Kimkim Trip Reviews

It was a wonderful trip with a well thought out plan for each of the days. We especially liked the guided tours with Yasuko in Kyoto, Nara and Arashiyama, Masako in Hiroshima and Yoko in Takayama. WE loved each of the shrines, temples, natural wonders and gardens that we saw. We loved the food at every place. Except for Hiroshima where the room was really tiny and we had to upgrade on our own, all the other hotels and rooms were lovely. We especially liked the hotels with Onsen and the Gasso house and Ryokan stays which were traditional and unique. One advice is to include some learning and workshops in the trip. We asked for it and our guide helped us find a Japanese sweet making workshop which was so much fun! We really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you Kimkim for this beautiful trip.

Activity Reviews

Transfer from your hotel to the airport with a private vehicle

Tokyo

Half Day Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Tour (Private Guide+Public Transport)

Kyoto

Excellent guide

Full Day Nara Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji, and Isuien Garden Tour

Kyoto

Excellent guide

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)

Kyoto

Th tour was excellent. The guide was knowledgable and shared a lot of information. Also guided us into every site herself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour with an English-speaking guide and public transportation

Hiroshima

Excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-day tour to Shirakawa-go with an English-speaking guide and public bus

Takayama

Here a new guide was given who took money from us for his lunch which was later returned when we told kimkim. He also took extra money for a shuttle up the hill which was also returned later. Not a good experience.

Full Day Takayama City Tour

Takayama

Transfer to Mt. Fuji and overnight in Hakone

Tokyo

Wonderful driver and guide. Brilliant weather.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tea Ceremony, Senso-ji, Tsukiji Outer Market and Tokyo Tower Tour (Join-in)

Tokyo

The tea ceremony was excellent but the guide for the whole trip was not engaging and did not give us much information about the places we saw.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

engaging more information

Transport

Transfer from the airport to your hotel with a private vehicle

Tokyo

Driver was very late.

We had a lovely trip. I do have a couple of reservations, which I'll talk about below.

First, I should say that Vaseem was very responsive and helpful. We probably contacted him more than he would wish while we were traveling! We did find one of the hotel rooms quite cramped, and we don't think 15 square meters should be called "spacious" for a couple, especially with a huge bed taking up most of it. But my main reservation is about the Kimkim model in which buyers get no breakdown of costs. This makes it very hard to tell whether we are getting reasonable value for the money, and to weigh and choose different elements. We chose to reduce the level of hotels, but in retrospect might have dropped some of the private pickups instead. These were very uneven in service. On the plus side, all the drivers were on time. But we expected help with luggage (being rather old), and while some were great about this, one young fellow in Lyon led us on a long bag drag without offering help, just peeking around occasionally to see if we were trailing along behind. We passed a line of taxis we would have loved to jump into instead.

We greatly enjoyed the Beaujolais wine tour with Eddie and Roman history tour with David. For each of the tours we were given inaccurate information about the meeting place and time, which led to some unnecessary worry and inconvenience. We liked most of the hotels, except for getting luggage up and down spiral staircases. The most charming was in Montpellier (luckily the kind concierge gave us a room in the portion of the hotel with an elevator, so there was only a little bit of spiral staircase). Our hostess in Avignon was extremely helpful with advice about sights and restaurants.

Anyway, thank you to Vaseem and the tour guides. To Kimkim management, please be more transparent about costs. I know we're not the only travelers who want this.

My husband and I had a fabulous trip to Ireland and Scotland thanks to my specialists for each country, Claire and Justine. They discussed our wish list with us to create a perfect excursion. We are foodies and wanted to see all the places that make each country special and they delivered a perfect itinerary. We wanted to stay in unique venues that included great food and convenient locations and that's exactly what we got. We also wanted to be independent, yet get see all the sites so we traveled by rental car, train and tour buses depending on what would be best for each location. We definitely feel we got to know each country and all their wonderful food, history and beautiful landscapes. I never could have put together a plan on my own as amazing as this trip. Both specialist were there to help with any questions and information along the way, so we always had support throughout the journey. THANK YOU Claire and Justine!

Great guides, drivers and tours:
Elizabeth---Lake Como/Bellagio
Roberto--Amalfi coast
Nancy--Pompei
Suzanna/Faustra--Roma
Valentina--driver/Tuscany

Great overall experience--if anyone not mentioned, apologies as all arranged guidance was exceptional.

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Salgar

Naples

we were only there one night---last of our tour. Nice modern hotel---small but comfortable room. Nice breakfast. A difficult shower---another wet floor LOL Would have preferred a hotel near waterfront area. We walked there and there were a number of options, but assume cost would be higher.

Authenticity & Character

its modern, little character. appeared to be a business trip hotel

Location

appeared not to be a desirable area of Napoli (??) not much to do around hotel---needed taxi to get to activity and restaurants

Staff

lobby staff very accommodating when we interacted

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean throughout.. lobby, restaurant, room

Hotel Conca Park

Sorrento

wow!! from entrance via tunnels filled w/ art to modern lobby to great hotel room views of Sorrento. Excellent location and accommodation. Opera and jazz singer in bar area the first night--amazing only issue--3Euro per pool towel. really??

Authenticity & Character

its a modern hotel in an old historic city---another great bath and shower

Location

Walk to heart of Sorrento and activities

Staff

we were welcomed!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tree Charme Parliament Boutique Hotel & Bistrot

Rome

great location ... Like much of Roma--tight streets and access. Small reception area and restaurant. Close to eating options. Appeared to be a safe area. Hotel is in a 500 year old building that has been re-purposed---great rooms and good security. Great shower---American comfort.

Authenticity & Character

see above comment

Location

see above comment

Staff

front desk very accommodating for our group

Cleanliness & Comfort

room and bath very clean

Albergo Posta Marcucci

Bagno Vignoni

Great character in hotel---very comfortable....loved the hot bath pools

Authenticity & Character

old charm feel to hotel lobby and bar. nice rooms, great view

Location

in Tuscany---with real hot bath pools

Staff

we did not feel welcome in the hotel restaurant at dinner. Waiter and (manager?) made us feel a bit not at ease. As if they did not care if we were there. We were late due to travel (drive called ahead and advised hotel). Breakfast staff was much more friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

spa and outdoor water baths/pool

NH Collection Milano President

Milan

in heart of Milano near Duomo and piazza. Very modern, clean, accommodating, Great breakfast. Staff helpful.

Authenticity & Character

its a modern building. Rooms were great, nothing wrong. Americans don't understand Europe shower in bathroom...made a water mess....LOL

Location

near restaurants and duomo piazza

Staff

accommodating and very good english

Cleanliness & Comfort

room, bath, lobby, restaurant bar

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento

Italy

unfortunately weather cancelled this tour

Quality of Experience

Naples Pizza Making Class

Naples

fun and engaging

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the pizza guide/instructor was very good

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

WOW!!---great experience. Hands on demonstration. Included our group members in the process. Conducted personally by the chef and restaurant owner! Engaging, funny and a fantastic lunch.

Quality of Experience

everything! People, food, view, kindness

Food

WOW!! one of best meals on our entire tour week

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Truly felt like they enjoyed our group being at their establishment

Transport

Roberto

Full Day Tour: Positano, Amalfi & Ravello

Italy

Beautiful area--sadly the weather was not good so the clouds and rain kept much of the beauty hidden

Quality of Experience

Roberto was a great driver/guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was great--engaging and friendly

Transport

due to weather, Roberto scheduled a visit to an olive oil factory--totally on his own and to help our day be filled

Naples to the Amalfi Coast or Amalfi Coast to Naples - Pompeii en Route

Italy

Pompeii is a must see stop. Nancy was our guide--very informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Rome in a Day

Rome

we saw what we needed to see in Roma. Fantastic guide...loved having headphones (provided) so we could hear the guide throughout the tour in very crowded areas. Our guide took us to a favorite restaurant and we had a great meal w/ her.

Quality of Experience

the guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

the transport from one area to another was prompt

Private Evening Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Our guide--Faustra (sp??) was extremely knowledgeable and personable. Very good english. Gave us a great tour and insight of Roma within the limited 2-hour tour. We saw places we wanted to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vineyard Walk and Tasting in an Umbrian Vineyard

Italy

small, family winery. intimate. the owner was our guide ! Very welcoming--great lunch and hospitality!

Quality of Experience

enjoyed the small, intimate atmosphere

Guides, Drivers and Staff

a family member of the winery ownership was our personal guide at the winery!

Transport

got us there on time

Winery tour in Chianti Area

Italy

nice tour of a large volume winery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Valentia--great english, engaging personality--helped us find a great restaurant for lunch

Transport

the guide--Valentina

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

great guide w Elizabeth. Beautiful boat ride...Bellagio fantastic. Guide took us to her favorite restaurant for lunch---amazing!

Quality of Experience

Beautiful area of Italy---Bellagio is a jewel

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great assistance, patient, informative, appreciative

Transport

its a local train from Milan--be prepared for a slow trip to Como

My husband and I are writing to express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding service provided by your travel agent during the recent planning and execution of our trip.

From the moment we engaged with your agency, it was evident that your team operates at a level of expertise that is truly commendable. However, it was my interaction with Hakim that left an indelible mark on my travel experience.

Hakim demonstrated an exceptional degree of attention to detail throughout the entire process. Every aspect of my itinerary was meticulously crafted, leaving no room for oversight or uncertainty. His thorough understanding of our preferences and requirements translated into a tailored journey that exceeded my expectations.

What truly sets Hakim apart is his ability to anticipate potential challenges and provide effective solutions proactively. This level of foresight is a testament to their extensive knowledge and expertise in the travel industry. It was evident that Hakim invested a significant amount of time and effort into ensuring that every leg of my journey was seamless.

Moreover, Hakim exhibited exemplary communication skills. His messages were not only clear and concise but also conveyed a genuine interest in our travel experience. It was evident that Hakim was not merely facilitating a transaction, but rather, building a relationship based on trust and mutual understanding.

In today's fast-paced world, finding professionals who balance professionalism with a personable touch can be rare. Hakim exemplifies this balance effortlessly. Their warm and approachable demeanor made me feel valued as a client, and we knew that we were in good hands.

In conclusion, our experience with Hakim and your agency has been nothing short of exceptional. Hakim not only met our expectations but surpassed them, leaving us with memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. We wholeheartedly recommend your services to anyone seeking a travel agency that combines expertise with a personal touch.

Thank you once again for providing such an outstanding service.

We had the greatest pleasure of embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Switzerland and Italy with Kimkim Travel, and it wouldn't have been the extraordinary adventure it was without the exceptional guidance of our tour guide, Fabio. From the moment we touched down in Zurich to the very last day in Taormina, Fabio's expertise and passion for what he does shone brightly.

Fabio's expert assistance in planning our IT from the get-go and all throughout the entire trip, his attention to detail, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the regions we visited were nothing short of remarkable. His insights into the history, culture, and popular sites to visit made the planning process easy and and added a layer of richness to every place we explored. From the picturesque cities of Zurich and Lucerne to the breathtaking landscapes of Interlaken, Zermatt, and the majestic Mt. Pilatus & Mt Gornegrat, Fabio made sure we not only saw these wonders but truly experienced them. When we needed help at a very short notice to secure a booking for paragliding in Zermatt, Fabio delivered outstandingly! He phoned the hotel in Zermatt and looked for the paragliding company. His careful planning and coordination ensured it went off without a hitch, giving us an adrenaline rush like no other. His attention to detail and safety gave us the confidence to enjoy every second of it. The paragliding experience was one of the unforgettable highlights in our trip - -and Fabio helped make it possible!!

Crossing over to Italy, we marveled at Milan's fashion and culture, the serene & enchanting beauty of Bellagio & Varenna in Como, and the stunning journey aboard the Bernina Express to the magical St. Moritz. Fabio's choice of stops, restaurants, and experiences reflected a deep understanding of what travelers like us truly appreciate.
One commendable thing that Fabio did for us was planning the trip to Lake Como. There were transpo-related changes due to an event that was happening at that time in Lake Como. Fabio informed us straight away and organized alternative ways to get to to Bellagio and Varenna, and even purchased for us the train and ferry tickets in advance, and recommended the restaurant along the way, & the sites that we should visit. Our van driver and tour guide - Paolo - was excellent.
Fabio made sure that nothing would get in the way of our plans to visit the enchanting Lake Como - and he really delivered!

The culmination of our journey was the enchanting island of Sicily. Fabio's expertise in Sicilian culture and history turned our time in Palermo, Taormina, and Catania into an authentic Sicilian experience. His recommendations for local delicacies and hidden gems enriched our adventure even further.

Throughout the trip, Fabio's professionalism, warmth, and enthusiasm made us feel like more than just tourists; we felt like friends exploring the world together.
His commitment to ensuring our journey was not just memorable but extraordinary was evident in every aspect of our trip - - from the train tickets, hotel & airport transfers to the hotels and restaurants.

All in all - Fabio's dedication, knowledge, flexibility and charismatic personality made this holiday in Switzerland and Italy an unforgettable and fabulous experience. We can't thank him enough for the cherished memories that we have built and bottled up in these incredible destinations.

On another note, we would like to give our feedback as well on a few things that can be done differently next time.
1. All the hotels that we stayed in were excellent. However, the choice of hotels in Zurich in Milan can be improved, in terms of quality and location. The hotel in Zurich did not have A/C, so it was not very comfortable at night due to the warm temperature. The hotel in Milan was not really centrally located so it was not that easy to go to the Milan center. We would always prefer a location close to the main public transpo.
2. In terms of planning the train schedules - it would be better next time if the gap between the time - especially for connecting train trips - should be sufficient enough to avoid undue stress. For example - the train schedule from Zermatt to Milan was too tight in terms of the lead time in between each transfer. Specifically the time gap between the train from Brig to Milan was just 7 minutes!! And the platforms were quite far from each other. We had to literally run - with all our heavy luggage - from Platform 4 to Platform 11 (if I remember correctly). That was very stressful & exhausting.
It would be better to plan the train trips in such way that there is enough time in between to get to the next platform without rushing too much, and to give allowance to delays (e.g: if the 1st train is delayed, then it will affect the subsequent trips).

Those are just the 2 things that we thought we would mention to further improve the planning process in the future.

In sum - if you're planning a trip with Kimkim Travel, make sure you request Fabio as your guide - he truly goes above and beyond to make your adventure extraordinary. Grazie mille, Fabio! Ti apprezziamo molto :)!

As first time users of Kim Kim, we had a lovely experience working with our local specialist, Tina, on our Croatia itinerary. She was very responsive and accommodating to our queries and requests before and during our trip. My husband and I particularly liked the interface on Kim Kim that allowed us to like, dislike and comment on each aspect of the suggested itinerary.

Our guides during the trip were all warm, friendly and knowledgeable. Overall, it was a fuss-free and convenient way to plan a vacation. We had a wonderful time in Croatia and would definitely use Kim Kim again for future holiday destinations.

We had an amazing trip!
Already from the planning point of view Kripa (our agent with KimKim) made sure we had all the right information and answered all our questions within 24 hours. She made a well shaped trip that fitted our wishes.

Our guide Sonam was the best; she took well Care of us, had everything under control, and made sure we had the best rooms and views on our entire journey. It did not feel like walking with a guide, But more with a friend.

Our porter Andjuk was a Young and very nice boy, who followed us most days. Always in a great mood and helping us out. We played a lot of UNO at night - and had a great time.

Berat did an excellent job, listening to my values and crafting an itinerary and experience that was perfectly suited to my tastes-- even taking the time to go through several iterations before we finalized an itinerary. She took the time to meet me for tea while in Istanbul-- a lovely personal touch and memory to cherish.

The guide she selected for me, Hatice, was an absolute delight and now, a new friend. I have traveled extensively, and have often said, that if I can get everything I would get from a guide from a book-- then I don't need the guide. I want a personal viewpoint, personal engagement, and a relationship. Hatice offered that. She too was very intentional of observing me and assessing my values as the trip unfolded, fine tuning, rearranging and adjusting the timing and stops to optimize my experience according to my values. She would often offer-- "given the things you seem to like... I don't think you would enjoy this, but you would like this." I loved that she would often give me an overview of a sight, and then give me time to wander alone and take my photos... making it clear several times, that it is my trip and the timing and choices are mine. I love that she had a sense of humor. We shared many laughs. As a gay man, traveling alone, I also require someone who is open-minded, curious and progressively minded, particularly in a culture not know to be gay-friendly. I had expressed that concern early on in the planning stages, and Berat chose Hatice.

In recent years, as I've traveled alone to more non-Western destinations, including within the developing world, i have found that i don't want to read or know to much about where i'm going beforehand, and I definitely don't want to see photos. I want to be surprised each day-- "Oh! This is what we are doing! Look at that! I had no idea." Giving me a chance for a different kind of amazement every day. Turkey offered me that kind of wonder and amazement in spades.

Berat did an excellent job of creating an itinerary with a diversity of experiences-- there was never too much of the same thing, before we did something wildly different.

Hotel Reviews

Gül Konaklari Sinasos (Rose Mansions Sinasos)

Nevsehir

I will dream of this hotel forever. Perfection, top to bottom-- (well, near perfect-- I would've loved a fridge in the room There was cabinet for one but none there.) Staff was warm, kind, helpful, personable, even playful. The place is beyond charming. I could not get enough of the garden. Sat out there every chance I could. Would have preferred a hot dish for breakfast, but in that garden, I almost didn't care. Yet when i made that comment to Hatice, the next morning the very kind waiter, Recep, brought me a sizzling skillet of Turkish eggs! That's how to do it. HIGHLY recommend it! And a perfect way to close my trip. I hated to leave. The only hotel on the trip that felt like the experience of the hotel was part of the journey.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novotel Konya

Konya

A stopover hotel. Stylish, smart, not overwhelming, but a business hotel-- no place to walk about for local culture. A commercial district. But absolutely fine for what it was , a stopover. Felt a bit like staying at a nice airport hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doğa Thermal Hotel & Spa

Denizli

Not unlike the Ramada in Anatolia, but with more design sense and style. An all-inclusive resort type of hotel, not to my taste. Hatice explained there were no other options. The buffet dining experience was obnoxious. I felt like I did when traveling in the former Soviet Union-- they were simply not set-up to accommodate individual travellers. I did enjoy the hot mineral pool! But my experience of the place was disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cappari Aqua Princess

Antalya

Perfect location, lovely sea view room... but no elevator. It was a good seven flights from the street to my room on the top floor. When I checked in, the manager asked if i would like to be on the top floor-- "It's the best room." "Well, you're the one who will have to carry my duffle bag up all those stairs!" As it was the top floor, it felt a little like an attic space that had a pitched roof. Some of the groins of the roof are very low, and I hit my head several times going to the toilet in the middle of the night. Very small bath. But kind staff and a sweet kind of charm about the place. The scale of the hotel, much more to my liking, and I loved swimming in the Mediterranean right outside my door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Antalya

Antalya

The hotel, while very nice, and I was put into an enormous suite, which felt uncomfortably large... just felt odd and not to my taste. It is a large, all-inclusive resort kind of hotel that's seemed tailored to what I perceive as Eastern European and Russian sensibilities. I prefer a more personal boutique hotel. I swim daily when at home-- lap swimming... the hotel did have a spectacular pool that was a godsend at that point of the trip. But weird rules about opening hours... and one had to go down two floors beneath the pool to the health club to get a towel to use the pool-- then go back up two floors. Why no towels at the pool? A rather anemic "nightclub" by the pool where no one was there. A grotesquely large, too brightly lit dining hall really-- not even a buffet. Just seemed to cater to a different kind of traveller. I was only there overnight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

The hotel was perfectly located for me... in the center of the old city, within walking distance of everything. The concierge was very helpful. The room was simple and clean. Quiet. Very small but adequate bathroom. No view. Nothing fancy. My only complaint would be that the breakfast buffet offerings, the hot dishes were never kept hot... luke warm at best, even straight out of the kitchen. An easy fix, it would seem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

A deeply contemplative and serene experience. The ceremony was a perfect way to wind down after a long day, and I appreciated having the opportunity to be present and reflective during the ceremony.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Göreme-Uçhisar Hike

Cappadocia

This hike was an absolute delight. It was just me and my guide, which allowed for a personal and enriching experience. The conversations we shared were as memorable as the hike itself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Eflatunpınar: A hidden gem from the 13th century BC

Konya

This was an unexpected joy. The Hittite monument, although remote and without the usual trappings of a tourist spot, offered a unique experience of discovery and intimacy. Engaging in conversation with local families added to the charm of this ancient site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esrefoglu: A Unique Wooden Mosque from the 13th Century

Konya

This was a surprise highlight of my trip. The mosque, although small and off the beaten path, provided a serene and intimate experience that was deeply moving. I relished the opportunity to meditate within its quiet confines.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Each of the four guides were excellent. Good English, factual information, history, and attentive to my needs and wants.
The top locations in order of my enjoyment were: Manaus, Belem, Sao Paulo, Santarem, Alter.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Belo Alter

Santarém

My experience at the Hotel Belo Alter in Alter do Chão was not as positive. The place was a 45-minute drive from Santarém and there wasn't much to see or do there. The hotel itself seemed to be trying to be a luxury resort, but it fell short. The room was nice enough, but there was a lot of deferred maintenance and the beach area was not very appealing due to low water levels. The location wasn't ideal either, being a 30-minute walk from the town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Saint Paul

Manaus - AM

My stay at the Hotel Saint Paul in Manaus was excellent. The hotel was probably the nicest of all the ones I stayed in. It was located very close to the heart of Manaus, near the Opera House area. The hotel was more upscale with a lobby area, couches, a TV, a nice pool, exercise equipment and a business center. Its location made it easy to walk to different restaurants and attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sandis Mirante Hotel

Santarém

The Sandis Mirante Hotel in Santarém was fine. It was located in a smaller town, on a hill and provided easy access to various areas. I enjoyed the fact that I could walk down to the waterfront area using the steps or take a longer, more gradual route. The hotel was modest with a small front desk and no real lobby, which suited my needs perfectly. There were also plenty of eating places within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Le Massilia

Belém

My stay at Hotel Le Massilia in Belém was satisfactory. It was located about a mile from the heart of things, which I didn't mind as I enjoy walking. There were plenty of places to find food and water nearby. The hotel had a pool which I used every day because of the hot and humid weather. Overall, while it was good, it was not as centrally located as I would have preferred.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Soneca Plaza

São Paulo

I really enjoyed my stay at the Hotel Soneca Plaza in São Paulo. It was located right in the heart of the old town, which made it a perfect spot for a tourist like me who loves to walk around and explore. The hotel itself was quite modest, as per my preference. There wasn't much of a reception area, but the front desk staff was efficient and helpful. The food was decent with good fruit juices, and good breads and rolls. They also offered breakfast, which added to the convenience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Boat Tour: Visit Meeting of the Waters, Indian Village & Rubber Museum

Manaus

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day City Tour of Manaus

Manaus

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Jamaraquá Community

Alter do Chão

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour of Santarém & Meeting of the Waters

Santarém

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour Discover the Traditional Rainforest Communities

Belém

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour in Belém

Belém

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival in Belém and transfer to our accommodation

Belém

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

São Paulo Explorer

São Paulo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Design, Art and Modernity in Sao Paulo

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

São Paulo Express

Brazil

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hien was a great tour planner. Everything from transportation to activities was seamless and well-organized. She also addressed any needs we had promptly while in Vietnam. Our tour was the perfect mix of activity and relaxation!

Hotel Reviews

Doris Cruise

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Clos Du Fil Hotel

Ninh Binh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanoi - Halong bay - Lan Ha Bay ( Doris cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Buffet selection seemed random. Would be better if Vietnamese food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Local Market, Basket Boat, Fishing & Cooking Experience

Hoi An

Great way to experience the local boats and market. Cooking class with spring rolls and ginger chicken dish was excellent also.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Insider’s Hanoi - Vespa Tours ( Joint tour)

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

More selection available would be nice

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

We went back to the Suong Pho two more times. Great tour!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rita made our last-minute trip planning very easy and I'm so grateful for her help! We had to cancel a trip to Morroco and decided on Portugal with very little time to plan. This is what she planned for us:

Porto food tour- fabulous guide Gabriel and great food- 100% enjoyed.

Douro Valley winery visit and river cruise. Overall a lovely experience but I think they were some issues with our guide. He was friendly and on-time but I think a bit confused about where and when we were supposed to be. He was actually a driver and not a guide. Communication was difficult. We were supposed to do a winery tour and then a river cruise but he went to the cruise first and arrived early and we had to wait an hour. Then we went to the winery, but we were late and missed the tour and the beginning of lunch. The winery (host, food, wine) was lovely and very enjoyable but I wish we would have had the whole experience.

Private day excursion to Braga & Guimaraes. Wonderful experience. Marlene was so kind and informative. She made sure we had a lovely day with great sites and great food.

Private morning tour of historic Coimbra- Bruno was fabulous. We enjoyed the education and the company.

Private bike tour of the Rio Formosa. Everything on this trip was so good but this was actually the low point. The first disappointment was that this tour began an hour-drive away from where we were staying- and I didn't realize that until maybe the day before. I wish Rita would have pointed this out and asked if that was an acceptable amount of travel (we had been doing a lot of driving). In planning, I was unsure that this was an activity that we would enjoy but Rita assured me that the area was beautiful and should not be missed, so I went with her advice. And again, our guide was very frienddly and warm and I think trying to do his best. What we did though was a very slow, three-hour bike ride through a marsh (kind of stinky and not scenic) with a guide who seemed to not know much about the area. He really was trying to be informative about the wild life but he had picked up a park brochure and would stop the ride to tell us the names of various birds we should look for- but nothing more. He didn't seem to know where the birds should be or really anything about them. And we rode soooo slow that I really think it was an effort to make the tour last three hours. It was uncomfortable.

Private walking tour of Lisbon. Hugo was AMAZING. So knowlegable and friendly. We saw so much with him that we would have otherwise missed.

Day excursion to Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril. So this is hard to evaluate because it was a super rainy day and I think that impacted what we did. Rui was lovely- informative and friendly and he really made the best of things. We only had entrance tickets to one palace- and that was on us because we booked so late. I think a lot of the tramping about that we would have otherwise done was just not possible on a day when it was raining buckets. Nice lunch and beautiful drive.

Rita also arranged airport transfers and a rental car- we booked our own accomodations. She was very responsive throuout the entire holiday via the trip plan s app.

We saw so much of the country and it was really a great trip. We flew into Porto for 4 nights, Coimbra for 2 nights, Nazare for 1 night, Evora for 1 night, Salema for 3 nights and then Lisbon for 4 nights. In hindsight, I would had skipped either Nazare or Evora and extended the one chose for 2 nights minimum. I would have skipped Evora I guess because the primary sight that I wanted to see there (Almendres Cromlech) was closed for renovations- which I didn't know until we arrived. It was a great town though- so maybe I would have just done two nights in each place? Hard to choose. It was a lot of driving for just a one-night stay in each.

Thank you Rita, for all of your help in making our time in Portugal so memorable!

One of my best travel experiences. Priceless. From the time we're gathered at the arrival area by our tour guide, Joao aka John, and picked up by Big Mike with an attractive new and clean coach all to ourselves, onward along the famous Canadian rockies it's like stepping into paradise. Being emerged in such beautiful, stunning, esmerizing, captivating, amazing views, I felt kinda overwhelemed. Yes, we took thousands of pictures any seconds chance. As John said "hit or miss chance" to capture it. The hotels we stayed were good, special mention of Forest Park in Jasper- homey nice ambience. The John - Mike is a perfect team. Thank you Carl. Outstanding rate of 10!

We had a few very positive experiences with a few of the drivers/guides. Wilson was excellent. He had strong english and was very patient with my 90 year old mother. Although the vehicle was not very fancy, it was clean and he provided water. He showed us many beautiful areas around Cuenca and took us to a fabulous restaurant in Saraguro. High praise for Wilson.
We were also very happy with Fransisco, our guide in Quito. He was very helpful and did and excellent job showing us downtown Quito. The dinner with him on Saturday evening was great.

Hotels: Disappointing
All the hotels were chains without charm. It was clear that there were much better options of boutique hotels in downtown walking regions that I could have booked for less money on hotels.com. The AC at the Royal Sonesta did not work and no effort was made to rebook us where we would be more comfortable. None of the hotels were in neighborhoods that we would consider charming nor were the rates very good.

Planning: Very difficult to work with
Costs were very difficult to control as individual costs of activities, transportation, lodging and food was kept from us. We had an idea of individual costs as we cancelled and added things otherwise it was obscured. We had initially asked for help in planning the part of our trip to Santiago Chili. We request a wine tasting excursion and we were presented with Casablanca a white wine region. I commented that I prefer red wine and instead of booking a different excursion in a red wine region (many close to Santiago) the response was that there would be reds available. We cut Alvaro out of the Santiago portion at that point.

Transportation: Again high praise for Francisco and Wilson. However, our driver to the airport in Catamayo airport spoke almost no English except Twenty dollars. We offered to take us to the wind farm on the way to the airport. We said great and then he said $20. I looked up the cost of admission and it was free. He said it would only take 10 minutes for $20. We used google translate to communicate. Alvaro said we needed to get to the airport 2 hours early. This was not true. It is a tiny airpot and it took 3 minutes to get ticketed and go through security. Since we had 2 hours to wait, I payed for the lounge. This should be refunded. Our tickets were for the wrong flight which I was able to fix on my own. We requested two window seats and I was given a middle seat.
I was hoping, Anthony would just fix our tickets but no. I contacted him which was a waste of time. He did not fix the ticket only asked that after I had already fixed the ticket find a gate agent and hand them my phone to speak to them. There was no gate agent available.
We could not download the pdfs of the itinerary on our phone. We asked for text updates via WhatsApp. These were sparse. I did not know there was a driver hired to take us to the airport on Sunday until Anthony texted on Sunday. I responded to cancel and refund. Anthony waited 4 hours to answer and say at that point it was too late.
All in all, we will not use KimKim, Alvaro, or Responsible travel ever again and will not recommend it to anyone. We did love Ecuador and will return using a different travel company.

Our trip to Croatia was absolutely fantastic thanks to Antonia! It is the first time we used KimKIm but surely will not be the last. Antonia planned our trip down to every last detail. Each person she set us up with, drivers, tour guides, local agri-tourism, boat driver were all top notch. Each person was very knowledgeable in their area, took the time to see what we enjoyed and tailored the tour to our liking. The hotels chosen suited us perfectly and we were fortunate to even get an upgrade at one of them! Antonia's restaurant recommendations were spot on and she was always able to get us in. I loved the 7pm updates the night before to remind us of the next day's events. She made herself available any time of day or night in case we had any trouble, but absoutely everything went as planned.
Thank you, Antonia for taking the planning out of my hands and for giving us the trip of a lifetime!!

Tina's planning was absolutely amazing- it was a seamless holiday which was truly relaxing and and we are really grateful and lucky to have her planning! She was very prompt with her replies and very helpful. Im glad we got to visit the beautiful country and learnt so much about its culture and rich history! Overall 12/10 !

My wife and I just returned from a 16-day trip to Italy, which was arranged through KimKim and their local travel affiliate, Meet & Greet, Italia. Highlights included Venice, Florence, Assisi, Orvieto, Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast region, and Pompeii. Thi trip was the first opportunity for my wife to experience the beautiful country, and for me, a special return after 40 years, when I lived in Rome for a year as an architecture student. Celebrating a special anniversary, l already had a good idea of the special regions and towns that would offer my wife a great sense of Italy’s beauty and ultimately enhance our romantic getaway. Working with Emi at KimKim hi later her business associate, Francesco, I could not have been happier with they expertise, courteous and friendly accommodations, and tremendous service over the course of 8 months, especially in our final weeks leading up to our departure. Emi continuously went out of her way to address my questions, concerns and/or changing itinerary priorities, in the most professional way. I never had to wait more than a day for updated responses / itinerary changes, and most times the response was immediate. Francesco’s efforts were equally impressive, including real-time updates to our online itinerary, which kept my mind at ease before and during the trip. Both Emi and Francesco were accommodating to our own requests, including one request to change our hotel in Sorrento, after reading FB posts from customers who were being relocated due to hotel renovations underway. They also changed a scheduled boat tour of the Amalfi coast to a driving tour at my request. In both cases, their accommodation was a huge help, especially when we confirmed the ongoing issues with the hotel, and realized that the original boat tour would have been canceled that day due to high winds. So Emi and Francesco planned the perfect getaway and the memories will last a lifetime! I highly recommend KimKim, especially Emi and Francesco for a beautiful taste of Italy!!

Thank you Jessica. We appreciate your patience and hard work in working with us over many months to plan our family trip to South Korea. You never waivered through our many requests and changes as our plans changed.

Thank you Sang, you were an excellent guide for our family trip. We felt very safe in your care and appreciated you sharing your knowledge of each of the areas we visited.

Hotel Reviews

Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeongdong

Seoul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laundry room big plus!

Lotte Resort Sokcho

Sokcho

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Surprised to find that 2 people had to sleep in mats on the floor.

Ramada Hotel & Suites Gangwon Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crown Harbor Hotel

Busan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lotte City Hotel Jeju

Jeju

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Exploring Sokcho Beach and Jungang Market

Sokcho

For our family we would have skipped the market and spent more time at the beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch Tour

Pyeongchang

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Busan City Tour with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Busan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market

Busan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I love Sorrento It was beautiful. I wished we could of gone to Capri and Blue Grotto but that means we can come back! Enjoyed Tuscany like to go back there and spend more time there. Loved the Roman Ruins and all the history in Rome.
enjoyed Pompei too.! The Amalfi coast was beautiful it rained but enjoy the limoncello tasting.
The hotels were great too! The Sorrento,Tuscany and Milano Hotels.

The guides were great!
Roberto
Susanna
Valenta
Nancy
Elizabeth
Foucha
Barbara
We will be using Kim Kim again !
It was also nice having the drivers.

Thank you again for an AWESOME vacation!

Cindy Johnston

Hotel Reviews

Palazzo Salgar

Naples

It was ok .

Authenticity & Character

Not sure

Location

Find somewhere you can walk. We had to take cabs where we wanted to go.

Staff

Nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and comfy.

Hotel Conca Park

Sorrento

This was my favorite hotel. It had a beautiful scenery and very welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Just beautiful !

Location

You could walk everywhere.

Staff

Very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Tree Charme Parliament Boutique Hotel & Bistrot

Rome

It was ok very hard to get to with our bags.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk everywhere.

Staff

Very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very comfy

Albergo Posta Marcucci

Bagno Vignoni

Hotel was very Quaint.I wish we could of had another day there.

Authenticity & Character

Loved it

Location

It had a beautiful setting!

Staff

They were not too welcoming in the restaurant

Cleanliness & Comfort

very good

Star Hotel Rosa Grand

Milan

Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk everywhere.

Staff

Very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful

Activity Reviews

Naples Pizza Making Class

Naples

It was alot

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had to take a cab

Full Day Tour: Positano, Amalfi & Ravello

Italy

Even though it rained. It was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome

Transport

Roberto talked about the history.

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

This was great had so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Great

Food

Amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was great.

Transport

Great

Explore Pompeii Walking Tour

Italy

Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nancy was great!

Transport

Naples to the Amalfi Coast or Amalfi Coast to Naples - Pompeii en Route

Italy

Everything was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was great and very informative.

Transport

Loved having Roberto

Explore Rome in a Day

Rome

It was great. Enjoyed every minute.

Quality of Experience

Perfect

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Susannah was wonderful

Transport

Private Evening Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Very good. Loved to hear about the history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very good

Transport

Vineyard Walk and Tasting in an Umbrian Vineyard

Italy

Very informative

Quality of Experience

Everyone was very nice

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winery tour in Chianti Area

Italy

Beautiful place

Quality of Experience

Great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Valetina was great

Transport

Yes

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

Loved the trip

Quality of Experience

Beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elizabeth was great!

Transport

Very easy

Express Milan Duomo Tour with Terrace Access

Italy

Barbara

I had a favorable experience booking my Iceland trip with KimKim and my local specialist, Èric. I contacted them just 2 weeks before the trip and was so appreciative of their fast work to schedule and plan a trip that was truly customized to me and my sons. We struck the right balance of low-activity touring along with some exciting adventure activities including hiking and ziplining on a glacier, exploring an ice cave, and snorkeling in the glacial meltwater where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. The documentation contained helpful info, our hotel selections were the right quality level, and when one or two issues came up, Eric and the team were superfast to help resolve them.