Kimkim Trip Reviews

Our first trip abroad was nothing short of amazing thanks to the excellent planning of our local specialist, Vickie. She called us ahead of our trip to ask questions and help us through some details as this was our first time traveling abroad. Once we arrived in Auckland and throughout our visit everything went smoothly. Our accommodations were perfect. When we arrived at 6:30 AM our first day, we were given complimentary early check-in at the reception. Throughout our 12 day stay we truly got to experience a wide variety of places and activities on both the North and South islands. Vickie wove together an itinerary that flowed well and allowed us to do something special and uniquely New Zealand every day. The only thing I would change if we have the opportunity to visit again is to stay longer! There still is so much more to see and do! We felt we easily could have stayed 2-3 days more in the cities we visited.

Hotel Reviews

Sudima Lake Rotorua

Rotorua

Our lodging was spacious and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

It is a normal hotel environment.

Location

Located right near the geothermal lake and also walking distance to anything downtown. Once we had our car parked and were checked in we were able to do everything there by foot.

Staff

Everyone was friendly, kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront

Queenstown

A nice place to stay. Accommodation is average.

Authenticity & Character

It has a lovely open reception area.

Location

Close to downtown and a park walking/running trail.

Staff

They responded kindly and curiously.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rainforest Retreat

Franz Josef Glacier

A very unique place to stay. It truly is in the rainforest. They had a kitchenette in the room with Keurig coffee maker, hot water heater, electric frother and toaster available.

Authenticity & Character

It has a feel of being in the forest but still having our comforts and conveniences.

Location

It is walking distance to everything in Fraz Josef.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was welcoming upon arrival.

Clearbrook Motels Wanaka

Wanaka

This place is truly a home away from home. Everything was clean and welcoming. Having a washer and drier was perfect as we were midway through our trip.

Authenticity & Character

It was a very relaxing place and we loved the loft and high windows.

Location

Located walking distance to the city center and around the corner from the food trucks.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Being able to look out our window to see Mt. Cook was nothing short of amazing. The sky windows are awesome for experiencing sleeping under the breath taking night sky. We stayed in the motel that had a full kitchen for making your own meals. However we did not do that for our single night stay. We had breakfast and dinner up at the lodge. The timing was such that we had the buffet meals. The food was delicious with a wide variety of choices. The wait staff was outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

Modern comfort in the middle of natural beauty!

Location

Being right in Mt Cook National Park is spectacular. We could fit in a hike before dark.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our lodging had heated towel racks. Everything was spotless and welcoming.

Scenic Hotel Cotswold

Christchurch

We stayed here for a total of three nights on our visit to the South Island. One night before we departed to tour the island and then for two before we caught our flight home. Our accommodation was roomy for 3 traveling adults. We loved having separate bedrooms with the living area to share. The heated bathroom floor was an added bonus! What ended up being the best we’re the e-bikes they have available for rental. We used them on our free day to explore Christchurch. Hagley park is located close by and has lots of trails to enjoy. Plus the botanical gardens is just over a mile walking distance away. All of the people working reception were kind, courteous, and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

The place has the look and character of a little village.

Location

Close to amazing restaurants, Hagley Park and botanical garden.

Staff

Everyone is very friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was very clean and looks as though it was recently remodeled. Their weight and exercise room and bathroom is hopefully their next place to update.

M Social

Auckland

M Social was our first accommodation when we arrived to New Zealand at 6:30 in the morning. When our driver dropped us off at the hotel they had a room available for us and we were given complimentary early check-in. That was such a welcomed delight after 20 hours of travel! Everything was clean and the breakfast buffet had a wide variety of tasty offerings. The staff was pleasant and welcoming. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Everything was modern and the room had encouraging sayings on the walls. The sliding bathroom wall was unique.

Location

It was located downtown and right on the harbor.

Staff

Everyone was kind and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

New Zealand

Kayaking in the moonlight makes this adventurous! We were able to experience seeing the glow worms in a few different caves. Another highlight was the beauty of the night sky! Our guides did a great job leading us in the darkness. This is a unique New Zealand experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari

Auckland

This was a great experience to get out on the waters near Auckland. However on our tour we did not see any whales or dolphins. But we did get a lifetime voucher to come back anytime to try again.

Quality of Experience

It was great to experience the water, but would be better if we saw whales or dolphins. However this is something you have to realize when you take these tours. The wildlife doesn’t show up on command or our schedule.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They stayed positive and were very kind and tuned into the needs of the passengers.

Transport

We felt safe and comfortable under their expert handling of the cruise ship.

Hobbiton Tour

New Zealand

This is a must for LOTR and Hobbit fans! And even if you aren’t this setting is like stepping into a magical fairytale land! It is something everyone who visits New Zealand should take in! Ending the tour having a drink at the Green Dragon is an opportunity to meet and talk with other travelers from all over the world if you so choose.

Quality of Experience

It was fun! Our guide was enthusiastic and this made the tour extra fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bus ride was comfortable going out and the video does a nice job setting the tone for the experience.

TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

This was a wonderful farm to table experience. The sheep shearing and sheep herding demonstration is amazing for those of us unfamiliar with this environment.

Quality of Experience

Food

I highly recommend the sticky date pudding! It’s like a bit of heaven!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of the staff were top notch. Positive atmosphere and all were friendly.

Transport

The boat ride makes the experience special. However I can’t give it a 5 star because the sound system on the boat needs an upgrade or update. We couldn’t understand what was being said as it was all muffled.

Te Pā Tū Māori Feast & Performance

Rotorua

The entire evening is a delightful experience. The event is designed to make friends with the Māori village and fellow travelers. We learned much about the history and culture of the Māori people and enjoyed taking part in activities, listening to their music and enjoying superior hospitality for dinner. This is a must for a North Island visit to New Zealand. Added plus, they pick you up from your accommodation to take you to the village.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our hostess in the drive to and from did an awesome job making everyone feel welcome and did an excellent job explaining things. Plus she has a beautiful singing voice!

Transport

Milford Sound Coach/Nature Cruise ex ZQN + Lunch

Queenstown (NZ)

This day trip is nothing short of amazing! It is a must see for everyone visiting New Zealand South Island! Having a bus ride in allows for everyone to enjoy the view of the twisty turny drive to Milford Sound.

Quality of Experience

We were very fortunate to have some rain the day we visited. It made for spectacular waterfalls!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Brian, our driver was extremely knowledgeable about everything on this tour. He shared a wealth of information in a very interesting and entertaining way. Plus he definitely is an expert driver handling all the difficult motorways there!

Transport

Wanaka Bike Tours - Hawea to Wanaka

Wānaka

This bike ride was one of the highlights of our visit. The trail was beautiful as it followed the path of the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver dropped us off after giving us a brief rundown of the trail. He gave us his phone number and was available for questions if we needed anything.

Transport

Okarito Lagoon Guided Kayak Trip

Franz Josef Glacier

We were blessed to have a clear beautiful calm day! The whole experience was relaxing and magical. Our guide, native of Ohio, did a wonderful job sharing the history of the area and educating us about the environment and wildlife of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed our guide. He was personable and very energetic. He seems to enjoy what he is doing.

Transport

It was a very short ride from town to the lake.

KimKim did an excellent job planning our 1-month NZ trip. Lydia organized our days with a variety of activities, such as biking, hiking and tours. When we had questions or concerns about our agenda Lydia was very prompt with responses and resolutions. The trip was well planned and we won’t hesitate to use KimKim in the future. We LOVED our trip, thank you!

Check this one off the bucket list! My wife and I have wanted to get to Scandinavia for a while - hunt for the Aurora Borealis, see Reindeer, stay at an Ice Hotel, be a 'musher' on a Dog Sled, etc . This trip to Norway, with the help of KimKim / Ezdi exceeded all expectations. All the things we wanted to do, we did... and more! Oslo was beautiful; we stayed at a 5-Start hotel: The Thief - for our 1st few days in Norway. The staff was MAGNIFICENT …. the dining SUPERB! The area is on a man made island and includes museums, galleries, businesses, restaurants, shops and more. Everything you need is within walking distance. .. even the Nobel Peace Center, the HQ for Helly Hansen, and the Royal Palace - residence to the King and Queen of Norway.

Then, we head north, inside the Arctic Circle - an hour and 45 minute flight to Tromso. After landing, we took a 10 minute bus ride through the mountains via a tunnel to Tromso city and our hotel: Scandic Ishavshotel - right at the marina. Views were spectacular. Tromso is a cute 'village' with wonderful and ample shopping, restaurants, site seeing, and, oh yes, The Troll Museum!! We used the Scandic as sort of our 'home base' as we ventured out on day and overnight trips to places like Camp Tamok for a night stay in the Tromso Ice Domes (Brrrrrr), snow shoeing, dig sledding, and hunting (WITH SUCCESS) the Northern Lights... and a night stay at Lyngen North and their Glass Igloos - this time with heat and unparalleled views of the Lyngen Fjord and Lyngen Alps through our floor to ceiling AND ceiling windows! Also, another beautiful night to soak in the Northern Lights! The staff at both Camp Tamok and Lyngen North were wonderful! ... Oh, I can't forget the reindeer we saw at Camp Tamok and the moose at Lyngen North.

A Holiday of a lifetime!

All the guides were wonderful except the guide for the stargazing tour in the Atacama Desert. She spoke 90% of the time in Spanish and gave little information to her English customers except answering their questions.

The itinerary that James put together for us did not disappoint. From Lisbon to Sintra to Cascais, to Evora, to Coimbra, to Douro Valley and finally to Porto. All accommodations were unique and above par, absolutely no complaints. I can't say enough great things about the tours and the guides that were booked. All of the guides were professional, knowledgeable and fun! The drivers were all exceptional. Overall, the trip was amazing. Thanks, KimKim!

Activity Review

Explore Lisbon with a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall we enjoyed the trip thoroughly. ALL the staff including Wendy, Andrea, Andreas, Martin, and, everyone were knowledgeable, kind, caring and very attentive to our special needs. Aside from the physical strains of walking hills where unavoidable, we have no complaints. The hotel in Bogota (Sofitel) was a gem and we loved it. However, the same cannot be said for Park 10 (Medellin). This was one of the WORST places I have ever stayed. It was exactly the opposite of what we had requested. These people were very kind and tried to help, but have no idea how to operate a hotel. We had NO hot water most of the time, no one could adjust the A/C so that we were not cold all the time, no one could get the TV (Direct TV) to produce anything but Spanish speaking channels, numerous technical issues which never were resolved, etc. The original hotel would have been great except the brochure does not mention that most rooms could only be accessed by long, steep, dangerous stairways with no railings. When none of the rooms we were supposed to get were available they were of no help in accommodating us. Really ruined a good part of our stay in Medellin.
So after this long litany of complaints, let me conclude by thanking your entire organization for providing us with a wonderful memory of our anniversary in your beautiful country, with its kind people and welcoming spirit.

Cristina was the best, always attentive to our needs.

We had an amazing trip overall to Chile (Valparaiso, Santiago, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Atacama desert and Patagonia). The trip was smooth, informative, had great guides overalls and very few hiccups.

The few elements I would propose to improve:

1. Our first night in Hotel Fundador was not good. We had a horribly tiny room that gave to the front of the hotel. We were on the 2nd floor and it was extremely noisy. I had never been in a hotel room that small. During our second stay at the hotel for the end of our trip, we told them this and they gave us their standard room which was much better
2. We weren't aware that we could fly directly to Puerto Natales (instead of flying to Punto Arenas which was 3 hours away via bus) - it would be good to have been told that a flight to Puerto Natales was preferred
3. Our tour operator in San Pedro de Atacama would give us intervals for pick-up (for example: between 4-4:30AM) - it would be preferred to have a shorter interval especially when the pick-up is that early
4. Our tour operator in San Pedro de Atacama sub-contracted a tour to the Tatio Geysers without telling us when the tour was meant to occur with them if there were at least 2 people. It was bad because they didn't warn us and the new tour operator had a different pick-up time: instead of 4-4:30AM, it was 4:30-5AM. We lost sleep because of this poor communication. We were very unhappy with this and it was hard to even get a "sorry, this was our mistake"
5. We originally had a rainbow valley tour in Atacama, but it was cancelled due to poor weather. This was fine, but the replacement tour was an "archeological tour". It was not a great tour - very little to see - very little information
6. Following my comment in #5, it would have been better that the tour operator rearrange our schedule to include the full day Pierras Rojas tour. We asked for them to suggest new tours, etc., but they were not helpful.

As you see, we have some feedback but I need to highlight how enjoyable Rapa Nui Tours (guide: Sabrina Tuki Pont), Patagonia Planet and CL Mundo were. Our tour operator in Atacama (Capricornio Expediciones) was disappointing overall such that our experience in Atacama was less enjoyable.

Ana was excellent. We would definitely work with Kimkim again.

Two other comments:
- Maybe include more restaurant suggestions in the given locations
- I would have preferred that the tours be English only, and not bilingual Spanish/English. We felt that we would get less information on bilingual tours than on English only tours.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lady Florence Dixie

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room could be renovated, but still was comfortable enough for our needs.

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Fantastic hotel with kind staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fundador

Santiago, Región Metropolitana

Our first stay, we had a terribly tiny room. We could not have our luggage open in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ultramar

Valparaíso

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vai Moana

Easter Islan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day Hiking Base Las Torres - 20km approx

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cejar & Tebinquiche Lagoons - Atacama Salt Flat

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

The tour ended up being great, but Capricornio Expediciones was very poor in communicating the time of pick-up (time changed so we lost 30 minutes sleep) and the fact that they sub-contracted the tour without telling us We were also meant to be dropped off at our hotel, but that didn't happen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise at Tongariki

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Orongo Tour

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easter Island Full Day Tour

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day - Valparaiso & Viña del Mar

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Astronomy Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic excursion to the Torres del Paine National Park (with Box Lunch)

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It would have been better to have an English only tour - not bilingual

Transport

Rainbow Valley

San Pedro de Atacama

We did not have this activity - it was an archeological tour. I would not recommend - it was not informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Puritama Hotsprings

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset at Tahai

Easter Island

We did not need this activity given our hotel was 5 minutes away by foot. I would recommend another tour instead of this one for people staying in Vai Moana hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago Markets City Bike Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Moon Valley and Mirador Ckari

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Would have preferred an English only tour.

Transport

Half Day Akivi Tour

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fantastic trip from start to finish! Oslo is a beautiful walking city with such focus on history and art. Tromso a must see and highly recommend overnights to Tromso Ice Domes and Lyngen North Glass Igloos. People of Norway are amazing! Friendly, helpful and very welcoming!

Nepal exceeded our expectations in everything! The trip was just amazing. Sangita helped us to plan everything we want to visit, provided very detailed information regarding everything. We didn't need to worry about anything. All the hotels were really nice and comfortable, the food was so delicious, we are going to miss it a lot! Our Kathmandu guide Bipin told us numerous interesting stories about Nepal and answered every crazy question we had :) Our trekking experience was also amazing, we very really excited with the mountains. And again we didn't have to think about anything as our guide Akaci was taking care of our route, meals, hotels.

I would like to say numerous thanks to Sangita and her team for this experience! Nepal is a wonderful country and we definitely wish to come back!

My sister and I decided we wanted to take a trip to Spain together, however neither of us had the time to plan all of the details. This is where kimkim came in. The travel quiz goes over things such as budget, what your travel style is, what kinds of activities you enjoy, etc. You are able to customize how much planning kimkim does for you. We decided it would be most helpful for us to have our hotels and transportation booked, but that we would like to book our own activities. Then we were connected with our local specialist, Yuri. Kimkim had a curated list of trusted hotels in each city we planned to visit, and we were able to go through and select the ones we liked. Yuri was even able to upgrade us to a nicer hotel for the same price for one of our stays! All of the hotels were excellent. One of the highlights of our trip was a free walking tour Yuri set up for us in Madrid. The guide took us on a custom tour of the city based on our interests and what we had seen so far; his knowledge of Madrid and it's history was remarkable. Unfortunately, a few days into our trip, I left my phone in the car that transferred us to the train station. This is where Yuri really became MVP. He was able to contact the company, and they were able to find my phone and mail it to me at our final destination!! He went way above and beyond, and was so kind and helpful when this happened. Overall, we had an amazing trip to Spain. Kimkim and Yuri made the planning process and the trip itself smooth and seamless. Yuri was invaluable, and we cannot thank him enough for all of his help!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Astoria

Barcelona

Beautiful hotel in a great location. Very walkable and close to the metro. The room and bathroom were very spacious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cortezo

Madrid

This hotel was in an excellent location, we were able to walk for all of our sightseeing in Madrid.

Authenticity & Character

Location

very walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

bathroom could've been a little cleaner

H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel

Sevilla

This hotel is in an excellent location, the staff are very friendly and it is beautiful. Our room appeared to be newly remodeled, it was bright and inviting. This was our favorite hotel on our trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private City Highlights Walk

Madrid

Our walking tour of Madrid was one of the highlights of our trip!! Our guide, Enrique, did an outstanding job of showing us around the city. He came up with a custom tour on the spot based on our interests, and what we had already seen in Madrid; it completely exceeded our expectations. He even took us up to a rooftop spot for a drink with a beautiful view of Madrid. It made the tour even more memorable and special. After our tour, Enrique gave us a list of bars and restaurants to visit, and even told us what he recommended ordering at each spot. So not only did we get a custom walking tour, but we also got a custom tapas tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful and fun New Zealand Holiday. Tried to see and experience as much as we could in 12 days. Our guides for cruising Aukland Harbor, visiting Hobbiton, ziplining Rotorua , kayaking Franz Josef , biking Lake Wanaka, bus touring Milford Sound were all competent helpful and friendly. The Māori culture and the Queenstown cruise / dinner events were excellent . Thank you to KimKim everything went smoothly.

Our Trek to Langtang Valley and Kyang Ri was amazing. Our guide Dafuri Sherpa was very attentive and knowledgeable ensuring we had a great trek. Ngima arrange all our transportation and sightseeing guide. He responded quickly to any questions we had. I would definitely book with them again

Susan

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio was definitely our favorite. We saw tons of wildlife. Our guides in the parks were incredible, Jeremy and Karla. We saw sloths, monkeys, and tons of birds, even scarlet macaws. On our snorkeling trip to isla del cano, we saw so much. Turtles, sharks, sting rays, plenty of colorful fish, even dolphins jumping on the way back. Our guide Nacho was great.

We probably could've spent one less night in Monteverde. It is green and beautiful and the town of Santa Elena is very walkable. Many restaurants and coffee shops. We enjoyed learning about the different environment in the cloud forest. Our guides on the night and day walk were excellent, very passionate about the ecosystem they were showing us. The zip lining was a very unique experience.

Tamarindo was probably our least favorite part of the trip. We stayed about a half hour north in Playa Flamingo, which is a beautiful beach. However, I wonder how our experience would have been different in the surf town. The area is very Americanized, it did not necessarily feel like we were in Costa Rica. We did an estuary tour and turtle watching, which was with the same guide. Moses was very knowledgable and prepared. We saw nine (!!) turtles on the beach.

Snorkeling in the Catalina Islands was very disappointing compared to what we saw before. The conditions were very windy, which made the water rough and currents strong. I was surprised that we were not required to wear lifejackets - especially as it was easy to drift away quickly. The water was cold - which is not their fault, they offered us wetsuits. But if I had known how many jellyfish were in the water, I would've taken them up on it. Thousands, though most were small but still did not feel good if you happened to be stung. I was twice and I know others on the boat were. This was with Pacific Coast dive company. We could've skipped this outing and stayed at the hotel beach.

On our final day we went to Sensoria, which was gorgeous. Our guides Rod and Jesus were excellent. The pools were incredible and like nothing I have ever seen before. This place is truly a gem. However, if I had known how far this was from our location, I would not have chosen to do this excursion that day. We spent 5-6 hours in the car on our last day in Costa Rica.

That is the only thing I wish I knew before booking the excursions - how far they were from the hotel/location. If I knew some of them were 2+ hours, I might have chosen a closer activity. Costa Rica is a gorgeous place with much diversity, so much to see and do. I highly recommend exploring this country. Also - whoever says rent a car and drive, don't listen to them. Would have been so much more stressful. Thank you Jessica for all the planning and the transfers were stress free. I only wish on the downloadable itinerary it said the lengths of the activities. That was only online, but as I had minimal access to wifi/no cell service, I downloaded the itinerary and referenced that.

Activity Reviews

Scuba Diving at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Manuel Antonio

This was probably the best activity of our trip. Can not recommend enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nighttime Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Experience (Seasonal)

Costa Rica

I had never done an experience like this. Moses was in contact with our groups, giving us the best chance of seeing turtles. We saw nine. It was great. He was very respectful of them, teaching us to be as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkeling at the Catalina Islands

Costa Rica

As I mentioned in our full review, we probably could have skipped this experience. The winds were very high, making the water conditions difficult. Life jackets were not required, and a family got into the water, realized they were not strong enough swimmers, and the boat had already drifted away. We had to help call for attention to them and get lifejackets and assistance. The water temperature was cold, they offered us wetsuits. I did not mind the temperature as much as the jellyfish. Thousands, unavoidable. I would have taken a wetsuit for extra protection had I known. The sting was not unbearable, but not pleasant. I was not the only one to get stung. Also there was not much to be seen, a few pufferfish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Did not offer much about them - if they were from costa rica, how much experience they had. More interested in interacting amongst themselves.

Transport

Carara National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Karla was very passionate and excited about what she was showing us. Her enthusiasm was contagious. We saw a lot of cool birds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

We saw so much. Really made the most of our time in the park. Jeremy was well prepared and knowledgable. Beach was gorgeous, as described.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

San José City Tour

San José

Oscar was great. It was a great start to our trip - we learned so much about Costa Rica. And had a great dinner!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sensoria: Land of Senses Full Day Tour

Costa Rica

This place was incredible. Truly special. Our guides were great, really enjoyed the area and knowledgable. Taught us about costa rica and let us customize the experience to what we wanted. Food was good also.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My mom and I wanted to take a trip to New Zealand but we were really overwhelmed with where to start and how to plan to see as much as we could in a 10 day period.

Kimkim was a really cool website that was visually appealing and helped us easily select options of preferences from what kind of stay to activities and things to see. It gives a “like to do” and “must do” option so your specialist can get a really good idea of how to plan the perfect trip.

After Liz reviewed our preferences she came back with an awesome proposal! It had beautiful hotels and so many really cool activities. We had a couple suggestions on taking some out and adding in others and Liz was so quick to respond and accommodating everything perfectly.

Our trip was really SOOO amazing and unforgettable! Having everything planned out made the whole trip flow so smoothly and I have to say it was SO nice having transportation pick up to and from the airports. Transportation was always so friendly and on time :). We did have one activity that cancelled unfortunately due to weather concerns. When I called the local office for customer service they got back to me within 30 minutes and had another activity moved and substituted which worked out so well!

We loved our specialist Liz! The printed itinerary booklet was beautiful and such a good memory keepsake and we appreciate all the help and follow up before during and after the trip. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Kimkim and our specialist liz to anyone planning a memorable vacation :)

Our 16 day trip through Portugal was fantastic. This could take some time as everything was as close to perfect as you could expect. We started in Lisbon and finished in Porto. Every detail was considered and taken care of by the KimKim team. James laid out a great itinerary, Chaima and Sam handled things when we arrived. From early check-in to prearrange transportation, all was perfect. Tour guides were always on time, prepared and well informed and all provided amazing recommendations throughout or tours. Every arranged pick up was perfect. Ana Filippa was amazing through the walking tour of Lisbon and was very helpful with recommendations for our other stops through Portugal. She answered every question and was able to anticipate most. Filipe was full of information throughout our food & wine tour in Lisbon. He also had many recommendations for the rest of our trip. He was as pleasant and interesting a person as you would want to meet. Next, Joao took us on our day trip to Sintra and then on to Cascais where we spent 2 nights. What a beautiful place. Again, all the information you would expect and more. We did make him run a little as we left our hotel a little early and just hopped into our ride without checking if the driver was our actual guide. He quickly caught his breath and was perfect for our day trip. We then spent 2 glorious nights in Evora and had a winery tour in Alentejo region which was fantastic. Highly recommend the winery tour with the private, home cooked lunch at the winery. Just amazing food and wine. Then it was off to Coimbra for 3 wonderful nights. Sara took us out for our walking tour of Coimbra - a great university town with a tremendous history. As a previous student at the university, she had all the insider information on the area along with some wonderful stories about attending a school that was founded in 1290. She also recommended a wonderful place to listen to Fado music. It was amazing. We then headed to the Douro Valley for 2 glorious nights at Quinta da Corte Estate winery. Breathless views, amazing wine and port, great food and one hang on to the holy sh*t handle drive on some steep and narrow roads to get there. First time can be intimidating but it gets better the more you drive around. From the moment we arrived to the when we left, we were made to feel at home. Our guide through the Douro Valley was Francisco. Again, full of knowledge and interesting facts about the region. Francisco was also helpful with suggestions for us as we would be heading to Porto next. We had Miguel as our walking tour guide and our bike tour. He was amazing. Especially through the rain filled bike tour. We were all drenched and still, Miguel made it wonderful. From the market to the fish lunch. All things considered, this was one of the best vacations we have taken. Thanks to All who helped make this happen.

Hotel Reviews

Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Coimbra

It is located downtown. Walking distance to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Convento do Espinheiro, Historic Hotel & Spa

Evora

It is an old Convent. Filled with history and a beautiful church.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

It is inside some very high walls. Quiet and comfortable. Breakfast is awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Altis Prime Hotel de Apartamentos

Lisbon

Perfect location. Clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Everything in Lisbon is a short taxi ride or walk from this location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Take a Bike Tour of Porto & Visit the Fishing Village of Afurada

Porto

Quality of Experience

Even in the pouring rain this was Amazing!

Food

The food was great. The staff even let us borrow some umbrellas so we could walk to the market. Above and Beyond.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take a Tuk-Tuk Tour to Spectacular Lookout Points

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy a Private Walking Tour of Porto

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip in the Douro Valley - Wine Tour & River Cruise

Douro Valley

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wander the Historical Streets of Coimbra with a Private Walking Tour

Coimbra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Tour of Evora

Évora

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Missed many things as sites were closed or closing as we arrived.

Alentejo Vineyard Visit with Traditional Lunch

Évora

Quality of Experience

Food

Home cooked meal. It was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Sintra & Finishing in Cascais

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Food & Wine Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Lisbon with a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

In regard to our tour to Romania and Bulgaria : February 27 to March 20 2023. It was a most wonderful experience. I enjoyed a lot been able to know in depth two spectacular countries with so many varied activities including views to palaces and castles, roman architecture, spectacular art paintings in orthodox churches, citadels, walking in the snow in the Carpathian Mountains ( for my first time ), rural houses in an amazing life museum, a supper in the home of a Romanian rural family, Romanian wine tastings and even two days in an amazing Black Sea resort ( massages included ) in Constanta. All the credit for the success of this trip was due to Florin Preda, our travel guide ( with the useful attendance of travel guide Bogdan Pistritu ), not only for his excellent selection and modification of activities (due to weather problems), but also for the remarkable sensitivity he always showed to attend our special needs during the tour. You shall always keep his services as a remarkable guide to guarantee the success of KimKim in Romania.
I know this feeling is shared with all group members : Ivonne, Edward, Gabriel and my wife Maria.
My apologies for this late call.

Francisco J. García
[email protected]

Overall, a very positive experience working with Kimkim organizing and executing my 6-weeks "bucket list" trip across Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay
Ana - the planning specialist - has done a great job designing the initial trip and then adjusting it based on my feedback - I think we went through ~15 iterations of the plan
If you plan on travelling across multiple countries - I would highly recommend Kimkim, as most (all?) local travel agencies only operate in their own countries. Kimkim did organize the entire trip, including 'handovers' between local tour agencies, local and international airfare, hotels, and, of course, tours
You pretty much deal with 3 layers: Kimkim that hires a local travel agency, which, in turn, hires your actual tour provider. Kimkim will develop your detailed itinerary and most of the daily communication is done via WhatsApp. You will have an emergency contact # (across all countries) and a day before you will receive a WhatsApp reminding you of the next day activities - works pretty well!
We opted for a combo of group and individual tours and, in retrospect, I would highly recommend individual tours - you'll learn so much more, although, they are, of course, more expensive
Choice of hotels by Kimkim was pretty good - most in great, "walk to everything" locations, some even with swimming pools? (we opted for budget hotels)
In terms of highlights: Iguazu Falls, Atacama desert, Vina del Mar, El Calafate glaciers, Ushuaia, Mendoza horseback riding + wine tasting, Montevideo and Punta del Este. Personally, I wasn't that impressed with Bolivia/Uyuni salt flats or Bariloche
Obviously, Kimkim service comes at a price - but you pay for the convenience of Kimkim organizing everything for you

Hotel Reviews

Awa Boutique + Design Hotel

Punta del Este

Great new boutique hotel with indoor/outdoor pools and spa. Very helpful staff. A bit far from everything

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Esplendor Cervantes

Montevideo

Great location - walk to everything! Helpful staff. Hotel somewhat dated. Indoor pool + sauna

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Big Sur

Puerto Natales

Brand new hotel in a good location. Helpful staff. Rooms quite small

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ultramar

Valparaíso

Very far from everything and very dated

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fundador

Santiago, Región Metropolitana

Great location - walk to everything. Hotel is a bit dated. Very helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Takha Takha

San Pedro de Atacama

Outdoor swimming pool! A bit of a walking distance to main attractions

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Nobody spoke English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Patio de Piedra

La Paz

A unique / antique looking hotel in the heart of La Paz - walk to everything!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Leisure Day in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tigre & Delta of the Paraná

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montevideo City Tour

Montevideo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

High Mountain Experience (Aconcagua Mountain) 🏔️

Mendoza

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Horse Riding

Mendoza

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest Sailing

Bariloche

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tierra del Fuego National Park (Half day visit) 🌲🌿

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nautical Safari

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion 🗻

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic excursion to the Torres del Paine National Park (with Box Lunch)

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valparaíso Half Day Walking City Tour

Valparaíso

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic City Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainbow Valley

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Moon Valley and Mirador Ckari

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Puritama Hotsprings

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

UYUNI SALT FLATS + RESERVE & LAGOONS ESSENTIAL 3/3

Uyuni

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

UYUNI SALT FLATS + RESERVE & LAGOONS ESSENTIAL 2/3

Uyuni

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

UYUNI SALT FLATS + RESERVE & LAGOONS ESSENTIAL 1/3

Uyuni

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience city tour - half day

La Paz

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

LA PAZ CULTURAL CRUISE - LA PAZ FD

La Paz

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Adventure - Boat trip

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Argentinean Falls - Full day

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brazilian Falls - Half day

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Antonio de Areco & Estancia el Ombu

Buenos Aires

Somewhat interesting, but not much to see. Group horse riding not exciting. Lunch just OK

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Neighborhoods Tour

Buenos Aires

Big bus group tour - you learn a bit and take some pictures

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My trip was amazing! Chhiring greeted me at the airport and we had tea on a rooftop with Chhewang. From there I started my short hiking trip and Chhiring was an amazing guide! I stayed in beautiful hotel selections thanks to their planning and they were both very helpful. I’m forever grateful to them for the amazing trip they planned and the beautiful spots and culture in Nepal they showed me! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

Our family and friend did the Gokyo Lakes region trek with Kim Kim. It was a fantastic but challenging trek for this guy coming off some knee and ankle sporting injuries. The trip was extremely well coordinated by Ngima and his team. Our guide, Angelu Sherpa, was very attentive and helped us stay safe, keep us on track logistically including through some steep, cold, snowy and icy trails while helping us get the best views and photos. The porters Kunga and Shiring Sherpa were part of team as well and very helpful our group. I give the Kim Kim Nepal team the highest recommendation and would recommend them without hesitation. One thing that I would encourage people to think about is that it can get very cold so layers and good sleeping bags and cold weather outerwear is essential and some sections of icy / snowy trail can benefit from micro-spikes. Sincerely, Chris Daniel