Kimkim Trip Reviews

The itinerary set up by Joel from Kim Kim was perfect! The drivers were all there as scheduled for pick up. First Christophe picked us up at the CDG Airport and drove us out to Bayeux. He also picked us up on the day we were leaving on the train from Bayeux to Paris. There was a mix up in train schedules and Christophe went the extra mile by assisting us, speaking for us as we did not speak French. He explained the need to change our rail tickets and stood with us until we got on the train. He treated us like we were part of his family which was so heartwarming. The tours and guides were excellent! The first day we went to Mont Saint-Michel with Lucy as our guide. She was very informative and had a contagious excitement about her. She made the hike up 300 steps seem like a breeze! On the second day John was our guide to the D-Day Beaches, a Museum and American Cemetery. His knowledge had us imagining we were on the beaches running for our lives as those many soldiers did. On the third day of our stay we had a private tour with Emmanuel from Caen. He was a delightful young man with intricate details of the history of the war. We toured the Military Museum in Caen, Cathedrals and even a cemetery from the 1800s! All in all a great trip to honor those who served their respective countries and made the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the War.

Hotel Reviews

Hôtel Jardin le Bréa

Paris

The hotel room was small, but comfortable. The street noise was a bit much throughout the night. May have been folks lingering around after the rugby tournament?? At 4am?? but it wasn’t the quiet room we were hoping for.

Authenticity & Character

I think they were in the middle of painting from the outside appearance?

Location

Walk ability to restaurants and subway

Staff

Alex was very helpful upon check in and gave us some tips for things to do and places to go.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hôtel Tardif Noble Guesthouse

Bayeux

Everyone was very pleasant and helpful. Check in and out was easy. Breakfast was yummy with an assortment of pastries, cereals, hot and cold drinks, fruits and a hot entree. The location was good. We could easily walk the town. The Cathedral across the street was absolutely beautiful! The only negative, we were given a room closest to the street and car lights and engine noises were a bit annoying, but calmed down as the evening wore on.

Authenticity & Character

Charming character from the entry gate

Location

Easy walk ability through the town

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable

Activity Reviews

City tour of Caen with visit of the Memorial Museum of WWII

France

Emmanuel was a very personable guide. He was full of information about the war and the town of Caen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mont-Saint-Michel day Tour

France

Lucy was the perfect guide for this tour. She was so bubbly and very interesting in her tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

D-Day U.S beaches tour

France

John was a very good guide. Full of information very detail oriented. You could imagine being on the beaches that day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were all well versed in the territory they covered. They made it interesting and seemed to like their jobs as guides.

Transport

Christophe went beyond the call to help us with the train cancellation that we were not aware of.

From the early planning stages all the way to the final day of the trip, everything went smoothly and according to schedule. Kimkim makes traveling to foreign countries easy and saves you a lot of stress for planning the finer details. You just choose your budget and based on that they will recommend stay and activities accordingly. The activities that are recommended are usually fantastic, as my wife and I were pleasantly surprised after each one. They even plan the pick up from airport to hotel and vice versa for you from ahead of time. All the companies that they use are pretty solid and very very communicative. All in all we had a great 10 year anniversary celebration and all thanks to Kimkim it was hassle free and full of fun wonderful surprises. Will definitely use Kimkim in the future and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to travel but sucks at planning.

LOVED Chasing Lights Northern Lights safari and Polar Adventure Fish and Fjords excursion.
Underwhelmed by Artic Best's Coastal Secery and Tasting tour.
Clarion Edge was comfortable and well located. Great breakfast.

Samir, our booking specialist did an amazing job at coordinating our trip. His communication was excellent and we felt we had very personalized service.

Shareef, our dedicated driver/guide was very informative and flexible with our daily plans. He took us to an amazing lunch spot with outstanding food and service.

Unfortunately, we decided to cut our Jordan trip short due to the Israel war outbreak which was not a reflection of KimKim's services. We would book again with Kimkim in the future!

Dimos and his planning made the trip one I will always remember for the hospitality, the history provided by the guides, the passion of the artisans we met, and the beauty of the land. Before we packed our bags and boarded the flight, Dimos made sure we would arrive to an adventure that was special for us. The details were developed under his expert care and guidance. The transportation was timely and comfortable.
Trendy hotel in Athens and the Lyttos Mare esort in Crete were excellent accommodations.
We were celebrating two birthdays and Dimos had cake from a local Heraklion baker and champagne available for us.
Each day the food was abundant and decadent. I returned home craving the Greek delicacies.
An added special treat was to meet his boss and partner, also known as his wife, Irine.
With our guides we discussed culture and politics and our commonalities that are built on the richness of travel. Knowing that we shared space, food, joy and humanness with each other made for an exquisite vacation. Cooking with a local chef, weaving with a local weaver, making pottery with a local potter, touring wineries and Minoan fruits were all pleasures provided by Dimos. Each day was met with surprise and pleasure; such as the catamaran cruise to Dia island.
Kudos to Travel ID and the guides, artisans, restauranteurs, and vintners to whom we were introduced. The easiest way to create your superb Cretan vacation is to contact Dimos!

Activity Reviews

Lyrarakis Winery Visit and Tasting

Greece

Such a beautiful ride to the winery and serene locale. The food and wine were sumptuous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Archanes and the Minoan Fruits!

Heraklion

The tour and the food were exceptional. Our guide at Minoan Fruits made us feel like family.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking like a Cretan on the Lassithi Mountains!

Heraklion

We did more than cooking! The visit to the cave, the weaving and pottery and the donkey ride were all part of a full day's excitement.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Trip to Spinalonga Island

Heraklion

The guide's knowledge and passion of the area were brilliant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sunset Catamaran Cruise

Greece

The crew was in tune to each guests' vibe.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Mythology Walk of the Acropolis

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The entire trip to Croatia and Slovenia was very enjoyable. The combination of activity (walking, cycling and kayaking), small towns and larger cities, history, culture and beautiful scenery was perfect. Though we were mostly on our own, it was nice to meet some of the local people as guides and as hosts. Though we had scheduled activities, we also had some flexibility in the itinerary. Traveling from mid-September to early October meant that we had pleasant/warm temperatures, almost no rain and didn't have to fight the crowds one might during the summer months.

Hotel Reviews

Scalini palace

Dubrovnik

This hotel room was small, relative to our experience with all other hotels. It was well situated in the old city, requiring a five minute walk with luggage to the East gate. There is no elevator in the hotel. We did not have hot water our first morning, and it took the staff just over half a day to fix the problem.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Apartmani Ponta

Luka Hodilje

This was a beautiful apartment right on the Adriatic Sea in a small town called Luka. There is no elevator. The apartment has a full kitchen and is very modern and well maintained. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There are no restaurants in the town, requiring a drive to Ston or Mali Ston.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Marul

Split

This hotel was a few minutes walk from the old town and within walking distance to many restaurants and to the beach area. Most of the staff were very helpful. You need to park in a paid lot two minutes away from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Most of the staff was very helpful, though some were not.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Bonaca

Skradin

This is a relatively small hotel with available parking located right on the water and within the town of Skradin. The hotel staff were very accommodating and helpful. The room was comfortable and the hotel has a very nice pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Degenija

Rakovica

The hotel was very accommodating with nice rooms and very helpful staff. There were two restaurants available within the hotel or just across from the hotel, neither of which was outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Valamar Riviera Hotel & Residence

Poreč

This hotel was part of a larger hotel complex, with the sister hotel across the bay on an island, accessible by ferry. The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. The hotel provided a complimentary snack in the dining area late afternoon. The rooms were comfortable and the breakfast provided a lot of variety. Guests were able to take a ferry over to the island to use the pool and rent water sport equipment. Getting to and from the parking lot required a shuttle which required some waiting time, but otherwise it was a beautiful location and very well situated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cubo

Ljubljana

This hotel was well situated. While you couldn't park at the hotel, the staff parked the car and brought it to us. The room was provided to us ahead of check in and the staff were very attentive. The room was very spacious with a very spacious washroom. The drinks and snacks in the room were complimentary.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dubrovnik

Zagreb

The hotel was in a great location, requiring only a short walk to the parking lot with luggage. We stayed for two nights at the beginning of the trip and for one night at the end of our trip. The only comment about the room we were given at the beginning of the trip is that the washroom had almost no shelf space or space around the sink for toiletries. The room at the end of the trip had both space around the sink as well as shelf space in the washroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cycling Mljet island and National Park

Croatia

The cycling trip was wonderful. Robbie booked us e-bikes which truly transformed the experience. It was fun, and we cycled on mostly flat pathways. Also got to learn about the area on our cycling tour which added to the personal touch of our experiences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Krka National Park

Croatia

Enjoyed the park in the morning, particularly the hiking, but the waterfall visit in the afternoon wasn't necessary. It involved a 30-minute drive to a site that was not as striking as the other waterfalls we had previously seen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

The park was mesmerizing! Robbie's recommended to be the first ones in the park, which turned out to be an excellent suggestion as we managed to avoid most of the crowd, and we appreciated the peaceful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagreb visit

Croatia

Really enjoyed the guided tours in big cities like Zagreb. The guides provided great insight into the areas and potential activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zagreb - Arrival

Zagreb

Arriving in Zagreb was hassle-free and Robbie was really flexible and helpful. We had a quick switch to have our tour of the city in the afternoon instead of the next day due to a rain forecast. This turned out well as it provided us with knowledge about the city and what to do in our free time afterward.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was certainly one of the best planned trips my wife and I have ever taken. This was our second time using Kimkim. Our journey consisted of 6 cities with 3 hotels, high-speed trains on two occasions as well as a personal driver in one instance. We went to Southern Spain for the culture and the history. Our itinerary, which was set up by Raquel and her team as well as their expert tour guides was just what we were looking for. Raquel remained in contact while we were traveling and was always available with questions or requested changes, and provided a reminder of our next day activities the evenings prior, which was greatly appreciated. We really counted on her and she came through! The guides she found for us were top notch - highly educated, very personable, always accommodating to our wishes to tweak the itinerary, and some we feel will be lifelong friends!

We would highly recommend Kimkim for those that want to explore the culture and history of this area. We are now using them for our trip to Japan.
Many thanks to Kimkim and Raquel and her team!

Samir has been so awesome to work with. He put together an amazing itinerary for us! Additionally when we arrived in Amman, Samir was very accessible and checked in with us. I’d recommend him to anyone! We had a nice city tour with our driver Sharif who was also very punctual and attentive. The people in Jordan were so friendly and the weather in October was fantastic.

Our trip to Iceland through KimKim was nothing short of extraordinary, and the credit goes to our exceptional local specialist, Gummi. From the moment we started planning our adventure, Gummi's expertise and enthusiasm shone through.

Gummi's knowledge of Iceland is unparalleled. He crafted an itinerary that perfectly balanced our desire for adventure and experience the entire Island. Every detail, from the breathtaking natural wonders we visited to the accommodations, felt like it was designed just for us.

What truly sets Gummi apart is his dedication to making our journey memorable. He went above and beyond to ensure we had an unforgettable experience, even accommodating our last-minute requests with a smile. Gummi's friendly demeanor and willingness to share insights into Icelandic culture added a layer of authenticity to our trip.

Iceland's beauty left us speechless, but Gummi's guidance and care made the trip more magical than we could have ever imagined. If you're planning a trip to Iceland, I wholeheartedly recommend Gummi and KimKim. Five stars simply don't do justice to the remarkable adventure they provide. We can't thank Gummi enough for providing a seemless and unique experience for our 25th wedding anniversary.

This was a trip of a lifetime! Angela was amazing to work with and she created our dream honeymoon. She was attentive and answered any questions I had and made changes to the itinerary as I requested. The excursions and tours were did were amazing, our favorite was the Santorini Sunset cruise. Angela was available over chat when we needed her, we ran into an issue where our driver didn’t show up on time and she immediately was on the phone with the company and our driver was there 5 minutes later. We are so extremely happy with our experience that my parents are now using her to plan their Greece trip! Highly recommend using Angela, you won’t regret it!

Hotel Reviews

Ducato di Oia Boutique Hotel

Santorini

this hotel was insanely beautiful. We had a crazy view from our room, the room was beautiful and so comfortable. They bring you breakfast to your room every morning at your desired time. It was absolutely incredible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the heart of Oia!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adonis Hotel & Apartments

Naoussa

Great location! The actual rooms are nothing special, only a bed sheet is provided as well. Quick walk into town and the property is pretty

Authenticity & Character

Location

The road to the hotel could use some work. Had to walk in some dirt to get into town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were nothing special but they did the job. Should provide a heavier quilt for the beds

Mykonos Essence Adults Only Hotel

Mykonos

The perfect hotel for couples! A quick 5 minute walk to the beach and bus stop. About 15 minutes from the main town so it is quieter and less touristy. We loved it! The staff was fantastic as well

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully decorated

Location

5 minutes from the beach and in a quieter area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

HS Catamaran Sunset Cruise MD

Santorini

This was amazing! We loved the smaller group of 16 people, we met some awesome people from around the world. Got to see the most beautiful parts of Santorini and swim in stunning waters. The views of the Caldera at sunset was unforgettable

Quality of Experience

The boat was incredible, it felt like a once in a lifetime experience

Food

So fresh and incredible flavors

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ensured everyone was safe but also having so much fun

Transport

We had to wait for a couple for 20 minutes at their hotel… the group was sitting in the van getting pretty impatient. The couple was just late getting ready but was unfair to the group who was waiting

Sunset Wine Tasting & Dine 2023

Greece

Alena was our guide and she was incredible! We got to see the most beautiful sights

Quality of Experience

Educational but also so much fun and beautiful

Food

Had the most amazing sushi and wine

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alena and George were so friendly!

Transport

Rhenia & Delos day cruise

Mykonos

The perfect day! Swam in beautiful waters and got to meet people from all around the world! The staff was great as well.

Quality of Experience

Swan in extremely clear waters, saw the most beautiful islands

Food

Yummy traditional Greek BBQ!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Felt safe but also ensured everyone had a blast

Transport

Overall, we enjoyed our trip to Egypt. There were several people on the KimKim team that were extremely helpful and welcoming and that we would specifically like to mention and thank (namely Mahmoud, who was so helpful in assisting us at the Cairo airport going home following a delay in Luxor, our guide Hamse in Cairo, Zain in Aswan, and the staff at the Swiss Inn). We met some lovely people on our trip and greatly appreciated the help that was provided.

That being said, there were some instances in which we did not feel that we got what we paid for when booking with a tour company. We are experienced travelers and are comfortable on our own in most scenarios, but booked with a tour company largely to help mitigate being hassled to buy things. We are not souvenir people and don't travel eight thousand miles to sit through sales pitches for items that we don't want to buy. That being said, we would have been okay if it was a single time, or if the items were cheap in price as it's helping the local economy, but instead we were forced to stop several times for demonstrations at places we did not agree to on the itinerary and put in the uncomfortable position of either saying no (which took several tries. At one place, the salesman said "money isn't everything" when we politely said "no, thank you" to the item he wanted us to buy) or purchasing a $150 USD candle holder, for example. Each of the places we were taken to, we were quotes prices that were, at minimum, $50 USD and up. This was very frustrating for us as we only had about 5 days in Egypt and did not want to (nor agree to) spend it sitting through uncomfortable sales pitches for items we did not want in the first place. (it's also worth mentioning that at the "authentic" cotton store we were taken to, one of the items we bought was a pair of loose cotton pants that literally ripped at the inside seam after an hour of wearing them. I noticed another reviewer state that their guide in Aswan was "nice, until he wasn't" when they did not want to purchase from one of the places they were taken to. I have to wonder if this was the same guide we had because we experienced the same thing. Our guide in Aswan was nice, but also seemed to get upset and sullen when we did not purchase from the oil store we were taken to. It made the car ride to the boat uncomfortable enough that we considered what our options were for the rest of the trip as we didn't like feeling trapped in that situation and didn't know how many more unscheduled stops would be included in the trip.

We also noticed that the itinerary we were given when booking the trip was not adhered to. We had about 3 items scheduled for our last full day, and when planning the trip were told that since our flight was in the evening, we could choose to pay an additional fee and do some extra sightseeing on the last day, which came out to I believe 2-3 additional sights. Our guide instead crammed all of these sights into one day, starting at 4:30 am. Finally at around 6 pm we had to tell him we needed to stop as we were physically exhausted and weren't feeling well, and he agreed to do the final tour of Luxor in the morning as he had another tour group scheduled the following day. This was frustrating for us as the itinerary we were given when booking the trip led us to believe these tours would be scheduled (at least roughly) equally on each day, and having them all put into one day made it so that we could not adequately take in what we were seeing as we were rushing from one place to the next and were exhausted. After our final tour in the morning at Luxor, we were done around 8:30 and then waited in a nearby hotel lobby for about 7 hours until the driver returned to take us to the airport to leave for home, which felt like a bit of a waste of a day. There were also two separate times on the boat in which the guide told us to meet him at a specific time and then did not show up, so we were waiting for over an hour each time before we finally called his room to ask if he wanted to reschedule.

Overall, I feel that communication could have been better as we were not given estimated times on the itinerary, and I'm not sure they would have been adhered to anyway. It left us with a bit of a bad taste in our mouths in the end as we booked with a tour company specifically to make the trip smooth and instead at times it felt like we were put in uncomfortable situations and it felt like our time wasn't valued.

Irene was fantastic. Was very easy to work out various details and modify the trip to our preferences with hotels, travel and different activities. The best part was the ease of travel as we visited various cities throughout Italy including Rome, Siena, Florence, Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi Coast. Between cities while we saw other folks trying to figure out how to get to hotels, waiting in line for taxi service we had private drivers already setup to take us from city to city. It not only made travel easy (but helped with the wife's luggage) :) !!
I know some people just plan the trip on their own, but it is nice to have a resource that knows the region you are traveling to and the worries are completely removed. I would absolutely recommend the travel service. We are already looking at where to go next year!
Ciao!!

Where to Begin? We had the trip of a Lifetime for our first visit to Italy! It was all because of our Travel Agent, Giulia! We worked with her over a few months to craft the best possible trip tailored to our requests and desires. Everything Giulia recommended and set up for our trip went off with out a hitch! We visited Rome, Venice and Lake Como! It was a great combination of wonderful places to sample some of the best sites, food, wine and excursions that Italy has to offer!
The tours, hotels and transportation while in country were all top notch--all thanks to Giulia!
Thanks Giulia!! We will be coming back soon!
Ciao!

This whirlwind trip of Morocco exceeded our expectations. Abdel and Saïd were responsive and communicated throughout the entire process, making adjustments that we requested and those which they suggested would make a better experience. I wish we had more time. While we saw a lot of the country, I would spend more time in a closer proximity to explore deeper if we where to do it again. The Riad Elegancia in Marrakech was the most exceptional place we stayed. The experience with Tiziri camp in Merzouga left me spellbound - one of the top experiences of my life. The best part of the trip was Tyeb, our driver, who I give 10 Stars. He made the trip comfortable, entertaining and exceptional. He quickly became a friend and shared about his life, culture and showed us so many things along the path which we would not have known. The trip would not have been the same without him!

Hotel Reviews

Le Grand Alcazar

Fes

This is a beautiful road and the staff is top class. We stayed only a short time so didn’t get to really experience it fully. It is one of the most elegant lobbies of places I’ve ever stayed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Tiziri exceeded my expectations. I prepared myself for a beautiful place - both the desert and the camp accommodations - but it is what you cannot see online that makes it exceptional. The hosts care about their guests and each other. They want to share their culture, not perform an idealized version for tourists. Their commitment to a sustainable camp is remarkable and responds to the impacts of climate change experienced by the Amizigh people. My only complaint is that I didn’t stay longer, but it allows the opportunity to return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

This was a wonderful representation of local architecture and the staff was absolutely lovely. The staff made the experience. The building was being reconstructed after some earthquake damage, but is sturdy and very historic. However, it was a bit rundown inside in regards to things which could easily make a difference like shower heads which had no pressure and leaked, or a blow dryer which collapsed. The pool is inside and the roof was inaccessible at this time. The dinner and breakfast were delicious and served with grace from the wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quite far from anything which would be charming if the accommodation was a bit improved.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean but needed some refreshing of small items.

Elegancia Riad Boutique & SPA

Marrakech

This Riad was spectacular. The staff was incredible and the location excellent - close enough to all attractions but quiet. I slept so well! The roof and pool was magnificent as was the hammam. A surprising feature was the shower which was amazing - like a rainfall with the most beautiful orange blossom soaps.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

Saïd, Hatim and their family graciously hosted us for pastilla and other delicious food in their cozy Fes home. It gave us a small look into Moroccan family life that lives outside of the Riads and behind other walls in the Medina. The food was delicious and the highlight was when Saïd dressed us up in typical Moroccan clothes, and nephew Mohammed led us in dance. That kid is a star! Thank you!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Hanan was wonderful and shared some of her favorite food experiences in Marrakech. She was very kind and easy to talk to. I’m grateful we had time with just three of us so we could be comfortable and have good conversations. In typical Moroccan style, we ended the tour completely full of delicious food. I had to go back the next day to try snails because I couldn’t fit them!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thanos planned out a wonderful trip for tye four of us and was available at any time for clarification and support. We had an amazing trip due to his recommendations abd would reach out to him again for planning purposes.

My husband and I just returned home from our incredible 8 day trip to Italy. Andrea helped customize our travel arrangements perfectly and communicated with us along the way. He arranged all of our hotels along with private drivers to pick us up from the airport, train station and to take us to each hotel of our journey. He scheduled private tour guides to walk us through Rome, Naples and Pompeii. If you visit Pompeii you must schedule a private tour with Antonio. Best tour guide ever!! From Sorrento, Andrea arranged a small group boat tour to Capri where we spent the entire day swimming, shopping and enjoying our time relaxing on the boat. Our tour guides were fantastic! For our last night, Andrea scheduled a private cooking class in the home of Emanuela Maraolo. Just an amazing, one of a kind experience! Andrea checked in with us throughout the week to make sure we were enjoying our time in Italy. I would highly recommend working with KimKim and Andrea when planning your dream vacation to Italy. I will absolutely work with Andrea to plan my next trip to Italy- hopefully next year!

Activity Reviews

Cooking class with dinner

Italy

We had a private cooking class in the home of Emanuela Maraolo. I highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Antonio was our private tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about the history and importance of Pompeii. The best!

Quality of Experience

Antonio the tour guide was the best.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day trip to Capri Island from Sorrento - small group

Italy

A day on a boat in Capri- best time ever! Our tour guides were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had long-planned a trip to New Zealand with a "stopover" at Uluru in Australia. Needless to say, a complicated and long itinerary! Usually I make my own plans, but had never been to these places so used KimKim on recommendation of a friend. Connie was terrific....we went over what we wanted to see and she had several suggestions throughout. This was less than a 3 week trip and we're not exactly young, so knew it would be grueling and Connie helped smooth it out. She also was great in contacting me to go over details, and in modifying the itinerary to fit specific needs.

We made all air arrangements, but one of the things that was really helpful was KimKim/Connie's arranging for most airport transfers...that was very handy.

Loved everyplace we went. If I had to single anything out I'd say Milford Sound on South Island, New Zealand. Amazing wild place. We did the overnight boat tour and while moored in a safe harbor a tremendous storm hit. This made it impossible for tour in the morning, to Tas Sea. We had to stay moored for several hours...but worth it...the rain, thunder, lightning was tremendous and the wallfalls, due to heavy rain, were amazing.

The other places we visited were also great, and Connie did a terrific job in selecting these and having a few "free" days...I'd say we got a great perspective on New Zealand.

All places visited were great. A few minor issues were: 1.for one long day long trip to Kings Canyon "near" Ulluru, we did not realize we'd be picked up before 5:00am and that we'd be driving ca. 700 km in one day! That was a bit much, but worth it...but a long time on a bus.... 2. New Zealand North Island crater walk....a bit more difficult than I thought it would be and 3. hotel on North Island at Grand Mercure--very interesting and nice place, but access (esp. at night) a bit difficult..parking was in a lot quite a steep distance from the "villas," and lighting/signage was not great. 4. times were missing on a few tours, but readily resolved upon contacting Connie.

I only cite these for thoroughness, not as criticisms!

Thus, this was a terrific trip. Highly recommend KimKim and Connie.

Hotel Reviews

The Great Ponsonby ArtHotel

Auckland

very funky place...smaller than we thought...it's more of a b&b..great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort

Pauanui

very interesting concept with "villas"...showing it's age a bit though! all parking in a large lot and steep incline to get to villas unless you ask for golf cart. Not well lit at night, but that's likely intentional!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

Great 50s vibe..but black carpet!!!! Well done though--refurbished motel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crowne Plaza Christchurch

Christchurch Central

very upscale and modern; weird bathroom layout!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

dont use

Milford Sound

see review comments....great fun

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Suites Queenstown

Queenstown

Probably the nicest and most convenient hotel on the entire trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Crowne Plaza Sydney Airport

Mascot

basic overnighter for airport....it was fine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Gardens Hotel

Yulara

Very nice low key hotel....in a very remote place. Great breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Coromandel Town

Coromandel

this was a self drive portion...great, but windy, roads...and some closed due to earlier flooding

Quality of Experience

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

no where near as "tacky" as i thought it would be...great experience! Well organized.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience Morning

Rotorua

very impressive tour to volcano edge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very good and concerned on your well being

Transport

Welcome to Rotorua

Rotorua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Te Ra Guided Experience (90 minutes) + cultural Performance

Rotorua

great intro to gysers and maori culture; well done

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Arthurs Pass with Train

Christchurch

wonderful train trip...relatively short; very nice that the guide drove us back, using a somewhat different route. He (hugh I think) was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown (NZ)

great views

Quality of Experience

Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise from Queenstown (2 days, 1 night)

Queenstown (NZ)

highlight of trip see earlier comments...unable to complete due to severe storm, which required us to be moored at overnight spot for several hours...but worth it...the storm was incredible!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walter Peak Farm and Gourmet Barbecue Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

great time, terrific buffet (las vegas standards!)

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kings Canyon & Outback Panoramas (Return to Uluru)

Uluru

very long (700km or so) "day trip" but worth it....king's canyon was great....we opted for the easier hike on the bottom!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon/ Evening Uluru Sacred Sites & Sunset with Barbecue Dinner

Uluru

great quick tour; barbecue dinner was great. too little time at cultural centre though

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We used Kimkim to plan our 30th wedding anniversary trip to Italy and they did not disappoint! Our travel specialist, Irene, did an excellent job selecting hotels, tours and experiences for us. In addition, all of the details like trains and transfers were booked for us. We received all the details about times, where to meet people and detailed itineraries prior to leaving for our trip and everything worked extremely well. When there were hiccups (only a couple over 3 weeks), the Kimkim team was right there to help. We were very well taken care of every step of the way.

One of the many highlights was arriving at in Venice to a private tour by water taxi to orient us. We arrived at our hotel, Corte di Gabriela, to a bottle of prosecco chilling in our room. The room was very comfortable, the staff was attentive and helpful, and the breakfasts were amazing. We had a wonderful walking tour of the city. Our guide from Liv Tours was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning about Venice's history and culture.

We chose to spend time in the Cinque Terre, which was very busy. Thankfully, Irene had recommended we stay in Levanto, a six-minute train ride from Monterroso. Levanto was much less crowded, but still full of history, beauty and things to do.

We loved Siena. The hotel, Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi, was charming. We took two tours from there with Tuscan Escapes. Both were fantastic! We had an evening sunset tour of Tuscany, finishing with dinner at a winery. Danielo was an excellent guide, explaining the region and the wines. He was also a pleasure to talk with over dinner, as were the other guests. The next day we visited three Brunello di Montalcino wineries with Giorgia. We had lunch at one of the wineries, with all of the food made by the Mama--it was fantastic!

From there we went to Sorrento, which is lovely and a great jumping off point to visit Capri and the Amalfi coast. We hikes the Path of the Gods with Vincenzo. He was entertaining and very knowledgeable about the flora we encountered along the way. It was a joy to experience the passion he has for his work and to spend time with him.

We finished our trip with two days at the beach. It was the perfect end to a fabulous trip. We couldn't have done it all without Irene's help! We look forward to next time.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Continental

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi

Siena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palazzo Vannoni

Levanto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Corte di Gabriela

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Aperitivo & Stroll around Sorrento

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Amalfi Coast Driving Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking the Path of Gods

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brunello di Montalcino Wine Tour

Siena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tuscany Sunset Tour & Dinner

Siena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Monterosso Wine Tasting & Lunch in the vineyards

Italy

There was a little miscommunication about what this would entail. When we arrived, the staff seemed surprised to see us. When we explained what we thought we had arranged, they told us what we would get instead. Despite this, we had a very nice time and the wines were good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence Highlights Walking Tour (Semi-private)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Venice Highlights Walking Tour

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grand Canal Private Orientation Tour

Italy

Wonderful trip to Indonesia. We loved our local drivers and guides. Everything was well planned out and the hotels were spectacular. We much preferred the island of Java to Bali as there were much less tourists and we felt we could experience the culture and people more. On Bali we stayed in Ubud which felt a little like Vegas to us. Lots of people drinking and very crowded. We would definitely return to Java, it was magical, beautiful, spiritual and the people were very kind. Bali is not a place we will return to. We have used Kim Kim for many trips now and it has always been a great experience. They are our go-to company.

The trip to Iceland was everything we hoped it would be. We worked with our local specialist, Rinolda, to create an unique and action-packed adventure and we never even left the southern portion of the country! We combined classic must-sees with locations that were a bit harder to access (Thorsmork) and the remote apartments at Kirkjubaerklaustur as a great base (where we happily had a view of the northern lights). Absolutely everyone was welcoming to us and so helpful. We found amazing local vegetarian/vegan food - sometimes in the most unlikely spots. We've been back home in the US a few weeks, but the beautiful scenery keeps floating through our minds (as well as images of so many round sheep!). We can't thank Rinolda enough for answering a million questions and working to assure that our itinerary was seamless. Thank you, Rinolda!

Hotel Review

Midgard Base Camp

Hvolsvöllur

Just perfect for us. Adequate and comfortable bedroom and bathroom. And the restaurant was incredible with outstanding vegan/vegetarian options. The staff were very friendly and helpful and made us feel so welcome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon Zodiac boat tour

Iceland

Having a chance to be so close to the glacier and the icebergs was truly incredible - it gives a new perspective. The colors and magnificence were breathtaking. Our guide was great and offered wonderful information and happily answered our many questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Husafell Canyon Baths

Iceland

We had a wonderful guide to take us to this very private and rugged location sandwiched between lava walls. It was rainy and misty so popping into the warm pools was an incredible experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff