Kimkim Trip Reviews

Elen was responsive and patient with us during the planning process. She customized our travel plans to our individual needs. She had good communication throughout our trip as well. She made some great recommendations on our places to stay. We really enjoyed our time in Athens and especially in Naxos. The staff at Hotel Astir in Naxos were very friendly and accommodating. Our sailing trip with Yatching Naxos was the highlight!

Hotel Reviews

Four Streets Athens

Athens

The property manager was very welcoming and helpful. He met us on site, walked us through the features of the property and even made recommendations for food around the area.

Authenticity & Character

In the heart of downtown Athens.

Location

If you want to be close to the vibrant downtown Athens area and within walking distance of the Acropolis, this is a great location!

Staff

Very helpful, communicative and responsive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The layout was perfect for our family.

Astir of Naxos Hotel

Saint George Beach, Naxos Town Cyclades, Naxos Island

This family owned and operated resort is very close to the beach. The pool was welcoming and refreshing. The owner and staff were extremely friendly and gracious. They were attentive and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Family owned and operated. Small boutique resort.

Location

At the end of St. George's beach. Less crowded area. Walkable beach access. It was perfect!

Staff

Friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean.

Avra Hotel

Rafina, Attica

Nice hotel with amenities. Only drawback was lack of swimming pool. Easy beach access and within walking distance to Rafina square. Located at the port. Check in process was easy. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Food was pretty good.

Authenticity & Character

It has been there for quite a while but has been updated. Layout of the quadruple room was ideal for our family.

Location

Fairly close to airport. Accessibility without getting on highway which saved us time on our departure day. At Rafina Port. Within walking distance to a small beach.

Staff

Helpful and friendly. Particularly the restaurant staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

Our guide, Valia, was a treat! She spoke English very well, knew the history and culture, offered much insight, volunteered to take pictures and was pleasant during the whole tour.

Quality of Experience

The guided tour gave us so much more context than we would have gained on our own.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Such a pleasant person and great story teller.

Transport

Walking was easier than we thought!

Naxos Day Cruise

Naxos

Hands down the best thing we did the entire time we were in Greece! The captain and first mate were very gracious hosts, served us great food and drink, ensured we had a good time and were great to talk to. Being in the water and being able to see islands and beaches from a relaxing boat ride was mesmerizing!

Quality of Experience

Being on the Aegean sea!

Food

Options and authentic greek cuisine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So knowledgeable, friendly and fun.

Transport

Drivers were all prompt and friendly.

We had an absolutely wonderful time on our trip to Ecuador and Paul was a big part of making it so special and memorable. Everything from the airport pickups/dropoff to checking in at the hotels and airports was effortless for us. They helped us pick out wonderful hotels, lodges and cruises. Our tours were fun and informative and they even suggested a cooking class which was one of the highlights.

Paul met us at our hotel in quito, gave us a welcome gift of coffee, chocolate and wine, and was always available for any questions. He even picked up the phone on a saturday morning when we thought we missed a pick up but we actually missed the time change going to the Galapagos.

I would absolutely recommend Kimkim for a trip to Ecuador. Ask for Paul!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Mama Cuchara

Quito

We loved this hotel. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. We had a few early mornings and if we couldn't make the buffet and they gave us a to go breakfast. Although I would try to make their breakfast. It was delicious. There are treats left in your room every night. They even left gluten free versions. The bar/restaurant on the roof is wonderful with views of the city, great food and drinks, heaters and they'll bring you out a poncho if it's chilly. The hotel is beautiful with an interior covered courtyard. You can walk to old town or get a cheap uber.

Authenticity & Character

It is such a beautiful hotel. I loved the courtyard and rooftop bar.

Location

walking distance to historical center/old town

Staff

They were so great. They went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sacha Lodge Yasuní

Quito

what a beautiful place. The journey to get there is kind of crazy - flight, boat, hike and canoe, but it was absolutely worth it. Our guide, Fausto, was from the area and knew so much - plants, animals, birds, bugs and snakes. The food was delicious. They were so accommodating with our dietary restrictions (gluten free) and walked us through the buffet and dinner menus. They even made gluten free versions. The rooms and shared space were clean and inviting. Days included walks, canoe rides, chocolate making, animal spotting. There were also places to just sit and listen to the birds, watch the monkey and enjoy the experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Fausto was an amazing guide. The staff was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Quito Cooking Class

Ecuador

This was one of the highlights of our trips. I'm so glad it was suggested. We met the chef in a amazing restaurant that had a side kitchen set up. The chef made the class fun. The food we cooked was amazing - coconut shrimp, soup and chocolate and fruit for dessert. All the ingredients came from the market that morning. We had a bowl of 10+ different types fruit to choose from. We only recognized the bananas and strawberries. The rest of the fruit was a tasty mystery. Do this!

The Kimkim service was great - made planning the trip enjoyable and everything worked seamlessly while we were in Iceland - which was amazing. Special thanks to Noga and Nick for all the work to make this happen.

Activity Reviews

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sky Lagoon Experience - Saman

Reykjavík

Blue Lagoon Premium Admission

Iceland

Seltún Geothermal Area

Iceland

Hvammsvík Hot Springs

Iceland

Brimketill

Iceland

Hike to Reykjadalur Hot Springs

Iceland

Thórsmörk Super Jeep Experience

Iceland

Skogafoss Waterfall

Iceland

Geysir Geothermal Area

Iceland

Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk

Iceland

The Secret Lagoon

Iceland

Gullfoss Waterfall

Iceland

Silfra Snorkeling Adventure

Iceland

Cliff Walk from Arnarstapi to Hellnar

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Our Italian vacation was amazing! Highlights were half day trip to the island of Procida, cooking class at the home of Manuela and Maurizio in Naples, food and wine tour with Tamara in Sorrento, tour of Pompeii with Mario and the exquisite hotel room and beach experience at La Tonnarella in Sorrento.
Arrividerci for now Italia but hope to return sometime!!!

Hotel Review

La Tonnarella

Sorrento

Beautiful room with balcony overlooking the sea. Lift down to beach.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer from Naples to Amalfi Coast with Pompeii en route - 2 hrs stop

Italy

The driver, Vincenzo, was lovely and informative. The Pompeii tour guide, Mario, was out of this world. The absolute best tour guide. So knowledgeable and personable and knew all the ins and out of how to get around the site expertly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Food&Wine Tour of Sorrento

Italy

Tamara was so so knowledgeable and just a pleasure. The food and wine were all superb.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cooking Class and Dining Experience at a Local's Home

Naples

Manuela and Maurizio are lovely people with a beautiful home. We greatly enjoyed our time with them, made delicious food and enjoyed homemade wine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

See above

Hiking, Swimming in Procida - Self Guided

Italy

Absolutely amazing experience. Quiet, small, breathtaking island with perfect public beaches.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Easy and direct

We truly enjoyed our Japan trip that was a graduation gift from my son’s grandmother. I stumbled across KimKim reviews looking for help trying to plan a memorable experience. All the hotels we stayed at were very good and they offered free breakfast. I would say that having private drivers transferring us to different destinations like to train stations and hotels was great since we didn’t have to worry about those kinds of logistics and could enjoy the experience. All the drivers were attentive and notified me of all the meeting points. The WhatsApp texting application is required but I already use it so at was not a big deal. Our favorite experience was the “Sumo Experience”, this is a must if you go to Tokyo. Our guide Charlie was fantastic. He was born in California and speaks English perfectly. He was knowledgeable, fun and friendly. The sumo wrestlers were charming themselves and put on a fun and interactive show.

Visiting Tokyo landmarks with our guide Chieko was informative and we learned about Shinto and Buddhism. We even learned the correct way to pray for each. We think we got some Shinto luck from the temples too!

Kyoto was fun visiting all the temples. We had a guide Jun to visit some temples which included a train ride following the Oigawa river. We waved to the boaters in the river. We then went into the bamboo grove. It was astounding.

We then went back to Osaka. Here we enjoyed taking a Sushi class where we learned how to make Sushi and rolled eggs. This was our second favorite experience. Osaka is very busy and much more confusing trying to use their subways. We gave up trying to figure out how to navigate the system and walked to the foodie tour. We liked our guide from the magical tour but the food we had was not very inspiring and could’ve been something I did on my own. I wouldn’t have chosen this experience if I knew it was not more unique.

The Japanese people are very friendly and helped make this vacation so great. I recommend using KimKim since all the complications about transferring luggage and ourselves to different locations is taken care of. Some people’s review complain that the trip cost is not itemized but I didn’t find this disconcerting. The trip was designed to be able to enjoy where we were at a given time and not have to worry how we would get to the next point. I would use KimKim again in the future if my plans coincided with their trip destinations.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Great location and good breakfast food

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location for exploring Tokyo, it’s right pm the Ginza line

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO

Kyoto

Loved the green vibe

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Osaka

Osaka

Very nice accommodations

Location

Right by the shopping district.

Activity Reviews

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

Recommend this for everyone visiting Tokyo. It was our favorite experience in Japan.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

We experienced some local food but it was not unique. The restaurants were just on the tourist strip and not places that would be special finds.

Quality of Experience

Not local enough, just tiuristy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was nice

Osaka Cooking Class

Osaka

Fun learning how to make sushi and some Japanese food

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jessica was amazing in organizing our trip to Indonesia. We spent a lot of time up front working through options and comparing potential itineraries. She was very knowable and ensured we got the most out of the trip. Communication continued to be very easy and quick once we were on the ground and she involved Deta as well. No question was too much and when we had to change some plans around it was easily accommodated. We highly recommend both of them.

We had a great time working with Lucy and her team. Lucy listened to what works for our family and took that into account when she was planning our trip. Our trip was multi-generational and had a lot of activities and a lot of moving around. Everything was well organized. All we had to do was show up! Lucy booked a lot of really special meals and activities for our family. We were all looking forward to the safari, but our trip was so much more than that. We had a great time and are still talking about our trip!

We had such a fantastic time from start to finish! We had never used a service before but when our travel dates changed and we had to start from scratch because there were no vacancies to be had for a party of nine, kimkim and Holden came in clutch. In only 24 hours he had an even better plan than our initial one!!! We laugh about how grateful we are that our first plans fell apart.

The biggest bonus to using kimkim and that Holden addressed thoughtfully and thoroughly was logistics. We had an idea of all the things we wanted to do but were overwhelmed with trying to figure out the best areas in which to stay, how long to plan to get where, how many daily activities to schedule and how to do it efficiently. In the end, the pace was perfect and we loved every single excursion provided through Serendipity Adventures-Mariano, Alex, Julio, Ricardo, Antonio, Jeffery and Jarrell were kind and capable guides. We even made a last minute change because we wanted to watch the USA vs. Costa Rica game with some locals. Kimkim (Wilman) was happily accommodating.

Turns out that both the places we stayed-which were not on our radar-were perfect for us. Arenal Monoa & Hot Springs Resort was a treat given the amount of rain we had while visiting. The staff was courteous and hard-working; we hardly wanted to leave to see the town just minutes away. The daily view of what we started to call "our" volcano was breathtaking in all its versions. At Margaritaville in Playa Flamingo, the all-inclusive feature and reasonable size of the facility made things relaxing with teenagers. They could roam independently and meet their own needs when they were tired of being forced into games of corn hole and pool volleyball. The beach was the visual highlight and provided plenty of
boogie boarding fun!

So much more that could be said but all my accolades probably have people thinking this is a fake review. It's not. To keep it real, the roads and navigating are atrocious. If you or anyone in your party has trouble with car sickness be forewarned. Worth it in the end though! Pura vida! We loved Costa Rica.

Thank you kimkim team and Holden for knowing what would make for wonderful memories:)

Hotel Reviews

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

The resort and grounds were lovely and the staff was hard-working and courteous. The view of the volcano and abundance of wildlife right on the property was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

The view while dining from the main restaurant is fabulous!

Location

The 3 hour drive from the airport is a bit of a grind but once you are there, it's lovely. I wish that excursions could be a more convenient distance away. The majority of ours were close to 2 hours away.

Staff

Everyone was kind, welcoming, and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The grounds were well cared for and the rooms were serviced with attention.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo

Guanacaste

We loved that Margaritaville wasn't a mega resort where you have to wait for elevators to arrive and we could physically check on our teenagers with ease. The staff, especially upon check-in and check-out, were efficient, helpful and welcoming. The placement on the beach makes for a beautiful setting.

Authenticity & Character

It certainly has a theme but it is not over the top.

Location

We loved that it was a relatively short distance from the airport and so scenic once you arrive.

Staff

The staff at the pool bar quickly became friendly faces we enjoyed seeing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms themselves were quite nice and housekeeping kept it spotless.

Activity Reviews

Private Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mariano was a blast! We learned so may fun facts from him. His sense of humor eased the long ride there and back. The park was full of surprises including white-faced monkeys, an eyelash viper, and various other creatures. The falls were so pretty and the fact that a member of our party is named Celeste made it more special.

Quality of Experience

Food

We liked that it was a typical kind of Costa Rican lunch. We seemed to hit the buffet late so there were limited options.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano was a delight!

Transport

Dios mio! We had all kinds of issues with roads but our driver hung in there with a good attitude.

Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)

Costa Rica

We had a blast and felt secure the entire time being that we were a small tour of just two boats and a safety kayaker all for us! The guys were super fun and easy to be around. Do it!

Quality of Experience

Serendipity was fantastic. We loved the guys including the cook who made us a delicious meal! Our teens were so happy!!!

Food

That was a little feast after our time on the river. Who knew you could make that happen with a hot plate and a cooler?!?! Our kids devoured the chicken tacos, guacamole, and pineapple! Jeffery was hard-working and kind. We really appreciated him.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was our driver and his ability to spot wildlife on the drive was mindblowing! He is FULL of information while being humorous. We appreciated that he took a stop for us to use a nicer bathroom and get a snack on the way there.

Transport

Alex was prompt and detail-oriented. He was looking out for our best interest from start to finish.

Private Sunset Cruise

Costa Rica

WOW, just wow! We had the most amazing sunset cruise and snorkel. This experience exceeded our expectations. Jeffrey and Jarrell were top notch. Their love of sailing was evident and put us at ease to enjoy the experience. Jeffrey shared his sailing knowledge willingly and informatively while Jarrell was our snorkeling and sea life expert. They were a great duo. We were so impressed with their attentiveness and genuine interest in our having an enjoyable and relaxing time. My son started to get a little seasick and Jarrell somehow realized and brought him something helpful to drink. The meal we had was fresh and simply delicious. Their margarita was exceptional! I told them both that they made their mothers proud!

Quality of Experience

The experience was the epitome of PURA VIDA!

Food

Simple, fresh and authentic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Genuine and attentive young men that made the outing very memorable.

Transport

What could be better than a 50 foot sailboat all to ourselves?

Big Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mieke did a wonderful job in accommodating our wishes and planning our trip to The Netherlands/Belgium since our family ranged in ages from 18 to 82. We had a great variety of private tours including the food tour with Bo which was fabulous in Amsterdam, a private walking tour in Ghent with Christine and despite the rain a great walking tour in Bruges with Roland! They all were so knowledgeable about their respective cities and shared their love of their country with us. They made is so easy to get around from place to place with the public transportation and private transfers as we needed. Their food recommendations and optional activities were very well thought out and provided us with extra excursions where we needed to fill in last minute. Part of our trip included visiting family from The Netherlands and the assistance in planning this part of our trip timeline was extremely helpful as well! The day-to-day instructions/timeline was great for planning each day and made the entire trip easy and fun!

We appreciate your assistance and highly recommend your services! Thank you for helping us make our holiday a memorable and positive experience!

Hotel Review

Boutique Hotel Beekhuizen, Velp

Velp

This hotel was a bit of heaven in the forest! The room was beautiful and spacious for a European hotel. We loved the outdoor patio to view nature. The breakfast was outstanding and the hospitality was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

The large windows in the room provided a beautiful view of the grounds of the hotel.

Location

This hotel is away from the hustle and bustle and there are many paths in nature to enjoy the beauty of the area.

Staff

The staff was very welcoming upon arrival and served a fabulous breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfortable and rooms were spacious.

Activity Reviews

Public Transport Pass Amsterdam

The Netherlands

This public transport pass made getting around Haarlem, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Gouda super efficient and easy.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Easy to scan on/scan off and follow instructions on map to get exactly where we need to be.

Amsterdam - Grand Dutch food & history tour in small group

The Netherlands

Bo was extremely knowledgeable about the food and the city of Amsterdam and shared a lot of history with us. There was plenty of food/drinks offered on the tour and we were completely satisfied.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the most amazing trip to Costa Rica. It was the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Many of our excursions were booked through Serendipty Adventures and they were fantastic.
Full day hike with Mariano was so fun. Beautiful sights amd lots of animals along the way. Monkeys, Sloth, Snakes... and eating termites!
The white water rafting was my favorite. It was quite a ride. The trip was about 1.5 hours of rapids and some down time too. We got out twice and swam a little and jumped into the river. It was great.
The amenitites at Hotel Arenal were lovely and the rooms were nice too. I loved coming back to the hotel and relaxing in one of the many hot spring pools. The food and drink were great too.
The 2nd half of the trip was relaxing at Flamingo Beach. The Margaritaville Hotel was the perfect setting. We enjoyed the pool and beach equally. The ocean had great waves for boogie boards and the pool was perfect for lots of volleyball and relaxation. We had a great meal at all of the restaurants too.
We had a private sunset crusie through Serendipity Adventures and Gerald and Alex took great care of us on our 50 ft sailboat.
This really was an unforgettable trip and were so happy we went the Kim Kim route! Thanks again for the adventure!

Amandine did a fantastic job planning our honeymoon trip including stays in Paris, Lake Como, and Rome. We were able to visit every landmark/tourist spot on our wishlist and had enough time each day to explore on our own. The restaurant recommendations were great as well as travel tips for how to get to each meeting spot for tours. We had a very smooth trip and all our travel transfers were clearly laid out for us.
Our only issue we had was finding space on the train for our large suitcases as we weren’t traveling first class. We aren’t as familiar with train travel being from the US so this may not be an issue for others :) overall we had an amazing trip and thoroughly enjoyed our time in Europe!

Elena was a wonderful help, always attentive and able to answer our questions. She was very knowledgable, as well as punctual. Elena was great with setting everything up, getting us in touch with our tour guides and making sure that everything was going smoothly. We would definitely recommend this service to others and cannot wait to be back to plan our next trip.

Italian Summer

Loved our trip to Italy. We are a family of five (2 adults, 3 kids) and we had a wonderful time! Shout out to Giorgia and her team for their patience and stellar organizing skills. Travel app was amazing and so easy to use! Loves our guides - Martina, Luigi and Francesca!

Activity Reviews

Private Visit to Pompeii with Wine Tasting & Light Lunch

Italy

Pompeii is amazing and I highly recommend it if you have the time. Our wine tasting and light lunch afterwards was also delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch was at Cantina Del Vesuvio, which has been owned by the Russo family since 1930. Absolutely authentic and delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Family Experience: Colosseum Tour for Kids

Rome

Loved this tour and our tour guide, Francesa, was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Italy

This visit is highly recommended, but please note that it is a long walking tour! If you go in the summer, none of the buildings (except the Sistine Chapel) have air conditioning. But still very enjoyable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access & Doge’s Palace

Venice

This tour was so informative! Kids and adults enjoyed it immensely!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

A must do if you are in Venice! We took a gondola ride in the evening and it was beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

At some point several months ago, I searched the Internet for help planning a Spain vacation. This was to be an important event as I had planned to propose to my girlfriend in one of the most romantic places I had come across years ago - the gardens behind the Alcazar in Seville, Spain. The important note here is that I didn’t have a lot of time to do my own planning … so the objective was just some lodging and logistics… What I ended up with was way more and way better than I could have imagined. I’m so incredibly grateful that one of the links that came up was kimkim, and that I reached out to them just to see what was possible Importantly, my first experience and conversation with kimkim built trust that they could help me because of the professionalism and credibility they conveyed. The plan was thoughtful. There were check ins to make sure they were on track, but the actual vacation, the hotels that they booked, the experts they aligned with us to show us around like the Prado museum in Madrid, or the expert that showed us around the Alhambra in Granada, was simply amazing…. We remarked to one another throughout our vacation, how great the experience was … we were able to see other groups in some of the same venues and that experience compared to ours seem dreadful - it’s so superior to have a personalized experience versus being part of a large group… kimkim set up with us a personalized experience and that made all the difference …the hotels were perfect for us as well as all transportation, resources, and transfers. We’re all set up and all things arranged and effortless for us. I cannot recommend them enough - if you want something special and personalized and memorable and comfortable, I recommend you take advantage of the resources and services from kimkim. Here’s something that blew us away. Unbeknownst to me, one of the experts kimkim set up, Cristina in Seville, set up a professional photographer to take pictures of my proposal in the garden. They led us to a perfect spot and without us knowing, took pictures when I popped the question. Oh and she did say yes! One important addition ….we had time to do our own thing intermixed with a lot of experiences that they organized. Overall, I would give them a score of 15 out of 10. We are very grateful to Coraima and Summer from kimkim. And we are very grateful to all the people that helped us in this vacation, the drivers, the experts, all of the hotels’ staff, the restaurants, the events… It was all perfect. Perfect.

Hotel Reviews

Room Mate Alba

Madrid

Can these people be anymore kind helpful, friendly? We don’t think so. The breakfast buffet was delicious, the room was perfect. The location was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Right in the middle of the writers district, this place had so much charm.

Location

Close to everything important, you can walk to everything, the palace, the museums the park the Playa Mayor, the shopping.

Staff

I would give the staff seven stars. If I was given that option, they were terrific.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gravina 51

Sevilla

This was also a perfect hotel, the breakfast buffet was amazing. The staff was incredible, our room was amazing, we were so happy with this hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Super comfortable, luxurious.

Location

We could walk everywhere,

Staff

One of the night staff, David, was especially helpful to us. I don’t remember the name of the person who helped us when we checked in, but she recommended a restaurant that turned out to be amazing in Seville Spain.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Áurea Catedral Hotel

Granada

This is right across the street from the cathedral, perfectly located for everything, the staff was amazing, the buffet was amazing. I’m still pinching myself that every hotel that Kim Kim booked was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

There’s literally ruins underneath this hotel that you can see

Location

I would not stay anywhere else

Staff

I don’t know how to put it in the other way, but when the staff learned that we were newly engaged, they made it their mission to make us feel special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private City Walk & Royal Palace Experience

Madrid

Eva was our amazing guide! Knew so much!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eva knows her stuff!!!!

Transport

Private Prado Museum Visit with an Art Historian

Madrid

Eva was our guide and she called the Prado her second home and that was an understatement! We received an insider’s view on all the great pieces. Fabulous tour and experience!!! You can’t take pictures inside the Prado, but I have included some snaps of the must sees.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Trip to Ávila & Segovia

Madrid

We were picked up by Martin, who knew a lot about the area and of our two destinations, Avila and Segovia! Martin was awesome! We toured both cities and spent time in the Segovia Cathedral and Castle. I was blown away by the Aquaduct in Segovia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ask for Martin!

Transport

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Cristina was amazing. Took us to both the Alcazar and Cathedral. Super intelligent. Knew so much about the history of both. But what stood out was her kindness …. she went to the trouble of getting a photographer for us to photograph my proposal. She went above and beyond and we couldn’t be more appreciative of and touched by her help in making our day special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cristina was perfect and so very kind.

Transport

Self-Guided Retiro Park Walk

Madrid

Quality of Experience

It was a hot day, so after we walked the park, we went to La Castela, the greatest bar in all of Madrid.

From the transportation to the accommodations, every part of the trip was wonderful! I would recommend Kim Kim to anyone planning an overseas vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Overnight Train

The train was clean and the staff very helpful. I had a little trouble sleeping on the train due to the motion, but a fun experience.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Original Sokos Hotel Arina

Oulu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone

Turku

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aquarius Resort

Lappajärvi

I would recommend room darkening shades. We just happened to stay during the mid-summer holiday. It was a little difficult to sleep with the bright sky.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lapland Hotels Tampere

Tampere

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Korouoma Canyon Wilderness Hike

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unfortunately, we did have some car trouble on the way home. Our guide did his best to remedy the situation.

Oulu Walking Tour

Oulu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sauna Tour

Tampere

Nothing better than a Finnish sauna and a dip in the lake!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arctic Nightless Night Boat Trip

Rovaniemi

Quality of Experience

Food

The salmon was amazing!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Industrial Past of Tampere

Tampere

Our guides really went out of their way to help us!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip from Nauvo

Turku

A definite high light of the trip!! Sami was great!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We enjoyed our trip to Kenya and Tanzania.. the accommodation in all the places were very good and comfortable Except in Serengeti National park “ Heritage luxury tented camp “ . The word luxury should be taken out under the name ; this place is like a dump and under managed .. Tthere was no water flowing in the sink to brush our teeth or in the shower. When turn the faucet on in the sink, the faucet handle comes out .. there was no water/ hot water to take shower and the toilet do not flush .
the tent we stayed “ Thomason” should be sold a one person tent.. it is very small and dark , if 2 people are staying in that room , if sleeping at side closer to the wall to get out of the bed , you have to climb over the person sleeping or squeeze out from very space left between bed and wall ( I have bruised by doing that ) ..
we were part of group.. all the group members room lot more spacious then ours ( most of the room had a double bed and 2 single beds) ; I feel if all us paying the same price then all the rooms should be similar.. I feel we are entitled for some refund for not having decent quality room ( no running water; no flush able toilet, small and dark room & small space) .. this is unexpectable .. This place needs overall attention/ renovation and better management..

Hotel Reviews

Sarova Lion Hill Hotel

Nairobi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ashnil Mara Camp

Maasai Mara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hi

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Speke Bay Lodge

Bariadi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Embalakai Authentic Ngorongoro Camp

Karatu

Authenticity & Character

Location

U u

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No hot water to shower or brush your teeth and wash your face

Tumbili Lodge

Olasiti, Arusha

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kibo Safari Camp

Amboseli

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Serengeti Heritage Luxury Tented Camp

This place is very very bad .. there was no water flowing to brush our teeth or to take shower, the toilet do not flush properly.. when we turn the faucet on, the faucet handle came off .. The wooden steps ( especially the bottom one) to main restaurant is not stable the tent we stayed is Thomason , which should be a one person tent with single bed .. the double bed was close to one side of the wall , getting in and out bed was since you have to climb over the person your sleeping with .. the tent is dark ( lights was covered with red shades) .. very disappointed with the quality of this place.. only good part is the animals roaming around near the camp and once we heard lion’s roaring near by .. This place requires overall attention/ renovation and good management..,

Authenticity & Character

Everything

Location

Overall major changes/ improvements is required

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Activity Reviews

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maji Moto Maasai "Olpul" Bush Camp

Maji Moto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Mara Game Drives

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Serengeti National Park Game Drives..

Tanzania

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Serengeti National Park

Tanzania

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ngorongoro Crater Tour

Ngorongoro

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ngorongoro Crater plus Crater Rim Walk

Ngorongoro

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giraffe Center

Kenya

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nairobi National Park

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

While all the guides were friendly and knowledgeable, James of Zing Tours was far and away the best, especially when it came to interacting with our children.

Hotel Reviews

Wilde Aparthotels, London Paddington

London

The Peacock at Rowsley

Matlock

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No 15 Great Pulteney

Bath

Location

Activity Reviews

London Eye Fast Track Tickets

London

Westminster Abbey

London

Oxford University and City Walking Tour

England

Peak District

England

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

London

Hampton Court Palace

London

Explore the Peak District with a Private Driver Guide

Peak District

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Haddon Hall

England

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Bath to London Heathrow Airport

England

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chatsworth House

England

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bath Private Tour

Bath

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I used Kim Kim travel to help me create my much anticipated family trip to Japan this summer. Because my husband and I were traveling with our children, ages 13 and 10, I wanted to be sure that everything went smoothly. After doing my own research online, I had a list of the places and activities that I wanted to visit and experience in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. It was easy to schedule the initial 15 minutes phone call to discuss my basic preferences for travel accommodations and the things that were most important to me. I wanted a smaller, more intimate experience with just my family instead of a larger group because I was traveling with young children and needed flexibility if we wanted to end one of our days short to return to our hotel. (Sometimes kids get tired). After relaying my wants on the initial call, I was connected with Ben via email. Ben was wonderful! Over the next few months, he and I emailed back and forth on the Kim Kim site about every minor detail of my trip. He was able to take my list and organize which activities were near each other so that our time was efficiently spent. We were able to visit every place that I requested, including a few random restaurants that my kids and I found online that we wanted to experience. He booked 2 fantastic hotels for us in Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as our train tickets to travel to and from both cities. He reserved the times and tickets for the majority of our activities. The best part of all were the 2 wonderful and knowledgeable local guides that accompanied my family around each city. Ms Yoko was our guide in Tokyo and she was amazing! She was an expert at navigating the Tokyo subway and train system. Every restaurant and store that I inquired about, she was able to write down directions for us on how to get there on our free day. Ms. Yoshida was our guide in Kyoto and she was also outstanding! Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about our activities there, she was also helpful in making suggestions to make our time as efficient as possible. Having our personal guides really put that special touch on our trip. With all that said, this travel service is a MUST! I HIGHLY recommend using Kim Kim for your trip to Japan. It is a great way to experience the country and the culture.

Hotel Reviews

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection by Best Western

Kyoto

The beds were comfortable and the shower was great. The breakfast was also very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PROSTYLE RYOKAN TOKYO ASAKUSA

Tokyo

Great location close to many attractions as well as the subway.

Authenticity & Character

The food at the restaurant was a good cultural experience

Location

Close to subway and many attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Fusion: Odaiba, TeamLab, Harajuku and Shibuya food tour（Day tour with public transport）

Tokyo

Team lab was my kids’ favorite activity! A very unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tokyo's Rich Heritage : Tsukiji Outer Market,Imperial Palace,Sushi Making Class, Senso-ji Temple，Nakamise-dori by public transportation

Tokyo

We loved the sushi making experience with Chef Tuki and his assistant Ms. Yoki! We highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Great sushi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya in Public Transportation

Kyoto

Both the kimono tea and Samurai experiences were fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the Magic of Kyoto with a guide : Monkey Park, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market (By public transport)

Kyoto

We enjoyed hiking up the mountain to see the monkeys. My daughter enjoyed feeding them. Great exercise experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day Trip to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo (by private transfer)

Japan

Beautiful scenery. We enjoyed this a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Q was our private driver and he was great.

Transport

Gustavo was very easy to work with from the beginning when we were trying to come up with ideas for our holiday to Greece. He was able to accommodate a variety of changes to our itinerary when we were first were organising and was easy to contact via the site. His suggestions for accommodation were amazing!! Leah was also easy to work with and able to assist whilst we were away and quick to respond.

Our favorite excursion was the day trip to Balos Lagoon and Falassarna Beach, which was suggested by Gustavo.

Thankyou!!

Hotel Reviews

San Salvatore Monastery

Chania

The location and uniqueness of this accomodation is amazing! We loved staying here. The breakfast provided was incredible and the beauty on the deck, amazing! So close to walk to the many restaurants and harbor. Only negative was the air conditioning being quite loud. Good set up for our family.

Authenticity & Character

charming place to stay.

Location

So incredibly close to everything and a beautiful view.

Staff

Irene was very nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

City Lion

Heraklion Crete

This apartment was in a very convenient location in Heraklion. It was quiet, there was a small kitchenette to use. Was comfortably able to accommodate our two children (one on the sofa and the other on a trundle bed type arrangement). The main bedroom was upstairs with a balcony and small view. The staff were so lovely! You can also order take out from a nearby restaurant that delivers to the room. No meals included in the stay, but this isnt a problem as it is so close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Cute place to stay and lovely staff

Location

Location was amazing, can walk to all the restaurants and locations with ease.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aqua Luxury Suites Santorini

Imerovigli

This is a lovely place to stay in Santorini. The staff here were very friendly. Breakfast was lovely and can be served in your room or in the restaurant which has an amazing view. We were in the cave suite which easily accommodated our family of two adults two kids. Just remember - sofa bed, is literally sheets on a sofa. Only disapointment is that with this room - you don't get a view from your room or a plunge pool - so just check which room when looking at the photos!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to Fira and of course, amazing views.

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Balos Lagoon & Falassarna Beach 4WD Day Trip with Lunch

Chania

Our family loved this day trip! our guide was Vasili, he was very knowledgeable, great with the kids, took us to great spots for photos and was very friendly. Lunch was amazing. Good to experience having your own deck chairs/umbrella already arranged as part of the tour. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Visit to Zeus Cave & Lasithi Plateau

Greece

This trip was a real let down and we would not recommend. We knew that Zeus cave was closed (undergoing repair) when we booked, but decided to go with this day trip to see more of Crete. I suspect the whole thing was a little dodgy - we didnt get a tour guide, we had a man who was very nice, but admitted he had never been to some of the places before and just followed the points in the itinerary. He was not able to tell us about anywhere we went. Definately dont need to go and see the village that was under the dam - it does NOT match the description provided..

Quality of Experience

This trip was not what was described

Food

Food was great and was included, taken to a restaurant from a long time local in a small village. This was probably the highlight of the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we didnt get a guide. Rather someone that was driving us to the points provided to them on an itinerary, some of which they had never been to themselves previously.

Transport

Knossos Palace Experience

Greece

Our tour at Knossos Palace was great and was with a very knowledgeable guide. She was able to provide us with all the details of the palace. It was quite a quick trip to the palace and might have been good to have a little longer but because we had the pick up/drop off included time was limited. Having said that, having this arranged certainly made life easier as it looked a little crazy for those trying to arrange transport themselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Island Villages & Akrotiri Day Trip

Santorini

We had a lovely guide Sakis, who was able to accommodate our requests for the itinerary - we had independently booked tickets to the cultural symposium in Megalochori which we were able to attend first as part of the time. We had been to Oia and Pyrgos the day previously so we adjusted the itinerary. He took us to see the windmills with our extra time. Worth going to Akrotiri also. Lunch was not included in this day trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

This cruise was definately worth doing. All members of our family enjoyed. Lovely views, ability to swim and snorkel and great lunch provided. Guides also provide some local information of sites seen. Can be quite a long trip - travelling in July means that sunset isnt until 9pm - but you stay out on the water until you have seen the sunset which is amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Karen was absolutely fantastic and a pleasure to work with. She created an itinerary that totally worked for our family and was very receptive to our input. She was on top of everything!