Kimkim Trip Reviews

Yuliana was terrific! Highly recommend her. She pays great attention to detail and returns emails and phone calls promptly. A+ service.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The dogsledding was a highlight of our trip. The Ice Hotel was a low point and I would not recommend it. The arrangements for getting from place to place were good with one exception. When we got off the ferry from Tromso to Svolvaer, no taxis were available and we had to walk with 4 suitcases over a mile in the snow to our hotel. To make matters worse, no directions to the hotel were provided. That should be easily fixed.

With the exception of the Ice Hotel, accommodations were good. The Amerikalinjen in Oslo was a first class hotel which I would recommend if an extended stay in Oslo were being planned.

Our local specialist, Julia, was very knowledgeable, responsive to our in-trip inquiries and willing to make adjustments to the planned agenda.

Adjusting to the darkness was difficult but definitely outweighed by the delightful Norwegian people, almost all of whom spoke fluent English and were very helpful with directions. The Northern Lights were elusive but we did see them on more than one occasion. Just do not expect multiple dancing colors. You are far more likely to see streaks of green.

Overall, I was completely blown away by my family's trip to Costa Rica. I expected to see natural beauty and warm weather but the hospitality of the locals is why I’ll be coming back.

Two examples. On our drive to Monteverde we got a bit lost and were trying to make a U-turn on a narrow, difficult part of road. A random guy riding past on his dirt bike stopped, got off his bike, paused incoming traffic, and helped guide us through the turn. Roads in Costa Rica were pretty terrible outside of San Jose but it’s not really a big deal. Drive with a puravida mindset and you’ll be perfectly fine. On another occasion, we stayed at Hotel Koora at Monteverde. The staff gave my 5 year old a really cool wooden Coati toy. They also loaded us up a bag of water and snacks after learning we were heading out on a road trip to Manuel Antonio. Amazing.

The food was incredible. Nothing fancy but everything is fresh and a lot of attention is paid to preparation regardless of where you eat from Soda’s to the 4 star hotels.

I traveled with my five year old. He loved the trip and especially any component with a beach or pool. The guided nature hikes are a bit tough on kids. Really cool when they get to see things but it can be hard for them to spot things in the dense jungle. For kids especially I recommend the night nature tours. We used ​​Sukia in Manuel Antonio and they were terrific. Kids love holding the spotlight and trying to find eyes in the dark.

I got the impression that Costa Rica has a very complicated economy... with a large social/word of mouth culture. I wouldn't recommend doing stuff without e.g. a professional tour guide. Socio, our guide with Endemic Birds, was incredibly knowledgeable and great at trying to keep the kids entertained.

Brian with Serendipity Adventures did an amazing job with getting our itinerary setup. Everything flowed seamlessly. Hotels exceeded expectations.

Thailand was absolutely the highlight of our multi-country honeymoon experience. Every single day was unforgettable. The elephant sanctuary in Krabi is something I relive every day and need to go back to someday!! Railay Beach is absolutely breathtaking. It was such a cool experience riding up on the longtail boat! The Phi Phi Islands live up their expectation. And Patong was so much fun. Bangkok was a great way to end it! Seriously, best trip ever!!!

Hotel Reviews

Novotel Phuket Resort

Patong

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bhu Nga Thani Resort

Krabi

This hotel was everything. At first, after you ride up on the long tail boat, you don't know what to expect. But once you spend time on Railay, it exceeds expectations. It was a highlight of my trip. The surrounding areas and beaches are just incredible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Century Park Hotel

Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Twin Lotus Resort and Spa

Ko Lanta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Temple City, Grand Palace & Klong Tour

Bangkok

Our guide, Tanny, was the best!!!! We loved her. She is so knowledgeable, fun, and the best person. She made the tour!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Tour

Thailand

I will never forget this day for the rest of my life. The elephants are so warm and friendly. I just wanted to play with them all day. The mud bath is so fun! I cannot believe we got to bathe them. Best day ever!!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day 4 Islands Tour by speed boat - Join in tour

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phuket - Phang Nga Bay round trip with Jame Bond Island

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Speedboat Day Trip to the Phi Phi Islands

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok bike tour 5 hours - Joint in tour

Bangkok

Great way to see parts of the city you would have never otherwise explored! And the boat rides were an added bonus!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siem Reap was incredible! Angkor Wat is simply breathtaking. The mountain bike tour through the temple complex is the way to go. And sunrise is definitely worth the early wake-up call! Our tour guide for the week, Bun, was super friendly and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed him. And the hotel was beautiful!

Hotel Review

The Aviary Hotel

Siem Reap

Gorgeous grounds and beautiful pool. Our room was huge! Staff was super friendly. Also great location. Perfect stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trekking at Phnom Kulen

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phare, the Cambodian Circus (Seat B - open seating in the rear half of the middle seating area)

Siem Reap

The show and performers were super funny and friendly! Great show.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Apopo Landmine detecting rats

Siem Reap

Great learning experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day cookery class

Siem Reap

The chef and his restaurant were incredible. This was a highlight of Siem Reap for sure!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise (and return to hotel for breakfast)

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honeymoon Surprise, courtesy of kimkim

Siem Reap

Thank you so much for the incredible dinner!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling the back roads of Angkor (full day)

Siem Reap

Biking the temple complex is definitely the way to go!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband had the most amazing time in Indonesia. We got to go on so many different adventures! I will never forget the Ijen Volcano hike to the elusive blue flame. And our boat cruise around Komoda National Park to see Komodo dragons was unforgettable! We seriously did things that most people never even dream of.... And our tour guides, as always, were fabulous!

Hotel Reviews

Gending Kedis

Jimbaran

Gorgeous resort. We had a two-story villa with a private pool! I wish we had more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wapa di Ume Ubud

Ubud, Gianyar, Bali

We had the best NYE here! The NYE party at the hotel was so fun and so authentic. And we even had our own private pool in our villa. The resort grounds are to die for. Staff was amazing. Get the bubur ayam for breakfast! Best stay ever!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ijen Resort and Villas

Banyuwangi

Incredible hotel and incredible views. Staff and food was amazing. I wish we had more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Plataran Bromo

Wonokitri

Absolutely incredible hotel and ride to the top of the mountain. I'll never forget our breakfast above the clouds. The views were insane. I wish we had more time there!

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can't even begin to realize where you're going until you get there!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Liveaboard Cruise - Departure Day

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liveaboard Cruise: Komodo dragons, beaches, snorkelling and manta rays

Komodo Island

The park is incredibly beautiful! Snorkeling was awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liveaboard Cruise: Discover Flores & Komodo

Komodo Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Ubud

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to the Top of Mount Ijen Volcano

Indonesia

Nothing like I anticipated but worth every moment!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise from the Mount Bromo Caldera

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vishal was very knowledgable about Bhutan and helped me craft the ideal itinerary that balanced a lot of hikes, cultural sites, and relaxation. He was very flexible when we wanted to book our own hotels and helped to give advice and guidance on the best places to stay. Tek, our tour guide, was fantastic and really helped us understand Bhutan culturally and was extremely knowledgable about the flora/fauna, animals, and natural landscape of Bhutan. Sonam, our driver, was a great and we felt very safe with him. Overall, we had a great time and would highly recommend doing your trip to Bhutan with this crew!

Activity Reviews

Wangditse Lhakhang Hike

Thimphu

beautiful hike starting at the Dochula Pass with huge payoff at the end. a bit slippery/icy during the winter months, but still totally do-able if you be careful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to Tigers-nest Monastery

Paro

it's a bit of a touch hike but so worth it!

We really enjoyed the trip and wish could stay longer to see more of the beautiful place. We love the places we visited, the foods, the hotel and the guides. The guides ( Tu in Hanoi, Mr. Dzung in Hue And Hoi An, Mr. Minh in Hoi An, And Tony in HCMC were all very knowledgeable of the history of the places we visited. We learned so much about Vietnam and the culture.
Mr. Nguyen, our driver in Hue And Hoi An
Was very nice and helpful.

Hanoi is very nice city, clean with a lot of lakes and beautiful flowers.
Halong Bay is very beautiful, we couldn’t get enough of the scenery. Hoi An is a very nice city, and peaceful , we love our bike ride through the rice padi field , visiting organic Farm and had Bamboo boat ride along the water coconut tree.
Mekong Delta is another experience, we love the bike ride in the Village, seeing all kind fruit trees, visiting local local people making hand craft from water Hyacinth and Banana midrib. Then listen to the Vietnamese song. We love our Bamboo boat ride along the Creek.

I think overall Vietnam is very beautiful Country.

Dat did a very good job in combining sightseeing, history and eco tour. He was always standby and always there to help us with any questions we had. He made sure everything went smoothly and made sure we enjoyed our stay. He always checked on us to see if everything went well.

We highly recommend Realistic Asia , especially Dat as the Travel Specialist, who designed our trip.

We will sure come back to see more places in Vietnam and will asked Dat to design our trip again.

Cảm ơn Dat! Hẹn gặp lại

Hotel Reviews

Mekong Lodge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Êmm Hotel Saigon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Phu Thinh Boutique Hotel & Spa

Very nice room , but breakfast wasn’t that good. Shuttle bus needs to have longer hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Can walk to Old Town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed is very comfortable and spacious

ÊMM Hotel Hue

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Verdure Lotus Gradeur (former Halong Aquamarine Cruise)

Ha Long

The door to the Balcony needs to be repaired , it has big gap.

Location

Staff

The staffs in the dining room were friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

Good breakfast And friendly staffs

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Continue Mekong Lodge - Ho Chi Minh City

Cai Be

Love the ride on Bamboo boat along the Creek, Listening to traditional music. Learn about the making of rice paper, rice pop , Banana candy and tried honey tea

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Lodge

Cai Be

Love the bike ride through the Village . Learned about the local hand craft and saw a lot of fruit trees.

Quality of Experience

Food

Love the fish and the Banana flower dish

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tony Will make sure we learned about life in Mekong Delta. He is very knowlageable about life in Mekong Delta

Transport

Ho Chi Minh City Highlights

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tony is very knowledgeable and informative. We learned a lot about the History of HCMC.

Transport

Cam Thanh Fishing Village Tour & Basket Boat Ride

Hoi An

Love the bike ride , visit to Oganic farm and the Bamboo boat ride.

Quality of Experience

Food

Love the Banana flower dish and the Phuong Bahn mi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Minh is very easy going and fun.

Enjoy Walking Tour of Hoi An's Ancient Town

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing

Hue

Quality of Experience

K

Food

It’s home cooking meal, delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Dzung is very informative And knowledgeable . We learned a lot from him. Mr. Nguyen, the driver is very nice and helpful.

Transport

Hanoi - Halong Bay (Verdure Grandeur Cruise )

Ha Long Bay

Beautiful scenery. Shuttle from Halong Bay back to the hotel was not on time. The driver came very late.

Quality of Experience

Food

The egg coffee was very good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The manager and the tour operator was lack of Information . They couldn’t give answer on the problem that we had. The tour operator wasn’t very knowledgable giving explanation on Hang Sung Sot cave. The Kitchen staffs were friendly.

Transport

The driver came very late to take us back to the hotel. We had plane to catch and have to ask the travel specialist to solve the problem.

Explore The Beauty of Hanoi - Full Day Sightseeing

Hanoi

Loves the lakes and the Museum of Etnicity

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tu is very friendly, fun and knowledgeable

Transport

This was a trip of a lifetime for my husband and I. Sabina developed the most action-packed 23 days in New Zealand's south island. We did all of the helicopter items, mountain biking, hiking, canyoning, jet boating, kayaking, and stargazing. Our cups were full by the end of the trip. In fact we didn't want to leave!

Trip organize Ravi and trip liason Ajay were top notch! They made our trip extremely memorable and perfect in every way. Can’t recommend KimKim and Active India enough.

Our trip was unforgettable!
From the very beginning we were met by our driver (Mohammed) at the airport in Casablanca. Automatically he made us feel welcome and comfortable by his beautiful smile and pleasant demeanor. He was our driver throughout our entire 11 day vacation. He was interesting and patient and an expert driver.
Hakim provided us with the most amazing places to stay as well as provide smart and informative guides when taking a tour of markets, medinas, Mosques or famous sites.
I can’t think of any way we could have been accommodated any better.
Superior service and attention was given to us at all times.
I would highly recommend Hakim with the Kimkim Travel team.
I can’t say enough… it was the best!!

The trip overall was fantastic! Firstly, our guide Ibrahim was very accommodating - he made a special effort to find our group vegetarian food for all meals. He was very skilled at working with the locals at each location to make sure we were taken care of. In addition, our transportation between locations was very comfortable. The vans we used had wifi and were just generally comfortable to travel in.
Secondly, the activities were engaging and fun. In particular, our group loved the glamping experience in The Sahara. The camel ride up the dunes to watch the sunset as well as the ATV excursion to the hotel for breakfast the next morning were exhilarating and well planned.
Finally, our lodging was mostly comfortable. We had less than ideal lodging at Ouarzazate, but other than that, the hotels we stayed at in our other locations were nice, comfortable, and had great facilities.
Overall, Megan did an amazing job planning the trip. Everything was well thought out, our excursions/activities were entertaining, and she did a great job accommodating us.

We were a group of 14 (4 families) traveling from Philadelphia to Morocco on a 7 day trip. Sharon was a our KimKim specialist designed the itinerary and made necessary arrangements for travel, stay and tour guides at all the locations we visited in Morocco.
Our experience has been one of the best! It was our first visit to the African continent and to a culture that is very different from the Eastern (India) or Western (US) culture.
Morocco is one of the cleanest countries that I have been to. Every city street we visited is kept very clean! Kudos!

Here is a a list of our memorable experiences:
-Fes - Belly dance in a local restaurant. Make sure you make your dinner reservations well in advance. Between the wine, music and dance you will truly enjoy the experience.
Soak up the sun and try ALL the local food (with bottled water). I was interested to try camel meat but to my surprise it was hard to find a dish made of camel meat in local restaurants.
-Merzouga - The camel ride to the desert camp and ATV ride back is an awesome experience. Watching the sunrise from top a high sand dune is memorable.
-Boumalne Dades - Do not miss the view of the Jorge! Whew - breathtaking! Walking in the valley and being with nature (for a little while) and meeting the locals (Amazigh, also called as Berbers but please use Amazigh to refer to them).
Marrakesh - The market square has so much to see, eat and witness, your senses are going to get pounded. Pace yourself and enjoy everything, one at a a time.
We had teens traveling with us and never felt unsafe in Morocco. Well, they went to a nightclub in Marrakesh and returned at 3am in cab by themselves, if that isn't safe enough, what is!

Shoutout to Mohammed (tour guide), Ahmed (driver), Hassan (Guides), Sharon and KimKim!

Highly recommend KimKim and Morocco for a very diverse experience!

Activity Reviews

ATV Quad Tour of the Desert

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thoroughly enjoyed a comprehensive tour on Costa Rica over 7 days. First timer using kimkim and was very pleased with the overall experience. The initial booking on-line and subsequent adjustments were done very easily. Kimkim staff respond very quickly and precisely, and get things done. All the service providers in Costa Rica, transportation and excursions, were professional, on-time, and delivered what was booked.

Hotel Reviews

Grano de Oro Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Vela Boutique Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort

La Fortuna

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Costa Rica, Curio Collection by Hilton

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

This activity started with a 20 mn drive in a mini bus from our hotel to the Reserve through a dirt road up the hill. We were there in January so the road was dry, but according to the driver, it can be challenging at time. The Reserve got a number of tracks ranging from 0.5km to 4.8km loops. The guide tour took about 2 hours using a 1.5-2km track, as we progressed slowly looking at plants and animals. The track is easy to walk on, especially since we were there in January and it was fairly dry. The weather can change very quickly and can be very misty at time, so come equipped. Although walking around by yourself is not difficult (if you got transportation to get to the Reserve), having a guide is very valuable since it is next to impossible to find and see animals by yourself. The guide carries a telescoping lens so that you can observe very well all there is to see. Our guide, Danny, was most knowledgeable about all the plants around, and was happy to talk about anything related to Costa Rica. We thoroughly enjoyed discussing with him. He managed to find a sloth, porcupine, a tarantula (hidden in a hole), and plenty of birds and other animals. We walked up to the top of the area, where there is a 4 story tower to observe the surroundings, including a number of volcanos. At some stage, we were at the exact point where the water would either go to the Pacific ocean or the Caribbean seen, depending on which side you go. This tour is great for nature lovers and worth getting a guide if you want to fully experience this unique place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Had a very good two hours hike with a small group of other travellers. This was well organised. Although if you have your own transportation, it is not difficult to get to the start of the hike, having a guide will greatly help with actually seeing any of the wild life, in addition to lots of interesting information about the volcano itself. . It is next to impossible to spot any of the wild life by yourself. The guide carries a telescope lens allowing to see the animals very closely and take good pictures. We made an improptu stop on the way to the volcano because our guide knew that a number of sloths were in trees next to the road, and was excited to show them to us. They are very few sloths left in the wild and they are very difficult to spot. It was a a very good start of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sherif and his team at Dunes & Beyond (DB) in Egypt and his associates in Jordan (Karma House Travels ) made our dream holiday come true! They were outstanding! Smooth airport assistance and hotel transfers that made us feel like VIPs. And local private-guided visits including transfers that were such a pleasure!

The itinerary was well planned as per our requests and beautifully executed! Sherif also communicated throughout our entire trip to ensure there were no issues. 

Special mention to the guides, Lina in Cairo and Muhammed on our Nile cruise.  The Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan was the highlight of our visit, with Sherif managing an upgrade to an upper deck suite. 

Special mention also to Khalil, who drove us around Jordan. Not only was he a fantastic driver, he was also our walking wiki on all things Jordan! Such a pleasure to have him for our trip!

Thank you Sherif and the team at D&B and Karma House !  

Activity Review

Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan-Philae Temple / Unfinished Obelisk/ High Dam - Overnight in Aswan

Aswan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We are first time clients for travel with Kim Kim and had the privilege to work with Nikola to plan a 16 day trip to Croatia with my family (husband and three young kids). We were VERY IMPRESSED and HIGHLY RECOMMEND both our local travel specialist and the agency! The planning process was very easy and Nikola was very fast to reply to emails/calls and adapt our itinerary to meet our travel goals. He was able to provide local expertise for itinerary (Zagreb - Plitvice - Split - Hvar - Korcula - Dubrovnik). My husband and I are very experienced travellers but were a little nervous travelling with our three kids (age 5, 3 and 10 months) to Europe in the high season with COVID reaching endemic levels. Once we landed in Zagreb our trip was so smooth and easy. Nikola had arranged for all airport transfers, all accommodations (which were beautiful and all very central), breakfast each morning to make things easy with the kids, and all private transfers. He was always available if we had any questions and to adapt to any unexpected needs. It felt like Kim Kim went above and beyond to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime and our kids had a blast!!!! Thank you, and we can't wait to plan another trip soon!

We were a bit skeptical of the whole process at first, but went with it and now that we have returned and reflected on the experience it was amazing to have KimKim there for us every step of the way. We have traveled a lot in Mexico previously and wanted an authentic experience without the stress. Leslie was super kind and accommodating throughout the planning and booking process- I highly recommend using her and KimKim. Then, once we were on our trip Ximena was there on What’sApp to help with anything we needed - even sending reminders every evening for the next days activities which included things to think about doing on our free days. We were especially grateful to have Tere waiting for us at the rental car agency to help us navigate that after a long international flight, and to have her there at our departure to make sure everything was correct. It was just such a huge relief to have her and the entire KimKim team available for anything we needed!

Activity Reviews

Float in the Muyil Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with transportation from Cancun.

Cancún

This was the highlight of the trip for me! We loved floating in the canals carved by Mayans 2,000 years ago. Don’t book the ruins option - it’s an hour walk to get to the ruins. Stick with their most popular tour. Our guide Memo was amazing as was the food we enjoyed after. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Mayan Dinner

Mexico

We arrived in Nuevo Durango and Blanca and her family welcomed us in and showed us how to make hammocks. My son, who is 9, absolutely loved it and didn’t want to leave. Blanca offered lemonade and we took turns weaving. I speak fluent Spanish but no one else in my family does, and none of the other hosts spoke English. Thankfully I was able to translate for everyone but I’m not sure how it would work if someone was going that didn’t speak Spanish…? The food we ate was amazing, and my kids loved it. I was convinced they weren’t going to eat it but they did! And they loved it

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coba and the sacred Mayan roads

Cobá

We enjoyed Coba - especially the biking and the more shaded cover Vs Chichen Itza. Our guide was just ok. We went on New Year’s Day so perhaps he was a little tired from the night before. We picked him up at the Pemex near the entrance and he helped us find parking. He slowly explained some things about the ruins before we went in (he was very patient with my kids asking a ton of questions). When we got the main ruins, we sat under a palapa area in the shade while he told us about the ruins. He then opted to stay in the shade instead of walking with us over to the main ruins. He said it was to allow us to walk around but it would have been nice to have him there (and to have a picture of all of our family in front of the ruins!). Selfies will work just fine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Immerse Yourself in the Peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote

Mexico

We visited several cenotes in the area and this one was our favorite. It’s an hour drive from Valladoldid, but close to Chichen Itza. We drove to the cenote for an afternoon arrival and then did the Nights if Kulkulcan at Chichen Itza (to avoid the heat and my 5 year old whining). It worked out great for our family. The only odd thing was that the people who worked there seemed very confused about our entrance including a meal. We were given menus, then they were take away once they knew we had food included, but then they told us pretty much everything was available for us to order… it was a little confusing.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was awesome! The soup was amazing

We could not have been happier with the service we received from the kimkim team! Lucia and Angel responded immediately to our questions before and during our travel. Every possible effort was made on their part to ensure we had a safe and exciting vacation with exceptional guides at every turn.

Our time in Peru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We had an amazing tour of Lima (thank you Juana!), an educational Sacred Valley tour (thank you Henry!). Lucia and Angel reserved Andre as our Machu Picchu guide and he was perfect for us. Andre taught us about Incan culture and history as well as the integration of Incan beliefs into everyday Peruvian life. This was a highlight of our stay in Peru.

Juan Carlos led an exceptional excursion in Cusco and we can personally recommend his services. There were extenuating circumstances during our Cusco stay but Juan Carlos and the kimkim team made sure that we remained comfortable and cared for without interruption.

Off to Ecuador where we were treated like royalty by Angel and Sebastian in Quito. The next morning, we flew to the Galapagos and the attention from the kimkim staff did not disappoint. Rita was attentive to our every need (drivers, boat transfers, flights, ferries) --- she could not have done more for us! Julio (our guide for nature hikes) was knowledgeable, humorous and energetic.

Definitely take the snorkeling trip to the uninhabited island and try to secure Ricardo as your guide. He and the boat captain went above and beyond to create a memorable experience for everyone. The food and staff on board the Nautilus were friendly and accommodating in every detail.

Our final stop was at the Middle of the World where Marco provided an interesting and amusing tour. We truly enjoyed our time with him. Before we boarded our flight home, Angel took the time to meet us personally at the airport and share much-deserved hugs and farewells.

Because of an unexpected event in Peru, we were unable to meet our daughter on the Galapagos Islands as stated on our original itinerary. Lucia and Angel not only ensured that she was able to participate in the activities as planned, they also rescheduled events for us back in Peru until we could join her. We were never concerned for her safety and she even got one-on-one tours from the guides on the Galapagos Islands.

A final observation: You will not be disappointed with the service provided by this kimkim team. Lucia and Angel managed everything: meals, tickets, transfers, taxis, luggage transport, tours, entrance fees... the list is lengthy! You will be well taken care of and can be secure knowing that your agents are on top of every activity, hotel, and transportation need.

No one could have asked more from Lucia and Angel. We recommend them --- and the tour they created for us --- without reservation!

Happy travels to Peru and Ecuador, everyone!
Barb and Dan

Hotel Reviews

Isamar Hotel

Puerto Villamil, Isla Isabela

Sea breezes lulled us to sleep!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the beach. Nice.

Staff

Stored our luggage, put out a great breakfast buffet, provided extra towels: they couldn't have been nicer or more attentive!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Villa Laguna

Puerto Ayora

Great pool!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to the piers and the nightlife and the music and the plaza and the restaurants!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kitu Hotel

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Definitely a boutique hotel. We were on the 4th floor (walk up) and our drive and guide carried our heavy bags all the way up for us!!

Location

Beautiful night time view from the balcony

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado

Urubamba

Gorgeous setting, fabulous food, great staff. The room itself was basic, but we were outside most of the time. Beautiful setting near mountains and the river. The town of Ullantaytambo is not remarkable, but it's lively and interesting!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Maritza was a lot of fun. We enjoyed everyone, but she was very kind and friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arawi Miraflores Prime

Lima

Location in a funky part of Lima: short walk to Larcomar and Miraflores park.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent breakfast buffet!

Union Hotel Cusco

Cusco

Great food, excellent and attentive staff. Fun location near the mercado and a short walk from the plaza.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Isabela Island's Treasures: Exploring the Breeding Center & Wetlands

Galapagos Islands

One of the highlights of the islands! If you want to see tortoises, take this tour!

Quality of Experience

This was a must-see for us. LOTS of tortoises to see.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio showed us flamingos, Darwin finches, different flora and fauna of the Galapagos. We arrived when the tortoises were being fed and that was a bonus for sure!

Transport

Well, we walked.

Dinner by the Sea

Galapagos Islands

Delightful night time boat shuttle to an adorable restaurant.

Quality of Experience

The food was exceptional, great cocktails, loved being near the water

Food

We upgraded to lobster. Worth it!

Transport

Short ferry ride and you're there

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

We were unprepared for the amazing the boat ride! Schooner to the island, hike to a spectacular view, snorkeling with penguins and sharks and sea lions. And they never stopped feeding us on the boat!! Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, snack. Lovely voyage!

Quality of Experience

I love boat rides. That was enough for me. The hike and snorkeling were extras. :)

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo crushed it! Concerned about the environment, intelligent, worked well with the entire group.

Transport

Woohoo! Sailboat!

Colonial Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument

Quito

Marco was hilarious and was a good sport while we practiced our Spanish and asked him to take photos.

Quality of Experience

Great tour on site; the woman was humorous and intelligent

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you Marco!

Transport

Cusco - The Sacred Valley

Peru

We enjoyed an amusing and educational tour of the area and the peoples of Cusco!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Machu Picchu - Huayna Picchu - Cusco

Peru

We were blown away by Andre and our experience at the citadel. Mystical, practical, humorous, intelligent... an indescribable experience.

Quality of Experience

Everything was ready for us: train tickets, bus tickets, knowledgeable tour guide. It was perfect.

Food

We ate at Toto's. Good lunch buffet. Avoid the drink "Machu Picchu" unless you like toothpaste or mouthwash!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Andre was amazing!

Transport

Maras & Moray Tour

Peru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Highlights of Lima- City Tour

Lima

We had a unique experience due to political upheaval --- our guide kept us safe and informed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juana was excellent

When setting out to plan our honeymoon we ran across Kimkim. Having never heard of it before we were a bit skeptical, but we are so glad we did some research and committed! Having someone on your side to book events and offer optional sightseeing advice was amazing. With our busy schedules we would have never had the time to research Iceland in this depth.

Silvía was amazing in helping to plan our trip, as well as with helping coordinate several last minute changes during our trip. Because of her invaluable help, we were able to see everything we hoped for and many places we would have otherwise missed.

Silvía handled everything from the car rental to booking hotels and activities that require advance ticketing, making the entire process easy and stress free.

We began our trip to Iceland by picking up our rental car and immediately setting off for a winter snorkeling session in a national park, followed by a dip into a nearby hot spring, Secret Lagoon.

The second day was filled with sightseeing waterfalls and a snow mobile ride on a glacier.

The next day, we explored natural ice caves and Diamond Beach.

Our 4th day was spent in Reykjavik, relaxing at the Sky Lagoon and exploring much of the city.

Day 5 we attempted to search out the northern lights. Although it wasn’t a good night for the lights, we were able to check out several restaurants and tried some traditional Icelandic cuisine.

The hotels each night were very nice and accommodating, often with their own restaurants with great food.

We would recommend this trip, especially with Silvia’s help, to anyone. Without her help, we would not have experienced nearly as much as we did.

Hotel Reviews

Hótel Klaustur

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Clean hotel with friendly staff. The cocktails at the hotels bar were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vík í Mýrdal

Vík

Clean, modern, and friendly staff. The hotel’s restaurant was great! We had the artic char and lamb shank, both were delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the stone and glass contrast.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hunting the Northern Lights with a Guide -Private tour

Iceland

We didn’t see any of the lights, but still had a good time trying. Our guide was very friendly and offered new knowledge of Iceland!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crystal Blue Ice Cave

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Myrdalsjokull glacier snowmobiling

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Silfra Snorkeling – Dive Between Continents in Crystal Clear Waters

Iceland

Our guide Eeva was great! Very friendly and easy to talk to. It was surprisingly warmer in the water than out! A fun experience I am they were able to reschedule for us (due to flight delay)!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very smooth and easy process. Everything was taken care of.. was nice to just sit back and enjoy the trip. Great people as well.

Hotel Reviews

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

Wadi Rum

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petra Moon Hotel

Wadi Musa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full Day Petra (With Site local Guide or private guide)

Petra

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport