Kimkim Trip Reviews

I was impressed with the responsiveness of our Kim Kim representative, Kateryna. Her knowledge of the area was very helpful. The accommodations in Inverness and the Isle of Skye were magical.

Activity Review

The Vaults Tour

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We can’t say enough about the amazing level of support and planning provided by Bruno of KimKim in Croatia. The arranged rental car provided by Bruno’s colleague, Matej, was excellent and included GPS. We received Google Map pins every evening so we knew how to navigate the next day. We biked two days with full support both days by additional colleagues, Ilya and Goran. Every day was planned perfectly and we had instant responses from Bruno for any questions we had. Our itinerary was amazing: Zagreb, Rovinj, Porec, Plitvice Lakes, Krka National Park, Split, Hvar, Korcula, Ston, and Dubrovnik … plus we saw so many beautiful villages and sights along the way. Every hotel was immaculate and charming with beautiful views and amenities. We highly recommend Bruno … A++ for service, knowledge, and overall professionalism every step of the way.

Our trip to Bhutan was absolutely perfect. There is a danger of writing too much, so I'll mention a few highlights.

Firstly, I feel lucky to have found KimKim, and luckier still to have had Mieke help to piece together our itinerary and hotel choice. You go out on a limb having someone arrange a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but the service Mieke gave was exceptional. Excellent recommendations, really quick to respond to questions and made tweaks to our itinerary. The communication was excellent, and the document produced for the itinerary was frankly exceptional and really useful! What I particularly like is when Yonten mentioned Mieke had been over, and cycled around with them - so she knows the country, this is not some random guesswork at where to go and what to see.

Meanwhile, when we reached the airport in Paro after a traumatic day in Kolkata (lost luggage, noise, pollution etc), we felt that we were met as absolute VIPs by Yonten the guide, and Dorji the driver. This was from day one until we finally left them (as we decided to extend an additional day to just relax in Paro instead of heading back to India for our flights home).

Well, what is there to say about these two - Yonten and Dorji. Just a sheer delight. Dorji drove very carefully and safely, and Yonten was just such a good guide. Clearly knowledgable, willing to adjust to our needs on the days we felt tired, or the days we felt more energetic. He was patient, thoughtful, and what I hadn't realised is that he was also taking photos of us while we walked around, and some of those candid photos are the best. He sent them to me on Whatsapp and they're now part of my 'permanent collection'!.

I won't talk about individual sights and experiences, as so many other travellers will tell their tales. Except to say that being at the Punakha Dzong - the ACTUAL place you see on the internet - looks even better when you're there, perfect. Then the Tiger's Nest of course, but what made me laugh was Yonten, the guide, trying to beat me down to the bottom by taking a shortcut - that was hilarious.

We chose, with help from Mieke, the higher end of the hotels. Just because you're only there once and it's a trip of a lifetime. The Druk Hotel was lovely, in a central location, and the staff were amazing especially the bartender! But the absolute ABSOLUTE hotel highlight was the Como Uma in Punakha. The views from the room just enticed you to stay there all day looking out from the balcony at the river, valley and distant hills. Khun Tipsuda, the Manager, was so friendly and helpful. And the hotel and its surroundings were literally idyllic.

If we knew we were going to extend an extra day, it would probably have been at the Uma Punakha. However, we then went on to the Uma Paro, and while there, decided it's the right place to stay longer. the GM of the Uma hotels in Bhutan, James, turns out was a friend of a friend - it's a small world! He went out of his way to meet and talk to every guest at the hotel, and it really made the experience even more special.

Yonten (and Windhorse, the local travel company), took care of everything when they realised what we wanted to do. Which primarily included getting our passports to Thimphu for a visa extension. We were lucky that the Uma Paro had space available to accommodate our extra night.

I would totally recommend getting a local SIM card on arrival at Paro (there was not an option for an e-Sim, so be prepared to take a cheap extra phone or if you have dual-sim then, no issue). It meant I could contact Windhorse, taxi drivers, as well as getting A LOT of data for my phone while I was in the country. I paid roughly £50 for way more data than I ended up using, but having a local number really helped.

The only thing I think may be worth knowing, as I don't know whether I understood or whether it wasn't clear, is about food during the day. I don't know why, but we thought we had to fend for ourselves during the day. But no, we were taken for lunch at various places, and the food was local, tasty - when they realised we like it SPICY, Yonten instructed the restaurants to bring us more chillis!

So in summary (too late, I know):
- trust Mieke - if you have doubts or specific requirements, let her know - she will make sure it's done
- get a local SIM card at the airport, it could be useful (and it's cheap) for taxis, data, etc
- the guides are ultimately flexible - tell them what you want, how you're feeling (especially if you have jetlag etc) and they will adapt accordingly
- THINK ABOUT BUILDING IN A DAY WHERE YOU "DO NOTHING"! - our final day in Paro was prefect to relax, reflect, and prepare for the long journey home.

I don't know if I'll get the chance to update this review when I've had even more time to reflect on the trip.... but, my initial thoughts are - TRUST Mieke, and Kimkim. Go for the best you can afford hotel-wise (and the Uma hotels in Paro and Punakha are definitely recommended). Then let everyone involved just take care of you on this amazing trip.

Hotel Reviews

Uma Paro

Paro

The ambience of the hotel - perfect. It's classy, the grounds are stunning (visit the vegetable garden! They grow things there which are then part of the menu). The staff - it's like they're your friends from day one. So attentive, so polite, so willing to help you in every way they can. And a special mention to the GM James Low, who seems to be there from early in the morning to late at night, taking time to individually chat with guests and ensure everyone is happy - also has good tips on where to eat in town! Rooms - large, clean, tidy, views. What more do you want.

Authenticity & Character

Architecture and grounds, absolutely stunning

Location

The Uma Paro is slightly away from the town centre (but handily close to the airport). If you want to go into town for a wander (which you should) the hotel will arrange a good taxi for you with an engligh-speaking driver.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Uma Punakha

Punakha

The best hotel experience of the trip - largely due to the stunning views from the rooms. You just feel so special here, not just because of the location, but because of ALL staff, and in particular Khun Tipsuda (the manager).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Stunning views of the river and hills - actually the best in Bhutan.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Druk Hotel KK

Thimphu

Best location, incredible staff, excellent wine list. Large, comfortable rooms. Do bear in mind there doesn't seem to be a lift/elavator, although if you have mobility issues they also have ground floor rooms - so let them know you preference.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Paro - Hike to Tigernest Monastery aka Taktshang Goemba

Paro

Tiger's Nest is stunning from a distance. So don't feel bad if you can't make it past the cafeteria (by horse). You are there, you can see it clinging on to the cliff side. If you can make it there, that's great. But the best experience is from the various viewpoints on the way up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Punakha - Punakha Dzong

Bhutan

This is one of the things you see on the internet, then you come here and it is so much more. Especially the view from outside. Get your guide to stop on the road on the way to Punakha in the late afternoon when the sun shines bright against the white walls of the Dzong.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thimphu - Buddha Dordenma

Thimphu

Somehow ended up here on a festival day. So, while it is absolutely stunning in itself, being there with hundreds of local people on a special day was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Contacting KimKim and especially Mathilde was the best decision my wife and myself made for our 3 week trip to France. We had never used a travel specialist to organize an entire vacation in the past but now realize it will be the only way we will travel in the future. Mathilde was assigned to our initial request and she was extremely fast at getting back to us with a suggested itinerary. We told her that we wanted to start in Paris for 3-4 days and then end up in southern France for the last week of our holiday. We are quite active and wanted to see as much as possible during our stay and asked her for some information walking tours, wine and e bike tours as well as many other things. Our stays during the 3 weeks were in Paris, Normandy, Mont St. Michel, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Aix en Provence and Nice. WIth regards to transportation, she handled the private transfers to and from the airport in Paris and everything in between which was a combination of train and car rental. All of the hotels that she booked were fabulous!!! Where Mathilde really excelled was all of the tours that she organized and arranged on our behalf. From the full day small group tours in travel vans or e bikes to the 1/2 day private historical tours. She booked 2 private boat tours, one in Paris and the other on the Mediterranean in Nice. Some of the tours we drove to ourselves in the beautiful French countryside which was great as well!!! All of the guides were very friendly, knowledgable and a lot of fun. Additionally, they spoke very good English. As we reflect on our holiday, we both feel it could not have been any better than what Mathilde put together for us. We will always treasure our very special trip to France because of you!!! Merci, merci, merci.

Everything went according to the plan and communication with Jay at Bespoke was always reassuring. Our driver, Mahipal Singh, looked after us very well making sure we had all we needed along the way. When we arrived at our first hotel, he was very helpful and drove back to return my lost item. I always felt safe with his driving and felt he made sure we were always safe.
Our guides were well selected and respectful of our time as we are not interested in buying stuff.
All was flawless!

I tried KimKim out of desperation - three weeks until our departure! All I had were airline tickets, and no real knowledge of how to get the most out of our time in Norway. Ethel provided the basic itinerary in two days! She worked very responsively to my questions and our preferences, and Fenne picked the ball up nicely as our trip approached. The result was awesome…great hotels, great excursions and real time answers to any questions I had.
I would strongly recommend KimKim, Ethel and Fenne to any one looking into travel in Norway. A first class team!!!

We had a wonderful 2-week trip to Belgium and The Netherlands. We worked with Bas and Mieke. They were thorough and provided us with a wealth of knowledge. During the planning process and throughout our trip, Mieke was amazingly responsive, day and night!

We enjoyed the flexbility in travel style we had with them. Our trip was a mix of self- led and private guided travel. We used public transportation extensively. The detailed instructions on all forms of public transportation was much appreciated.

Great trip, everything was scheduled so well. Will use service again.

Had a wonderful trip despite the cold, wet weather. Alex was very helpful planning and then making sure things on our trip went as smoothly as possible. I really appreciated the fact that she kept in touch during the trip and continued to help us with reservations. Our guide Craig was amazing. He was extremely knowledgeable, flexible to meet the entire groups needs, and had a great bedside manner. Would definitely use both of these fine people again!

The walking tours with Filipa and Celia were informative and fun. They both helped us see the numerous areas through a local and historical eyes. The day trip to Sintra etc.. with Nuno was wonderful. His personality made the trip very enjoyable. His knowledge of the area made each stop fascinating. The day trip with Paulo was again phenomenal. His personality and knowledge made the day so much fun. The trip with Rui to the Douro valley also was lovely. These driver/ tour guides have such a beautiful personality that makes the drives fly by and we learned so much about the history and importance of each place we visited.
The stop at the winery in Douro, WOW. Rafael brought the vineyard to life. His love of the vineyard and what he does was seen throughout the day. The food and wine was delicious and amazing, but again it was such a lovely experience due to Raphael,
As far as Marina, she was extremely professional. When there was a hiccup , the group made sure it was rectified quickly. The app was a wonderful way to communicate in a quick manner.

Working with Antonis was fantastic! Our trip to Greece was incredible and exactly what we wanted. This was our first time to Greece and we were celebrating our 30-year anniversary. We had lots of ideas and questions, and Antonis helped us every step of the way. He was very professional, friendly, knowledgeable, responsive, and he truly provided a local's perspective. You just can't get all that from the internet! We ended up going to Athens, Delphi, Meteora, Santorini, Crete, and Rhodes. We're more interested in exploring Greek history, culture, and food, and we're less interested in resorts and beaches. I would highly recommend private tour(s), especially for the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens. It was so great to have someone who knew how to maneuver around the crowds, get us to "the best spots", and tell us a lot of interesting info. We can't say enough good things about our trip and about Antonis!

Hotel Reviews

Elakati Luxury Boutique Hotel

Rhodes

We LOVED our stay at the Elakati! Awesome location and staff! Our room was small but very clean, comfortable, and quiet. Easy walk to the Medieval Old Town and the downtown harbor area. Highly recommend and we would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Very cool vibe! Nice blend of modern and "Old World" style.

Location

Great location! Near Medieval Old Town and an easy walk to everything else. Located on a nice, quiet street.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

Legacy Gastro Suites

Heraklion

We had a nice stay at the Legacy Gastro Suites. Our room was very clean and comfortable, and the staff were all very friendly. Conveniently located, but unfortunately, downtown Heraklion is noisy. The noise isn't horrible. Ask about the room, or just wear earplugs.

Authenticity & Character

Cool modern vibe with some classic/history decor

Location

Everything was within walking distance

Staff

Very friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Ambassadors Residence Chania

Chania

The Ambassadors Residence was great! Really cool character - an "Old World" feel with modern conveniences. Location was ideal and we had a view of the lighthouse from our room. Clean, comfortable, and quiet. Highly recommend and we would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

We loved the "Old World" feel and decor. Our room was very spacious and comfortable.

Location

Location was ideal, we could walk to everything.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

Imera Vista Suites

Imerovigli

We absolutely LOVED our stay at the Imera Vista Suites, and Despina was a fantastic host!! Our room was very clean, comfortable, and quiet. Ideal location! Beautiful sunsets and delicious breakfasts. Highly recommend!!

Authenticity & Character

Classic Santorini style! Cliffside villa with white walls and small terrace overlooking the water. Gorgeous!

Location

Located between Fira and Oia, with easy access to both, but away from the crowds

Staff

We can't say enough great things about Despina! She was fabulous!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

Amalia Hotel Kalambaka

Theopetra, Kalabaka

We stayed at the Amalia Hotel to visit the Monasteries in Meteora. It was very nice! Our room was very clean, comfortable, and quiet. We would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Very spacious feel and authentic decor. We loved it.

Location

Very close to the Monasteries

Staff

Staff was friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

O&B Athens Boutique Hotel

Athens

We stayed for 3 nights at the O&B Athens and it was great! Our room was small but very clean and comfortable. The staff were super friendly and the location was ideal. Highly recommend and we would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Very cool vibe. Clean, classic decor, minimalist design.

Location

Everything was within walking distance, and yet the O&B was just off a main street and was surprisingly quiet.

Staff

Everyone was super friendly and accommodating, happy to answer questions and offer suggestions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable!

Activity Reviews

The Very Best of Rhodes

Rhodes

We explored the Medieval Old Town and the Rhodes Harbor area on our own, and we loved it. Highly recommend stepping off the beaten path and getting lost in some of the back roads of Old Town. It's easy to find your way out. We took a private tour down to Lindos and we really enjoyed that as well. Lindos was beautiful, interesting, and fun. It was crowded, especially around the Acropolis, but very reasonable. We loved our visit to Rhodes!

Quality of Experience

Overall we had a great experience on Rhodes!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mike was very good

Transport

Very clean, safe, and comfortable car

The Palace of Knossos & the City of Heraklion

Heraklion

Our private tour of the Palace of Knossos with Gregoris was FANTASTIC! He was very knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. We learned so much about the history of Knossos as well as the mythology. It was really great! The city of Heraklion itself was not our favorite, glad we only stayed for a day to visit Knossos.

Quality of Experience

We loved our experience learning about the Palace of Knossos

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Gregoris was the best! We can't say enough good things about him. Highly recommend!

Transport

Driver was excellent, car was very clean and comfortable

The Ultimate Private Food Tour Of Chania Villages

Chania

We LOVED our private food tour with Dimitris. It was truly authentic and didn't feel one bit touristy. We visited family-owned businesses and learned first-hand about past and present ways of producing olive oil, tsikoudia, bread/bakery goods, and cheese. The education and the tasting of the foods was fabulous! It was so special to meet with the people at each of these businesses and hear their stories. We ended the tour with a delicious lunch at a lovely restaurant. Highly recommend this tour!

Quality of Experience

Fantastic and unique experience, we loved it!

Food

The food at each establishment was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dimitris was a wonderful guide - friendly, knowledgeable, professional. The staff at each of the businesses were wonderful!

Transport

Very clean and comfortable car

Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Santorini

The ONLY reason we didn't give 5 stars/amazing rating is because of the weather. It was very windy, so windy that the group didn't swim in 2 of the 3 places that were part of the tour. And the boat was very rocky for most of the trip. However, the boat itself and the staff were wonderful. The food was delicious. We loved touring Santorini from the water. The place where we did go swimming was great. And the sunset was incredible! This would have been an amazing experience if the weather had been better.

Quality of Experience

Unfortunately, it was so windy that we weren't able to fully enjoy the experience. The staff did their best!

Food

Food was delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides and staff were wonderful!

Transport

Great catamaran! Very clean and comfortable.

Magnificent Athens

Athens

SO glad we did a private tour of Athens! Our guide, Kostas, was great. He knew exactly how to maneuver through the Acropolis, Parthenon, and the Museum - avoided the crowds, took us to the best spots and photo ops, and he gave us lots of info along the way. He was super friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. At times, his English was hard to understand but he was happy to repeat himself or explain things a different way. We would highly recommend Magnificent Athens!

Quality of Experience

Overall we had a great experience! Glad to avoid the crowds and get great info from our guide Kostas.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was excellent. Kostas was a wonderful guide - friendly, professional, knowledgeable.

Transport

Very clean and comfortable!

Group Tour of Delphi & Meteora (2/2)

Meteora

We loved our trip to Meteora and glad we made the effort. It was a long day, broken up with a stop in Delphi, but we arrived in good time the night before touring the monasteries. We spent half a day viewing the cliffs and monasteries (beautiful scenery!), and actually toured two of them. It is crowded and we had to wait in lines, but our guide did an excellent job taking us through and providing info along the way. After touring the monasteries, we went for a nice group lunch and then it was about 5 hours back to Athens. It was such a unique experience!

Quality of Experience

Overall we had a great experience. Beautiful scenery and very unique tours/views of the monasteries.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was excellent. Our guide was great - friendly, professional, knowledgeable.

Transport

Bus was very clean and comfortable

Group Tour of Delphi & Meteora (1/2)

Delphi

We really enjoyed our trip to Delphi! We are not really group tour people, but this was very well done, and we are glad we did it. The bus was clean and comfortable. Our guide, George, was very good. We loved learning both sides of Delphi - the historical/factual info as well as the mythology and stories. It was fun!

Quality of Experience

Overall experience was great and everything (what to expect) was easy to understand

Food

Stopped at a great little place for a quick bite to eat

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was excellent. George was an excellent tour guide - friendly, professional, knowledgeable, approachable.

Transport

Clean and comfortable bus

Excellent support from Kimkim as we enjoyed the most. Everything went smoothly as we planned with the help of kimkim.

What an outstanding trip!! Every guide, driver, and location was perfect. It was so nice not to plan anything, down to getting from one place to another. The food tour on Santorini was one of my favorites, wine and cheese tasting and then a wonderful meal at Maria’s kitchen. The day cruises were really fun too. Honestly, every day and experience was so memorable I can’t just pick one. Thank you for such an amazing trip!
The people in Greece are so nice, hospitable, and the food was amazing!!!

Activity Reviews

Private Food Tour of Santorini

Santorini

Outstanding!! So much fun and our guide was amazing!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sailing Yacht Cruise to Rhenia Island & Delos

Mykonos

Such a beautiful cruise. The food was amazing, and the staff were professional, fun and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magnificent Athens

Athens

Learned so much from this your, including the need for Greece to receive their artifacts back from other countries

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So friendly and made us feel comfortable

Transport

Pedro and the Across Portugal team did an incredible job helping us plan our first trip to Portugal. We were able to do and see more than we ever would have if we had planned everything ourselves. Even when we had an unfortunate snag during a day trip, Pedro and his team were readily available and stepped up to remedy the situation as quickly as they could. We're already talking about wanting to go back and will definitely be recommending Pedro, Across Portugal, and KimKim to our friends and family!

Activity Review

Lisbon Walking Tour + Delicious Portuguese Flavours

Lisbon

Our tour guide, Pedro, was absolutely amazing. It felt like he was able to adapt our tour based on our conversations and what we found interesting as we strolled around Lisbon. We even had time to sample our first pastel de nata, which ended up being the best one we had the whole trip. The Lisbon Winery was also excellent and highly recommend to any Lisbon visitor!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thanks to KimKim and Erin for booking another amazing trip to Kathmandu, Nepal. KimKim is efficient, professional and we will always use as our Go-To for all things Nepal.

This was our third trip using Kim Kim services. They have been amazing each time. A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Israel. It was the first time that we had ever been to the Middle East. Samir, who is based in Amman, Jordan, put together a comprehensive and wonderful trip for us. Samir was outstanding. He thought of everything. The hotels he selected were excellent, and the local guide that we used in Israel, Rami, was superb. Also, excellent was our driver in Israel, Ghassan. If anyone is traveling to the Middle East, we would highly recommend using Samir to organize your travel. Samir was frequently in touch with us to make sure that we were happy and that no problems had arisen. He was available 24/7. Toward the end of our trip, war erupted in the Gaza Strip. Samir was in contact with us continually and helped arrange our exit from Jerusalem to Jordan. We cannot say enough great things about Samir. We were grateful for the trip and for his help.

Hotel Reviews

Mamilla Hotel

Jerusalem

This hotel was outstanding. The service was great, the breakfast was beautiful, and the concierge service was very helpful. They even assisted me in booking a flight out of Amman, Jordan. The hotel's location was also ideal, being centrally located to the Old City of Jerusalem. I would recommend this hotel to anyone.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tal By the Beach Hotel

Tel Aviv

This hotel was nice and very close to the beach. It was modern and efficient, it was exactly what we needed. It was excellent for our stay and served its purpose efficiently.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Old City Jerusalem

Israel

The tour of the Old City of Jerusalem was remarkable. Our guide was the same as the Tel Aviv tour and his knowledge of the city was top-notch. As a history major, I was particularly interested in the biblical history of Jerusalem and our guide was able to provide insightful information on this topic. He was able to show us the sights we were most interested in and provided detailed explanations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tel Aviv City Tour ( Tel Aviv & Jaffa)

Israel

This tour was a fantastic experience. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable. He had a deep understanding of history and was able to answer all our questions accurately. He made the tour engaging and enjoyable. I would highly recommend him to anyone visiting Tel Aviv.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Effie and Antonis were so helpful while we were on our trip. They were readily available to answer questions and help us have the easiest, most enjoyable vacation. Effie worked with us to plan a trip to meet our needs and to be able to see the highlights in each place we visited. She made suggestions that we found to be very helpful. There were people to greet us at each destination that helped us with our luggage and whisked us away from the crowds. The drivers were very informative and drove us safely to each destination.

We probably wouldn't have visited Crete had it not been for Effie and we really enjoyed it! Crete was very relaxing and the countryside was great with all of the olive trees. We loved walking around the cobblestone streets in Chania and visiting shops and restaurants. We found it interesting that the streets would really come to life in the evening as the restaurant owners would put out their tables and chairs. The Malmo Historic Hotel was very comfortable and quaint. We really enjoyed their breakfast out on their terrace. It was centrally located as well. Our tour guide of the city was very informative and easy to converse with. She offered valuable information for the days to come. We also enjoyed our wine tasting tour and tour of cheese factory and olive mill and factory. Yum!

Santorini was our favorite. Our host of our villa at Spitia Tzitzi was amazing. He cooked our breakfast each morning, ensured we were comfortable in our villa, and gave us so much insight into the history of the area along with great suggestions for restaurants. There is no way to describe the breathtaking views we had from our villa. Our favorite "excursion" was the sunset sailing cruise. What a fantastic day. We'd go back again.

Mykonos was a little disappointing, but not because of Effie's or Antonis's efforts. The hotel was terrific and within walking distance of multiple restaurants. Effie arranged a walking tour of the city of Mykonos Town. The guide was terrific. He spoke English very well and offered so much insight into the life and culture there. However, during the time on the island, the wind was more than usual, so our sailing trip was cancelled due to safety concerns. Effie tried to rebook during our stay, but the wind did not cooperate, unfortunately. We had another tour while we were there. The guide did not speak English well although he was very nice. We faced some other challenges that were unusual for that tour. The guide, when we requested, returned us to our hotel. Effie and Antonis made things right for us, to say the least. They went above and beyond to take care of us and apologize for something that had never happened before. They were great.

Athens is a big city, and so much to see! Effie hooked us up with a phenomenal tour guide. She took us to see everything there was to see in Athens. You could tell that she loved the history and wanted to share it! She taught us so much about the history and culture. Fantastic personality and a joy to be with for the day. People in Athens think nothing of walking everywhere. Even though most of the walking was on pretty level ground, except the Acropolis, we were not prepared to walk over 5 miles. We made it and enjoyed everything, but we were tired pups. I enjoyed it all, but almost wish it could have been split into two days somehow. The tour guide offered to help us call in food, but we wanted to go to a restaurant. So, we had to walk some more. Long day. The next day was long as well, but on a bus. We had another terrific tour guide with so much experience! He took us to Epidaurus and Mycenae. There was a lot of time on the bus, but we understood that we wouldn't have been able to see those sites without that bus ride. Fascinating how old the sites are and how many of these sites were discovered. It was an enjoyable day, the bus was comfortable, and the bus driver was a great driver! While in Athens, we stayed at an apartment. The apartment was nice, but one note. All four of us are over 65. The kitchen is on an elevated platform with a 6-8 inch drop. There is nothing on the floor to remind you that there is a drop and the flooring blends in with the rest of the room. ALL of us fell off that platform at least once. Luckily, we were not hurt, but it is an accident waiting to happen.

This is our second trip booked through KimKim. We have recommended them to others. We would use them again should we take another extended trip out of the USA. They really pay attention to detail and are great to work with and help should any question arise (we had plenty!).

Hotel Reviews

Malmo Historic Hotel

Chania

Right in the center of town, so very convenient. Very clean room and hotel. We loved the breakfast out on the terrace!! George, the owner, was very gracious and available. Loved our stay there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located

Staff

Very helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were spotless!

Apartment Kleio

Athens

Our first sight of this apartment made us wonder, but the drivers and tour guides all assured us it was a very safe place to be in town and it was. The entrance in the building needs more lighting and warmth. The apartment was very clean. Some of the furnishings were old, but overall, it was very comfortable. The only real problem we had was that the kitchen was built on a platform with a 6-8" drop. The flooring blended in with the flooring of the whole room, so the drop wasn't easy to see. All of us were over 65 and each of us "fell" off of that floor at least once. Luckily, none of us were hurt, but it is an accident waiting to happen. It needs to be marked somehow. We had difficulty operating the air conditioners and froze the first night. It would be helpful to have maps to the closest restaurants. The breakfast should be tailored a little more for guests with healthy choices.

Authenticity & Character

The furnishings are old and worn.

Location

It was about a mile or so to most of restaurants and shops.

Staff

We never met staff, but they added some things for our breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean!

Argo Hotel

Mykonos

The staff really go above and beyond to ensure you have a great stay. The rooms were very clean and spacious. They had an unbelievable breakfast bar with everything you could imagine. The pool area was inviting.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel had longevity as a hotel. The original owner, was often there to ensure everything was being handled properly even though she has passed along operations to others. She was delightful!

Location

Close to restaurants and a short bus ride into Mykonos Town.

Staff

They went above and beyond to assist you and make sure your every need was met.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were super clean and comfy. We loved having the space and sitting areas.

Spitia Tzitzi

Caldera, Santorini

Cannot say enough great things about this villa and the owner/host. It is amazing! The view is incredible!!! The host, Themis, is a hands-on host. We were fascinated by the history he shared with us and insights into the Greek culture. He made our breakfast each morning which was a treat as he used to be a chef. He was very helpful in suggestions of restaurants and navigating other things in the area. He provided us with his cell phone, which allowed open communication to make our stay enjoyable. The villa was very clean and comfortable. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Authenticity & Character

How often do you get to stay in a villa that used to be a cave?

Location

Oh! The views were incredible!

Staff

He loves helping his guests have the best time!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Epidaurus & Mycenae One Day Group Tour from Athens

Greece

There were many historical things to see. It's interesting how these sites were discovered. Our tour guide has experience as an archeologist, so he had many great things to share. The bus ride is long, but if you want to see it, you gotta do it. However, the bus was comfortable and the driver was very safe and a great driver.

Quality of Experience

Food

The setting. The food was pretty good, but nothing stands out and if you asked for anything extra like olive oil or sauce, they charged you extra.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide had so much experience and knowledge! He was great. The driver was super!!

Transport

Talented bus driver!!

The Acropolis & Athens Old City Private Guided Tour

Athens

We learned so much about the important historical sites! Our guide was fantastic and loves the history and culture of Athens. She made the day because she was so interesting and personable. Too much walking though at one time.

Quality of Experience

The tour guide made the experience special; the extent of walking made it a challenge.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cannot say enough about the tour guide. She was awesome!

Half-Day Authentic Jeep Adventure Private Tour

Mykonos

The driver did not speak very good English. He smokes heavily and although he didn't smoke in the car, it still smelled. He drove like he was at the races on the straight road areas and then hit brake around curves. Even though I was in the front seat and had taken Dramamine, I still had difficulty with his driving. He told us a tiny bit of information, pulled up and stayed at car so he could smoke and basically said, There it is! We would go on our own to look at object. The wind was horrific that day which didn't help matters any, but that wasn't his fault. He was friendly, but I asked him to take us back to the hotel shortly as it wasn't fun for any of us.

Quality of Experience

everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Needs to speak better English. Non smoking. Drive so that passengers don't get jostled around and sick.

Transport

Car was too small for 4 adults

Private Walking Tour of Mykonos Town

Mykonos

Our tour guide was fun and informative! He took us all over the city and showed interesting architecture and told wonderful historical stories. He was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was terrific!

Transport

Santorini Wine Roads Small-group Sunset Tour

Santorini

I think this was my favorite day. The staff were relaxed but helpful in every way. The food was delicious. The feeling of the water was incredible. The sunset couldn't have been better!

Quality of Experience

The food was some of the best we had in Greece!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They went out of their way to make sure you had a great time!

Transport

Free Day in Santorini

Santorini

LOVE SANTORINI!

Quality of Experience

everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was very helpful, especially Themis, host of villa.

Transport

Got us off the ferry and out of crowds quickly.

Knossos Palace Small-group Mythological Tour

Greece

The palace was good to see, but our guide was over kill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was super nice, but over kill. She should ask what we were interested in. I wanted to explore a little on my own. She tried to bring it to life for us, which I get, but it was too much.

Transport

Cretan Wine and Olive Oil Small-group Experience

Chania

Really enjoyed this tour. It was relaxing and informative.

Quality of Experience

Food

The olive oil!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fabulous experience with Moreno and his counterpart. Had an excellent time in Italy

Activity Reviews

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ravello, Amalfi & Positano

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historical Rome walking tour and Colosseum guided Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

3 Hours private tour Lake Como from Cernobbio

Lake Como

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a very relaxing time in Sao Miguel. The weather cooperated (sort of) for most of our time here. Highlights for us were the hotel (Terra Nostra) in Furnas, and our private tour of Set Ciudades with Natacha. We had 24 hour access to the thermal pool and Botanical garden, which was wonderful. The restaurant was also top notch.

Hotel Review

Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Furnas

This hotel is solely focused on relaxation and high quality service. We loved having 24 hr access to the thermal pool and botanical garden, which allowed us to use both without the crowds. The restaurant was also excellent - we at there for almost every meal and were never disappointed.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds and the restaurant are wonderful. The rooms are clean.

Location

Access to the botanical gardens is wonderful.

Staff

Service is clearly a focus for this hotel - it shows in all of the interactions we had.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whale Watching in the Azores

Lisbon Int. Airport (LIS)

Caveat for this review - our tour was eventually cancelled (hence the 3 stars). That said, I will definitely try a whale watching tour with this company if I return to Sao Miguel. The staff is very professional, clearly focused on conservation and learning about the animals. The briefing was very thorough and the focus on safety is also very clear. We suited up and actually went out of the marina into choppy water (we were told that up front). The swells were bigger than anticipated (8-10 ft - my estimate), and the captain very quickly turned us around for safety reasons.

Quality of Experience

Nothing in the companies control - the weather wasn't great on the day I went

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Clearly very knowledgeable and committed.

Transport

Sete Cidades Full Day Experience: Ferraria Springs & Volcano Rims

São Miguel Island

Natacha was just amazing. She took the time up front to understand what we were looking for and then modified the tour as appropriate. Given the unpredictable nature of the weather on Sao Miguel, she maximized our day to take advantage of the "breaks" in our overcast day, and we really got to know a lot about the culture of the Azores as well as the physical beauty.

Quality of Experience

The whole day was great

Food

We had lunch in a local restuarant in Sete Ciudades - all traditional Azorean food that was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really hit it off with Natacha - she clearly loves Sao Miguel and showed us so many things.

Transport

We (me, my husband and our 25 year old twins had a fabulous week in Spain, starting in Barcelona and finishing in San Sebastian. Highlights from our time in Barcelona were: 1) the half day Bike tour (by Born Bikes). Cristina was a tremendous guide and customized the tour to focus on things we hadn't seen. 2) Sagrada Familia guided tour - FABULOUS! We saw the cathedral in late afternoon, and the lighting was amazing. and 3) Montserrat - the church itself is spectacular and the funicular up to the top of the mountain is not to be missed. We stopped in Laguardia (Rioja region) for a full day wine tour, and our guide (Fito) was wonderful - he curated the wineries we visited (3) and also had a wonderful lunch in a local restaurant. Highlights in San Sebastian for us were the pintxos tour and a full day excursion to a cheese farm (exceeded our expectations) and a hike along the El Camino de Santiago, hosted by our guide Amaia. All of our hotels were wonderful - we especially enjoyed our stays at the Hospederia Los Parajes in Laguardia and the Zinema 7 in San Sebastian.

Hotel Reviews

Zinema7

San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)

This was our favorite hotel of the trip. The staff was incredibly helpful, the rooms large and modern. Located ~20 minute walk to the Old Town, it was also quiet at night.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was clean and modern.

Location

Nice balance of accesibility and quiet at night.

Staff

All of the staff were friendly, particularly one gentleman at the front desk who helped us secure reservations, cabs and directions to return our car rental.

Cleanliness & Comfort

all of the amenities are well thought out. We had some laundry done and it was delivered on a tray:). My husband also stayed in the room on our first day, so we "missed" maid service during normal hours. However, they still cleaned the room when we went out to dinner - a nice surprise when we returned:)

Hospederia de los Parajes (Laguardia)

Laguardia

This hotel is oozing character. Each room had a different theme/style and felt very cozy. The bathrooms were particularly luxurious.

Authenticity & Character

Each room had different furnishings, includin a sofa/loveseat. The showers were very large, and the bathrooms were spacious as well.

Location

Located within the walls of the city. May want to contact the hotel to determine where to park if you are driving.

Staff

We arrived at 10 am, dropped off our luggage and then went for a full day tour. Upon returning to the hotel, checkin was very fast and our luggage was already in our rooms. The breakfast room was also very cozy and the staff tremendous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pamplona Catedral HOTEL

Pamplona

The hotel is in a great location in the old part of Pamplona. It was a little bit of an adventure to find it via GPS (one of the streets you need to take shows 'bus only', so we had to circle a few times before we figured it out. That said, the hotel is lovely and the staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

The views

Location

Located on the edge of the old city, near the cathedral. May be helpful to contact the hotel if you are driving to secure the best dirctions.

Staff

Very friendly and knowledgeable

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were pristine

Hotel España Ramblas

Barcelona

The location of Hotel Espana is wonderful - a block off the Rambas, and easy to walk to many neighborhoods. The architecture is also beautiful - all of the common areas are stunning. We had several little "misses" with service that were all handled very professionally when brought up, but became recurring issues in the 3 days we were there that moved my rating to a 3 star. I had paid to have a room ready on arrival for my son, who arrived at 10 am on Saturday (eg. I reservered a room on Friday so he could get to the hotel, check in and sleep. The room wasn't ready upon arrival & he had to wait an hour before he could check in. We also had breakfast included in our reservation, which did not show up in th hotels system. Even after our travel agency called and confirmed with the hotel, we had to work with the front desk every morning to secure breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

the architecture was stunning

Location

Very easy walking to several of the key neighborhoods

Staff

The staff was always helpful when I raised issues noted above

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cheese, Wine & A Coastal Hike on the Camino

San Sebastián

This was a day that really gave us a flavor of the region. The cheese farm is something that we really enjoyed as a family. Michel and his wife clearly enjoy what they do and it shows in the quality of the product. The hike was also beautiful - lovely views of the coastline and we really enjoyed seeing the old roman bridges along the way.

Quality of Experience

The cheese farm was tremendous - loved that it was a small working farm and that we got to see everything.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amaia was very knowledgeable and clearly an experienced hiker.

Transport

San Sebastian Pintxo Experience

San Sebastián

This was a great way to discover the Old Town in San Sebastian, and learn the way to order pintxos without being overwhelmed. Each Pintxo bar was tremendous, and Ester was very personable.

Quality of Experience

The food was spectacular - we had the specialties of each bar and everything was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ester was very personable

Transport

Directions to the meeting area very clear.

Scenic Escape to Montserrat Monastery and Nature Park

Barcelona

The church and surrounding area is absolutely stunning. Our guide Ramon was also incredibly knowledgable and very friendly.

Quality of Experience

Set the right expectations on what you are getting: 1) We were on a tour that had English and Spanish speakers, which resulted in a fair amount of time waiting for the next thing. If possible, keep the tour to focus on one language (that's what we assumed we would have) . 2. This was not a half day tour - we were picked up at 8:00 am and didn't get back to our hotel until 3:30. I would include estimated travel time more overtly.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ramon was a wonderful guide - he is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about Montserrat and all things Catalonia. He also took the time to get to know each of us.

Transport

Be more upfront about the pick up/travel times. It took us an hour to pick up all of the guests in the group and then another 90 minutes to get to Montserrat (we hit several traffic jams on the way).

Barcelona by Bike: Gothic Quarter to Barceloneta

Barcelona

This was a highlight for us in Barcelona. It was a great way to see a much larger section of the city in a short amount of time. Our guide Cristina was incredibly knowledgeable and modified the tour based on what we had already seen.

Quality of Experience

We loved going through Born and the gardens.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristina was a true professional - always checking in on us.

Transport

Cab directions provided were spot on

Discover Rioja: Wineries, Tastings & Regional Cuisine

Spain

Everything about this trip was tremendous. Our guide (Fito) was from the area and clearly very knowledgeable about the wineries and the region. Each winery we visited had a unique story and great wines. We also really enjoyed the lunch at the end.

Quality of Experience

All 3 wineries had distinct stories and the people sharing with us were very genuine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fito was clearly known everywhere we went. He was very personable and took the time to modify the tour based on our needs.

Transport

the van was comfortable.

Taste Barcelona: Authentic Tapas & Neighborhood Walk

Barcelona

The tour was a great way to get us out on our first night in Barcelona. We visited 5 places in total, and our guide was very helpful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport