Kimkim Trip Reviews

Camila was our planner and we loved working with her. Great suggestions and local insights, very communicative, and answered our many questions. Helped us build an incredible trip.

Our guides were invaluable and made traveling comfortable and smooth. This was especially helpful since our Spanish is limited and basic. From airport arrival to drop off to everything in between we felt completely taken care of.

Hotels were amazing with one exception- did not care for the Novotel Buenos Aires but it was only for our last night after we arrived back from Antartica and were flying home the next day.

We loved Buenos Aires and all the activities from neighborhood tours to food tours to the incredible Tango show Camila set up (others we talked to about the shows they went to that they coordinated through their hotels had lesser experiences so we were lucky to have an insider like Camila).

We also flew to Mendoza for an incredible 4 days - Camila set everything up and even adjusted our schedule back in BA when a flight was changed. In Mendoza we once again had an outstanding experience with our Guide Lucia and driver Gozalvo- wine tastings, an incredible lunch at Zonda, horseback riding, a cooking class where we made and ate empanadas! We loved all of it.

Then we connected with our separately planned cruise to Antarctica.

The handoff and return were seamless. When the inevitable bumps, delays and curveballs came, we had a local agency we could WhatsApp with and Flora was amazing. Everything flowed smoothly. I can’t emphasize enough how helpful it was to have this service. It made all the difference for us having an incredible bucket list trip that flowed smoothly.

We absolutely loved it!

Hotel Reviews

Novotel Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Location is the best thing going for this place. Room was hot and AC weak. Seems like a previously top notch hotel that is frayed around the edges and a bit run down. Staff was good but not the standard of other places we stayed. Would not come back

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada Verde Oliva

Coquimbito, Maipú

Perfect place to stay in Mendoza! Room was quaint and comfortable, breakfast was awesome, coffee was great, staff was amazing, pool was a nice refuge on hot days. Will stay here again when we come back.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires—MGallery

Buenos Aires

Incredible experience- would stay here again without hesitation. Felt like an oasis. Great breakfast, very comfortable room, nice bar, great location. Loved it

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Palermo Food Tour

Buenos Aires

Very cool tour of a hip part of Buenos Aires with Freddy. Also got some fun facts about the neighborhood while there. Every place we went was great. Loved the insight into great little restaurants and would go back to many of them when back in Buenos Aires. Ate too much but really enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Time at Casa del Visitante in Santa Julia Winery

Mendoza

What a fun experience! We did it with another couple and had a blast. Made empanadas and bread and a dessert I can’t remember the name of. Delicious. Then we walked over for a tour of the winery. This is a bigger, more industrial type winery but fascinating and the tour guide was great! Very informative and we loved the young wines and the tasting (but was not a fan of the sweeter wines). Then back for an incredible lunch. But the portions were huge and we were so full we couldn’t really enjoy it fully. Very fun and would do it again for sure!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lujan de Cuyo Wine Experience

Mendoza

We had the most incredible day. We started at the Alta Vista Winery and it was incredible. Great tour, super informative and great wines. Then onto Bodega Vistalba - beautiful winery with excellent wines. Finally a lunch and wine at Zonda. Absolutely incredible meal! Wines were excellent. Toured the organic garden. As Big foodies, this was one of the highlights of our trip to Mendoza. Love the whole day and our love for Argentine wines is redoubled. Again, our guide Lucy and driver Gonzalvo we fantastic. We were chauffeured around so comfortably and loved talking to them and getting to know more about their home and the region

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Horseback Riding in Mendoza

Mendoza

The best part was the ride and sunset. Our guide was great and explained some of the flora and fauna of the region. We are horse people and really enjoyed it although the riding was very “trail ride” oriented. The BBQ afterwards was mediocre and a bit too long. Enjoyed it for the experience of being out there and seeing the landscape, horses and sunset

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

Loved this show. Meal was great. Waiters and staff were brusque but efficient. Dancers were incredible. We sat with another couple we’d just met and had a great time. We felt lucky we went to this show as other tourists we met went to other shows through their hotels that were mediocre. This one was excellent

Quality of Experience

Food

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

Very cool to see the different neighborhoods and to see some of the highlights of each. Loved the insider perspective. We were able to hit the Changing of the Guard at the Metropolitan Cathedral just right and learned a lot about the history of Argentina while driving. Enjoyed Choripan in La Boca and many other experiences. Just wish we could have had more time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Despite a few health concerns that caused us to cancel a few excursions, we had a wonderful trip and learned a lot about the Mayan culture and history, which was our objective. Everyone was especially helpful with Robin as she had difficulty walking after she fell a couple of times. Julio, our private driver, was kind and pleasant, always smiling. The guides were all very informative and helpful as well. We did experience bites from bed bugs somewhere along the way, and I learned I was allergic to mosquito bites. But I guess that comes with the territory, so not a complaint. The planning for the trip with Charlotte was exceptional, and for that reason we would use kimkim again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

IKAL Tulum Hotel

This hotel is good for anyone looking for a more rustic Mayan experience. The room was like a Hobbitt's hut, with curved ceilings and cave-like interior, with very little light. I had to use the light on my camera to see inside my suitcase, even in daytime. If you have back problems or walking difficulty, this is not the place for you. We did like the fenced privacy and the outside private pool with jetted water. We experienced some bed bug problems here, though. The restaurant overlooking the beach was good, and the staff was very helpful. Would be an excellent choice if you are young with no health issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You have to pay a fee to get into the area every time you leave.

Staff

When one of us had a mobility problem, a staff member came to our hut and helped her walk out to catch our van.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had bites from bed bugs here.

Hotel boutique Saastah

Valladolid

beautiful, peaceful hotel, excellent staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff in restaurant and front desk were very helpful. They helped us find a source for laundry and offered to arrange for a doctor when one of our party was ill.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room needed a more comfortable chair to sit in.

Hacienda Mérida

Mérida

Loved the old colonial feel of this hotel. Good location. Staff very helpful. Wish they had more comfortable chairs in the room, though.

Authenticity & Character

authenticity of chairs did not make them comfortable for anyone with a back problem

Location

in historic section of town

Staff

everyone was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

at least one comfortable chair to sit in, some attention to clear out possibility of bed bugs

Activity Reviews

Boat tour in the Natural Reserve of Sian Ka'an

Mexico

This was our favorite tour. The guides were all helpful and accommodating. The area is beautiful with many birds to see. Very relaxing.

Quality of Experience

The area is beautiful, and there were many birds to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were very attentive and helpful. One of us had trouble with mobility, and they made sure she was safe as she got in and out of the van and also the boat.

Transport

Punta Laguna

Mexico

The guide was very helpful and knowledgeable. The Mayan ceremony was meaningful. We did not see any wildlife though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uxmal site with an English speaking guide

Mexico

The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. He was very accommodating when one of us had some difficulty walking. He found shady spots to sit when the heat became too much. We learned a lot about the Mayans.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat tour in Celestun

Mexico

This was wonderful. We saw many beautiful flamingoes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour in Mérida with an English speaking guide

Mérida

The guide was very informative. We learned a lot about the Mayans and their history. He altered the route when we asked and accommodated our slow walking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everything from start to finish was seamless. Michaels communication was the most appreciated, with quick responses and flexibility.
From the Safety and communication to the drivers and guides, everything was top notch

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nacar Hotel Cartagena, Curio Collection by Hilton

Cartagena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

York Luxury Suites Medellín

El Poblado, Medellin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Not easy, but not too difficult. Beautiful, peaceful. We loved how passionate our guide was!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Market Visit & Cooking Class

Cartagena

This was our favorite day, but I genuinely LOVE markets. This is a real locals market, very authentic. Shopping with purpose, and supporting the locals was the additional bonus!! Cooking was an assisted treat for my teenagers

Pop-Up Dinner (Envigado)

Medellín

It was wonderful, however I think we expected to be eating with the family. Still a really neat experience to enter the locals home. Our hosts were fantastic, energetic, welcoming. The food was incredible as well. For timing purposes, and how tired we were that day.. this is the only thing we would have skipped. …but if you have time, it’s worth it!!

Food

Transport

Charming Villages and Special Coffees

Colombia

Filandia, Salento and Valle del Cocora

Colombia

One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our two-week journey through Morocco with KimKim was nothing short of extraordinary, and a huge part of that was thanks to our incredible driver and guide, Kalid. From day one, Kalid was patient, knowledgeable, and wonderfully accommodating, always making sure we felt comfortable, informed, and cared for throughout the trip.

Morocco itself completely captured our hearts. We experienced a fascinating culture, unforgettable cuisine, and some of the warmest, most welcoming people we’ve ever met. This trip is an absolute must for anyone who truly enjoys immersing themselves in other cultures rather than just visiting a destination.

The itinerary was perfectly balanced—taking us from the high-energy, colorful chaos of Marrakech to the peaceful, calming beauty of Chefchaouen. We watched the sun rise and set over the Sahara Desert, experienced the deep-rooted traditions of Fez, and shared unforgettable meals during a cooking class in a local family’s home, as well as lunch with a welcoming Berber family. These moments felt authentic, intimate, and incredibly special.

Standing inside the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca was breathtaking—the sheer scale and beauty of it left us in awe. And in true Morocco fashion, the diversity amazed us: we went from snow in the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert in just 12 hours.

This trip was rich, diverse, thoughtfully planned, and truly exceeded our expectations in every way. We would highly recommend KimKim to anyone considering Morocco—especially travelers who want depth, authenticity, and unforgettable experiences.

There was so much more we explored and experienced. 2 weeks was a great length of time to experience what Morocco has to offer. Anything shorter I think you would be missing out.

We’ll be sharing a full travel video series from this journey on our YouTube channel, Travel With The Hales – The Curious Travelers, and can’t wait to relive and share the magic.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@travelwiththehales

Doris did an exceptional job helping me before and during this lengthy trip to Vietnam. There were a ton of moving parts, lots of logistics and planning needed, and it couldn’t have went more smoothly. She picked out great places for me to stay, catering to the types of places I wanted to be around. She handled booking all the tours making it hassle free for everything I wanted to do, all I had to do was show up. All of the tour guides she used (the trip was across multiple cities) were incredible (especially Destiny in Hoi An/Ba Na Hills). I couldn’t have had a better time in such an amazing country, and Doris made it so easy. Highly recommend!

Day 1: airport shuttle from San Jose to LaFortuna: Ride Cr, driver, Christopher. He was waiting for us with a sign, barely spoke English, did not offer water, did not explain what the drive would be , minimal comments on the 3 1/2 hour drive, we had to ask to stop for a break.
ROyal Corin REsort was EXCELLENT!! Extremely clean, very helpful staff, most spoke English, Daily breakfast was a huge buffett with many items, food was delicious. room was large, comfortable and clean. thermal pools offered a variety of temps. However, there was no hydro massage, the jets were weak. restaurant up stairs has fabulous service and food. lower level, main restaurant was closed, but offered gthe menu on top floor restaurant

Day 2: sloth & bird hike in La Fortuna, La Jacamar Natural Tours, Rodney. HE WAS FABULOUS! spoke English, truly an expert guide, spent extra time with us, provided a scope to see the animals, shared photos. offered additional information about the area and Costa Rica.

Eco Termales Hot Springs,Jacamar driver was great. The Springs staff was not friendly or welcoming and did not offer explanation of the facilities, offered minimal comments, there was nice variety of springs and all appeared to be clean. Nice that drinks were offered at the springs, the food was medium quality and variety.

Day 3: safari float, Jacamar driver and guides spoke English and offered much information. the boat itself was uncomfortable. I would suggest a stop along the way for a small break. the guides were helpful and well informed of the area and the river.

Lake Arenal sunset cruise, Jacamar Tours, guide was good, cheese, snacks & drinks were good. they pointed out several birds and offered a lot of information about the area. It was a little boring and lasted a little long for us. I understand it was designed to be that way and relaxing, but it is my personal choice, I woul not do it again or recommend it.

Day 4: sky tram, sky adventures. zipline experience was excellent, guides gave very good instruction, views were amazing. sky adventures scheduled too much time between the zipline and the hike. Therefore, we had to shorten the hike in order to get back to the bus for the return. Maria, our hike guide was fabulous. offered much information and spoke English.

Day 5: shuttle from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio, Interbus Costa Rica. Larger more comfortable bus, was full of passengers (approx. 12) David was our driver, he did speak minimal English and did not comment or point out much on the drive. There were 2, 20 minute stops which made the trip more comfortable. He did not offer water.

arrived as Issimo, If I knew it was such a small seculed hotel, I would have nt chosen it. Angie, our travel agent, indicated she thought it was within walking distance to attractions & town.
the Jr. Suite was very disappointing. extremely small, not place to put away clothes, had to walk down several very steep steps to get to the room. the room smelled, ac wasn't working properly, sink area super tiny, shower floor was slippery. I spoke with Olivia from Kimkim and requested to be moved to another hotel. She said this could not be done. We spoke with hotel manager about being moved to another, possible larger & more comfortable room. Gustavo did reply on Jan 26th and was able to confirm us moving to a different room. The new room was much more comfortable, smelled better and was larger. Fortunately, we were able to taxi into the nearby town. AGain, if we knew it's location and the size of the room in advance, we would have asked for a different hotel before traveling. The staff at Issimo were fabulous, most spoke English, the breakfast every morning was delightful. Our new room was clean as well as all the facilities. I will say though, that I did see a spider and ants in our room. The view, was the best part about the hotel. The did offer complimentary hotel golf cart shuttle to very nearby beaches or bank, pharmacy.

day 6: national park nature hike, Paddle 9: Korry, our guide was definitely a 10 our of 10. He took much time to explain a lot of things alonge the way, pointed out many animals, birds, etc. He spent extra time with us, shared much information about the country and the town. and shared his photos with us. he provided binoculars and the scope to see animals. small group was best, as only 4 of us with Korry. He spoke fabulous English.

day 7: catamaran adventure, Tucanes Tours. comfortable boat, drinks included were poor quality, had to buy our own beer. I called Tucanes tours in advance and was told beer & cocktails were included. Only the poor quality cocktails were included. (watered down) great views, offered snorkeling, swimming and waterslides. The guide who did the talking to the entire boat, spoke mostly in spanish and very little in English. The quaity of the bbq, was medium. pre-cooked skewers of fish and peppers & onions. the views were amazing, saw whales. sunset was amazing and the ride was impressive.

Day 8: transfer to San Jose, Ride CR: david was our driver, he did a great job with a nice stop and break along the way. AGain, they did nor provide water, but I prepared and took my own.
He poited out points of interest, his English was minimal, but we managed to communicate well.

summary, we loved Costa Rica and learned so much from the locals and guides. I will go back, and now that I know more, will plan a little differently. Gustavo, I geatly appreciate your assistance. We always felt safe, hotels were so welcoming.

John & Susan Boggess

Hotel Reviews

Issimo Suites Boutique Hotel & Spa—Adults Only

Manuel Antonio

somewhat seculed, had to shuttle or taxi everywhere, very quiet & small. would be perfect for those who want quite, calm. no entertainment, staff was extremely friendly and helpful.Don't get a Jr suite, pool was 5 ft deep, then a large drop off to deeper water. No shallow area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

views were amazing,

Cleanliness & Comfort

spider and ants in my room

The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort - Adults Only

Fortuna

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue

Manuel Antonio

the main guide spoke mostly in Spanish, minimal communication in English, The quality of the food was medium, only watered down cocktails were offered. We had to buy the beer, even though I called ahead and was told beer was included. HOwever, the experience, the views, the activities were great. Sunset was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

our guide was fabulous, spent extra time with us and offered so much information about the coungtry and the town. pointed out many animals, offered the scope to see better and shared his photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure

Arenal/La Fortuna

a must do in Costa Rica, guides were excellent in giving information and instruction.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

views were amazing and guides were very informative. it was a bit long, we thought it would be a small groupl

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

boat was uncomfortable, suggest a short break

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoTermales Hot Springs Experience with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

staff was not welcoming and did not tell us what the experience would be, food was medium quality, the springs were a good experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

better communication by the staff at the facility.

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

guide was fabulous, saw so many animals

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family just spent two weeks in Morocco. We’ve used Kimkim before to arrange other trips and used them again for this one (wouldn’t do an international trip without them)! Said was extremely easy to work with as we planned the itinerary, which was jam packed with so many amazing adventures (as we like it)! We did walking tours, a food tour, sunrise hot air balloon ride, camped in the Sahara, rode camels, sand boarded, met Nomad families, took a cooking class (so happy I now know how to make Tangine), spent an afternoon in a hammam, shopped in the souks, ate amazing food, made stops at argan, saffron and rose co-ops, learned about making rugs (and bought several), hiked in the mountains, toured Atlas Studios, visited Ait Ben Haddou, and ended at the Atlantic Ocean.

Said made sure our accommodations were top notch and every detail was covered. But what really made the trip all pull together was our driver Karim. He was with us for the whole two weeks, which we loved! He became a part of our family and really made our trip safe, comfortable and fun. It was so helpful to have his help for translations when needed. He recommended, and arranged for great lunches on the road, and when our itinerary needed to change due to a closed mountain pass, he arranged a new route and found us a different hotel. This all flowed so seamlessly and we never had to worry about a thing. Karim was phenomenal!

This trip exceeded all of our expectations. All of our accommodations and activities were perfect. We especially loved staying at La Maison Arabe in Marrakesh, along with Tiziri Luxury Camp in Merzougha. And don’t miss dinner at Dardar Rooftop (Marrakesh). Go for the sunset!

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

How fun to stay in comfortable tents in the middle of the Sahara! We were there in January which was a bit chilly. We so appreciated the heaters in the tents and electric blankets. Evening music around the fire was a special treat!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It’s a long haul to get here from Marrrakesh, where we started, but worth every minute!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Maison Arabe

Marrakech

Loved everything about this hotel! The staff were so attentive and accommodating, and the breakfast each morning was phenomenal. The decor was beautiful and location was within walking distance to great restaurants, the Souks, and the main square. Would highly recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Gorgeous decor.

Location

Can easily walk to all the fun things

Staff

Attentive and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

It was good to have someone show us around the town. Afterwards, we felt comfortable navigating g on our own. Said was our guide, who was kind and personable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cooking Class

Essaouira

One of the best things we did on our vacation. Isaac opened up his home. This was a fantastic experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Isaac was awesome!

Transport

Visit of Atlas cinema studios in Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate

It was a pretty quiet day when we visited which was kind of fun. We basically had the place to ourselves. There were a couple of opportunities to dress up and “act” which was a blast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

We were reluctant to eat food from street vendors prior to this tour. Our guide was able to put us at ease and we felt comfortable to try everything. We even went back to these same vendors later in our trip for great food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver drove us to the meeting spot with our guide which was great

A Relaxing Hammam Experience: The Art of Moroccan Wellness

Morocco

Doing a hammam while in Morocco is a great idea. But I didn’t feel that our particular hammam was ready for us. They were unorganized. We prepaid through Kimkim but they still were asking for payment. This hammam took our whole family at one time and the five us were bathed at one time. I would have been more comfortable doing males and females separately.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was great. Staff at the hammam was not very friendly

Transport

Karim brought us both ways and walked us right to the door.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

This was our first hot air balloon ride. We were picked up at our hotel and driven out to the starting point. We all felt safe and enjoyed this thoroughly! The sunrise over the mountains was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip from Marrakech to Amizmiz Valley

Marrakesh

What an experience!! Our driver took us to the valley where we picked up our guide Latifa. She led us through small villages and was able to translate for us. We ended up having lunch with a family and it was the best meal of our whole trip. The village kids liked to follow us as we passed through their village, and we ended up playing soccer with them. A day we’ll never forget!

Quality of Experience

Food

Best food we had all trip!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Latifa was great!

Transport

Karin drove us to the valley.

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Chafik was our guide and he was super knowledgeable and fun. He was flexible and patient with us as we had many questions. Once we hit the souls, he helped us navigate the streets and taught us the art of Haggling. A perfect way to start our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide met us at our hotel lobby and we could walk right from there.

I want to compliment Marcela for her excellent service, planning and heartfelt advice for the wonderful trip to Patagonia in Oct 2024. Sorry this took so long as I was very overwhelmed by personal things. I am very grateful for her caring for me when my luggage didn’t arrive at Argentina airport with my airlines. She immediately responded to my messages and provided very helpful advice. Thank you so much once again ! She is a great asset and talent !

Wonderful trip all around.
All of the logistics were planned and executed perfectly. I loved Dar Rihana (excellent service!!), Merzouga and Caravane. I wish I had thought to fly to an airport closer to Merzouga because there was a lot of driving, but I also enjoyed the scenery on the drive.

Hotel Review

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

I had the best service, meals and accommodations of my entire stay at Dar Rihana. It’s beautiful and the brothers who run it are so kind and welcoming. I plan to go back!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Boumalne Dades to Merzouga Sunset 4x4 to your camp via Tinerhir & Rissani

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Long, my local specialist was outstanding, THE BEST! He has restored my faith in kimkim.

I had my first trip with kimkim to Croatia in Oct. 2019. The local specialist, Antonia, was amazing. She was a true "Travel Magician" and we had the best time thanks to her.

Second trip with kimkim was to Portugal in Oct 2022 with local specialist Beatriz based in Madrid, and it was an absolute disaster. Beatriz failed us in so many ways. Because of my 2019 trip experience, I got my closest friends to join this trip. We were all totally disappointed and I had to keep apologizing to my friends. I was determined as a result never to travel with kimkim again.

This time, I wanted to vacation in Vietnam and my daughter encouraged me to give kimkim another chance as she and her family returned from a very good trip with kimkim in summer. Against my better judgement I did and now very pleased to report, Long did a fabulous job from start to finish, and has restored my faith in kimkim.

At the outset I asked Long if he had read my 2 previous reviews, and told him that I expected him to perform and deliver to my expectations. And yes, Long more than delivered. He understood my "demands" - great sightseeing, great local food, the best but not outrageously-priced hotels, and superior guides/on-the-ground service.
Long put together a wonderful trip itinerary and was extremely responsive and helpful throughout the entire planning process.

Thanks to his diligence, and stellar customer service, my husband and I had the most enjoyable time and loved Vietnam.
We did so many interesting and fun things. Ate the best local food, great foodie tours. Stayed in well-located 5-star hotels - charming boutique hotel in Hanoi French Quarters, the best room (gigantic honeymoon room with this phenomenal round bed) on our Ha Long Bay cruise, and beautiful Moire Hoi An (IHG collection) right by the river in Hue, etc, etc.

On arrival in Vietnam, they provided VIP Fast Track Service at the airport, and we were escorted and breezed through customs.
We had our own private cars with excellent, careful drivers and great, very knowledgeable local guides.
While waiting to return home, we met fellow travelers at the airport who didn't do half the fun and exciting things we did - Highlights: Cyclo Tour (we were pedalled through downtown Hanoi in their version of rickshaw right smack in the heart of downtown traffic with our cyclist assuring us repeatedly "No. 1 Driver!" as he skilfully avoided oncoming buses and motor bikes), flat-bottom boat ride down the river in Tam Coc where the boats were rowed with feet not hands, Citadel (stunningly beautiful Imperial palace in Hue built with heavy French influence), basket boat ride in Hoi An and Sai Gon Night Street Eats with Vespa Wanderers (sat pillion on Vespa scooters and ferried from restaurant to restaurant eating the most delicious local food - best coffee, best Vietnamese sandwich, amazing fancy restaurant, best local dessert and capped it off with drinks at a nice bar.)

Long of Realistic Asia planned a fabulous itinerary for us and totally performed and delivered. He personally welcomed and met us in Hanoi with souvenir gifts handmade by his girlfriend, prepped us every day on what to expect the next day, made sure we had the best guides and drivers, checked with us every day to make sure we were happy and had no complaints....in constant contact and responded immediately to anything we needed.
In short, he was OUTSTANDING, THE BEST, another true Travel Magician.
He even checked and made sure we returned home safely.
Extremely well done Long and THANK YOU. You have restored our faith in kimkim.
We will be recommending good friends to you. Keep up your superior level of customer service.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery Collection

Ho Chi Minh City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moire Hoi An, Vignette Collection

Great location by the river and bridge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silk Path Grand Hue

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Orchid Classic Cruise

Hai Phong

Great Cruise Leader. Amazing customer service in the dining room from chef down to servers.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Lovely, friendly, very attentive, extremely customer-oriented

Cleanliness & Comfort

The boat needs update and repairs in some areas.

The Oriental Jade Hotel

Hanoi

Lovely, charming well-located hotel with incredible customer service. We were having breakfast the first morning when a staff came to apologize if our sleep was disturbed by a fire alarm that went off mistakenly. The alarm was so soft, my husband couldn't even hear it when I asked him. Our final morning breakfast, a server came to say she knows we will have a 3-hour road trip to Ha Long Bay and could she pack a lunch bag for us. Amazing. During breakfast, I completed a review of the hotel, rated it the best, made a recommendation for a 2nd chair in the room and when we were checking out, the Hotel Manager came to personally thank us, gave us a small gift and thanked me for my recommendation. This is one hotel you must provide for all your guests in Hanoi. Amazing, phenomenal service, great breakfast, great location, comfortable and very clean room and all-around very attentive staff from doorman to reception to Restaurant staff. I have stayed in many 5-star, superior hotels but this one ranks way above the best because of its stellar, extremely attentive customer service. Definitely goes the extra mile!

Authenticity & Character

See my review

Location

See my review

Staff

Incredible, the best customer service possible. You will be floored!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire room and bathroom were clean

Activity Reviews

A O Traditional Vietnamese Culture Show

Ho Chi Minh City

Spectacular, amazing show. A MUST-SEE!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Exploring Ho Chi Minh city Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

A little boring but our guide tried his best. The choice of places to visit should be reviewed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sai Gon Nights Street Eats with Vespa Wanderers

Ho Chi Minh City

Amazing experience riding pillion on a Vespa scooter and being ferried from restaurant to restaurant to enjoy the best food. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent pick of restaurants

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very skilled and good Vespa drivers. Great customer service

Transport

Cam Thanh Fishing Village Tour & Basket Boat Ride

Hoi An

Very fun and unusual experience. Sailing down the river, nice and the spinning boats, great for the young

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicious, very good lunch

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Home Dining - Enjoy a traditional Hue dinner

Hue

Lovely experience - delicious food and great guide

Quality of Experience

Food

Loved the home-cooked food. The freshly-made in front of your eyes sesame dessert was so delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Imperial City Tour of Hue Half-Day Exploration

Hue

Loved the Citadel. Uniquely beautiful with heavy French influence.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Trung Trang cave - Disembark Cruise (Orchid Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onboarding Cruise To Lan Ha Bay (Orchid Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay is amazing. Stunningly beautiful. A must-do.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc (Ninh Binh)

Hanoi

Very enjoyable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Around the Old Quater by Walking and Cyclo Tour.

Hanoi

Loved it. Unique experience being propelled through crazy downtown traffic. Very skilled and entertaining cyclists

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

VIP Fast Track Service

Vietnam

Incredible, very helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excellent, careful and very courteous drivers

We booked a 8-day 7-night tour with Kimkim. First, Imane was a fantastic travel consultant to help us plan the itinerary. We reached out relatively late in November for a December trip. Especially as Morocco was hosting the African Cup of Nations and accommodations were booked out. She helped us with an itinerary while taking into account some of our requests around dietary restrictions and making sure our elderly parents would be comfortable. Once booked, our local point of contact in Morocco was Said, who did a fabulous job in figuring out the right hotels, accommodating last minute requests and ensuring we were supported right through the tour. He also made sure we had the best driver/guide combination in Ikhlaf and Noureddine. The two of them made sure we stopped at the right restaurants with good vegetarian food, showed us local spots and ensured we had the best local and cultural experience. We had some pretty late breaking requests for tours (like star gazing, ATV rides, etc) and they helped us out with those. I cannot praise this duo enough and would highly recommend these guys if you are planing a trip to Morocco. The trip was fabulous and a big reason was the Kimkim crew. We had some long driving days through spectacular scenery (High Atlas Mountains with snow, The Sahara desert at Merzouga, gorges, etc) and these guys made sure we were comfortable. Overall, a wonderful experience.

Thanks so much, Melania! The trip to Rome was amazing and really well organized. Thanks also for all your support during our stay.
Next time we’re in Italy, we’ll definitely get in touch.
Take care! 😊

Hotel Review

Condominio Monti Boutique Hotel

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Colosseo and Roman forums adventure

Rome

A real dive into the past, something I’ll remember for many years.

Rome food tour: A deliciously cultural tour for foodies

Rome

I can’t wait to come back to Italy just to do a tour like this again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had 3 days in Bangkok with our awesome guide, Fahrah. We were expedited through the airport and quickly taken to our hotel which was much appreciated after our long travel day. We enjoyed touring temples, floating markets, and the Grand Palace with Fahrah. We learned so much about Thai culture from her. We then spent 2 days in Chiang Mai with our guide, Ying. We toured the Old City with a TukTuk tour and tried lots of foods she recommended at the market. Our hotel was wonderful! We also enjoyed a day at an elephant sanctuary. From there, we traveled to Koh Lanta and had 3 beautiful days at our resort and touring the phi phi islands. We even had a romantic dinner prepared on the beach to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We then traveled to Krabi where we explored the Hong Islands and enjoyed a day at the Wareek Day Spa where we experienced a Thai massage and soaks in the hot springs. Our guide, Charlotte, taught us Thai phrases as she whisked us around to all our excursions. We had a wonderful trip and can't wait to go back to Thailand!

Hotel Reviews

Hyatt Regency Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Samut Prakan

The ShellSea Krabi I Luxury Beach Resort & Pool Villas

Krabi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rawi Warin Resort & Spa

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Chiang Mai Riverside

Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mode Sathorn Hotel Bangkok

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kinnaree Long Song Full-day Spa Program - Wareerak Hot Spring & Wellness

Krabi

We really enjoyed our Thai massage and soaking in the hot springs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

James Bond Island & Koh Hong Discovery by Speedboat Join-in Activity

Krabi

A must do! We had a great day exploring the islands. Our guides made it very fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A memorable Romantic Dinner on the Beach (Arranged by the resort)

Thailand

Amazing food and memorable dinner on the beach with a beautiful sunset. Couldn't have asked for more!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phi Phi island by Joining Speedboat

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Baan Chang Elephant Park - Half day joining tour

Chiang Mai

We really enjoyed our time with the elephants. You will get wet if bathing the elephants in the water, but that was part of. the fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chiang Mai by tuk tuk

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Our guide, Ying, was so interesting and we enjoyed touring the city with her.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Romantic Manohra Dinner Cruise

Bangkok

We loved this dinner cruise. Highly recommend for a romantic evening. The food was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unique Railway market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with Local Food Tasting

Bangkok

A must do for a first time traveler to Thailand!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fahrah explained the meaning behind the temples and shared info about Buddhism that we found interesting.

Transport

Monika created an extraordinary New Zealand trip that felt perfectly tailored to us.

She truly listened to our interests, spectacular nature, unique experiences, and a thoughtful pace and designed an itinerary that showcased the best of the South Island’s beauty. Every detail felt intentional rather than generic, with a wonderful balance of adventure, culture, and relaxation.

One of the most unforgettable highlights was the overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. Waking up surrounded by misty fjords, waterfalls, and complete silence was magical and remains one of the most memorable travel experiences we’ve ever had.

Throughout the trip, Monika was responsive, flexible, and genuinely invested in making everything seamless, even when plans shifted due to weather. Thanks to her expertise and care, we experienced New Zealand in a deeply personal and meaningful way.

We couldn’t recommend Monika more highly.

This was an amazing trip! Milford sound and is an absolute must see for anyone going to the South Island. Clyde was a beautiful hidden gem and Oliver’s lodge was very cool. Lake Tekapo was a blast and I would definitely add a helo trip to the Mt Cook area if you have the time. Kaikoura was so much fun with the ocean and the mountains all at the same place. Golfing is so easy and cheap in New Zealand. There is virtually no one on the courses!! Jet boats on the Shotover River is a must!

Hotel Reviews

Shakespeare B&B

Te Anau

So close to anything you need in Te Anau!

Authenticity & Character

So much character!

Location

Staff

Liz and Nathan were absolutely great hosts!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fairways at Ocean Ridge

Kaikoura

The apartments are amazing! Laundry was available, perfect after a couple of weeks on the road. I would rent this place for a month and live happily!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olivers Lodge

Clyde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Amazing hospitality! Andy will take care of you!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eco Zip Line Kaikoura

Kaikōura

This is a must! So much fun and the views are spectacular!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Charlie and Olive were great!!

Transport

Walk the famous Milford track and cruise on Milford Sound (day tour from Te Anau)

New Zealand

Watch out for Sandflies!!! Bug spray and cover those ankles!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Perfect! The bag of food kept going!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roo did a great job and took care of us all day!

Transport

Jet Boat the Shotover River

Queenstown (NZ)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The guides, drivers, and hotels were outstanding. I feel we received good value for our money.
Johanna did a great job and was instrumental in ensuring we were pleased with the final program, but she unexpectedly dropped off the account a week or so prior to the start of our trip. Kristy did a good job in backfilling, but unfortunately a few logistical elements were missed or overlooked. Specifically, incorrect names provided to the Cusco hotel, the original morning departure time for our Lima-Cusco flight was too early to make, having to pay for checked baggage at the Lima airport, even though they were to have been included in our ticket. The fee was subsequently reimbursed by KimKim. None of these were overly problematic, simply an unnecessary inconvenience, and likely the result of Kristy replacing Johanna late in our trip management cycle.

We plan on using KimKim again,

Hotel Reviews

Palacio del Inka Cusco

Cusco

Great location in Cusco. Helpful and pleasant staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tambo del Inka Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Urubamba

An unexpected gem in the Sacred Valley. Great property, staff, meals and service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

1-Day Machu Picchu Tour from the Sacred Valley

Peru

Even though it rained all day, the experience was mystical and worth the effort. Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sacred Valley Tour: Chinchero - Maras - Moray - Lunch at MV

Peru

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ahmed was amazing we traveled extensively by car he did an amazing job

Hotel Review

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

The experience in the desert was amazing

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Authenticity

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room smelled good unique accommodation

Activity Reviews

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Morocco

Guides were tremendous

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Efficiency

Rabat to Chefchaouen

Morocco

Traveling through .mountains was fantastic

Driving Tour of Casablanca

Casablanca

Ahmed was informative

Afternoon Guided Tour of Rabat

Rabat

Hassan mosque was great

Quality of Experience

Transport

The ENTIRE trip was memorable and our guides were prompt, extremely knowledgeable, attentive and professional. We had a tour in Phukett change the pick up time and Lisa from Kim Kim notified us immediately resulting in a flawless transition. We didn't have any glitches and no complaints. Lisa did an excellent job assisting me in putting together our first time visit to Asia!

Paula was so helpful and efficient! She had a tentative itinerary quickly created and ready to peruse. She was always available to answer questions and attend to details. When we got to Australia, we had some health hick ups and we were able to contact her workmate, Austin, and he also greatly assisted us with some changes of plans. All in all, we felt well looked after.
My recommendations would be to always check out the online reviews of the hotels and tours to make sure you are happy with the locations and details. Give yourself some leisure time to rest. Traveling is tiring
Sharon, USA - Australia 🇦🇺 n 1/26

Hotel Review

Adabco Boutique Hotel

Adelaide

Downstairs was nicely decorated. Staff was friendly but seemed overwhelmed. Lift broken. Breakfast served” down the street”. Broken wooden blinds in room that were very dusty. No usb connections so that hearing aids and phones could be charged. Very old tv that had to be rebooted. We left. Too boutique for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

All of the above

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Phillip Island Tour with "Penguins Plus" Viewing

Melbourne

Full Day Daintree Cape Tribulation (was & 4WD Bloomfield)

Australia

We had such a fantastic time. Steve and the local guides were all wonderful and I was struck by how highly they spoke of each other - always a good sign! The hotels were fabulous and our smiling driver ensure everything went smoothly. We believe we received good guidance and made some real connections. And it was wonderful value for money. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to explore this gem of a country. You can do a heap of research or very little and the team will make it work.

Hotel Review

Penh House

Phnom Penh

An oasis of calm in busy Phomh Penh. Beautiful spacious rooms and superb rooftop pool, bar and eating area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phnom Penh Evening Foodie Tour with local guide

Phnom Penh

Just brilliant! Many delicious snacks and great company. Wann made everything fun and it was great to see how connected he was with the many stallholders we passed by.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Champey Academy of Arts

Phnom Penh

This visit was a highlight of our trip. The children were skilled and cheery and we also purchased some lovely mementos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hidden Temples Cycling (full day with light lunch)

Siem Reap

Well worth the effort! Cycling up to temples in the jungle is really quite special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very patient with my inferior cycling skills!

Transport

Angkor Wat morning visit by remork

Siem Reap

Our guide Seyha was incredibly knowledgeable and his insights and love to the temple and its carvings really made our experience very special.

Phare Ponleu Selpak in Battambang

Battambang

this was so wonderful. Terrific skills and a wonderful atmosphere.

The Artisans of Satcha

Siem Reap

This was the one activity I wouldn't rave about. I think a trip to Made in Cambodia would be better. Unless you are a real art enthusiast, much of the work was impractical to buy being heavy or large in size. Of course there were some beautiful things but I did feel a bit obliged to purchase, not something I sensed elsewhere.

Ta Phrom (dawn)

Siem Reap

This was worth getting up for. Hardly any people so you really felt connected to a very special place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport