Kimkim Trip Reviews

Where to start describing our wonderful Italy vacation. Ina with KimKim did a great job in the planning process and was very helpful in making our dream trip come true. Total of 11 days with stays in Rome, a Tuscany Villa and Amalfi. Every detail was laid out with precision and went off without a hitch. I can't tell you how much stress was relieved by the seamless execution. I think we only had to contact the CareTeam twice and they were quick to reply and address any question or small change. All the drivers that picked us up and took us from point A to B were always on time and professional. Our train tickets were all provided and the timing worked well every time. Car rental was arranged and met every expectation. We had private tours of Pompeii, Capri and the Colussim as well as a cooking class. Pompeii was definitely my favorite, our guide had a passion and extensive knowledge that she shared and made the tour amazing. All the recommendations for sites, walking tours and restaurants during our self guided time were spot on. It saved a lot of time so we were not doing all the research.
Most of the people in Italy were awesome and engaging. A few not as much. Food in the 3 different regions was different - most very good, some ok. The boat trip from Patisano to Capri was a little long. Started at 9am and we got back about 6:30 pm. It was absolutely beautiful!! Our stop on Capri for lunch could have been a little earlier, maybe around 12 or 1 instead of 2 or 3. Bring snacks with you.
Overall fantastic memories and Thank you for working with us to make it happen

Just returned from our fabulous tour of Morocco! We were met at Casablanca Airport by our trip Driver/Guide, Samir who not only most knowledgeable about Morocco but an expert driver who managed the sometimes tricky roads of Morocco with ease. I should mention this is our third visit to Morocco with the first one being only 55 years ago. Obviously things have changed and for the better since then.
After a short stay in Casablanca we headed to Chefchaouen a picturesque town on the side of the Atlas mountains. A bit too vertical for people our age but we would not have missed it for anything.
Loved Fez and our gorgeous hotel. Spent two nights there and could have spent many more.
Now on to the desert with a two hour camel ride to the Luxury Camp with the friendliest people you every met. We have made good friends with people like Mustapha and the others. If you have been on a camel before a two hour ride is great but as a beginner you may want to only make it a half hour ride.
After a one night stop in Boumaine Dades high in the most gorgeous mountains you have ever seen, it was on to Marrakesh for three nights. Again one beautiful hotel ideally situated with great meals. My wife is most talkative and found that all the people she talked to were very friendly with some even giving her a kiss goodbye.
Our last stop in Morocco was Essaouira at the Atlantic coast of Morocco. A beautiful seaside town with cool breezes and most friendly people at the hotel we stayed.
We are every tired but would do it again at the drop of a hat.
Many thank to Kimkim, Original Travels, Mohamad, Said, Samir, Meryem, Mustapha and all the others that made our trip one to remember forever

Ana did an amazing job planning and executing out trip to Indonesia! Our driver, Wes, was wonderful and took very good care of us. He really went above and beyond to make our trip special! All of the hotels that Ana suggested were great. The 4 dat private cruise thru komodo National Park was an absolute highlight! All of our connections went smoothly! It was truly an awesome trip!

We absolutely enjoyed our trip to Nepal and Bhutan — KimKim did an outstanding job of helping us plan the trip and our local guides were knowledgable, flexible and lots of fun! I highly recommend KimKim as a partner in planning your trip to this part of the world — and we will likely reach out to them for future trips to other locations.

This trip was planned long ago, and then Covid hit the world. So finally, after almost three years since the initial planning we made it and definitely enjoyed it much. What a phenomenal trip, and how Pelden and his group made it even more special. I would just say "Bhutan and its people ill always be in my heart".

Caesar in Helsinki was a good guide
Soumenlinna was also a good visit

All the guides for activities in Rovaniemi were good......
Each adventure had its own charm-
Camp fire in the log cabin while waiting to spot the aurora
ride with the huskies
Sauna with a dip in the lake
Arctic float gazing at the aurora and the starry night sky

I wasn't a big one for reindeer feeding but it was something I have never seen so.... it made it complete.

Hotel Reviews

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

Rovaniemi

The cabin was at a height from which you had an eagles view of the town. Maybe even see the aurora. Walking distance to the Santa village.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to sant village with eating places

Staff

Very helpful about anything we requested.packed us breakfast on the day we had to leave very early

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overnight Train

Train was late by 5 hours due to track work. Although the cabins were spotless and comfortable for a cozy ride. Cafeteria with large glass windows was the meeting place for many friends and families

Authenticity & Character

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lilla Roberts

Helsinki

It was very well located and comfortable. They were accommodating and gave us 2 rooms with a common door. Walking distance to all sights and markets

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distances to all good food places...and groceries and shopping and feery

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were very comfortable

Activity Reviews

Aurora Ice Floating

Finland

SURREAL The guide fitted is up with gear for the cold air by the campfire, then the telly tubby like floatation suit for the lake. Drive was comfortable. Needed a bit of light at the camp initially. Demo was done by the guide. It was just amazing flooding in 1C in a lake with the starry sky and the aurora over head.... The guides were so patient and let everyone float as long as they wanted. They set up a campfire and regaled the tourists with theirs jokes and stories

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Autumn Husky Ride on Wheels

Finland

Felt as though we were riding on a chariot driven by huskies instead of horses. We were taken by shuttle to a hotel where we were given jackets pant and boots to help with the cold and prevent our clothes from getting dirty. We walked across to the kennel .Dogs were so excited and were ready for the ride through the farm land. Very enjoyable. Very cold despite gloves so took turns steering as hands were getting numb.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Reindeer & Wilderness Sauna Experience

Rovaniemi

Feeding the reindeer was not my cup of tea but joined in. It was fun..can be quite daunting when you feed them, as the reindeers come towards you with their antlers.... Should have worn some boots as our shoes got real dirty The Finnish Sauna by the lake in cold weather was another first and wonderfully refreshing. To jump into ice cold water in the lake after the Sauna made you transcend your comfort zone . Once done was rejuvenating!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Aurora Photography Tour

Rovaniemi

On time to pick us up. One look at us and the guide realized we wouldn't last the cold, so he got us suits for cold weather with boots and off we went to a private log shed far away in his vehicle. He lit a lovely campfire and it was beautiful starry night, caught a bit of the aurora with his professional camera, not so visible to the naked eye. Fed us with sausages and marshmallows and got chocolate and was willing to wait as long as we wanted..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helsinki and Suomenlinna Private Tour

Helsinki

Caesar our guide was very knowledgeable . He spoke as he walked us to all the sites He took us on the ferry to the island and explained along the way . We eneded up having a delightful meal at the market, which was his suggestion

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your excellent management of our 27th anniversary reunion trip to Goa. The entire experience, from trekking to the waterfall, fishing, BBQ dinner, accommodation, transport, and dining, was absolutely fantastic, and we all had an amazing time.

Your impeccable planning and attention to detail ensured that everything ran smoothly throughout the trip. The trek to the waterfall was exhilarating, and it allowed us to reconnect with nature and appreciate the beauty of Goa. The fishing experience was equally enjoyable, filled with excitement and laughter as we cast our lines and reeled in our catches.

The BBQ dinner at Calamari was exceptional. The mouthwatering food, cozy ambiance, and joyous company made for a truly remarkable evening. We savored delicious grilled delicacies while reminiscing about old memories and creating new ones. It was a delightful experience that brought us all closer together as we danced to the music

Additionally, the choice of accommodation was good. The facilities were comfortable, clean, and provided the perfect respite after our adventurous days, especially the swimming pool. The transportation arrangements were seamless, ensuring that we could easily explore different parts of Goa without any hassle. And, of course, the delightful dining experiences throughout our trip left us satisfied and eager to taste more of the local cuisine.

Your dedication to making our anniversary reunion trip unforgettable is truly commendable. Your expertise and hard work made it a stress-free experience for all of us. We appreciate your efforts in ensuring that every aspect of the trip was well-planned and executed flawlessly.

Once again, thank you, Ravi and Bhushan, for organizing such a fantastic trip. It exceeded all our expectations, and we are filled with wonderful memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. Your contribution made our 27th anniversary reunion truly memorable, and we couldn't be more grateful.

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors.

Hotel Review

Santana Beach Resort

Santana Beach Resort is a great choice for families, couples, and groups looking for a relaxing and affordable vacation in Goa. The resort is located right on the beach, close to restaurants and bars, and has a nice pool and helpful staff. The family rooms are spacious and comfortable, with everything you need for a stay with 3 adults .The breakfast is good, with a variety of options to choose from. The pool is a great place to cool off on a hot day, and the staff are always happy to help with anything you need. The resort is an older property, but it is well-maintained and the gardens are beautiful. Overall, Santana Beach Resort is a great value for money and a great place to stay in Goa. Overall, I would recommend Santana Beach Resort to anyone looking for a relaxing and affordable vacation in Goa.

Authenticity & Character

Traditional

Location

Close to beach and restaurants

Staff

Helpful and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained

Activity Reviews

Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall - Offbeat Goa, an Unforgettable Experience

Goa

Trekking to the Tambdi Surla Temple and Waterfall with guide Sameer was a fun and energetic experience. The route was challenging enough for a moderately fit person, and the views along the way were stunning. Bathing in the stream of water at the waterfall was a refreshing way to cool off after the hike. Sameer was a knowledgeable and helpful guide. He shared interesting facts about the temple and waterfall, and he made sure that everyone in the group was safe and comfortable. Overall, I would highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for an adventurous and rewarding experience in Goa.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Fishing in Goa and Barbecue Dinner

Goa

My friends and I went on a fishing trip with Active India and had a great time! The fishing equipment, boat, and staff were all top-notch. We patiently waited for the fish to bite, and in the end we were able to catch 3 fish and a crab. As a bonus, we also got to see a pod of dolphins swimming nearby. The sea was calm and the weather was perfect for fishing. Overall, we had a great time on our fishing trip and would definitely recommend to others

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring a Different Side of Goa - enjoy white water Rafting in Valpoi river

Goa

The activity was closed due to seasonal restrictions.

Quality of Experience

NA

Guides, Drivers and Staff

NA

Transport

NA

John Ventura is very knowledgeable of this tour. He made very interesting fir everyone to enjoy. He gave enough for our favorite photo sessions to get the most of these beautiful scenery for keeps. He made plans well for us to get great experience
Mike- driver is excellent as well. He's a safe driver.
Both maintain good communication for our great trip.

Our tour guide Joao is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He's very passionate about everything and very accommodating to all our requests.
The whole Canadian Rockies are awesome especially the mountains..
Our driver Mike very well experienced…

Hotel Reviews

Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District

Calgary

Fairmont Banff Springs

Banff

Location

Forest Park Hotel

Jasper

Location

Staff

Mountaineer Lodge

Lake Louise

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore around Banff

Canada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jasper to Banff

Jasper

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour guide

Calgary Int. Aiport ( YYC)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Follow the Icefields Parkway to Jasper

Canada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Discover Banff and it's Wildlife

Banff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Columbia Icefield Excursion

Canada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Tour Guide, John was very accommodating, flexible and knowledgeable of all the places we visited. He was patient with us who loved to take pictures and sometimes, with loud voices. We all were satisfied with the experiences in the Rockies because of our experienced Tour Guide, John.

The Coach driver also, very patient, fun, accommodating and good teamwork with John.

Best driver, Mike really made us felt safe.

Thank you, Carl from the Kimkim Team for giving us John and Mike!

Hotel Reviews

Residence Inn by Marriott Calgary Downtown/Beltline District

Calgary

Amazing Room, loved it! As we were in group, we enjoyed our stay. We regret that we stayed only 1 day. This is the best Hotel of all the 4 Hotels in this travel. The Staff at the Desk super helpful! The Breakfast, free was the best!

Authenticity & Character

We could stay in this Hotel for a long time. Rooms were huge, with kitchen and nice beds.

Location

Closed to places we went. Safe place.

Staff

Very helpful and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Floor, Room and bathroom. Beds and pillows were comfy.

Fairmont Banff Springs

Banff

Nice views.

Authenticity & Character

I think because it is famous.

Location

Views.

Staff

The Staff at the Desk was no friendly. I think free Bfast is a plus in every Hotel esp. The expensive ones.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed and Bathroom.

Forest Park Hotel

Jasper

Simple, quiet and clean. Bfast free also, a plus.( tho nice if we could have boiled eggs).🙂

Authenticity & Character

The Restaurant in the Hotel great service, esp. Steve. We had Dinner there twice. The Room was good size and clean.

Location

Nice view and closed to places of interest to see.

Staff

Attentive to our Bfast. Our group placed in 1 room so we have good conversation.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom and floor in the room.

Mountaineer Lodge

Lake Louise

Clean and Quiet. Breakfast included, a plus.

Authenticity & Character

The view and the cleanliness.

Location

Close to places to see.

Staff

Yes, the Desk Lady who was fix our T.V.(not sure of name "Saki")

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfy. Only problem was we had a hard time bringing our luggages upstairs since no elevator.

Activity Reviews

Private Discover Banff and it's Wildlife

Banff

We saw Elks, Bear, goats and birds. We were inside the Coach but was able to take lots of pictures.

Quality of Experience

Seeing the wildlife was amazing. Not afraid to hike in the trail because we know our Tour Guide really knew the places.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Attentive and really nice!

Transport

Safety.

Explore around Banff

British Columbia

Beautiful trails, mountains, Falls and Lakes! Amazing pictures we took, enjoyed the views.

Quality of Experience

The hiking trails to see the Falls, mts,lakes and Fall Foliage. Also, trees covered with snow. Amazing wildlife, Bears, Elks, Goats and birds.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly, knowledge, patience and not bored with us. Safe driving...

Transport

Safety.

Jasper to Banff

Jasper

Spectacular views. We were given chance to take pictures, to use washrooms and to eat. Safe driver and Tour guide well expwrienced!

Quality of Experience

The vast knowledge of the Tour Guide, John and the safe driving of the Coach, Mike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their patience and friendliness.

Transport

Safe and patience. Attentive and we'll experienced.

Columbia Icefield Excursion

British Columbia

It was spectacular! Worth going there and had a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

The Glacier experience. More pictures to remember the Amazing views.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safety. Knowledge.

Transport

Very safe driver. Attentive.

Follow the Icefields Parkway to Jasper

British Columbia

It was amazing Rides and the Views spectacular! Coach very comfy and both Tour Guide, John and Driver Mike were wonderful!

Quality of Experience

The Amazing places, Lakes, Trails and Mountains. We took lots of pictures. They gave us good times to enjoy the places. Thanks John and Mike!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and helpful. Patient and kind.

Transport

Safety, clean and very comfy!

Tour guide

Calgary Int. Aiport ( YYC)

John was there to meet us. We bonded so easily. He was friendly. Then, the Coach driver Mike was there right away with his amazing new Comfy Coach and sooo clean!

Quality of Experience

The weather, the Tour guides knowledge and flexibility and patience. The teamwork between the Coach Driver, Mike and our tour guide, John made our trip amazing and safe!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Giving us the time to take pictures, allowing us to use washrooms, listening to us and also, giving us suggestions. Respect and friendliness. Knowledge of this trip. Flexible when weather not good for the day.

Transport

Coach Driver, Mike was amazing! He made us felt safe. Best driver ever! Always accommodating esp, when we love to take pictures of beautiful sceneries.

Angela was very attentive the whole time we were there, which was so helpful, if there was anything we needed. Communication was so easy and she was very responsive. Also, we loved all our tour guides so much, and accommodations (I especially loved my hotel in Milos, which was more local, old-school. Extremely peaceful, family-owned place. I loved it.). And she was very flexible in working together to put the trip together, ie if I wanted to make my own accommodations somewhere (which I didn’t end up doing) she was fine with that and would arrange any rides to/from that alternative location, which I thought was great. Overall, a very good experience with KimKim. Angela, thank you thank you!!! I hope I have the opportunity to work with you again!!

Our trip to Greece was a fantastic adventure. Our private guides were very knowledgeable and pleasant, we particularly enjoyed Silvia as she was so enthusiastic and fun. Our drivers were nice and we enjoyed their commentaries on their local areas. We asked for higher end hotels and we got them !! We stayed at some very nice hotels, the rooms, staff and food were all fabulous. We went to several towns Athens, Nafplio, Nafpaktos, Chania, Heraklion and Santorini. I loved the hanging monasteries in Meteora. I think that my favorite place was Chania in Crete. A beautiful town and waterfront with great restaurants and shopping and not nearly as many people (tourist) as Santorini. Dimitrios was great, always making sure that we were aware of our schedule and answered any questions we had promptly.

The trip was wonderful, the thoughtfulness of the trip planning exceeded our expectations. We had a wonderful new driver that was kind and thoughtful and available for our every need. Learning about Morocco and seeing so many beautiful and historic sights was a dream. We definitely crammed a bit much into our trip so we would advise not too do quite as much as we did because there were some long travel days. Overall a once in a lifetime experience.

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Guided Tour in Casablanca

Morocco

Guided Tour in Fes

Fes

Guided Tour of Volubilis

Morocco

HOT but worth it.

Afternoon Guided Tour in Chefchaouen

Morocco

Afternoon Guided Tour in Rabat

Morocco

Free Day to Relax and to Enjoy the Beach in Casablanca

Casablanca

Transfer to Fes, Volubilis & Meknes

Morocco

Long travel day but our driver made it worth it with roadside stops and great driving.

Guided tour of Meknes

Meknes

BEST TOUR OF THE TRIP. Our only female guide, she was kind and thoughtful and explained the city well. We were pressed for time and she worked with our timeframe and driver seamlessly. Give this woman a raise!

Food Tour & Local Gastronomy

Morocco

Honestly this wasn't the best. We already had spent 5 hours on another tour in the medina and this guide took us to the same spots. Also, no meal was provided as it stated. And our guide also did not take us to the right location at the end, leading our driver to worry and wait for over 4 hours.

The drivers to and from the airport, train station and hotels were fantastic. The boat ride on Lake Garda with Fabio was great. He was a wealth of information, He made it a lot of fun.

The boat ride on Lake Como was nice. The boat captain did not offer much information. We had to ask him to even take our photo.
The hike around Lake Como was great, but it was a little long. We were hiking for 8 hours with a 1.5 hour break for lunch.

My husband and I just got back from our 10-day trip in Greece. We started our trip by visiting Athens for a few days. Our hotel was a perfect fit. Close to a lot of things so it was easy to walk around to find places to eat and visit. It was also very clean, and the staff was super friendly.
-We did the Mythology walking tour. This was a great way to see various Greek Mythology sites and learn a little bit about their history. I would recommend this tour.

Our next island was Kefalonia. We were hesitant as we didn't know much about this island. We are SO glad we went as it was beautiful. The water was amazing. Again, our hotel was very clean and nice. We sat on both the public and private beach.
-We also did a private 1/2 day island tour. Our tour guide was great and very knowledgeable. It was a great way to see and learn about the island.

We finished up our visit by going to Santorini. Again, we really liked out hotel the staff was very friendly, and the hotel was clean. Maybe the only down fall was it's more in the middle of the island, so it made it harder to walk to places to eat. At least a 45min walk. But we liked that it was quieter and away from the big crowds.
-We did a BBQ boat cruise to see the sunset. It was fun to see Santorini from the water. I would recommend. We booked an e-bike tour while we were there and that was probably one of our highlights of the trip also.

Probably the only down fall of our vacation was the amount of flying we had to do between locations. But that was pretty minor in order to be able to see various locations.

Overall, I would book with KimKim again! Our trip was so smooth, and we loved all the things we did. Everything was exactly like it said it would be and we never had to worry about a thing!

It was so nice to have the freedom to do the activities we wanted to to but also have the security of knowing you were being looked after and the convenience of all the transfers at airports and hotels. All of our guides were helpful and informative. We did have one issue with a hotel and Julian and Ana did a great job of getting us re-situated in a new hotel within 2 hours! The next night we received a complimentary bottle of wine for our inconvenience.

This is our second time using KimKim. We were very satisfied with the first experience, but disappointed with the plan on this trip to Crete. Overall we had a great time on the island; the suggested hotels were generally good, the locations were excellent, the excursions the advisor planned and the guides who led them were excellent.
The major reasons for the lower ratings are because we didn't feel this trip was really customized for us as we had hoped. While we wanted to see the major historical and important sites on Crete, we otherwise requested to stay/see "off the beaten path" places; we felt that we spent too much time in Heraklion (where 1 day is adequate but we had 2 1/2) and Rethmynon where a 1/2 a day would be adequate but we had 2 days). Fortunately we travelled in early October so Crete was not terribly crowded. We were especially disappointed with the beach location, Georgiopoulis. It is a very touristy town and not a particularly pleasant area. The hotel was comfortable, (Georgiopolous Beach Hotel), but it did not have its' own beach access (we had to pay), we had a meal plan so we could not go to other restaurants and the management was unpleasant. For a beach experience, we would suggest going to another island or finding a way to go to the south coast of Crete (hard to access). The specialist arranged a village tour from Rethmynon which was excellent, but the town itself only requires half day. The main attraction in Heraklion was Knossos but we had an extra "free day" during which we ended up going on a wine tasting excursion that we planned ourselves. We really enjoyed the town of Chania, but had extra time during which we planned our own excursion to a more beautiful beach on the west coast and a visit to an olive oil /honey tasting venue on the last day when we had to check out from the hotel mid day but did not fly out until early evening. The accommodation in Chania was very well located, but a 3rd floor walkup with no lift, no manager on site and included breakfast which was a few blocks away (though good restaurant).
Overall, it did not feel that the advisor put a lot of thought into the trip plan and only partially understood the kind of travel we wanted to do. While we found ways to fill the time and really enjoyed our stay on Crete, we were disappointed in the advice from KimKim and felt that the cost exceeded the value.

Dear Karen,

Thank you for your feedback on our services. We appreciate your positive comments and acknowledge your concerns.

We're actively working to address any issues you've raised and appreciate your input in helping us improve.

Sincerely,

Antonis

Hotel Reviews

Pepi Boutique Hotel

Rethymnon

Beautiful hotel. Great breakfast. Lovely outdoor area for relaxing. Good location (if you want/need to be in Rethmynon)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

Very nice and comfortable hotel literally across the street from the airport. Very convenient for an early morning flight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Consolato Boutique

Chania Town

Consolato is a couple of rooms in a 3 story building in downtown Chania. The location is excellent, the room is very comfortable and the manager is lovely. She was accommodating in every way. Our major complaint is that we were on the top floor and there was no elevator. Breakfast was excellent, but was provided at a restaurant about 3 blocks from the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

you have to be willing to go to a 3rd floor walkup

Georgioupolis Beach Hotel

Georgioupoli

Location is nice--across the street from the beach but the hotel itself has no beach of their own. We had to pay a vendor to go to the beach. We had a 1/2 board plan and while the food was good, we would have preferred not to eat at the hotel every meal. The town /beach is very touristy and crowded. Our room was very nice but the hotel is a couple of attached buildings with a strange floor plan and no elevator to the level on which we were staying. The staff in the dining room and front desk were nice but we did not like the manager whose primary concern was the rating we would provide at the end of the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olive Green Hotel

Heraklion

Excellent location, very comfortable, nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athens

Very nice and comfortable hotel. Central location easily accessible to toursit sites and restaurants in downtown Athens. We were only there overnight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The 7 villages of Apokoronas (Private Tour)

Chania

Very interesting tour to some beautiful areas outside of Chania. We learned a lot about the crafts , traditions in these local villages. Would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour of Eleftherna and Rethymno Villages

Rethymno

Very interesting tour of some mountainous villages outside Rethmynon. We saw some very ancient sites and learned about life in these small villages. Would highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Palace of Knossos & the City of Heraklion

Heraklion

Excellent tour guide. Very knowledgeable. Provided a lot of information and answered many questions. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magnificent Athens

Athens

Excellent tour; guide was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. We learned a lot about the Acropolis.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

good driver

Transport

This was our first experience using the help of a trip planner, and it won't be the last time we do that! We were beyond satisfied with the experience overall, and especially grateful for the unflagging support, patience and insights of our Athens-based connection, Chris Gravas. From start to finish, he was helpful, available, and supportive. He started us off with a very inclusive trip plan and let us make many custom adjustments to it. However, we took nearly all of Chris's suggestions for hotels, private tours and self-guided options, and every one of them was a winner. We had fabulous local tour guides, particularly in Athens and Meteora, as suggested by Chris. The hotels were charming and comfortable, as we requested. The itinerary included a stop in Delphi that we hadn't considered until Chris suggested it, and we were so glad we did that. Chris even offered to meet us in Athens to answer any questions or concerns, and we spent a fun and relaxing evening there with him at a great restaurant. Our tour of Greece, from Athens to Delphi to Meteora to Corfu was very special and one of the best trips we have ever taken.

Hotel Review

Tsikeli Hotel Meteora

Meteora

We loved our stay at Tsikeli Hotel. It is beautifully and very conveniently located in Kastraki Village with views of the Meteora monoliths. We could walk to many places from there. The room was modern and comfortable. We enjoyed the restaurant as well. All the meals there were delicious, and the staff was friendly and welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Meteora Hiking

Greece

This was probably our favorite guided tour. Our hiking guide, Chris, was particularly great. He paced the hike to our abilities and still took us to amazing places around and on top of the monoliths of Meteora. We had toured most of the monasteries on our own (amazing also) but felt we really connected with the magic of this place on the hike with Chris, away from the other tourists, up close and personal with the landscape in a unique way. Chris knew everything about the flora, fauna and geology there and shared so much with us. Truly a notable day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delphi Ancient Footpath Hiking

Greece

Due to heavy rains the day before, we had to make changes to the hike as described. However our guide Hilda was amazing, and we hiked through the nearby town of Chrisso, and through an enormous olive grove, one of the largest in Greece. The hike was not only beautiful but really interesting, as Hilda knew the area so well and shared much about the importance and use of olive trees in Greece. Loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis Guided Tour

Athens

Fantastic guide! She was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about sharing her expertise. We learned a lot, and loved the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helena did an exceptional job in planning our wonderful 3 week visit and tour around Spain! The whole kimkim experience is terrific from the start, asking questions and gathering information to understand and accommodate our interests: preferred types of activities, length of time available, budget, travel dates, food interests, physical abilities and/or limitations, willingness to fly/take trains/buses, self-drive, preferred accommodation level, tour group sizes, etc.!! Then Helena created a custom excursion for us based on those imputs, and we had a blast! She was very knowledgeable of all aspects and areas of travel in Spain, and was also available and responsive (or other agents over the weekends) during the trip to advise or answer questions. Very professional and enjoyable experience!!

It’s the first time my husband and I used Kim Kim for one of our trips and we’re very happy we did. Helena was our local specialist and she did a fantastic job with not only the planning of the the itinerary but with keeping in touch with us every step of the way. She was personable, made all the changes we asked for and made sure everything went very smoothly throughout our trip. The hotels were beautiful, their locations were great and the included breakfasts delicious! Also, all the trains we took were on time and our guides in each city were very interesting. Anne Marie, in Barcelona was great, Hector in Madrid was awesome, Laura at the Alhambra was very knowledgeable, Andrés in Seville was personable and funny and the young girl at the Hacienda Guzmán (olive oil estate) really knew her stuff!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel España Ramblas

Barcelona

This hotel was amazing! Most of it is decorated in the Art Nouveau Style (which I love) but the rooms were all remodeled with a contemporary look. The breakfast was one of the best of our trip to Spain.

Authenticity & Character

Perfectly decorated Art Nouveau Style especially because it’s in Barcelona!

Location

Near the lively Ramblas , near several restaurants and a subway station.

Staff

Everyone at the desk, on the roof top and at the breakfast was very helpful and nice!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Whole hotel was supper clean and the rooms were spotless!

Only YOU Hotel Atocha

Madrid

The best hotel for the one last night we were in Spain. Right across the Atocha train station where we arrived from Seville and close to museums I still wanted to see on our last day, like the Reina Sofia Museum.

Authenticity & Character

Very contemporary looking hotel, very lively lobby, a “breakary” to have some sweets and a nice restaurant.

Location

Superb location by train station, restaurants, museums, parks, etc

Staff

Everyone was so accommodating at the front desk! Firmin was super helpful and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever had in a hotel and the bathroom was super clean!

Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza

Sevilla

This hotel was beautiful with gorgeous courtyards and Bougainville growing everywhere. The breakfast was amazing too and the room very big and sumptuous!

Authenticity & Character

This hotel was very special in that it had the feel of a bed and breakfast with all the amenities of a hotel. In other words the perfect combination of both.

Location

The location was perfect because it was in a more quiet neighborhood yet within walking distance of the historic center of Seville.

Staff

Staff was very nice and helpful with anything we needed from calling us a cab to offering us hot breakfast in the morning!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Exceptional cleanliness in the entire premises of this i hotel!

Hotel Casa 1800

Granada

This was one of the most interesting hotels on our trip to Spain because it was so picturesque! The decor was rustic and at the same time contemporary! We loved the way it looked!

Authenticity & Character

As I said above the very Spanish style of the Hotel looked very authentic to the region it’s in. Loved it!

Location

It couldn’t have been a better location, near the action but away enough that it was quiet at night. Also near the Alhambra.

Staff

Everyone from front desk to breakfast staff was amazing! We needed a to go breakfast very early one day and they had it all ready for us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean hotel and very quaint!

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

Hotel was at a great location almost right on Gan Via and near many attractions. Breakfast was very good!

Authenticity & Character

Very contemporary looking hotel! Breakfast was excellent, lots of variety!

Location

Near most attractions and across from a conveniently located market.

Staff

Everyone at the front desk and at breakfast was very helpful and personable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were amazingly comfortable! Bathroom was spotless!

Activity Reviews

Spain's Liquid Gold: Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Spain

Amazing tour of an olive oil plantation and processing plant. We learned a lot from our lovely and friendly guide. Not only did we see how olive oil is processed now a days but how it was done in the 16th century. We also got to taste the delicious olive oil they obtain from the olives that grow there.

Quality of Experience

What stood out the most was the way they used to do the whole process in the old days. All the vats, the grinders, the containers are still there for us to see how involved the entire method of extracting the olive oil was back then… fascinating!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was young but very knowledgeable so she showed us when olives are ripe to be plucked from the trees, the different olive trees from different countries, the process of extracting the oil from the olives nowadays and back in the day. She let us taste some of their finest olive oils at the end of the tour. She also gave us a gift of two olive oil bottles. Very visitor friendly place!

Transport

A van came to pick us up at our hotel to bring us to the Estate. The lady driver was on time and waited for us at the estate to bring us back. Everything went according to plan.

Monumental Seville on Foot & Visit Real Alcázar

Seville

Once again we had a wonderful guide, Andrés, who showed us not only the old part of Seville like the Cathedral and the Giralda but also the Alcázar. The interesting thing about the Alcázar is that it’s decorations have Muslim elements as well as Christian elements and that makes it very unique . Also Andrés told us very intriguing stories about the Catholic king that had it built.

Quality of Experience

This was a magical tour and the quality of the experience unique! We totally recommend it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed Andrés’ tour because he made the palace come alive with the details he told us about the king and the court. No drivers in this tour it was a walking tour.

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

This was one of the most impressive and iconic places we saw in our Spain trip. We really enjoyed every minute of it! We had seen videos of this palace but there’s nothing like being there in person immersing yourself in the experience with a very knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience

Excellent quality of experience! We learned so much about the history of Spain by going on this tour and also learned so much about Muslim culture and art! It’s totally worth it.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Laura, was fantastic! Her background was in archeology so she knew a lot about the Alhambra and it’s history. No transpor was needed for this tour.

Transport

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

This private guided visit was great! Hector, our guide, was an expert on the history and culture of Madrid. He pointed out several buildings including the famous Royal Palace and showed us places where Madrileños spend their nights having a good time with friends.

Quality of Experience

We wouldn’t have learned so much about Madrid if we didn’t take a private tour like this, with only the guide, my husband and I.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hector our guide was very personable and we engaged in very interesting conversations about not only Madrid but the rest of Spain and other countries. No drivers were necessary on this tour, it was supposed to be a walking tour of the center of Madrid.

Barcelona Highlights: Guided Walk & Iconic Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Absolutely loved this attraction! Was here in 1981 and it was so wonderful to see the finished inside of the Basilica! Not to be missed if you’re in Barcelona.

Quality of Experience

The excellence of the work of Gaudí and the history behind it is what makes this an extraordinary experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Anne Marie was very knowledgeable and had interesting things to tell us that made it a very special experience!

Transport

We used the Subway to get to the Sagrada Familia and Anne Marie explained how to use the Metro which helped us the next day when we needed to go somewhere else in Barcelona.