Kimkim Trip Reviews

I'll start by saying that I have never used a tour guide or a tour company prior to working with Robi through KimKim. But, once I started sharing the type of vacation we were looking for, it was immediately obvious that we were in excellent hands. Robi planned a customized itinerary that exceeded all expectations! We are a family of three (mom, dad and 14-year old teen) who wanted a multi-sport adventure that would be fun for all and avoid the touristy areas. Robi exceeded all expectations! It was SO much fun and he took care of EVERY detail and all the logistics--from airport transportation, to hotels, to activities and everything in between. We swam in beautiful sea caves, toured the coast by boat, e-biked the wine country, kayaked among the oyster farms, had the most delicious grilled calamari, went to a secret beach (shhh!) and raced around on jet skis in Zuljana! I asked Robi if there were places I could go for a run in Ston (where we stayed) and he was kind enough to map out a new run for each day were there. Robi is also extremely knowledgeable about all-things-Croatia, so we learned so much about Croatian history, politics and people. Suffice it to say, there is no way I could have planned this much fun on my own. I can't imagine going back to Croatia unless Robi came with us! :)

Activity Reviews

Dubrovnik and Elaphiti islands - Lopud and Koločep private boat trip

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Pelješac penisula - multiactivity

Ston

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Turkey was excellent and had a great balance between history, culture, and relaxation. Trail Travel did a great job of making sure our transfers were seamless and ensuring we had the best experience at our hotels and sites. Berat was extremely helpful in going through multiple itinerary iterations after receiving feedback on the type of trip we wanted. What is great about this platform is that you really are able to personalize your trip rather than needing to fit into a rigid, fixed pre-existing itinerary. Berat was also prompt with her responses while we were in Turkey to troubleshoot any issues we experienced with our hotels and logistics.

We spent 2 weeks in Turkey, going from Istanbul to Cappadocia to Antalya to Izmir before returning to Istanbul. During this time we developed a great camaraderie with our guide, Onder, who was very receptive in tailoring our activities and content to our interests and styles. He was extremely professional, always making us feel like we were welcome, and introducing us to many locals in each of the spots we visited. I also want to thank all of the van drivers (Mustafa, Ramazan, Erdogan to name a few), who presented us with clean, spacious vans and supplied us with water. Each spot that we visited had a wonderful charm of its own. If we had more time, I would have loved to add one extra day in Kas and a couple more days in Istanbul to fully experience the city. For our packed trip, it was helpful to have some later starts to balance out our very early ones in the beginning of the trip.

Our trip was wonderful, and we would definitely book again if we had the chance. Some suggestions for improvement for an even better experience via Trail Travel/KimKim:
- When booking domestic flights, ask about estimated luggage quantities/explain airline policies on luggage beforehand
- Ask about preferred flight timings when possible
- Develop some form of guide matching based on travel style and interests
- As much as possible, provide pricing breakdowns (esp. for hotel rates to compare)

Hotel Reviews

Otto Palace

Kumluca, Antalya Region

Otto Palace is a cute, no frills attached b&b that makes you feel like you are staying with family friends. This means that the hosts have good vibes and senses of humor, but service is very "chill" and relaxed, even when you require a little more assistance as guests. This serves as a decent base if you are planning a night in Adrasan as a launching point for a boat tour, but it might also be worthwhile to check out AirBnBs in the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The hosts are friendly, kind, and relaxed with good sense of humor.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were very comfortable and the rooms large. However, the rooms did smell like cigarette smoke and the AC was not working in either of our 2 rooms. We did mention the AC problem to our host and they were able to fix it. It seemed that the filters in both rooms were old and not properly maintained. When in Turkey it is expected that cats are going to be your new neighbors wherever you are. However, the cats on this property were much more aggressive than we were accustomed to. As we were eating our meal, they were consistently propping themselves on the table, scratching at us, and eventually jumped onto the table on the food we had ordered. For hygiene reasons, we didn't feel comfortable finishing our food that the cat had touched and had to leave an incomplete dinner. This caught us off guard especially since the cats seemed to be pets of the owners. However, when we asked if the owners could keep the cats away from the food (through broken Google Translate communication), there wasn't anything done.

Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton

Fatih Istanbul

We were greeted with warmth and friendliness at our first hotel in Turkey. I would like to specifically mention that Betul was particularly helpful. She escorted us to a restaurant for lunch just after we arrived and showed us around the property. Definitely venture out for food rather than sticking to the hotel's restaurants, as you can certainly find all sorts of food for a variety of prices in Istanbul. This hotel is tastefully decorated in an Ottoman style and is in a prime location near the most famous sites in Istanbul!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Do note that due to the strategic location, it can get noisy during the day and at night. This is a great base to see the important sites in Sultanahmet, but if you have more than a couple days in Istanbul, perhaps it may make sense to move to another neighborhood for the remainder of your time.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom was spacious and modern with consistent hot water. It was a pleasant surprise to find a hammam sink in our shower. One note - as a family of 4 sharing a small suite, we had one king bed and 2 makeshift twin beds. There was not a proper sofa bed - the staff just added sheets on top of the existing sofa and gave us a rollaway bed. For the purposes of our short stay, this worked out just fine, but these makeshift beds were probably not as comfortable as proper mattresses for a longer stay.

Kayakapi Premium Caves

Urgup / Cappadocia

Staying in a cave hotel was one of the highlights of our trip. Kayakapi is a beautifully kept, guest-centric hotel, with large, clean, and luxurious cave suites. We enjoyed using the pool and spa facilities, as well as exploring the hotel as a whole. We are frequent travelers and our stay at Kayakapi was definitely one of our best hotel experiences.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff are very open to input as they are continuously trying to make the hotel better. When we provided some feedback on how the already excellent rooms might be improved further (small things like adding more privacy to bathroom doors, adding fans, ensuring showerheads do not make bathroom floors wet, including more storage space in the bathroom), they noted every suggestion down in detail.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were very comfortable for a 4 person family (1 king and 2 twins).

Ruin Adalia

Antalya

This hotel was included last minute to our itinerary due to an issue with our original hotel. It was a surprise treat, a gem in the middle of the Old City. The quaint property in the middle of bustling Kaleici is built over an archaeological museum open only to guests. We not only experienced comfortable rooms with a semi private terrace overseeing the beautiful grounds and mountains, but also were given a mini tour through the underground museum by Marcus, one of the archaeologists staffed at the hotel. We saw the layers of Antalya - Hellenistic, Byzantine, and Ottoman - wonderfully preserved.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Keep in mind that as it is in the middle of the most busy part of town, it can get noisy. This would probably apply to any hotel in Kaleici.

Staff

We did get stopped from entering the hotel a couple times due to their strict security, but didn't really see any of the other guests face this issue. However, they apologized immediately once the misunderstandings were cleared up.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nisanyan Houses

Selçuk

A very cute hotel in the cute town of Sirince. We received a friendly welcome, loved exploring the town from this hotel, and spending the evening on our little private porch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

This was another hotel where we had 1 king bed and 2 somewhat makeshift twin beds. The twin beds worked well for our one night stay, but may have been a little uncomfortable for a stay longer than that.

La Kumsal Hotel

Kaş / Antalya

Sadly our stay at La Kumsal was the only hotel experience that was not overwhelmingly positive. We were excited about our 2 night stay at Kas to be close to the ocean and were told that the rooms that we had paid for were sea view rooms. When we reached the hotel, the staff member at the front desk was a little confused about our room types. Despite not knowing English, however, she was trying her best to communicate with us and let us know that the issues with our room would be resolved the next day. Unfortunately, our rooms smelled of smoke, the tables/desks were quite old with stains and markings. One of our rooms was looking right out in the main bar area with no privacy or view of the sea and the other was looking out at a small pathway with a sliver of a view from the balcony. The doors were a bit hard to open/close. The shower water was cold to lukewarm. However, the rooms as a whole, though very simple with some need for maintenance, were clean. We immediately notified Berat about our experience, just as feedback, and she promptly contacted the hotel's manager. The manager called us up afterwards. He seemed a little upset over our complaints but assured us that the problems would be resolved the next day and sent us a fruit basket. The next day we met the manager. He was a little cold and passive aggressive while explaining that the hotel was completely booked and that they could move us to a villa for extra money. Berat helped us navigate this conversation, and eventually we were able to move to their villa for our second day in Kas, without paying extra. The villa had a beautiful view with a private pool, beach area, and 3 bed/3 bath. This was definitely more than we were expecting for our room change at the hotel. While we had some unfortunate experiences with some of the staff and our expectations of the rooms, the outdoor areas such as the pool and dining areas are quite pretty. The villa was also great, and we enjoyed using the private pool. If you decide to stay at La Kumsal, be clear on what type of room you are getting - "seaside" or "sea front" or "sea view"!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We felt that the manager was a little cold and passive aggressive. He was placing most of the blame on us and our travel agency, without trying to understand our situation fully. While we appreciate him moving us to the villa, he seemed a bit disdainful and disingenuous of our concerns, employing false sympathy, rather than just being authentic with his thoughts. Most of the waiters at breakfast and dinner were not paying us much attention. We would like to thank the staff member at the front desk who greeted us and one of the waiters, as they were very kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

There is more effort placed on maintaining the outdoor spaces than on the indoor ones. This is fine for a simple beach town stay, but it did feel there was a disconnect between online images and what you see in person. Even the villa, which had beautiful outdoor spaces, was a little old in the interior. The showers were cold and the bathrooms were a little rough around the edges.

GAIA Alacati

Çeşme/İzmir

Wonderful boutique hotel in a great location. Breakfast was great and the attention to detail for decor was noticeable. Feel free to do your own research on restaurants and other services in the area, as some of the recommendations given by the staff were helpful, but possibly overpriced. We were also recommended a salon that overcharged us and actually hurt my mother's fingers during a manicure.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

One thing to note - the showers were cold after sundown

AJWA Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet, Istanbul

Another hotel we loved. Wonderful staff, well designed rooms, and some of the comfiest beds we've slept in! The breakfast was also delicious, and we enjoyed getting to know the restaurant staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Onder did a great job of introducing us to Istanbul!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Great way to get a different perspective of Istanbul

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

We thoroughly enjoyed our three days in Cappadocia, and all the activities - hot air balloons, hiking, pottery making, etc.

Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus

Turkey

The ancient sites of Aspendos, Perge, and Ephesus were marvelous, but in the middle of July it was extremely hot, which limited our ability to explore as much as we may have wanted.

Quality of Experience

Nothing - it was just hot!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Turkish Bath and Spa at Hürrem Sultan Hammam

İstanbul

Loved it! The Ab-ı Hayat treatment was one of our favorite activities of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

In retrospect, I would have moved our itinerary around to give us 2 full days in Istanbul before heading off to Cappadocia. This would have been a great activity for the 2nd day of our trip. Unfortunately keeping this for the last day of our trip meant that we were a little too tired to fully appreciate the magnificent sites. With a little more energy, we definitely could have spent much more time at Topkapi Palace.

Our trip to Italy was a bucket list trip for us without the kids to celebrate an anniversary milestone. Sonia, our trip planner, was diligent in putting together an itinerary that suited what we were looking for and diligently tweaked the plan until it was perfect. She found a real balance of city/lake/mountain that we wanted.

We thoroughly enjoyed our private organic Prosecco tasting overlooking the hilly countryside, private pasta making class taught by the most personable chefs, and hiking in the Dolomites with tour guide.

We usually plan trips ourselves, but in addition to putting together the trip plan, an unexpected benefit arose when our flight from the US was delayed by a day and Sonia’s team scrambled to adjust all of our arrangements without us having to do the extra work.

We highly recommend KimKim and Sonia in particular!

Liz Karen did a great job organizing a wonderful trip to Peru. Liz was patient in answering all my questions during the process and there were no surprises when there. All guides/drivers were on time, hotels and trains were as communicated. Quick support was available, and can highlight that when I had to use it twice the response was efficient and took care of the matter. Will recommend! Thanks

Our trip was awesome. We had zero issues, it went very smoothly.

Sunday , July 31, 2022

To Tasos, Georgia, Irene, and the entire Travel12 Support Team,

I just wanted to let you know how pleased, happy, and ultra-satisfied that I am with my KimKim/Travel12 experience.

You all are the ultimate professionals-everything was handled and executed perfectly!

Rebecca was a GODSEND with all she did to assist me in putting together this custom-made luxury Greek Honeymoon! She was an absolute joy to work with! I’ll never forget the relationship we forged. I am so grateful that I was fortunate enough to work her with on this labor of love. We spent hours and months planning and preparing-and then COVID hit and we felt compelled to postpone their honeymoon exactly one year later(Their 1st Wedding Anniversary was Sunday, June 12, 2022). I so appreciate all that you did to keep the prices the same for the trip, even a year later. They boarded their first flight of 3 to get to Greece at 0600 Monday, June 13! They returned from an ultimate luxury Greek Honeymoon on Wednesday,June 29 at 2100.

I had booked them first class seats on all of their flights-and they continued to get the “Royal Treatment” since they were picked up at the Athens airport! Precisely what I wanted!

Jacob and Anna loved the upgrade you provided for them for the Welcome dinner and they got an upgrade for their rental car to a Mercedes. They thoroughly enjoyed the private tours with fantastic tour guides. The trip included Athens, Corinth, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, Heraklion, Rethymno, Chania, and Elafonissi Beach, and the area around Chania. This was a the perfect custom-made, fabulous island hopping trip with what I think was a very good representation of your heavenly and gorgeous country!

All of the hotels(all 5 star hotels) gave Jacob and Anna the Honeymooner’s special touches(flower petals on their bed in the shape of a heart, complimentary wine, desserts, candy, bowls of fresh fruit, etc) upon arrival to their hotel room. The breakfasts in each hotel were amazing. They loved every detail of every day that we planned, but still had plenty of free time to do what they wanted and enjoy the restaurant cuisine and shopping at all of the places they went.

I believe their favorite was their time in Naxos-they had a beautiful hotel room with a private enclosed deck with their own jacuzzi-that opened up to a private courtyard. They loved the tranquil beauty of Naxos, and of course, the food! It was so nice that they were able to be at Agia Anna Beach(especially for Anna!)-what a nice touch!

Also they thoroughly enjoyed the small group(6 other people besides them)experiences of the Cooking Class and also the Olive Oil and Wine Tasting Tours in Crete. Just all the way around fantastic!

I can’t tell you how much happiness this trip has given me to have things go so smoothly and have all of the details taken care of by your team! They had a most memorable honeymoon and most certainly the trip of their lifetime! Jacob is my only child and I wanted to give him and his wife Anna the VERY BEST; and I want to thank you for providing that experience for them.

Tasos, I want to thank you for answering the phone on that Day 1 at a time that I’m sure was after hours for you and giving me the information and clarification that I needed-you were so patient and calming. Thank you to all of the support staff that responded to my questions and also reaching out to Jacob and Anna with details and guidance for everything they needed!

The other thing that I want to thank Tasos for is that even with Rebecca no longer being part of Travel12, and with the Covid pandemic and all of the resulting things that were affected-you were able to flawlessly and seamlessly make sure everything in the original trip remained the same-or even better!

You have an excellent system of communication! It is greatly appreciated.

Jacob and Anna kept in touch with me and sent pictures during the time they were there-they looked so happy in every photo. And Anna told me that this trip was a dream come true for her. They loved every minute of this 16 day trip.

I was really able to enjoy this trip vicariously-first by planning it and making sure all of the details were taken care of with your help-and then being able to see the joy and excitement that Jacob and Anna experienced-it was everything I hoped for and more!

By the way, the week that Jacob returned home, he told me how much he missed the Greek Food!

In Gratitude,

Cindy Henert

A huge thank you to all the people involved in our amazing trip to Morocco 🇲🇦!
First let’s start with Yassine who planned the whole trip! Thank you ! You listened to everything we said and made our adventure perfect for us!
Arrive in Casablanca and Amine our driver is there and waiting for us with a big smile on his face which is how he greeted us every day or night! We can not say enough about Amine! He was always available and sssooo very helpful and sweet and kind! His driving was exceptional! We always felt save even in the mountains and the narrow streets in the medinas! He became a part of the family!
We asked Yassine to book us into the Four Seasons in Casablanca and next time I would have let him pick the hotel. It was fine but not up to the Four Seasons standard.
Amine suggested La Sqala for an authentic Moroccan dinner and it was perfect! We had tagines and the food and entertainment were a perfect start to our Moroccan journey!
Amine picked us up the next morning and we were on our way out of Casablanca! Yassine you were right to see the Hassan Mosque but then get out Casablanca! Amine drove us to Rabat with a few highlight stops and then we were on our way to Meknes and we stopped there but our first highlight of the trip was at the Roman ruins in Volubilis!!! Our guide Rashid was incredible!!! He was so knowledgeable and patient with me and how very slow I am at walking! He spent hours with us and we basically closed the place!❤️❤️❤️
Onwards to Fes and our spectacular Riad Fes! Yassine this was a perfect choice! You arrive at a nondescript door in an alley and then you walk into this stunning palace! Loved this Riad so much we canceled our tour of Sefrou so we could just relax by the pool at our Riad! The next day Amine picked us up and introduced us to our guide Hassan! Hassan was amazing! Again he was knowledgeable and took us to the tannery which was an eye opening experience! It was like going back in time 1,000 years! Thank you Hassan!
Our three nights in Fes was the perfect length of time. We explored the Medina with Hassan and then on our own! I can’t say this enough, the people in Morocco are so warm and helpful and kind! Going through the Medina without a guide was not scary and when we got lost anyone we asked was helpful in helping us find our way home! There are miles and miles of alleyways in the Fes medina!
The next day was our long long drive to the Sahara desert 🐪! There’s no way around this but I will say it’s totally worth the drive! This was my favourite part of the entire trip! Because of my hips I was not able to go into the desert on camel but Rob did and he loved it!❤️❤️❤️ I went to our campsite in a 4x4 vehicle and our driver made it so much fun riding over the sand dunes!!! 🤪 The campsite was amazing and the staff were great!!! I climbed up the sand dune and watched the sun set in the Sahara desert!!! The most memorable part of the trip !!
Onto Ouarzazate the Moroccan Hollywood! Poor Amine this was tough and long driving for him but he was always smiling and focused on the road! He is the best!! We enjoyed touring the movie set!
Our Riad was quiet and in the middle of nowhere but the person there was sweet and kind and helpful. The next day we visited Ait Ben Haddou and I think this was the highlight of the trip for Rob! Our guide was a character and as there was a lot of climbing and I had only brought sandals - Amine lent me his running shoes!!! 🥰 God bless him!
We had tea with a Berber family and climbed to the top of the site! It was breathtaking and Rob just wanted to stay at the top all night! ❤️❤️❤️
Now onto Marrakech and the long and winding road!!! Amine is an exceptional driver and he did an amazing job driving through the high Atlas Mountains on those narrow and winding roads!!! 👏🥰
Marrakech is a city like no other in the world! Rob loved the pulse! I loved our Riad Jardines de la Medina! Again a nondescript front door in a very narrow alleyway (poor Amine trying to get this big van down this alleyway!)You walk through this door into an oasis!!! This was my favourite Riad!!! Our room was incredible with two private terraces on two floors!!! Thank you Yassine for booking this treasure!!! I didn’t want to leave!! Our tour of the Medina the next day with Siad was good. It was too long for me but that’s not Siad’s fault! We walked for four hours through the Medina! I took the afternoon and the next day off and sat by the beautiful pool! It felt like a resort at Jardines de la Medina! We did go to La Tanjia for dinner and loved it!!! There was great Moroccan food and entertainment (belly dancers) and we were on the third floor overlooking a busy square! We had Tanjia which is different from Tajines. It was delicious! The hotel recommended this restaurant and I would highly recommend you add it to your list of restaurants in Marrakech!
The next day I had my Moroccan cooking class and this was another highlight for me!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
That night Amine took us to the big market with snake charmers and dancing and singing and stall after stall of everything imaginable. Rob loved it but I was overwhelmed!!! I definitely wanted to see it but it was too much and too crowded for me!
The next day we were back on the road again and headed for Essaouira! Our Riad Chbanate was very rustic and the staff was so sweet and warm and welcoming! I however, was done with markets and alleyways and medinas so I personally would have preferred a large hotel with a pool on the beach! Sorry this is nothing against the Riad Chbanate! I just wanted to go back to Jardines de la Medina! Rob went out exploring and came back for me in the afternoon and we walked for miles on the beach! It is a spectacular beach and the highlight of Essaouira!!! If we had started our journey in Essaouira I would have enjoyed our Riad but at this point I was tired of the markets and alleyways and medinas - sorry 😞. We ate at Il Mare and enjoyed the views of the rugged side of the Atlantic and enjoyed a fresh fish dinner! The beach and boardwalk along the beach was spectacular!
On the road back to Casablanca Amine took us along the coast and it was breathtaking but then we went inland and caught the highway to Safi which is nothing to see unless you need to stop for a bathroom break otherwise I would continue on to El Jadida! Beautiful fortified city and great stop to walk along the ramparts! Our next stop was not necessary and would eliminate it from the itinerary.
Continuing on to Casablanca where we arrived during rush hour and Amine tried to find us a restaurant to eat dinner but it was so busy and traffic was a nightmare and he could not find a place to stop so we simply went to our hotel by the airport and we ate there.
We had to be at the airport for 6:00am so staying at the airport made sense.
Thank you to everyone involved in the making of this once in a lifetime adventure to Morocco 🇲🇦!!! Special thanks to Yassine for all the planning and changes !!!
And the biggest hug and thanks goes to our incredible driver and friend -Amine!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are a special person and we miss you already!!! Follow your heart and let it guide you!!! You have friends in Canada now!!!🇨🇦🥰❤️

Terry was great to work with and very patient as we tweaked our plans. Her advice was helpful and she made great suggestions we might not have discovered on our own. We had a relatively short time before jumping on a cruise in Reykjavík and Terry helped us make the most of it. We even squeaked two days on the Westman Islands, which was fantastic. We appreciated having all the arrangements made for us and there were no glitches or lost reservations.

It was awesome to have Othman help me piece together this trip for our family! He patiently guided me through every question I had and we pieced together a trip that was manageable and well priced for our budget. Each day was an astounding adventure. The guided day with Midgard Base Camp was flawless, Magnus and Steph gave us a perfect day. We returned to the base for dinner which was our favorite meal in 6 days! One of the best parts of working with Othman and kimkim was the clear itinerary we ended up with. kimkim made all of our reservations and purchased tickets for our 3 biggest day trips. We rented a car and drove 600+ miles with the added bonus of easy short side trips listed for us to consider, we hit most of them and every one was breathtaking. They also kept in touch to make sure that our trip was going well and to contact them if need be. I HIGHLY recommend kimkim for any trip anywhere in the world. It would've been a daunting and stressful task for me to put together this trip of a lifetime!

Our trip to Iceland was nothing short of amazing! Our Kimkim specialist, Duncan, suggested that we follow the Ring Road, and we are so glad that we did.

Every hotel that we stayed at was lovely, with a delicious breakfast included each morning. We loved the flexibility of our itinerary; we felt like there was a perfect mix of guided tours and self-guided exploring. Everyone in Iceland was incredibly hospitable and we were so impressed at how little language barrier we experienced.

The Dettifoss waterfall was definitely our favorite sight of the trip. The view is absolutely breathtaking--but definitely bring a rain poncho as you will get soaked :). Our horseback riding tour at Skorrahestar Icelandic Horse Rental was perfect: the guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us a great restaurant recommendation for Hofn called Hafnarbudin. The Solheimajokull Glacier Hike was a great way to push us out of our comfort zone and is perfect for anyone looking for an adventure.

Overall, the Ring Road should not be missed because of the views and relaxing lagoons, made even better by amazing tours and guides. Thanks again to Duncan for an incredible itinerary!

Hotel Review

Blue Hotel Fagrilundur

Bláskógabyggd

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Blue Hotel! The staff were incredibly welcoming and were great sources for information about the area. There is a lovely hot tub for guests to enjoy. Overall, the rooms were very comfortable and we would absolutely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

The property felt very homey with amazing Icelandic hospitality.

Location

Easy access to restaurant, gas stations, groceries, and lagoons.

Staff

The staff were great for recommendations and answered all of our questions!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very clean and comfortable (and even had Netflix, which is always a plus)!

Activity Review

Horse Riding Tour

Iceland

Our horseback riding tour was amazing! The guides were very knowledgeable not only about the horses but also about the area. The views were absolutely incredible and it was easy to see that the guides truly considered the horses their family. We cannot recommend this tour enough!

Quality of Experience

Once in a lifetime views and experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable.

Julia helped with planning our Norway trip. She listened to my interests and preferences and arranged an amazing trip plan with carefully picked hotels and a variety of activities that made the trip memorable. In addition, she gave recommendations for other activities based on our discussion. She was also very accommodating to changes. I highly recommend her for any Norway trip planning.

Hotel Reviews

29|2 Aurland

Aurland

This place is amazing and so special. Beautiful complex with a beautiful garden. Has interesting history. Lots of nature activities around the area. The staff was amazing. It was hard to leave this serene place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Spacious room and nice view. Bathroom had weird design

Authenticity & Character

Uniquely beautiful dining room

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ascot Hotel

Copenhagen V

Nice hotel but I don’t think we got the room we were originally booked for . The room location was not favorable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vøringfoss Hotel

Eidfjord

The view was beautiful. Very comfortable parking and nice dining room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dragsvik Fjordhotell

Balestrand

Great boutique hotel. We had the room with the balcony and sitting area and we loved it. View of the fjord. Also the dining room was so welcoming with an amazing view of the fjord and mountains. Highly recommended. Also nice grounds for strolling . Food and service was great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotell Utsikten

Geiranger

We had the double room with the amazing view of the fjord. They graciously upgraded us to the family room for the second night which was a much more comfortable room. Location was very nice and convenient for hiking trails.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Røisheim Hotel

Lom

Historic hotel with lots of character. Ample parking and spacious room. The windows were tiny but that goes with its historic nature . I liked the dining experience and the many social rooms available in the complex .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

We had a very spacious room. It was across from the train station. Close to city center

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nordic Light Hotel

Stockholm

Modern hotel. Very nice lounge, bar and dining area

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Finnafjord Safari by RIB

Balestrand

Very pleasant guide and experience. The vessel was solid and comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive to Flåm - Flåm Railway

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Aurland experience

Aurland

This place is very special and serene with personal attention. The landscape and surroundings instill ultimate relaxation

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norwegian Forest Hike & Organic Dining at Riverside Farm Lodge

Aurland

We had a guided hike with lunch. Amazing experience in a beautiful forest landscape next to the waterfall with gorgeous views of the valley and fjord. Our guide Eilif was so pleasant and knowledgeable and we had a great time with his company

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Fjord Cruise

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orchard Tour & Cider Tasting

Balestrand

Educational . Very pretty dining room with beautiful view. Great cider tasting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip was great. All vendors on time to pick us up. Ease in booking on website. The rock climbing/ zip line trip was phenomenal and the guides were patient with me (never climbed and bit of fear of heights)
Liz was great.
The only thing I would say was that it might have been a bit better with more transparency of individual pricing and more discussion of options but that might have improved had I done even more research on my own as well.

Hotel Review

Tika Wasi Casa Boutique

Cusco

Pretty cool up on a hill with a great view. Lovely staff. Tough if not in great shape or with altitude sickness. Nice breakfasts. Slow wifi and hard beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing view - high up on steep hill

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Shared Ziplining & Via Ferrata in The Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley

Amazing adventure and view. Very patient with me (never climbed/mild fear of heights) Delicious lunch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great itinerary! Suggest the counter-clockwise direction for circumnavigating the island.

My wife and I booked a 10 day customized tour through KimKim who work with Egypt Promotions, and we have to say it was simply amazing. Egypt has so much to see and do and 10 days barely does it justice, but without KimKim we would never have had a chance to see what we did and feel as well supported and hosted as we were.

At every location we were met by people who really know their business and were incredibly capable, professional and there to make sure we had everything we needed. The people working with KimKim and Egypt Promotions are simply the best and we made a number of new friends during our tours.

In 10 days we managed to see the Suez Canal, pyramids/sphinx, the high dam, take a 4 day Nile cruise, saw so about 15 different temples and burial sites from Aswan to Luxor, spent a day and a bit in Alexandria seeing catacombs, the library and forts, spent a day and a half driving through oases and the desert with camping in the middle of the desert and finally ended back in Cairo for an evening before heading home.

All in all it was a trip and coordinated effort among many people in each location that we could never have pulled off on our own and KimKim made it all seamless and incredibly enjoyable. Company representatives constantly checked to ensure everything was good with our trip and accommodation, the Egyptologists who gave us the tours were incredibly knowledgeable and adapted to whatever we wanted to do with our time, and anything we asked about was “consider it done”

We rarely use travel agencies versus doing our own thing when we reach a destination, but in a country like Egypt where there is so much to see, time management is critical and we do not speak the language at all, having KimKim and Egypt Promotions work with us was absolutely the way to go.

Thank you to everyone involved in our trip. You all made it extremely special, memorable and we want to come back and when we do we will absolutely work through this company again.

Activity Reviews

Aswan - Kom Ombo temple

Aswan

Sites are great and sailing on Steigenberger Legacy was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Edfu temple & Luxor temple and Karnak temple

Egypt

The trip to the valley of the artisans is a must see. Incredibly special and few people go there.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara, Memphis and camel ride

Cairo

Great pyramid is spectacular. So many mysteries still associated with it but incredibly impressive and thought provoking

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo - White Desert

Bahariya

Camping in the white desert and seeing the diversity of all the different desert types is a trip not to miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cairo - Ismailia

Cairo

Beautiful location and seeing the ship traffic in the canal is rally special

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

overday Alexandria

Alexandria

Fantastic tour of catacombs, Pompeii pillar and city

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Words can't describe just how excellent Jessica and the kimkim team were in making our trip to Italy unforgettable. We had never used a travel agent before, and were visiting Italy for the first time. We are so glad we chose kimkim and Jessica for planning the trip. Our family went back and forth about which cities to visit, what to do, and how long to stay. With each change in our plans Jessica came up with great ideas and a new plan. Jessica arranged our tours and transportation, leaving ample room for free day at the beach or to explore on our own. Private car drivers were prompt and personable and the tour companies for Rome (Lorenzo, walking tour guide extraordinaire!), Pompei (Mena!), Capri (grazie, Francesa and Gabriele!), Lake Como (Renzo, who made us feel so welcome we felt we'd known each other or years) and the Vatican were top-notch, helping us navigate Il bel paese through crowds and summer heat! When a slight hiccup found us off the Pompei tour list, Jessica spoke personally to the tour company! Amazing. A special mention to the Hotel Mignon in Sorrento -- a very special place!

Hotel Reviews

Bettoja Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio

Rome

Gilded, Old world feel -- like a movie set! -- with lots of modern touches. You really feel like you're somewhere special at this hotel. The staff is incredible. We arrived mid-morning and got to check in early instead of leaving our bags in storage. The room had high ceilings, great air and a large bathroom, and an actual writing desk! Breakfast was really spectacular (the "homemade cake" was different each day but always a special treat.) Great restaurant and lots of other food choices, including a Coop market, nearby. The hotel is a block from the terminale (transit hub) -- buses, trolley and trains -- but the area never seemed crowded and there was no noise. SS. Maria Maggiore, Colosseum, Minerva Temple ruin, and several archeological and historical sites and museums are within walking distance (all within about a mile, although it felt like more in the summer heat). And just a few blocks from some cool residential neighborhoods, shopping and theatres. Highly recommended.

Authenticity & Character

"Authentic" and "character" are exactly how I would describe this hotel. It's a work of art in itself. I found myself saying "this is what I always thought I European hotel should be like."

Location

the hotel is close to rains and other transit but it's like a quiet oasis. I loved that I could go out for morning run each day of my stay and could see something really interesting in every direction.

Staff

Staff always say hello and ask how you're doing. Professional but never standoffish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel is pristine.

Hotel Mignon Sorrento

Sorrento

This hotel is amazing! Combine a resort-spa with boutique hotel: tile everywhere, Mediterrenean-themed rooms, with great closet space and big shower. Incredibly helpful and friendly staff (you'll know all their names and the kitchen staff will seem like family by the time you leave.) Sunshine, lemon and orange trees are literally within your grasp from the room's balcony, and you're steps away from the best shopping, dining and some incredible sights, like local churches, woodworking, ceramic and photo galleries and a medieval fort is right next door! The hotel is a little way from the beach (and uphill from it, like just about everything in Sorrento) but the path is easy to find and there are cool things to see every step of the way. We were truly sad to leave Hotel Mignon. We would stay there again without hesitation.

Authenticity & Character

Feels like a spa: it's exactly like a Sorrento vacation should feel like. Peaceful.

Location

It's a quiet place steps away from everything -- sightseeing, tour pickup location, restaurants, churches and museums.

Staff

Incredibly knowlegeable and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It's beautiul.

Uptown Palace Milan

Milan

The Uptown Palace was very nice -- Of the three hotels we stayed at on vacation this one was the most urban and modern-- and the one that felt most like a New York business hotel. Ironically, it was also the one at which we saw the most families. There was a conference taking place during our stay but this was not at all a distraction. There are quite likely "rooms with a view of the Duomo" as per the adverts but ours overlooked U Milan and the ancient church of S. Gregory Nazianzus. It was a nice view, but both of spaces were sadly unavailable for us to visit. Fortunately there is a nice 18th-century park around the block with fountains and a fish pool-- a real find for us. Room was well appointed but on the small side for three adults: we had originally scheduled a delux double but were put in a standard room, and we believe this was an oversight by the staff as they were just finishing up accommodating the guest in line ahead of us who booked online but then wanted adjoining rooms for family members! Staff was otherwise very attentive and there was turn down service. Breakfast was a bit crowded but there was lots of room and the meal was great. It is indeed walkable to the Duomo (we did the whole Duomo package, including the museum and outdoor film screening so we spent a lot of time there), the Sforza castle, the da Vinci Museum AND the da Vinci exhibition (one's near the Duomo and the other isn't), and La Scala, as well as several area churches and an architectural self-tour. There is great food on the Sforza, the De Amicis, and around the Duomo but it was harder to find closer to the hotel, especially on weeknights after eight. This was made a little more problematic as it was very hot during our stay, there was a taxi strike and there were several construction detours in the area for pedestrians and vehicles alike. The airport was a short ride away which was also a plus, but overall, we would prefer to stay closer to a transit hub as the city can be challenging to navigate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I think it would be great if there were recommendations for area restaurants, shuttle servces and other transportation more readily available. We loved the bathroom design but were a little concerned the height of the tub might be challenging for shorter guests (like one of us).

Staff

Staff were very available. We checked out very early in the morning and were given options to make it as smooth as possible the night before.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The place is spotless and very modern.

Activity Reviews

Exclusive Private Walking Tour of Rome

Rome

We love tours where you can see the sights AND at the same time learn what it's like to live in a city - what is Roma like to Romans? How do they live, travel, etc.? Lorenzo was perfect for the job! We saw areas of Roma that were famous, and gorgeous, but we might not be able to get to during a short stay, even with help from the tour bus -- Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navonna. I'll never forget Lorenzo showing us the "how to turn the downspout water fountain into a drinking fountain" trick! We talked history, architecture, politics, economics, and, yes, how to find out if the gelato is well made just by looking at it! In the end we walked for two hours and hardly noticed the distance or the time. Lorenzo was also very mindful of when we needed a brief break. This was excellent.

Quality of Experience

It's like walking with a friend or colleague. This was an awesome way to learn the city and a lot about the people who live and visit there. I've rarely taken a walking tour but as a result of this one, I'm sold on the idea.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lorenzo is a great conversationalist, who walks my pace but readily adjusts to the group as a whole.

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento

Italy

This was a highlight of our trip! Very easy transportation from the hotel to the marina. Francesca and Gabriele were incredibly friendly and thoughtful. Francesca easily addressed a child's case of Male di mare, while Gabriele sang and talked with me about the sea. The ride was smooth and the water and sky were brilliant blue. Even the wait for the blue grotto rowboat was enjoyable (tip: bring a couple extra euros to tip the rower, ours did an expert Dean Martin impression.) Food and drink aboard ship was plentiful, including a caprese sandwich for our time ashore. I cannot say enough about how wonderful Capri and Anacapri were (Take the skyride! Visit San Michele Chiesa! Stop for coffee at the caffe in between!) We will remember forever swimming in the golfo and making a circuit of the island. We were a family of three with another family of three aboard: I think this was ideal. Such attention to detail, such personable tour guides. Bravi!

Quality of Experience

Everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Francesca and Gabriele were excellent. I really liked talking with them and learned a lot. They really care about what they do.

Transport

Very comfortable ride to and from the marina. The Capri harbor can be seem deceptively large and crowded, but if you look for where you got off the boat, it will be easy to know where you should re-board in the afternoon.

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

A true vacation highlight! Meeting Renzo and the train station in Milano was like meeting an old friend or family member. He put us all at ease, and was very easy to talk. The train to the Lake and then the ferry was so seamless. Renzo knew the region intimately, and wove the story of the villas, the flora, the local fishing and silk economy, Lake Como celebrities past and present and so much more into wonderful stories. The Lake, and Bellagio itself, are beautiful and fun, but we would not have had had half as great a time if it weren't for Renzo's fabulous tour. The shopping and restaurant recommendations were spot-on, too, and learning from Renzo about all there is to do in the area (touring the villas, cycling and mountaineering) will make the Lake our destination for our next vacation rather than a day outing.

Quality of Experience

There was so much to see and Renzo guided us in a very relaxed, easy manner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Renzo made the lake feel like home.

Transport

Ferries were easy to find and easy to purchase tickets. (We know this only from observation, as we had them in advance)

We originally planned this trip for before the pandemic, and so we experienced some difficulties when it came to getting this tour re planned, another agent got involved which was very unhelpful. However after we tracked down our original travel agent Julia, everything fell into place. Thanks Julia for rescuing us!!!
We explored Norway by car, bike, boat and foot and were very happy to have traveled from Bergen up the west coast as far as Tromso. Our overwhelming impression of Norway is one of extraordinary beauty, wild summer flowers, snowy peaks, zig zagging highways into breathtaking fjords, water rushing down valleys and cascading off mountain sides, and lush green valleys. The coastlines were almost as spectacular with delightful coves and fishing villages at every turn. We were very surprised by the white sand and opalescent green water on the island of Senja, what a special jewel this place is. Well worth driving to find Senja Roasters, for the best coffee of our trip, Froys Kick Ass blend was a winner.

Every interaction thst we had only added magic to our trip. A truly mythical experience. Can't say enough about Greece and everything that kim kim provided. Thank you for your undivided attention. Your team was so remarkable!!!

Hotel Reviews

Athens Ivy Suites

Athens

Perfectly located, clean and modern. Staff were wonderful and attentive. Would recommend it 100%.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Honeymoon Petra Villas

Santorini

Perfect hotel. Epic views, clean and modern. Breakfast was nothing short of opulent. The staff were so kind and helpful. Felt like true concierge service. I can't say enough good things. Scale of 1 to 10 on this review is still an understatement!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Tour guide was so wonderful, patient and knowledgeable. I loved the opportunity to talk about Greek history and mythology with him. We loved our tour. Bonus....he was a great photographer as well!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caldera Sailing Cruise

Drama

A once in a lifetime experience. Views were amazing. Trip was so well organized. Staff were kind and attentive. Lunch was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Francesca was great - good communication etc.
Our car booked was too small- my son’s head was hitting the top of the car. Thankfully the car company was able to get us a little bit larger car- with the immense amount of driving that would have been a problem.
The teip was great- for the amount of time we were there I think the driving was way too much. That was everyone’s take away. The suggested stops foe sight seeing and hiking were fabulous- that really made our trip!
I think some things could be better communicated - such as “it is advisable to pack a lunch” when gone for 12 hours.

Hotel Reviews

Borealis Hotel

Selfoss

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adventure Hotel Hof

Hof

Authenticity & Character

Location

I

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room With A View Apartment Hotel

Reykjavík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Northern Light Inn

Grindavik

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

This was great- I think more info in the upgraded package would have been nice- it was soooo crowded we would have gone foe the nicer package had we had known.

Guided small group superjeep tour to Landmannalaugar

Iceland

The hiking was great- again- had NO idea it was almost a 3 hour ride to one destination and then back. There was a mention to pack some snacks- it would have been very helpful (especially traveling with kids) had we been told to pack a lunch- or lunch should have been provided luke we saw other groups doung.

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour

Iceland

Ended up not going - it wad pouring rain and our tour was so late as well as our hotel another 1.5 hours away after the tour- we decided to cancel this and that nights hotel to get to a town and hotel closer to our next days destination- this 2 day portion of our trip was not great and we would have skipped this all together with the short time in Iceland- we were told the week prior to leaving that the tour was so late- I think this could have been avoided had this tour been booked by Kimkim earlier in our process of booking.

ATV to the Black Beach and Plane Wreck

Iceland

Best thing we did on iur trip! Kids loved it and so did we! Great and diverse terrain! We lived this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Iceland Thermal Bath Experience

Iceland

Fantastic experience! We loved ending our trip here- this was another highlight for our famiky!

Quality of Experience

The trip was the perfect mix of planned / ticketed excursions and self guided sightseeing. We ended up adding a few extras at our own leisure such as the lava show in ViK and a Puffin Tour in Reykjavik. One of my most favorite experiences was the Glacial hike near ViK. Our guide’s name was Gia and she was so fun and kept everyone safe and also motivated! My 11 year old son loved her too.
Of the two lagoons we visited the Sky Lagoon was by far our favorite. That was something we added last min as well. We wish we had had time for the Blue Lagoon but we decided we would just need to come back and visit again to see and experience that! We also loved our horse riding experience at Laxnes Horse Farm. The owner was very welcoming! The guides however did not talk much. I am assuming it would have been difficult to do that and they did do a good job of keeping us all safe.
Iceland is a magestic country with such an amazing landscape and adventure around every corner. I am so thankful to Francesca for putting together our very well planned vacation last minute. She did a fantastic job! Also thank you to Michael who was on call for us while we were there. It was so nice to have someone who was immediately on call when we had questions / needed help.
My only complaint was that our car rental experience was not good. I did not realize that our coverage did not included full protection of the vehicle and when a scratch was discovered that we have no idea how it got there we had to pay $2k USD. I have yet to hear back from them as they are suppose to refund the difference of the amount it took to repair from what I paid. If there is anyway for Kim Kim to help me get my refund it would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Lily

My wife and I recently returned from our bucket list trip to Tanzania in East Africa on Saturday July 23rd. What an amazing experience. We want to thank Magic Africa and Vivian Kironde for helping to coordinate, schedule, recommend and provide us with an unforgettable trip to the cradle of life. Vivian was very patient with us and listened to our needs. Our experience from the moment we arrived to all the lodges/accommodations/food/people/places were picture perfect but the most important and highlight of our trip was our local guide and driver Johnson Mapimma. Johnson was not only personable, friendly, and accommodating but he had a wealth of knowledge and shared that knowledge with us. He taught us about the local wildlife during the safaris; where to find them, why they do certain things, how humans should respect them and more importantly, he taught us about the culture, it’s people and history. Because of Johnsons knowledge, know how and quick thinking he provided us with an opportunity to experience a rare catch of a lioness taking down a zebra along with her pride. Asante Sana Johnson for showing us your beautiful country and for being a friend.

Best,
Marcello &Anita
Kew Gardens, NY
USA