Kimkim Trip Reviews

We travelled to beautiful Norway in September for a special 50th birthday trip. Our destinations were to Oslo, Åndalsnes, Geiranger & Ålesund. After several changes by me, Mathia created an amazing, memorable trip! He was very patient and never made me feel like an inconvenience.
Initially, I was concerned that we would have too much down time, but it ended up being the perfect mix of both activities and self-exploration. We were able to see 4 completely different areas of Norway and stayed in 4 completely different hotels, so we got a little bit of everything, which was awesome. I loved that we were primarily in local hotels rather than big chain hotels. It is so much better to experience the local culture.
As with all vacations there was a small snafu, but Mathia had it corrected and we were on our way within the hour. It is hardly a thought in my mind when remembering the trip.
I was also extremely impressed that there was someone on call over the weekend. Our initial connecting flight was delayed multiple times and finally cancelled because of weather. I notified the on-call person, who was ready to take appropriate action as needed on their end. Luckily, we were able to get a connecting flight out of another city, so were only a day late, so very few changes had to be made.
We missed most of our time in Oslo but were able to make the cruise touring the area and learning about local culture. Our guide, Suzy, was hilarious and made the trip extra enjoyable.
In Åndalsnes, we road the gondola to the top of the mountain, did some hiking and ate at Eggen with beautiful views as the sun went down. We also explored the beach and took some great pictures.
In Geiranger, we got to take a boat ride in the fjords and did the via ferrata & zip line adventure. I was not sure what to expect, but it ended up being one of the best activities of the trip. The staff at the hotel were amazing and the food was spectacular!
Ålesund was my absolute favorite city. It was so beautiful and the trip to the other islands with a hike was amazing! Our guide was great and the lunch provided was wonderful. I would say the Hotel Brosundet in Ålesund was my favorite hotel of all times and would recommend it to anyone!
I highly recommend Kimkim and would definitely use them again for another exploration. I hope to travel to Norway again and see the other parts of this amazing country. This was an incredible trip and will be hard to beat for future travels.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

This was my favorite hotel. Beautiful décor and the huge fireplace in the lobby was wonderful to sit around and chat. Staff was great and very accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grande Fjordhotel

Geiranger

Fabulous staff, great view and wonderful food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Zip Line & Via Ferrata Hiking Experience

Geiranger

I was a little nervous initially because it was a new experience, but definitely one of my favorite adventures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploration of Ålesund's Surrounding Islands

Ålesund

Island were beautiful and the hike was a little tough for a beginning, but wonderful to see. Guide was very knowledgeable and very patient.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise

Oslo

The tour guide, Suzy, was entertaining and so full of knowledge. Wonderful activity!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Lares Trek was awesome! Our team was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Our guide carried us all the way through to Machu Pichu!

The Amazon adventure was Awesome as well. Our guide was also very knowledgeable and professional.

Same with Rainbow Mountain with Jesus!

Very disappointed with the Xima hotel. Not a 4 star hotel. The room was dirty and bath room floor had feces on it! We would like our money back for the Xima hotel stay

Where to begin? It all started with the amazing Team at KimKim from our initial contact in September '22. They heard our desires and were very capable in making our travel as fluid as it was! With some brief back and forth, the itinerary was set. I would be remiss if I did not inject the great attention to detail the KimKim Team provided and the several last minute changes that we asked for while on travel. There were a couple of cancellations not of our doing and the Team quickly notified us and we were able to adjust on the fly! We first arrived in Dublin, Ireland which was not what we thought, but opened our eyes to European big city life. The EPIC Immigration Museum really is a place to visit to get a deep understanding of the Potato Famine of the 1840's and how it really formed how the US was shaped by 1.5-2 million immigrants. Our trip took us via our rental car to Waterford to see the Waterford Crystal company and yes, we bought a fabulous piece of crystal. Then on to Cork with a stop at the KilKenny Castle. Our first experience with a castle and it did not disappoint! Maranatha Country House is where we stayed and it is a wonderful B&B and gracious hosts. Our next stop was in Limerick and while there we visited the Muckross House and Gardens. Such a peaceful location to walk the grounds and feel like you are in the 17th century again. From Limerick, we travelled to Galway and possibly to main reason to visit Ireland. Family connection into the Clan O' Flarerty brought us to the Aughnanure Castle which was the 16th century homestead of our family. Let me take the time to speak about the most amazing B&B we stayed in at Galway, the Cnoc Suain. It is located on a 200 acre private land and we stayed in a three room cottage that was built in 1691 yet modernized. We WILL be back to the Cnoc Suain on our next trip. Plan on zero internet nor cell reception, such a peaceful time. While there, we ventured to the Kylemore Abbey and it surely did not disappoint. Magnificent ground and history, plan of 2 - 3 hours. From Galway, we flew to London via Shannon Airport (easiest airport to navigate). We had a private transfer from the airport (Stansted) to The Sanctuary House Hotel ideally located to see the major sites in London and Westminster. We saw the Changing of the Guard and our walking tour guide (Paul) with Fun London Tours made it a grand time! We had another walking tour scheduled but the tour was cancelled and KimKim Team, at our request refunded that cost. We then free lanced the rest of the day, which we did on several occasions. We chose to adjust our one full day in London and take the train to Brighton on the south coast. The KimKim Team quickly handled our request and we spent a wonderful day in Brighton on the English Channel. We took a Thames River cruise and were able to see some of the sights of London/Westminster that many do not see. Seeing Westminster Abbey and Big Ben from the river was breathtaking! Our next day, we had scheduled a train trip from London to Edinburgh Scotland. The countryside and coastline of the UK is filled with such splendor. We were scheduled to take a trip to the Loch Ness and Highlands area but chose not to due to the pace we had been on predicated a day of free lancing in Edinburgh which we spent many hours walking the Royal Mile which is the main street between the Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood Palace. The KimKim Team worked on a satisfactory refund of this day. The Royal Mile has the majority of retail and restaurants that most tourist see. While in Edinburgh, we stayed in a 16th century low class and middle class building that was converted into a small hotel that had the best morning breakfast ever! Ollie, the owner was the best! I definitely cannot omit that our trip to St. Andrews through the Kingdom of Fife, the bread basket of Scotland was just beautiful. What will I say about being at the Old Course at St. Andrews, I am still speechless. We have been to Jerusalem and now the Home of Golf, maybe my life is complete! Sadly, we had to fly home, but if you are ever in Edinburgh and need a private transfer (private car and driver) please ask for and use Stephen Dunn that owns the Ecoss EV Travel, he was super!

If you are considering KimKim as a source for your travels, well I am limited to only 5 stars and they are worthy of many, many more. Thank you, the Team at KimKim for making our trip so memorable!

Hotel Reviews

Maranatha Country House

Cork

A very pleasant stay. The hostess was incredibly hospitable and engaging, which really made it a great experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ben Cruachan Guest House

Edinburgh

This was the standout accommodation. Interaction with the owner, Ollie, was delightful and the breakfast was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sanctuary House Hotel

London

The location was ideal, close to key landmarks like Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. A good overall stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cnocsuain | Annead

Galway

This was the favorite hotel of the trip. The historic stone cottage, built in 1691, was charming and the owner and his daughter were incredibly welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hard Rock Hotel

Dublin

The location was perfect for exploring Dublin on foot. Overall, a very good hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private transfer in town

Scotland

Stephen Dunn provided the best service. On time and very professional. A joy to be around when in a new area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were very happy with the Kim Kim service.
Elisa was our travel consultant for Iceland and she put together an excellent itinerary. She handled the bookings for our lodging and was quite flexible when we requested some changes. She also booked a number of excursions and we had very few glitches during our travels. She responded very promptly regarding the few small items that came up.
I loved that her trip itinerary included not only the specific places we'd booked but a long list of suggested places we could visit on our way plus a nice selection of restaurants some of which she had been to and offered her personal opinions.
With her suggestions there were more choices than time to do them all. (Maybe we need to come back again!)
We loved the Trollaskagi tour with Reynir. It was just the two of us and the driver. And he was full of stories about life in Iceland such as when we visited the Herring Era museum and he talked about when he worked on a Herring ship when he was younger. He also had suggestions for when to see some of the other sights on our list (and how to avoid the cruise ship tour bus crowds).
The super jeep tour with Helga was great too. And she too gave us wonderful insight to living life in Iceland. We had one other couple with us. This was so much better than those huge bus tours!
And of course you can't skip the glacier hike and ice caves which also add to what makes Iceland unique!

All the town & city tours were excellent especially Josipa from Purgerica. She spent 30 minutes more time to show me Zagreb as my wife was back in the room feeling ill from pneumonia we didn't know at the time(she's finally doing very well after getting antibiotics). I mentioned to Josipa that we're very involved with fungi and she took me to the very excellent mushroom museum in Zagreb. Her tour of Zagreb was the best tour.

Our long distance driver Viktor Ropac, while driving us to the next destination, showed us many areas of the countryside and small towns we wouldn't normally visit. From a fish farm to roadside stands selling honey & cheese to his village, he gave us a sense of the heartbeat of the land he loves.

The man (his name escapes me) in Ston did a great oyster/mussel informational/cooking demo

Miro Tartufi and his wife demonstrated how their dogs find buried truffles. The luncheon, scrambled eggs with truffles and dessert with truffles was five star quality and presentation.

Our tour through the Hvar countryside was great. Excellent views and our driver stopped a few times so we could enjoy wild figs.

Beekeeper and gin maker Vlaho Komparak from OPG Komparak was a nice visit. We tasted some honey and talked about beekeeping.

Plitvice Lakes was excellent tour even though the weather was cold and wet.

The pasta class was very great, we learned so much about making different kinds of pasta and gnocchi. Everything was delicious.

We especially enjoyed the relaxed lifestyle of Rovinji and Zagreb.

Antonia really put together a great introductory tour of Croatia for us. Our trip was jam packed with activities and tours. She was very helpful, even when a couple issues arose. Antonia is extremely professional in her job and truly cares about taking care of her clients.

The best decision I ever made - I was reluctant at first seeing as it was my first solo trip to a whole new continent! I had my doubts but the team at Kimkim, especially Erin, gave me the assurance and confidence I needed to embark on this journey. She was responsive to every question/concern I had and gave me full transparency on how these trips occur.

I could not recommend their services enough and I will definitely use it again.

Thank You!

My husbad, and I never had a guide before, but decided to sign up for it, with my sister and partner in order to spend time with them in Portugal. If only we had known, what a difference it could make for a trip! We were quite charmed and impressed with Joel. Although we had little personal contact with Tiago, he was very helpful sending us information and keeping everything organized, between 3 individuals. He even gave us tips on the rest of our trip, on our own in Northern Portugal.
Since culture and history is our main focus on vacations, this was absolutely perfect. We learned and saw different areas of Lisboa and learned the significance of the neighborhood´s architerectual and artistic styles coming from many different cultures. The history was mostly unknown to us, and very interesting. Joel showed us the most beautiful scenery on two outings outside of Lisboa and took us to a castle and to the furthermost corner of the country, which was great between "a head full of cultural and historical information." He introduced us to two unforgettable meals and booked a Fado evening, with about 6 courses, including the two heartful and melancholic Fado musicians, repectively singers. It was local, meaning that it was not a typical touristic "Fado evening." We also had our first food tour, which had much different array of foods, as well as a very enthusiastic guide. It was so much fun, we will do it in other cities, as well.
The tour was a variety of experiences, that were well put together. I could go on and on about how much we learned and enjoyed. Joel love and enthusiasm of Portugal was contagious. Last but not least, Joel thoroughly surpassed all of our expectations. We absolutely recommend booking with Kim Kim. After the tour, we did not find it expensive at all, as originally assumed, after the amazing experience.

Hotel Review

Dom Carlos Liberty

The most important for us, in choosing a hotel in the city is the location. With Dom Carlos, we were not disappointed. It is close enough to the inner city to walk in 10 minutes, but quiet enough that one does not experience the traffic. The neighborhood had a variety of well priced local restaurants, with local cuisine, as oposed to expensive and low quality tourst food. The room was quiet, elegant and clean. The staff was very accomadating and hospitable. The buffet had anything one could wish for, and was hygenic and well organized.

Authenticity & Character

Elegant and sufficient in every way.

Location

Centrally located, without the noise.

Staff

Friendly and very accomadating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms, lounge and breakfast area very clean and comfortable.

Activity Review

Enjoy Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

See section 1. What we most enjoyed about the dinner was that it authentic Porteguese, rather something touristic. Our server made us feel at home. The music was captivating and we had never heard anything like it again. The history behind it was also interesting. We are glad that they still keep their traditions in Portuagal, for it was done by young people. The food was dellicious and it was wonderfully organized, with the dimming of the light, while the music played between courses.

Quality of Experience

It wasn´t like a typical tourist tour. We felt well taken care of.

Food

Joel took us to two places, and shared food, which we had never tried. Delicious! The food tour was also good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joel and Tiago were totally supportive and forthcoming towards our wishes and requests.

Transport

We were quite impressed by Joel´s and Tiago´s maneuvering around the chaotic traffic, especially in rush hour. We even shared music tastes.

We enjoyed our trip to Morocco prepared carefully to meet our specific travel needs and time constraints. AbdelLatif was patient with us and worked through several versions of an itinerary to tailor it just right. We visited Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech in an 7-day trip and all said and done it turned out exactly as we had planned. We look forward to exploring other destinations with Kimkim in the future.

This was our first time using Kim-Kim and we were very pleased with the services provided by the local specialist - Rita Pagano. Rita provided us with excellent hotel accommodations - perfectly located for each city and local (i.e. access to metro in Madrid.) Additionally, having access to Rita through the Trip Plan application while we were traveling was extremely helpful. Updating train ticket changes, or addition of museum tickets to helping find a laundry service was all done through the app and Rita was very responsive to our requests.
We were pleased with all of the guides arranged for the different cities or historic sites. One exception was Barcelona where we felt the guide spent too much time driving around to pick-up other clients. We got quickly spoiled with the private tour guides, and very much appreciated guides meeting us at the hotel to start our tour. Our favorite guide and tour was with Pedro in the Algarve region, He was very engaging, and knowledgeable about nature and history of the area. We will remember that day for a long time. The private bike tour in Seville with Elena was also a highlight of our trip. We left the Iberian peninsula with a better understanding of the history, and people - and the challenges that lie ahead the culture of Spain and Portugal.

Hotel Reviews

Dear Lisbon Bordalo House

Lisboa

Character and great location in Lisbon. Staff was super accommodating (leaving us breakfast in our room when we had to leave before service).

Authenticity & Character

Still some residents on upper floors

Location

This is where you want to be in Lisbon

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Automatic lights were a bit of buzz kill (go on when you get up at 3 am for a bathroom break) Not a deal killer!

Casa Romana Hotel Boutique

Sevilla

Greeted us with a glass of champagne (nice touch) Very cool roof-top bar and pool area with great view of Seville.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Oniria

Granada

Very nice, quiet, great breakfast included

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eric Vökel Boutique Apartments - Madrid Suites

Madrid

A bit anonymous - no problems, but the front desk was rarely occupied. Breakfast was simply left in the room

Authenticity & Character

Location

1/2 block from the metro station - essential in Madrid

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Midtown Apartments

Barcelona

Clean, quiet and great staff. Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tivoli Lagos

Lagos

Had issues with the AC that were not able to be resolved.

Authenticity & Character

Its a resort town hotel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

From Market to Table: Cook Authentic Spanish Dishes

Barcelona

Great experience and would highly recommend. Information about shopping in these markets was invaluable. Only disappointment was not receiving the recipes that the chef promised.

Quality of Experience

Food

We cooked it - it was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA - Cabbed

Train Madrid to Toledo, Guided Visit of Toledo, Train Toledo to Madrid

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Sintra & Sailing Experience: Cascais to Lisbon

Lisbon

Guide was ok on relative basis. We did not sail from Caiscais to Lisbon as we thought - but the sail in the harbor was a great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Really covered ground in Lisbon - got to see many of the neighborhoods and good advise about where else to go

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA - Walking

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

Good tour - Daniel had great knowledge of Portugal history. Food venues not as good as Barcelona - but passable

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA

Discover Rural Algarve on a 4WD

Portugal

Best tour of our trip, Pedro was engaging and interesting and provided us with a good understanding of life in the Algarve - and the challenges they face with climate change. Lunch in the Monchique area, the distillery, and eating fresh figs from a tree on the side of the road. A great diversion from the history and city tours

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Córdoba Revealed: From Mezquita to the Alcázar

Seville

The Mosque Cathedral is a must see in Spain. Amazing structure and history. Private guide was excellent and explained the complex history of muslims, jews and christians in spain.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train to Cordoba was fine

Seville by Bike Like a Sevillano

Seville

Really great morning with Elena in Seville. Ebike covers a lot of ground and still have time to enjoy specific locations. Plaza de Espania was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

This was our only "group" tour - and probably the way it works at the Alhambra. But information was good and guide worked well the group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA

A Night of Flamenco in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

I was unsure of this - not a big fan of folk music or dance - but the experience was great. If you see Flamenco - see it i n the caves. The intensity of the dancers, singers and musicians was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA - We took a cab

Hike Montserrat Mountain & Explore Penedès Wineries

Barcelona

Ramon was a wealth of information - maybe a bit too much. Enjoyed the visit to Montserrat. Penedes region went to one Winery - Llopart -which was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona Highlights: Montjuïc, Gothic Quarter & Sagrada Familia

Barcelona

Too much driving. Traffic was terrible this day - but still too much driving. Also guide advised that we walk from Sagrada Familia up to Part Guell - not telling us it was 500 feet of elevation change.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taste Barcelona: Authentic Tapas & Neighborhood Walk

Barcelona

Brian provided a nice tour of bars that locals actually patonize. It was a great event to have planned on our first day there - as we were getting over jet lag and really did not want to think about where we ate.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

Nicw walking tour - maybe a bit too fast paced. But got to some of the main attractions in Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

NA - Walking tour

Tomaz and his colleague Zala did a wonderful job helping us plan our trip to Switzerland. Tomaz took all of our "wants" and condensed it down into a doable itinerary that included everything we wanted. Zala worked on all the logistics and gave us detailed information about the hotels, excursions/adventures, and travel means (trains, buses) included in our trip. We did not have one bit of trouble getting to and from our destinations and we were given all our tickets, vouchers, etc. It was wonderful! This is our second time using KimKim and we will definitely use them again.

Hotel Reviews

Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel Grindelwald

Grindelwald

This hotel was amazing! The location was excellent--we could walk to and from the train station, to restaurants and shops. The view was breathtaking, the staff of the restaurant and the bar so nice and personable. The amenities were great too--a pool, a sauna and steam room, breakfast included (and so delicious). One night there was live music on the patio. By far this was our favorite hotel in Switzerland.

Authenticity & Character

The history of the hotel was so interesting. Family owned, still to this day and we often saw the owners! There were pieces of the hotel's history (furniture, knick knacks, receipt books, old books) and old photos throughout the lobby and the hotel.

Location

So easy to get to all shops, restaurants, train station.

Staff

Everyone was wonderful, from check in to restaurant staff, to housekeeping, to the bar staff. They all made us feel welcome and were so friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wonderfully comfortable room/bed, super clean. We loved it.

Eastwest Hotel

Geneva

A bit off the beaten path, but still in the heart of Geneva. We arrived at night and were leaving the next morning so we didn't have time to explore the city. The bed was comfortable, the room clean, the staff very nice and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Looked like it was in a great spot to walk to places. However walking there from the train station took us through a sketchy section of street.

Staff

Very friendly and offered suggestions for things for us to do (had we had the time)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tradition Julen Hotel

Zermatt

This quaint hotel was delightful. The decor was so cozy and cute and the location was great. We could walk to every excursion we had booked. The bed was very comfortable, the staff was very friendly and helpful, and the breakfast was great.

Authenticity & Character

The wooden decor, the beautiful flowerboxes, the location. It was all just lovely.

Location

Excellent location in the heart of Zermatt.

Staff

Very helpful. Went over all the room amenities when we got there. Held our luggage for us after we checked out while we did an excursion. The staff of the restaurant was great as well.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Schweizerhof hotel

Zürich

Very centrally located, clean, super friendly staff. We got there and were able to change our clothes (it was hotter than we thought!) and they stored our luggage for us while we did an excursion. The bed was comfortable and breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was in the heart of Zurich. Easy to walk to the train station, restaurants, shops.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed, clean room.

Activity Reviews

Paragliding

Switzerland

Oh my gosh, this was the best experience ever! We were both so nervous about doing this but it was incredible. My guide Veit was wonderful and put me at ease. He was so friendly and once we got airborne I was relaxed and able to enjoy this amazing experience. It went by so fast and I cannot describe how exhilarating and peaceful it was. Just incredible!

Quality of Experience

Experienced guides, safety first, very friendly, amazing views. It was incredible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Veit was the best. He and I just chatted while floating around in the air, no big deal! He made me feel very safe and comfortable.

Zürich city guided walking tour

Switzerland

Our guide Urs was a joy. He was very interesting and knowledgeable about Zurich. We walked several miles, covering lots of ground and history and seeing so many interesting sights. He stopped for photos and at the end of the tour he gave us a local restaurant recommendation which was delicious. We loved that it was just us, not a group, as it would've been hard to have a lot of people listening to him unless you had headsets. This was so much more personal. He was a pleasure to talk to and definitely takes pride in his job. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Very interesting and we loved walking around the city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knowledgeable guide who loved talking about Zurich.

Our trip was absolutely incredible. Andrea really hit it on the head. We had just a few ideas when we started this planning process, and this trip exceeded all of our expectations. Our hotels were amazing - I adored the uniqueness of them and how centrally located they all were. All the companies we worked with for the tours were excellent and easy to work with. Private transfers were on time and very kind. We could talk for hours about how every single detail of this trip was perfect - using KimKim and Andrea took so much stress off of my shoulders and allowed me to enjoy this trip to the fullest. Could not recommend Andrea and this service more!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Residence

Amalfi

LOVED this hotel in Amalfi!!! The location was incredible and the view was stunning. Would 1000% stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Pendini

Florence

Excellent location and breakfast! Loved our little balcony in our room and beds were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - small group

Rome

This was one very long and extended due to the fact that we could not go to St Peters square that day. So it felt like the rest of the tour was extended so that we still hit 3 hours. Wish we learned more about the Vatican and what it is over standing outside staring at a picture of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling for 30 min.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - small group guided tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Chianti Full Immersive Wine & Olive Oil Experience from Florence (small group)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence small group guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were a group of family members who traveled together to Japan for the first time. We had no idea what to plan when we first started so a lot of ideas and plans were made and then changed. Angel was able to work through all that with us and was flexible and helpful all along the way. I am sure that it was frustrating for her as we made decisions and then changed them! In the end we had an amazing trip that all 10 of us enjoyed and I think we saw and did everything that Japan could offer in 3 weeks. I would defiantly use KimKim again. They were reasonable in pricing yet were able to provide us with private tours, transport and guides all along the way. Transport was excellent. Guides and drivers showed up on time and ready to give us their best. Suggested tour ideas from Angel turned out well. We had the first foodie tour that was below our expectations and Angel worked hard to provide us a better experience for the next one. I appreciate that. Not everything works out the way you envision but being able to change and improve on the fly makes this company and this agent great.
One activity that I would recommend was the meditation session that we had with Rev. Takafumi Kawakami at Shunkoin in Myoshinji Temple. Not only did we have an enlightening session along with a tea service but the Reverend was also engaging and free with his time and knowledge about his temple and his life. Such a learning experience for all of us.
We make katana's at a forge just outside of Kyoto and that was also a crowd pleaser. The small but mighty samurai and ninja museum in Kyoto was well worth the small entrance fee and short time that the tour lasts. The Gion Geshia show and walking tour was an experience that shouldn't be missed. The rickshaw ride through the bamboo forest was very cool. We did a cooking class in Tokyo that was excellent as well as enjoyed the team lab planet experience. We were fortunate enough to be in Japan during the sumo wrestling tournament and everyone enjoyed that event. Just for future - don't get the 4 person box for 4 people. Way too small! Angel did warn us but we wanted to experience it that way so that's what we did. Next time only 2 people in a 4 person box. Thanks Angel for putting our trip together for us.

Thank you Kim Kim for a fabulous trip to Greece.
Every aspect of trip was brilliant.
The pre planning and holiday design with Rebecca was perfect, we achieved our holiday goals and have many places we would like return to. It was a great introduction to Greece.
Gina - Met us on our first night in Athens fo r a welcome coffee & introduction to city, a great gesture after travelling 32 hours from NZ
George- we loved the food tour, your wealth of knowledge on Greek food, Greek culture and the universe in general, great company.
Nicholas- Thank you for your fascinating tour of the Acropolis. We followed up the next day with a trip to the Acropolis Museum, which completed the experience.
We left Greece with wonderful Memories and we will return. Thank you

Everything was awesome, the service the attention and overall we are very happy with the whole trip

Our guides Evana in Split, Jelena in Hvar and Nika in Dubrovnik were absolutely amazing. They took their time with us, and we felt very comfortable around them. Jelena was especially nice, we laughed with her, shared family stories and family photos, she felt like she was part of our family. Each of them were very knowledgeable about their cities and made each tour informative and memorable. The most memorable part of our trip would have to be the bicycle tour in Hvar and the Blue Cave boat tour in Hvar. On the bicycle tour, we were able to get a better idea of the culture and bike around small towns and see the true beauty of the city. The boat tour gave us a ride to the Blue Cave (breathtaking) and to a couple other beaches which were beautiful as well.

Hotel Reviews

Bota Palace

Dubrovnik

This Hotel was right in the heart of Dubrovnik on the main street, easy access to all restaurant, shops, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast brough to your room every morning

Location

It was on the main street which made it easily accessible

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom was beautiful and clean, the sleeping area was spacious and the beds were very comfortable

Heritage Hotel Dea

Hvar

The hotel staff were so nice and polite. Very hard workers

Authenticity & Character

loved the restaurant area and the breakfast choices.

Location

It was right near the port which made it easier for travel to and from Hvar

Staff

both of the men working there were very friendly, always seemed eager to help and made sure our stay was comfortable

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean bathroom and beds. Beds were comfortable and stocked with plenty of toiletries.

Villa Toni Design Apartments

Split

Wonderful, the host of the hotel was very accommodating and very, very nice. The hotel, was clean, and near all the things we wanted to see in Split.

Authenticity & Character

breakfast in the little area off the main lobby

Location

close to the Diocletian Castle

Staff

The host was so friendly and accommodating, made us feel very welcome

Cleanliness & Comfort

had a nice living area in addition to the bedroom which gave it more room

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

This was a special tour, we were able to see the city from an actual tour guide that grew up within the city walls, so she was able to point out personal landmarks for us. The fact that this City is contained in the 4 walls made us feel safe and comfortable, we truly felt like we belonged there, not just as a tourist

Quality of Experience

If you are a game of thrones fan, the steps?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nika was beautiful and helpful, gave us some good recommendations for coffee, wine and dinner. Made us feel very welcome in her home city, even showed us where her parents still live

Transport

Private Island of Hvar Cycling Tour

Croatia

This was one of our favorite excursions. Jelena was outstanding, she made us feel very welcome and took time to show us little details of the city that one would not necessarily know if they traveled without a tour guide. We got to spend time at a small family owned winery, saw plenty of olive trees, grape vines, fig trees, and some quaint little cities along the way.

Quality of Experience

Did not feel rushed at all throughout the tour, got to learn a lot about Hvar and its beauty. This was a wonderful place to visit

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jelena was fun to be around, she is well known around the city so she made us feel like part of the city too when we were with her.

Transport

Small Group Speedboat Tour: Blue Cave, Vis Island, & Pakleni Islands

Hvar

Absolutely stunning attraction. The Blue Cave was better than we imagined. We were able to go to a couple of other beaches to swim, one being one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the boaters were very friendly and made sure we felt safe at all times

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Evana was delightful and made the tour memorable. She even dealt with the downpour of rain in a professional manner. She was very knowledgeable and took her time to explain things to us.

Quality of Experience

Just learning about the history and seeing the inside of the Castle

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Evana was great, she answered our questions and gave us insights on where to shop and dine

Transport

Our trip was fabulous and it was even better because of the knowledgeable and friendly guides that we had along the way. Our only regret is that we didn't stay longer. We usually plan our trips ourselves and it was made so much more seamless with kimKim and Croatique handling all the details. Wouldn't hesitate to use them again. It was worth the extra cost. Peter and Ivana (both Ivanas :-)) were fun and great to have around. Nikola was always available and each night we got a detailed text as to the next day's events. He timely handled any requests we had and when the weather prohibited some of our plans, he worked hard to make something else happen that we would be happy with and when not possible offered a refund (which was unexpected but much appreciated).

Hotel Reviews

Villa Orabelle

Dubrovnik

Beautiful hotel nice room, comfortable bed. When we arrived there was a hand written note and a bottle of wine in our room. Each night they had turn down service and left a little treat. It made us feel extra special.

Authenticity & Character

Very modern and lovely infinity pools (although, I will say the were quite chilly)

Location

Away from the hustle and bustle of old town. also only about a 15 minute walk to and from

Staff

Wonderful and friendly staff. again very accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It would have been nice to have robes in the room.

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

Lovely hotel. Our room had a peekaboo view of the sea and a nice little patio. The fridge wasn't cooling so the staff was nice enough to chill our wine while we went to the beach and for a bike ride. It would have been nice to have robes in the room.

Authenticity & Character

It was more modern but the breakfast area had a lovely view of the sea .

Location

It was a close walk to the old town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Dea

Hvar

Great location not far from the docks. Accommodating staff and friendly. We had our laundry service done and they gave us a 50% discount!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was two twins put together. It was comfortable but to make it even better it would be nice to have a mattress topper.

Makarun Heritage Rooms

Split

Great location, excellent breakfast, accommodating staff.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Guest House Forty-Four

Dubrovnik

Lovely accommodations and helpful staff. Paula even walked us to the restaurant that she had made reservations for us at.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice off the beaten path in old town.

Staff

friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)

Croatia

This was a great experience the Mujo Family was so gracious and welcoming. They loved sharing what they do and made us feel like we were a part of it all. It ended up being a bit longer than we had anticipated, but was a great experience nonetheless.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Ivana (a different one) was funny, engaging and knowledgeable. We enjoyed it. She gave us good advice for where to start the wall walk also which as very helpful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sea Kayak Tour on Korčula

Korčula

This didn't happen because of the Bura winds. We were told we would get a refund for that which was unexpected and appreciated.

Quality of Experience

Due to Bura Winds we couldn't go on this it was cancelled.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Island of Hvar Cycling Tour & Visit to the Local Winery

Croatia

Well this bike tour didn't happen because of the thunderstorms and heavy rains. But the guide still picked us up and showed us what he could and ended up at his winery/home. His wine tasting room was amazing. 350 years old and it was just the two of us. It wasn't what we had planed but no one can control the weather. Unfortunately all the tours for the next day were booked so there weren't any other options. Our guide was very sweet and did what he could to still make it special and informative.

Quality of Experience

I mean it wasnt what we had hoped to do but it was at least something.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Experience at Local Winery

Croatia

This was a lovely winery and we had a nice lunch there. Ante Sladic Winery has mostly younger wines, but I could see if they were stored for a bit longer, they would be even better.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Trip to Krka National Park & Šibenik

Croatia

Ivana was our guide for this as well and she had a driver this time with her and he was FANTASTIC! That guy knew all the ins and outs of how to get around the ginormous busses on a VERY narrow road into the park. Having a driver made it so much more efficient and Ivana knew how to get around the crowded areas in the park as well. By the end of the day, I felt like we had been friends for a long time. :-)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Split

Croatia

Ivana was great and very knowledgeable. Very friendly and funny! I was so happy when we found out she would be our guide the next day also!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ston Oysters Experience & Wine Tasting

Croatia

It was a great couple of stops. The oyster experience was extra special because we were the only two on the boat. THe winds prevented us from actually having lunch out on the floating "restaurant" but they took us back to the actual restaurant and we were able to experience that as well. All in all it was a wonderful trip. The winery was really interesting small estate winery with REALLY good wines. Nice tour and history of how they make their wines and great tastings. Would have liked to be able to bring some of their wine back!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peter was so amazing and wanted so much for our time to be enjoyable

My husband and I are active, independent travelers and really appreciated customized Berat's itinerary planning for our trip to Turkey. We'd never used KimKim -- or gone to Turkey before -- but had an excellent experience! Berat's hotel choices were great -- we stayed three nights at the Bank Hotel in Istanbul which we really enjoyed (we'd just gotten off a small cabin on a sailboat so the quiet room with the big bed and bathroom were appreciated!) We were paired with a fabulous private guide, Volkan, whose passion, knowledge and enthusiasm about the history of the area was really exciting. We walked all over Istanbul for two days with Volkan and had an amazing time. It's a busy, crowded city and our guide's ability to navigate the crowds, neighborhoods and city sites allowed us to cover the city more efficiently and reduce the stress of doing this all on our own. We travelled on foot, by boat (on the Bosphorus) and by local mass transit and cab. From Istanbul we headed to Canakkale to view some WWI sites and memorials then on to Pergamon, Troy and Sirince (near Ephesus). With Volkan we saw SO many interesting ancient ruins and museums. He providing excellent guiding and briefings, but also gave us time on our own to enjoy and soak up the culture and history. We spent one night in Behramkale at a lovely small hotel with a gorgeous sunset view and then two nights in the village of Sirince. Berat was extremely professional and responsive during the entire process and answered all our questions. It was amazing, all the way around.

Hotel Reviews

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

I'm so glad Berat booked us here. It's at the far end of the village on a rather rough road but worth it. Enjoyed dining there two nights -- beautiful terrace and nice breakfast, too. I wouldn't recommend for folks with mobility issues as the road is a bit rough and uphill. Fun to walk through the shops and lanes below the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Assos Sunset Boutique Hotel

Çanakkale

Very cute, friendly hotel. I would not recommend for anyone with mobility issues as there were a lot of stone steps! Beautiful terrace with sunset views. We had a simple pasta dinner and a bottle of wine - very enjoyable. Watched the distant lightening as the sky grew dark.

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very good - but there were dead batteries in the TV and the power outlet by the sink did not work. A few minor things. Otherwise very comfortable overall.

Bengodi Boutique Hotel

Very few people were staying here so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Beautiful area. We had a wine tasting and ate dinner there that night - great food. Also the small adjacent museum is worth a look.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bank Hotel

Istanbul

Great location and very quiet. Nice bar and upscale restaurant upstairs. They'll do laundry -- but it's spendy (we were desperate!) Excellent breakfast, comfy bed -- perfect, all the way around.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Galata Bridge.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

They left us chocolates!

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer to Çanakkale: Explore the WWI Sites of Gallipoli -

Turkey

I was really curious about this strategic area of the world -- and the battles fought there during WWI. The memorials and views are great and our guide did a great job of providing background and context.

Strolling around Old City Walls, Fener + Balat

İstanbul

We walked all over! Having Volkan (our guide) with just me and Connelly made this a really fun -- and efficient day. We especially enjoyed a local farmer's market. Spices cost less there than at the bigger Spice market. Our trip on the Bosphorus was fun, too. Another way to see the city -- by water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Our guide gave us an amazing history lesson when he met us at our hotel the first day -- a review of Ottoman and pre-Ottoman Empire history that we really appreciated as it put everything in perspective. We did the mosques and the Topkapi Palace on a Sunday and the city was really busy and crowded. Having a guide made a difference! Istanbul is amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guðmundur Óli nailed it!! Our family car trip to Iceland couldn't have been better! 100% fewer arguments and headaches because we followed his wonderful itineray. He did a fantastic job curating our trip to our interests and tastes!

Ten days in Mexico City. The Zocalo Central hotel was lovely and conveniently located for exploring the Historic Center. Our two guided tours, History and street food tasting (Daniella), and Flavors of San Juan Market (Clara from Eat Mexico) were excellent. Pablo was also excellent in our guided tour of the Anthropological Museum. Fortunately we went early and avoided massive crowds. Chapultepec Castle on a Sunday afternoon is a mistake. We abandoned the plan because of crowds. Annemarie(?) guided us well at Teotihuacan. Personally, the Basilica was not a priority.
We had a good amount of independent time for the Rivera murals at the Secretaria de Education Public, Temple Mayor Museum, Museo de Artes Populares, National Museum.
Tepotzlan -- a beautiful retreat. While the staff at Hotel Rustic and Spa were fine, we were the only guests, the hotel did not have spa activities and seemed unprepared for us. The rooms were fairly basic, no hairdryer or hangers, and not especially clean. However the views with morning coffee were wonderful. We enjoyed exploring the town, and especially dinner at Veladora.
Coyoacan was a pleasant change from the Historic Center, and Casa Jacinta Guest House was charming, comfortable and well located. We especially loved eating at Los Danzantes and Corazon de Maguey. Watching the flow of vendors, families, couples in the Jardin Centenario was an easy way to pass the time between explorations.
The Ecological tour to the Chinampas of Xochimilco, guided by Pablo, was excellent, a relaxing and informative boat tour and farm visit on the historic canals.
Our drivers and airport transfers were efficient. Our guides all spoke English and were very knowledgeable.

Our travel agent Thanos was fantastic. He was very flexible and fun to work with. We had a large group and needed to make a lot of pivots and edits to our trip and he never seemed frustrated and always responded with positivity and a feeling that he was excited to make a trip that we were happy with. The trip itself was wonderful. Transportation was seamless. Excursions were amazing and our guides were the absolute best! Super friendly, informative, helpful and just FUN! During the trip Thanos was super responsive if questions came up r it we needed help. I am soooo happy with how our trip turned out and will definitely be using KimKim services for our next big excursion!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Mulino Di Firenze

Florence

Great hotel with lovely grounds. Evening restaurant is just okay but we really enjoyed the complimentary breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful with calling taxis for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apartment in Sorrento

Okay apartment but better for smaller groups given the layout. The main challenge was the bathrooms did not have doors in 2 of the bedrooms making sharing hard and the sink was outside of the bathroom. There were also some places that seemed to have mildew. The spaces are were overall small and we ended up just keeping some of our luggage in the living room. Beds were comfortable, the outdoor area was lovely, great location. The manager was very helpful with recommendations , trouble shooting, helping us organize transportations, etc. We really appreciated his help during the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mildew stains and the overall layout was hard for such a large group

Activity Reviews

Tour To Capri From Sorrento

Italy

A must do! So beautiful. We were able to swim twice and had free time on Capri to explore and eat at the seaside restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was just okay compared to the friendliness of our others on other excursions

Transport

Loved the size of the boat but was an older model.

Private Full-Day Tour to Cinque Terre

Florence

One of the highlights of the trip!! Our guide Andrea was amazing and the whole day was filled with fun and delicious food. Would do this again in a heartbeat!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siena & San Gimignano with wine tasting & lunch

Florence

Small family owned winery that was in an amazing scenic location. Our guide was so sweet and the tour and tasting was small and intimate. We really enjoyed ourselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Timely and kind driver.