Kimkim Trip Reviews

Vietnam was a wonder experience thanks to the organization provided by Ha.

Really wonderful trip, tailored to our needs. They made traveling so easy, and when there were major train strikes, expedient alternative car rental options were procured in impressive time. Highly recommended.

Hotel Reviews

Pousada Palacio De Estoi—Monument Hotel & SLH

Estoi, Faro

STUNNING! ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! The views, the balconies, the staff, the gardens, everything was just beautiful. The suite was very well designed, and stylish. One minor flaw - the gym equipment was very old, and needs to be replaced. Outside of that, it's phenomenal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vila Valverde - Design & Country Hotel

Lagos

Really wonderful hotel. Incredibly comfortable beds, oversized rooms, great light. The TVs were small, and the bathroom has a glass door - very bad design choice. Outside of that, 5 star experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel

Lisboa

Really beautiful hotel. Clean, well designed, very friendly staff, super comfortable beds. Great food, and fantastic location. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores

Porto

The hotel was beautiful, and very well designed. It was clean and the staff was very friendly. HOWEVER, these were the least comfortable beds I have ever slept on. They are like sleeping on concrete. SO stiff. Other than that, it was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Incredibly uncomfortable beds.

Activity Reviews

Drive from Lagos to Faro via the caves of Algar Seco, Praia da Marinha, Albufeira or Vilamoura

Portugal

This was not great. We had a 7 day trip, and we enjoyed it thoroughly, but I wish we had skipped the stop offs in Albuferia - It was a town full of British & Irish people, drunk in the middle of the day (I say that as an Irishman). Maybe it's a good town for a bachelor party, but the town was boring, and the architecture was pretty awful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Portugal

WOW. This was a wonderful experience. We toured many beautiful cliff tops, and had lovely food and wine at the end. Our guide was really friendly, knowledgable, and very intelligent. Highly recommended. 5 stars

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

Really wonderful experience. This felt like a private tour with a friend showing you their home. It was so interesting and special. This was the absolute opposite of "tourist-ey". Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Our tour guide was very pleasant. She tailored the tour on the spot to do things that we wanted to do. We arrived an hour late - the guide was really kind about it, and we had a wonderful time. She stayed late to make up for OUR late start. Above and beyond. 5 stars.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

This was possibly the most wonderful tour I have ever been on. There were wonderful experiences, that felt tailored and special. We had a very cool surprise at the end, which I won't give away - but trust me, go!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Erin was absolutely amazing. We stared to plan this trip six months in advance, and her attention to detail was very impressive. We had no logistical issues whatsoever, and it was a very well-organized trip. Would absolutely encourage you to use her services. It was a trip of a lifetime!

Our guides were amazing. Christobal had so much to share with us on this trip. He gave us a real feeling for the national parks. He is kind, funny and great company. Not to mention, being a great photographer!
Sebastian was bursting with information, and insights. He took us to various artisans.

Victor knew his territory and was fun to be with.

The layout of the trip was great, with all the beautiful national parks, the visit to Cuenca.
The only suggestion I would make would be less time in Loja— it’s a bustling city, more like a college town.
All of our guides were wonderful, full of knowledge about Ecuador, local customs, and easy to get along with.

We booked a 9-day trip to Morocco with stops at various points across the country. Our driver Aimad had adequate English and was polite and very considerate of our needs. However, I was unprepared for the long hours in the car and wish I had reduced the number of stops and stayed at least two days in fewer locations. We arrived in Casablanca at nearly 7 pm and were informed that we had a 4.5 hour drive to Chefchaouen, which we did not reach until 1 am and then had to hike through a series of twisting alleyways with our luggage to our riad. After a night’s sleep we had just a few hours to see the city and then got back in the car for another 4-hour drive to Fes. Two nights in Fes and then 7 hours to the desert camp. The rest of the trip was more one-night stays followed by long car rides.

My favorite part of the trip by far was the camel ride and over night stay in the tent camp. It was so peaceful and quiet with dark skies at night. I wished I had stayed two or three nights there.

Morocco is very different culture and worth a visit but it would be helpful if the tour planners would be clear about the driving distances between stops so travelers could make better decisions about how they want to spend their time.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Perle D'Eau

Essaouira

Basic hotel but very clean and comfortable. Conveniently located in old city

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Beautiful hotel with authentic Moroccan character. Very nice room with private terrace.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location in old city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Xaluca Dades

Boumalne

Our least favorite hotel. Our room was very small with one stone wall and then a crude texture on the other walls and ceiling that made it feel like a small cave. We spent the evening sitting in the lounge area because we couldn’t face sitting in our room. Breakfast was a very nice buffet where we could choose what we liked.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

We arrived just after 1 am and had a long walk through twisting alleyways with our luggage. Our room was an odd L-shape but comfortable with a small bathroom. We had a nice breakfast the next day and then checked out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lots of effort to get there for just one night

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Small tent camp, peaceful and quiet, comfortable rooms and a wonderful staff. The food was excellent and the music under the stars was unforgettable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Stunning hotel once you get inside. Our room was comfortable but small, highly decorated and very clean. We stayed two nights and there was a loud party the second night and a spotlight shining through our window that kept us awake until early in the morning.

Authenticity & Character

The courtyards were beautifully decorated in the Moroccan style

Activity Reviews

Argan Oil Women's Cooperative

Morocco

Interesting but clearly set up for tourists.

Private Transfer from Marrakech to Enchanting Essaouira

Morocco

Another long drive with several stops for tourists sites, many of which felt like they are designed for tourists to buy local products. It was nice to see the ocean but since we had to drive back the next day to catch our flight it wasn’t worth all the time in the car.

Visit Majorelle Gardens

Marrakesh

Beautiful garden and not crowded because of the rain. Still enjoyable in spite of the wet conditions

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

We had a very rainy, cold day in Marrakech which colored my judgment of this city tour. Our guide spoke very good English having spent time in the US but was overly familiar, constantly touching my arm when he spoke to me. He also spent too much time telling personal stories about celebrities he had served as a guide for previously so I frequently had to interrupt him to ask a question. However it would be nearly impossible to tour Marrakech without a guide because the streets are a labyrinth. We did have a very nice lunch in a restaurant recommended by our guide and he took us to a large indoor shop to buy the souvenirs we were looking for.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transfer to Marrakech via Roses Valley, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou & Atlas Mountains.

Morocco

I could have easily skipped this part of the trip. The movie set tour is very touristy. Our guide through Ait Benhaddou was clearly bored and spoke softly so was hard to understand.

Transfer to Dades Valley via Todra Gorges

Morocco

Some beautiful views but another very long drive

ATV Ride in the Dunes of Merzouga

Merzouga

This was another experience we had booked that was not in our plan when we arrived. It was okay but I much preferred the camel ride.

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

The drive from Fes was more than 7 hours through mostly barren landscape and some small villages. I was surprised by the litter spread across miles of open land. Once we finally arrived in Merzouga another guide drove us by 4x4 to meet our camel guides. We climbed aboard and traveled an hour through amazing desert dunes to a high point where we dismounted to watch the sunset. We then traveled another hour and reached our camp with its comfortable tent cabins. We had a wonderful dinner followed by live music around a fire pit. It was dark and very peaceful and our best night of sleep in Morocco. I wish I had stayed more nights there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alert travelers before they book that the drive from Fes is very long. Also not everyone will want to ride a camel for two hours — it will definitely leave you sore. We did have the option to travel by 4x4 after the halfway point.

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

We had prepaid for this experience but noticed when we arrived it was not on our trip plan. The local tour operator hastily arranged it and we were met at our hotel by a father and his 18-yr-old son who escorted us to their home, which was walking distance through several long alleyways in the old city. Unfortunately the father spoke no English and had to leave immediately to get to his job so he didn’t stay for dinner. The mother also spoke no English and spent nearly the entire evening in the kitchen preparing a large meal. Most of the time we ate alone in the living/dining room of the home. We did enjoy some conversation with the son but it was not the experience we expected.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Excellent guide. Would not have been able to make my way through the city without him.

We enjoyed an amazing family vacation organized into the finest details by Jessica. At first I was a bit hesitant to book a fully organized t trip, no rental car, limited flexibility… but I have totally come back from that. Jessica put a fabulous itinerary together and organized hotels and transport for us. This was easiest the most stress free holiday we have ever had. Our 2 kids were very happy and picked up quite a bit of Spanish from the friendly drivers and staff. We saw interesting wildlife everywhere, hotels were value for modern. All in all an awesome job by Jessica! Thank you so much!!

Exceptional experience, spent a fabulous week touring in Morroco with Amnay. A perfect itinerary tailored to our preferences and adapted along the way. Amnay is a super nice guy and an easy person with whom to spend some time. Relaxed, kind, well travelled and extremely knowledgeable. As a well known Moroccan musician he is also welcomed at many of the stops along the way, adding something special for us visitors. Highly recommended! And the tour van was super spacious and new!

With Morocco Immersion the whole process from the start (enquiring about a trip, and Sharon putting together the itinerary) to the finish (a wonderfully varied and personalised plan made by Sharon, and put into practice with Amnay) was completely brilliantly. 110% we would do this again, and will be highly recommending Morocco Immersion to everyone. So many happy memories made from all the adventures and fun we had! Many many thanks to Morocco Immersions, and to Sharon and Amnay!

Hotel Reviews

Merzouga Dunes Camps

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad al Rimal

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tin Joseph

Ouarzazate

Lovely place to stay. The hotel is decorated beautifully, and every tiny detail is perfect! The owner Ahmad is so welcoming and the staff are really friendly. We had breakfast and dinner here and the food was really excellent. Great place to stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Azawad

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chez Ichou

Dades Gorge

A beautiful Riad. The food (we had dinner and breakfasts here) was really amazing! The staff were all really friendly, and it was a very relaxing place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mountain Biking in the Fint Oasis

Ouarzazate

We cycled about 18 miles to the Fint Oasis and back with Mustapha from Kedi Adventure. The bikes were really good. The scenery and route was beautiful, plus there is lots of filming that happens in the area - Gladiator 2 was filming whilst we were there! Had a half way stop for mint tea in a cafe and a walk along the river bed before cycling back. Mustapha is a great guide, really knowledgeable about the local area, and great company. We really enjoyed the cycle!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Draa Valley

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel trek to your Camp

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Desert Region

Merzouga

Loved this day! We visited the Dar Gnaoua musical cooperative first of all - the musicians and music were wonderful. Also tasted some camel milk and met some baby camels. Next we visited the market in Rissani and Amnay gave a tour, and we visited a spice stall. Learnt about the Berber Pizza and saw them being made. Then we had one at the Hotel Panorama for lunch - Amnay had arranged a vegetarian one especially. After this, we visited a fossil museum and had an interesting tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades Valley to Merzouga via Todgha Gorge & Tinghir

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Road of 1000 Kasbahs

Morocco

We did about 18km of hiking with guide Bob in the Monkey Fingers Canyon and valley, and had a brilliant day. The scenery is so beautiful, it's hard to put it into words. Bob is a great guy, and we had a lot of fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ouarzazate

Morocco

It was a long drive, but with Amnay at the wheel it was a comfortable, informative and really enjoyable trip! We had plenty of stops for refreshments, to take in the views, and to visit the Taourirt Kasbah.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim helped us learn about activities available in the area we were looking to explore (in Chile). They provided sample itineraries to consider and options for changing things to get the right holiday for you.

Ana kept us updated and helped us choose the hotels, excursions and transportation. Knowledge of the area really helped us to make great choices.

CL Mundo was their local travel supporter in Santiago and Valparaiso. Our driver and guide in this area, Orlando Sanhueza did a great job of telling us about the history and area and providing advice during our journey. We enjoyed vineyards, great restaurants, downtown Santiago and walking tour of Valpo.

We also went to San Pedro de Atacama and their local agent Capricorn provided a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the history of this beautiful place. Paloma, Maria and Consuela (Connie) all helped us enjoy Moon Valley, Rainbow valley, petroglyphs, Tatio Geysers, Cejar Lagoon, Tebenquiche Nature Sanctuary and an evening astronomy experience. There’s so much to do but I feel we enjoyed the best experience compared to other traveler’s in our hotel.

Overall we never worried about transportation or experiences as it all happened with good communication via WhstsApp, or online before we arrived. I look forward to using KimKim again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Fauna Hotel

Valparaíso

Good location for restaurants and exploring. We also enjoyed the restaurant attached to the hotel. Really good breakfast included and for dinner!

Authenticity & Character

Great art work and antiques in communal spaces - fun and creative not just old.

Location

A fund part of town but do be careful of thieves and pickpockets.

Staff

Special thanks for their translation support where needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are comfortable and great choice of communal spaces for relaxing.

Our Habitas Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Clean rooms and a friendly service although some knowledge of Spanish is recommended. An easy walk to town for restaurants. Check there are no national celebrations as there is a bar across the road and it was noisy during carnival. Very safe though and beautiful gardens and pool. Food was alright but there are more options in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pullman Santiago El Bosque

Las Condes, Santiago

Great location and friendly service. Close to places to eat and a safe area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

The early morning pickup allows you to see the geysers in the cool morning air. You’re then rewarded with breakfast and a view of the beautiful mountains. Wildlife along the way is just as spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Consuela did a great job of explaining the geysers and makin eggs for breakfast sandwiches.

Transport

Connie was a very safe driver.

Half day Moon Valley and Mirador Ckari

San Pedro de Atacama

We enjoyed the old salt mines and walking around the moon valley with the interesting salt formations. Really dramatic landscape.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria did a great job explaining the area and played music that was a great pairing with the experience.

Transport

Maria was a very safe driver.

Evening Astronomy Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

A wonderful opportunity to see the stars and learn about the Southern Sky and constellations. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Picked up on time and delivered us to the site. The English speaking guide was very good and the Spanish guide was very knowledgeable and easy to understand.

Transport

The vehicle was comfortable for the journey.

Colchagua Valley - Viu Manent and Santa Cruz Wineries

Santiago

We were unable to visit Santa Cruz wineries and went somewhere else. It was alright but not what we expected. Also it was difficult finding the right place for lunch as it wasn’t available in the vineyards.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Viña San Esteban + Visit to Quintessence Alpacas On-Site Tour

Santiago

We had a wonderful experience meeting the alpacas and learning about different breeds and understanding how well looked after they are. The production of clothing on antique equipment was fascinating. It was great to meet and feed the young llamas while they are so gentle. Much more fun than expected. Beautiful clothing as well.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic City Tour

Santiago

We enjoyed the tour to understand the city and the history. We were very lucky to pick a day the guards were changing. We like a military parade and this one was unique. Although this took longer than a tour on a day without the guard change, our guide gave us information about how to spend the afternoon and see more of what we missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainbow Valley

San Pedro de Atacama

Truly a unique and special experience. The colours are beautiful and our guide Paloma showed us a special place in a dead waterfall that we would never have seen if she didn’t help us into it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paloma did an excellent job looking after us and our safety along the walk and pulled us into the dead waterfall.

Transport

Cejar & Tebinquiche Lagoons - Atacama Salt Flat

San Pedro de Atacama

Relaxing end to our visit in the desert. The salt water swim was amazing. The natural features and birds on the lagoons were a great site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria did a great job telling us the history of the area and looking after us.

Transport

Maria was a careful driver and provided appropriate music to entertain us.

Visit to 2 Wineries in Casablanca Valley

Valparaíso

We really enjoyed the vineyards and lunch at Tanino. Great to see Chilean wine producers.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lunch at Tanino was the best. We hope to visit the vineyard again!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver Orlando looked after us well.

Ana and team, thank you so much for supporting our trip tp Argentina! Everything went very smoothly. Transfers always got us where we needed to be on time. The tickets for our flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate worked perfectly and when we arrived Nilo Zunio was waiting for us. He was a gem, upbeat and organized! He kept in touch via Whatsapp and answered our questions and helped with problem solving promptly.

We loved Madre Tierra, what a nice family! We had a wonderful tour of the Petito Mareno glacier guided by Eduardo Torre. He was fantastic!!!full of knowledge about the area and delightful to spend time with! Tickets were waiting for us for the bus to El Chalten and when arrived there a driver was waiting! Hosteria El Puma was a great choice. Walked into town each night for dinner. Trip home to Vermont was long but uneventful. Your help made the visit to Patagonia perfect. Thank you so much. And a special thank you to Ana, who answered all our questions and offered sage advice when needed!

Hotel Reviews

Hosteria El Puma

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Real mountian chalet with firplace in cosy lobby.

Location

Easy to walk and trek most everywhere.

Staff

Very helpful. Willing to listen patiently to our challanged spanish!

Cleanliness & Comfort

MadreTierra Patagonia

El Calafate, Santa Cruz

Great breakfast. Wonderful charming family hotel. Excellent location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Activity Reviews

Nautical Safari

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion 🗻

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide Gori and driver A +++++

Transport

Pedro put together an amazing Portugal adventure for my family and I. All of the guides and drivers were fantastic. The hotels were great as well. Portugal is a wonderful country and I look forward to returning. Pedro and his team made planning simple and they are extremely responsive to answer your questions any time during the day. Having a private driver was a huge advantage when stopping in towns on our way from Lisbon to Porto. I would absolutely use Kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews

The One Palácio da Anunciada

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

This is not a 5 star hotel. Look elsewhere

Authenticity & Character

Cleaning

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maison Albar - Le Monumental Palace

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Nelson is the best driver in Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nelson was awesome

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Ricardo was amazing!

Quality of Experience

What

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wrote a review on google I believe already. But I want to also post on here and give a shout out to Kim Kim Travels, specifically, the team of Margoth and Philip in Colombia. This was the first trip I had planned by KimKim & Co and I was hestitant at first. But this team SUPER EXCEEDED All my expectations for a 5-star travel experience! Every detail was cared for and super classy and top notch. We traveled from Bogota, to Perreira, to Cartegna and the island of Baru. Every city, AMAZING experience! As a result, I did my next trip to Portugal with KimKim!

Our trip coordinator, Liz Neal (Springboard Vacations), who we connected to through the KimKim website is OUTSTANDING!!!
- spent considerable time with us planning the trip, making changes, and building an itinerary just for us
- very perceptive and creative in suggesting activities that dovetailed with the family's interests
- excellent ideas and recommendations, both on and off the beaten path
- very knowledgeable
- great communication, very responsive
- very easy to work with
- during the trip, easily reachable and available for needed re-jigging due to weather, closures etc.
- great support team in the country to help us navigate changes and accommodate unexpected requests
- always felt like we were in excellent hands – reducing the stress of the trip immeasurably
- a thoughtful, interesting and caring individual
- went above and beyond to ensure the trip went smoothly

Australia favorites
Philip Island and the Penguin Parade
Exhibition at Adelaide Library on Aussie Rules Football : )
Melbourne
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
Great Barrier Reef (Seeing Hammerhead Shark!)
Kangaroo Island special shout-out to Dan (!!!), Exceptional Kangaroo Island
Mossman Gorge and River Drift Snorkeling Tour

NZ favorites
Southern Alps – Flight!
Mount Cook, hiking to glaciers
Queenstown & Rees Hotel
Driving through the Southern Island
Zorbing
Zip Lining
Auckland Central

Tricia planned an amazing trip for our family. We had very specific things on our wish list that she was able to work into a plan. Tricia chatted with all of us and listened carefully to our priorities. She offered us a few different plans. She also worked with us to keep the cost down and work within our budget. I have to say, I was at first nervous about engaging KimKim. I had never used them before and randomly picked them from the internet because of the reviews. We travel extensively and have used many other agencies. I would definitely recommend KimKim and Tricia to others who like assistance in planning the trip and details. Our trip was very complicated with many tickets, boats, trains, planes, guides and drivers and it felt seamless. They even include all walking directions to activities.
We had a few questions along the way and the team was very responsive. We had one tight connection and they checked in with us and reminded us of our options if we needed to modify the day. This was all extremely helpful and comforting. If you are planning on going to Norway, don't hesitate to use KimKim.

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Sailing Cruise

Tromsø

This is a great choice for a night cruise on a fjord. The night was cloudy and there was a very small chance of seeing the lights. Halfway through, the captain of the boat starts yelling that there is a sighting and everyone ran up on deck and we were lucky enough to see the lights. His reaction to the lights was contagious. It was though it was his first time too. He was so excited that we were getting this experience. The boat holds 12 people and feels very intimate. They serve a Reindeer stew or a vegetarian soup for dinner which was good. They also have a hot tub on deck. I think I would have preferred it to be 3 hours instead, especially being cloudy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dogsledding in Senja

Senja

This was a bucket list experience. When we signed up for this activity, I thought there would be a guide taking us on a dog sled. Much to our surprise, we each had our own sled with our own dogs. At first, this was a bit intimidating but that quickly passed once we got started. This activity was a lot of fun! The dogs are so happy and excited to go for a run. They are super friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Winter Snowshoe Hike

Norway

This was our first time snow shoeing and I have to say I was not disappointed . I love hiking and the scenery was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Remote Ski Tour in Senja

Senja

Our guide, Kjell, was amazing. We had very different levels of skiers and he made it fun and manageable for all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Watch at the Hamn i Senja Lighthouse

Senja

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Positives of the trip: some of the local tour groups we used were incredible, particularly Senda Andina in Bolivia and W Circuit in Patagonia. Overall we saw a lot in a short period of time and the itinerary was excellent.

Negatives: Just extreme disorganization at all times from Tangol, the travel agency we were connected to on Kim Kim. Some of our issues were more minor than others but overall added up to an unpleasant experience and at the end we were left with the impression that we could have organized the trip better ourselves.
1. Understood that there were certain fees not included in our booking but these should have been clearly communicated to us ahead of time. We had no idea that one of our hikes in Patagonia required a very expensive fare for a catamaran, cash only, $30USD each way per person. We were not carrying $120 of cash on our person so we were incredibly lucky to run into a friend from back home along the trail who happened to be carrying enough spare cash to get us back home otherwise I’m not sure what would have happened.
2. All communication was very last minute. At 5:30pm the night before we were to go to Bolivia and a half hour before Tangol closed their offices for the day they messaged us asking if we had a tourist visa for Bolivia. Definitely not a question which should have waited for the last minute. We didn’t receive any information on visa requirements from Tangol ahead of time so we did our own research and figured based on information from the US Embassy website we can get our visas on arrival. Tangol then told us in order to do this we would need a lot of additional paperwork including a bank statement! Turns out they were referencing the incorrect requirements and we got into the country without a problem without any of the requirements they were telling us we needed. We were just very disappointed by how last minute this was and how it wasn’t even the right information. It made for a very stressful experience which could have been easily avoided with clear communication far in advance.
3. We clearly communicated our vegetarian meal requests ahead of time but this was not relayed to the tour groups during booking. When we brought this to Tangol’s attention they ended up only reserving 1 vegetarian meal for the remaining tours even though we were clear that we were both vegetarian. This should have been the easiest thing to get right the first time.
4. Another item which we thought should have been very straightforward was pickup from the airports. When we landed in Calama there was nobody there to pick us up. We waited for a while and called Tangol several times and finally got a hold of them. After around an hour of waiting Tangol finally arranged us with a group shuttle service even though we had bought a private transfer.
5. Our stargazing tour was cancelled due to weather which is understandable but we were given no option to reschedule and did not get a refund. What was also frustrating was knowing we probably wouldn’t have been able to go on the scheduled tour anyway since the timing overlapped with another tour we had scheduled earlier in the day.

Hotel Reviews

Los Flamencos Eco Hotel

Uyuni, Potosi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Andina

Uyuni

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our Habitas Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luciano K Hotel

Barrio Lastarria, Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Remota Patagonia Lodge

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flamencos - Lagunas de Colores - San Pedro de atacama (Day 4)

Uyuni

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uyuni - Authentic Villages - Flamenco (Day 3)

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Salar de Uyuni (Day 2)

Uyuni

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Pedro de Atacama - Villa Mar - Uyuni. (Day 1)

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning with Kimkim results in a very memorable trip! My siblings and I as well as our spouses were delighted with the experience. I planned a ten trip to Spain with Yuri and his knowledge was invaluable. Because Kimkim has so many great contacts and activities to choose from we were able to tailor the trip our interests. The resulting trip had the ease of a formal tour group but the privacy of handling arrangements ourselves. We visited Seville, Granada and Barcelona. All of our transportation was handled smoothly and comfortably.

Hotel Gravina 51 in Seville was such a luxurious experience. The facility is gorgeous and so well maintained. Although the bathroom is a bit small it was so well appointed I didn't mind that a bit. My bathroom at home is even smaller and not nearly as nice! The staff was very charming and the daily breakfast offerings were extensive, creative and well-prepared, perhaps the best meals we had in Spain. In Seville the highlights were our tour of the Alcazar, a Flamenco show and our cooking class. Our guides Penelope and Pilar were well versed on the history of Seville and insightful, passionate and just delightful to spend time with. Our cooking class with Ana at Fresh Cooking Spain was also a real pleasure. Her facility is gorgeous. We had fun preparing traditional Spanish foods and enjoyed eating them on her beautiful terrace.

In Granada we stayed at the Parador, right on the grounds of the Alhambra and this was also a great experience. My main quibble there was that we had twin beds, something Americans don't experience much. It was wonderful being located on the ground of The Alhambra. It is a bit of a hike going down into the town center but it was just what we needed to work off some calories. Our guide of the Alhmabra, Edu, was thoughtful and intelligent. Clearly Yannat Tours and Kimkim have a gift for discovering talent. The Alhambra and Generalife gardens are not to be missed, such a remarkable layered history. We also had two tours with Food Sherpas. We did not enjoy these tour guides as well. We weren't as impressed by the Food Sherpa guides in Granada. The guide for the market took us to two nice spots but she didn't seem to know much about food. The guide that did the wine tasting was a bit arrogant and I didn't feel that the wines she chose were very well representative of Spanish wines. Although all four were from Spain one of them was a Merlot, and another was an Albarino that was not from Rias Baixas.

We stayed at the Hotel Regina in Barcelona. The room product was a little rundown and there wasn't much sound proofing so one heard everything the neighbors were doing or talking about. The location is very convenient however and the breakfasts were good. In fact on the day that we left early in the morning for our balloon ride they prepared fabulous to go bags for us. They did not charge extra for this service and it was so considerate that they accommodated us in this way. The balloon trip was the highlight of our trip! The pilot was so skilled that none of us felt any anxiety. The views were spectacular, I can't describe how breathtaking it was when we rose above the clouds and saw the
Pyrenees! However our visit to Montserrat was cut very short. Our balloon ride ran longer than expected so all we were able to do was take the gondola to the top and then walk to the bus for the trip down. It was disappointing to not see anything in the monastery and we did not have lunch as stated in the itinerary. Perhaps the tour tries to cram too much in? I would recommend separating the two activities. But again I can't stress enough how much we loved the balloon! Our architecture tour was also a highlight. Our guide educated us on Guadi and his contemporaries and Sagrada Familia is a wonder. She also gave recommendations on things to visit on our own. This city is so gorgeous and has so much to offer.

We had to drop two activities from our plan and in the end this was a good thing. I would encourage anyone planning a trip like ours to build in plenty of time to explore on their own. We found the Spanish people to be so warm and welcoming and always felt safe walking on our own. I only wish Google Maps was easier to use for walkers. I heartily recommend planning a tour with Kimkim and look forward to exploring another country with their expert planning and guidance!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Regina

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Parador de Granada

Granada

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gravina 51

Sevilla

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Montserrat Day Trip with Hot-Air Balloon

Barcelona

Our balloon ride was the highlight of our trip, heartily recommended1

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar

Seville

Our guide Penelope is a treasure!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Gaudí Architecture Walk with La Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Our guide taught us a lot about Guadi and his contemporaries and gave us recommendations for see on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tasting & Tapas Experience

Granada

We were not as impressed with our guide as she is in herself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Taste of Granada Walking Food Tour

Granada

Our guide was not very knowledgeable about food, disappointing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Tour to Granada with visit to the Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Málaga

Here as in other sites we visited with a tour it is such an advantage to have skip the line access.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with Ronda Visit

Spain

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Mediterranean Cooking Class

Seville

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tapas & Flamenco Experience in Seville

Seville

The theater is a gem, small and intimate and beautiful. It was so fun to walk in to our seats on the front row. Pilar is outstanding!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great value--10 stars, not 5! Samanta of Zaman in KimKim made our trip everything we could have hoped for. With our travel dates fixed, Samanta was able to develop a tour that matched our interests, emphasizing the sites we most wanted to see, and hotels and meals that were terrific. We have never had such responsive and knowledgable assistance--she always made sure we could reach her wherever we were, and when we had a small issue due to our error (not hers, she is excellent!), Samanta went far above and beyond to help us. She arranged a terrific guide and driver of a luxury SUV car, Hamdi Das, who was mediator in every interaction with his countrymen, ensuring communications were clear and direct, and that we got exactly what we were requesting. Hamdi has extensive knowledge of Jordan and, like Samanta, found no question too small to immediately address. He is also an excellent driver, as I told him on one winding road up a mountainside "I am always relaxed when you drive, Hamdi".
We are still raving about Samanta and Hamdi. On our flight back to Seattle, a seat mate was talking about her tour experience--which cost double our price--and she told my husband "I really wish we had used Samanta and Zaman Tours in KimKim instead of this luxury tour". We had the best possible experience and highly recommend them to you.

Hotel Review

Movenpick Petra Resort

Wadi Musa

Gorgeous hotel with local decor, luxurious interior. We immediately relaxed when we walked in, staff and our room were lovely. The location is just a few hundred feet from Petra's entrance, yet far enough to be quiet. We also loved the dinner, which is important after the long days hiking/walking in Petra.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful dark wood, local designs.

Location

A short distance from Petra's entrance but managed to be quiet.

Staff

Smiling friendly staff were patient with everyone.

Cleanliness & Comfort

excellent beds too

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Jerash, Ajloun & Umm Qais from Amman

Amman

Our driver guide, Hamdi, made this (as all days with him) a special tour. Hamdi makes the drive in the luxury SUV smooth and interesting as well as entertaining. He made sure that we had all questions answered, and saw everything we had hoped for.

Quality of Experience

This Roman city is indeed special

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hamdi is excellent, both as a driver and as a guide. Kind, humorous, and patient.

Transport

Water and snacks are always inside the gorgeous SUV.

3hrs Jeep Safari + Lunch with a Bedouin Family

Wadi Rum

We were able to see petroglyphs and the gorgeous cliff walls in the powdery sand desert of Wadi Rum. Our guide cooked a delicious dish alongside his truck.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Secret Petra Backdoor Hike

Jordan

Our guide spoke very good English, made sure we were able to have every experience that we wanted (& there is a lot!), was patient with a good sense of humor. His enthusiasm made the trip even better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If I could give a 10 star I would. The Columbus Guatemala tour team deserves that and much more. They went above and beyond to ensure our trip and experience was memorable, and they succeeded. Starting with Catharine managing the logistics of our trip and selecting beautiful hotels for us. She showed such care for our needs and was flexible to our requests.
Our trip involved a visit to Tikal, Antigua Guatemala, Atitlan and Chichicastenango, and our goal was to learn our Mayan history and culture. Our tour in Peten was awesome due to the knowledge of our guide Carlos. He shared so much information about Tikal history and surrounding ruins. Our visit to Antigua and Iximche with our guide JJ was terrific and fun. He was the best! He really made us feel at home. JJ was very attentive, offering tips and asking for our food preferences and took us to great restaurants. We enjoy great food and love the coffee. Thanks JJ!
Our trip to Atitlan and Chichicastenango was very interesting and full of history. We have traveled to different countries in Europe and Asia and although we have enjoyed each trip and learned a lot, our trip to Guatemala was very special due to all the care and attention Columbus team provided us. From the drivers to the guides and logistics team, we felt safe and were able to focus on enjoying our trip. I HIGHLY recommend Columbus Tour team.

Activity Review

Tikal Mayan Civilization

Guatemala

Tikal was beautiful and the month of February offered the perfect weather. To my surprise, no mosquitoes and low humidity. The time spent with our guide in the park was sufficient and the food at the restaurant in the part was outstanding. The restaurant was situated in an open area where we were able to enjoy the nature while enjoying the food.

Quality of Experience

We loved everthing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was awesome

Transport

The O route was spectacular - the views and hikes were very nice. Varied landscapes, open plains, glaciers, high passes and lagoons. Accommodations were very fun - our particular group spent half of our nights in tents and half in the Refugio’s - we enjoyed the mix. It was a super experience all around.

We are 4 older ladies, fit and ready for a full-on, active 16 day vacation in Costa Rica. Sergio, our local specialist planned a great experience from beginning to end! Any questions we had were answered promptly and we always felt secure knowing we were never alone to try to sort things out by ourselves.
When our plane was delayed, Sergio made sure our transportation was taken care of at midnight to go to our B&B. The B&B was notified as well and it was a seamless transition from the airport to the B&B. He also notified the Car Rental place about picking up the car a day later than expected. When we arrived the car was ready for us.
All the hotels that were selected for us were AMAZING! Beyond what could have expected! Breakfast was included everyplace we stayed and they were all excellent!
Our itinerary was packed with activities. Transportation picked us up at our hotels promptly, and we had excellent and attentive guides. Most of our activities included pineapple and watermelon snacks and some meals were included, even though we didn't expect them. Oh, and by the way, they were great meals, in local Costa Rican eateries!
Here are some of the activities we enjoyed:
Puerto Viejo:
Hiking at Cahuita National Park with Tito. Without our guide we never would have seen all the animals or heard all the amazing stories about the animals, reptiles and insects in the national park.
We took an Afro-Caribbean Cooking class with Glenda in her outdoor kitchen. What a delight that was. We got to chop and dice and learn about roots, fruits and vegetables we had never heard of before. We made a a delicious fish soup, Ron Don, that is native to Costa Rica. With Caribbean music playing, we ate too much, but finished our meal with coconut ice cream topped with chocolate! Yum!!
The next day we enjoyed kayaking with Rofo. Even though it was raining, we had fun hearing his stories, as we paddled a river into the jungle.
Arenal/La Fortuna:
We enjoyed the Hanging Bridges walk and did what we weren't sure we could do, we walked to the bottom of the La Fortuna Waterfall...500 steps down, took a dip in the fresh water and walked 500 steps up! Whew...we made it!! The thermal springs at our hotel felt wonderful after our morning adventure.
One of our favorite activities was the class III-IV White Water Rafting on the Sarapiqui River. Momo was our guide. He made us laugh and kept us safe and called us "Chicas"! He'd yell instructions and we did whatever we were told. We had a fantastic ride down the river. No one fell out of the raft and we'll never forget his instructions, "Chicas, look at me"!
Monteverde:
Our next adventure was with 100% Adventura Zip Line. The longest in Latin America. Yes, zip lining was amazing, but the Tarzan jump at the end is what most people talk about. The question that everyone asks is..."Did you do it?" It's not for the faint of heart, but everyone of us did it!!! 4 older ladies. Until now I haven't revealed our ages...but I will.
That evening we went on a Coffee/Chocolate night hike through the jungle. Alex as our tour guide and we learned things we never knew before. It was kind-of scary at night. We got to see some nocturnal animals on the hike.
Taylor was our guide through the Santa Elena Cloud Forest. Although the forest was only 40 years old, it looked like it had been there since Adam and Eve. It was a nice hike, we crossed the continental divide, saw animals that live at higher altitudes and made our way back to our hotel to lounge in the hot tub and pool and enjoy an afternoon Bloody Mary.
Manuel Antonio:
We enjoyed a 25 mile, mostly off-road experience with Real Adventure ATVs. Kevin was our guide. He was very serious about safety, which was much appreciated! It was a great, long ride. We rode through palm oil groves, little streams, up mountains and to a pretty waterfall. We stopped, got in the water and continued even higher to see the view of the ocean and the valley below. The meal after the ride, was fantastic, rice, beans and chicken in a yummy sauce!
Our final activity was a Catamaran Ride. Drinks and a meal were included along with snorkeling, jumping off the highest deck of the catamaran into the water, and sliding down a slide, like a kid. For a group of women 72 to 74, we had a great time. Thank you Sergio, thank you KimKim!! We'll be working with you on next year's trip!

Hotel Reviews

La Riviera Hotel B&B

Heredia

We got in late after a very long day. The beds were good and the breakfast was really nice with great coffee. We left right after breakfast so our stay was short ans sweet1

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nothing It was just a room to stay in while we arranged for our car and headed to the other side of the country

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

Clean, friendly and close to airport. Shuttle service was every 15 minutes. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Our KimKim travel group really out did themselves when they saved this last hotel for us. WE were delighted and amazed that our last stop on our trip was the creme de la creme. We had a villa with four sleep spaces and four bathrooms,a kitchen and full length patio.Wow Multiple pools were on the property and monkeys and iguanas were seen daily. Even the hard to find sloth was seen at this our last stop. The kitchen staff(in particular Werner) made our dining experience a delight!

Authenticity & Character

Spacious villa spectacular grounds and friendly helpful staff!

Location

close to the ocean but high enough to not be too hot

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Had everything we needed

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

After our last two accommodations we thought this was a little step down..But after a day or so we realized this hotel offered a lot for this area. The dining room had great order from the menu meals, both dinner and breakfast. The temperature was such that the hotel had neither airconditioning or heat and didn't need it. And we especially appreciated the welcoming fruit drink given us at checkin.

Authenticity & Character

The tv's should be up graded and not enough closet space for two people sharing space.

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Friendly and accommodating. We especially liked the restaurant staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel

Puerto Viejo

We loved this accommodation. We arrived late on Valentines Day and wanted to eat at our dining restaurant but we had no reservation..No worries the maitre'd quickly assembled a table and four tired travelers had a wonderful dinner. The hotel is right on the beach and offered more things to do than we had time for. We loved the all white rooms (even the tv hardware was white) with the colors coming from the art on the walls. Two bathrooms in each room was a delightful surprise. All in all a great experience!

Authenticity & Character

The cool beach vibe

Location

Close to everything but not right downtown.

Staff

Did everything right

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hard to keep an all white room clean looking but they did!

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

We four ladies were amazed with the rooms we were assigned. They were spacious, contemporary and the beds (very important) were very comfortable. We really enjoyed the plentiful , diverse selection in the dining hall and the fact that they opened early enough for us to be ready for our early pickups. We also appreciated that we were on the lowest level of the resort.. The roads to the top of the resort are very steep. It's one thing to hike them for exercise but quite another to do it after a long day of adventure. There was a shuttle but we were thankful to be on our lower level No shuttle required!

Authenticity & Character

Everything

Location

Away from town but close enough to drive to everything

Staff

Friendly, thorough and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

White Water Rafting on the Sarapiquí River, Class III - IV

Arenal/La Fortuna

OMG I was so afraid. It was my first. But Momo our guide was amazing. I highly recommend him. He is attentive, careful and he is so much fun. Me over 70's I felt secure and Momo made me fell safe and us 4 old ladies laugh and laugh with him. When he wanted our attention call us " chicas look at me" I had my greatest time of my life.

Quality of Experience

Speechless , the best!!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They are so kind and helpful

Transport

Same wonderful all the time on time

Enjoy the Thermal Hotsprings at your hotel

Arenal/La Fortuna

After a hike and see La Fortuna Waterfall we came back to the hotel and enjoy the Thermal hot springs. It was wonderful so many pools and the design of them unbelievable very well done. The hotel it's huge and the views of the Volcano amazing. I love your country!!!

Quality of Experience

For more than expected

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of them very kind and attentive and some funny and good looking too

Transport

All very kind and punctual

We recently returned from a wonderful trip to southern Spain. Our travel itinerary was prepared by Luis of Hidden in Spain, and was exceedingly well done. Pretrip info was extensive. All accomodations were centrally located inthe historic districts of the cities we visited. Tours and tour guides were excellent, and we saw so much, both in the cities, and beyond. Of particular mention, an outstanding flamenco performance followed by dinner with Guido, a wine tasting visit to a sherry bodega, and a delightful olive/ olive oil education at a scenic hilltop olive plantation. One guide, Kate, who guided us for two tours, hosted us for a spectacular at home tapas/ wine pairing dinner. Travel arrangements in country, by bullet train and bus, were a positive experience. I can strongly recommend Luis and Hidden in Spain if you want to visit Spain in depth.