Kimkim Trip Reviews

We had a last minute trip to Spain and we didn’t have enough time to research and plan everything so I reached out to Kim Kim. Adam was very helpful in helping plan our trip and activities based on conversations we had and what our interest were. The team including Jessica and Yuri helped book and answer questions I had through the trip Going with KimKim was very helpful so I didn’t have the stress of planning and booking but still getting the chance to do all the things we wanted. Definitely recommend them to anyone planning a trip.

I originally planned my Argentina trip for last year, when a Google search recommended Buenos Aires for a November vacation. Another Google search directed me to kimkim as I frankly didn’t know much where to go in Argentina. The trip was planned and then…life got in the way. My kimkim advisor at the time worked with kimkim, pushing out my final payment a week or so, until I had to finally make the decision to postpone the trip. I was pleased with how easily this was done.

Fast forward several months later – I reached back out and was connected with Matias. I made some tweaks to the original itinerary, finally settling on Buenos Aires, Iguazú Falls and the Salta area. I’m so happy I went with Matias’ suggestions – he fit so much into a very short time frame. I was travelling alone and requested a mix of private and group tours to help bring down the cost when available. Matias was usually quick to respond to my comments – even when I said it was no rush! In fact, Matias even let me know he would be traveling himself a few weeks before my own trip in case I had to reach him. I have no complaints about anything – I was met at each airport, my guides and drivers were all fantastic (special shout out to my Salta guide, who had to put up with me for several days :-)) They even took care of some of my dinner and tango show reservations. It was truly a worry free vacation! I’m not sure if the app is something all kimkim vendors use or it was just Matias’ group, but it was very helpful and I referred to it often. The app was also where all flight information was posted.

I will plan on using kimkim again for future trips around the world and highly recommend working with Matias when traveling around Argentina – you won’t be disappointed!

What a wonderful lifetime axperience with our group Canadian rockies. John our guide was friendly, exprienced and knowledgeable. The places we went are exactly the one in my bucket list. The trip was well planned with few changes but amazing alternates. Thanks to you Carl.

I just wrapped up a 10 day Colombia trip on my own (since my wife couldn't break away and also I wanted to practice my Spanish). It was a last minute trip where I selected the places, flights, and accommodations on my own. But then I ran out of time for detailed itinerary. More importantly, I was looking to get very knowledgable local guides, especially speaking with me in Spanish throughout. KimKim came up as one of the very few options that I could opt for (I travel a lot and usually do all of the planning on my own). At first glance, it looked like KimKim might provide what I was looking for, but I wasn't sure.
Margarita, the tour coordinator, reached out to me after seeing my request - it was made at the eleventh hour. The conversation with her and the approach encouraged me give it a try (was still hard to give up control..lol). I asked for one day in Popayan (I was doing Cali already by then), 2 days in Medellin, 2 days in Cartagena, and 2 days in Bogota. Margarita came back with an itinerary very promptly to optimize the time and included all the transfers.
The value I started to see was when I met with the local guides who spent times with me at each place.
David Duque, a grad college student, was my guide at Popayán. He is studying tourism, so this is right up his alley. Beyond his knowledge and professionalism, I liked how David blended in the context and details behind each thing without making it overwhelming. He was a great ambassador for that historic city.
Next up at Medellin, my guide was Daniel (Dani) Aterhortua. If you go to Medellin, just grab him! We toured the whole city in a long but extremely rewarding day. From the viewpoints looking over the city to city center and the parks to great cafes, it was amazing, But what blew me away was the visit to Comuna 13 (including the lunch there that is run by a number of Afro-Colombian ladies with an amazing view). This neighborhood transformed itself from a dangerous no-go zone about 13-14 years ago to a present day arts, music, entrepreneurship, and sustainable local business api-center. The magnetism of this place was off the chart. If you go to Colombia and can do only one thing, go to Comuna 13. It will change you.
Dani's intricate detailed knowledge, general awareness, and his passion and pride for Medellin were incredible throughout. The next day we went to visit the coffee farm (no pesticide, organic, natural, 'agroecologico') outside of Medellin. Alejandro, who is suffering from Parkinson's, spent all the time showing me around. He explained different processes, quizzed me about all coffee related stuff, and passionately demonstrated how the coffee plants go from a few days to months to produce the coffee. His passion and insatiable desire to do good in this world, despite of flailing health conditions, inspired me a lot. I also felt that after this trip Dani and I became friends.
At Cartagena, when I met Aura as my guide, little did I know that she gave up a successful career of being an economist to be travel advisor and guide. And Aura is someone who knows almost everyone at Cartagena - she greets them on the street, has some small talks, and seems to move effortlessly through all things. We did a fantastic walking tour of the city at night after the rain and I think that made it even more interesting. We grabbed some local bites and drinks at different spots while meandering through both popular and up and coming areas, such as in Getsemani.
The next day at La Boquella was probably the most surprising part of the itinerary - in a very good way. We spent the day canoeing through mangroves and extremely serene climate that was awesome to see great wildlives. We used fishing nets to catch fish, including trying (and failing) multiple times. We used 'trampas' or traps with fish bets to catch crabs (huge success). We got wet a little with the rain (which is pretty common in this part almost major part of the year). And we had an awesome seafood-fish lunch on the beach looking at the waves. I even got to catch local boys playing soccer on the beach with the fishermen pulling in big catches at the end of their day. Anyone can take you on a day's agenda with the checklist of items to do and see - but if you want to get shaken up a bit to nudge you out of your comfort zone just a little so that you can appreciate the nature and authenticity at its best, this is a must-do! With Aura's help I got to enjoy some amazing food and even emerald-shopping (Colombia is world's largest producer of emeralds) for my wife (I need to return home, so needed some good bribes). She has been extremely caring, loving, affectionate, and truly professional extraordinaire of her crafts.
Reaching at Bogota the following day, I had a little bit of free time. Apart from a really good dinner, that evening was a little downer given the rain and I wasn't sure where to go (it felt less secured, at least to me, compared with Cartagena and Medellin). But it was only my first night there. Next day, my guide there, Andrea spent the whole day with me touring all the key sights. We started with the local market which is truly colorful and full of life. We jumped on to a funicular to go up Cerro Montserrate to get a gorgeous view of the city. The lunch at cafe Origen is a destination by itself. We stopped by countless cafes (you can't miss Azahar cafe and Casa Galeria) and checked out La Septima and Candeleria area with all of the major spots nearby. We did a quick trip to museum of the gold (world's largest of this kind). Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo was one of my favorites for people watching and soaking in local arts and graffiti.
The next day we departed for Zipaquira to see the Catedral del Sal. Inside the old mines, 660 ft under ground, tunnels were built to create this one of a kind and a jewel of Colombian architecture in the form of cathedral that I can promise you won't find anywhere else. It is not to be missed. Afterwards, we went to lunch at Andres de Res - both a destination and Colombia's most famous restaurant. An incredible setup that's unique, weird, entertaining, and deliciousness - all blended in together. This was a perfect end to my trip to Colombia before I was heading to the airport to go to Paraguay.
I would be remiss if I don't mention the drivers of all of the transports who were nothing short of amazing. In many case, they doubled up as additional guide.
Finally, a Big THANK YOU to Margarita for coming up with the itinerary so promptly, for helping me with some of the dinner reservations, for making a few quick changes, for the messages with WhatsApp both checking in at the end of the day and communicating a quick view of the agenda, and for the thoughtfulness overall.
For a country like Colombia, that has culture, nature, art, food, and activities galore to offer - local guides and their knowledge can make all the difference. Come to Colombia to get a doze of the excitement that's exactly the opposite of being predictable.

Vietnam was our third trip with Kimkim and all three of them were a success. At planning stage it is very useful that there are already many sample trip plans available, so final plan can be reached fairly quickly. In our case already first proposal from Mr. Minh was very good, so later we did very little tuning till our final trip plan.
From organisational point of view trip execution was flowless! All events were prompt, guides knowledgeable and drivers professional. During whole trip we had regular WhatsApp communication with local team, so we always had a feeling that we are in good hands.

Our travels were disrupted by the war in Israel. Jay put the trip together in about 4 days. Our first trip to India was amazing. Every transfer was easy. Radhe was our driver for 2 weeks. He is the best. I personally would be afraid to drive in India and I drive everywhere. Our last night in India after 19 days was a cooking class in Udiapur with Rakshita. It was the perfect ending as we learned about the food we had eaten but to visit with Rakshita and Dakshu was the best ending. We highly recommend Jay and his team.

The guides were all excellent
We have used kim kim before and would in the future recommend to people who have wishes for a personal trip .
We booked a significant portion ourselves but had the recommendations and input from Angela our kim kim appointed guide.
When we did use the guides they were fantastic helping us navigate the complexity of a foreign culture and language with knowledge and great guidance.
Would recommend to travelers to Japan much online shopping for hotels, reservations and definitely buying the JR pass. It’s even possible to do it all on your own but expect the challenges of navigating the Japanese language and culture. Google translate and maps are indispensable!

Fabio did an amazing job with planning our trip to Rome, Florence, and Naples. He made everything seamless, and was available to help very quickly via chat/email. We had the most time as a family of 6, and we are forever grateful to Fabio for helping us make the best memories.

We traveled with another couple who are our dear friends. Our travel expert Mark Urban was excellent, he was extremely patient planning with us as we were navigating our desires and he directed us on the perfect path! We had an amazing time in Bali for 2 weeks then Nusa Lembongan for the final week of our 3 week journey.

We had a driver who was very knowledgeable and kept us alive, entertained and educated as he navigated us thought the streets of Bali. He was a joy and so kind, we can highly recommend (Renda), he felt like a family member by the end of the trip!

We had a couple of things that needed to be changed while we were traveling and it all went very smooth with great communication during our whole trip! Mark was a delight and very helpful!

We stayed at Kappa Senses, about 20 minutes from Ubud center. The resort was wonderful with many amenities including massages, excellent food and service. It sits in the middle of rice fields and was perfectly picturesque!

In Munduk, we stayed at Munduk Molding Plantation which was amazing and is basically a self sustaining property! The grounds were so beautiful and the rooms were divine! Everyone was beyond helpful and sweet as can be! I got a bit sick and they brought me flowers and all kinds of herbal remedies, teas and it helped so much to be so well taken care of!

Finally in Nusa Lembongan at Batu Karang Hotel, on the water with great food and service. A small little chill town with other areas a close walk, drive or boat ride away!

We were welcomed and felt the generosity of Bali and its wonderful people, cultures and scenery!
Mark helped us to locate all the stays and excursions! It was a fantastic trip and I would highly recommend Kim Kim and Mark !

We had a great time in Greece, a mother/daughter trip. Highly recommend kimkim. They were very responsive, helpful and a wealth of information!! Amalia, our local specialist, lined up all our transfers and accommodations. All transfers were spot on, no waiting or wondering. Accommodations were all unique, clean, with friendly staff. Will definitely be using them in the future. Thank you!!

Our expectations were far surpassed - and then some!! I had some trepidation about visiting Morocco, but this was completely unwarranted. Instead we found the people to be some of the warmest, most genuine folks we've ever had the pleasure of meeting. The natural and cultural resources of the country were spectacular, and the resilience and perseverance of both the Arabic and Berber peoples is astounding. Coming from such a divisive climate as the blue/red schism that is the current USA, the unity and harmony of the Moroccan people was a really refreshing contrast. As far as accommodations, the KimKim team did an excellent job planning logistics, facilitating access to all of our points of interest, and making us feel safe and well cared for from the time we landed in Casablanca until the time we left. We particularly enjoyed our driver, Soufiane, and his punctuality, authenticity, generosity, sense of humor, and charming personality. Other highlights included the staff at the Tziri Camp in the Sahara Desert (Hamed, Yusef, Mustafa, et al.) and our guide, Hannan, in Marrakech. We will certainly be back and plan to spend a bit more time in Chefchouen, Tziri Camp, and Marrakech - and will add an excursion to the coast to our next adventure. Thank you, KimKim team, for an outstanding vacation!! Highly recommended....

Everything went so smoothly. From the initial planning stage, we enjoyed working with Sonia and collaborating together to get the perfect month long trip to Italy. Sonia was always very responsive to my emails and had great suggestions for the flow of the trip and our accommodations. One of the highlights Sonia arranged was a private cooking class in Tuscany. Throughout our trip, we had excellent help/guides: 1) Our private concierge, Barbara, was outstanding. She met us in Milan and helped secure our rental car and then checked in with us periodically to confirm our arrangements. She was very responsive to any requests we had. 2) In Venice, we were met by (another) Barbara who helped us get to/from our hotel. It really allowed us to enjoy the whole experience. 3) We had a 4 hour private tour in Venice with Silvia and she was fabulous. She was so knowledgeable and fun to be with. 4) We had a 4 hour private tour in Florence with Simona and she, too, was fabulous. She gave us a great overall view of Florence and its history (including art) which really added to our stay.
This is the second time we have worked with KimKim (first time in Norway) and, although we are independent travelers, their expertise and attention to detail allows you to fully experience your trip without having to worry about all the details such as transfers, rental car arrangements, and tours. We highly recommend their services.

Hotel Reviews

Corte di Gabriela

Venice

An intimate, charming hotel in a great location in Venice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was close to everything we wanted to see, but in a side alley so it was quiet.

Staff

Wonderful breakfasts!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

You cannot beat the location of this hotel, right in the heart of Florence. Our room was on the smaller side but was modern, clean and comfortable. Unfortunately it rained so we couldn't enjoy the rooftop terrace. Breakfast was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antica Corte Pallavicina

Polesine Parmense

A wonderful place in the countryside outside of Parma.

Authenticity & Character

A wonderfully restored castle. There were two restaurants to eat at with amazing food.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Forestis Dolomites

Bressanone BZ

An amazing place to stay in the Dolomites. Great service, great food and the location is unbeatable.

Authenticity & Character

It was very elegant in a simple, refined way. The spa was beautiful and the swimming pool was great.

Location

The view of the Dolomites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private guided tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries (4 hours)

Florence

Our guided tour with Simona was the best way to get introduced to Florence. She was so knowledgeable about Florence and gave us a great overview of the city's history. And her knowledge of art and art history were amazing. We could never have learned so much by ourselves as we did in 4 hours with Simona. She secured reservations to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery so it made it a breeze to visit both. We were very impressed with Simona and the personalized guided tour that she gave us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Simona, was the best.

Private transfer from Rental Car office at Florence airport to hotel

Florence

Our driver, Maurilio, showed up early so we didn't have any wait time. He was courteous, friendly and gave us information as he drove us into Florence.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private cooking class at Podere il Casale in Pienza (self-drive)

Italy

This was one of the highlights of our trip. The Podere il Casale is a beautiful farm in the Tuscan countryside and Sandra, one of the owners, was our cooking instructor. Her hospitality was incredible and we had so much fun together. The food was delicious and the ingredients were farm fresh. In addition to the food we prepared during the class, we tasted the cheese they make on the farm and sampled their freshly pressed olive oil along with their homemade bread. We enjoyed this great lunch while sitting on the lovely terrace overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany. It was one of the best meals of our entire trip and such a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Sandra really showed us the essence of Italian country cooking.

Food

Everything!

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

I wouldn't say this was a highlight as it felt a little touristy. But then, when in Venice ..... it was interesting to get to see all the buildings in the canals so the sightseeing did make it a worthwhile experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We arrived early and they were able to accommodate us without us waiting.

Transport

Gondola was beautiful.

Venice walking tour

Italy

Our guide, Silvia, was outstanding. She was so knowledgeable and fun to be with. She made all the reservations for our visit to San Marco basilica and Dogo's Palace so we skipped the lines. And she showed us some hidden treasures throughout the city. It was a great way to get to know Venice so that we could explore on our own the remaining days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I highly recommend KimKim and the local company they connected us to for a trip to Patagonia. Erin and Nara were amazing! Their expert itinerary took our wishlist, budget, and interests into account and created a trip of a lifetime! (also their patience with all of my questions was greatly appreciated)

Our hotels, guides, excursions and restaurants exceeded expectations and despite some unfortunate weather we able to do most of the things we planned on. The Singular hotel was a highlight of the trip for all of us and the guides we had at every destination were wonderful!

We will definitely be using KimKim again and will recommend to all our friends and family!!

Hotel Review

The Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales

This was a truly amazing place to stay. The balance of luxury and comfort was just right. We stayed here for two nights initially and then returned for another night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Chile

Due to wind, we had to go to a different Estancia than initially planned. However, it turned out to be one of our favorite days. The people were so nice, and the food was so delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Lago & Rio Grey, Return to Puerto Natales

Chile

Even though the weather wasn't great, we had a fun time. We ended up cutting it a bit short due to the weather, but it didn't impact our enjoyment. The lunch served was delicious, even though we had to eat it in the van.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Chile

This was just the right amount of hiking and sightseeing. We really liked our guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

The briefing turned out to be really helpful. Nara, who we met there, had a whole map spread out and explained why we were doing what we were doing. It was nice to meet someone from the company in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I enjoyed this trip . A trip with varieties. Our two drivers/main guides were both good. They were friendly and helpful. The highlights for this trip for me are the Mount Bromo sunrise trip and the blue flame hike the following morning. But for the blue flame hike, too bad I did not walk fast enough . By the time when I got to the spot, the blue flame burnt out already. If we started 30 minutes earlier or if we skipped that morning refreshment, I would be able to see the blue flame. Hopefully the tour organizer would consider this point so that other tourists who love to see the blue flame would not miss it.

The 3 cruise days trip to Komodo National Park was interesting too. I enjoyed the beautiful coral reefs, sunrise and sunset there. The cruise crews were good.

For the day trip to Nusa Penida, I wish they could provide us big towel so that we could have it to cover our body when we were going to our next snorkelling spot. It was a bit cold after we got out from the water after snorkelling. Or they told us before so that we could bring our big towel.

Overall the trip was great. I enjoyed it. Thanks.
Ling

Our trip to Patagonia in October 2023 could not have been better. I had a basic idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do from the recommendations of some friends, but I contacted kimkim because I was intimidated by trying to book accommodations on the W hike, and because I figured a local agent would know which excursion providers were the best. Kimkim connected me with Dittmar Travel in Puerto Natales, and I was pleased to work with Laura, Erin and Nara. The whole trip went off without a hitch. Hotels were expecting us, drivers and guides showed up on time, bus tickets were easy to use (and exchange when desired), and suggestions for restaurants and free time were all great. We especially enjoyed our guided hike in El Chalten with Julie from Walk Patagonia. Best hotel breakfast was the amazing spread at the Kau Yatun Hotel and Estancia in El Calafate, though all were good and offered a variety of foods. The best view from a hotel room probably goes to the Andino Sur in Ushuaia with the Alma Sur in El Chalten a close second. Of course, the very best views were from the refugios on the W trek, but those require some serious hiking to get to! Erin and Nara were available to answer even the most basic questions (should we bring sleeping bag liners? how about microspikes?) and I felt very comfortable asking them. I highly recommend visiting Patagonia with the help of Dittmar Travel.

Hotel Reviews

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

The Alto Andino is a couple of blocks uphill from the waterfront in Ushuaia, which means wonderful views from the room and breakfast room. Our room was huge and comfortable with a great shower. We appreciated the small kitchenette for making tea and coffee.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kau Yatun Hotel Boutique & Estancia

El Calafate

The Kau Yatun is located outside of the main commercial district of El Calafate which is nice because it's noisy down there. We enjoyed the walk through the neighborhood to the main street. The lobby and lounge area are very comfortable with lovely views of the surrounding estancia. The room was large and comfortable and the breakfast was fabulous. The staff were helpful in arranging luggage storage and transit to the bus station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Destino Sur Hotel

El Chalten

This is a large-ish new (?) hotel in El Chalten, just off the main street. It was clean and comfortable and staff were friendly and helpful in exchanging money, arranging meals to go, and getting laundry done. Breakfast was good and the dining room was comfortable. The room was nice and the bed was comfortable. The views of the town and surrounding mountains were lovely. There was a little noise from the hallway, but nothing that kept us awake too late. The hotel is very convenient to the trails accessing Los Glaciares NP and also to a number of restaurants and breweries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

This is a lovely hotel with enormous windows overlooking Lago Grey. We were ready for a comfortable private room after four nights of shared bedrooms and bathrooms on the W. The restaurant has a large and varied menu and the service staff were professional and friendly.

Refugio Grey

Torres del Paine National Park

This is a beautiful refugio with a lovely dining room and bar. It feels a little more calm than the other ones we stayed in. We enjoyed the communal meals here and look forward to checking out some of the destinations recommended by fellow guests.

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

This is a large refugio serving many overnight and day guests. The check in process was a little slow because many guests were coming and going and asking questions, and I think they were short staffed as the check in staff had to show everyone to their rooms. The common areas are warm and comfortable and the dining room was well organized. The food was good and plentiful.

Refugio Frances

The ecodomes at Frances are spacious and generally clean and comfortable. Our heater ran out of gas in the night, so it got chilly, but the sleeping bags provided were warm enough. The small dining room and bar were great for convivial meals and chats. Staff was friendly and efficient.

Refugio Torre Central

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Pedro Montt

A great place to rest up after the big hike to the base of the Torres. Rooms and bathrooms were neat and clean. Check in process was easy Restaurant and bar staff were friendly and efficient.

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

nice hotel right on the waterfront. walking distance to good restaurants and shops of downtown Puerto Natales. staff were very helpful in getting us an early breakfast to go and storing our lunch in the restaurant cooler.

Authenticity & Character

Location

stunning views across the water to snow capped peaks!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

The Alma Sur is a nice hotel convenient to the Bus Sur station and the attractions of downtown Punta Arenas. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the staff is very friendly and provides good recommendations, and the breakfast was ample and delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

It was nice to hike with our guide, Julie, from Walk Patagonia. She actually suggested a modification to our itinerary because I was suffering from a sore knee after our W trek. It was great to hike with someone who knows the natural history of the park and could answer any question we might come up with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

We appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Nara and go over the remaining days of our itinerary and ask questions.

Overall an excellent trip.

Hotels were excellent - except for the Sheraton at Mahlpensa. The room was beat up and furniture did not match.

The Siena tour was fabulous - guide Kathleen was great.

All the wine tastings were fantastic, especially Alfieri.

We would not recommend the luncheon after the wine tasting. The truffles were tasteless and the rest of the food unremarkable.

The Hazelnut farm was somewhat interesting but the location is hard to get to.

The country roads with many sharp turns were challenging. They etracted from our experience, but the travel agent had nothing to do with that.

The rental car was excellent.

The only request we would have is more guidance on how to reach parking in the various towns.. especially when the towns are crowded.

We (two couples) had a great time in Greece. Spending time in five different hotels during our two week stay was a little hectic at times but it did give us a wonderful overview of Greece. Dimos worked with us to customize our trip , four versions, adding excursions, upgrading hotels and revising schedules as we looked at options and the best times to travel. He coordinated all our lodging, in country transportation and guides. It was a seamless experience. Every pickup was right on time and all our guides were knowledgable, friendly and spoke excellent English. The one time we were dropped off in the wrong location, a quick call to Dimos and the problem was resolved in less than fifteen minutes. A clear case of why having a local contact is so vital. Also, in general we chose to use private guides as opposed to group tours. It helped make the experiences seem more personal and allowed some flexibility on each days excursion.

Our travel at the end of October turned out to be the perfect time to be in Greece this year. The weather was warm and dry and the crowds had begun to thin out. Another comment on timing - in Crete, some restaurants had already begun to close for the season which seems to end on November 1. Still plenty of choices but fewer than during the main season.

Our travels took us to the Athens (Parthenon, Acropolis Museum and city tour), Temple of Poseidon and Olympia while we were in Athens. Some longer day trips but worth it to see the Greek countryside. Alway has a nice van or minibus for travel. The on to Meteora for an overnight. While it is accessible by train, I would recommend a private transfer. It offered better scheduling and allowed us almost two full days there. Our guide the first day offered us some suggestions for activities on the second day. Then on to Santorini for two nights and finally to Crete for four nights. Might have opted for another night in Santorini but the four nights in Crete was perfect. The nights before we had early morning flights in Athens, we opted to stat at an airport hotel instead of an early morning shuttle from Athens. The hotel was very nice. I would recommend this as a possibility.

Overall, our time in Greece was one we will always remember and we all look forward to our next travel experience.

Hotel Reviews

I Resort Beach Hotel & Spa

Stalis

This is a large beach resort hotel geared to an all inclusive clientele. It was very nice and as we were there at the end of the season, not too crowded. Most meals are buffet style, lots of choices, but not personalized. Hotel was right on the beach, had a beautiful pool, beach lounges, a spa and was within easy walking distance of many restaurants. Generally our preference is for smaller scale facilities but if you are looking for an easy one stop hotel, it was very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cresanto Luxury Suites

Santorini

Small botique hotel with great service and privacy. Food was OK but not as exciting as we would have expected given the rest of the facility. Most rooms have a private pool/hot tub. It is not that close to tourist activities so need a car or transportation. About ten minute walk to closest off site restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

For any hotel is was excellent, for an airport hotel it was outstanding. Walk to terminal, good food, helpful staff.

Coco-Mat Athens BC

Athens

Great location, walking distance to Parthenon, Acropolis Museum, and other historical sites. Lovely rooftop restaurant with to die for views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Palace of Knossos and Heraklion City

Heraklion

Palace of Knossos was most unexpected. The extent of the archeological site and the history that goes with it were a great surprise to us all. Definitely a must see if you are on Crete. If you don't have a guide, go to the museum first. Lunch on the waterfront was with lots of locals was fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking like a Cretan on the Lassithi Mountains!

Heraklion

Birthplace of Zeus was amazing as was authentic lunch in a Greek Taverna

Private Panoramic Views Santorini Experience

Santorini

A good way to see Santorini in a short period of time. Even at end of season, Santorini was very busy. There were two cruise ships in port. It would be most unpleasant if there were four or five, a common occurrence during the peak season. We did not know before we got to Santorini that there is an archeological site on Santorini that we would probably have preferred to the Panoramic views tour but it was not offered as an option and we did not have time to add it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Half-Day Monasteries of Meteora Exploration

Meteora

An incredible experience. The views and history make this unforgettable. Our guide was knowledgeable and very helpful. We visited two monasteries in the afternoon. Be prepared for a fair amount of walking, in some cases uphill to get to each monastery . There are enough other activities in Meteora to fill about half a day of independent sight seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Both guide and driver were local so had great knowledge of both the historical and current aspects of the area.

Transport

Local transport was a regular taxi. Perfectly fine, but a little crowded for four adults.

Private Daily Tour to Olympia archaeological site

Athens

A long day trip from Athens, but well worth it. Beautiful country side en route. There is a museum adjacent to the archeological site. Go to the museum first if you can. We had expected to have a private guide at the site, but after we got there our driver told us there was no guide available due to the large number of cruise ship passengers needing guides. We would still have gone, but wish we had known about the guide problem before we arrived. Our driver, while not a licensed guide was very informative as were drove from Athens to Olympia and back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drive was fine, but no guide available.

Transport

Acropolis Temples, Ruins & Museum Visit -

Athens

A must do experience on Athens. We were on a large bus tour, that started with a city driver through and a stop at the Acropolis Museum before going to the Parthenon. We prefer smaller groups but given the crowds at the Parthenon, even a private tour would seem to just be part of the masses. A wonderful experience, but be prepared for crowds. If possible go the the museum first.

I wouldn't plan a trip through KimKim again. About a week before we were set to go to Morocco, the terrible earthwake happened. The news was dire - so - to go or not. I waited for five days to hear from Megan at Wanderlust, to tell me what she thought. She didn't get in touch with me, so I emailed her. She said we could talk with zoom at the end of the week - never heard from her. We decided to go.
There were several scheduling changes we found when given the the schedule - Megan didn't talk those over with us. Scheduled a hotel change, a driver change. The changes were fine, but, again, I would expect more communication.
The KasbahOurika is a fabulous hotel. Food is ok, but atmosphere is unrivaled. The White Camel was fun, the tent great, the sunset lovely.
I wouldn't bother going up to the atlas Mts. to see the Morocco'a Hollywood -- way too much driving to see very touristy
sight. A few days in that trip, I got sick, it was covid, I spent the last two, three days, exhausted, stayed in my hotel room in Marrekech. Stayed at Jnane Tamsna - this was really a disappoinment! The buildings, decor etc were great, but the ganden and landscapingf was a real shock - the videos show a different picture! It was dusty, the "gardens" were parched and dry. We were not given a map of the hotel grounds, we had no reference of where we were compared to other areas. The food was so so. It isn't your fault, of course, I picked that hotel.
In general I think Morocco's cities are interesting, but tourists are guided to every little thing, a lot isn't interesting, or not to some people. I'm sorry to give such a mixed review, but I think you want to know the truth. I need more communicatrion from a travel expert in general. including phone calls etc, so I would seek out a different expert next time. Molly Power

Said (holiday specialist/coordinator) and Tayeb (driver/guide) throughout the trip were exceptional. They made our holiday in Morocco a memorable experience. They were extremely courteous and ever obliging. Nothing was a problem for them. A big thank you to both of you.
Our local guides Mouna in Rabat, Charif in Fes and Moushine in Marrakesh were very knowledgable and explained the history extremely well.

The trip was amazing. Long did such a fabulous job on every level. There was not one part of the trip that wasn't fabulous. The people of Vietnam are friendly, hard working, funny and just a joy to be around. The culture, history and determination of Vietnam's people should not be missed. We had several great guides and drivers. Special thanks to

Alex
Willie
Jackie
Mr Wee

Our guides saw to every detail and ensure we had a blast. I loved the entire trip but you absolutely must take a vespa tour around Hanoi. We visited small villages, ate with friendly amazing people, visited cities and so many wonderful places. It is definitely a return destination.

A special thanks to Kimkim and Long. He did such an amazing job setting this up. He put up with tons of questions and made sure it was perfect (which it was). I will continue to use Kimkim for any adventure. Thank you Long! You are the best!

Hotel Reviews

Anantara Hoi An Resort

Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province

great spot for visiting the downtown and getting clothes made. The hotel is awesome and the people amazing. if you want to walk to the market and boats this is the place to go.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pilgrimage Village Hue

Hue

Hue was probably my favorite place on the trip and this hotel and staff were by far my favorite. Everyone was good but this hotel was in a perfect location and a perfect staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Capella Cruise

Halong

This was a great adventure. I enjoyed the Kayaking the most. The schedule is tight and timely but it was an amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tam Coc Garden Resort

Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province

This is a gem of the wild.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pu Luong Retreat

Thanh Hoa

This is a great place surrounded by rice fields and friendly people. We did a 10 mile hike around small villages and it was simply amazing. This was a great place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa

Lao Cai

I wish I could have spent more time here. The hotel is amazing and the spa and pool were awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi - MGallery

Perfect location in the old quarter! breakfast was amazing and the staff incredible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hoa Lu - Tam Coc (Half Day)

Vietnam

Hiking and rafting in Pu Luong

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

This was awesome! Out in country but you can just explore local villages on your own if you wish.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue - halfday city tour with lunch

Hue

Hue was my favorite place. The bike ride was awesome and we loved the citadel

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ma Tra - Ta Phin

Sapa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek to Lech Dzao & Thanh Kim Villages

Sapa

Loved the local culture and crafts

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Remote Villages of Ban Khoang & Ta Giang Phin

Sapa

This is why I went to Vietnam. The people were amazing. yes they want you to buy a few small things but it was well worth it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Sightseeing Tour

Hoi An

Got to visit the ancient places in Hoi An. it was a great morning and then we bought to many lanterns.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Trails of Pù Luông

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Jackie and the group did an amazing 10M hike. So fun to see the culture and talk to the local people

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Cam Thanh Village

Hoi An

This was a lot of tourists but so fun. It is worth the trip

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Afternoon City Exploration and Street Food Tour

Hanoi

Did Vespa all day! It was amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Vespa Tour

Hanoi

Alex was awesome! you absolutely have to do this. It was a highlight of my life.

Quality of Experience

Food

All of it. Alex took us to the most special place (Obama restaurant).

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Imperial City Tour - Boat & Bike Ride to Rural Villages

Hue

Amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Disembarking the cruise

Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay Exploration on Cruise

Ha Long Bay

Do the Kayaking

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport