Kimkim Trip Reviews

I have absolutely no complaints. Everything was so well planned. The hotels were outstanding. Except the Amalia. It was a bit cramped for 3 people but we managed. My hat off to Christos and all his tour guides and drivers. They were outstanding 👏 👌

Hotel Reviews

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

A little cramped for 3 people and the bathtub was a bit high for elderly people. We had to be very cautious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness of the bathroom. Lots of hair on the floor behind door.

De Sol Hotel & Spa

Thera

Love the view and the breakfast. Outstanding. Room was very comfortable with 3 people.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belvedere Hotel Mykonos

Mýkonos City

Breath taking. Fabulous view, room service was excellent 👌

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom

Activity Reviews

Private Santorini Driving Panorama

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Santorini Wine Tour

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Mykonos Island Driving Tour

Mykonos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis & Flavors of Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiara did a great job understanding what we wanted from the trip and help set it up to match the interests of our party. The guides we had all along the trip were great and very knowledgeable. They were able to gauge the specific interests of our group and play more to them. We didn't have a single bad tour or guide. Really appreciate the small group setting. We had one small issue with flights arriving and she was quickly able to accommodate handling transfer for the group that got delayed.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Dei Mellini

Rome

The location was super and the staff were very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walking distance to everything you needed - shopping, the Colliseum, Vatican City and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

The hotel is in a great location and the staff were very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lancaster Hotel

Milan

The location of the hotel was great. It is just a little tired and needs some refreshing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to many of the historical sights and shopping. Lots of restaurants and cafes nearby.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is a bit tired and needs some updating.

Activity Reviews

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

This is a must do tour. Getting a full tour of Lake Como is amazing and a great way is via boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Tour & Sistine Chapel

Rome

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and again, adapted the tour to our specific interests. Being able to do this first thing in the morning ahead of the crowds is a must.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tuscany Vespa Tours

Florence

We absolutely loved this tour. The company was great and did a great job making sure that everyone was competent in driving. The scenery was amazing and it was a great way to tour the Tuscany area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum Tour with Underground, Arena & Gladiator Gate with Roman Forum

Rome

The guide we had was very knowledgeable and did a great job of understanding our specific interests and could easily adapt her focus to our interests. Also was very good about giving restaurant suggestions and other must see things in the City.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim put us in touch with Pedro at Across Portugal Tours in Lisbon. He is INCREDIBLE. We have never worked with such a responsive, helpful, knowledgeable, and competent travel agent and we have been around the world. The process of developing our tour was collaborative, taking into account our budget and physical needs and our desire to see a lot of Portugal but at a slower pace. The choice of hotels was spot on (Heritage in Lisbon, Portobay Teatro in Porto, and the Miragem in Cascais). He even sent photos of the showers so that concern about stepping in them was directly addressed. When we arrived, there was a care package waiting with port, cookies, and soaps. The drivers were excellent and we had the same driver for most of the trips; the walking tours were truly informative and fun. Everything went very smoothly. Pedro checked in with us daily on WhatsApp to make sure everything was OK and gave us the names and contact info for the drivers. He would offer suggestions for daily activities and for restaurants. There are not enough superlatives to describe the services offered by his agency. Working with Kimkim was also easy, clear, efficient, and responsive. We are so happy that we discovered the Kimkim website and services.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cascais Miragem

Cascais

Wow! Stunning hotel facing the ocean. Public rooms are breathtaking with art and sculptures everywhere. The outdoor infinity pool overlooking the sea was stunning. Also, the Water Lounge with a family pool, adult pool, salt water pool, steam room, and sauna. The spa massage was top-notch. This is definitely a five-star experience. The breakfasts were enough to fill you for the day and the staff were exceptionally warm and welcoming. The pool bar and cafe around the school made for a lovely dining experience for breakfast and lunch. Our room was huge, with sea views a dressing area, and a modern bath. As we were leaving at 6:15 AM they woke us with a call at five and then came by at 5:15 to make sure we were up. Also brought us breakfast bags with cappuccino as room service was not as yet open. Highest recommendation!

Authenticity & Character

More of a modern-style hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Teatro

Porto

Center of Porto. Modern hotel with lovely rooms and a great restaurant. Breakfasts are very ample and delicious. Helpful and warm staff. Surprised us with a bottle of champagne and a birthday cake for my wife! Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

More of a modern-style hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Elegant, has a great location in the center of Lisbon, has great breakfasts, and warm and very helpful staff. Beautiful historical room with modern facilities. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit: Cascais

Portugal

We stayed at a five-star hotel here near the ocean which offered convenient access to the center of town which was great for walking to shops.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit: Porto

Porto

We participated in a port wine tour and an olive oil tour in Porto and even brought home some olive oil. Our exceptional driver ensured that we visited all the lesser-known tourist attractions before departing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Our guide, Bernardo, was an archaeologist and provided a wealth of information. The tour was very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Our guide was a woman who was incredible, thoughtful, and nice. She modified the tour as necessary to accommodate our walking abilities on the cobblestone streets.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit: Sintra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The guides we had were all excellent and most of all very kind. Marina did a great job for us. The only hotel that we found to be just ok was the Don Carlos. Uber drivers we contacted for a ride to some of our tours did not want to come to our hotel but asked us to come out to a very busy circle. The problem with that was that we had no internet out there and had a difficult time identifying our drivers. The traffic around the Don Carlos is very congested. We might have preferred staying closer to the start of our food and walking tours.
We were challenged by driving directions. Our GPS in the rental car did not work. Because we are of a certain age this was our first time traveling with our phone as our primary guide. My understanding is that Portugal Trails does map out your trip with specific directions via GPS which would have been helpful. My big takeaway from Portugal was the kindness of the Portuguese people.

Owen and Emily did an excellent job planning our trip to Liverpool, which they had to plan twice since the soccer game we had planned to attend was cancelled. Everything ran smoothly and the guides and hotel were excellent. So happy I went with kimkim instead of planning on my own.

Hotel Review

Hope Street Hotel

Liverpool

Liked the location and choice of restaurants. Enjoyed the free buffet breakfast and the Spa. Would have like to have utilized more of the spa services but they were totally booked before we arrived,

Authenticity & Character

not sure what this means but was a modern high end hotel.

Location

walkable, plenty of restaurants, beautiful churches

Staff

responsive, supplied refrigerator when requested

Cleanliness & Comfort

everything immaculate

Activity Reviews

Liverpool Football Hospitality

Liverpool

Enjoyed the hospitality suite but would probably book in the Kop next time for a more real soccer experience

Quality of Experience

food was not great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

staff very helpful at stadium

Transport

Adrian was on time, very personable

Liverpool FC Stadium Tour

Liverpool

enjoyed stadium tour

Quality of Experience

got to see pitch, did not get to see actual dressing rooms as we had been told

Guides, Drivers and Staff

tour guide personable and knowledgeable. Driver excellent

Transport

Enjoyed riding with Adrian (sp?) gave us an interesting perspective of liverpool

Welcome to Manchester

England

Tour guide Neil extremely knowledgeable and accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Neil was an excellent guide

Transport

comfortable ride,

Late to review. Life got crazy upon my return but trip met all expectations. Excellent drivers, guides and truly memorable people in a lively country. Very personalized, great accommodations and sights. All in all pretty much perfect!

Hotel Reviews

Merzouga Dunes Camps

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Madada Mogador

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riyad el Cadi

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chez Ichou

Dades Gorge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad & Spa Dar Bensouda

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Marrakech to Essaouira

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Guide was not very interactive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver great. Guide less so

Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Road of 1000 Kasbahs

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Excellent guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a great introduction to Nepal. My trip was so well organized and each place I stayed was unique with friendly hosts. Waking to Mountains in Nagarkot day 1 was amazing followed my 4 days of hiking up and down lush, terraced valleys with my amazing guides, Mingma and Dorze. I loved making Nepali food with Christina and Maya at Mata Chen, such a beautiful place to stay. My final day biking from Panouti to Kathmandu with my incredible guide Usha was surreal. From hilltop villages to temples along the way and a crazy, fun ride across Kathmandu right to my hotel. Unforgettable!

Ana was outstanding. While planning, she listened to us and what we had research and helped us with local knowledge. Despite the 15 hour time difference, she was quick to respond.
Once we arrived, she met us at our hotel to welcome us and confirm our schedule. She was available during our whole trip for random questions, even as small as bug spray brand.
She was kind and communicative. Our trip was much richer because of her help.

We had an absolutely amazing time in Quito, Mindo, and the Galapagos!

I was trying to create the best 30th birthday trip to my adventurous, nature-loving fiance and this trip truly delivered. I only wish we both had more time off from work to explore more of the Galapagos Islands. Our local specialist, Linda, was amazing to work with and very responsive to our questions. She even added the nice personal touch of meeting us in Quito. We got to meet so many interesting people on our trip as well, including backpackers/travelers and locals. Our state appointed tour guides in the Galapagos (including Astrid and Nathalie) were all very knowledgeable: you could literally ask them anything!

Highlights of our trip include:
1. Walking tour around Quito
2. The cloud forest in Mindo which included Zipling, hummingbird preserve (so, so many beautiful species), a chocolate making tour, and early morning bird watching (we got to see 4/5 types of toucans and feed hummingbirds from our hands!)
3. Standing along the ECUATOR!!!
4. Swimming/snorkeling with 20+ hammer head sharks and green sea turtles at kicker rock (near San Cristobal)
5. Exploring the giant tortoise reserve on Santa Cruz. (Did you know that because of the introduction of guava to the islands these gentle giants are developing diabetes? It seems these beautiful creatures have a real sweet tooth and that we sadly have caused!)
6. Spying on nesting Blue-Footed Boopies and frigate birds, looking for marine and land iguanas, and watching sea lions surf on north Seymore island.
7. Swimming with fur seals, sea lions, and other marine animals and fish off north Seymore island
8. Exploring a coffee and chocolate farm on Santa Cruz, as well as learning how they produce a local favor adult beverage.
9. Watching penguins swim and albatross sore, as well as learning about the volcanic creation of the islands at San Bartolome island.

As a former backpacker our accommodations were absolutely fantastic and luxurious. The food was also wonder and a key part of the experiences as well.

Verdict: We will definitely be using Kim Kim again and we will be back to the Galapagos!

Hotel Reviews

Ikala Galapagos Hotel

Puerto Ayora

We had a blast at this luxurious hotel, which had amazing breakfast and restaurant for dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Galapagos Sunset

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

We loved this centrally located, luxurious hotel where we could hear the sealions. Breakfast on the roof with an amazing view was delightful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Terrabambú Lodge

Mindo

We absolutely loved this treehouse type of hotel with an amazing view. The only thing we had a problem with a large spider (it is the rainforest). The outdoor jacuzzi was a nice touch!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona de La Ronda

Quito

Beautiful, centrally located hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Mindo & Return to Quito

Galapagos Islands

We really enjoyed the Equator excursion!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Mindo & Activities in the cloud forest

Galapagos Islands

We enjoyed Zipling, birdwatching and feeding hummingbirds, and enjoying the chocolate making tour

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to another uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

This was an amazing excursion where we learned a lot about the topography and origin of the islands. The sea-life was also amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The crew of the Nautilus were fantastic

Transport

Snorkel at Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido)

Galapagos Islands

This was an amazing experience to snorkel with hammerhead sharks and sea turtles. This is also a great place to scuba if you are certified.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Islands

Astrid was an amazing tour guide! She was so knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the highlands, tortoise reserve, adn laval tunnels despite the extensive downpours

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Galapagos Islands

Danny was an amazing tour guide who showed us so much of his city. We highly recommend him

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Galapagos Islands

We loved seeing all the wildlife at North Seymor. So many amazing species to see. Our guide, Nathalie, was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hakim organised for us a fantastic trip to Morocco, seeing a wide range of what Morocco has to offer. The itinerary was well put together with appropriate time in each location, and while there was some long drives on some days, each day had its own point of interest. The guides and activities that were organised were all very good, and the tips provided by Hakim on places to see and eat, and more general tips on travelling in Morocco, proved invaluable.

Mohamed, our driver, was the most important key to the success of our trip. Always cheerful (despite the rigours of Ramadan), always helpful, always on time, he allowed us to be largely worry free as we travelled around Morocco. His driving was always safe, and his sense of direction never failed.

Our trip to Madrid and Barcelona included several great private and small group tours which were almost all very kid-friendly and enjoyable. Our Boqueria tour and paella cooking class was the most engaging and fun, while our tour with Matt to Costa Brava and Girona was a beautiful and relaxing chance to visit the quieter parts of Catalunya. Our Madrid hotel was great and centrally located, while our Barcelona hotel was located in a grafitti-filled neighborhood with tons of homeless people which was a bit of a long walk from all attractions. Overall, everyone enjoyed Madrid and the day trips to Toledo and other smaller cities the most.

Yuri was very prompt and helped us with all our local needs! We highly recommend his tours.

Activity Review

Tapas & Flamenco Experience in Seville

Seville

We had a great time experiencing the local bars and watching an excellent Famenco dance with authentic music. Our guide Mila was very friendly and gave us a historical tour of the neighbourhood, she explained everything in detail. She even took us to the Feria which was out of the world! We had a great time and highly recommend Kimkim tours for an authentic Seville, tapas and flamenco experience!!.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wow! What a stunning honeymoon adventure! Thank you so much to Leo for organising a truly memorable adventure of a lifetime! El Nido and Coron were spectacular spots and our guides, Rich and Jhonas, were brilliant hosts too! We will definitely be back!

Hotel Reviews

Sea Cocoon Hotel

El Nido

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Atremaru Boutique Resort & Spa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We understand the need for an eco solution but some aspects of the accommodation weren't ideal. The bathroom was poor, it was a struggle for me without air-conditioning , the restaurant quality was poor, no shallow end in the pool was problem for my partner who is only 165cm tall etc...

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Coron Westown Resort

Coron

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Powder Day: Sand and Stellar Beaches

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Town Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour C

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido via ferrata

El Nido

Brilliant!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour from Sabang

Sabang, Palawan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ulugan Bay

Philippines

Snorkelling quality was okay but the location, boart crew and lunch were amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim (Sabina) did an excellent job in planning my 24-day self-driving tour of the South Island of New Zealand. Other than a few days of rain and wind, that resulted in me missing the Whale Watching cruise in Kaikoura and the glacier cruise at Mt. Cook, everything went as planned and exceeded my expectations!

The car was perfect for me, all of the driving instructions and maps were very valuable, and all of the booked motels were very nice and were expecting me :-)

I hiked most of the recommended tracks and loved them all, finding over 250 species of birds, flowers, mammals, ferns, trees, etc. that were new to me :-). I also did a bungee jump off the Kawarau Bridge and a Luge run while in Queenstown :-). The 3 guided hikes on the Routeburn, Kepler, and Milford tracks in Te Anau were fun with excellent guides, especially Geoff Barnes !

I also took two recommended detours to Blue Pools and Arrowtown, which I would recommend too :-)

The trans-alpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch was a very pleasant break from driving and I was very happy to find Steve Wilson, no relation, waiting for me in Christchurch, to shuttle me to my motel.

I have already recommended using Kimkim to others and will continue to do so. Kimkim also arranged a fabulous custom trip for me to Colombia before the pandemic :-)

Hotel Reviews

Punakaiki Beachfront Motels

Punakaiki

Great food at motel restaurant :-)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Punga Grove Motels & Suites

Franz Josef / Waiau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Wanaka

Wanaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Te Anau

Te Anau

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Queenstown

Queenstown

Authenticity & Character

Location

CTR

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt Cook Lodge & Motels

Canterbury

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista

Kaikoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

For

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Motel Blenheim

Blenheim

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Nice restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bella Vista Christchurch

Christchurch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

CHCH Touring - Private Transfer Train Station to Accommodation

Christchurch

The guide Steve Wilson, was there right on the time holding a sign with my name to take me to the airport very nice guy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paparoa National Park

Punakaiki

I explored Paparoa National Park and its famous Pancake Rocks. Although the ocean surges were not as impressive as I had hoped, I still enjoyed observing the unique rock formations and taking in the beautiful coastal scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier

I visited Franz Josef Glacier, but unfortunately, it was foggy and I couldn't see the glacier clearly. However, I hiked several trails in the area, such as the Douglass Walk, Franz Josef Glacier Walk, Link One Backtrack, and more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk

Wānaka

I went on a Lake Wānaka Cruise and Island Nature Walk, where I saw the rare Buff Weka, a flightless bird found only on one island in New Zealand. I also enjoyed hiking in Wanaka, where I encountered several other interesting birds and took in the stunning landscapes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking in Wanaka

Wānaka

This day I explored Wanaka and hiked several trails, including Roy's Peak track, Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain, Mount Iron track, and the Outlet track. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Wanaka

Wānaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Routeburn Track Guided Day Walk

Te Anau

I did 3 different hikes here, beautiful forest with thick moss. It was an incredible place for photos. There were many swinging bridges that were amazing. Very safe, and cool to see. Great trails for running too! The guide was very nice and we kept the same pace which was nice. We finished the hike quickly and then went to the bird sanctuary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Track Guided Walk and Scenic Cruise with Trips and Tramps

New Zealand

I joined a group and hiked the Milford Track. We also took a two-hour boat trip from the fjord to the Tasman Sea, enjoying the green scenery and waterfalls along the way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kepler Track Guided Heli-Hike with Trips and Tramps

Te Anau

For this hike, they take you above the alpine in a small helicopter and drop you off at a hut where you hike to the top of the mountain. At the end of the hike, you get lunch and hike down to the treeline and got to see more plants and moss. Made some permanent friends on this part of the trip, and loved being a part of the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Anau and Manapouri

New Zealand

I arrived at Te Anau and hiked a part of the Kepler Track on my own, discovering many fly agaric mushrooms and beautiful forests carpeted in thick green moss. I also crossed several swinging bridges during the hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Queenstown Adventure & Wine

Queenstown (NZ)

I did a bungee jump at the bridge for my adventure day, I recommend paying for the photos and videos as they came out really well. I also took a gondola ride and participated in a fun activity similar to bobsledding. Although I didn't try the vertical wind tunnel skydiving simulation, I had an overall positive experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

I went to Mount Cook but never got to see it due to rainy weather. However, I completed all six trail recommended by Sabina. I enjoyed the trails and the local restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christchurch free day

Christchurch

I took a break during my drive to Christchurch and did a 4-5 mile hike at a nature preserve along a river. I discovered and reported about 170 new species of plants, animals, and fungi. In Christchurch, I went for runs along the Avon River and visited the Arboretum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour

New Zealand

I was supposed to go on a Kaikoura Whale Watching Tour with a small group, but due to rough seas, it was canceled. Instead, I went on a different tour and saw hundreds of dolphins, even capturing some amazing photos and videos of them flipping and playing in the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tracks in and around Kaikoura

Kaikōura

I hiked various walking tracks in and around Kaikoura, taking in the stunning landscapes and coastal views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaikoura

Kaikōura

About a two-hour drive to Kaikoura, the rental car company provided a GPS unit but the car had CarPlay so I just used Google Maps from my phone and you are able to get directions. I had coverage for the whole trip. Kaikoura was an interesting town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nelson/ Abel Tasman free day

New Zealand

I did a nice out-and-back trail and found some more amazing birds, plants, and mushrooms.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nelson Lakes National Park

New Zealand

I visited Nelson Lakes National Park, where I went on a beautiful hike and encountered some unique wildlife, like flightless birds and stunning purple mushrooms. The park's scenery was breathtaking, and I really enjoyed my time there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-drove this trip and Sabina provided an awesome scenic route for the whole trip!

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing! Our scuba trips in Belize organized by Ramon's Village Resort were incredible including swimming with sharks, rays, and sea turtles as well as diving for conch for our lunch. Our visit to Tikal in Guatemala will provide life long memories. Esmerelda, our guide, did a fantastic job leading us around Lake Atitlan and Antigua providing outstanding insight and history of the regions and Guatemala as whole, not too mention assisting us when our Spanish wasn't quite up to the task particulary with the lunch and dinner menus. We can't say enough about our experience and would highly recommend this itinerary as a family trip with teenagers.

How do I put into words my Patagonian Adventures that I've experienced with the people I've met in this journey of self discovery. They are all now a part of my extended family. I've seen such splendor, majestic beauty, and an overwhelming sense of grandeur. It's like when God finished creating the world in 6 days before he rested on the 7th he dusted his hands off over the Patagonian Provinces of Argentina and formed a lavish banquet of wonders with an array of unique wildlife, mountain peaks, glaciers, forests, and lakes all in Argentina for all the world to enjoy and embrace.

(INSERT PHOTO OF ANA AND ME TOGETHER HERE)

I thoroughly recommend Kimkim as they have outperform, and surpass my expectations. All the accommodations were nothing less than 5 stars, all transfers to and from hotels, all my domestic flights across Argentina were handled with such detail, my friend Ana was handling it all. ( I just can't call her a tour specialist). I feel Ana has been with me through this journey from start to finish. When I started this plan to cover as much of Argentina in 16 days I thought it was an impossible task. From Day 1 to Day 16 Ana was right there with me. From My Buenos Aires Querido to all of Patagonia. Starting with my first stop in Calafate as I ventured on a Mini Trekking across the Perito Moreno Glacier, in San Marcos Bariloche experiencing the Nahuel Huapi National Park in the province of Río Negro and Neuquén, along the Valle Encantado route 237 la Angostura this region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, rainforests, and glaciers in the west and deserts, rich tablelands and steps to the east. Patagonia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and many bodies of water that connect them. More than a trip of a lifetime. This checks all the boxes on my bucket list.

BARILOCHE
I can't forget my friend Luis (now a part of my extended family) my private guide as he shared with me the beauty of this province and the wealth of its natural resources. Luis’s knowledge of the province from the Condors nesting grounds to how the locals protect and respect nature. Luis and I spent 14 hours covering as much of the Patagonia landscape before night fall. Stopping to see Llamas crossing the routes and capturing their beauty as local commuters were missing out on what was in front of them. The voyage on board CauCau ferry headed to Victoria Island overjoyed with the breathe-taking views. You have to see it in order to believe it. I did the Circuito Chico Lago Moreno. Llao Llao, saw llamas, Rio Limay, it’s un-imaginable how small we are and what we take for granted, we miss out on what is in front of us. I took time to listen, hear, smell and taste the pureness of the air that was surrounding me. I even visited the smallest Rio in the world. (Thank you Luis for this gold nugget) Rio Correntoso. Folks...the list of lakes and wildlife goes on and on.

IGUAZU
Next stop was Iguazu Falls National Park, my dear guide Camila more than just a guide, she's smart and very pretty. Super knowledgeable with the flora and fauna of Iguazu and has the ears and eyes of a hawk to find the smallest of details of the wildlife that live and breathe in this region. Camila and I managed to walk 600 meters on the green path, 1750 meters on the superior circuit and rounded it out with a 2200 meter walk to the Devils Throat (astounding 80 meters in depth) all while managing to see an early morning rodent Acuti, birds like the Magpie, Boyero, Mallard Ducks, Jotes (black head and red head), Aninga, and Coati mammals.

MENDOZA
My families home, this is where the self discovery comes in. Rich in ancestral history that dates back to the 1900s starting with my Grandfather Don Gustavo Julian Ruiz Cornellias and his lovely wife J. Elvira Ruiz de Gagliolo they migrated from Madrid Spain to Buenos Aires at 30 years of age. I was born in Buenos Aires and came to the United States, and the rest of my family settled in Mendoza where I managed to learn of my great great grandfather's contribution to Argentina’s rich history as he is immortalized at the Plaza Marcos Burgos right next to the national hero of Argentina, Chile and Peru Jose de San Martin. If you love wine Mendoza is the place for it and visiting the vineyards of Tupungato & Tunuyan is the right place to start. Time to relax, inhale the beauty that is Valle de Uco. Ana and her dream-maker team set me up with an experience that I will never forget at Casa De Uco, a must stay, wine testing at various vineyards like Gaia, Sophenia and the Piece de resistance lunch at Andeluna, I totally recommend this place, the food, the warmth of the staff at Andeluna is unmatched. Take 3-4 hours for lunch its so worth it. I was the last to leave. Make sure you stop at Puente de Inca along the Rio Mendoza before you experience Cerro Aconcagua, have a picnic lunch at the foot of Laguna Horcones and take in the beauty that is this province.

In closing don’t let a day go by without embracing it. I found real meaning on this trip. What truly matters. It’s Family and Time. There is a balance. Life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. So live for today. Be grateful for what you do, what you have, and share with those around you that are not as fortunate. We are all part of one another in one shape or form, we touch peoples lives with kindness whether you believe if of not….so be kind.

Day tour to Sintra with guide Matilde and driver Miguel. We felt very cared for traveling with these 2 the whole day. Matilde answered all our questions thoughtfully and explained all the stops thoroughly.

The walking tour of Lisbon with Elsa was effortless. Elsa made the 8 hour long day seem very short. Her lively explanations and wonderful sense of humor made the day go by so quickly and the walk easy. She shared with us some of her favorite local spots. Bifana was delicious and her recommendations for dinner were spot on! Obrigada Elsa.

Our drive up the coast to Porto with Nelson was very comfortable. Nelson was our very informative body guard/driver of the day. The beautiful streets of Obidos and the breathtaking view of the coast of Nazare were fabulous

Arriving in Porto we had our walking tour with Andre. He showed us the wonderful sights/sounds/tastes of Porto. You must try the Pastel de Nata of Porto since we learned it tastes very different from those in Lisbon. Much crispier crust and oh-so delicious.

Duoro Valley. WOW. What more can I saw about this place. Our private boat tour was exactly what the family needed towards the end of our visit.

Overall, I would definitely recommend working with Joao and plan to contact him again when I go back to Portugal. Joao was very patient and listened to our multiple requests and made magic happen. I thank him and his team for allowing our family to relax and have fun. Definitely a trip to remember. OBRIGADA!

Emi and Francesco were absolutely amazing. Emi did a fantastic job planning the trip of our dreams, while Francesco was fast and accommodating - making our time there a breeze! When our train was canceled last minute, it literally took 10 minutes for them to book us a new way of transport, saving the day and our trip. We will absolutely be using this service again and have already recommended it to all our friends and family. Thank you, thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni

Florence

Beautiful hotel with friendly staff. Amazing stay all around.

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Rome Times Hotel

Rome

Friendly, accommodating - first-rate service all around. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quick walk to some of the best places to see and surrounded by fantastic restaurants.

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Activity Reviews

Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Beautiful tour that really helps you acclimate to the city. The tour guide was gregarious and funny - we enjoyed learning from her.

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Uffizi Galleries Tour

Florence

A wonderful experience with a fantastic guide. Thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot.

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Accademia Gallery Tour

Florence

The tour guide was funny, smart, and enjoyable to listen to. Highly recommend.

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Duomo tour with Brunelleschi's dome & secret terraces

Italy

An absolutely amazing tour. The guide was affable and knowledgable - and incredibly patient and comforting when I ended up succumbing to my fear of heights.

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Private Florence walking tour on Medici's footsteps

Florence

Fantastic and informative walking tour. The guide was funny, smart, and enjoyable to listen to.

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Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums guided tours

Rome

Good, semi-private tour. Guide got into a few weird religious things, however, that didn't feel relevant or needed.

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My daughter and I have had the most amazing trip to Greece. We are in love and will be back. It was great having Irene of Kimkim help plan our trip of 9 days as we wanted culture, art and history at a relaxed pace.

We visited Athens, Naxos and Santorini and it was fantastic. Irene organized a cooking class, a trip to Delphi with olive tasting and in Naxos convinced me the best way was to drive to see the beautiful landscape! She was right.

In Santorini, we had a pottery class with a local famous Greek artist which was fun for the both of us and walking around and seeing the sunset was out of this world.

We loved our accommodations too and Irene chose well and to add that the entire team from KimKim were always available in case of anything and made me feel safe should something go wrong.

Everything was taken care of and on time and grateful for our tour guide in Athens, Magda who was entertaining and knowledgeable.

We had a very relaxed holiday and I was glad I had some assistance thanks to Kimkim to navigate around!

All in all, we will back to Greece and would recommend anyone short on time and energy to let Kimkim sort you out. They really know some hidden gems and where to go and are quick to respond so it lets you breathe and be free.

Hotel Reviews

Athens Cypria Hotel

Athens

Right in the heart ofnthe city. Can really hear the hustle and bustle and great restaurants including vegetarian ones. The buffet breakfast was amazing from Greek yogurts to a full English breakfast, Pastries and coffee, tea and juices.

Authenticity & Character

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Walking distance to most things like Acropolis

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Abelonas Retreat Sunset & Sunrise Lodgings

Santorini

Stunning views, breakfast in your room. Management was great and we had amazing views where we were. Also for those who like some peace and quiet it’s perfect as it’s not super big and has a certain charm to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views are stunning. Breakfast is delicious and can walk to many places.

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Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Beautiful location, clean and amazing food! Staff was helpful and we loved how relaxing it was.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right close to the beach

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Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Local Dinner in Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Food

Definitely the cheese platter with the local Naxian cheese … we didn’t finish it but it was yum!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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We walked and found beautiful spots to eat

Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

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Cooking Class in Athens

Athens

The restaurant was amazing and the food too. We really enjoyed it but wished we had the chance to make a couple of dishes as I was with my 9 year old. A menu to cater that would have been great. Still we enjoyed it.

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Acropolis & Athens Mythology Tour

Athens

Learnt so much on this tour and Magda was highly knowledgeable and engaging. My daughter loved her. She has a way with kids. Carry some snacks and water as it’s quite long.

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Our trek with Kim Kim has been a fantastic experience from start to finish. The communication from Ngima was exceptional throughout. He helped us to think through the various options for the trek and provided helpful guidance and links for further reading. Being met at the airport meant our arrival in Kathmandu was much easier than finding our own way to the hotel and the pre-trek briefing answered any queries which we had. The team on the trek were also excellent - our guide Dafuri Sherpa was knowledgable and responsive to our requests, and the porters Nuru and Finju Sherpa were positive and professional. Their connections with local people meant that we were guaranteed a warm welcome at every place we visited. The whole of the valley was beautiful but there is no doubt that ascending Kyanjin Ri was the highlight