Comfort

Incredibly clean and comfortable.

La Pandora Cruises

Hai Phong

I wish I could write a rave review about this cruise but was mediocre. There was not enough awake time on the cruise to be able to enjoy and experience it. We hardly got any warning about any excursions that everyone was going out on and it was entirely too early to wake up and run out to an excursion, 6:50am was when the boat was leaving to go to the cave excursion and that was not fun to have to run out of bed scarf breakfast and go out. The bathroom was atrocious. I couldn't bare to go in to use it and any other bathrooms on deck were just as bad, one didn't even have a women's seat. I liked the people I met on this cruise but didn't like the cruise itself.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom smelled so bad the entire time.

Hidden Charm Ninh Binh

Ninh Thang, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh

I wish we stayed more than one night at the Hidden Charm hotel. This was a beautiful hotel with all the amenities we were looking for. The staff was so friendly and inviting. We would love to go back and stay longer. I loved this hotel room as well, it was large and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not very close to the main strip

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazing Sapa

Sa Pa

I wish we could have seen more, but the fog was so thick we couldn't see the views we paid for. I wish it was disclosed that the views would not be the same in the winter as the summer. The breakfast was ok, there were too many lunch options and not enough breakfast options. There also was not a bar area to hangout in. The actual room we stayed in was comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adora Art Hotel

Unfortunately not the best experience at this hotel, the bed was very hard, the bath mat in the bathroom had a ton of mold on the bottom of it and the room in general was very small that we booked. The staff was mediocre, did not seem very inviting at all.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

Beautiful hotel to stay in while in Hanoi. The French toast they have in their breakfast buffet is absolutely incredible, best French toast I have ever had. This is centrally located next to where everything is happening in Hanoi. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Truly enjoyed this experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free Time in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City

Self-guided walking in Ho Chi Minh is really hard when you have no idea where to walk to or what to see.

Quality of Experience

Islands And Snorkeling Tour

Nha Trang

Enjoyed the snorkeling very much but didn't like the beach that we spent time at after the snorkeling. We were also the only ones at the restaurant. we ate at.

Quality of Experience

Food

Squid, shark, and prawns all very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat driver did not interact with us at all.

Dark and Bright Cave - Ha Long Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

The wake up call for this experience was way too early at 6:50am we had to leave the main cruise boat and go out. My husband and I didn't even get to have breakfast and enjoy the scenery before we had to go out. I really wish we booked two nights to have a more relaxed time.

Quality of Experience

This was a beautiful experience but it was really short.

Food

Missed breakfast because the excursion was too early.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk To The Love Waterfall And Heaven Gate

Sapa

Visit in August if you want the best views. The fog was so thick we could hardly see any views. We loved the hike to love waterfall and that it was cooler weather though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mai was the best tour guide.

Transport

Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay (La Pandora)

Vietnam

This was a nice boat cruise but I wish we would have paid more for a fancier boat. There is a 45 minute boat ride from the harbor to the boat though so make sure you prepare for a long transfer boat ride. The bathrooms were really bad on the boat though so keep that in mind too.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Truly was in awe in the boat tour, just superb. I loved the lime stone rock structures, they were so beautiful. This is a two hour boat tour that was so gorgeous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa Trekking & Sightseeing

Sapa

Incredible, amazing, breathtaking and a very difficult hike if you are not accustomed to hiking. This was 8.6 miles of hiking through hills. The beauty was unreal and amazing to see the villages.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mai is the best tour guide.

Transport

Explore The Beauty of Hanoi - Full Day Sightseeing

Hanoi

Visit a few historical places on this day. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking around the city.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as this day had a lot of walking around Ho Chi Minh. A wonderful experience and make sure to bring tissues for the Vietnam War Museam.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flights, Hotels, Tours, Itinerary Ideas were all on target. We had, unfortunately, only 12 days to be on the two islands and KimKim helped us really focus on the types of activities we like to plan for ourselves. Having a tour group shuttle us from Queenstown to a beautiful hike 3 or so hours away and then have another tour group pick us up to complete the leg to Christchurch worked perfectly.
Accommodations in Auckland and the Northern Peninsula were beautiful as well. We could easily include walks, hikes, runs, fine dining, casual dining, great breakfasts, a scenic train ride, and scuba into the days without stress.
I like to plan my own trips, but found New Zealand had too many wonderful choices and using a trip planning service that new the lay of the land was extremely helpful to let us enjoy 2-3 nights in locations and not spend the majority of our time in transport.

I think I can honestly say that this was my best vacation ever with so many nice memories and places, people, food and culture.
I was a little hesitant at the beginning if I should organize my trip by myself as I usually do or ask for help but it was the best decision to ask for help. Leo was my specialist who helped me to create the perfect itinerary based on the timeline, dates and budget. The entire planning went smoothly, I had a few flight schedule changes but he always helped me to adjust the details quickly. The entire trip was effortless from my side, all I had to do was to simply enjoy it and follow the itinerary. Pick ups went right on time, communication was fast and easy with all the guides, Ana helped me on the ground to get additional details of the guides for the next day where it was needed so everything was so easy and without any stress.
I spent 18 wonderful days in the Philippines (Cebu, Puerto Princessa, El Nido, Bohol), every day was a new adventure and a new experience. I had so much fun on the activities; during island hoppings i was swimming and snorkling a lot, went hiking to watch the sunrise in Puerto Princessa which was absolutely magical, kayaking and watching fireflies (never seen so many in one place), city tours, atv riding near the chocolate hills of Bohol, I met the tarsiers, crocodiles and butterflies, so many unforgettable memories.
The nature was stunning everywhere I went, the underwater life was amazing, so many colorful fish, corals, turtles, sea snakes, beautiful birds on the trees, the entire place is magical and super clean.
The people were really kind, the food was delicious. I had the chance already in my first accomodation at Bluewater Maribago in Cebu to try the local specialities as they serve buffet dinner where you can try as many things as you like which is a very nice opportunity.
All the tour guides I met made my holiday memorable, they took really good care of me, explained me history, shared a lot of stories with me. I would like to say special thanks to my guide in Puerto Princessa, Rich Apiaza. I have never met such an energetic, enthusiastic guide before. He loves nature, birds very much, he loves Puerto Princessa so it really comes through all his stories which made the place even more special. I am very lucky that he was my guide for three days and managed to get to know the city and the surroundings from him.
There is so much more to see there and experience that I would like to be back again. After such a great experience with an organized trip by Uncharted Earth, I would for sure do it again the same way.

Hotel Reviews

Bohol Beach Club

Bohol

I think this was my favourite hotel because of the stunning white sand beach. The beach is so amazing with all colors of blue and green water, full of star fish and colorful fish in the coral area just few min walking in the water. Rooms are clean, the garden is super nice green, i was even watching the stars in the evening from a hammock in the garden.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cadlao El Nido Resort and Restaurant

El Nido, Palawan

The atmosphere of this hotel is absolutely unique, you can enjoy the view of the Cadlao island from the garden and the swimming pool, the sunset is amazing with all the colors in the sky. The restaurant is excellent with delicious food, I loved the ceviche. I stayed in Gemelina, one of the best rooms with an amazing view on the sea from the porch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Nice, modern hotel right next to a shopping mall so very convenient.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bluewater Maribago

Lapu-lapu City

Very nice, big resort, I can highly recomend their spa where they offer amazing massage. I tried their signature massage and also a facial treatment, very relaxing experience, super friendly staff. Another highlight is for sure the buffet dinner where you can try many local food specialties.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

We started the day with dolphin spotting, there were so many that I could not even count them. Then we went to Balicasag to swim with the turtles and also to do snorkeling. The underwater life there is simply amazing, many colorful fish. The lunch on the boat was delicious, huge portion, impossible to eat it all. After lunch we did some snorkeling again and then we went back to the hotel. A very relaxing day, enjoyed a lot of sun and sea.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

This was a real adventure tour, jumping from cliffs, highest jump was 10 meters, swimming in the canyon and enjoying the waterfalls. I was even lucky that there were not so many people so it was really enjoyable. I also tried the zipline at the beginning, really cool ride in vertical position.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was really helpful since the terraine is not that easy, one advise: dont rush through the canyon jist to avoid people because then you have no chance to really enjoy the nature there.

Transport

Kayaking with fireflies

Philippines

I would totally recommend to have this tour because the experience was incredible: we went kayaking after sunset before it became totally dark. The river was warm and calm, i enjoyed the silence and the nature so much and when the darkness came the entire rive shore area started to become active. Hundreds of fireflies on the trees started to light up and pulse at the same time, incredible experience. There are no pictures or videos that can reflect that feeling, a truly awesome experience. After the program we had dinner at the kayak station, the food was really delicious, all my greetings to the chef.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

It was a really active day, the atv ride around the chocolate hills was a very nice surprise. The tarsiers were super cute and we even managed to get there just before the crowds. I loved the lunch on the boat on Loboc river, we had live music, here i think it would be also nice experience to switch off the music for a few min to enjoy the silence on the river but otherwise it was very pleasent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The day was great but to be honest compared to all the other guides I met during my vacation this was the day where I felt a huge difference, somehow i did not feel that enthusiasm of the guide therefore stories were not so authentic. I did enjoy the day but it rather seemed like I went there with two people who were mainly responsible for my transportation and nothing more.

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour C - group tour

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A - group tour

El Nido

No words how beautiful the nature is, I was looking forward to the island hopping but it exceeded my expectations. The 7 Commandos Beach is mind blowing even in cloudy and sunny weather. The tour was well organized, pick up on time, nice clean and huge boat, delicious lunch and very friendly staff. I even had a partner for the kayaking from the crew.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

It was challanging to climb up but the view worth any effort.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

This is the tour that I would never skip. The beach where the boats are leaving is unbelievable, the view with the mountains in the background is stunning. The underground river is a real miracle, never seen such a huge cave, i highly recommend to take off the audio device for a bit to be able to fully hear the bats and the water inside. I would also recommend to do the zipline, the view from there was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honda Bay Island Hopping Day Tour

Puerto Princesa

Amazing snorkeling on Starfish island, desert like view with mangrove on Luli island and swimming on Cowrie island - i highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa City Half-Day Tour

Puerto Princesa

It was such a fun day, meeting with butterflies, crocodiles, bearcats, lots if sweets and amazing view at Bakers Hill, some history from the II World War which even inspired me to read a book about it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cebu City and Mactan Island day tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delighted to share my incredible 2-week journey with KimKim in Chile! From the bustling streets of Santiago to the awe-inspiring landscapes of Patagonia and the Atacama Desert, every detail was expertly curated. The guides were knowledgeable, accommodations were top-notch, and the seamless transitions between destinations made the experience truly enjoyable. Easter Island's mystical allure was a highlight. Kudos to KimKim for an unforgettable adventure. Highly recommend their services for an enriching exploration of Chile's diverse wonders!

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lodge Terrantai

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Appelgren House Hotel Boutique

PUERTO NATALES

Authenticity & Character

Location

Pop

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ladera

Providencia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hare Uta

Rapa Nui

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Valparaíso & Wine Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

I’m

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Patagonian Ranch Experience

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Food

Wine and the lamb! Must try!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our 3 guides, Layla, Dennis and Yoyo were phenomenal, they looked after us and helped us even with things that they shouldnt have helped us with, we had a great time and would definitely book with kimkim again now that i have the experience

Appreciate Francesca’s patience with helping me plan my trip, and her diligence in getting money back for me which the local tour overcharged for.
The experiences were amazing, once in a lifetime journeys. The suggested tours proved good overall. I preferred my time with WonderLapland on the northern lights trek. The ice floating was so funny though would have preferred visiting during the day rather than not being able to see much at night.
More info on what exactly each tour entailed and what to expect would be good for preparations.
Would also have appreciated suggestions for tours or excursions I didn’t know existed until I got there, like toboggan, and skipping waiting in line for ‘Santa’.
Francesca’s added walking guides and local places to see in the towns I stayed in were great additions.
It’s challenging to get across exactly what your intentions are via messaging. Would recommend kimkim offer a way to have at least one conversation with the travel specialist. As well as provide accommodation options so the traveler can research the options and advise the travel specialist if they’re willing to pay more or less for a hotel.
The Santa Clause Hotel in Rovaniemi was fine, though there were other options I saw once I was there that might have been nicer. It is centrally located, though so were many other options. Also didn’t like that the sauna was only available 6p-9p when most are at night tours or dinner during that timeframe. The F6 was lovely and I would stay there again, though I might have been willing to pay a little extra for a room better located within the hotel. There’s no sauna here though it was a very cool experience using the nearby public sauna in Helsinki. The glass igloo was a cool experience though for the cost, probably not worth it.
Thank you, Francesca for all the work you put into my adventure!

Monika did an amazing job of planning our New Zealand vacation and choose the perfect itinary for us to follow during our trip. It felt like we had a good friend who was available to help us during our stay so we never felt concerned abut the trip logistics or other events. There were several times where we needed to make changes to the original plans (weather cancelations, etc) and Monika took care of everything for us so we were able to see everything that we had envisioned.
We particularly liked the many activities she planned in Rotorua and the Hobbiton tour. The Sudima hotels we stayed at in Auckland and Roturua were exceptional.
The Waitakere Resort & Spa was a bit of a disappointment. It seemed like it was in need of significant updating and repairs. The people were very nice and helpful but overall it just seemed very dated.

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Much like the Sudima Auckland City, the Sudima Lake Rotorua was an excellent place to stay! The location was superb and the staff was extremely friendly. Our rooms were clean and comfortable. The breakfast was similar to the sister location, the bacon came off as a bit raw which was disappointing. Despite this minor hitch in the breakfast, our stay in Sudima Lake Rotorua was pretty good!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Waitakere Resort

Waiatarua, Auckland

This resort wasn't quite up to our expectations. While it was clean and had promise of nice hikes, and waterfalls, many roads were closed and the hikes were hard to find. The wifi was weak and the hotel felt a bit outdated overall. Despite the resort's potential, it didn't quite live up to its prime. Regardless, it was a clean place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auckland City Hotel

Auckland

Our stay at Sudima Auckland City was pleasant. It boasted clean accommodations, friendly staff, and good layout. The hotel's location was perfect and accessible, making our traveling and exploring of the city uncomplicated. However, the breakfast wasn't up-to American taste, but that could just be due to different customs. Overall, the service and facilities were commendable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour

New Zealand

This was an absolute treat for movie buffs like me. Getting the chance to explore the beautifully recreated Hobbit village from the movies was fascinating. The place was full of the furniture details like in the movies. This addition is new and is something exclusive which made our visit special!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Redwoods treewalk by night

Rotorua

The night walk through the Redwoods was an incredible, one-of-a-kind experience. The Redwoods were beautifully lit up, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The platforms and bridges made it a unique treetop adventure. This shouldn't be missed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

Walking around the edge of an extinct volcano! Words can't describe the majestic views and raw natural beauty of the crater. The walk was a highlight of our trip and proved to be a thrilling experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Waitomo Glowworm Caves + Ruakuri cave combo

New Zealand

This activity was truly incredible. Exploring these unique caves was a blend of learning about stalactites and stalagmites and experiencing the wonderful light show created by glowworms. Our tour finished with an unforgettable boat trip in the cave river lit only by the glowworms above. Definitely a surreal and must-try experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fantastic trip to Ecuador. We hadn't heard of KimKim before, but the sample itineraries looked cool and so we inquired. Mathias of Authentic Ecuador responded right away and we evolved an itinerary that covered the major areas of Amazon, Andes, and Galapagos in 15 days. Going with 2 kids, there were a few long travel days, but the itinerary spaced those out with other more-relaxed days. Mathias was great, always responsive and tailoring everything to what we wanted. We preferred accommodation that had "character" and he got us a cool boutique hotel in Quito, a remote Amazon lodge, and a lodge with panoramic windows on a volcano. (Though he of course couldn't control the weather which was cloudy that day).

Local guides and drivers were great. Especially Mishell in Quito & mainland -- very organized and thorough. And Daniela in Galapagos -- very knowledgeable local naturalist with lots of energy. Only hiccup was a date-switch on which island we were doing on a day-trip boat excursion. But not their fault -- boat operator changed the dates with only one day notice and we didn't have cell phones that worked to be contacted. They did send a private driver to get us to the correct place, albeit late.

Overall, very pleased with our trip and experience. Prices were mostly in line with what I had researched, maybe a bit on the high side, but tradeoff is the customization and responsiveness which was top-notch.

Two thumbs up!

Activity Reviews

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

Our guide Daniela was great, told us a lot about the ecosystem and history of the island. Visited Tortoise Refuge and it was amazing to see these giant animals just wandering around. Darwin research center was interesting, especially the baby turtles.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Springs of Papallacta

Ecuador

Visited Termas de Papallacta for a few hours. Beautiful location, variety of pools and temperatures. Not crowded when we went. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Quality of Experience

Everything was top notch , Trang was very professional and diligent in her job.
Very impressed with the transportation modes.
Definity will use Kim Kim again !!

Our family had a great time! Arianna took care us through out the whole trip by making sure that our connections with our transportations and tour guides were on point during the entire trip. The tour guides were calm, patient and excited to share the site's information with us. We learned a lot. The kids want go back!
Thank you!

Serendipity arranged our trip. Everything as expected. Drivers on time, safe. Kioro and Senda best accommodation. Needed to do our own research for Guanacaste, Playa Hermosa. Travel logistics, time spent driving, hotel Bosque, area around not as good. Would be nice to also be given a time frame for tour days, rather than just a pick up times. Ie, 9am to 2pm or 7am to 930am so we could plan open time. Serendipity was fabulous when had questions. All of our drivers were great.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Agency booked. We needed to do more homework about hotel and location.

Authenticity & Character

Right on the beach, pool didn't seem clean as under tree canopy.

Location

It is located next to houses, chickens, loose dogs, constant vendors selling stuff, like 8x an hour, burning fire garbage, people take beach chairs. Nothing else around. Other restaurants, stores, town. Just accommodation.

Staff

Clarence made our stay more fun. Check in experience poor.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms not ready or cleaned had to wait

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

Perched up on hill, room great, views incredible. Deck area great. Restaurant & Bar enjoyed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Tucked away, peaceful

Location

Lush, Gardens, View, Staff

Staff

Personal attention

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean each day

Activity Reviews

Hike to Las Pailas, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and La Oropendola Waterfall

Costa Rica

We did not do due to extremely long day prior

Private Excursion to Guaitil Pottery Town

Costa Rica

Should be added to Hacienda Day as basically in same area, repeat long drive. Pottery demonstration was fabulous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guide Minor spoke great English so we learned lots while driving

Wetlands Boat Ride & Rum Tasting at Hacienda El Viejo

Costa Rica

2 hour drive each way. Tour guide not available when arrived, lots of sitting and waiting. Almost 8 hr day for 1.5 hour tour + lunch. Place was amazing though once got going.

Quality of Experience

Food

Buffet

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Monteverde Orchid Gardens

Monteverde

Short 45 minutes but learned lots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day at Selvatura including Hanging Bridges and Fauna Exhibitions

Costa Rica

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nature Safari Float and Tortilla Making

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Tortilla making very quick, like 5 minutes, then lunch. Float was awesome.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus

Costa Rica

Private and thoughtful guide, learned lots, saw lots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike at the Arenal Hanging Bridges

Arenal/La Fortuna

We kind of raced through as busy with large groups blocking way. But still fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

this is the second time I have used KimKim and have been impressed both times. One n South America and now this one in Asia. Jessica was very good at finding nice boutique hotels and unusual excursions. Her local contact in Bali was equally amazing. We had the same driver and guild for the entire week and they were also very good. Our guide Budiada was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Our amazing driver Navya was adapt at navigating the crowed streets and always got us there safely. Thanks for an amazing trip and we will use you again.
Sam and Teressa

Hotel Reviews

Montigo Resorts Seminyak

Badung

Great pool areas, great breakfast and very helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

short walk to beach and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Kalyana Ubud

Ubud

Staff was extremely friendly and accomadating, The Included breakfast was good and the grounds were parklike and well maintained. Perfect little hotel.

Authenticity & Character

have kept the charm of Bali

Location

Quiet setting and on site spa was great.

Staff

very eager to provide whatever was requested

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spotless grounds

Activity Reviews

Visit the Mother Temple of Besakih

Indonesia

quite a large complex

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Kelingking Beach

Indonesia

skipped this one as well, I am checking amazing as all tours have beet to this point but can't continue without checking boxes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Angel Billabong

Indonesia

skipped this one

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Indonesia

interesting but a bit of a tourist trap, but well maintained and worth the visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Sebatu Soul Purification Ritual

Indonesia

very special visit that is worth the many slippery steps to experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

beautiful and well managed fields, amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tenganan Bali Aga Village

Indonesia

nice little village with glimpses of how it used to be.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Home of Local Blacksmith (Keris) Crafting

Ubud, Bali

amazing skill to make the kris daggers with minimal tools doing it the traditional way

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit A Mask Maker

Indonesia

I was impressed by mask maker skill and preserving old method of making mask,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Trunyan Village

Indonesia

very unique village with unique cemetery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Experience Cooking and Arak-Making Class

Indonesia

fun experience to see how some dishes were made

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tirta Gangga Water Palace

Indonesia

nice maintained spot

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Departure Meet and Greet

Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)

meet at curb and escorted right through check in to security gate, very helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My two week adventure in North Vietnam as a solo traveller in December 2023 was a great success, due in no small part to the services on Long Pham. My particular interest was in the embroidery and textile techniques of the ethnic groups in Vietnam (over 54!), so after a short stay in Hanoi I went to Sapa and then on a 3 day 'trek' (walk, but at times difficult) through rice paddies and villages and was able to see first hand the techniques of the very skilled tribal women as they wove, dyed and embroidered their traditional outfits. The homestays arranged were good, comfortable and very authentic. I spent a further 5 days in Hanoi, with a day trip to Halong Bay on one day. All was wonderful and very well arranged by Long. I changed arrangements during the trip and Long handled everything with immense patience and ease. Finally, I would like to give a shout out to guides: Andy on my vespa food tour of Hanoi, Bach on my full day seeing the sights of Hanoi and Lu on Sapa walking leg. Andy and Bach in particular were very knowledgeable about the history of Vietnam and generous in sharing their personal histories and experiences in modern Vietnam. Terrific holiday. As a solo traveller (older woman) it was important to me to have someone I could contact if needed, and Long was available 24/7. Highly recommended.

Vickie Parrack planned an excellent 5 week trip for the two of us. The plan included trains, planes, automobiles, and boats.
We made it complicated for her by having the trip include two stops to visit/stay with family and friends. From the moment our private driver picked us up at the Sydney Airport we knew our vacation was going to be great. A few days seeing Sydney then a flight to Darwin. A few days in the Top End seeing war history, rain forest, jumping crocodiles, and soaking up native culture. A great train excursion on The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide. A few days in Adelaide and overnight on Kangaroo Island. A Princess Cruise to Melbourne, Tasmania, and on to Sydney. A few more days in Sydney. Then up the east coast with stops in Newcastle, Airlie Beach and the Great Barrier Reef, Townsville, and Cairns and more Great Barrier Reef plus rain forest by wheels plus rain forest by overhead tram (awesome!)

We can't praise Vickie enough. Vickie perceived our intentions and needs. The planning was almost flawless. We hope she will be available plan a New Zealand vacation for us in the next year or so.

Activity Reviews

Litchfield National Park Waterfalls with AAT Kings

Darwin

Free Day in Cairns

Cairns

We rode the Karunda scenic Railroad up the mountain. Wonderful experience. The Karunda village is nice. We bought some artwork from a local vendor and had it (sucessfully) shipped to our home in Idaho. The Karunda Skyrail overhead tram was awesome. I never expected I would enjoy this as much as I did. Seeing the rainforest from above is indescribable. I would love to see the rainforest from this perspective when its raining hard. I know they close the skyrail when raining, out of caution for lightening strikes, but still I'd like to see it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daintree, Cape Trib & Bloomfield Day Tour

Cairns

The Billy Tea Safari tour to the rainforest showed us some great flora and fauna. Our guide/driver as great. However our safari vehicle was too rough-riding for our old bones. For us, the same travel route in a more conventional vehicle would have made the day tour more comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

The catamaran trip out to the anchored barge was nice, very comfortable. The multi-activity barge was great. Unfortunately we chose to ride in the semi-submersible submarine as our first activity, and we both became very nauseous from the small boat's movement. The nauseousness put a damper on further activities. So we weren't up for the snorkeling or other activities. However it was fun to watch all the others having fun. Its amazing that they'll teach you so scuba dive in the short time we're on the barge. Watching the fish feeding is fun. All things considered, this is a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive Cairns

Cairns

Loved the train ride from Townsville to Cairns. Upon arrival at the Cairns station in the evening, it took us quite awhile to get a taxi to take us to our hotel. The hotel opposite the bay shore was great and centrally located for exploring the town on foot. The taxi waiting experience was not bad, just unexpected and uncomfortable as we stepped off the air conditioned train into the humidity in the covered train station. In the future, for other visiting travelers, perhaps a heads-up about the possible wait might be appropriate.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Heart reef and Whitehaven Flight

Airlie Beach

There was no flight for us that day. We arrived in Airlie Beach too late in the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Captain Cook Cruises - Hop On Hop Off Harbour Explorer 2-Day Pass

Sydney

This hop-on hop-off experience is a waste of money and time. The harbour is beautiful. But the 'cruise' boats were few and far between, and when on the boat, any tour dialogue was forgettable. The water ferry system is very nice, very convenient, goes to many more locations, and is very affordable.

Kakadu National Park Explorer with AAT Kings

Darwin

Private Transfer Cairns CBD Accom to Airport

Cairns

We rode the hotel shuttle but to the airport.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitsundays - Ocean Rafting

Airlie Beach

We hosted our relatives, a couple with 3 children, on this rafting experience and everyone of us loved it. Especially the snorkeling.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The high-speed inflatable boat was a lot of fun.

Taronga Zoo

Australia

We've been to some nice zoos. This is one of the best! And the view of Sydney from the zoo is unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

2 Day Kangaroo Island Tour

Kangaroo Island

These two days were absolutely wonderful. Lots of land and marine mammals and birds performed for us. Our driver was great. The other travelers in our small group were fun. The overnight hotel and restaurant were great. The weather was great. We're so glad this tour was included in our plan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adelaide Central Market Delicious Lunch Tour

Adelaide

This market tour was great. Just a couple of hours long, but it was fun. After the tour completed we had trouble deciding which market stall to go back to for our lunch. Great choice, Vickie!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private transfer train station to accommodation

Adelaide

This transfer was part of our itnerary. We used Uber.

Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise with Darwin Harbour Cruises

Darwin

This tour was not available. As I recall, the tour company, and the other companies were not running at the time we were there. We were off by a week or so. No fault of Vickie's.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Prviate transfer from Airport to Accommodation

Darwin

Our driver was great!

Arrive Sydney

Sydney

Loved it all. The driver met us at the airport, and was very informative and full of info as he drove us into the city and our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Harbour, The Rocks Walking Tour and Bondi Beach

Sydney

The walking tour was very informative and fun. Bondi Beach; we got the tee-shirt!

Tina planned an absolutely incredible trip for us to Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Yao Noi), Cambodia (Siem Reap), and Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Saigon). During the planning process, Tina provided an itinerary that would take us through all three countries in two weeks, including flights, hotels, and activities. She then adapted the schedule to our every preference, including flights with particular airlines and activities that better suited our specific interests. She provided thorough and timely responses to every question that I had prior to our trip. When we were on our trip, Tina responded within minutes to the few questions that we had, such as when we had difficulty locating our driver in the airport or when the flight app would not let us check in to our flight ahead of time. Each issue was fully resolved immediately, which made our trip seamless in every way.

In regard to our hotels, we were impressed with all of the hotels that were selected. They were clean, comfortable, and located in downtown areas that were perfect for exploring the nightlife of the city. Complementary breakfast was always included and our rooms were often upgraded to have a view or balcony.

At each destination, we were assigned a driver and an English-speaking guide, who picked us up at the airport and took us on our guided tours each day. All of our guides were incredibly informative. We’d like to particularly thank Ms. Leena in Bangkok and Mr. Chhay in Siem Reap for going above and beyond with our tours. Our visit to the elephant sanctuary and our Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai were truly amazing experiences as well.

Tina and the KimKim team made sure that every detail of our trip was taken care of and that we had an incredible experience learning about the history and culture of each place that we visited. We had an unforgettable trip and would highly recommend working with Tina to plan your Southeast Asia trip!

Hotel Reviews

Verdure Lotus Gradeur (former Halong Aquamarine Cruise)

Ha Long

Our room was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed having a balcony to overlook Halong Bay.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cochin Sang Hotel

This hotel was perfectly situated to enjoy Saigon! It was one block from Ben Thanh market and easily walkable to the city center. It was so clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

The hotel was located in an excellent location to explore Chiang Mai's nightlife, though it was on a block that was off the main boulevard. The room was clean and comfortable, and we enjoyed having a balcony.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kingston Suites Bangkok

Bangkok

The hotel was located in the heart of Bangkok's nightlife, though it was on a block that was off the main boulevard. The room was functional, though the bed was very stiff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phka Chan Hotel

Siem Reap

This hotel was perfectly located to enjoy the nightlife of Siem Reap on Pub Street! It was so clean and comfortable. The complementary breakfast was absolutely delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paradise Koh Yao Resort

Paradise Koh Yao Noi was truly a 5-star experience. Our villa was nestled into the hills and overlooking the ocean and the jungle. Our room was incredibly clean, comfortable, and functional. Breakfast and dinner were delicious, and it was wonderful to eat at tables on the beach in the sand. The live music was the perfect ambiance. This was the most relaxing resort we have ever been to!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aurora Premium Hotel & Spa

This hotel was perfectly situated to enjoy the nightlife in Hanoi! It was so clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Halong on Cruise!

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

It was wonderful to see Ha Long Bay, though the journey was very long from Hanoi (3 hours each way). The cruise took us to a cave for one hour and a beach for one hour.

Food

Food on the cruise was average. We stopped at a rest stop for lunch on the way back to Hanoi which was aimed at tourists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Temples, Tradition and Cultural Traces of Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Street Food Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Exploring the Famous Angkor Wat

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok's Temples Tour

Bangkok

Our guide, Ms. Leena, did an incredible job showing us the temples and highlights of Bangkok.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Back to the Nature on Koh Yao Noi

Ko Yao Noi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

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We had an amazing trip! Marco was our guide in Quito, and he was excellent. We then traveled to the Amazon and stayed at the Napo Cultural Center, it was such an unforgettable experience. We had the best time with our guide Sergio, who we still keep in touch with. Our next stop was the Galapagos, a definite must visit! All of our guides there (Enrique and Julio were AMAZING!) were so knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. We got engaged on the trip and truly had the most wonderful time. Once in a lifetime trip!

We had an amazing trip to Argentina thanks to KimKim. Our guides, drivers were always delightful, helpful and went beyond just picking us up or telling us about the sites. It’s very evident that everyone loves their country, the descriptions and history were always filled with details and excitement that reflected that pride. We felt safe, free to ask for advice and always looked out for throughout the trip. Ana did an awesome job putting together the itinerary and selecting hotels and flights. The Vamoos app was a great source, having everything all at your fingertips and the ability to communicate easily and quickly was a definite advantage. I usually do all my trip planning, but so happy that this time we used KimKim and we highly recommend Ana for her knowledge, availability and willingness to listen and adapt plans.

Our 12 day father/son trip to Patagonia was spectacular and we had a wonderful time! Many thanks to Ana at Kimkim for organizing an excellent trip. We started in Chile (Santiago, Puerto Natales) and went to Argentina (Calafate, Ushuaia and Buenos Aires).  In Chile, we did 3 excursions to the Base Towers, Grey Lake to see the glaciers and the Cuernos hike. Our guides in Patagonia were amazing and kind and took care of us (special thanks to Victor and Genisys at Massif). We then did the glacier hike at Calafate which was amazing and again had wonderful guides. We then flew down to Ushuaia to see the penguins - a truly magical experience to walk with them on the island. Also hiked in the Tierra del Fuego National park and took the end of the world train.  Ushuaia is the southernmost town in the world and it was great to visit. Our last stop was in Buenos Aires - took in a tango show, city tour and a Tigre tour and it was great to experience a vibrant city. All of our hotel accommodations, ride pickups, excursions happened on time and everyone was so kind!
Thank you Kimkim for helping us with a trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Review

Hotel Rio Serrano

Torres del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walking with Penguins 🐧

Ushuaia

Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rio Serrano excursion

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guide in Medoza (Cecilia), Santiago (Soli) and Puerto Natalas (Matieus) were excellent

The experience with KimKim was great except for two things. Most important to me was having a smooth arrival - transfer-to-hotel experience as I was traveling alone and arriving about 1am in a foreign country. Unfortunately the locating the individual responsible for the car service to take me to the hotel was not smooth at all. After traveling for 24 hours, I just wanted to get to the hotel and get to bed. This set a bad tone for the trip. After that everything was smooth sailing with KimKim, but the communication on detail about each day could have been more clear and a check in on how we were doing and whether we needed anything would have been nice. We did not hear from our rep unless we had a question.

Hotel Review

Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok

Bangkok

The staff at this hotel are amazing! The hotel is beautiful and amenities fantastic (especially if you are a Diamond member) Small thing: the pool was not in the sun any time we went up (mostly in shade) and the leaf chairs - while lovely - are not ideal for comfort.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is beautiful, my room was fantastic and the staff are great

Location

Although not really a walkable area, there are a lot of restaurants and shopping and massages nearby

Staff

LOVE the staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely

Activity Reviews

Bangkok City Tour with Museum Visit

Bangkok

By this time I was a bit tempeled out - but it was lovely. The museum was disturbing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Longtail Boat Bangkok Canaling Tour!

Bangkok

Lovely, fun, comfortable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We did arrive 1.5 hours early, which was way too early, but KimKim rep told us they had to account for traffice. They should have known it was a holiday and that business traffic was low that day

A visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya

Thailand

The drive from Bangkok (and home same day) was 2.5 hours so it is a long way to go, but worth it. It was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

no guide - just driver. The guides at the sanctuary were great

Transport

A visit to Mae Klong Railway market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market!

Bangkok

Super fun day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Out guide - Betty - is fantastic!

Transport

Exploring the Ancient Ayutthaya

Thailand

This was a good day, but very hot as we were outside the whole day. It should be more clear that the whole thing is outside. It would have been nice if our rep told us about apparel requirements at the palace grounds and various temples. We could have packed more accordingly in advance. our guide told us the day before, but what if this was our first excursion and we did not have our guide to tell us that

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Betty was fantastic

Transport

Car is air conditioned and driver is very reliable

Enjoy Food Tasting in Chinatown!

Bangkok

There were many things I dared not eat, but that is on me.

Quality of Experience

Food

pad thai!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide - Betty - was fantastic

Transport

Our driver was great, very reliable