Kimkim Trip Reviews

Where do I begin to tell you about our amazing 10 days in Turkey?! My husband and I didn’t want to go on a « one size fits all » vacation. After a great deal of reading, I had pretty much decided where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. Can’t thank Berat enough for making it all happen for us. She listened carefully to what we wanted and then filled in the spaces with her expertise.
All three of our guides, Ibrahim, Hatice and Volkan were excellent . They were knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor and went above and beyond to help us with all of our needs and wants. Safety was never a concern and we enjoyed moments on our own to explore with confidence. Local people were always friendly and eager to help.
Our drivers spoiled us from the moment we were picked up. The spacious vehicles allowed us to stretch out our legs and enjoy the views along the way with fresh water and candies.
What was the best part of our trip?! It was ALL wonderful.
The ambiance and personnel at the Hürrem Sultan Hammam were exceptional. Have never been so wonderfully pampered. Was pleasantly surprised that my husband enjoyed the experience also.
Cappadocia was a fairyland. The predawn hot air balloon ride was magical and so serene. And what fun to stay in a cave hotel!
We were warmly welcomed into the private home
of Udo Hirsch, the owner of a small winery in Gelveri.
After narrating our tour of the cellars where we saw the grapes naturally fermenting in centuries old clay containers, we returned to his family table. We tasted several of his red and white wines accompanied by homemade goat cheese and olives and fresh bread. Unforgettable!
In Safranbolu we stayed two nights in a truly impressive centuries old mansion. Our breakfast was spread out for royalty as we sat beside the indoor pool listening to the water flow softly from the beautiful fountain.
The visit to the Bozdag Film Studio was a special treat after having watched several of the television series that were filmed there. Sets were impressive and it was exciting to meet Günkut, one of the alps that I remember from the Ertugrul series. My husband particularly enjoyed watching the live show that was performed at the end of the afternoon. Horsemanship, costuming and acting were all amazing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the food in Turkey everywhere we went. On our last day Berat joined us for a food tour. Was so nice to meet the lovely young woman who helped us plan our trip of a lifetime. Just when we thought we would explode from eating so much, she asked the waiter for a pumpkin dessert. Oh, my goodness! What a delicious way to end our trip!
My husband and I are retired educators. Worked for 40 yrs and raised 3 wonderful sons. I have traveled abroad and lived in different countries, but my husband has not. I wanted this to be a positive, adventurous and awesome experience for him.
And it was!
Thank you, Berat, all of your well chosen colleagues and KimKim for sharing your beautiful country, culture, history and people with us.
Could not have been a more amazing trip.

Hotel Review

Havuzlu Asmazlar Mansion

Safranbolu

So nice to be out of the big city and into a small town. The Havuzlu Asmazlar Mansion was beautiful and full of history.

Authenticity & Character

Can’t help but feel the history and want to learn more. The wood stairway, the bed, the design on the wood ceiling, the sofas on two sides of the room, the windows and cupboards - all so inspiring. The pool room was lovely. Perfect place to relax, read and have a royal breakfast.

Location

Short walking distance to a cute outdoor restaurant. Good food and a cute little cat to keep you company!

Staff

Staff staff was helpful and eager to please. Prepared a wonderful breakfast. Make sure you allow time to relax and enjoy it!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom was on the small size but not a problem as the bedroom was very large and I simply stored my extras in the lovely cupboard just outside the bathroom. It’s impossible to keep old wood spotlessly clean, but beyond that, yes, the room was clean. Nice to open windows during the night.

Activity Reviews

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Another can’t miss experience! Our pilot was amazing and there were only 16 of us in a basket that fit 20. Simply magical and serene to float above the spectacular scenery. Crew made us feel completely safe from take off to landing. Woke up early the following morning to watch more than one hundred balloons floating by our hotel. The Kelebek Special Cave Hotel was a magical place to stay. I won’t even try to describe it . Please see our photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pilot was funny and crew very capable.

Transport

Discover Safranbolu, a unique Ottoman town on UNESCO World Heritage List

Safranbolu

I chose to go to Safranbolu to stay in one of the centuries old houses. The Havuzlu Asmazlar Mansion was a lovely place. Our corner room at the top of the beautiful wooden stairway was very spacious. Bathroom was small, but I simply stored extra items in the little cupboard just outside the bathroom door. The cushioned sofas that filled the room were the perfect place to relax in the evening. The bed was large and comfortable. A short walk around the corner took us to a cute little outdoor restaurant. Food was good and we loved the companionship of one of the local kittens. Breakfast in the morning was a feast. It was served in the room containing a dipping pool. Soothing to listen to the softly flowing water from the fountains.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ceramic Tradition in Avanos + Light Hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

Was interesting to see the artisans at work, making and painting the ceramics . Their work was beautiful but well beyond our budget. Gave us an appreciation for the amazing quality of their work though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the town of Gelveri: A walk among the Ottoman-Greek heritage of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

We felt quite special being invited into the private home of Udo Hirsch. His passion for making wine was evident from the moment we began our tour. Was incredible to visit the cellars where his wine fermented naturally in containers that were centuries old. Then we were warmly welcomed to his table to taste several of his red and white selections. Friends and family were present. We were made to feel like family as we sipped wine and enjoyed homemade goat cheese, olives and fruit and bread.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Was a fascinating experience to wander through the caves and to imagine that people actually lived here. If your husband played college football and has broad shoulders and bad knees, you might want to rethink this one though!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Bozdag Film Studios

İstanbul

The Bozdag television series is the whole reason that I became interested in Turkey. Was fascinated by the history of the Ottoman Empire and wanted to visit all of the historical sites. I was elated to find out that the film studio had opened to the public. Was even happier to learn that some of the actors were there on the weekends. I was not disappointed. Got to take photos with Günkut Alp from Ertugrul! So magical ! The live show in the afternoon was great! Do NOT miss it! I’m back home now and watching the final season of OSMAN. So much fun to see some of the scenes that were filmed on the sets that I had just visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turkish Bath and Spa at Hürrem Sultan Hammam

İstanbul

This was amazingly wonderful! The ambiance was heavenly, high domed ceilings, warm marble slabs, beautiful aromas. The attendant made me feel comfortable immediately with the whole experience. Didn’t take long to get past all shapes and sizes of nakedness. I simply relaxed and enjoyed the pampering. It’s definitely worth splurging to get the whole experience including clay body mask, bubble cleanse, body massage. The fruit drink was a refreshing new taste. And the olives and fruit were perfect. Can’t imagine a better experience than this historical Hammam of Hürrem Sultan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were delighted with the trip that Jessica and her team planned for us. They suggested places that we hadn't considered, which proved to be great ideas. Their recommendations for hotels were spot on. The guides and drivers they found were reliable, informative and easy to communicate with. It was easy to communicate with Jessica and her team during the trip, and we appreciated the ability to track our plans using the app they provided. I love working with KimKim because their specialists are embedded in each country, giving them unique insights and connections.

Hello Amelia, sorry for the delay,

I agree with Jacqueline, on a lot of the aspects of the trip.

All the drivers were very nice and courteous gentleman. The best one I found was some Thanassis. All the hotels were good, except for Naxos, I don’t recommend using this hotel venue for tourist guests. We were not happy with the room, The second bedroom was not to my liking the stairs to the mezzanine were very steep. The ceiling was very low and dangerous also the bed was on the floor.

In the town of Heraklion I would avoid and recommend not using the Airbnb you found us, the accommodations were not very favorable, the one bedroom was okay, but the second was very poor and uncomfortable. I felt like I was sleeping in a coffin.

In summary, all the organization you made of the trip went very smoothly, everything was on time with all the transportation. I love Greece, the people were very kind and helpful. I especially loved Meterora, the hotel was very nice, the staff were amazing and generous with the service. I highly recommend this hotel for future tourists.

You did an amazing job!

The best guide/Driver was Thanasis who is always on time, knowledgeable, patient, very pleasant, and able to rescue us when we are lost. Nothing was ever too much for him. He was the best of all.
The best sites were: Meteora, Epidauros, Corinth, Mycenae. The best islands were: Naxos and Santorini.
The accommodation in Athens was great; the two ladies who managed the place were simply wonderful and did not know what to do to help us.
In Meteora, the Holy Spirit and their Gardenia restaurant had fantastic staff, so helpful and generous, serving us extra deserts and fruits.
The hotel in corfu was very good but one hour away from The Old Corfu. That place was for swimmers and beach lovers; nothing nice in the vicinity and away from everything. A hotel in the Old Corfu, with its mansions, cute streets and stores, gardens and palaces would have been the area to be.
In Naxos, the hotel was well situated, but the bathrooms need a lot of modernizing .
In Crete: two things to comment:
The day trip from Heraklion to Rhethymno only would have been enough. Adding Chania was not a good idea at all, because the day trip lasted 10 hours! The landscape was always the same and not particularly striking. Instead of a whole day to Rethymno and China, we should have gone to the Archeological museum in Knossos (or Heraklion).
The arrangement to stay in an apartment in Heraklion was not good for us. We would have liked a hotel with reception, so we could ask questions to a receptionist, because when we arrived the place was closed. We did not have WIFI so I had to go to a neighbourhood cafe and ask them to phone the owner. Also the breakfast was the worst of our whole trip.
All in all, the trip was fantastic, thanks to the arrangements executed to perfection by Amalia. All the contacts, guides and transportations were coordinated perfectly. She confirmed everyday with the drivers and hotels.
We never felt forgotten as Alicia was following our itinerary everyday.
Thanks to her it was a success!
Thank you , Jacqueline

Activity Reviews

Knossos Palace guided tour

Greece

The guide was very good and knew a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Going to Knossos was left to us. We had to take the bus, by asking local people. Again, it would have been nice to stay at a hotel where we could ask how to go to Knossos from Heraklion.

Transport

We needed a receptionist to make arrangements

Day cruise around Santorini

Santorini

Wonderful villages , all whitewashed. A dream.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to arrange transportation on The Island of Santorini, to go to Oia, etc

Day road trip to Delphi & Arachova

Greece

Arachova was a real surprise!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Ancient Greek Mythology & Museum Tour

Athens

Camila worked up a varied and comprehensive 16-day trip focused mostly on the altiplano. It was challenge for both of us to arrange a visit to Chipaya Village, a remote indigenous community. She was open to my requests for additions and changes and followed my progress daily while I was in-country. Camila provided probably the most detailed personal service I have ever had from a travel agency. Muchas gracias!

Finding an amazing vacation in Morocco with KimKim was so easy and fast.

Original Travels had a nice variety of itineraries and one matched perfectly with what we wanted to do. The team was very friendly and responsive- and massively helped us when we realized we gave them the wrong flight date on the first day of our vacation. I’m sure they scrambled to fix all the hotels, and by some miracle Said saved our vacation.

From start to finish, our trip was quite smooth starting in Casablanca with nights in Chefchaouen, Fez, the Saharan desert, Skorha, and Marrakesh. A couple of long days of driving were necessary to fit everything, but totally worth it.

Our experienced driver Lahcen is such a lovely person- funny, friendly, and patient. He made sure we were taken care at every moment along the way. We had a lot of fun and interesting conversations. I wondered if it would be awkward to have a driver for 11 days straight, but it wasn’t at all.

All of the guides and excursions we did were also incredible. Our guides in the medinas of Fez (Adib) and Marrakesh (Hanan) were very knowledgeable - showing us things we would’ve never seen or understood by ourselves.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is magnificent. The wood carved panels, intricate plaster carvings, and zellige tile work is beautiful and amazing. Be sure to tag along with a guided group to learn about the historic and religious importance of this place.

Chefchaouen was a great place to start and I wish we had a little more time there. While there isn’t a TON to see. It’s beautiful and relaxing. A good place to start immersing yourself with the culture, food, language, etc… Helpful tip: consider packing light for the night(s) here since you may have to walk a few blocks through the narrow, cobblestone streets (closed to cars).

A stop in Volubilis to see the Roman ruins was fascinating. There are signs in the park, but it’s worth it to pay a small fee for a guide who can show and explain more than you would see on your own. A short stop in Meknes for a late lunch and the Mausoleum of Ismail.

Fez - exploring the Fez medina was like exploring for hidden treasure in an Indiana Jones movie. Our guide showed us local artisans skilled at weaving, zellige tile work, pottery, silver and leatherworks. Since our guide is a local, it was quite nice to see him shaking hands and saying hello to almost everyone he saw. The food we had in the medina as well as the food we had with a local family was delicious.

Our time in the Saharan desert camp was a true highlight. The camel ride into the desert was a surreal, special moment. Seeing the sunset and the stars come out on a camel is likely a once in a lifetime opportunity to many. The camp itself was relaxing with delicious food and interesting excursions. The staff was welcoming and kind - with good senses of humor!

As geologists, we had an extra fun stop in Erfoud to see all of the fossils from the region and how they are processed into the cool specimen worthy of museums.

Our time in Marrakesh was filled with so many fun activities. Our Medina guide was full of information and gave great tips on places to go when exploring on our own. She was also our guide for the gastronomic tour which was a delicious experience. We also opted for the hot air balloon ride, cooking class, and spa treatment - these were all incredible in their own ways and a nice escape from the fast paced nature of the Medina.

Good to note for future cooking class attendees- you are gifted a small tagine so I’m glad we had not already bought one in the markets.

We would highly recommend our friends and family visiting Morocco. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the culture is rich. We had wonderful vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

This hotel was actually quite unpleasant. We were only there one night before catching an early morning flight. So not worth raising a stink about. But it was kind of dingy, the elevator was suspiciously creaky, and our floor had a slight Seager smell in the hallway. The grout in the bathroom was dirty with missing tiles. Permanent water stains on the counters. All light fixtures and wall hangings were crooked. Definitely not five stars. After seeing the state of our floor and room we did not really want to eat at the hotel. Close enough to walk to restaurants, a park, and cathedral, and large square but the cathedral and square were both closed off.

Authenticity & Character

No character at all, seemed like it hadn’t been renovated since the 1990s

Location

Close enough for walking to restaurants and some attractions, but most attractions were closed for unknown reasons

Staff

The staff was fine- no complaints

Cleanliness & Comfort

It seemed dirty, dingy — have definitely stayed in worse places through my life but this ranks pretty low. Definitely not five stars.

2Ciels Boutique Hotel

Marrakech

A modern hotel in a nice part of town, maybe 10minutes drive from the medina. Clean and comfortable with a nice restaurant and multiple pools.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a modern hotel; hard to compare with the character of the riads.

Location

Easily walkable to many restaurants, a short drive to get to the historic medina

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

Wish we had more time here because it was a small oasis. The food was delicious (but note- it’s not included in the stay.) They also only take cash- so be prepared if you have dinner/drinks/spa treatments. Very cool spot to stay.

Authenticity & Character

It was an old kasbah which has a ton of character, with some of the older architecture showcased. They also grow much of their own produce and make the food from scratch with local ingredients.

Location

It’s kind of in an unexpected area, an hour or so away from most things attracting people to the region. Our booking was actually changed to this location after the original hotel was damaged in recent earthquakes.

Staff

Everyone was kind and wanted our stay to be perfect

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Such a special experience to stay out in the Saharan desert. The camp is clean, good food, lovely staff, and the camel ride out there is unforgettable.

Authenticity & Character

Glamping at its finest. Moroccan rugs, poofs, and lighting give a nice ambiance.

Location

Quiet location out in the Saharan dunes. Excursions are available to near by sites and towns - easily organized with the camp.

Staff

The staff has a great sense of humor and love interacting with the guests. They serve delicious food and play some great music in the evenings. Perfect hosts.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fes Maya Suite & Spa

Fès

Very beautiful riad. Amazing mosaics and carved cedar (on par with some of the palaces and museums.) Very friendly staff and close to the Medina.

Authenticity & Character

The interior is just stunning. Each room has its own character, and views from the terrace were great!

Location

Near the medina and restaurants

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

This quaint hotel has a ton of character and situated within the non-motorized part of the city. Pack light as you have to walk a few blocks over cobblestone and may be situated a few floors up. Not so fun to drag a heavy suitcase over.

Authenticity & Character

Colorful with mosaics, carved wood, and colorful glasswork

Location

Near restaurants, food, a central square, easy to find, nice views.

Staff

Everyone was kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable! Couldn’t ask for more. Near blackout shades and AC/heat in each unit, Wi-Fi and tv available.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

It was really fun to explore the medina with our guide Hanan. She was very knowledgable and shared a ton of cultural, religious, and historic information with us. It was great to hear her stories, experiences, suggestions for places to adventure on our own later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanan was great. It was really nice to have a female guide. She had a great sense of humor and a ton of great experiences to share.

Transport

Private Transfer from Skoura to Marrakech: Crossing the High Atlas

Morocco

It’s a beautiful drive with scenic variety from the desert up into the high atlas mountains.

Transport

Our driver was fantastic as always.

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

This was a very interesting set of cultural experiences. We started the day having tea at a nomad camp. Kind of odd because the family was just living their life as our guide poured us tea in one of their tents. Then we drove by some of the old buildings and villages near an old mine and into Merzouga to listen to live music and learn about how the people in down utilize water in their community garden. We then relaxed by the pool for a couple hours before returning to camp.

Food

The Moroccan pizza was delicious! And a nice change from tagine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Youssef was knowledgable and kind. He took us to an additional spot when he knew we were geologists.

Transport

Riding across the dunes and off road is fun!

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

I was unsure of what to expect, having dinner in a local family’s home- they were so welcoming and a few of the family members were fluent in English. It was interesting to actually experience entering their home through the narrow medina alley and stairs. The family had recent gathered for a wedding so it was a bit of a reunion of sorts. They sang and played musical instruments. The food was also delicious and plentiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

We felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie- navigating the old Medina. It was interesting to have a guide who grew up there. He knew so much about the city and also knew so many of the people who have shops throughout the medina. It was so interesting to see people making pottery, zellige tile work, working leather in the tannery, and weaving textiles.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our lunch spot was delicious and located in an old palace which had been repurposed. (Palais Mnebhi)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Adib was a fantastic guide.

Transport

Our trusted driver, Lahcen was perfect as usual!

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Volubilis was really interesting! The ruins and mosaics are in good condition and it’s worth paying a guide to explain in more detail. We only stopped in Meknes for a late lunch and to visit the Mausoleum of Ismail. The mausoleum was actually very quiet and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chicken pastilla and couscous were delicious at Palais Salma

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide at the ruins spoke great English and had a good sense of humor, very knowledgable. Service at Chicken pastilla and couscous were delicious at Palais Salma was also excellent.

Transport

Trusted driver got us everywhere we needed to be!

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

There is not a ton to see in Casablanca in our opinion. The Hassan II Mosque is incredible, but then we were happy to be on our way. Our driver stopped at a few places in Rabat. Which was also interesting, but again I think you will see similar if not better examples of medinas, kasbahs, riads, etc… if you also plan to stop in Fez and Marrakech.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver arranged with the agency was great!

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

The long drive was totally worth riding a camel into the desert at sunset. Likely a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people and we took the option to ride two hours to camp. After sunset the ride continued under a clear night sky filled with stars!

Quality of Experience

The camel ride was so fun!

Food

Honestly we stopped at a gas station with a restaurant for a refuel and grabbed sandwiches that were super good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Lahcen was great as always- he got us where we needed to be safely, always great for a conversation, and played music from the region.

Transport

The drive is beautiful and reminded us of the western United States (mountains, desert, buttes)

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

This was such a fun experience. Our guide Hanan was fantastic. She took us to try things I would’ve never on my own. Berber “pizza”, olives, tangia, sardine burgers, mango smoothies, snails, and doughnuts. We were stuffed!

Quality of Experience

Food was delicious! It was nice that everything was taken care of ahead of time.

Food

All of the food was interesting and most of it delicious. (Definitely saved some mango smoothie to wash down the snails with! Hah!)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing company. Describing the history of the food and cultural significance.

Transport

Our driver Lahcen was great- as usual!

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

This is an incredible experience worth getting up early! As our balloon operator said “it’s like being in a dream” as you float upward. The sunrise was very beautiful over the mountains, we were lucky to be in a small balloon with only a few people.

Quality of Experience

Just a beautiful experience!

Food

A good selection in a buffet style after the ride (plus tea before)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our hot air balloon pilot was cheerful and excited to answer all our questions.

Transport

The driver for the company was an aggressive driver which was slightly unnerving. He didn’t clearly communicate that we were picking up additional passengers either- which made us wonder why we were waiting in a dark alley at 5:30am.

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

The Hassan II Mosque is beautiful! I feel very luckily to have had the chance to tour it. The guide was knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. There are options for many different languages throughout the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Three Hour Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

The cooking class was very insightful into cooking techniques, uses of spices, and Moroccan culture. The women teaching us were joyful and interactive. We had a great time and our food was yummy. Each of us were given a tagine too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

Really interesting experience to do a couples hammam spa experience! The scrub was lovely and the massage was a nice way to wrap up our trip.

Quality of Experience

The women working at the spa were very professional and good at what they do!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Slightly annoyed that we were whisked away to a local spice shop after even though we said we were not interested in going or purchasing anything.

Transport

Our driver Lahcen was great as always!

Guided tour of Marrakech's Gardens

Marrakesh

We actually opted to only visit one of the gardens because four to five seemed like overkill. We were told to avoid the YSL gardens because of long lines and very overcrowded. We instead went to the Bahia Palace and the secret garden which were both on the quieter side. Easily self guided and less people especially in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Bruno was a great travel agent. He listened to what we wanted and did it. The cooking class he booked was with a trained chef and he taught us a lot including how to clean squid and fish. The hotel that were booked and had easy access to what we wanted to see .

Elena and Andrea made the trip to Italy so very easy. It was the first time I had travel to Europe so was a little nervous. But with both their help everything went fine. Andrea helped us out when the e-bike chain came off. They called the company and had them send out a different bike. Transfers to different site seeing places was made easier by having a driver already booked. Our vacation went smoothly and will definitely use Kimkim again

Hotel Review

Relais Osteria Dell'Orcia Tuscany

Castiglione d'Orcia

Love this place, staff was exceptional. The only thing is out in the country so make sure you have a car or a driver to use.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Florence cooking class with Market Visit

Italy

Barbara was a fantastic teacher. Took us to the fresh market and then we went to her house to cook. She taught us how to roll the dough for gnocchi. My daughter and I both loved the market and the lesson

We had have an amazing &1 wonderful time on our Canadian Rockies vacation....we have a super experience driver Big Mike that took us everywhere we go from flat lands to uphills to see the scenery...to our very knowledgeable tour guide John, who provides all info that we need to know about Canadian Rockies, all about Jasper, Banff, Calgary etc..etc & also in & out of our hotels we're all staying....super nice guy & smart John....
Never a dull moment to be with them
We were happy to have them as part of our journey to Calgary, Canada..
I would rate them as superb 10 & would recommend them to our friends who wants to explore Calgary, Canada...
Thank you....

We had a great time on our tailored trip to Chile. we started with a quick jaunt to wine country and then an amazing time in patagonia. Erin was instrumental in arranging the tour for us beforehand and then a lot of the details on the ground from Nara. We had a few minor hiccups with secondary vendors but were able to easily rearrange things conveniently. we unfortunately got part of our activities cancelled due to weather but had quick alternatives arranged and that portion refunded to us. The convenience and coordination is worth the time

Karim was a great guide.
He took us through areas of Morocco that wouldn’t usually be seen, meeting people from different walks of the country.

He was conscious about making the trip as comfortable and enjoyable for us. Thanks Karim we have now left with a friend.

This was our first time working with KimKim and Original Travels and we could not have been more pleased.

They took all the stress out of planning the trip. We told them the cities we wanted to visit and our budget for appropriate riads to stay and they put together the perfect itinerary of comfortable and well located riads along with customized day tours of the cities.

We also can’t stress enough how wonderful it was to have a private driver throughout our trip. Reda was not only enjoyable to be with but was so accommodating to our whims of stopping for supplies and amenities. More than an a driver, he was a friend.

And the home base staff of Ali and Said were available instantly when we had questions during the trip or wants to change things at the last minute. There was never a feeling of guilt. They made us feel like we were their only travelers.

So polite and professional. We look forward to using this team again for future travels. If you want to truly relax and enjoy an adventure of a trip that spans multiple cities, you will not beat the prices and service of this team.

My mother and I had an awesome time in Croatia, and everything was well communicated and organized by Daniela and her partner, Robi in advance, and during the entire trip! With every step of the way, Daniela or Robi were in touch to check in and give information about guides, pick up times, restaurant recommendations, and everything was clear and comprehensive. They were also available for questions and suggestions, which made the entire trip connected and collaborative. I especially loved the arrangement with guide, Goran where we travelled from Korcula to the Peninsula, and Elaphiti Islands where we travelled along the mountains and Adriatic, and visited local, family-run restaurants. This part of the trip felt very special and memorable. We then had the opportunity to meet Daniela, Robi and family in Ston, which also was delicious and memorable. Highly recommend connecting with Daniela and Robi-- absolutely lovely and memorable, all around! Thank you!

Marisa was wonderful! Truly an expert in her field, and I'd highly recommend her to anyone looking to travel to Portugal. She planned out our whole trip and made sure we saw all of the key highlights since it was our first visit to Portugal. The best part about the service was the communication. The whole time we were there we had an open line of communication. Any questions we had were answered immediately which brought peace of mind. Thank you Marisa for making our trip a memorable one! Looking forward to visiting again soon.

Hotel Review

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

This was our last stop on our trip to Portugal. Great location, historic exterior but the service certainly wasn’t a 5 star experience. It was far from it. When we first checked into our room it was in the basement with a very musty/mold smell. We left to go to dinner and came back to multiple cockroaches in our room. We went to the reception with all of our luggage. We know they can’t control where bugs are, but they can control their reaction. They seems unsurprised, unapologetic and zero care. They made a few calls, just changed our key, and told our room and as they handed us the new room number a quick “sorry” was said. The only person who seems to care the bellhop Antonio that took us to our new room. It was a very odd response from the front desk and an unprofessional experience. Certainly not how I wanted to end our trip and certainly should not have been charged for a room with bugs!

Authenticity & Character

The place had character but from the outside. The interior didn't give a welcoming hotel-like feel.

Location

Close to town

Staff

Their overall customer service was terrible when we told them Saturday evening that there were cockroaches in our room. They should have shown care and empathy. The only reason we were put in a better room was because of Marisa from Kim Kim. They didn't seem to care whatsoever.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They shouldn't put anyone in the basement floor until they figure out their roach issue.

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Scenarium

Algarve

The captains were so nice and gave us a wonderful experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Performance was great, ambiance wonderful and the service was spectacular. One of our dishes was inedible, the fish was spoiled.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was the best. He was so nice, knowledgeable, made sure we were comfortable the whole time. He gave recommendations, was prompt, and it truly was one of the best days we had in Portugal. The only thing we'd change is seeing a different palace. There are multiple palaces and although Pena was beautiful, the amount of people inside the palace was overwhelming. It felt pretty claustrophobic.

Quality of Experience

I would've preferred a less packed palace.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

She was so knowledgeable and sweet. Catered it to what we wanted to learn and it was a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

Lisbon

Wonderful guide and he took us to great locations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very good trip overall. Disappointed with some of the planning as certain places were closed for 3 years and were still on the intinerary. Overall service was pretty good, barring the weekend replacement Fernanda who dropped the ball. Carl did an overall good job.

This is an unusual review in that KimKim merely acted as the introducer to a third party safari company, Ultimate Safaris Namibia that provided the Namibian safari experience for us in October 2023.
Originally, we booked a bespoke tour through KimKim in 2019 with a view to travelling to Namibia in the summer of 2020. Due to covid, that trip was cancelled but by then we had already paid KimKim a substantial deposit. Thankfully, KimKim are an extremely honest company and they kept our deposit against a future booking. We tried again in 2021 but again that trip was cancelled.
We skipped 2022 and instead tried to book a Namibia trip for 2023. By then our requirements had changed and instead of preparing a bespoke trip for us, KimKim recommended a group tour through Ultimate Safaris Namibia which enjoyed great reviews but did not deal directly with the public.
The following is the review of our Ultimate Safaris Namibia experience as prepared by my wife.

Ultimate. What does it mean? Being the best or most optimal example of its kind.
Well that’s the best definition of the Ultimate Safaris Namibia experience that we have just enjoyed with our lead guide, Uzco.
Firstly the organisation, from being met by Uzco at our hotel all the way through to our return to our hotel Windhoek at the end of the trip was seamless and the attention to every detail was sublime.
At the outset we were joined by the two other couples on the Ultimate Safaris trip who were interested in all things safari, but, as well as wanting to enjoy seeing the animals, they loved birds as well. We had previously bought a pair of binoculars for the trip but really didn’t know which way round they needed to be used!! But, believe me, not long into our safari experience with the one and only Uzco, we very soon completely understood how to use the binoculars and were spotting birds with the others in our group.
Uzco made the trip memorable for us. It was such a wonderful wonderful experience. He was completely dedicated to the six of us, embracing our enjoyment, our well-being, and wanting to allow us the freedom to enjoy the trip at its best. He was the ultimate guide with a wealth of knowledge, both in the animal world, the bird and insect world as well as his knowledge of geography and geology. All of this knowledge that he gave to us added to the wonderful tapestry of what we were seeing unfolding before our eyes.
Can we also praise the various lodges selected by Ultimate Safaris Namibia for this group trip? All four lodges were outstanding in every way. The rooms were spacious and comfortable, the food was of an exceptionally high standard and staff extremely attentive and helpful.
Uzco is a dedicated professional guide who deserves all the praise and gratitude. We thank you so much for the experience, and of course the memories.

Hi
Throughly enjoyed the trip
Saeed was extremely good ,well organised went out of his way to help and make us comfortable
Nooruddin and Ayub kept us well informed with their knowledge. Over all good experience. Thou would have been better less time in coach and staying at places like merzoga our camping one more day. Also really wanted to see Switzerland Marakask Irfan more. Would have loved a day in there.
Over all. All were good. People were friendly. I enjoyed thanks.

First of all, Megan was a fantastic resource and support for planning our Morrocan trip. She was available, had helpful suggestions and listened carefully to our concerns.

Our driver, Hamid, was outstanding in every way. He was prompt, attentive, careful driver, engaging, respectful, knowledgeable, and overall a perfect guide for us! We can’t say enough good things about his presence and functioning with us throughout our Moroccan trip. He added so much value to our trip with all the stories, information, and overall approachability.

All of our local guides were excellent, offering us helpful information and giving us accessibility to what we were seeing and experiencing. We mention Mohammed in Fez, because he was such an interesting person, and offered so much depth to our experience there. His engaging, interactive qualities, and his humor were perfect for us!

The hotels and riads were excellent accommodations, and we enjoyed each and everyone! The food was exceptional. The desert camp experience was outstanding in every way. The warmth and caring hospitality was deeply appreciated!

We highly recommend KimKim company and Wonderlust voyages. We would definitely consider traveling again with this company.

Cheryl & Nelson Lehman Tucson, Arizona

What Cheryl and Nelson have written above reflects very well our experience with KimKim on our trip to Morocco. From the beginning of planning this trip, Megan was very responsive and informative about all the details and specifics of our trip. When faced with the uncertainties of the earthquake that happened 3 weeks before we were to leave, she made sure that all the places we were scheduled to go to were safe and ready for us. Megan was professional and sensitive to what we wanted on this trip.
Our driver, Hamed, was a delight. Prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, and safe are great qualities to have in a driver and he exhibited them all. One of our highlights was getting to meet his family. We learned much about Morocco, its people and customs from Hamed as well as the city guides that were provided for us through KimKim/Wanderlust. It was a wonderful experience and we plan on using KimKim again for future travel plans.
Marty and Audrey Lowen, Tucson Arizona

Hotel Reviews

Demeures d'Orient

Marrakech

Zoe, the owner, engaged us in such a lovely manner. Excellent service on all accounts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Atlas Mountains Hike

Morocco

Enjoyed hiking in the Ourika Valley with Mohammed, who was enthusiastic and informative. Hiking along the stream to the waterfalls was very relaxing. Enjoyed mint tea at a teahouse with views of the waterfalls. Relaxing along the stream at one of the many cafés while dangling our feet in the Ourika creek was delightful. Highly recommend this hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel Trek into a Luxury Sahara Camp

Morocco

The two hour journey on camel with the full moon was an unforgettable experience. The quiet. The lighting. The color. The guide was friendly and competent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Fes with a Private Guide

Fes

Mohammad was an outstanding guide. Very knowledgeable. Very engaging. Enjoyed his sense of humor and the stories he told!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a trip from Kathmandu to Astam and Pokhara. The level of service was amazing. Amamnda met us at our hotel to confirm all the details and hand over of the airline tickets.

Astam- We had both a driver and a guide. The Eco Lodge was rustic and beautiful. It could not have been more perfect. We arrived after lunch. They made a special lunch for us anyway. The stay was so peaceful. We would go back again.

Mums Garden in Pokhara- Perfectly placed for a trip to Sarangot to view the mountains. The hotel arranged the bus/cable car for our spur of the moment trip. Breakfast was amazing.

Every person that we encountered was kind and helpful. I would book with KimKim anytime.

This was one of our life time trips. Overall this trip was wonderful. Local specialist Angel put together a very good trip plan for us. He listened well to my wants and expectations as he designed the trip and made changes to the plan as I communicated with him during the planning process. During the trip, he was always there and ready to jump in to facilitate any last minute situation. We speak zero Spanish. Communications had created glitches through out the trip. As much as we tried to use Google Translate, sometimes it was just hard to get our points across through an App. Angel would always come online through WhatsApp to talk to people on our behalf when we needed it.
In the middle of the our trip we had planned a free day in Santiago, and it was a Sunday. I wanted to visit the top of San Cristobal to get a view of the city and snow-capped mountains. Because it was a free day, we were supposed to handle the day on our own. Not until we got to the Pin No No entry of the park did we find out the top was closed that day for a certain event, and the cable cars were not running. We struggled to communicate with the park staff who was trying to tell us what was going on. So we called on Angel and he came to our rescue. In a few minutes of time he came up with a different way for us to access the hill from a different entry, which was open for walking. As it turned out, we were able to get very good views of the city skyline as well as the mountains in the background.
This trip would not have been as smooth and successful without Angle.

Hotel Reviews

Diego de Almagro San Pedro

We showered in lukewarm water during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

We enjoyed the views of the tranquil harbor

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Ciudad de Santiago

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Safe and close proximity to everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

This hotel serves very good breakfast. Rooms were clean and spacious.

Activity Reviews

Navigation Excursion - Serrano Glacier and Patagonic Lunch

Chile

Amazing scenery. The highlight of this tour was the lunch serving BBQ lamb and Chilean red wine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour

Chile

Torres del Paine is amazing. We were vowed again and again. This was definitely the highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

We got to eat our box lunch at one of the most beautiful places on planet earth, with jade blue lake and the amazing view of Torres del Paine right in front of us, sitting on a dead tree trunk by lakeshore. It felt like heaven came to earth.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine - Full Day Tour

Chile

This was one of our lifetime trekking experience which will stay with us in our memories. It might be a bit too challenging for us (10 hours of almost nonstop trekking and a good part of it involved steep ascending). My husband and I are in our high fifties. We were the oldest of the five members of our team. From the start the younger part of our team had to frequently stop to let us catchup. At one point we almost decided to turn back. We had to let the younger members move on without us. We eventually finished the hike, albeit at a much slower pace than our younger team members. I think one thing that could make our experience better is if we were grouped with hikers that were closer to our age. It would definitely take some stress off of us trying to keep up, and it would improve the younger members' experience too. It would make the guide's job a bit easier too, as he tried to get the team to stay together. We only got to spend 10 minutes at the base of the towers to snap some quick picture, because our guide was so concerned that we couldn't get back to the bus by 6pm. But it was one heck of hike! We were glad we did it.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was good but we didn't get to eat, because of the time crunch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Danny is young and probably does this hike everyday. It was hard for him to sympathize with us. In trying to get us back to the bus by 6pm, he pushed us a bit too hard in my mind. I can understand his concerns of our safety. Nonetheless, I saw many people finished the hike behind us, which told me not all guides think it would be unsafe to get back to the bus a bit later.

Transport

Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

I really appreciated the way our guide always repeat her presentation for us in English. We were the only two members of the tour who didn't understand Spanish. So she had to rerun all her presentations for the two of us. The photographer was professional and nice. We loved the chilean red wine served at this tour. It was our best red wine experience in Chile. In my mind what can be improved of this trip was the location of the showing. It was too close to the town San Pedro and the town's light had some negative impact on the view of the Atacama starry night sky.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sandboard in the Atacama Desert

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplánicas & Atacama Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

These lovely birds were worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "

Chile

The sunset was the best part of this tour. The lunch was very good. The guide could be a little friendlier.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Lagoons of Baltinache

Chile

This was an OK tour in and of itself, not as impressive as it was marketed. But the guide and the driver were very nice. For us, what made this trip good were the tourists who did it with us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff