Kimkim Trip Reviews

Driver Samir was amazing.
Tour guide at Marrakesh (lady)was good. Guide at Fes(Mohammed) was good but he took us too many shopping places. Essaouira guide was so so. Ait Ben Haddou guide and movie studio trip were bad. They were only interested in tips.
In general, Hotels were good.
We loved Fes and Sahara expirence. At the tent, our guide Hamid(? Nomad 4x4 driver/guide) was very good.
We love Morocco!

Hotel Review

Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morocco Last Nomads Experience: Tea, Tales & Desert Adventures

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We spent two wonderful weeks in San Pedro, San Ignacio and Guatemala with one other couple. Our vacation was arranged by Eduardo. Eduardo took care of everything for us. During our vacation he kept in touch with me to make sure all was going well. He genuinely wanted to make sure we had a good trip. One thing I greatly appreciated was that for most of our tours Eduardo planned them for just the four of us. We were very lucky to NOT be part of the big groups. Being this was our first time to Belize we were really unsure of where to go and what to expect. Our transportation was all pre-arranged which took a ton of stress off of me. Our first driver, (Cameron) was waiting for us at the airport and took us to the water taxi to get us to San Pedro. He was full of conversation and pointed so many things out on our way. He was wonderful. We started our vacation in Belize on San Pedro. We stayed at Tres Cocos Resort. This is a very clean resort. The staff, be it office or grounds, they were all so nice and went out of their way to help us. We went night snorkeling and also did a whole day snorkel with Inland and Sea Adventure (Eric and Maya). We had a really good time going to Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley, and Caye Caulker for lunch. We were able to see manta rays, sea turtles, mannatees, and lots of different fish. The water was a little rough which made for the water being murky and having to deal with alot of human "trash". The tour company was wonderful. They made sure that we all had a really good time and of course safety was number one. The main transportation to get around San Pedro is a golf cart. Do know that the roads are full of pot holes and very rough. We ate at a couple different restaurants that in my opinion are worth mentioning: 1. for dinner Caramba 2. for breakfast Tres Cocos Waffles and Smokehouse. One thing to be prepared for while on the island: Things are very expensive. For example a pound of butter was $21.95 BZE. After spending 5 days on San Pedro we headed inland. Our next destination was San Ignacio. On our way there we again had Cameron as our driver. We learned so much from him. We made a stop to do a river tubing tour. Our guide for this tour was Victor. He was always talking and sharing his knowledge. I do wish that he had slowed down a little as my husband and I were a tad slower on the walk to the river and we missed out on most of his conversation. We also felt that we were rushed during the tubing part of the tour. Not sure we would do this again, but perhaps the kayaking instead. While in San Ignacio we stayed at the "Falling Leaves Lodge". I can't say enough good about this lodge. I absolutely loved it. ALL of the staff were so friendly and helpful. We ate breakfast there every morning, delish... One of the chefs is Mo. He personally came out of the kitchen at every meal to make sure that we had enjoyed everything. Paula (the manager) is the most wonderful person. She went out of her way to make our stay memorable. She really should be proud of her staff. The grounds are well kept and it is a very beautiful layout. The pool was not finished when we were there (December 2023), but it was being worked on between rainy days. We definitely will be staying with them on our next trip. On a side note there is a ruins that is just a walk from Falling Leaves Lodge: Cahal Pech. This is a self guided tour, but definitely worth it. A most interesting tour was the Cacao Farm and Chocolate making. If you want to know where chocolate really comes from and not a "Willy Wonka tour" this tour is for you. Adrian took us to the small farm where the cacao trees grow and then his family demonstrated how the Mayans make chocolate back in town at their shop. One tour that you do not want to miss is the ATM cave tour! There are many different comments on this tour about it being hard, and what you can bring with on the tour. I am 58 years old, not in the best shape: I did it!! You do have to cross 3 "river spots", but there is a big ol' rope to hang on to. There is a bit of swimming, but most of it is "walking" through the water. There is climbing on and through rocks (water shoes are a must). There is one spot where you have to climb up rocks, but there are so many helping hands in the groups to help, everyone makes it up and also down. Our driver, Hugh, stayed with the van and had a most delicious lunch waiting for us. Now as to what you can bring on this tour: Nothing, no wet bag, water, camera or anything. The guide carries it all in their bag. The one thing that you will need is an old pair of socks that you can throw away. You can bring a change of clothes as you will get wet. But that is left in the van. After you get to the top of the one climbing spot you may NOT wear shoes, that is where the socks come into play. Our guide here was Gonzo. Talk about a great guide, he is the best! Our next couple days were spent in Guatemala, heading to Tikal Lodge. Our driver to the border was again Hugh. As always he is so pleasant and full of knowledge as he is a retired tour guide. He made sure we got into Guatemala without trouble and found our connecting ride and guide. At the border on both sides there are many currency exchangers waiting to make sure you have Guatemalen money. Do make sure you get small bills not just large ones as the small shops aren't always able to make change. On our way to Tikal Lodge we stopped for lunch. Please know that Spanish is the main language in Guatemala so ordering lunch was a bit of a challenge since we don't speak Spanish. After lunch we headed to Yaxha Maya Ruins. This is an out of the way ruins. But boy is it worth seeing. Our guide, Oliver, was hoping that we would be able to see the sunset here, but due to the incoming rain, we missed out on that. This is one place that we got to see the howler monkeys and various birds. One suggestion I have is to leave earlier than 10 a.m. from San Ignacio if you are heading to Guatemala to do this tour. The travel time is a bit long due to ALL the "potholes" and rough road. We stayed at Jungle Lodge Tikal while in Guatemala. This was a clean lodge But... be prepared for no hot water, they shut the lights and electricity off at 11 p.m. (as they are basically off grid) in the rooms, the only internet is at the lodge not in your room, the restaurant is fair (it seemed that they were out of things on the menu and usually things we wanted to order) and again they only speak Spanish which makes things difficult. The staff wasn't overly friendly either. We were scheduled to have a free day in Flores on our own. Had it not been for our guide, Oliver, offering his services for the day it would not have been such a fun day. Again, we don't speak Spanish and it would have been a struggle without him. His helpfulness with the language barrier was most appreciated. He also took us places that we never would have known about, such as a wood carving school where the students are able to sell their projects and get the money, the animal sanctuary (Arca's) and another off the beaten path ruins. Our main reason for going to Guatemala was the sunrise tour at Tikal National Park. The nice thing about staying at Jungle Lodge Tikal is for the sunrise tour you're right there to start the walk to the temple. So with that in mind we would over look some of the down sides and stay here again so that we are right there for the sunrise tour. One thing to bring is a flashlight or even better a head lamp so your hands are free. One thing we wished is that we had allowed a couple days for Tikal, as our guide told us that about 2-3 days is what you need to see it all. We really didn't get to see much of Tikal because we didn't realize it was such a huge ruins. After getting back to Belize the next day we did a horse riding tour of Xunantunich Maya Ruins. This was alot of fun with our guides, Elio and Miguel. You get to see a bit of different scenery off the beaten path . One thing to remember this is a half day tour so there is no lunch provided. We ended our vacation with a Cooking Class in San Ignacio at Marie Sharp's Tourist Center. This was a blast! We were taken to the market by William (our instructor). He shared alot of information about San Ignacio while at the market. We all pitched in and helped prepare our lunch which was very tasty chicken, rice, bread pudding and other tasty things. This was a hands on cooking class. One thing to remember about Belize and Guatemala even though you go during the "dry season" this does not mean it won't rain. We found this out on many days. Our vacation was incredible! Alot of the credit goes to Eduardo for planning things out so well. We can't wait to start planning our next visit to Belize and Guatemala.

My trip with the help and direction of Franck was great. Unfortunately with the change in weather we were not able to do all the things that we paid for on the trip to the rain forest as some of the roads were flooded but a driver John did try his best to help out and took us as far as he was allowed. But all was great and we had a wonderful time.
Thanks again Franck and his team

Hotel Reviews

Naumi Hotel Wellington

6141

The colours were wild, very modern, only problem they do not have enough parking for visitors that have a car. Other than that ok.

Authenticity & Character

The wild modern colours

Location

Location was great right in the middle of everything

Staff

They were helpful and considerate

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and comfortable

Ruapehu Country Lodge

Ruapehu

The people were great ,food was wonderful, the animals were cute especially the goats and Lama

Authenticity & Character

cute place felt like home

Location

A little out of the way from downtown but it is in the country area so still beautiful

Staff

the family was great

Cleanliness & Comfort

everything was clean and comfortable

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Summer (guided)

New Zealand

Did not get to finish the trip had a small accident on the way up but although we only got to do 12 k it was worth it.

Quality of Experience

Did it with friends

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver and staff was great waited for us to come down and helped us back

Transport

Great

unavailable at the moment Kayak Taupo - Maori Rock Carvings

New Zealand

The day was perfect no rain and very interesting information

Quality of Experience

Fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The captain of the ship was funny had jokes to tell along the way

Transport

Glowworm Paddle Board Tour

Rotorua

It was fun

Quality of Experience

It was with friends

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff very great and helpful

Transport

The driver was cute

Mt Tarawera Crater Walk Experience

Rotorua

Loved it very scary and exciting all at the same time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver and staff Jessie and Ahn made it more fun than expected

Transport

Bumpy ride but well worth it.

Wine Tastings & Vineyard Visits on Waiheke Island

Auckland

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

Adam was an incredible planner who paid special attention to create a memorable trip for us that catered to our preferences as we fulfilled our dream of finally visiting Iceland. As requested, it was a perfect mix of planned excursions and self-guided activities as we often prefer to go at our own pace. The planned activities he booked for us were clearly arranged with excellent companies as our guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and even went above and beyond to make sure every participant walked away with great photos. The dog-sledding expedition and ice cave tour were our favorites! The natural sites we saw were events in their own right, as was simply driving around the country; making our way from one place to another felt like its own excursion as we passed so much excellent scenery along the way. Knowing we had Adam to help us if we wanted to alter our plans or to get updates as the volcano eruptions happened gave us such peace of mind. He was always extremely responsive and checked in regularly during our travel to make sure all was going well. Thank you for a great experience!

Hotel Reviews

Skuggi Hotel by Keahotels

Reykjavík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the downtown area. Only a few minutes to drive or walk to the main shopping district and downtown sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stracta Hotel

Hella

Lovely hotel with nice amenities, including restaurant and bar. Good breakfast with lots of options.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Hafnarfjall

Hvalfjarðarsveit

The hotel was great—charming with local character. Only reason for four stars instead of five is that there was construction going on during our trip (which the hotel didn’t let us know about in advance), so some of our evenings were disturbed by that. Also, the water pressure in the shower was quite low.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very near restaurants in the heart of Borgarnes

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

See main review re: construction and shower water pressure.

Activity Reviews

The Secret Lagoon

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katla Ice Cave

Iceland

This was so much fun and incredibly beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great experience!

Transport

Dog Sledding

Iceland

This was my personal favorite excursion of our trip. It was clear that the owners truly love all the dogs and take good care of them. If you are a dog-lover, this is a must-do!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reykjavik Northern Lights Cruise

Iceland

Three stars only because we weren’t lucky enough to see the Northern Lights! I’m sure it would be incredible if the stars align for you ;). Even though we missed out, this company is great and offers you a voucher to come back anytime in the next 2 years if you don’t see them on your cruise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leo was so great to work with. He was very responsive and planned an itinerary that provided us with exactly what we wanted. Batangas was a beautiful dive spot and we were blown away with the biodiversity that we saw. The island hopping tour in Coron was spectacular and Johnas was a great guide. The Kawasan tour canyoneering was so cool and fun. The tour guide wolves was awesome and they took some crazy good pictures and videos of us. Smock from Lakbay Palawan was so kind and attentive, great knowledge of reef restoration, and kept us entertained on our boat transfer from Puerto princesa to Coron. All of our tours and guides were amazing and we can’t speak more highly of this trip and fully recommend it.

Hotel Reviews

Cadlao El Nido Resort and Restaurant

El Nido, Palawan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Coron Town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bluewater Maribago

Lapu-lapu City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bohol Beach Club

Bohol

Beautiful hotel, great food, and friendly staff. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Powder Day: Sand and Stellar Beaches

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coron Lagoons & Lakes Day Tour

Coron

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Nido to Coron 3 day boat expedition

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puerto Princesa Underground River Day Tour

Philippines

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Island hopping in El Nido - Tour A

El Nido

So many great snorkeling spots and biodiversity!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honda Bay Island Hopping Day Tour

Puerto Princesa

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dolphin Spotting and Snorkeling in Balicasag Island

Philippines

The dolphin spotting tour was really cool. We saw so many pods of wild spinner dolphins. The boat follows the pods.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls

Philippines

Dante’s peak canyoneering adventure was so great! Very fun, beautiful to see, and very exciting! Our tour guides took amazing pictures and videos of us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bohol Island Day Tour

Philippines

Enjoyed this day very much, the chocolate hills and tarsier sanctuary were highlights of this day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Scuba Diving in Anilao: Introductory Diving Experience

Anilao, Batangas

One of the most beautiful dives I have been on. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking with Fireflies

Philippines

Friendly tour guide, very knowledgeable, and amazing food at the end.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We booked a 2 week trip along the east coast, starting in Sydney and then driving north to Brisbane. Everything arranged through Kim Kim went well. The hotels selected were excellent, the car and tour arrangements that were made went off without a hitch. We lucked out and only had 1 rain out day of the two weeks, the locals said were lucky as the 2023-2024 spring / summer season has been especially wet. If in Sydney don't miss a guided tour of the Opera House, and in Brisbane be sure to visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Gold Coast Beaches are not to be missed and Sydney is very sightseeing friendly with an excellent mass transit system including ferries to visit parts of the town adjacent to Sydney Harbor.

Hotel Reviews

QT Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise

The room, staff and views are top notch!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just 1 block off the Esplanade, close to the beach, shops and dining.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Discovery Parks - Emerald Beach

Emerald Beach

Glamping on the beach, if that is your thing rent a cabin here.

Authenticity & Character

It is a campground, cabins available.

Location

Only about 100 yards away from a fabulous beach.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cabin was modern and very clean, think Glamping!

The Convent Hunter Valley

Pokolbin

Boutique hotel in the middle of "wine country", we plan on staying here again if we ever get the chance to visit Hunter's Valley in the future!

Authenticity & Character

Restored old convent, like visiting an 19th century Victorian mansion.

Location

Staff

Very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

We had an excellent tour guide a Texan actually. Very informative on the creation of and the construction of the Opera House.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Morning Private Hidden Gems & Historic Artefacts - Australian National Maritime Museum

Sydney

If you are into history, take this tour very worthwhile. you can visit the archives with a docent and go behind the scenes where they are restoring items and exhibits. One can visit a number of ships while there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pros: Our trip was well planned and had an appropriate mix of adventure and relaxation. We were both so busy before the trip, and so we were grateful that Kimkim took care of everything. We didn't have to worry in the weeks leading up. Our guide in Bangkok, Betty, was exceptional. We learned so much more about Thailand because of his storytelling. The temples were amazing, the elephant sanctuary was ethical and special, and the boat/canoe with local guides in Phuket was phenomenal. The Oceanfront Beach Resort in Phuket was exactly what we needed after exploring Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It was so peaceful, and the breakfast was beautiful. It was also nice to have transportation arranged to and from everything.

Cons: Would have preferred going to fewer markets. There was nearly one or two per day. Meals were sometimes challenging as a vegetarian/pescatarian. Duangtawan Hotel in Chiang Mai. It was very dirty and outdated.

One thing to note - sometimes, the details of our itinerary did not align with real-world logistics. For example, our itinerary included a market that was closed on the planned day. And our last morning included a breakfast - which I believe we probably paid for in the package - but our flight was leaving so early that we could not take advantage of the breakfast. In the end, it all generally worked out. Granted, we did not pay attention to these details when we agreed to the itinerary, but I'm not sure why these options would even be offered in the first place if they aren't logistically feasible.

Hotel Reviews

Oceanfront Beach Resort

Phuket

Beautiful room and view. Comfortable bed. Very nice pool. Breakfast was amazing. We loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was in a slightly less busy part of Phuket. The view of the ocean and sunset was incredible.

Staff

Very kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Very comfortable beds.

The Quarter Ladprao by UHG

Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Not sure what authenticity and character means, but I have nothing bad to say about this hotel.

Location

Plenty of amenities and food close by.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean room. The bed was not comfortable, super firm, but this might be a cultural standard we were not used too.

The Cottage Suvarnabhumi

Bangkok

Totally fine for a quick overnight before we caught our flight home.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Duangtawan Hotel

Chiang Mai

I would give this zero stars if possible. Very dirty. Shower did not drain. Could hear guests through the walls. TONS of guests, the elevator could not accommodate them.

Authenticity & Character

No one should have to sleep in a dirty hotel

Location

Great view, but that was the only good thing about this hotel.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

If they actually cleaned the rooms, especially the bathroom.

Activity Reviews

Welcome and Temple Treasures of Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Loved visiting all the temples.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Our guide Betty really made our time in Bangkok exceptional.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

John Gray's Sea Canoe - Hong by Starlight

Phuket

This was so special. Loved being in the sea and seeing islands and land formations we'd never seen before. Our boat guide was from a local town. It was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Elephant Nature Park Visit

Chiang Mai

Elephant Nature Park is a very ethical elephant sanctuary. We appreciated the strict boundaries about how people could interact with the animals. It was an amazing experience. Lunch was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A visit to Silver Temple and Ban Tawai

Chiang Mai

Only men were allowed inside this temple and most of the Ban Tawan market was closed. Would have preferred to go do something that both partners could enjoy, since one partner had to stand outside of the temple. And would have preferred to skip Ban Tawan since it was mostly closed and we were very tired of markets by this point.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day trip to Doi Inthanon National Park!

Chiang Mai

It was a lot of driving, and would have preferred the opportunity to do more hiking, but overall great day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Bangkok by local transfers and walking tour

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our time in Argentina was really well coordinated and lots of fun.
We loved our night at El Fogon, our meal at Trapiche. Both were "over the top" and served amazing food. Our food tour of San Telmo was both interesting and delicious. Our guide was interesting and great to tour with. The day trip to Colonia was unexpectedly very nice. Our guide was interesting and the sights were very nice. Lunch at the Bohemia Restaurant was amazing. Our day at the wineries was very enjoyable. We loved the first two wineries, but did not like the third, Andeluna, which we felt was very touristy and the lunch and wine was not to our liking. The staff was also very curt and unfriendly. I have to say that the dinner at Trapiche Winery was fantastic. Food was unique, delicious, served with style. Wines were all very good and the staff kept the wines flowing. This was a great experience. El Fogon was a pleasant surprise and a unique experience. We had a great time. FYI we ate at Don Julio on our own and liked the atmosphere, but found the food way over rated. Not great!
All in all, we had a wonderful experience. The guides and drivers were the best. The activities lots and fun and interesting, The restaurants and the food delicious, except for Andeluna. We would highly recommend Kim Kim to plan a trip to Argentins.

Activity Reviews

Asado Dinner at El Fogón

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porteño Fileteado: An Artistic Journey

Buenos Aires

Interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class: touring four regions of Argentina

Buenos Aires

Lots of fun. Chef was friendly, experienced. Had the best night!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Uco Valley Wine Country

Mendoza

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Night at Trapiche

Mendoza

Best meal of the trip in a beautiful atmosphere.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Telmo: Private Food Tour!

Buenos Aires

Fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family trip to France was fantastic. Bastien, our local specialist work with my wife, Gina, to customize everything to
us. We have planned tours with guides to amazing Chocolatiers in Paris, Versailles, the Beaches of Normandy , Sainte-Mère-Église, and near by bunkers and other sites of WWII, Mont-Saint-Michel, and Château d'Amboise. All of our Guides deserve their own 5 star ratings. All of our travel, from being picked up at the airport, our tours, the hotels we stayed in were all well worked out . And if we had any concerns, even just to verify what we thought we knew, Bastien promptly responded. Even on Christmas Day!

I believe our tour was actually handled by Original Travels. I'm not sure who Said works for but he was very responsive and helpful. We enjoyed our time with our "guide" Mohamed and our driver Kalifa. Mohamed was very personable, kind, helpful, and had fairly good English speaking skills. The one area he could improve on would be to increase his knowledge of the history and geography of the places we visited, and to share that with us as we traveled in the van. Kalifa was an excellent driver, and we always felt very safe.

The local guides, Mohamed in Fez, Hanan in Marakesh, and Hassan in Essaouira were all excellent and very informative. We also enjoyed our home visit in Fez. Our hostess had excellent English and social skills, her family was very welcoming, and evening was lots of fun. Our time at the Desert Camp was the highlight of the trip. Everyone there was so welcoming and helpful.

Overall we had a wonderful trip. At times it felt that we spent a lot time riding in the van, though I'm not sure I would want to leave anything out. Perhaps another day in Chefchouen would have been good too.

Hotel Reviews

Orient Desert Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Perle D'Eau

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Pachavana

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

A little far from Jmaa El Fna

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Never saw the town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Could use some warmers at breakfast.

Mövenpick Hotel Casablanca

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Essaouira

Essaouira

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Hassan was excellent.

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

We loved California Man at the Merzuga Cafe.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides need a bit more practice and instruction on taking pictures. They took a lot of pictures, but most of them were not usable (cutoff on the ends, into the sun so faces couldn't be seen, etc. Thankfully they did take a few really good shots!

Transport

Private Transfer from Marrakech to Enchanting Essaouira

Morocco

Lunch at the vineyard was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Drive from Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

A few rain showers that day, so didn't get a chance to see much of Moulay Ibris.

Quality of Experience

A short guided tour at Volubilis would have been helpful.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

We didn't see much of Rabat as we went to the Hassan II Mosque in Marrakesh that morning, as many of us arrived late the day before in Casablanca. We also got to Chefchoen a bit late in the evening as a result. Perhaps another day in Casablanca to ease into the trip after arrival would have been good, when we'd have the whole day to visit the Mosque, the Old Medina, and just relax to get over the jetlag.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Essaouira to Casablanca via Eljadida & Safi Coastal Route

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Stopped at a roadside gas station rest area. Food was terrible.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Sightseeing in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide Hanan. She was very knowledgable, informative, and personable.

Transport

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

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Dades Valley via Todra Gorges

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Erg Chegaga Desert Adventure

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dine with a Local Family

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes: Morocco's Spiritual Heart

Fes

Our local guide Mohammed was excellent!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Architectural Elegance: A Journey through the Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We enjoyed all parts of our trip to Switzerland! Our travel agents, Tomaz and Zala, did an amazing job helping us to identify different sightseeing options and how to make it all happen.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ambassador - De la Paix

Luzern

Not much of a lobby but the rooms were spacious and very nice. We had an amazing balcony with an awesome view. The location was perfect, right in the middle of where we wanted to be. The breakfast was fine but not as extensive as the other places we stayed.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the balcony!!!

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were big and nice.

Hotel Artos Interlaken

Interlaken

It was a good location. The hotel didn't have a particularly nice lobby. It didn't have any ambiance of Switzerland. We weren't told before hand that the hotel is also a place for senior citizens. It was fine, but would have been helpful to have a heads up on that. The rooms were nice and comfortable and the breakfast was fine.

Authenticity & Character

It had no character of Switzerland at all.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Edelweiss Manotel

Geneva

We very much liked this hotel, the lobby was cozy, the location was great, the rooms and breakfast were much to our liking. The hotel staff was very helpful. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 Star is because the bathroom had an unpleasant odor to it. It could have just been our two rooms, I'm not sure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dinner Swiss Folklore Show in Stadtkeller

Lucerne

This didn't happen. Apparently the show takes places during the warmer montjs

Chocolate tasting

Lucerne

We liked it but not nearly as much as our first Chocolate tour in Geneva. This one was in the back room of a chocolate store. The woman shared with us about the history of chocolate and their company and we tasted delicious chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cheese Tuk-tuk tour

Lucerne

This was another great tour we loved! The guide/driver was very sweet and made sure we're comfortable and had lots of delicious cheese fondue and while we ate, he gave us a ride around the city and shared interesting information.

Guided tour of Montreux

Montreux

We liked our guide, she was extremely helpful in guiding us to the bus and train station and taking care of our luggage on our tour. Honestly, we didn't think the area was that interesting. The lake was pretty and we did like seeing where Queen recorded but that's all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Visit Patek Philippe Museum

Switzerland

We didn't get to go to this museum as it was closed Sundays and Mondays when we were in Geneva.

Chocolate Flavours small-group tour

Geneva

Our tour guide was wonderful! She was so knowledgeable and willing to answer all of the questions of the group. The best part of this tour was of course the delicious chocolate and the shops she took us to but also that with the walking, we got to see a lot of Geneva and she gave us so much history along the way. I definitely recommend this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mohamed was very responsive to all of our many questions and made changes as we requested.

Hotel Review

Riad Perle D'Eau

Essaouira

We had a beautiful room overlooking the ocean.

Authenticity & Character

Ocean view room

Location

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

A once in a lifetime experience. Riding camels through the dunes of the Sahara and sleeping in tents was unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

The dunes of the Sahara

Food

The food at Desert Orient Camp was very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Camel guides were very professional

Transport

This was a well organized trip. We worked with Augustina, local representatives, and she put together an excellent itinerary given our short trip and places we wanted to visit. We had issues with our flights out of the US being cancelled and our trip was delayed. Augustina went into action rescheduling our flight and other activities, so we didn’t miss anything despite our delay in arriving in Buenos Aires.

The itinerary was laid out well well and the information provided to us answered all our questions. The local tour guides were excellent (Mariana, Dario, and Sofia). They were friendly, informative and spoke good English. During our trip we visited the glaciers and farm in El Calafate that we amazing. After that we travelled to Iguazu to see the waterfalls from the Argentina and then next day from the Brazil side. Both were amazing and a must. We returned to Buenos Aires to conclude our trip with a special delicious dinner and excellent tango and the next day we did a city walking tour that was perfect before being dropped off to the airport.

Besides Augustina, Nico and Irene were both super responsive via WhatsApp. We had the team organize our drop offs/pickups, accommodations, and local flights.

Great job Augustina/Kim Kim! Thank you!

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires Walking tour, La Boca & City centre

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gran Aventura Navigation tour

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation to the glaciers

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day tour to the Iguazú Falls (Brazilian side)

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day to the Argentinian side of the falls

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pioneros Experience: Estancia Visit & Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango & cena show at El Viejo Almacen

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot speak highly enough about Steve and his exceptional team at Travel Asia A La Carte. Our recent two-week trip to Cambodia exceeded all expectations, thanks to their meticulous planning and unwavering commitment to ensuring our family of four had an unforgettable experience.

From the moment we started discussing our preferences with Steve, it was evident that he and his team were dedicated to tailoring the perfect vacation for us. Our family, including two children, has specific dietary needs, and Travel Asia A La Carte went above and beyond to accommodate them. Every meal was a delightful culinary adventure, showcasing the diverse and delicious flavors of Cambodia.

What truly set this experience apart was our desire for an authentic vacation with a touch of adventure. Steve crafted an itinerary that perfectly balanced cultural immersion with thrilling activities, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Whether exploring ancient temples in Siem Reap, cruising along the Tonle Sap Lake, or engaging in hands-on experiences with local communities, every moment felt like a unique adventure.

The attention to detail in the itinerary was impeccable, ensuring that our family's interests and preferences were seamlessly integrated into each day's activities. The accommodations selected were not only comfortable but also reflected the charm and character of Cambodia.

Steve's team (Horn and Mr Tee in particular) demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and a genuine passion for showcasing the beauty of Cambodia. Their local knowledge, combined with a personalized approach, made us feel like we were in the hands of true experts.

Our private driver service was fabulous; his service was perfection, always on time and accommodating to our every need and request. He is an expert at logistics and keeping our family safe. You should use his services with your all your customers.

The Krystal Hotel in Monterey was terrible. Room 519. No water pressure from hot water in the sink. Shower door was never repaired. Never changed sheets or refreshed sheets by cleaning them off. Room service food preparation was rude with incorrect food orders delivered. The correct order never showed up. Room thermostat only worked on 1 setting. We could not change the temperature in the room. Toiletries are low quality. Fron desk was rude and unaccommodating and were not trained in safety training when we needed a band aid when our child fell on hotel property. Hotel lobby and dinning room were freezing in temperature everyday especially when it was cold outside. No warmth at all within the hotel. Hotel floor on 5th floor never vacuumed. Same trash on carpet every day. Card keys did not work twice in a row; always had to get new ones at from desk. The gym had no sanitizer wipes and the tv did not work. You should never put your customers at this hotel.

The hotel in Saltillo, Quinta Real, was lovely. Our room had some furniture that needed upgrades or repairs. Overall is was a great experience. The dinning room was fabulous. Gym needed mats and foam rollers.

The Monterrey city tour that was pre arranged with a different driver was terrible. The driver himself was a nice and respectful, but his car was uncomfortable and cold because his defroster didn't seem to work. So we were unable to see out the window at the sights. He tried to find us a lunch spot but we ended up having to walk around outside when it was really cold weather in order to find food. We recognize lunch logistics may have not been officially included in the tour. The driver focused on showing us car dealerships and didn't really provide a comprehensive perspective on the history of Monterrey or San Pedro. He tried to please us and even downloaded a translation app because he was not fully bilingual but the app wasnt working completely or properly; he said he didn't speak much English. So for your English speaking customers, you should not use him. For five people, the size of the car was not appropriate. The tour seemed to focus on area of San Pedro rather than Monterrey. One stop on the tour that was early fabulous was a stop at the Little Wine Market. But it wasn't a planned stop; we asked to stop when we saw it. He also offered to stop wherever we wanted to stop so that was a nice feature or option of the tour experience. Overall, this tour was a low point our our trip.

Some feedback on the kimkim team: seems the team members changed frequently, however we were always able to get quick responses to our requests, and they were always willing to hold conference calls which is key to planning a vacation.

Activity Review

City Tour Monterrey

Monterrey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Two families were traveling separately to Argentina to start a joint trip. One arrived on time, but the other almost canceled due to last minute airline issues. Our hats go off to Agustina Gross who persevered to keep our tour and hotel arrangements intact. It was a weekend and she was staying in Uruguay. She oversaw all obstacles including airport pickups and hotel arrangements such that we were able to reunite.
Food: Delicious lunch at the estancia and hotel breakfasts were good
Airport/Hotel transfers: Flawless, and in all cases arrived early
Tour guides. All spoke flawless English and were very knowledgeable historically and culturally. Hats off to Mariana who covered the road trip to the glaciers. Dario (Indiana Jones) who covered Iguazu Falls and ensured our safe passage to the Brazilian side. Sophie who covered our walking tour in Buenos Aires at a manageable pace and assisted us in finding a safe currency exchange outlet . Taking Uber with her sped up the sightseeing. We will return again to Argentina!

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires Walking tour, La Boca & City centre

Buenos Aires

Walked from Palermo to La Baca with tour guide Sophia. Outstanding information about history and architecture

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sophia was very patient and knowledgeable

Transport

we chose to pay for Uber and saw more in a shorter time

Half day tour to the Iguazú Falls (Brazilian side)

Argentina

Glad that Dario escorted us through Brazilian border control

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gran Aventura Navigation tour

Puerto Iguazú

boat ride under the falls was thrilling

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day to the Argentinian side of the falls

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dario was awesome. He wore his Indiana Jones outfit and the women were smitten with him

Transport

Pioneros Experience: Estancia Visit & Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Tour guide, Mariana, provided extensive and interesting discourse on Argentinian history

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation to the glaciers

El Calafate

Just stunning. No explanations needed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango & cena show at El Viejo Almacen

Buenos Aires

The tango was enchanting. Dinner before was delicious

Quality of Experience

seeing the show and discovering tango

Food

beef, what else?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Promptness in pickup and dropoff

Transport

felt safe at night

Our Brazilian adventure was amazing! There was a drought in the Amazon that impacted our visit in that it maybe reduced our chances of encountering wildlife but it did not diminish the overall excitement of our experience. Sara was an expert and accommodating specialist (as was her entertaining husband who drove us to our hotel in Rio and greeted us before our final departure). The lodging in the Amazon was great, with decent meals and comfortable (and cool-temperatured!) accommodations. Highlights included piranha fishing, caiman spotting, pink dolphin sighting, a jungle hike and lots of fun boat rides on the river. At the end of our trip, a sumptuous lunch in Manaus and time with a fun local guide left us very contented.
I had high expectations for our time in Rio, and they were exceeded! The hotel near Copacabana was in a perfect location and provided a terrific breakfast. The best part of the trip was spending the day with local guide Albert Cardoso! He expertly led us through the main attractions with the perfect amount of narration and personal descriptions of life in Rio, got us to our exhilarating hang gliding experience, and, after an enjoyable lunch showcasing the best of Brazilian cuisine, showed us other wonderful highlights, sometimes wandering off the beaten path. We finished with an evening ascent to Sugarloaf that was quite a finale. Another very kind guide led us on a hike up Morro Dois Irmaos. A somewhat scary motorbike ride to the starting point and a delicious lunch in a local favela restaurant after our climb made for an adventure that we still reminisce about fondly! I fell in love with Rio and will never forget our trip there. Thank you, Sara, for all you did to assure we had the trip of a lifetime iin your spectacular country!

We planned a trip to Patagonia to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. We were a group of four people (two couples) who had lots of requests. Ana was fantastic planning with me on our custom-tailored trip. It was a nearly perfect 14 day itinerary for any seniors. If there was a better local flight from Bariloche to Ushuaia, it would’ve been perfect and my dad didn’t get sick from a long day. Hopefully there’s one in the near future for other tourists!

Julian, Laura, and the team on WhatsApp were responsive all the time whenever we needed. Thank you so much! Because of knowing that you were going to be there for us all the time, we could have a peaceful trip.

Our drivers and guides were all amazing and professional. A special thanks to our private tour guides Chris, Romi, and their drivers. Also, we had a long drive from El Calafate to Torres del Paine, and another one from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales in one day, and both drivers, Fabricio and Carlos, were absolutely amazing. We can’t thank you enough! Hope you made it safe back home, Fabricio! My family still talk about that ride and you. And, thanks for making few stops for us, Carlos! We had no idea that our full day tour next day wasn’t going there.

Thanks again to Kimkim and Ana for this unforgettable trip especially for my parents. We loved every single place we visited.

In reviewing my travels in Guatemala, I want to give the following backdrop.... Solo male traveler, age 71, 1st timer in Guatemala with only a little command of the language. Despite these limitations I left Guatemala having an appreciation of the culture and the peoples in various locations. From Mayan ruins both popular and off the beaten path, the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan Guatemala City, a River Dulce experience that was mind blowing to even a hot springs experience in two different locations... to a cultural festival that was an explosion of dancing/music and food the care and attention to detail by my in country coordinator Chris was amazing. I always felt he had my back and whenever I reached out (multiple times) he responded and always made me feel safe!
The lodging was a really great mix of up-scale eco camps, to high end hotel rooms to a boutique hotel in Flores right in the heart of the festival. I give each place the highest of ratings!!!
My guides ranged from good to outstanding. Oliver my guide to Tikal changed his whole approach when he heard birding was my passion. I saw 21 taxa in addition to exploring the ruins. Capitan Otilio Morales my guide on the Rio Dulce to Livingston changed his tour and put me on some bird nesting spots that only a seasoned captain could find.
Other guides were ok but my lack of knowing the language was a negative and took away from the experience, but hey that's on me!
The people made the experience and I certainly met many native Guatemalans and have a little understanding of their lives and the struggles they face. One funny experience was getting of the small boat in Livingstone and the ladies were braidng hair extensions and could not believe my braids were real hair and all wanted to rebraid with beads very funny.
Also was able to see 4 churches and attend mass and receive communion in Flores very very special! Also was able to light a candle and place by the statue of Nuestra Senora in Guatemala City in the Cathedral.
Have some real good pictures and could expand but am out of time for now.
Great job to all and a humble thanks to Chris!!!!!

We met with Eduardo, our local specialist, in Antigua.
I believe he tried his best, but he had to deal with an agency in Honduras that did not process requests in a timely manner and that caused unnecessary anxiety.
We had a fantastic time in Copan, liked our hotel and loved our guide ! (Yovan?)
We were disappointed with Roatan (overdeveloped, too many cruise ships) but this had nothing to do with Eduardo.
However, the hotel room at Caribe Tesoro was the least desirable in the whole complex- no privacy, no view, and all day noise from the construction going on in the building. I suspect Eduardo was not properly informed about this while booking...