Kimkim Trip Reviews

My husband and 18 year old daughter had a fabulous trip for 3 weeks. I have been trip planning for 25 years. I rarely feel comfortable handing things over, but Amalia, wow.... did such a wonderful job. At first the price point was too high, she did not hesitate to assist me in bringing it down so we could do more without sacrificing all the stops (Athens, road trip with rented car to Sparta and west, Paros, Naxos) without feeling awkward. Everything they saw, and everyone they encountered were wonderful, from the pick ups to the historian at Athens to the boat driver/crew. I could not have asked for better attention, thoughtfulness, and responsiveness. Thank you Amalia!

This trip was my second and my husband's first trip with Morocco Immersion (via kimkim). My first trip was with my sister-in-law on a 14-day trip that took us around Morocco - it was perfect for the two of us. This 10-day trip for my husband and I was just around northern Morocco and was much slower pace and was perfect for the two of us. Sharon did an amazing job tailoring both trips to fit our style of travel and needs. Our guides were absolutely fantastic on both trips.

On this trip, our tour guide was Amnay (with Omar being in-training), who I met on my first trip and knew my husband would love to meet him. I definitely enjoyed seeing the men share their love of music. My favorite memory is in Asilah on the second day of our trip - the four of us found a great spot overlooking the ocean and sang (for me, listened) and talked as we watched the sunset. That sunset is my favorite memory from our trip.

When it came to the hiccups that all trips have, Amnay and Sharon were understanding, flexible, and found solutions (laughing with us and listening patiently depending on what was needed). Knowing they were there to help us helped make the frustrating into funny stories. Being able to easily contact them really made a world of difference in those moments.

One of the best parts of getting to explore the northern part of Morocco with Amnay and Omar was being able to ask them random questions about topics from the best restaurants to building codes to where Moroccans like to vacation to the king's economic plans for Morocco, and so much more. The local guides were also great at answering questions, both on the history of the locations visited and present day topics. I also loved the flexibility of the local tours, for example getting to enjoy tea/coffee in Tangier's medina with our local guide and hearing about his experiences moving to and living in Tangier. The fish market in Tangier's medina is worth a visit, too!

For my husband, his top 3 memories are touring the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Chefchaouen, and all the cats. And he's really excited to see the southern parts of Morocco (including riding a camel in the Sahara). On that trip, we'll also be using Morocco Immersion.

While we haven't met everyone who's a part of Morocco Immersion Tours and Adventures, they feel like family and friends.

All our guides were personable and well informed. They were great
Meteora was simply awe inspiring.
And our driver Yannis made the whole trip a special experience

Let's start with the good stuff. The accommodations arranged by KimKim for our five nights were traditional Ryokans with hot springs and were excellent quality with friendly staff, clean facilities and the usual tatami mats, sandals, low tables and great kaiseki meals. Unfortunately most of them were a considerable distance from the train stations in their communities necessitating expensive taxi fares to and from the accommodation. The two guides and the driver arranged by KimKim were pleasant people with reasonable knowledge.

The reason for the poor rating is the quality and local knowledge of the travel specialist assigned to us. Some examples (besides the fact that she booked accommodation so far from the train station).
* The original range of cost we were given by the initial contact person was immediately exceeded at the top end of the range by her first estimate and we had to assert a more reasonable cost by insisting on three star accommodation.
* We made a specific request to stay in Narai and original trip plans included this but suddenly this was no longer included and we were told that accommodation was not available despite us making the request many months ahead.
* When we requested luggage transfer for the day we were hiking we were a) told it wasn't available, b) it was not included even though this was another item we had asked for early on. Eventually, and only after insisting, KimKim told us it could be obtained at our accommodation and they would reimburse the cost for us.
* When we arrived in Takayama from Kanazawa we discovered she had arranged for us to spend the entire day in the Gassho-syle villages (although it really only needed a half day) so we missed seeing the once-a-year spectacular, UNESCO-rated autumn festival in Takayama by less than hour.
* When we asked to receive all our itinerary, maps and tickets in hard copy ahead of time we were told that it might get lost so we should go to a convenience store and print it out ourselves with the help of our first guide. Again, only after we insisted did we get a hard copy but we did not receive it until after we had checked into our first hotel which meant that the information for that location was of no use as we had already consumed the time for visiting places in that city. Furthermore the map for our hiking was small, poor quality print so almost unreadable and, in any case, only in Japanese.
* For one portion of our itinerary it stated that we would go by train from one city to another after being with a driver and guide for most of the day. On this basis we purchased our 7-day JR Pass to coincide with this portion of our trip only to be told later that this was a mistake and that the driver and guide would be taking us to our final destination city.

These are some examples of the poor service, there were others. Unfortunately for KimKim we had a different travel service organizing a separate part of our month in Japan so we had a comparator organization to judge against. On every level KimKim came out looking inferior as well as being more expensive. I would not recommend them to other travellers.

ADDENDUM:
After providing this feedback we were impressed at how seriously KimKim took it and also how seriously they acted to address our concerns. Our dissatisfaction was significantly reduced by their response.

Irene planned my first trip to Greece. It's been my dream since I was a kid to visit Greece but when I finally was ready to make it happen the thought of planning this dream trip was too overwhelming to take on alone. That's where Irene came in. I gave her my expectations and my budget and she made my dream come true.

The tours were amazing. I had a mixture of self guided, small group, and private. There was a small hiccup with the meeting time on the first day but it was quickly resolved and we were able to arrive a little late with no problems. I was also impressed at the diversity of the companies we toured with. One in particular stood out to me because she started the company herself and I love that they are willing to use small companies like hers, not just big ones. Everyone was amazing and brought something different to each tour I was on.

The hotels were a wonderful surprise. I didn't give much guidance as far as what hotels/rooms I was looking for. I honestly wasn't looking for anything specific, just comfortable. But Irene more than exceeded my expectations. The hotels were conveniently located, comfortable, the staff were so helpful. The only complaint was the hotel in Avra Rafina Hotel. But that was partly my fault because I ended up booking an early morning flight and Irene had to put me somewhere close to the airport. The staff at Avra Rafina were very rude but having the free shuttle to the airport at 3am made staying there necessary and, again, this was at no fault of Irene's. She did everything right. Honorable mention to the Diapori Suites. AMAZING HOTEL! Seriously, so beautiful and super easy to walk to anything we might have needed in town.

Overall, this was truly the trip of a lifetime and the majority of my positive experience is entirely because of Irene and her amazing planning. I would not have thought to visit the Peloponnese, or the castles and that would have been heartbreaking because the area was truly beautiful getting to drive around those mountains. Thank you for introducing me to the majestic country that is Greece and I can't wait to return for more.

Hotel Reviews

Avra Hotel

Rafina, Attica

The free shuttle to the airport at 3am is the main reason I stayed here. In the future I will plan for a later flight so I don't have to stay again. Overall the experience was okay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Diapori Suites Hotel Kardamyli

240 22 Kardamyli, Messinia, Greece

I loved staying here. The location is beautiful and it's within walking distance of anything I needed. The staff were very friendly and I'm very grateful for the amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Electra Palace Athens

Athens

Beautiful views, wonderful staff, convenient location. Overall an excellent experience staying at this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Mystras Guided Tour

Greece

Dimitris was our tour guide for Mystras Castle. I remember driving up to the town and seeing some ruins way high up on the mountain and thinking "I really hope it isn't that all the way up there." But it was lol. I was quickly relieved though when Dimitris told us that we would be going downhill, not uphill. We took our car to the top to park and made our way down, stopping at the sites a long the way. Alongside the history, which was fascinating, he also had a vast knowledge of the plants in the area and I loved hearing about all the different ones as we walked by them. It was a wonderful experience and I hope to go back when they finish renovating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kalamata private Food Tour

Greece

I 100% recommend Mama's Flavours because we had the best time. She uses all local food and has painstakingly chosen each and every place she took us too. We don't drink so having the ability to adjust our schedule accordingly was appreciated. We ended up spending longer with her than the 4 hours planned but it felt like hardly any time went by. It was like having lunch with a friend. I hope to see her again.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

We were picked up at our hotel for the drive to Delphi. The drive (I'm so sorry, I forgot our driver's name) was very comfortable both going there and coming back. The driver was friendly and helpful. We were happy to have him get us where we needed to go that day. Georgia was our guide at Delphi and she did an amazing job showing up the museum and explaining many things that I didn't know about the place. Afterwards we walked through the archeological site and the views were amazing. Having a guide was beneficial though. I don't feel like I would have gotten as much out of the visit. After walking a little more by ourselves we met the driver to go to Mer Des Oliviers for lunch. Every one was so kind and welcoming. The food was delicious and it had a great cozy feeling to it. Especially getting to sit outside in the lovely weather. Overall great experience for the whole day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis Afternoon Tour

Athens

There was a small hiccup with the meeting time because of the travel company I used but it was quickly resolved and we were able to arrive a little late to meet our tour guide, Michael. It was a small group tour and I loved it. Michael did an amazing job showing us the Acropolis and we had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Where do I begin to tell you about our amazing 10 days in Turkey?! My husband and I didn’t want to go on a « one size fits all » vacation. After a great deal of reading, I had pretty much decided where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. Can’t thank Berat enough for making it all happen for us. She listened carefully to what we wanted and then filled in the spaces with her expertise.
All three of our guides, Ibrahim, Hatice and Volkan were excellent . They were knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor and went above and beyond to help us with all of our needs and wants. Safety was never a concern and we enjoyed moments on our own to explore with confidence. Local people were always friendly and eager to help.
Our drivers spoiled us from the moment we were picked up. The spacious vehicles allowed us to stretch out our legs and enjoy the views along the way with fresh water and candies.
What was the best part of our trip?! It was ALL wonderful.
The ambiance and personnel at the Hürrem Sultan Hammam were exceptional. Have never been so wonderfully pampered. Was pleasantly surprised that my husband enjoyed the experience also.
Cappadocia was a fairyland. The predawn hot air balloon ride was magical and so serene. And what fun to stay in a cave hotel!
We were warmly welcomed into the private home
of Udo Hirsch, the owner of a small winery in Gelveri.
After narrating our tour of the cellars where we saw the grapes naturally fermenting in centuries old clay containers, we returned to his family table. We tasted several of his red and white wines accompanied by homemade goat cheese and olives and fresh bread. Unforgettable!
In Safranbolu we stayed two nights in a truly impressive centuries old mansion. Our breakfast was spread out for royalty as we sat beside the indoor pool listening to the water flow softly from the beautiful fountain.
The visit to the Bozdag Film Studio was a special treat after having watched several of the television series that were filmed there. Sets were impressive and it was exciting to meet Günkut, one of the alps that I remember from the Ertugrul series. My husband particularly enjoyed watching the live show that was performed at the end of the afternoon. Horsemanship, costuming and acting were all amazing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the food in Turkey everywhere we went. On our last day Berat joined us for a food tour. Was so nice to meet the lovely young woman who helped us plan our trip of a lifetime. Just when we thought we would explode from eating so much, she asked the waiter for a pumpkin dessert. Oh, my goodness! What a delicious way to end our trip!
My husband and I are retired educators. Worked for 40 yrs and raised 3 wonderful sons. I have traveled abroad and lived in different countries, but my husband has not. I wanted this to be a positive, adventurous and awesome experience for him.
And it was!
Thank you, Berat, all of your well chosen colleagues and KimKim for sharing your beautiful country, culture, history and people with us.
Could not have been a more amazing trip.

Hotel Review

Havuzlu Asmazlar Mansion

Safranbolu

So nice to be out of the big city and into a small town. The Havuzlu Asmazlar Mansion was beautiful and full of history.

Authenticity & Character

Can’t help but feel the history and want to learn more. The wood stairway, the bed, the design on the wood ceiling, the sofas on two sides of the room, the windows and cupboards - all so inspiring. The pool room was lovely. Perfect place to relax, read and have a royal breakfast.

Location

Short walking distance to a cute outdoor restaurant. Good food and a cute little cat to keep you company!

Staff

Staff staff was helpful and eager to please. Prepared a wonderful breakfast. Make sure you allow time to relax and enjoy it!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom was on the small size but not a problem as the bedroom was very large and I simply stored my extras in the lovely cupboard just outside the bathroom. It’s impossible to keep old wood spotlessly clean, but beyond that, yes, the room was clean. Nice to open windows during the night.

Activity Reviews

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Another can’t miss experience! Our pilot was amazing and there were only 16 of us in a basket that fit 20. Simply magical and serene to float above the spectacular scenery. Crew made us feel completely safe from take off to landing. Woke up early the following morning to watch more than one hundred balloons floating by our hotel. The Kelebek Special Cave Hotel was a magical place to stay. I won’t even try to describe it . Please see our photos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pilot was funny and crew very capable.

Transport

Discover Safranbolu, a unique Ottoman town on UNESCO World Heritage List

Safranbolu

I chose to go to Safranbolu to stay in one of the centuries old houses. The Havuzlu Asmazlar Mansion was a lovely place. Our corner room at the top of the beautiful wooden stairway was very spacious. Bathroom was small, but I simply stored extra items in the little cupboard just outside the bathroom door. The cushioned sofas that filled the room were the perfect place to relax in the evening. The bed was large and comfortable. A short walk around the corner took us to a cute little outdoor restaurant. Food was good and we loved the companionship of one of the local kittens. Breakfast in the morning was a feast. It was served in the room containing a dipping pool. Soothing to listen to the softly flowing water from the fountains.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ceramic Tradition in Avanos + Light Hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

Was interesting to see the artisans at work, making and painting the ceramics . Their work was beautiful but well beyond our budget. Gave us an appreciation for the amazing quality of their work though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the town of Gelveri: A walk among the Ottoman-Greek heritage of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

We felt quite special being invited into the private home of Udo Hirsch. His passion for making wine was evident from the moment we began our tour. Was incredible to visit the cellars where his wine fermented naturally in containers that were centuries old. Then we were warmly welcomed to his table to taste several of his red and white selections. Friends and family were present. We were made to feel like family as we sipped wine and enjoyed homemade goat cheese, olives and fruit and bread.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Was a fascinating experience to wander through the caves and to imagine that people actually lived here. If your husband played college football and has broad shoulders and bad knees, you might want to rethink this one though!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Bozdag Film Studios

İstanbul

The Bozdag television series is the whole reason that I became interested in Turkey. Was fascinated by the history of the Ottoman Empire and wanted to visit all of the historical sites. I was elated to find out that the film studio had opened to the public. Was even happier to learn that some of the actors were there on the weekends. I was not disappointed. Got to take photos with Günkut Alp from Ertugrul! So magical ! The live show in the afternoon was great! Do NOT miss it! I’m back home now and watching the final season of OSMAN. So much fun to see some of the scenes that were filmed on the sets that I had just visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turkish Bath and Spa at Hürrem Sultan Hammam

İstanbul

This was amazingly wonderful! The ambiance was heavenly, high domed ceilings, warm marble slabs, beautiful aromas. The attendant made me feel comfortable immediately with the whole experience. Didn’t take long to get past all shapes and sizes of nakedness. I simply relaxed and enjoyed the pampering. It’s definitely worth splurging to get the whole experience including clay body mask, bubble cleanse, body massage. The fruit drink was a refreshing new taste. And the olives and fruit were perfect. Can’t imagine a better experience than this historical Hammam of Hürrem Sultan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were delighted with the trip that Jessica and her team planned for us. They suggested places that we hadn't considered, which proved to be great ideas. Their recommendations for hotels were spot on. The guides and drivers they found were reliable, informative and easy to communicate with. It was easy to communicate with Jessica and her team during the trip, and we appreciated the ability to track our plans using the app they provided. I love working with KimKim because their specialists are embedded in each country, giving them unique insights and connections.

Hello Amelia, sorry for the delay,

I agree with Jacqueline, on a lot of the aspects of the trip.

All the drivers were very nice and courteous gentleman. The best one I found was some Thanassis. All the hotels were good, except for Naxos, I don’t recommend using this hotel venue for tourist guests. We were not happy with the room, The second bedroom was not to my liking the stairs to the mezzanine were very steep. The ceiling was very low and dangerous also the bed was on the floor.

In the town of Heraklion I would avoid and recommend not using the Airbnb you found us, the accommodations were not very favorable, the one bedroom was okay, but the second was very poor and uncomfortable. I felt like I was sleeping in a coffin.

In summary, all the organization you made of the trip went very smoothly, everything was on time with all the transportation. I love Greece, the people were very kind and helpful. I especially loved Meterora, the hotel was very nice, the staff were amazing and generous with the service. I highly recommend this hotel for future tourists.

You did an amazing job!

The best guide/Driver was Thanasis who is always on time, knowledgeable, patient, very pleasant, and able to rescue us when we are lost. Nothing was ever too much for him. He was the best of all.
The best sites were: Meteora, Epidauros, Corinth, Mycenae. The best islands were: Naxos and Santorini.
The accommodation in Athens was great; the two ladies who managed the place were simply wonderful and did not know what to do to help us.
In Meteora, the Holy Spirit and their Gardenia restaurant had fantastic staff, so helpful and generous, serving us extra deserts and fruits.
The hotel in corfu was very good but one hour away from The Old Corfu. That place was for swimmers and beach lovers; nothing nice in the vicinity and away from everything. A hotel in the Old Corfu, with its mansions, cute streets and stores, gardens and palaces would have been the area to be.
In Naxos, the hotel was well situated, but the bathrooms need a lot of modernizing .
In Crete: two things to comment:
The day trip from Heraklion to Rhethymno only would have been enough. Adding Chania was not a good idea at all, because the day trip lasted 10 hours! The landscape was always the same and not particularly striking. Instead of a whole day to Rethymno and China, we should have gone to the Archeological museum in Knossos (or Heraklion).
The arrangement to stay in an apartment in Heraklion was not good for us. We would have liked a hotel with reception, so we could ask questions to a receptionist, because when we arrived the place was closed. We did not have WIFI so I had to go to a neighbourhood cafe and ask them to phone the owner. Also the breakfast was the worst of our whole trip.
All in all, the trip was fantastic, thanks to the arrangements executed to perfection by Amalia. All the contacts, guides and transportations were coordinated perfectly. She confirmed everyday with the drivers and hotels.
We never felt forgotten as Alicia was following our itinerary everyday.
Thanks to her it was a success!
Thank you , Jacqueline

Activity Reviews

Knossos Palace guided tour

Greece

The guide was very good and knew a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Going to Knossos was left to us. We had to take the bus, by asking local people. Again, it would have been nice to stay at a hotel where we could ask how to go to Knossos from Heraklion.

Transport

We needed a receptionist to make arrangements

Day cruise around Santorini

Santorini

Wonderful villages , all whitewashed. A dream.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to arrange transportation on The Island of Santorini, to go to Oia, etc

Day road trip to Delphi & Arachova

Greece

Arachova was a real surprise!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Ancient Greek Mythology & Museum Tour

Athens

Camila worked up a varied and comprehensive 16-day trip focused mostly on the altiplano. It was challenge for both of us to arrange a visit to Chipaya Village, a remote indigenous community. She was open to my requests for additions and changes and followed my progress daily while I was in-country. Camila provided probably the most detailed personal service I have ever had from a travel agency. Muchas gracias!

Finding an amazing vacation in Morocco with KimKim was so easy and fast.

Original Travels had a nice variety of itineraries and one matched perfectly with what we wanted to do. The team was very friendly and responsive- and massively helped us when we realized we gave them the wrong flight date on the first day of our vacation. I’m sure they scrambled to fix all the hotels, and by some miracle Said saved our vacation.

From start to finish, our trip was quite smooth starting in Casablanca with nights in Chefchaouen, Fez, the Saharan desert, Skorha, and Marrakesh. A couple of long days of driving were necessary to fit everything, but totally worth it.

Our experienced driver Lahcen is such a lovely person- funny, friendly, and patient. He made sure we were taken care at every moment along the way. We had a lot of fun and interesting conversations. I wondered if it would be awkward to have a driver for 11 days straight, but it wasn’t at all.

All of the guides and excursions we did were also incredible. Our guides in the medinas of Fez (Adib) and Marrakesh (Hanan) were very knowledgeable - showing us things we would’ve never seen or understood by ourselves.

The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is magnificent. The wood carved panels, intricate plaster carvings, and zellige tile work is beautiful and amazing. Be sure to tag along with a guided group to learn about the historic and religious importance of this place.

Chefchaouen was a great place to start and I wish we had a little more time there. While there isn’t a TON to see. It’s beautiful and relaxing. A good place to start immersing yourself with the culture, food, language, etc… Helpful tip: consider packing light for the night(s) here since you may have to walk a few blocks through the narrow, cobblestone streets (closed to cars).

A stop in Volubilis to see the Roman ruins was fascinating. There are signs in the park, but it’s worth it to pay a small fee for a guide who can show and explain more than you would see on your own. A short stop in Meknes for a late lunch and the Mausoleum of Ismail.

Fez - exploring the Fez medina was like exploring for hidden treasure in an Indiana Jones movie. Our guide showed us local artisans skilled at weaving, zellige tile work, pottery, silver and leatherworks. Since our guide is a local, it was quite nice to see him shaking hands and saying hello to almost everyone he saw. The food we had in the medina as well as the food we had with a local family was delicious.

Our time in the Saharan desert camp was a true highlight. The camel ride into the desert was a surreal, special moment. Seeing the sunset and the stars come out on a camel is likely a once in a lifetime opportunity to many. The camp itself was relaxing with delicious food and interesting excursions. The staff was welcoming and kind - with good senses of humor!

As geologists, we had an extra fun stop in Erfoud to see all of the fossils from the region and how they are processed into the cool specimen worthy of museums.

Our time in Marrakesh was filled with so many fun activities. Our Medina guide was full of information and gave great tips on places to go when exploring on our own. She was also our guide for the gastronomic tour which was a delicious experience. We also opted for the hot air balloon ride, cooking class, and spa treatment - these were all incredible in their own ways and a nice escape from the fast paced nature of the Medina.

Good to note for future cooking class attendees- you are gifted a small tagine so I’m glad we had not already bought one in the markets.

We would highly recommend our friends and family visiting Morocco. The people are friendly, the food is delicious, and the culture is rich. We had wonderful vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

This hotel was actually quite unpleasant. We were only there one night before catching an early morning flight. So not worth raising a stink about. But it was kind of dingy, the elevator was suspiciously creaky, and our floor had a slight Seager smell in the hallway. The grout in the bathroom was dirty with missing tiles. Permanent water stains on the counters. All light fixtures and wall hangings were crooked. Definitely not five stars. After seeing the state of our floor and room we did not really want to eat at the hotel. Close enough to walk to restaurants, a park, and cathedral, and large square but the cathedral and square were both closed off.

Authenticity & Character

No character at all, seemed like it hadn’t been renovated since the 1990s

Location

Close enough for walking to restaurants and some attractions, but most attractions were closed for unknown reasons

Staff

The staff was fine- no complaints

Cleanliness & Comfort

It seemed dirty, dingy — have definitely stayed in worse places through my life but this ranks pretty low. Definitely not five stars.

2Ciels Boutique Hotel

Marrakech

A modern hotel in a nice part of town, maybe 10minutes drive from the medina. Clean and comfortable with a nice restaurant and multiple pools.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a modern hotel; hard to compare with the character of the riads.

Location

Easily walkable to many restaurants, a short drive to get to the historic medina

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

Wish we had more time here because it was a small oasis. The food was delicious (but note- it’s not included in the stay.) They also only take cash- so be prepared if you have dinner/drinks/spa treatments. Very cool spot to stay.

Authenticity & Character

It was an old kasbah which has a ton of character, with some of the older architecture showcased. They also grow much of their own produce and make the food from scratch with local ingredients.

Location

It’s kind of in an unexpected area, an hour or so away from most things attracting people to the region. Our booking was actually changed to this location after the original hotel was damaged in recent earthquakes.

Staff

Everyone was kind and wanted our stay to be perfect

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Such a special experience to stay out in the Saharan desert. The camp is clean, good food, lovely staff, and the camel ride out there is unforgettable.

Authenticity & Character

Glamping at its finest. Moroccan rugs, poofs, and lighting give a nice ambiance.

Location

Quiet location out in the Saharan dunes. Excursions are available to near by sites and towns - easily organized with the camp.

Staff

The staff has a great sense of humor and love interacting with the guests. They serve delicious food and play some great music in the evenings. Perfect hosts.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Fes Maya Suite & Spa

Fès

Very beautiful riad. Amazing mosaics and carved cedar (on par with some of the palaces and museums.) Very friendly staff and close to the Medina.

Authenticity & Character

The interior is just stunning. Each room has its own character, and views from the terrace were great!

Location

Near the medina and restaurants

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

This quaint hotel has a ton of character and situated within the non-motorized part of the city. Pack light as you have to walk a few blocks over cobblestone and may be situated a few floors up. Not so fun to drag a heavy suitcase over.

Authenticity & Character

Colorful with mosaics, carved wood, and colorful glasswork

Location

Near restaurants, food, a central square, easy to find, nice views.

Staff

Everyone was kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable! Couldn’t ask for more. Near blackout shades and AC/heat in each unit, Wi-Fi and tv available.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

It was really fun to explore the medina with our guide Hanan. She was very knowledgable and shared a ton of cultural, religious, and historic information with us. It was great to hear her stories, experiences, suggestions for places to adventure on our own later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hanan was great. It was really nice to have a female guide. She had a great sense of humor and a ton of great experiences to share.

Transport

Private Transfer from Skoura to Marrakech: Crossing the High Atlas

Morocco

It’s a beautiful drive with scenic variety from the desert up into the high atlas mountains.

Transport

Our driver was fantastic as always.

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

This was a very interesting set of cultural experiences. We started the day having tea at a nomad camp. Kind of odd because the family was just living their life as our guide poured us tea in one of their tents. Then we drove by some of the old buildings and villages near an old mine and into Merzouga to listen to live music and learn about how the people in down utilize water in their community garden. We then relaxed by the pool for a couple hours before returning to camp.

Food

The Moroccan pizza was delicious! And a nice change from tagine.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Youssef was knowledgable and kind. He took us to an additional spot when he knew we were geologists.

Transport

Riding across the dunes and off road is fun!

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

I was unsure of what to expect, having dinner in a local family’s home- they were so welcoming and a few of the family members were fluent in English. It was interesting to actually experience entering their home through the narrow medina alley and stairs. The family had recent gathered for a wedding so it was a bit of a reunion of sorts. They sang and played musical instruments. The food was also delicious and plentiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

We felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie- navigating the old Medina. It was interesting to have a guide who grew up there. He knew so much about the city and also knew so many of the people who have shops throughout the medina. It was so interesting to see people making pottery, zellige tile work, working leather in the tannery, and weaving textiles.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our lunch spot was delicious and located in an old palace which had been repurposed. (Palais Mnebhi)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Adib was a fantastic guide.

Transport

Our trusted driver, Lahcen was perfect as usual!

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Volubilis was really interesting! The ruins and mosaics are in good condition and it’s worth paying a guide to explain in more detail. We only stopped in Meknes for a late lunch and to visit the Mausoleum of Ismail. The mausoleum was actually very quiet and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chicken pastilla and couscous were delicious at Palais Salma

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide at the ruins spoke great English and had a good sense of humor, very knowledgable. Service at Chicken pastilla and couscous were delicious at Palais Salma was also excellent.

Transport

Trusted driver got us everywhere we needed to be!

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-Guide

Morocco

There is not a ton to see in Casablanca in our opinion. The Hassan II Mosque is incredible, but then we were happy to be on our way. Our driver stopped at a few places in Rabat. Which was also interesting, but again I think you will see similar if not better examples of medinas, kasbahs, riads, etc… if you also plan to stop in Fez and Marrakech.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver arranged with the agency was great!

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Merzouga Desert

Morocco

The long drive was totally worth riding a camel into the desert at sunset. Likely a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people and we took the option to ride two hours to camp. After sunset the ride continued under a clear night sky filled with stars!

Quality of Experience

The camel ride was so fun!

Food

Honestly we stopped at a gas station with a restaurant for a refuel and grabbed sandwiches that were super good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver Lahcen was great as always- he got us where we needed to be safely, always great for a conversation, and played music from the region.

Transport

The drive is beautiful and reminded us of the western United States (mountains, desert, buttes)

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

This was such a fun experience. Our guide Hanan was fantastic. She took us to try things I would’ve never on my own. Berber “pizza”, olives, tangia, sardine burgers, mango smoothies, snails, and doughnuts. We were stuffed!

Quality of Experience

Food was delicious! It was nice that everything was taken care of ahead of time.

Food

All of the food was interesting and most of it delicious. (Definitely saved some mango smoothie to wash down the snails with! Hah!)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was amazing company. Describing the history of the food and cultural significance.

Transport

Our driver Lahcen was great- as usual!

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

This is an incredible experience worth getting up early! As our balloon operator said “it’s like being in a dream” as you float upward. The sunrise was very beautiful over the mountains, we were lucky to be in a small balloon with only a few people.

Quality of Experience

Just a beautiful experience!

Food

A good selection in a buffet style after the ride (plus tea before)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our hot air balloon pilot was cheerful and excited to answer all our questions.

Transport

The driver for the company was an aggressive driver which was slightly unnerving. He didn’t clearly communicate that we were picking up additional passengers either- which made us wonder why we were waiting in a dark alley at 5:30am.

Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

The Hassan II Mosque is beautiful! I feel very luckily to have had the chance to tour it. The guide was knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. There are options for many different languages throughout the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Three Hour Cooking Workshop at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

The cooking class was very insightful into cooking techniques, uses of spices, and Moroccan culture. The women teaching us were joyful and interactive. We had a great time and our food was yummy. Each of us were given a tagine too!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

Really interesting experience to do a couples hammam spa experience! The scrub was lovely and the massage was a nice way to wrap up our trip.

Quality of Experience

The women working at the spa were very professional and good at what they do!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Slightly annoyed that we were whisked away to a local spice shop after even though we said we were not interested in going or purchasing anything.

Transport

Our driver Lahcen was great as always!

Guided tour of Marrakech's Gardens

Marrakesh

We actually opted to only visit one of the gardens because four to five seemed like overkill. We were told to avoid the YSL gardens because of long lines and very overcrowded. We instead went to the Bahia Palace and the secret garden which were both on the quieter side. Easily self guided and less people especially in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Bruno was a great travel agent. He listened to what we wanted and did it. The cooking class he booked was with a trained chef and he taught us a lot including how to clean squid and fish. The hotel that were booked and had easy access to what we wanted to see .

Elena and Andrea made the trip to Italy so very easy. It was the first time I had travel to Europe so was a little nervous. But with both their help everything went fine. Andrea helped us out when the e-bike chain came off. They called the company and had them send out a different bike. Transfers to different site seeing places was made easier by having a driver already booked. Our vacation went smoothly and will definitely use Kimkim again

Hotel Review

Relais Osteria Dell'Orcia Tuscany

Castiglione d'Orcia

Love this place, staff was exceptional. The only thing is out in the country so make sure you have a car or a driver to use.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Florence cooking class with Market Visit

Italy

Barbara was a fantastic teacher. Took us to the fresh market and then we went to her house to cook. She taught us how to roll the dough for gnocchi. My daughter and I both loved the market and the lesson

We had have an amazing &1 wonderful time on our Canadian Rockies vacation....we have a super experience driver Big Mike that took us everywhere we go from flat lands to uphills to see the scenery...to our very knowledgeable tour guide John, who provides all info that we need to know about Canadian Rockies, all about Jasper, Banff, Calgary etc..etc & also in & out of our hotels we're all staying....super nice guy & smart John....
Never a dull moment to be with them
We were happy to have them as part of our journey to Calgary, Canada..
I would rate them as superb 10 & would recommend them to our friends who wants to explore Calgary, Canada...
Thank you....

We had a great time on our tailored trip to Chile. we started with a quick jaunt to wine country and then an amazing time in patagonia. Erin was instrumental in arranging the tour for us beforehand and then a lot of the details on the ground from Nara. We had a few minor hiccups with secondary vendors but were able to easily rearrange things conveniently. we unfortunately got part of our activities cancelled due to weather but had quick alternatives arranged and that portion refunded to us. The convenience and coordination is worth the time

Karim was a great guide.
He took us through areas of Morocco that wouldn’t usually be seen, meeting people from different walks of the country.

He was conscious about making the trip as comfortable and enjoyable for us. Thanks Karim we have now left with a friend.

This was our first time working with KimKim and Original Travels and we could not have been more pleased.

They took all the stress out of planning the trip. We told them the cities we wanted to visit and our budget for appropriate riads to stay and they put together the perfect itinerary of comfortable and well located riads along with customized day tours of the cities.

We also can’t stress enough how wonderful it was to have a private driver throughout our trip. Reda was not only enjoyable to be with but was so accommodating to our whims of stopping for supplies and amenities. More than an a driver, he was a friend.

And the home base staff of Ali and Said were available instantly when we had questions during the trip or wants to change things at the last minute. There was never a feeling of guilt. They made us feel like we were their only travelers.

So polite and professional. We look forward to using this team again for future travels. If you want to truly relax and enjoy an adventure of a trip that spans multiple cities, you will not beat the prices and service of this team.

My mother and I had an awesome time in Croatia, and everything was well communicated and organized by Daniela and her partner, Robi in advance, and during the entire trip! With every step of the way, Daniela or Robi were in touch to check in and give information about guides, pick up times, restaurant recommendations, and everything was clear and comprehensive. They were also available for questions and suggestions, which made the entire trip connected and collaborative. I especially loved the arrangement with guide, Goran where we travelled from Korcula to the Peninsula, and Elaphiti Islands where we travelled along the mountains and Adriatic, and visited local, family-run restaurants. This part of the trip felt very special and memorable. We then had the opportunity to meet Daniela, Robi and family in Ston, which also was delicious and memorable. Highly recommend connecting with Daniela and Robi-- absolutely lovely and memorable, all around! Thank you!

Marisa was wonderful! Truly an expert in her field, and I'd highly recommend her to anyone looking to travel to Portugal. She planned out our whole trip and made sure we saw all of the key highlights since it was our first visit to Portugal. The best part about the service was the communication. The whole time we were there we had an open line of communication. Any questions we had were answered immediately which brought peace of mind. Thank you Marisa for making our trip a memorable one! Looking forward to visiting again soon.

Hotel Review

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

This was our last stop on our trip to Portugal. Great location, historic exterior but the service certainly wasn’t a 5 star experience. It was far from it. When we first checked into our room it was in the basement with a very musty/mold smell. We left to go to dinner and came back to multiple cockroaches in our room. We went to the reception with all of our luggage. We know they can’t control where bugs are, but they can control their reaction. They seems unsurprised, unapologetic and zero care. They made a few calls, just changed our key, and told our room and as they handed us the new room number a quick “sorry” was said. The only person who seems to care the bellhop Antonio that took us to our new room. It was a very odd response from the front desk and an unprofessional experience. Certainly not how I wanted to end our trip and certainly should not have been charged for a room with bugs!

Authenticity & Character

The place had character but from the outside. The interior didn't give a welcoming hotel-like feel.

Location

Close to town

Staff

Their overall customer service was terrible when we told them Saturday evening that there were cockroaches in our room. They should have shown care and empathy. The only reason we were put in a better room was because of Marisa from Kim Kim. They didn't seem to care whatsoever.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They shouldn't put anyone in the basement floor until they figure out their roach issue.

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Scenarium

Algarve

The captains were so nice and gave us a wonderful experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

Performance was great, ambiance wonderful and the service was spectacular. One of our dishes was inedible, the fish was spoiled.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was the best. He was so nice, knowledgeable, made sure we were comfortable the whole time. He gave recommendations, was prompt, and it truly was one of the best days we had in Portugal. The only thing we'd change is seeing a different palace. There are multiple palaces and although Pena was beautiful, the amount of people inside the palace was overwhelming. It felt pretty claustrophobic.

Quality of Experience

I would've preferred a less packed palace.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

She was so knowledgeable and sweet. Catered it to what we wanted to learn and it was a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

Lisbon

Wonderful guide and he took us to great locations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very good trip overall. Disappointed with some of the planning as certain places were closed for 3 years and were still on the intinerary. Overall service was pretty good, barring the weekend replacement Fernanda who dropped the ball. Carl did an overall good job.