Kimkim Trip Reviews

Ahmed organised a good itinerary for us. He was helpful throughout and answered questions. I liked the chat used as I didn’t need to email every time. Ahmed also ironed out some problems when we were in Jordan too. He answered our calls . Thank you Ahmed for organising this fantastic trip and we will come again to visit this amazing country

Hotel Reviews

Movenpick Dead Sea Spa & Resort

Sweimeh, Amman

Loved the hotel and the room

Authenticity & Character

A bit tired looking lack of light in room

Location

Sea front/ Dead Sea accessible

Staff

Helpful and polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ok cleaning

Zeina Luxury Desert Lodge

A great location which was remote. Good staff but the dinner and breakfast buffet could be improved.

Authenticity & Character

The pod was basic. Lack of hairdryer and sockets

Location

Amazing view of Wadi Rum

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pods need a revamp

Movenpick Nabatean Castle Hotel

Wadi Musa

Great hotel and lovely ambience

Authenticity & Character

Lovely decor

Location

A few minutes drive from Petra

Staff

Guy at check in was very nice and on the whole staff at the buffet were very polite and efficient

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean bathroom is always a must and the room was pristine

Dana Guest House

Al Tafileh, Dana

A good location but very very remote we got there quite late. There was no bread or toast for breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

No hairdryer/ iron

Location

Amazing view

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was good bathroom was average

Seven Roses

Amman

Good location but limited breakfast options it seemed more suited to locals

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast

Location

Staff

Helpful and polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

Average room but clean

Activity Reviews

Hike in Wadi Mujib

The Dead Sea

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dead Sea - Jerusalem - Dead Sea

Dead Sea

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I

Transport

Explore Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dana - Petra Visit

Jordan

Amazing site but we got duped by someone saying to start at other end from little Petra. This is not worth it and you have to hike 2 hours to your destination even if you get the shuttle. The views are good but we were not prepared for the long walk. Just start at the main gate and you will see everything. The horses/ donkeys people are also a rip off don’t bother! I felt we paid to start from the other end and felt it was not worth it.

Quality of Experience

We were not prepared for the 2 hour hike to monastery

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip north to Jarash, Ajloun and Umm Qais

Jordan

A good half day is needdd

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self drive

As my five star rating indicated, the overall trip was wonderful. Mariliza was prompt in letting us know of any changes in the itinerary prior to the actual trip and what alternative options were available. The only last minute change was the Samaria Gorge hike in Crete. When we learned a few days before from Mariliza that a group tour was no longer available we were given two options: a private tour at 405 USD per person or to do it alone at 230 USD per person. We thought both options were very expensive so we declined the offers and decided to go to a travel agent in Chania (Crete) and book the trip ourselves which was considerable less expensive at 53 Euros each. We were somewhat puzzled of such a huge price differential even with the understanding that all parties need to make a certain percentage of profit.

My husband and I spent 13 incredible days touring four cities in Spain to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Our local specialist, Dahlia, put together a trip full of historic walking tours, food tours (Devour Tours were excellent!), visits to vineyards, olive groves, and an Iberian pig farm. It was a nice mix of some small group tours and private tours-providing the opportunity to meet other people and get personal attention. The private transfers were great-all of the drivers were knowledgeable and kind and the vehicles were very comfortable. The tickets to all sights and events allowed us easy entrance with no lines which was a big plus! For us, having a local expert plan the trip and take care of all of the details, made it much easier to relax and enjoy our time in Spain.

Activity Reviews

Modernist Gaudi Highlights Tour: Sagrada Familia & Parc Güell (private)

Barcelona

This was a colorful and really interesting tour. It was a pretty deep dive into all things Gaudi which is pretty extraordinary.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Delores, was upbeat and energetic and on top of all details. It was clear that she is somewhat of an expert in all things Gaudi and that it is a passion of hers. Her enthusiasm added so much to the overall day. We felt a tad but rushed at the end because our guide had to get to another tour but that wasn’t a big deal..

Madrid Guided Tour with Royal Palace

Madrid

What we liked was that there was more of a general introduction to the city than some of the other tours. What we didn’t like was that there wasn’t a lot of content and it was too long for what was covered. It was a 4 hour but it could have been 2 - 3 hours.

Sevilla Guided Tour

Seville

Seville was our favorite city-so charming and historic! The tour of the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Royal Alcazar was chock full of interesting stories and pieces of history and we learned quite a bit.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was delightful! Knowledgeable and very personable and a great sense of humor. It was clear that he wanted us to learn from him about the history of the places visited AND he wanted it to be fun.

Wine & Cava 4WD Penedés Small Group Experience

Barcelona

We really enjoyed this day and it was different from other tours that we did. The CAVA tour was informative and the tasting was great - the CAVAs were the best we had on the whole trip! The wine tasting was good but not great. The vineyard visit on the 4WD was just fun and nice to be outside.

Toledo Guided Day Tour by AVE (High-speed Train) from Madrid

Madrid

This was a really nice day trip. Toledo is is a unique and picturesque city rich with history. We toured all of the main areas do they city and also had free time to explore on our own. Though it is now a big tourist attraction, it still preserves its history and authenticity.

Transport

Transportation was the only downside I’d the day. There was a mix up with our train tickets so here was a bit of a scramble to find another way home but the tour company ended up hiring taxis to get us all back.

Sevilla & Tapas & Flamenco Small Group Evening Tour

Seville

A wonderful evening! A great blend of delicious food, tasty sips, music and dance. A very well planned event and each place visited was authentic and excellent.

Food

Some of the best food we had on our trip. Each of the locations showed us something different about Spain food and influences.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Sophie was excellent! She looked out for each persons individual needs and was quite attentive.

Andalusian Equestrian Show - Royal Stables in Cordoba

Córdoba

Loved this! We had front row, center arena seats. I think this is a hidden gem!

Quality of Experience

Barcelona at Sunset: Tapas & Wine Tour

Barcelona

Great fun! Our guide, Alex, was excellent! The tapa places we went to were all very good. It was just the right amount of food and wine and all authentic tastes,

Quality of Experience

Food

Every bite and sip was delicious and as we progressed through the tour, the cafes kept getting better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide had a lot of personality and a good sense of humor. He was knowledgeable and helpful.

From Santiago to Patagonia to the Atacama, Turismo Milodon was able to turn my desires into reality. My guide in Santiago was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, and her knowledge of the city and country was impressive. Feel Atacama was incredibly easy to work with to discover the desert. Kari and Denny knew their stuff and did a phenomenal job explaining everything we got to see. I’d like to thank Kari in particular for putting up with my endless questions. From Turismo Milodon - thank you so much, Valentina, for holding my hand through the trip and making sure I made it where I needed to be when I needed to be there. You were all amazing!

Hotel Reviews

Refugio Frances

It’s a Refugio, so don’t expect luxury. What you get instead is a chance to mix and mingle with like-minded adventurers in some of the most awe-inspiring settings you’ll ever have the opportunity to explore. Out of all the W-Trek Refugios, Refugio Frances is by far the most beautifully located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Wake to the sunrise over snowy mountains and a lake more blue than the ocean.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

It’s a Refugio, so don’t expect luxury. What you get instead is a chance to mix and mingle with like-minded adventurers in some of the most awe-inspiring settings you’ll ever have the opportunity to explore.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Torre Central

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Pedro Montt

It’s a Refugio, so don’t expect luxury. What you get instead is a chance to mix and mingle with like-minded adventurers in some of the most awe-inspiring settings you’ll ever have the opportunity to explore.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ladera

Providencia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was super comfy, but the shower chamber felt slapdash, with water spraying out of cracked piping.

Hotel Cabo De Hornos

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Impeccable service, beautiful rooms and property, with an impressive breakfast. What more can you ask?

Authenticity & Character

The architecture keeps with the theme of the town’s desert upbringing while adapting modern flourishes.

Location

Less than ten minute’s walk gets you to the center of town.

Staff

Every person you interact with is friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dust is everywhere in San Pedro de Atacama, but not in your room.

Activity Reviews

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Exploring the Atacama Salt Flats and Lagoons felt like being on another planet. The desert scenery was mind-blowing and getting to see flamingos in their natural habitat was a unique experience. I would highly recommend this tour to future travelers.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to the Base of the Towers - Overnight in Torres del Paine

Chile

This self-guided hike was one of the best things I've ever done. The route finding was easy and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. I got to see a glacier over 100 square miles and hear it cracking in the distance, which was truly inspiring. The refugios (shelters) had a dorm-style living which was a new experience for me. I would definitely recommend this hike but would suggest better packing and preparation for the dorm-style living.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

This tour was truly spectacular. The boat was small, accommodating only around seventy people, which gave it a more intimate feel. The penguins were incredibly active in the morning, and it was exciting having to stop walking just to let them pass by! The guide was very knowledgeable, presenting facts about the animals in both Spanish and English. The tour also included a visit to Isla Martha where we got to see massive sea lions and a variety of birds. This experience was an absolute highlight of my trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Working with Sandy was amazing. She was attentive to all of the details and available throughout our time in Japan. She was incredibly diligent with her follow up. We wanted to experience a Katana making workshop and our top choice was booked. Sandy continued to follow up and there was a cancellation and she was able to get us in. We had a similar experience with a hotel we really wanted that was booked for the date we wanted. Mid trip Sandy was in touch to tell us the desired hotel had a cancellation and we were able to book it.

There were certain days we only had a driver (no tour guide). The drivers were supposed to speak English but none of them really did. It was inconvenient but we managed with Google translate. Not sure if this was a KimKim issue and the transportation companies they use or finding English speaking drivers is just difficult in Japan. Our tour guides spoke English fairly well.

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Authenticity & Character

Although there is a definite Japanese vibe it definitely comes through as an International hotel. This could be positive or negative depending on your needs

Location

easy to get around from this location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyajima Kinsuikan

Hiroshima

Loved this experience. This Ryokan, traditional Japanese style hotel was wonderful. It was really well located and the accommodations were very comfortable. Food was delicious although the menu was very similar for dinner and breakfast. There was a very clean Onsen. We had a view of the torii gate which was beautiful

Authenticity & Character

Location

could walk to anywhere

Staff

Very little english spoken

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by Hulic

Kyoto

This is a 4 star hotel however it is very new and beautiful. Rooms large and well appointed. Breakfast was nice although the buffet was limited. Beautiful bar. Really well located

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

The experience was wonderful. Their English was good enough. However the Monk who led services was difficult to understand. The food was good considering it is vegan . The meal is the same for breakfast and dinner so bring snacks. Property was well kept and the rooms very nice. The one downside was due to the timing of the prayer services at this particular temple you could not book the cemetery tour which we were told was an excellent activity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It is a little further away from center of town then some of the other temples however that said it was only a 5 minute walk further

Staff

English was better than most

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and nice rooms. we found the bedding to be very comfortable

Activity Reviews

Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Yoko our tour guide was great. We really enjoyed her. Hiroshima is a must see. The museum tells the story so well. And dont miss the Japenese gardens we loved the experience

Half Day Miyajima Island Tour

Hiroshima

Our tour guide Masako was incredibly knowledgable about Miyajima. We learned so much

Transport

Train to ferry to hotel on Miyajima was seamless

A Sensational Gourmet Experience: Kobe Beef

Kobe

Excellent restaurant - Royal Mouriya.

Half Day Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Kobe Harborland Tour

Kobe

The saki museum was a lot of fun and easy to experience. We did not really get a tour of Kobe Harborland - our tour guide knew nothing about it

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide this day was not great and had no knowledge of Kobe to share with us.

Transport

Vehicle not so great this day

Half Day Katana Maker Experience in Kameoka

Kyoto

This was one of our favorite activities. I highly recommend it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vehicle was not as clean and nice as expected and tour guide (who was a substitute, orginal tour guide was sick) did not have wonderful english

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

There are a lot of shrines and Temples in Japan. Not sure we needed to see all 4 sights. Nishiki market was great and our guide picked a wonderful place for lunch,

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide, Keiko was great

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

Kyoto

Loved learning the history of the Samurais - it is a great museum The tea ceremony is a must as this is such a big tradition in Japan. We loved putting on a kimono and learning about the tea ceremony

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This driver's english was better than the others

Mt. Koya and Temple Stay Experience

Mount Koya

This was a great experience. Unfortunately we were delayed getting there due to our train running 2 hours late so we had very little time to explore

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver did not speak english as promised

A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More

Tokyo

This was amazing and I highly recommend it

Half Day TeamLab Planets and Miraikan Museum Tour

Tokyo

Loved TeamLab Planets - definitely a must see. Miraikan Museum is well laid out but just not something that was of great interest to us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver did not speak english and we had some difficulty with that

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting

Tokyo

Loved this day. We ate an authentic lunch at a local restaurant. Had great views of Mt Fuji. Enjoyed the Whiskey museum

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Tokyo is huge but Yumi our tour guide was amazing. We covered all the highlights

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yumi was an amazing tour guide

Transport

Kim Kim made it easy to crystallize our vacation plans and implement them. The lodgings they chose for us all exceeded expectations. Giulia did a great job arranging the details. She always responded quickly, and she always incorporated the changes we wanted. The tours and tour guides she picked for us were all first-rate. We especially appreciated her flexibility for us in Rome, when our visit coincided with very high hotel prices.

We would recommend Kimkim to anyone, and especially Giulia for anyone traveling to Italy. We had an amazing 2 weeks thanks to Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Santa Chiara

Venice

The location, super close to the bus & train terminals, was perfect for us. It was more clean, modern and spacious than we expected, too. Staff was great too.

Authenticity & Character

Not charming, old and authentic, but we were fine with it

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

B&B Il Parco

Simply a beautifully-kept and located place. A very convenient shuttle helped us up and down the hill. Very nice swimming pool too. The numerous, annoying flies (outside, NOT inside) weren’t their fault!

Authenticity & Character

Great landscaping

Location

Terrific views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Berchielli

Florence

Great location, respectful and efficient hotel staff, with very comfortable accommodations. They charge a heckuva lot for laundry, but they all probably do that! I recommend to all.

Authenticity & Character

Welcoming decor, everything was clean, lots of great things nearby

Location

Very close to Ponte Vecchio

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tuscany: Leonardo da Vinci, Oil & Wine discovery tour

Italy

A bit too much time spent sitting and eating, but the da Vinci museum and winery were terrific

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Group Tour

Rome

Big crowds, but our guide was really knowledgable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Logistics of meeting place were confusing and inaccurate. We almost missed the tour

Pasta & Tiramisù Cooking Class

Rome

Very fun, nice to meet others this way

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Rome

Excellent knowledgeable guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of our guides did a very good job. Hamid, who drove us for the week, was superb. His scheduling, of where to be, and when, spot on.

Tour guides were excellent! In Saigon, he displayed excellent knowledge of the city. In Hanoi, he assisted us in getting tickets to water puppet show and was most knowledgeable regarding tour stops. The excursion to Ha Long Bay was definitely a highlight; the company selected was top notch. I would not hesitate to use tour company again.

Morocco is definitely a place to travel. Our small tour of two couples in a big air conditioned van was smooth and relaxing. Sallam was a passionate guide about the country he loves and the history in each area. Sallam really helped us understand how Moroccans lived and the influence of Jewish people in early culture. We also had a fantastic driver along who was a guide in training named Jamal. Jamal was pleasant smart young man who also shared his love of Morocco while safely driving us through maze of roads I wouldn’t dare drive myself. Thank you Sharon from KimKim for helping us plan an outstanding trip in Morocco.

Mathilde was excellent in responding promptly and revising the trip as we expressed our wishes in terms of the locations we wanted to visit and budget as well. When Mathilde was away, Kevin stepped in and was very helpful as well. In one situation when we needed help, Valentine also stepped in and offered to switch our hotel but we did not need to move, although the offer was very nice.
We had a fantastic time, sometimes challenging but very satisfying overall. For further commentary see a couple of my blogs below, and you can see all my blogs on the time we spent in France at andrasthehun.blog on wordpress or click on and-r-as-the-hun.ca. I copied two of the blogs below describing our unique experiences in Aix-en-Provence.

Finding Our hotel in Aix-en-Provence, France (blog published at andrasthehun.blog)

The travel agent reserved a place for us in Aix-en-Provence and the GPS in the Peugeot 208 indicated a map showing how to get there. The rush-hour traffic engulfed Kathy driving the car and I assisted navigating the road. Crowds of people walking across the street made driving more challenging. And the roundabouts, of which there were more than traffic lights, complicated driving by sprouting many exits and lanes that we had to assess in trying to find the right exit.
Some exits were just lanes. Once the GPS directed us to take the next right, which was a lane that took us into an underground parking that we toured searching for the exit. On exiting, the inserted ticket triggered the gate to open, and we sped out.
The car rental agent switched the GPS to English from French and a serious-sounding, deep-voiced female directed us to our destination with a UK accent. We learned some new expressions such as “bear right” which means to turn right.
The rush of traffic, the crisscrossing pedestrians, and listening to the deep UK-accented voice combined to make us highly nervous driving in a town new to us, and we wanted to get to our place fast. But that was not to be.
With the hotel address typed into the GPS, the GPS directed us to turn left into a lane right after going around the Rotunda, a central square in Aix. In the fast-moving traffic, we did not notice the small lane quickly enough and missed our turn in the rush-hour traffic. We were frustrated and used some words not appropriate in a blog. After recalculating, the GPS moved us around a few kilometers to come back to the Rotunda again. By that time with our nerves frazzled, we missed the turn lane yet again, being pushed by the cars behind us on our tail.
The third time around Kathy slowed down ignoring the honking behind us and we entered the single lane promising to lead us to our hotel. The next left turn ordered by the GPS left us facing a few bollards not allowing us into the single lane. Stumped, we stopped trying to analyze the situation before the honking became overbearing and people yelling at us to get a move on. We had no choice. We moved on while Kathy, in her utter frustration showed a finger to the woman driver behind us shouting at us.
At this point, having driven around for over an hour and a half, I said, hell with the hotel reservation, let’s take another hotel anywhere in Aix. Then we realized that we needed gas to continue our search. I clicked on Waze on my cellphone and looked for the nearest gas station. Still, in rush-hour traffic, we missed a few gas stations because we could not get to the right lane from the middle lanes fast enough. We filled up at the gas station that we finally reached, where a friendly soul directed us to a suburban hotel twenty minutes away. We were happy though with a full tank of gas and redirected the GPS to find the hotel.
Khalid, the hotel receptionist, was sorry but said his hotel was full and he came with me to two adjacent hotels to speak French to the other receptionists, which he said would help us, poor Canadians, find a place to sleep. Walking back and forth among the hotels afforded me time to discover that Khalid came from Tunisia and he became excited to hear that I loved Tajine.
The horrible option of sleeping in the car came to my mind, should we not find a hotel. But that idea also created a problem; where to find a place to park? Parking in Aix seemed nonexistent. When I shared this idea with Khaled, he would not hear of it, he said he would make sure to find a place for us.
But the nearby hotels were full as well. Khalid called another ten hotels to no avail. By this time, it was dark, and we were totally tired out and the impossible scenario of finding a quiet spot to park and sleep in the car has become a real option. Instead, Khalid suggested we leave the car at his hotel’s parking garage and take a taxi to our hotel, wherever it was. Since it was an offer to park free in the garage, and we were too tired to think, we accepted his offer. We took our overnight bags and waited for the taxi he called.
The taxi followed the route we had taken previously around the Rotunda, but instead of going off to the left where we had gone three times, the driver took the next right which was Cours Mirabeau where our hotel was. When confronted with bollards at the entrance – Cours Mirabeau is closed to traffic except for delivery vehicles and taxis – the driver inserted a card into a slot on a post next to him to make the bollards sink into the ground. And then we drove onto rue Mirabeau and found our hotel.
The next morning, after surveying where we were, we took a taxi to retrieve our car and returned to park it in the nearby parking garage. The instructions to our hotel would have been clearer if instructed to seek a garage, and not the hotel, which was inaccessible by car. But since the hotel has a street address, the GPS took us on a futile trip.
In retrospect, the travel agent should have told us to park first with an address for a garage and instructions on how to reach the hotel next. Instead, the address to the hotel was provided with the suggestion that we park in the nearest parking garage. But we were happy just to find the hotel located along a wide sidewalk full of outdoor cafes with crowds of people. Nobody paid attention to us entering the hotel.

Entering Our Apartment in Aix-en-Provence, France (blog published under andrasthehun.blog)

Talk about security! I thought we would get a key from a receptionist and go to our room in a hotel. Not so. We were registered at Les Suites Du Cours in Aix-en-Provence, which we thought was a hotel – but discovered later that in Aix, at least, a hotel is a type of townhouse in the center of the old city, they used to be houses of the wealthy. Our hotel room turned out to be an apartment.
Let me start in the beginning when we received instructions on how to access our “self-registration” where we would be staying tonight. Although we had the street address, the instructions on how to enter our accommodation from the travel agent came the day Kathy drove from St. Remy to Aix-en-Provence, about an hour’s drive.
I was surprised; I expected a hotel with a lobby and a receptionist. Not so. We received an algorithm on how to enter this place via ten successive emails that mirrored a five-page manual on entering this place, the latter also sent via email!
Challenged by digital codes and fobs and keys in the instructions, I was apprehensive about our arrival; what if we could not follow the instructions and were left on the street with no receptionist? Although we had a phone number, what if they do not work at night or not at home? And would my French be good enough to communicate with them?
When we arrived at the address with two backpacks, after being lost for three hours, we faced a large, ornamental door, shown in a picture on the five-page instruction manual. The door at our address was in the middle of outdoor cafes, with people occupying all the tables, oblivious to the new arrivals.
So, we started by punching in the four-digit code to open the ten-foot-high historical, ornamental, heavy door; it clicked and we pushed it inwards. The door was very heavy with springs so strong that I had to lean into it to keep it open. Total darkness awaited us inside the twenty-foot-long vestibule, and I fumbled to find a light switch, indicated by three lighted dots on the wall ten feet away from us. We searched for the mailboxes, as instructed, opened the door, and looked up the next code to open the number 5 mailbox, our apartment number. We punched another four-digit code a few times with no success until I realized that the star after the four digits was part of the code and not the end of the instructions. Two sets of keys fell out of the mailbox for our next set of doors.
A fob was attached to both sets of keys and one of the fobs opened the next door, leading to the staircase and the elevator. This part of the building was also totally in darkness but by now we knew to look for the light switch. With only our backpacks, we decided to walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator even though the twenty-foot ceiling made the stairs long. The instructions were that only one person and a suitcase could be in the elevator at one time, and yet another key to use it. At any rate, our apartment was only on the second floor, we reasoned, and Kathy was worried she might get stuck in the ancient elevator.
Having reached the second floor, we tried to use the old-fashioned elaborately molded key to open the large, ten-foot-high ornamental door. We were tired and the key was obstreperous, it would not work. I was unsure whether I put it in the right manner and twisted it around in all directions. Finally, I banged on the door in frustration, expecting someone to be around to help us or tell us to get out of there but nothing happened.
Then the realization struck us that in France, the second floor is actually on the third level. The ground or first floor is the “rez-de-chaussee”. So, we hauled our baggage up to the next floor in the dark again since the lights worked for a short time only and we had to find the next switch on the next level. This time the old key worked. Finally, we arrived in our “hallway”, but it was pitch black again, and fumbled in the dark to find a switch.
In this hallway, several double doors faced us which, I thought would lead us to the kitchen, bedroom, etc. I heard voices behind one of the doors so I went there and burst in to let the intruders know that we reserved this unit. American voices greeted us in a friendly tone, and they said that they had reserved this unit for five days and our apartment must be behind another door opening from the “hallway”.
Three apartment units opened from this hallway and we, apparently, reserved one of these but we did not see numbers to indicate which one. Each unit had a set of double doors in front of the locked door units themselves – the unit number itself was a small number on the inner door, not visible from the hallway. The ornamental double doors, we speculated, were probably the original doors to be kept for historical purposes, and the inner doors, where our keys worked, were modern, lockable ones.
I was embarrassed for bursting in on the American visitors, apologized, and went to another door in the hallway where one of the keys on the second set of keys worked. Finally, we arrived at our apartment. The “hallway” served three apartments; I mistook the word hallway for our apartment’s lobby.
Once we settled into our bright place, we engaged in a friendly discussion with the neighbors and imbibed a glass of wine to calm our frazzled nerves, I reflected on the amount of security installed here. We needed two digital codes, a fob, and two keys to enter our apartment! Was this necessary? Is this overkill? Is the crime rate in France high? I did not know. But I thought the five barriers to mount to enter an apartment were beyond the pale. But perhaps when you get used to this system, it becomes simple. At any rate, we felt secure to leave our passports in the room when venturing outside.
Now you might think this entrance to occupy your hotel/apartment was frustrating, irritating and unnecessary. It was. But at the same time, to me, it was a puzzle to solve. It was fun. I used to do sudoku and now I do wordle. The satisfaction of solving puzzles was similar to solving this real-life puzzle to get into our accommodation.

Booking our 14 day Spain trip with KimKim and having Raquel as our specialist was a fabulous experience throughout the entire process, from planning then all the way throughout our trip. We gave Raquel our request and what we wanted to do and she planned, organized and booked our hotels, train tickets and tours. Raquel also made suggestions on what we might want to do while in that city. All the hotels were excellent quality and tours were highly reliable. When we did need assistance, Raquel responded quickly and it was all resolved within minutes. I would highly recommend KimKim and specifically Raquel for your next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Palacio Mariana Pineda Hotel

Granada

Loved the character and uniqueness. Great breakfast. They even opened a few minutes early when they knew we were leaving early.

Authenticity & Character

Unique rooms and furniture.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sacristía de Santa Ana

Seville

Clean and cosy. Great location. The breakfast was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Our guide told us that this was once a private residence but now a hotel. It is unique and very cozy. Our room overlooked the square and was nice to see and hear all the activity.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acta Splendid

Barcelona

A quiet and modern hotel with a great location. The breakfast was included and food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very walkable to the old city and many of the attractions.

Staff

Very helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean and quiet.

One Shot Palacio Reina Victoria 04 Hotel

Valencia

This is a beautiful hotel a fabulous city. Great location so you can walk to many parts of the old city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very walkable

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

Clean, quiet and great location. We did eat in the restaurant in evening and it was tasty.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean and quiet. A modern, minimalist decor.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Barcelona by E-Bike: Iconic Sights & Hidden Gems

Barcelona

Kinda disappointing! Bikes were old and not in best shape. There was no orientation, offerings of bike helmets, nor did the guide find out how experienced the riders were. This excursion is not for the inexperienced rider.

Quality of Experience

The route did highlight areas of Barcelona, but poor quality bikes and no helmets took away from the experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valencia by Tuk Tuk

Valencia

This was a relaxing and fun way to explore Valencia. Fiona loved her job and the city and she exuded positivity and excitement. It was a fabulous way to see the highlights of Valencia. I would have loved for our tour to be longer. I would highly recommend this tour to get a overview of Valencia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fiona was positive, loved her city and this just made the entire excursion so much fun.

Transport

The location of meeting point is central, but can be a little difficult to find as signage on the historical buildings are not permitted.

Monumental Seville on Foot & Visit Real Alcázar

Seville

Excellent guide and provided overview of the city and its history. Andres also made recommendations on other places to visit in the city.

Quality of Experience

Guide had great knowledge of the history and the city and other sites to visit.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meeting us at the hotel just made it so easy to connect.

Private Transfer Hotel to Train Station, Train Seville to Córdoba, Privately Guided Visit of Córdoba, Train Córdoba to Seville, Private Transfer Train Station to Hotel

Seville

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was knowledgeable and very helpful to arrange our transportation back to hotel earlier than the schedule.

Transport

The train to Cordoba was efficient and was easy to find our guide. Having a private drive back to Valencia was perfect, so we could just relax and even have a little siesta. When we did have difficulty finding our driver, I called the company and we quickly connected. One of our people got sick and we wanted to return early, so we called the transportation company and they were able to accommodate us. Excellent service!!

A Night of Flamenco in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

This was a fabulous show and the performers were excellent. It was especially interesting as it was located in one of the caves.

Quality of Experience

The performers were excellent.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There were no guides nor did the production company speak english, so it was up to us to figure it out.

Transport

There was no problem getting a taxi to take us to the location (Sacramentoe Caves) but at the end of the show there was no communication on how to return to our hotel. It was late in evening and our hotel was a significant walk. Eventually a bus came along and we got on it to get down to the town where we eventually got off and grabbed a cab.

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Excellent guide and very knowledgeable of the history of Spain and influences. There were many guides in area to help identify which group you were assigned to.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable of history and architecture.

Transport

Taxi rides up to and back to the city centre were easy to access.

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

Madrid

Our guide connected with us before the trip so we were able to stay in contact before arrival. Because it was raining, our guide and taxi driver took us to purchase umbrellas. Victor was extremely knowledgeable and also was able to convey the history through storytelling. We really enjoyed this tour and would recommend a trip to Toledo. We just wished we had better weather as many of the shops were closed due to the rain.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Victor is a great guide and storyteller who is knowledgeable about history.

Transport

A quick train trip from Madrid to Toledo to meet our guide was excellent and easy way to travel. This was one of our first trips where we travelled by train and I would do it again. It is easy and stressfree.

Highlights Walk of Old Madrid

Madrid

A great overview and introduction to Madrid. We were able to walk from our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable and also took time to help us get a Sim card for our phones.

Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening

Madrid

So much fun and great opportunity to meet other travelers.

Quality of Experience

Food

A great introduction to the world of tapas

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a taxi to the meeting place and walked to each of the restaurants.

Dimetrios was so helpful and went above and beyond!! Very attentive

This was our third vacation in Europe using KimKim, and like the previous trips, they delivered! Our multi-city self-drive adventure in Andalucia was well coordinated. Our KimKim agent, Rita, arranged our rail and car transportation, secured professional walking guides, and made excellent recommendations for hotels, restaurants, and day excursions. Rita was a supportive partner in respecting our travel expectations and budget. Her thoughtful planning included unique experiences in Andalucia such as a tapas bar sampling, authentic flamenco, a Spanish guitar concert and a most memorable cooking experience. We look forward our next travel adventure with KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Catalonia Ronda

Ronda

This was by far the best hotel of the trip. It felt luxurious and was in a fantastic location. I felt like I was living the high life staying here. Would highly recommend it to anyone.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petit Palace Plaza Malaga Hotel

Malaga

The GPS had us going in circles trying to locate this hotel, as it was in a pedestrian-only zone. We ended up having to call the hotel for directions to a nearby public. Otherwise, it was a lovely hotel in a wonderful location. No complaints!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petit Palace Puerta de Triana

Seville

This hotel was in a great location, right in the heart of everything. The parking situation was a bit confusing, as they had a garage that we didn't know about in advance. Some advance notice about the parking would have been helpful, but the staff was able to direct us to a public parking lot nearby

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hands-On Cooking Class in Granada

Granada

This was an unexpectedly delightful experience. Meeting the chef at a market and getting to shop for our ingredients was a fun twist. We ended up spending about six hours with her at her farm, which was more than we anticipated but didn't interfere with our plans. It was a great day, and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves cooking and doesn't mind spending a bit of extra time on it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crazy but beautiful country.

Thanks you to Trang for very efficient organisation and also Mr Sang who was a very enjoyable tour guide.

Hotel Reviews

La Casta Cruise

Halong

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

San Premium Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Rooms very dated. Cold shower.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sanouva Saigon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-day Cu Chi Tunnels tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I’m

Transport

Ben Tre Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay Cruise - Overnight on boat

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time during our trip to Croatia. The country was beautiful, the people were kind, and the food was delicious. Our itinerary allowed for a good mix of rest and exploring. We enjoyed activities off the beaten path and some classic sites. The island of Korčula was our absolute favorite and would love to spend more time there. Our tour of the island with culinary tastes was amazing. We were so happy to visit Komparak and then have lunch in the country side. All hotels were clean, well located, and a joy to stay in. Our drivers were friendly and we much appreciated being driven around. We had a small issue with 1 ferry ride but Anna Maria was able to quickly resolve and we caught the ferry on time. Would highly recommend booking a trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lero

Dubrovnik

The rooms at this hotel are very spacious, modern and clean! The welcome cookies were delightful and the staff friendly. There isn't much nearby but don't let that deter you. The food and drinks at the Piano bar were flavorful and the breakfast buffet was huge. We also ate at the attached Taj Mahal restaurant which is an absolute must try. We took a bus back from the old city one day which was only a few minutes long and very easy to navigate.

Authenticity & Character

Attached to a traditional Bosnian restaurant (Taj Mahal) which is a must try.

Location

An easy, quick bus ride from old town. Nearby grocery store as well.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable, modern and spacious rooms. Very clean hotel as well.

The Fabris Inn

Korčula

The staff here are SO friendly and helpful. The hotel is an easy walk from the ferry and well located in town. Due to it being a historic building, the rooms are quiet small and it can be noisy but each room is well laid out and earplugs are provided. Breakfast was yummy and the welcome gift of cookies were our favorite.

Authenticity & Character

Historic, old building with lots of character and charm

Location

Great location! Easy to walk to many places within town and to the ferry.

Staff

The kindest staff. One day it was raining and we were lent an umbrella

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. The rooms and especially the bathroom are quite small but it was ok for our short stay and the hotel provided many accommodations to compensate for the historic building.

Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort

Hvar

Huge resort which is a bit of a change for us but we ended up enjoying very much. The room was very spacious, modern and clean. It had a nice balcony where we could see boats passing on the water. The pool area was very nice with a small beach nearby. The staff were very nice and helpful. It is a 10min walk from town but easy if you go around the hill (and not up & over it). As this resort is on a hillside there are a lot of stairs and levels. Poolside food and breakfast buffet were delicious and there is something for everyone.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's a bit out of town but the location is beautiful. We didn't mind the walk.

Staff

Friendly and helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Camera Split

Split

Very spacious, clean and modern room. The host was incredibly kind and made huge, delicious breakfast each morning. The location felt very safe and allowed for quiet sleeping while still being within walking distance of many sites. We would stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to. Felt safe. Not on a loud street.

Staff

Our host was so kind. Wonderful woman.

Cleanliness & Comfort

So clean and spacious! Modern amenities. The beds were very comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

We really enjoyed this private tour of the old city. Our host was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us an indepth look into the city, beyond what we could have learned simply walking around ourselves. She customized the trip to what we found interesting and gave us tips on where to grab lunch after and tour the city walls.

Quality of Experience

Customized in depth tour

Food

We didn't have any included food. We were given recommendations on where to grab lunch after.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide was the best! She was so kind, knowledgeable and friendly.

Transport

Our driver took us down to the old city and it was easy to walk around from there. The Dubrovnik Pass included bus transport so we could easily get back to our hotel

Konavle Wine Tasting Tour

Dubrovnik

Fun tour tasting wine and experiencing the local culture. Small group was the perfect size and it was nice to meet others from around the world. All winery hosts were kind and inviting; excited to tell us about their culture and treat us to their products. The train ride between wineries was fun even when it started raining. This made our trip even more memorable and we were able to warm up with some spirits in addition to the wine. The bus picked us up and dropped us off directly at our hotel so that was very accommodating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our host was friendly, knowledgeable and funny

Transport

Easy bus ride and comfortable transportation. The little train between vineyards was fun even when it started raining.

Day Trip to Krka National Park & Trogir

Split

The waterfalls are breathtaking! Our tour guide was friendly and allowed for ample time to explore the park and then take a short boat ride to Trogir. The park can become crowded so we were happy to have traveled on the edge of peak season and while not overwhelming warm. The walk is several levels but not difficult or too strenuous. The short boat ride was enjoyable and it was nice to explore another small town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and knowledgeable tour guide

Transport

Tastes of Korčula Island

Korčula

Hands down, our favorite experience during the trip! A short ride to Komparak allowed us to experience a private tour tasting honey, jam, olive oil and gin. Our host was welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable. We purchased several products to take back home with us. Our driver then picked us up to drive into the countryside for lunch. The lunch was incredible - sitting outside near the garden when our lunch was grown. The staff were friendly, the food was amazing and we relaxed while enjoying the sites, smells and tastes. We took our time and then called our driver when nearing the end of our meal who promptly came to pick us up.

Quality of Experience

Absolutely worth it

Food

High quality, local and the tour was personalized to what we liked.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly

Transport

Can’t say enough good things about this company…they made our honeymoon vacation in Italy, seamless and stress free. Emi, our consultant from Rome, created a wonderful itinerary for us with great tours and accommodations, car service when needed and a timeline that kept us entertained but not overwhelmed. The couple of hiccups during the trip ( a train strike and mapping error) were handled quickly and easily. We will certainly be using this service again again and highly recommend it to others!

Hotel Reviews

Nord nuova roma hotel Rome

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close enough to the train station to walk there. Also easy walking distance to many attractions.

Staff

Very helpful but not the most approachable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, very comfortable and lots of little niceties thrown in

Hotel Ca' d'Oro

Venice

Great little hotel off the beaten path. Very clean and comfortable. Unfortunately we were only there for one night and had to leave early so didn’t get to take in the breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Off the beaten path so was nice and quiet. Just over 20 minute walk to the train station

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cosimo de' Medici

Florence

Great little hidden away gem!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Super close to the train station and very convenient to many attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pillows were very firm otherwise everything else was great

Unconventional Hotel Sorrento 3* Sant'Agnello

Sant'Agnello

Wonderful little hotel tucked away from the main hustle and bustle. Clean, nice view from our balcony, wonderful breakfast and very helpful and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tuscan Cooking class and S.Lorenzo Market

Florence

So much fun!! A must do!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Stefano and Thomas were awesome. Wonderful teachers and made the whole experience so much fun!

Accademia Gallery Tour

Florence

This was an interesting tour but sometimes difficult to hear or follow with all the information. Nice to see but not a must

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day at leisure in Sorrento

Sorrento

Wonderful to have a day to wander and explore the area

Quality of Experience

Chianti colors and flavors: Tuscan countryside with wine tastings

Florence

Amazing!! This is a must do, even for a non wine drinker! Lol

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Antonia ( I believe), was terrific! So informative, understandable and friendly

Transport

Amalfi Coast experience from Sorrento

Sorrento

This area is a must see. Our guide was very informative. Wish we had more time in Amalfi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wonderful trip to Ireland! The local team was great with checking in once in country. The itinerary provided offered wonderful selections of things to do and places to visit to fill our time. All restaurants and stops suggested were wonderful. The hotels lacked in some areas, but overall nice stays. We loved driving through the south end of the island and visiting the beautiful naturescapes of Ireland. Would definitely use again for future trips!

The Iceland Tour was an amazing trip, aided by the professional and competent KIM KIM team. A special recognition to Francesca, who has helped arrange this trip for over a year. The rental car, the itinerary, the accommodations were all taken care of. I highly recommend self driving as it gives one the freedom to set your own pace and to alter locations as desired. All of the excursions were worth the time and a special shout out to Arctic Adventures and their Super Jeep Aurora Tour. The accommodations were all good and were well located, usually a few miles toward the next day’s journey. A few minor issues during the course of the trip were quickly resolved by KIM KIM team member Preeti. Anyone considering a trip to Iceland should consider utilizing the services of KIM KIM. I feel that my nine day tour of the Golden Ring Road was just right. Every day was planned out with possible options. Excursions included many natural wonders, the animals, the Icelandic Horse, reindeer and whales. The hot spring spas, the ATV ride, the helicopter tour and of course, the Northern Lights.The following information is important to be aware of; food is expensive in Iceland, especially restaurant dinners. Our breakfasts were included with the hotels and for lunch, we saved money by buying sandwiches from the grocery store. Also, after you have arrived and are picking up the rental car, be sure to purchase the auto damage insurance. Windy days and close parking can result in expensive dings. Finally, if Iceland is on your Bucket List, go now! It’s a beautiful country with miles of empty roads and unbelievable wild scenery. But the pressure of uncontrolled tourism is bound to forever change the country and the quality of your adventure. Make reservations and go. Your memories of Iceland will remain long after the cost is forgotten.

Tommy n Jun are good guides. The drivers are all friendly, eventhough we could not communicate. We like Jun more, he is very kind n sincere. We didn't have a chance to see the museum in Hanoi since the museum is closed every Monday.

Activity Reviews

Onboarding Cruise To Lan Ha Bay (Orchid Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Must go.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip Exploring The Natural Beauty of Trang An & Visit Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

Vietnam

Must go.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapa Trekking & Sightseeing

Sapa

We didn't like it, nothing to see.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk To The Love Waterfall And Heaven Gate

Sapa

Must go.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Beauty of Hanoi Capital with experience the Water Puppet show

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Bun Cha n nem

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip was amazing. It was a 76 day trip to see both Australia and New Zealand. My Specialist Liz Neal was amazing and fantastic. She worked with me for almost a year to organize everywhere I was going to go and the day trips and I also wanted to make sure that I had drivers to pick me up from the Airport and for the daily outings and they were there. The booklets that she sent me with all the daily information of all the outings and plane information was a fantastic idea. I carried it everywhere and will use it when I do my photo album.

The only thing is that I need to keep some days off for myself. I was so excited about this trip and I wanted to see everything that I booked something every day. Liz tried to get me some time off from visiting but I just wanted to experience everything. In hindsight, some time off would have been good to actually do things I wanted to do but had no time like either sleep, shop or just walk around. Something to keep in mind for my next trip.

It is too bad that Liz is an expert only on Australia and Zew Zealand. I would love to have her as my agent for all my next trips.

Thank you for this amazing experience.