Kimkim Trip Reviews

We were lucky to work with Luis to plan out 2 week, 7 city trip to Spain; including Barcelona, Sitges, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Madrid and Toledo.
Luis recommended things we never would have known about, and the travel guides he prepared were SO HELPFUL.
We had two amazing tours in Granada, one of Albaizin and Sacre Monte with Marta, and one of the Alhambra and Generalife with Gabriella. These are a must, in our opinion.
In addition, we had an incredible electric bike tour of Madrid with Gloria, who customized the tour to our interests - AND an amazing electric bike tour of Toledo with Guillermo. Highly recommend both! Finally, we must mention the tapas in Malasana tour in Madrid. The neighborhood restaurants, food, wine and Nathan's company were all excellent!

Nhung made many mistakes with the dates and desired activities. We told her many times we were not picking up/dropping off our 3d friend, Talya, at the airport. But Nhung messed that up so our first and fourth day activities were decreased to do the airport. We emailed her repeatedly to change it but she didn't. I feel we lost 25% of our trip potential itinerary. She also messed up the payments which I am still waiting for a refund

Our previous rep Sotiria was much more on top of things.

We had an amazing trip to Vietnam! Long was an incredible help with planning our trip - he listened to our feedback, made adjustments quickly, and checked in on us regularly during the trip to make sure everything went smoothly and we were enjoying ourselves. Most notably, when we had an issue with one of our visas, he stepped in to help us expedite the process and quite literally saved the whole vacation!

Some of the highlights included a vespa tour in Hanoi, a food tasting tour in Hoi An, and the cruise in Halong Bay. Most of our guides were fantastic - going above and beyond to give us an experience we wouldn't forget.

Overall, we highly recommend KimKim, Long, and Vietnam for your next trip! Make sure to leave time to spend in Hoi An, as this was one of our favorite places.

Hotel Reviews

Phu Thinh Boutique Hotel & Spa

This was a lovely hotel in a really nice location. The room was spacious and had a really nice bathroom. It was clean and the breakfast was delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful. Helped make my friend's birthday special. Also helped arrange a massage at a local spa.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Journey Halong Cruise

The bay cruises are very touristy, but it was still unbelievably beautiful to be in this location. The room was sufficient and we had a small balcony that was nice. LOTS of food at meals and all very tasty. The only complaint is that most of the staff didn't speak English, so it made asking for an extra towel/asking for a drink difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hanoi Boutique Hotel

Hanoi

This hotel was totally adequate for the two nights we spent here. The room was small, but clean. The breakfast was nice and the staff very friendly. Totally fine for a quick stop!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Prague Hotel

This hotel was nice, but in a noisy part of town. The glass between the bathroom and the bedroom was not frosted, so there was no privacy when using the toilet or shower - a little awkward with it being my friend and I sharing the room and not a married couple. The location was close to a lot of nightlife, though, and the breakfast was the best we had experienced. The pool was nothing to write home about.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Noisy - some people want to be so central to the bars, but we were not really those kind of people.

Staff

Many staff didn't speak English at all. It seemed like there was one or two people on staff that spoke any - even at the front desk.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean, but the door to the bathroom needs to be frosted glass for privacy!

Activity Reviews

Hanoi Vespa Tour

Hanoi

This was one of our favorite things we did on our trip. It was a perfect way to see the city and a little thrilling with all the traffic. Our guide was amazing, and we had some incredible food. Overall 10/10!

Quality of Experience

Food

The Bun Cha was amazing.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boarding cruise in Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay

This place was naturally just an incredibly beautiful place. The activities were definitely very touristy, but it was not something we would ever want to remove from the trip. We enjoyed the views the most, but kayaking and the cave were also fun. The beach was not much to write home about, but it was still nice to have time to cool off in the water.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Cam Thanh Village

Hoi An

We really enjoyed the bike ride into the village to see the local farms, get a coffee, and see the rice fields. Our guide was amazing - great English, super knowledgeable, and knew all the best places for photos. She was truly a gem. It was a great way to see the city and get a cool breeze while doing it. The lunch was delicious and the boat ride was also very fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so nice! Loved her!

Transport

Exploring Hoi An City And Food Tour

Hoi An

Our guide was the same who provided the biking tour on the first day. She was so nice. We tried a ton of food. We didn't have breakfast at the hotel because we had a miscommunication about whether it was included, but are glad we didn't, because she brought us to a restaurant that had some of the best food on our trip. We tried so much on the tour, but my only issue was that we became quite full, but felt the pressure to finish our plates so as to not offend the cooks. I assumed all the food was safe to eat, but I did get sick the day after this tour (though who knows what it was that actually made me sick- it could have been anything). Overall, I would still do it again - we loved every minute!

Quality of Experience

Food

Mi Bo at Mi92- So good! Also the white rose dumplings.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide really went above and beyond for us. Even offered to come back to have dinner with us since we were too full to try all the food from the tour during the day.

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

This tour was fine, but not at the same level as our tour in Hanoi and Hoi An. The guide was less personable and chatty. He showed us things at the market, but didn't let us try anything. There wasn't a lot of information before we went places as to what we were doing - i.e. do we need an umbrella, do we need a mask, are we going to be inside or out, are we eating here? We had landed at the airport and immediately went on this tour so we were hungry. We stopped someplace to eat at the market, and ended up paying for his food too. It just seemed unprofessional. We also sat there in silence while we ate - the guide didn't talk to us much. It was fine, but just not a super great experience. The guide honestly seemed bored.

Quality of Experience

Let us experience and taste more. If we are in a market, can we try some things? Or can we touch anything? Tell us what to expect from the tour before we begin it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was nice enough, but seemed bored. Just such a stark contract to our other guides!

Transport

Mekong Delta Group Tour (My Tho - Ben Tre) (updated)

Ho Chi Minh City

This was fun, but we can confirmed that we would see the floating markets, but were told at the outset of the trip that we were not seeing them. This was highly disappointing, as it was the main reason we wanted to go to the Mekong Delta. Other tour companies seem to do a 1 day tour to the markets, so I would try to book one of those. The tour we did have was fine - touristy, but fine. We had nice guides, had a nice lunch, and had fun on the short paddle down the delta in the reeds.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sharon, just saying thank you for the extraordinary job you did planning our 50th anniversary trip is simply not enough. You really listened. The cities, monuments, riads, and guides were exactly what we envisioned.
Most importantly our guide, Hicham, was central to our entire trip. He was always on time, prepared, kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable.
Without making this review too lengthy, we must remark on our last stay at Ksar Anika in Marakesh. When Hicham pulled up the riad was hidden behind two unremarkable large doors. Upon entering, it was an amazing palace too beautiful to describe. Abu, and his staff were just as special. I must say a special heartfelt thank you to Siham, who took a personal interest in us and ensured we had a wonderful time. She truly is a jewel and an asset. It was our favorite riad and we would definitely recommend staying there.

Bravo KimKim! We give you a full 5 star review for our 9 day enriching experience!
I can’t say enough about our guide Samir! He was kind, polite, and informative. He gave us a true Moroccan experience completed by a visit with a nomad family where they served us tea and bread, and lunch served by a local family during our road-trip through the country.

Everyone is Morocco was very hospitable and our guide Samir was no exception. He raised the bar for any future guide we may encounter.
Thank you Samir, for your kindness and guidance. After our 9 days, we consider you a friend. We are truly grateful for all that he did for us.
Samir exceeded all our expectations and made Morocco a pleasure to visit.

In addition, we were provided with 2 special tour guides, Muhammad for the Medina of Fez and Abdoula for the Medina in Marrakesh. They both assured we were buying local and authentic products, and both of them were extremely knowledgeable. They each spoke fluent English as well!

With kind regards,
Linda

Josee and Joel were incredibly helpful and organized. They always responded promptly when I had a question. I was very happy with the service and their recommendations. I would definitely use their service again in the future.

Activity Reviews

Private Tour in the Medoc Wine Region

France

Excellent tour with A very knowledgeable guide. All of the Chateaux we visited were top notch.

Quality of Experience

Great choices of Chateaux

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide Bogdan was amazing!

Transport

Landmarks of Bordeaux - Private Walking Tour

Bordeaux

Very nice tour of the landmarks of Bordeaux. Tour guide was knowledgeable abd friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Wine Tour in Saint-Emilion

France

Lovely choices of Chateaux- tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, and flexible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Laura was great!

Transport

Our trip was a bit of an issue due to Covid. We had it planned since 2020 and just now completed it. Harris was amazing working through it all with us. I didn't even want to go, but once there, it was incredible. Every hotel stay was perfect! The breakfasts were absolutely delicious and everyone was so kind. The guides that we had with our tours were exceptional! Sophia, Matina, Elena and the other two (can't remember their names) were all wonderful. Andreas, who was our guide in Chania for the food tour was also awesome! The only trip I would caution planning for people is the Samaria Gorge hike. We consider ourselves very fit for our age, but we found it to be a bit strenuous. We are glad we completed it, but we would never do it again. Were the views worth it??? Maybe. We have hiked the west in the USA and have seen the same and we didn't have to put near the effort into those hikes!
Nicoletta at the Grotta hotel was the nicest, most generous person. She is the owner and you feel the love the minute you walk into the hotel.
Tinos was our favorite island.
I could go on and on, but honestly, we do not have one complaint. Harris did a spectacular job and had great patience dealing with us throughout the planning stages with Covid.
Kudos to him!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Grotta

Naxos

Nicoletta, the owner is amazing! A must stay at hotel and if you do, give her a hug for us!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Philippos Hotel Athens

Athens

Perfect location! Super friendly staff and delicious breakfasts. They even made us boxed breakfasts if we had to leave early in the morning for a tour. Love this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Infinity View Hotel Tinos

Tinos

Stunning views! Simple and elegant hotel. Loved it and would stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat Sunset & Sunrise Lodgings

Santorini

We enjoyed this location versus staying in Oia or Fira. More quiet. They brought our breakfast to our patio each morning. Lovely! Nice location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Avra City Hotel Chania

Chania

Beautiful hotel! Nice location, friendly staff, delicious breakfast. Love our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Avra Hotel

Rafina, Attica

Nice for stay when departing for the airport. Very comfortable and staff very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olive Green

Heraklion

Very nice stay! Great location, staff and breakfast was delicious. Would stay again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Athens Mythology Tour

Athens

Guide was very nice. Can't remember her name. Nice walking tour. We enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Meteora by Train

Athens

Long day! Beautiful area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cretan Villages Food & Culture Tour

Greece

Andreas was fun and informative. Enjoyed him very much. Interesting stops.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner in Athens

Athens

Food was delicious, but they gave us entirely too much food. When the main course came, we couldn't really enjoy it. Food was very good. Staff was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tinos Villages Driving Tour

Tinos

Sofia was awesome! Great tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Naxos Paths

Naxos

Really enjoyed Matina, our guide. Very relaxing hike. Even enjoyed eating fresh figs from the trees!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Highlights with Wine

Greece

Belos (sp), our guide was great! Fun and interesting. Nice day. We enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Knossos & Museum Tour

Greece

Guide, her name may be Lena and Sofia, the driver, were super nice. We enjoyed this experience very much. Quite interesting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samaria Gorge Guided Hiking (Group Tour)

Chania

VERY STRENOUS! I'd be cautious who you recommend this to. Not sure the hike is worth the views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the first greeting at the airport in Venice to the last goodbye at the airport in Rome our mother/daughter trip to Italy was expertly planned and perfectly executed. The entire team of KimKim staff, local guides and drivers were absolutely exceptional. Alessia Carraro, our personal concierge, was a great guide in Venice for our bacari tour and kept us organized and updated each of the 10 days of our trip. Her communication and timeliness was unprecedented. Mrs. Lucia Monetti helped us navigate Florence and get to our train on time even in challenging traffic conditions. Valeria Arcangeli was a fantastic guide for the aperitivo tour in Rome and took us to special local places while also sharing details about the rich history of Rome. The pizza making class at Pizzeria al Grottino was fun, education and fantastic. Thank you for creating an unforgettably special trip for us. We are singing KimKim's praises!

Hotel Reviews

Bonvecchiati Palace

Venice

Great and conveniently located hotel in the heart of Venice. The backdoor pick up/drop offs at the canal are great fun.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

Great location. Beautiful hotel property with a beautifully presented breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Corallo

Sorrento

Exceptional views. Great location. Attentive staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

47 Boutique Hotel

Rome

Great property with a nice location near the river.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

"Bacari" local street food tour

Italy

Alessia was an exceptional guide. She made it fun and conversational.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Chianti Wine region

Florence

Our driver was incredible and took us a more scenic route with a stop in Greve in another village. Such a fun and special day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sorrento Coast & Capri Boat Tour

Italy

Unforgettable day on the water and in Capri.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Aperitivo Tour

Rome

A fun taste of Rome with history and culture added in.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pizza-making class

Rome

This was an incredible experience. We learned a lot and the pizza was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eleanor made all the arrangements for our travel. Unfortunately, many of our visits were canceled due to the death of the queen. But Eleanor quickly gave suggestions for other adventures. Our tour guides were really great.

We loved this trip. The planning was excellent. We got to stay in places and do things we never could have done on our own. Our guides Julian , Gilles, Sophie and Claire were fun and very knowledgeable about the places and food. We only experienced one problem on our trip. The driver to take us from Lyon to the train didn’t show and we weren’t able to contact Valentine for assistance. We did appreciate the refund we received We would recommend kimkim to everyone.

We have used kimkim in the past and like that it advertises specialists in the country in which you want to travel. The service provided for this trip was disappointing. Granted, we were a large group (initially 12 people), but there were many significant details that were missed creating complications and producing unneeded anxiety. The kimkim platform seemed to overly complicate communication and our travel specialist frequently did not check in on the platform for days at a time - so it was difficult to communicate and to remind him of all of the details about our trip (which we should not have had to do in the first place); we finally had to connect on WhatsApp. I will not go into the details that were missed, but suffice it to say that there were complications before the trip and at every stop that required reaching out to the travel coordinator to intervene. I was the primary contact for our group and kept much of this detail from all so that they could experience a restful and anxiety-free vacation. Ultimately, we paid quite a bit for this trip and the kimkim fees were significant, but I do not believe of value in this instance since this was a stressful experience for at least this traveler.

I have so many great adjectives that I could use to describe this phenomenal trip. But smooth is probably the best one. Everything went smoothly; like clockwork. Every driver was prompt and on time to take us to our activities and to airports and train stations. Every guide that we had for our tours was amazing. Our bike tour with Marie was our favorite. It was a Marseille. The Full day tour of Nice with Hedgewig was also interesting and beautiful. . It was just so reassuring to know that all of the details had been taken care of before our arrival in a foreign country. It was just a mother-daughter trip to a part of Europe that neither were familiar with. We felt safe knowing that all of our lodging, tours, transportation, and travel was taken care of in advance. Kim Kim is the only way to go when booking trips!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Les Bords de Mer

Marseille

This hotel is iconic and absolutely breathtaking. The view was pristine. We were right on the water! You can’t get a better location for a beach vacation. The hotel staff went way above and beyond to communicate with us in English and to accommodate our every need. The Buffet breakfast each morning was superior and such a nice way to start each day. We would definitely stay in this hotel again.

Authenticity & Character

Very cool and historic iconic hotel. Lots of history there.

Location

This hotel was right on the ocean! I mean right on the ocean. Plus, it was far enough away from the busy port hub to be removed and quiet. But easily within walking distance of many great Marseilles locations.

Staff

The staff went way above and beyond to make us comfortable. They were so kind and patient with us and our poor French language skills.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Housekeeping kept the rooms absolutely immaculate. They were prompt and discreet. The air conditioning worked amazingly well! We were so comfortable. The beds were comfortable.

Hotel West End

Nice

This is an old hotel. Therefore, air-conditioning and Wi-Fi will be an issue. If you don’t care about that, this historic hotel is super cool and in a great location.

Authenticity & Character

Historic and iconic.

Location

Right on the promenade. Right on the water.

Staff

The staff went above and beyond to make us comfortable. We had to make a room switch in the middle of our stay. They made that happen in a smooth manner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air conditioning was a bust. That was kind of hard. Wi-Fi was also a bust. That was kind of hard. And the blow dryers were very unexpected. Like old 60s style with a hose hook to the wall and everything. Kind of a good history lesson I guess.

Activity Review

EBike Food Tour in Marseille

France

We loved this ebike tour. Our guide, Marie, was so authentic and informative. I loved her pride and enthusiasm about her beloved Marseille. She gave us so many great tips. She was patient with us in the beginning, as we were uncertain and inexperienced on E bikes. She was such a kind person and really connected with us on a personal level. She’s highly recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip through Napa Valley, Monterey and San Francisco. Leo helped us plan outings such as a day long ebike tour through the wineries, horseback riding on the beach and a hike through the redwood trees. He was so responsive to our questions and great to work with! Thank you, Leo!

Activity Reviews

Sonoma e-bike wine tour

the United States

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beach horseback riding in Monterey

Monterey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a pre arranged trip in Botswana for the first part of our holiday and worked with kimkim and Lize to provide an itinerary for an additional 5 days.

We had a great trip and the Lodge/Salt Pan overnight trip in Makgadikgadi and House boat in Chobe were all excellent.

All local guides were excellent. Julio Quispe was outstanding!

Hotel Reviews

The Lot Boutique Hotel

Lima

Communication was a hard

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very convenient location

Staff

Trying hard but Poor English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heating system was very poor

Tierra Viva Arequipa Plaza

Arequipa

Room was clean & location was excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casa de Mamayachi

Arequipa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but bathroom (shower don’t work)

Tierra Viva Puno

Puno

No problem

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very convenient

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Cusco

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa San Blas Boutique

Cusco

Clean but tired

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient but could be problem as it’s narrow one way up

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion

Puerto Maldonado

Just superb location & enjoyed every seconds

Authenticity & Character

Location

So peaceful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

From {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Must sees in Lima

Lima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I have always planned on going on my first trip to Europe since 2020. But with the pandemic, it was very difficult with planning. It wasn’t until this year, I made the final decision to go on a solo trip to Europe for the very first time. Not knowing how I would go about planning my trip, I went on the kimkim website and reached out to Chris. He has been helpful from the very beginning, and put together an amazing itinerary! I expressed that I wanted to go to Greece and Italy, and the types of excursions I was looking for in each country. Chris was able to quickly customize and put together the perfect itinerary for me. It was easy to follow and included dates and times for each destination, as well as transportation, hotel stays, description of each excursions, and restaurant suggestions. While reading the customized itinerary, I thought it was too good to be true! Days prior to my trip, Chris always reached out to me with any updates on my trip and asked if I had any questions prior. He was very helpful with answering questions on what to expect for each destination.

My 10-day trip included 5 days in Greece and 5 days in Italy! Nadia, who also works with Chris, followed through with me during my Greece destination. My first arrival to Greece was Athens. Traveling solo internationally for the first time was nerve-racking and I was anxious in the beginning not know what to expect. But just as stated in the customized itinerary, everything went smoothly with transportation from the airport to checking into my hotel! Nadia reached out to make sure I arrived safely. On the first day of my arrival, my first excursion was the Acropolis Guided Tour where I met my guide and enjoyed the wonderful walking tour. My guide was a wealth of information teaching me the history of the Acropolis and Parthenon as well as the greek civilization. I enjoyed the beautiful archaeological sites, temples and Parthenon. It was a great way to start my first excursion in Greece. The following trip in Greece included 2 nights in Mykonos and 2 nights in Santorini. I enjoy the beach very much, and experiencing the beautiful beaches of Mykonos and Santorini was like being in paradise! The beautiful island of Santorini has breathtaking views, where I admired the beautiful architecture and islands of the volcano! I ended my last day in Santorini with a gorgeous sunset view on the cliff during my wine tasting tour!

My destination in Italy included 2 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Florence and 1 night in Venice.
Upon my arrival to Rome, Chris followed up with me through video chat and discussed my itinerary and excursions of what to expect while in Italy! Of course, I had to explore one of Italy’s most attractions of the Vatican and world famous Sistine Chapel! Then I went on a walking tour viewing the stunning ruins of the Colosseum and Roman Forum! After my planned excursions, I explored more of the beautiful city of Rome such as the Piazza Di Spagna and tried authentic italian cuisine, pizza and gelato! From Rome, I took a trip to Florence known for its beautiful architecture and Renaissance art. This included a bus tour to Siena, San gimignano, Monteriggioni and Chianti tour where I got to view beautiful Gothic architecture, chapels, breathtaking landscapes, and ended the tour with wine tasting with our tour guide! I couldn’t end my Italy trip without viewing the beautiful city of Venice! It was so surreal being able to get a rooftop panoramic view of the enchanting city with the marvelous canals and renaissance palaces. I took in every moment of the glorious city. The next morning, I ended my last day in Venice taking a water taxi where I got to go through the canals of the lagoon and Adriatic coast seeing the last views of the bridges and enchanting city making my last day memorable!!

I had the time of my life and enjoyed my vacation very much! Being able to visit two beautiful countries and experience a trip of a lifetime was like a dream come true! In Greece, I enjoyed being under the sun and enjoyed swimming in the beautiful beaches and seas of Mykonos and Santorini! And in Italy, I enjoyed the guided tours while experiencing the cultural and countryside of each city! I am truly grateful for Chris for making all of this possible and putting together a beautiful itinerary for my first European trip! I highly recommend him and would definitely go back to him again when I visit Italy and Greece in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Mykonos View

Mykonos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acropolis Hill Hotel

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blue Dolphins Apartments & Suites

Firostefani, Santorini

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Diana Roof Garden

Roma

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Executive

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Antiche Figure

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

Restaurants in Athens

Athens

Welcome to Mykonos

Mykonos

Mykonos South Coast Sailing Trip

Mykonos

The cruise to each beach was beautiful and so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santorini

Santorini

Restaurant Suggestions in Mykonos

Mykonos

Sunset Cheers & Dine

Santorini

Restaurant Suggestions in Santorini

Santorini

Welcome to Rome

Rome

Restaurant Suggestions in Rome

Rome

Early Morning Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel guided tour

Italy

Colosseum and Roman Forum guided tour with Arena entrance

Rome

Best Of Florence Walking Tour

Florence

Restaurant Suggestions in Florence

Florence

Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni & Chianti With Wine Tasting

Italy

Welcome to Venice

Venice

Essential Venice

Venice

Restaurant Suggestions in Venice

Venice

Departure day

Italy

This was a last minute decision made for us to go to the UK for the first time. Rachel put together an amazing 9 day trip for us. Especially on such short notice. Then HM the Queen died and Rachel was on vacation. Emily had to reschedule so many of our activities. While we were on our trip Rachel was able to fix a couple of snafus we had. We did not have to stress about anything. They treated us like royalty. We loved every place we went. We cannot thank Rachel and Emily enough for the wonderful 30th anniversary. Absolutely will use again.

Hotel Reviews

Linthwaite House

Windermere

The hotel was clean and nice. The staff was not friendly or welcoming. It was hard to find. Just not a good experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Georgian House Hotel

Pimlico

This hotel was spectacular from the food, staff and room!! Location was fantastic. Room was spacious and luxurious. The staff was so helpful and nice. We arrive at the hotel about 10 AM after flying all night. The staff was amazing and got us to a room after we had breakfast. They will never know how much that meant to us. They were helpful with activities and reservations. So friendly and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location was perfect to walk to almost everywhere you needed to go.

Staff

See above they were amazing!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was so perfect. I hated to leave.

Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Great location. Room was amazing and comfortable. Staff was really nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was friendly but not really above and beyond.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cameron House

Alexandria

Cannot say enough wonderful things about this place

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect in every way.

Staff

Very welcoming, friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was so comfortable and beautiful

Lygon Arms

Broadway

What a unique experience to stay here. Such a historic place. I would absolutely come and stay here again for a length of time next time.

Authenticity & Character

So much history and well preserved place.

Location

Such a great location to so many different sites and hikes.

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel du Vin Henley-Upon-Thames

Henley-on-Thames

This is a unique place. It was built as a brewery 300 years ago. Staff was not very knowledgeable or organized. They seemed new and not well trained.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not really close to anything. Everything closes down on Sunday evening early.

Staff

Everyone was nice, just new and unorganized. Amanda was really amazing and the gentleman working the restaurant was very personable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glengoyne Distillery

United Kingdom

We learned a lot and it was a really great experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring London on a Hop On Hop Off Bus

London

It was ok. We really did not learn a lot. So many of the stops were closed due to the Queens death.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shard Viewing Platform

London

I was not sure how I would like this, but it turned out to be really fun. The drinks are amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Westminster Abbey

London

Unable to view because closed. It was beautiful from the outside.

London Eye Fast Track Tickets

London

This was fun. I thought it might be scary but it was air conditioned, thank goodness!! We could see all over London.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour of The Trossachs National Park

Edinburgh

He was darling.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Windermere Scenic Cruise

Lake District National Park

I would have like to have more time to explore the docking points. The boat ride was great. Sit inside.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Oxford

Oxford

George was knowledgeable and engaging. He had so much to tell us about Oxford. We could have probably had a longer tour and not have noticed how fast the time went.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our entire experience with KimKim Travel was excellent from start to finish. Our local specialist Andrea was amazing. He was responsive to all our questions, proactive with his communication and patient with all our changes. He also went out of his way to help us with one of our group members who had some issues walking. His instructions and suggestions made each day an adventure.

We had a minor hiccup upon arrival that Andrea immediately fixed. We started our trip in Venice at the hotel Gardena. Peter, the concierge was so friendly and helpful. Our first guide was Giovanni who took us on a cicchetti tour of the city. We got to learn some local history, like the Jewish Ghetto, and to taste some local foods and wine. He brought us to a local restaurant for a dinner of pasta and seafood.

The next day we visited Murano and Burano on our own and then met Enrique at the Doge Palace and St. Mark Basilica. His passion for the history of the area and understanding of Venice made the day incredibly enjoyable. Enrique helped us find a good spot for a gondola ride and another local restaurant for dinner.

After a train ride to Rome, we checked into the Hotel Raffaello which is centrally located and convenient to everything. We met our guide Maria Paula who took us on a tour of the city highlights including the Imperial Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. She share granitas with us and helped us find a great spot for wine and appetizers.

The next day Colosseum and Roman Forum. Maria Paula is so well educated in the local history and made the day a so enjoyable and fascinating for us. She was responsive to all our requests and questions. We ended our day visiting the Jewish Ghetto and enjoying wine and food.

Our last day in Rome with Maria Paula was a visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. She met us at the Vatican Cafe where we had an unbelievable lunch before starting our tour. Maria Paula was so helpful to our companion who could not walk well and took her through some guide only paths to easily visit what she was able. Words cannot describe the majesty of the Vatican and Chapel. Maria Paula made it an experience we will never forget.

The next day our driver Enzo took us to Pompeii. Enzo was so gracious to our injured friend who could not tour with us. Our guide Antonio is from a family of guides and was so excited to give us a 3 hour tour of Pompeii and show us the off the main path areas and explain the unbelievable history of this historic location. Enzo then took us for the best pizza we had ever eaten before dropping us at the Amalfi coast and Hotel Amalfi. The hotel was located in the center of town.

Amalfi is a truly colorful and unique area of Italy and we highly recommend a visit. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and we had to cancel our trip to Capri. Andrea called us about the cancellation and helped us fill our day with other highlights of the area.

Ginaro then drove us to the Naples train station and then Valerio met us in Rome to take us to our yoga retreat in Tuscany. Both drivers shared information on local sites with us and were very helpful.

The next 6 days were a yoga retreat we planned on our own in Tuscany. I will say the area is worth the visit.

Our driver Luca picked us up in Tuscany to take us to Florence. Luca was such an positive, friendly personality. He pointed out all the highlights on our drive, stopped in the town where he went to school for a bathroom break and gave us a quick tour before handing us off to our guide Simona in Florence.

We only had a few hours in Florence and Simona filled them with history, art and fun. She took us to see the David, the Ponte Vecchio and recommended restaurants and her favorite gelato place.

Everyone we interacted with exceeded our expectations. They were all helpful, well educated, informative, respectful and fun. We would happily visit with any of them again and would recommend KimKim to plan your travel. We will use them again for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Raffaello Hotel Rome

Roma

Centrally located, safe. clean neighborhood. Helpful staff. Clean rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Nice rooms

Location

Near the sites and good restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Amalfi

Amalfi

Very nice hotel in the center of town. Back way in is easier to access than off the main road. Clean and comfortable rooms, centrally located, helpful staff, great breakfast room.

Authenticity & Character

Nice design with beautiful balconies

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Italy

A unique introduction to the city locations and the food. So much history to learn. All the cichetti locations were friendly and welcoming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giovanni was so friendly and fun, really helping us enjoy the experience

Transport

Walking through Venice is easy and the best way to see the city.

St. Peter's, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica - private guide

Rome

Words cannot describe the beauty of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria Paula is so well informed and a fun guide to spend time with.

My husband and I went to the Golden Circle, Snaefelsness Peninsula and the Westfjords on a self-driving trip arranged by Terry Stanley. Terry was amazing from start to finish and our trip was wonderful and went very smoothly. I strongly recommend a self-driving trip with access to Wifi in your car as you can balance between having an itinerary with some flexibility. We went from 9/6-9/13 and were lucky to have had excellent weather. We loved the scenery, especially in the Westfjords and highlights included stopping at various 'hot pots', snorkeling in Silfra and the Inside the Volcano Tour. I would recommend purchasing a gas card as we had trouble using a credit card, even with a PIN.

Activity Reviews

Silfra Snorkeling

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

NA

Transport

We did not use but it is forcing me to rate it

Inside the Volcano (Meet On Location)

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Lamb stew was excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The experience with KimKim was outstanding. We loved the easy planning via emails, the convenience of trip organization, the experienced guides, availability of Antonia throughout the journey. All but one of our guides was outstanding. This was one of the best trips I have ever taken.

Hotel Reviews

Villa Nora Hvar

Hvar

Loved the owners and the care with which they welcome their guests. The location was perfect for us. It was out of the fray but close to the things we enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet and easy to get to and from many sights

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Fabris Inn

Korčula

I loved the location, comfort, and staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lero

Dubrovnik

Fantastic hotel with a lovely room and breakfast as well has helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a little further from Old Town than we would have liked but we did enjoy the walk

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Some air conditioning issues in our room that were not resolved but staff was quick and attentive about it.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Plitvice National Park from Split (group tour)

Split

The national park is gorgeous and we are glad we got to see it. Unfortunately, it was extremely crowded which we did not anticipate. Crowds detracted from the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Small Group Island of Hvar Cycling Tour

Croatia

A very personalized experience ending with a delightful gathering with wine and cheese. Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Hiking Tour on the Island of Hvar

Hvar

Beautiful hike through the countryside. Gregor was about to provide a personalized experience from a true local.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Korčula Bike & Food Tour

Korčula

One of our very favorite experiences. Mislav was a great guide with a nice local perspective. It was great to see the out of the way places he took us. He was also very safety conscience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Speedboat/Ferry Transfer and Guided Day Trip of the Mljet National Park

Croatia

The island was beautiful. The day there would have been more productive as a combination hike/bike. Our guide was interesting but unfortunately did not plan the day nor was she knowledgeable about the island vegetation. Also, she could have greeted us at the Ferry to make it easier for us to find her. Meeting spot was vague.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Guide was fantastic. She was incredible with the details of the city and history. It was a first rate experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day Trip to Mostar & Kravica Waterfalls

Dubrovnik

Waterfalls are lovely but unfortunately not well kept. There was debris and litter all around the unkept walkways. Would have rather had more time in Mostar and skipped this. Our wonderful driver was encouraging this as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Disco was our driver and he was full of great stories and information. He made well planned stops and was courteous to all the passengers.

Transport

vehicle was very comfortable

Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)

Croatia

Another experience not to be missed. We loved this day, the family, and the other guests. It was quite a learning experience. We enjoyed getting out into the countryside for the day and away from Dubrovnik.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport