Kimkim Trip Reviews

Overall a very good trip and experience. The highlight was clearly the ballon trip at Cappadocia. But the flights planning did not go well and the hotel at Instambul was bellow our fair expectations.

The guides and the people at the hotels took good care of us. Berat was very careful and responsive, specially when had a problem with the connections on our flights.

Hotel Reviews

Recital Hotel

Istanbul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gül Konaklari Sinasos (Rose Mansions Sinasos)

Nevsehir

Nice hotel and good service. Value for money.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Public Boat Tour on the Bosphorus

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quad Bike Tour at Sunset

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ceramic Tradition in Avanos + Light Hiking in the Love Valley

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Saruhan Caravansarai

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sightseeing Around Uçhisar and Discovering the Cappadocian Valleys

Cappadocia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Göreme Open Air Museum (UNESCO World Heritage)

Cappadocia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Charlotte and the team were always responsive and answered all of my many questions prior to the trip.

Hotel Reviews

The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa

Playa Conchal

The Westin was a great place to relax after 8 days of adventure in Monteverde and Arenal/La Fortuna. The grounds were very nicely maintained, the many restaurants ensured we didn’t get bored with the food over the course of a week, the staff were absolutely amazing - really friendly and helpful. Just a shout out to a few: Ruddy was a fun and knowledgeable instructor of yoga and water aerobics (do this! It’s so fun!), and Christopher, Bryan, Gabriel and Christian were incredible bartenders who knew our names and always greeted us with a smile, were really fun to chat with and also were great bartenders.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms seem to be partly updated. Nice bed and bathroom sink area, but the tables were scratched up. Minor, but worth noting.

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Fortuna

The hotel and hot springs are nothing short of stunning. The grounds are beautiful. The walk to the pool, main building and hot springs are easy and so pleasant. The fact that the hot springs open to hotel guests two hours before the general opening allowed us to visit feeling like we had the place to ourselves. The secluded areas with cabanas and the plethora of flora makes it seem like you’re in a magic rainforest setting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can definitely spend several days here without having to leave the facility; however, if you’re interested in going to La Fortuna, you’ll need a car or an Uber. It’s about a 15 minute drive.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

This hotel exceeded our expectations. While the room decor is pretty basic, the bathroom is beautiful, the grounds are very nicely manicured and host many birds and wildlife, and the location was an easy walk to town but also at the top of a hill which afforded stunning sunset views. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rio Celeste & Tenorio Volcano Guided Rainforest Hike

Costa Rica

This was a great trip. You can’t believe how blue this water is until you see it in person. Stunning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mariano is great. We loved having him as our guide for this trip as well as for the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna waterfall hikes.

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The volcano hike and waterfall hike (two different hikes in different locations on the same day) were both beautiful. They have completely different views but are equally nice. The power of the waterfall and the fact that you can swim in the water near it is really cool. Mariano was our guide, and he was awesome! He’s a seasoned guide with a deep knowledge not only of the flora and fauna but also the history and politics of the region. He took great photos and was patient while we swam. He also took us to some great restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed our time with Mariano. He’s a very interesting and funny person. We learned a lot, and got to enjoy some great music on our trips with him.

Transport

Mariano was a great driver. He arrived on time and always knew where he was going.

Mambo Combo: Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was my family’s favorite adventure. The canyoning was gorgeous, in the cloud forest and down a waterfall through a series of rappelling and zip lining and features with walks along the river in between. The whitewater rafting was exciting. There were class 2-3 rapids which were just adventurous enough (a couple of us did bounce out into the water but it was fine). Mario was our whitewater rafting guide, and he was SO fun. This adventure also came with a meal which was delicious.

Quality of Experience

It was the perfect combination of beautiful scenery and adventure. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

Food

This was some of the best food we had on the trip. Get the chicken. It doesn’t disappoint.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stand-Up Paddleboarding on Lake Arenal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was friendly and took a lot of great pictures. The setting is pretty spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Night Walk: Children's Eternal Forest

Monteverde

The guides were super but unfortunately the nocturnal animals were not cooperative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

It was interesting and delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

A great way to start the vacation! The cloud forest is gorgeous and looks spectacular from the top.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna our guide in Tokyo and Hakone and Lily our guide in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima were truly fantastic. They were informative and made us feel as welcomed guests to their country every step of the way.

Food was amazing . The most memorable stay was at a traditional Ryokan in Yamonochaya Hakone. Very relaxing and a great escape.

Our tour guide/driver Samir is awesome and cool. He made us safe althrought the trip. He is also very flexible and made sure that we enjoy every second of our trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

Very nice riad! Quiet and authenticr riad in Fez!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Be Marrakech

Marrakech

Beautiful riad, very good food, awesome staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caravane

Ouarzazate

Very nice and chic hotel! Love the vibes and the food!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

Amazing 5-star experience! All the hotel staff were nice and accommodating! Made us feel comfortable and safe.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Sahara dunes

Staff

All of them are very attentive to us and took great care of us

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Marrakesh is such a photogenic city! Its a bucket list trip one must have! Our tour guide Hannan is very nice and patient with us as we take thousands of pictures of the place. Love this!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Love this experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Scenic drive and authentic feels! Love this!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Long drive was worth it! The camel ride and the Sahara experience were awesome!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Our tour guide Mohammed is very passionate and nice. Love all the culture and tips he shared with us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Emanuela planned the perfect trip for our first visit to Iceland. It was amazing to have a detailed itinerary and suggestions for restaurants. It was a trip of a lifetime.

Our girls' trip (w/ my 4 yo son) to Morocco was beyond exceptional. Thanks to our wonderful driver/guide, Samir, for keeping us safe, comfortable & for showing us the highlights of Morocco from Casablanca, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Ait Benhaddou & Marrakech. What a way to learn & be immersed with the culture for a short period of time; we also want to mention our tour guideMohammad in Fes & Ms. Hanan in Marrakech for the knowledge you've share with us & your time. We are so grateful for this memory to share for a lifetime. Thank you Kimkim travel and Samir for showing us your beautiful country. Can't recommend them highly enough!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Be Marrakech

Marrakech

This place exceeded our expectation of a Riad. This place is stunning, authentic & comfortable. Getting to this place through the Marrakech alleys made the experience even more memorable. Thank you to all the staff for helping us carry our luggages & for accommodating us. The food they served us were also delicious!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Caravane

Ouarzazate

This place was a mixture of chic & comfort in Ait Benhaddou. We had a restful stay at this beautiful property and would highly recommend it to anyone. The breakfast and dinner were superb!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Desert Luxury Camp Erg Chebbi

Merzouga

What an experience to have stayed at this luxury camp. The place, people, experience & the beauty of the desert was beyond how I've imagined it would be. We were a group of 3 ladies with my 4 yo son & we were the only ones there with the staff. We felt so safe & we enjoyed ourselves to the fullest! Thanks to all the wonderful staff!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

We loved our stay at Riad Ghita. The staff, Ayyu & a lady, were so hospitable and the place itself is as authentic as it could be. We had a beautiful and peaceful stay with you. Thank you so much!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Dar Mounir

Chefchaouen

What a beautiful gem by Chefchaouen center. This place is clean, beautiful & w/ very helpful staff. Thank you!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ait Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi N'Tichka pass

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Merzouga Desert to Aït Benhaddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fez Medina

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica. The people at KimKim (Fio, Nancy, and Charlotte) that put everything together, answered all of our questions, and helped us while we were there- they were just fantastic. Mariano from Serendipity took us on a hike over the lava fields in Fortuna and to the base of a waterfall to swim. He was incredibly funny and knowledgable and shared a delicious lunch with us at the Red Frog. We absolutely loved our canyoning tour and the whitewater rafting trip that followed. The canyoning gave an amazing perspective of the jungle. Christopher was a great white water rafting guide. The Arenal Manoa hotel was very comfortable and the breakfast was delicious. We enjoyed our time at Monte Verde. The Cloud Forest Lodge was our favorite hotel. The staff were so attentive and the restaurant was amazing. Feeders right outside the dinning area let us watch tons of beautiful hummingbirds while we ate. Wilmer, one of the servers there, was the best and the kids adored him. We really enjoyed the aerial bridges and ziplining at Sky Adventures. We also had a blast going on the night walk in the Children's Eternal Forest. Walter was the best guide and taught us so much. We also really enjoyed our time at the coast at Playa Hermosa. The beaches were beautiful and we loved seeing the monkeys and iguanas in the trees. We had a wonderful snorkeling tour with Brian and Mario where we saw sea turtles and even held an octopus. The only drawback of the trip was that the roads at times were a little rough for driving, but our KimKim reps set us up with the right vehicle, so that it wasn't a big problem.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Good location right on the beach. Wildlife just outside the rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We only stayed 2 nights but it was lovely. Awesome hot springs with bar. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cloud Forest Lodge

Monteverde

You can find places with fancier rooms or facilities but you won't find a staff anywhere that's nicer, friendlier and more attentive. Super recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit hard to get to especially at night but that's all of Monteverde. Amazing views from the restaurant.

Staff

Everyone was fantastic from the reception to the whole restaurant staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whitewater Rafting on the Balsa River, Class II-III

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Snorkel Tour Catalinas

Costa Rica

We loved this activity with Brian and Mario. Smooth boat ride with drinks and delicious fruit and snacks. We snorkel a lot but this was our first time in a tropical location and loved to see different kind of sea life, including holding an octopus in our hands :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Adventures: Sky Trek, Tram, and Walk

Monteverde

We enjoyed the hike and aerial bridges. Our guide was great and we learned a lot about the forest. The zip-lining was a ton of fun. My 60+ aunt and 70+ uncle both loved the experience. And our 15y old son loved the optional free-fall at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eternal Rainforest Night Walk

Monteverde

We really enjoyed our night walk. Our guide, Walter, was incredibly knowledgable, and we learned so much. We saw a lot of tarantulas which our 11y old daughter was very excited for.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Mambo Combo Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

Rappelling was so much fun. Thrilling but also felt very safe at all times. The waterfalls and hike through the forest were just beautiful. The whole staff was amazing. Rafting was also great (the favorite by far of our 15y boy). One of us fell off the raft but thanks to Christofer's guidance we were able to pull her back safely and she enjoyed the rest of the trip. Great lunch spot as well (best coffee).

Quality of Experience

Food

Best coffee I had in Costa Rica

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

Mariano was awesome. Very knowledgeable and funny, showed us beautiful places and took us to a great spot for lunch. I had told him I really like ceviche so he called the place in advance and they made up a ceviche recipe on the spot just for me! It was delicious :) The waterfall visit was one of our favorite activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an action packed 12 days in Thailand! My travel planner Alex was great and took care of every detail. I shared with him my vision and he provided great suggestions. He was readily available when I had questions and he took all the guess work out of traveling to a new country. Having Alex do all the planning gave me the ability to simply show up and enjoy my perfect vacation. Some of the experiences I enjoyed were a ringside Muy Thai match, time at an Elephant Sanctuary and a Tiger Park and an exciting night hike in the rain forest. I would definitely recommend using Kimkim to others and would use them again on my future trips!

Hotel Review

Khao Sok River Lodge Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self - Guided Day in Phuket

Phuket

On our last day, we had a car take us around for a self-guided tour. We visited Monkey Hill, which was a nice experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Karen village - Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

Chiang Mai

This was a wonderful experience. The people there truly care for the elephants and it's not like those places where elephants are mistreated. We got to feed the elephants, take pictures, and even bathe and brush them in water. It felt like a very ethical and rewarding experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Wat Umong Temple and Chiang Mai City by night

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai was more traditional compared to Bangkok. The evening temple visit was quite fancy and left a lasting impression.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Authentic Thai Railway & Floating Markets

Bangkok

This was another great experience. We saw the railway and then moved on to the floating markets. The tour allowed us to shop and haggle, giving us a real taste of local life. We bought a lot of different souvenirs.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Muay Thai Show

Bangkok

The Muay Thai fight was a unique experience. We were right at ringside and the venue was quite small, making it an intimate setting. It was thrilling to be so close to the action.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day combined Grand Palace Temples city tour

Bangkok

This tour was an amazing experience. We visited a lot of temples in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The guide was with us the entire time, providing valuable insights. It was an enriching experience and the temples were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Iceland was magical thanks to kimkim and our specialist Terry. First, just having the stress of rental car and hotels taken off our plate was such a relief - and the hotels and car were so great! But the best part was Terry finding activities, scenic views along our journey, and beautiful local stops we would have never known about. Every single thing she suggested from Into The Glacier, to The Lava Tunnel, to Laugarvatn Fontana, to the major Golden Circle attractions, to more remote attractions were amazing! She balanced the needs of adults and kids and made sure the adventure was great for all ages! There was not one thing we did on the trip that we didn’t love. The itinerary allowed us to have packed days (which we did) but you could also relax and go at your own pace. Again, there is no way we would have seen as much and experienced as much if we tried to plan the trip alone (we had even been to Iceland in the past and still loved kimkim). We had a minor issue while in country (unrelated to kimkim) and emailed the kimkim team, who responded in less then an hour, called our hotel, and resolved the issue immediately. I have already suggested kimkim to many other travelers and will use them again for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews

Hótel Klaustur

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Incredible!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Laugarvatn

Laugarvatn

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Á

Reykholt

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel

Reykjavik

Beautiful rooms, exemplary breakfast! A little bit of a walk from shopping but worth it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lava Tunnel Activity

Iceland

My son’s (5yo) favorite activity of the entire trip. The guide was the best guide of any tour we took in Iceland.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon amphibian boat tour

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fontana Geothermal Baths

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Rye Bread tour (Geothermal bakery)

Iceland

Great for kids! But bread was also delicious for the adults.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Into the Glacier

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ace was the best tour guide!

Transport

Was getting dizzy trying to plan my trip for 5 of us to Ireland. Kim Kim did a great job getting us good accommodations, a car and suggested sight seeing. I changed details last minute and they were able to make the changes with no issue. Would definitely use again

Working with Fabio was very easy. He was always quick to respond and helped us plan a great trip to Italy that we will always remember. The private tours with Daniela and Elenora were particular highlights. They were so friendly and knowledgeable and felt like friends by the time the tour was over. Our tour guide for the Vatican (Guida? whose name I am not sure of ) was also friendly helpful and knowledgeable. Our guide Jessica in Florence was great as well. We will always remember the cooking class at Villa Ida with Roberta and her dad Carlo (Charlie). This was the best time we had on the trip. What a wonderful family!! I can’t say enough about this perfect experience. The boat ride to the blue grotto was also a highlight. We met such nice people on our tour and the young guide on the boat was fantastic. The hotel transferred worked out perfect. Everyone was friendly and always early which we liked because we are early people too! We would 100% use Kim Kim to book another trip in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Renaissance

Florence

This hotel was close to everything. Upon arrival with your luggage you need to climb up a set of cement stairs with no access to an elevator until you get there. We are able bodied people but certainly would be a huge issue if you had any trouble navigating stairs and also the fact that you required to get your luggage up on your own. It was over 100 degrees in Florence when we were there and the Air conditioner did nothing to cool the room and was also restricted to a certain temperature. We were told breakfast was included and it was not. We also were told there was a view and there certainly was not. There weren’t even any windows looking out side. The staff however was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean but we were. It comfortable due to the fact that the AC was restricted and it was never cool.

Hotel Antiche Mura Sorrento

Sorrento

We enjoyed that this hotel had a pool. Our room was located in a quiet space behind the main hotel. This made it feel like we were living within the city! It was quiet and well equipped.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HT6 Hotel Roma

Rome

This hotel was located within easy access to everything in Rome. It was well equipped and the staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Rome

The tour guide was friendly but we found it difficult to learn and pay attention with so many people in the group

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Experience with Donna Rita

Italy

This was the highlight of the trip. The family was so friendly and we can’t say enough about our time there!

Quality of Experience

I

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sorrento Coast, Capri & Blue Grotto Boat Tour | From Sorrento

Italy

This tour was great fun! We met such nice people on the boat and enjoyed talking with them! The blue Groto was beautiful if a bit of a tourist trap.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The young tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable.

Transport

Private Tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guida was knowledgeable and friendly

Transport

Flavors of Rome | Food Tour with a Local Foodie

Rome

Elenora was so fun and friendly. We were completely full after this tour! We enjoyed it immensely and she felt like our friend by the end!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Highlights & Hidden Gems of Rome | Walking Tour

Rome

We learned so many things on this private tour that we would never have learned or explored on our own. The tour guide was fantastic and felt like a friend when the tour was over.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Daniela was friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

N/A

Best of Florence and David by Michelangelo | Small Group

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Scotland trip ranked as one of the best ones we have taken. KimKim, William, Stephen and the whole staff were excellent. No detail was forgotten. The excursions that KimKim planned from the food tour to the distillery tour to the Skye Tour were excellent. We think that we saw a lot on our two week trip. Definitely, we will use KimKim to plan another trip.

Hotel Reviews

No.32 Hotel

Edinburgh

The young man in charge was wonderful. The location is good which is down the street from the train station and wonderful restaurants and pubs. The down side is there is very little to no parking. We were there of the Beyonce concert and droves of girls were going to the concert via the train down the street. Since there was absolutely no parking, we decided to return the rental car and take an Uber the next day to the airport. It was easy to do that. We did not eat breakfast. This is a charming hotel with a cute lobby and bar area. We were on the top floor and there was no elevator. LOTS of stairs. Beautiful hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Castebay Hotel - Isle of Barra

Isle of Barra

This hotel was wonderful. The dinner was superb, but you do need reservations! The view of the Castle and the Ferry from our window was spectacular. STEPS! Parking was super easy next to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perle Oban Hotel & Spa

Oban

Loved this hotel! Breakfast was excellent! The location was perfect. It was a beautiful home. as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Isles Of Glencoe Hotel

Ballachulish

Not to sound boring, but another fantastic hotel with a great breakfast and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Hotel Portree

Portree

Fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heathmount Hotel

Inverness

Great hope. Lots of stairs. Parking was good. Breakfast was good!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Albany Hotel

St Andrews

Charming hotel, fantastic breakfast. We just didn't stay long enough.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was close to the pubs and restaurants and the golf course.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Old Waverley Hotel

Edinburgh

Loved it! Breakfast was excellent. The room was comfortable and roomy. There are stairs!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location was great. Drug store, souvenir store, convenience store and the Hop on Bus were in close walking distance.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oban Distillery Tour

Oban

Amazing, Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We didn't need transport since the distillery was in walking distance from our home. Loved Oban!

Day out on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)

Scotland

For us, this was a good rest day not to drive. We enjoyed the scenery and the train was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mallaig Wildlife Boat Trips

Mallaig

This was okay. Not fabulous, but a fun thing to do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour with driver/guide in Skye

Scotland

Keith was wonderful, Again, This is a must for your trip to Skye!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Two hour cruise on the Canal and Loch - Loch Ness

Inverness

We love this relaxing boat ride. We saw grouse , castles, homes , etc. It also is a must do.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blair Atholl Castle Entrance tickets (Reopens 1st April)

Scotland

Fabulous castle! Do not miss it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh

Do not miss this! It is a highlight and will be a meal and more for you.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

This also is a must and the high tea is an experience that you do not want to miss!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

This is a MUST tour! Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and we had a great time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Food Tour

Edinburgh

Keith was fabulous. This is a wonderful tour and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

Quality of Experience

The guide was wonderful , the food incredible and the walking was wonderful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was our first time booking a trip through Kimkim and we definitely plan to book with them again! Our guide, Mathilde, was very knowledgable and helpful and worked through several iterations of the vacation itinerary with us until it was perfect. Our daughters (8 & 11) loved all the activities she planned as well as the private tours she set up for us which kept them excited and engaged throughout our time in Paris. The itinerary could have been a bit more detailed (e.g. how long a tour would last so we could plan out the rest of our day once there) but that was just a minor thing and overall everything was fantastic. The hotel was also in a perfect location, close to local restaurants, shopping, the Metro and the Eiffel Tower. We had the absolute best time and have told our friends and family about Kimkim who plan to use them in the future as well!

Stephen and Jane created an itinerary that perfectly fit our goals for a sisters trip to Scotland: To visit places where are ancestors lived and to get a genuine Scottish experience while visiting precise areas of the country. The itinerary that we developed was highly personal. This was enriched by the Kimkim team’s choice of tour guides. Each guide was local and well versed in the area and its history and culture. Andy— Tours by Locals in Glasgow was excellent. He went out of his way to find a parish historian in our grandmother’s childhood church. While in the church, Geraldine Bird took the lead, giving us important specifics about the parish and the socio-economic conditions that led to its creation. She is in the process of writing a book on the history of the church. She shared parts pertinent to our family’s experience while peppering her comments with lots of humor. We found both Andy and Geraldine so informative and entertaining that we wished they could accompany us for the rest of the trip. It is not often that you can have an experience that is educational, poignant, and fun. What a great way to spend our first full day in Glasgow!

We enjoyed the People’s Palace, which was devoted to an examination of life in Glasgow in the 19th century — just when our grandmother lived there.

We rode on the train from Glasgow to Rutherglen to get a close up view of where our grandmother lived. Not surprisingly, the address from census data is no longer in existence, but Andy gave us a good sense of the area. He also drive us to areas where our great grandparents had lived. We enjoyed the Green in Glasgow and enjoyed stories about why the green was initially created. Because Andy is a life-long Glaswegian, he was able to answer almost every question we had about Glasgow.

There are signs around Glasgow that say: “People make Glasgow.” We certainly found this to be true with every interaction we had in the city. People were exceptionally warm, friendly, and quick to laugh. Our guides Andy and Geraldine certainly gave us a positive feeling about a working city that many travelers reject in favor of seeing the capital city.

Kim Kim’s choice of hotel in Glasgow — The Hotel Grasshoppers was a treat. It was in a walkable center city location with lovely simple interior design and spotless rooms. Staff was attentive and eager to please. Breakfast was warm and delicious. AND everyday there were freshly baked desserts and homemade ice cream available for the taking with no fee. The whole hotel is the 6th floor of a nondescript building. I have a feeling it is one of Glasgow’s best kept secrets, but Stephen and Jane were in the know. From the beginning of the trip planning, I explained that I wanted charming lodging that felt Scottish and not a generic chain hotel room that could be in any country. Stephen and Jane deserve extra credit for this find!

We were 3 travelers ages 73-80, and we did not want to drive on the left side of the road. Stephen and Jane did a brilliant job of arranging private drivers, trains and ferries to get to every location. There was never a problem with connections. However, in Thurso, my sister got sick, and she felt that a 4 hour train ride from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh would be too much for her. I contacted Jane immediately to explain our unforeseen problem. Jane instantly solved the problem over the phone, and within minutes she scheduled a private driver to take us to Kyle of Lochalsh the next morning, cutting the transportation time in half and facilitating an easier connection for us. We would have been in a bad place without Jane’s efficient and gracious problem solving. In her usual practice, Jane checked in with us to make sure that the transportation worked and to see if we needed anything else. This is why I love using Kimkim. You have lots of freedom not being part of a big tour, but you never feel alone and stranded!

Stephen and Jane arranged a private tour of Culloden. Our tour guide was a true professional, very knowledgeable about the Jacobite Rebellion, dispelling myths, and making history come to life.

Stephen and Jane facilitated travel to the Isles of Skye, Mull, and Iona. In Portree, Skye, we joined a local van tour of 15 people. Bill, our tour guide was extraordinary. We spent the entire day with him while he pointed out the highlights of Skye scenery, stopping to enable us to walk and climb to experience the fairy pools, fairy glens, etc. Bill’s voice was made for radio broadcasting and his narration through the day was grand— interesting and entertaining. He knew just when to be quiet to let the majesty of nature sink in and when to play traditional Scottish music to enhance the visual wonder. His dramatic story telling skills are without equal. As if this wasn’t enough, he took us to a lovely cafe with excellent lunches, baked goods, and drinks.

Looking at a tentative itinerary, I was not pleased with a trip from Skye to Fort William and then on to Mull. The KimKim team solved this by finding a delightful driver who functioned as a private tour guide. He picked us up on Malig on the west coast mainland and entertained us with the history and culture of this beautiful countryside often overlooked by travelers. He, like all the private guides Kimkim hired, was able to give us an insiders view of the history and life style of the area. We stayed with him until we boarded the ferry to Mull. Because the sea was choppy, our driver stayed in the parking lot until the ferry departed. You couldn’t beat this kindness and attentiveness which I have found to be the hallmark of Kimkim chosen travel guides.

Once on Mull, we stayed in a beautiful home that has been completely refurbished. It was originally the local manse. The large front garden overlooked the sea, and interior was impeccable. In addition to attention of a warm and efficient host, we enjoyed the couple who run the praiseworthy restaurant within the Pennygate Lodge. Breakfasts were prepared as ordered each morning and served in the dining room. Dinners were absolutely the best of our entire trip— especially fresh, delicious and beautifully presented by the restaurant’s co-owner.

The co- owner and host at Pennygate Lodge graciously drove us to Castle Duart and to the ferry - certainly going above and beyond our expectations as travelers without a rental car. These extra benefits were planned by the kimkim team — once again Kimkim delighted and exceeded our expectations.

You guessed it, our next international trip will definitely be planned through Kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Indigo Glasgow, an IHG Hotel

Glasgow

There was nothing wrong with this hotel except it was highly generic. One exception: the interior decor was positively ugly. It had the feeling of any chain hotel in the US. It is owned by the same company that brought us generic middle of the road Holiday Inn

Authenticity & Character

Generic and unattractive inside.

Location

It was walkable.

Staff

Satisfactory, but less friendly than we have come to expect in Glasgow c

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean. Comfortable. Only instant coffee in the room.

Pennygate Lodge

Craignure

Pennygate Lodge is fantastic. Beautiful setting. Beautiful interior. Immaculately clean and tastefully decorated. Large guest rooms and bathrooms. Comfortable beds. Excellent linens. So appreciated a top sheet! Lovely Highland Soap toiletries. Fabulous shower. Tasty local cookies in the room. Glass bottles of water and milk in a hall refrigerator. Impressive attention to the environment. The owners and hosts are a couple who renovated this old manse to create a graceful and welcoming home to travelers. Fiona was out of town during our stay, but her husband Tony was an outstanding host, going out of his way to provide transportation to the ferry and Castle Duart. He was clearly invested in our enjoying our holiday. In addition to the lovely guest rooms and a comfortable lounge/ sitting room, Pennygate Lodge has an excellent restaurant on site owned and run by a husband and wife team. They serve an order- from-the-menu breakfast every morning that far exceeds the customary hotel breakfast fare. Dinner, which requires reservations, is a night out — without leaving your your guest house. The atmosphere is simple yet elegant. The co-owner and chef’s wife is the sole wait staff, who is obviously devoted to impeccable service. The meal begins with a complimentary creative starter. We ate there two nights. We would have made it three nights, but they do not open for dinner on Sundays. Each night, all three of us were delighted with every course. The website says there is a fixed price for 3 courses. This is not current. Diners can order just a starter or as many courses as they chose. This is fine cusine. Mull is not a bit fancy nor highly populated, but this restaurant would be successful in an foodie city.

Authenticity & Character

The location and the staff’s attention to detail and desire to please guests seems consistent with Scottish hospitality. The setting could only be Mull

Location

It depends. This is a gorgeous setting on a lovely island with a lot of charm. The lounge and some guest rooms offer a beautiful view. It is not conducive to finding optional restaurants or shops.

Staff

Fantastic. Owners are on site and dedicated to creating an excellent guest experience. Tony did everything he could to make us happy. The restaurant server/owner was efficient and warm — quite a combination. We never met her husband the chef/co-owner, but his creations were works of art.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was perfectly clean, inviting and environmentally friendly.

The Royal Hotel Portree

Portree

This was the only lodging during our trip where the staff seemed overwhelmed and not very friendly. I almost forgot I was in Scotland. No one tried to engage us in conversation or inquired about our needs. No lift. No offers to bring luggage upstairs in spite of our obvious advanced age. The toilets in the lobby had signs saying they were only for residents’ use. Even as a guest, I had to get a key from the reception desk. The bathrooms were tiny and hard to use. The best part of this hotel was the location. It was easy to walk throughout Portee., and the view over the water was gorgeous. We never went into the restaurant for dinner. It was unappealing. No customers. Uninviting smell. The room itself was not inviting. The bed was comfortable, but one window did not open , making it hit and uncomfortable.

Authenticity & Character

This is the only lodging that did not offer the kindness and friendliness that we had come to expect in SCOTLAND.

Location

Location was excellent. Great views. Close to restaurants and shops.

Staff

Attention to guests. Friendliness. The person on duty at reception sat behind a glass or plexiglass partition. This gave the message that they did not want to be bothered.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A lift fir carrying luggage upstairs. Renovation to the entire hotel

Manor House

Thurso

We loved staying at the Manor House. The rooms were clean and more spacious than some we experienced in Scotland. The check in process is through the bar. One of the co owners checked us in. The owners, a husband and wife team, were eager to please and fn to talk with. Mary Ellen graciously offered to wash dry and fold our laundry for 5 £ each. I originally asked about sending it out to a laundry service. This is the kind of place Manor House is. They do everything that can to please their guests. Leo, Mary Ellen’s husband is a co-owner and an entertaining and charming bar tender. Their sweet children perform Hotel duties, including wait staff and trouble shooting. Sally, their sweet black dog lives attention and is a balm for guests who have left their pet at home.

Authenticity & Character

It has a long history in Thurso. Perhaps the best part of this Inn is the family that operates it. We ended up not wanting to leave them.

Location

Great location for walking throughout Thurso.

Staff

Fabulous family who go out of their way to make guests comfortable. Leo, a couple- owner with his wife even offered to drive ilus to Inverness.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blackfriars Hotel

Inverness

3.5. My sisters and I stayed on the top floor in a “family suite.”It consisted of one room with a king bed and a twin bed. Next door was a small room with a bunk bed. Both rooms were separated from the hallway by another door. There was one en-suite bath for us to share. There were three big negatives to this arrangement: Three guests sharing one bathroom. Poor air circulation NO LIFT… and the hotel staff was actually the wait staff in the pub on the first floor. The rooms were clean, and the location was good. The food in the bar downstairs was satisfactory , but not great. The wait staff was very friendly. We did ask for assistance with carrying heavy luggage up the stairs. Our ages range from 73-80 so this was a challenge. The pub staff helped, but they were not available when we had to depart on a train before 7:00 am . I liked the concept of rooms over the pub , but the poor air circulation and the luggage on stairs made this an Inn I would not rebook. Inverness is a town with many tourists. I imagine other hotels may be more comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

I did not want a chain hotel, and i definitely did not get that. Good character in theory, but the execution presented problems, especially poor air circulation and stairs with no lift for managing luggage

Location

Close to train station. Some other restaurants around. We had trouble getting in due to need for a reservation. We tried the Thai restaurant next store, but a reservation was necessary the Hootananny with traditional local music is within walking distance c

Staff

All restaurant staff so we felt a bit like an imposition. Carried luggage up stairs at our request. No help early in morning. Also no plans for early breakfast. Shortbread and treats in room were appreciated.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Air circulation.

Grasshoppers

GLASGOW

This could not be further away from Hilton or a major hotel chain. This hotel is on the 6th floor of a building in center city. It is not appealing from the street, but inside it is extraordinary. It is immaculately clean with a simple, tasteful decorations. The staff is lovely and friendly, and the big surprise is a daily supply of freshly on-site baked goods and homemade ice cream. Breakfast is served in a cozy breakfast room with staff cooking in the visible kitchen. The entire experience provides a sense that you are visiting an older relative who is delighted you are there and she would do anything to make you feel welcome and at home. I would definitely return. It was the best first impression of Glasgow.

Authenticity & Character

Read above. Like no other lodging arrangements I have ever experienced.

Location

5 ***** Walkable to restaurants , train, and buses.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Incredibly clean. Eat off the floor clean. Rooms were small but well lit. High ceilings. Large windows. Ceiling fan over bed. Clean lines on simple wood furniture. Bed was a twin in my single room. Bed was comfortable. Floors were light wood and beautiful.

Activity Reviews

Full day guided on Mull and Iona with Duart Castle Included

Scotland

The tour of Mull given by a former Mull high school teacher was good. It did not have the same thrill or love of the area that other tours had. The Mull tour did not include Castle Duart, which we did the day before in our own. Our host at Pennygate Lodge drive us there at no cost to us. As MacLean descendants, we lived the castle and we were thrilled to meet the current clan chief, Sir Lachlan MacLean. He was such a kind gentleman and interesting to talk with. The gift shop on site was the only place where I made purchases. Both my daughter and granddaughter have McLean as their middle names so this was especially interesting to me. We had a driver who drove us to the ferry to get to Iona. He was my least favorite driver. He was less informative, and his driving was too aggressive and made all 3 of us nervous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver could have shared more local info. Driver could have been slower and less aggressive. Perhaps a guide on Iona Seoul’s have enhanced the experience.

Transport

More careful driving.

Skye In A Day From Portree Visiting The Most Scenic Spots

Scotland

Fabulous experience. The guide is amazing. I could have listened to him for a week. He had a beautiful speaking voice and perfect delivery of history and tales. He also read his audience well. Gods use of traditional Scottish music to enhance the tour. Great opportunities to get out, walk, and experience Skye. Lovely lunch in a cafe in route. Bull, our guide was a consummate professional. I would recommend him without reservation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Culloden Battlefield private tour

Inverness

Excellent. Very informative guide with a deep knowledge of the Jacobite rebellion. She clearly separated myths from history for those of us who had some background information upon arrival. She was very pleasant and easy to listen to and follow. Seeing this site and realizing the impact of this battle that lasted less than an hour Had quite an impact on us.

Quality of Experience

Great guide.

Highlights of Caithness with Distillery Tour

Thurso

Angela was an excellent guide. She was so personable that we felt as if we had known her for a long time. Her love of Caithness was palpable. Having her respond to people who spoke to her as we toured made the experience feel so genuine. Angela was extremely tuned in to showing us what we wanted to see. I told Stephen I wanted to see Highland Cattle and she took us to her neighbors’ land where we could see them up close without crowds. She herself is a “wild swimmer” — meaning she swims in the cold sea by her home. She has relatives who surf near her home. It all felt so genuine. It’s hard to get this level of insight on vacation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thurso Walking Tour

Thurso

Excellent walking tour guide. Very well informed. A good mix of straight history and local tales. Good sense of humor. Flexible. Willing to stop when we were hungry. Found a good place to eat. Passionate love for Caithness, which was contagious.

Quality of Experience

Knowledgeable guide with a genuine love for Caithness

Private transfer in town

Scotland

No problem other than the cycling race in Glasgow which blocked the street in front of our hotel. No way to avoid this — except the company could have texted us in advance.

Quality of Experience

Nice comment

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No comment

Transport

No comment

Bespoke tour of Glasgow

Glasgow

Andy was well informed, friendly and fun to be with. His most amazing feat was finding Geraldine Bird, a parish historian at the church my grandmother and her family attended in Rutherglen. He did not seem to do any preliminary work to check out the address where my grandmother and her family lived in Rutherglen. I did not expect to see the flat where they lived, but I did expect him to do his homework. With us, he used his GPS seemingly for the first time to find the location. He drove us through Govan and Gorbals with some history of the area. His own experience as a Glaswegian was a real bonus. Honestly, his personal charm and general personality was very appealing to us on our first full day in Glasgow. His personality gave us an excellent impression of Glasgow and its residents.

Quality of Experience

Andy finding Geraldine to shed specific historical light on a church that was important to my grandmother’s family of origin.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was all Andy and his research to find Geraldine Bird. There were no other drivers or guides.

Transport

Andy drove all the time except when we took the train Glasgow- Rutherglen which was a smart move.

We had a nice trip in Iceland. The country is beautiful and easy to navigate.
In regard to Kimkim we had a few hiccups in booking everything, but nothing that wasn't taken care of before we left. (for example; they booked the wrong month for our Sky Lagoon tour and if I hadn't caught the mistake we wouldn't have been able to get in)
I also wish the itinerary didn't look so cut/pasted. I get each person has several clients to work for, but we pay for it. Nice to have the maps and pics. Also, when I went to print out the itinerary is was going to be 38 pages for a 5day self drive trip! No one wants to lug around 38 pages of stuff! While all of it is useful, u can easily font down the print and take off the 3" heading at the top every single page! (You only need to put that information on the very first page.) I did exactly that and was bale to get it on 14 pages, which when printed front/back was only 7 pages. Much more manageable.
The hotels were just ok, although we paid for upgraded hotels. I guess this may be the best Iceland has to offer.
Will not use Kimkim again as I felt it was more work to go through the agent than if I would have booked it all myself. We travel extensively every year and I do all the planning. Thought I would try out having someone else do all the research, but found it isn't worth the extra $$.

We thorough enjoyed our time in Portugal and the itinerary that our local specialist, Pedro, put together. Each of the guides that were extremely helpful and wonderful travel companions, especially our main driver Eric. We have already recommended this experience to a number of our friends.

Hotel Review

Maison Albar - Le Monumental Palace

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

Lisbon

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Sintra is so beautiful. Eric was great too in dropping us off in the right spots and giving us tips.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The dinner was awesome. We even got to chat with the owner.

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Our driver was great. He even added another stop for us at the end. The vineyard was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was amazing.

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We are two first-time visitors who wanted to see Norway’s spectacular fjords, historic towns like Bergen, Oslo, and Trondheim, and more. A friend suggested kimkim to help plan that trip and find out if we could drive the Atlantic Road (inspired by a travel article.) kimkim’s Tom Christer was quick to offer a good plan for us to travel from Trondheim to Oslo for 7-8 days including hotels and transportation along the way. Tom was quick to answer questions, adjust the plan, and develop alternatives before we traveled. Once we were on the trip, Tom helped with schedule changes, found individual guides and drivers when we needed them, and had perfect timing to get us on a shuttle to a scenic viewpoint when we thought it was sold out. Without Tom, we would not have experienced two of our favorite spots on the trip: staying on Håholmen island along the Atlantic Road and Aurland with its quiet magnificence. kimkim and Tom Christer provided great value and support.

I would like to explain why we are giving the trip a score of 2.5. The country of Iceland is such a great place to visit. The weather was cooperative and nice. We saw so many great sights everyday.

Unfortunately, some of the services provided by KimKim were fair to good. I have planned many trips in the US and Canada, some for up to 3 months. We never had so many issues as we did with KimKim's service. The reason we decided to use your services is due to the fact we were not familiar with the country, their culture and norms and we were looking for a hassle free trip. This certainly was not the case.

Problems started when we went to get our car rental. Avis charged us for the full rental. I was surprised but charged it to my credit card. I contacted Silvia with my concerns with the rental charge that evening. She said we should not have been charged. I also told her that we did not get the wifi due to the large unplanned charge on my card. She asked that we send her a copy of the bill. We did a few days later. I do not know why the confusion with the rental charge. Regardless, it was quite upsetting.

We then started our adventure and everything was going well until we arrived in Vik. The hotel did not have any reservations for us. They called Silvia who said she had been trying to contact us and had been unable. We had internet only when we were at our hotel, and Silvia had been made aware that the car did not have Wifi per our decision due to extra incurred costs. After over 1/2 hour we were told to go to a different hotel. Silvia had complimentary drinks for us at the other hotel which was a nice gesture. Silvia also told us to get Wifi on our son's phone and she would reimburse the cost, which she did.

In Seydisfjordur we arrived at our hotel and settled in. It was not a great hotel like we had had since our arrival but OK. After 1/2 hour several people arrived at our door and were trying to get the key for the rental. We did not open the door. A while later this man came knocking at our door and asked us to speak to his boss, Ingrid. She explained she had contacted Silvia re: the change in room which was not communicated to us. We had to repact everything and move to a different room. Silvia apologized for the mix up and lack of follow-up.

In Akureyri, the room and location were abysmal. We could not find out which room was ours as the front desk door is looked and unmanned. Luckily this very nice person let us borrow his cell phone so we could call Silvia. She said she forgot to send us the updated info to the rental. We finally got it and were able to get in only to find out that it was set up for 1 person. Texted Silvia and after several more texts we were told to go to the locked office which is unmanned and get some linens and towels and make our beds. Need I say more? At least we each had our towel for our shower..
The location was not good and the place was run down to say the least. Giving a score of 2 would be more than adequate. I would say it was a step above sleeping in the car... Silvia was made aware of the hotel conditions. She offered us complimentary drinks to compensate for the hick up.

My son texted Silvie after the next place as it also had the reservation for 1 person. We then had to wait in the lobby until it was set up for the third person. Silvia texted back and said she would notify the next places we were staying at. It was good for 2 nights then again, the agent at the desk had reservations for only 1 person. We again had to wait for the extra linens and beds to be made. Very inconvenient. Gave up notifying Silvia and it was towards the end of the trip.

On the positive side, the itinerary was great with strategically placed hotels with not excessively long driving distances so we could enjoy the day and do many on the spur of the moment things. All but 2 of the reservations were very good to excellent. Silvia was always very pleasant when we interacted with her.

I am very disappointed in the services that were provided and which we paid for. Not what we expected.
Renee S.

Hi Liz,
The trip to New Zealand and Australia was probably one of the best we've ever had. The highlights were the Women World Cup soccer games we attended in both countries. In addition, Helen, Alexa and I enjoyed the town and activities you planned for us in Queenstown (Milford Sound and wine tasting). The city that we were unexpectedly pleased with was Nelson. At this city we were able to enjoy a cruise along the coast of the Abel Tasman NP and hike a portion of the great walk at this park. Our driver in Nelson was also very good in giving us a good education of the area and we enjoyed our conversation with her during the trip.

In terms of hotel accommodations I believe City Life in Wellington was the best It was both spacious and very comfortable. However, in retrospect we could have decreased the number of days we spent in this city and spent those days elsewhere. The hotel we liked the least was the Nasuto Stadium hotel in Auckland. While the location gave us easy access to the downtown area, the additional bed placed in the middle of the living room contributed to our luke warm review, although on our return visit to the hotel before leaving for Sydney, we were given a room that had two separate bedrooms.
We enjoyed our trip to Rotorua. The Maori cultural venues (teaching school and village experience) were very interesting. Helen and Alexa went to a new spa in Rotorua that you might want to check out. Its called Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa. Its right on the lake and they enjoyed their experience at the spa,,, it was new and not crowded. I found the Hobbiton experience a little underwhelming, and probably would not recommend it to the casual visitor. However, we really enjoyed or visit to Sydney. We were able to attend a symphony in the Opera House and the tour. We found the restaurants in Sydney to be plentiful and varied. Our trip to the Blue Mountains was okay but I probably would not recommend it if time is a consideration. There are so many other activities to attend to in Sydney..
All in all, we believe your recommendations help us enjoy our trip to these two countries. Thank you so much.
Jim

Hotel Reviews

Tides Hotel Nelson

Nelson

Given the budget restrictions placed on the trip, the hotel was adequate for our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adina CityLife Wellington

Wellington

This was the best hotel on our trip. Very specious and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central location in the middle of the city

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Queenstown Lakefront

Queenstown

Given the budget restrictions placed on the trip, the hotel was adequate for our needs. We thought we had a lake view room and had to asked for a different room from the one initially assigned

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel Rotorua

Rotorua

Given the budget restrictions placed on the trip, the hotel was adequate for our needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Oaks Auckland Hotel (Prev. Nesuto Stadium Auckland)

Auckland

See written review

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

90 Minute Weta Workshop Unleashed

Auckland

We learned this Weta Workshop was not the same as the one in Wellngton. We heard from others the the one in Wellington was better than the one in Auckland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Thailand was a bit short, but it was great. Every city that we visited was amazing, but there was something unique being in Chiang Rai and so we would like to give a special shout out to our guide and driver - Nok and Dee. They simply went above and beyond and made it extra special.
From the moment I requested information for our trip to Thailand, Thao knew exactly what we were looking for. Our entire itinerary was done within a week. Thao was always on top of everything and she would always get back to you as soon as you would send her a note or a question. We were so impressed with her service.
As soon as we landed in Thailand, we had a dedicated team in case we ran into any issues or had any questions. Thank you Adam, Moruecha, and Orn for taking care of us! You were always on top of your game.

Hotel Reviews

The Slate Phuket

Phuket

Absolutely the best. The resort was luxurious and comfortable with excellent customer service. The property was well-maintained and it was convenient to get out of the resort. The security was also top-notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Art's Riverview Lodge

Khao Sok

This place was a bit too rustic for my liking. There was no WiFi and our shower was not working. However, it was nice being out in nature and felt like a tree house.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

This hotel was also very nice, providing a comfortable stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

De Charme Hotel

Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

It was awesome and really nice. I had a great time staying here with no issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phi Phi Island by Speedboat

Phuket

It was beautiful and the boat ride was a good experience. The weather was amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Absolutely the best. The guide, Nok, went above and beyond in explaining things to us. The White Temple was amazing to see in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spend a Day with Elephants in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

It was great but a bit too long. The waiting time for our ride back was unnecessarily long and resulted in us getting stuck in traffic.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

DAMNOEN SADUAK MARKET – MAEKLONG MARKET – KANCHANABURI

Bangkok

I did this on my own and it was an interesting experience. However, it seems to be more for tourists now.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport