Kimkim Trip Reviews

It was an amazing trip ,the guides were very knowledgeable and interesting and we really enjoyed every day of our trip
The hotels were peculiar and gave us an interesting sensation of the city , we like them very much

Liz did a great job arranging just the right activities and convenient hotels for our group. We spent 6 days in Cusco, Sacred Valley, & Aguas Calientes. It was wonderful to have transportation each step of the way and not to have to worry about purchasing tickets. Everything was provided! David provided excellent tours of the Sacred Valley and even stopped to let us try the local cuy. Machu Picchu was the anticipated highlight and the students loved our guide, Lizbet, who was also quite the photographer. We came home with beautiful photos! The cooking class at Marcelo Batata was amazing and we all enjoyed cooking with Chef Kristin. Liz even helped arrange a last minute ATV adventure. I definitely recommend using Andean Travel to book any trips in Peru!

Tamer was an INCREDIBLE travel agent for our trip to Ecuador! He was all we could ask for:
1. Very attentive to our needs and wants for the trip
2. Patient when I needed time to make decisions for the trip
3. Helpful in giving us tips to prepare and pack for the trip
4. In contact with me daily during the trip to make sure we were well taken care of.

So pleased with his service and I highly recommend him to help you plan your trip to Ecuador!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Opuntia Galapagos Hotel

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

We loved this hotel! The staff really made the experience for us— so thoughtful and friendly. Great location facing the water and delicious breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit tight for 4 people and our luggage but not unmanageable

Hotel Fiesta

Puerto Ayora

This hotel left a little to be desired. Staff in the front lobby was not helpful. Rooms were clean at first but a bit dingy and run down. Location was nice bc it wasn’t in the heart of town (aka noise) but an easy walk to restaurants and shops.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Front lobby staff and daily housekeeping

Patio Andaluz

Quito

Great location, wonderful breakfast, beautiful building. Two story room for the 4 of us which the kids loved!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wildlife Encountering at Lobos Island - Family Activities

Isla San Cristóbal

Absolutely incredible! We saw so much wildlife on this tour! Guide and boat captain/staff were awesome.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Speedboat to San Cristobal Island - Interpretation Center - Tijeretas Hill

Ecuador

The speedboat was ok. If you’re prone to sea sickness. I don’t recommend it. It was fine as a one time experience but I’m glad I didn’t have to do it twice. We only made it half way up Tijiretes Hill as the kids were tired but the halfway walk was nice as well. Snorkeling was the best part of this tour, as we saw tons of fish, turtles and sea lions!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She seemed a bit preoccupied with her phone

Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora

This was a VERY full day but also amazing. If you’re not up for a high impact day, I would do both of these activities but split them into 2 half day tours. Tortuga Bay was beautiful. The 2 mile walk to/from the bay was also really nice but make sure you’re prepared for it (water, sunscreen, hat and not carrying too much). Kayaking in the bay was awesome. The second half of the day is more like an eco-trek and a swim in a very cool cove. Not much snorkeling to be had but lots of interesting sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Another fantastic day tour. Lunch at Rancho Primicias followed by seeing the giant tortoises up close in their natural environment was amazing! Then seeing the baby tortoises at the Charles Darwin station made it a full circle day!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Quito

We enjoyed this day tour, mostly bc of our excellent guides. Mitad del Mundo is a must see but it’s actually a little hokey when you get there (think kids’ magic show) Colonial city tour was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an amazing trip in a truly special country. Forget your prejudices and views from the past of Colombia, this is an amazingly beautiful country, with wonderfully warm people and as safe as any other country or city I visited in Europe, Asia or the Americas ..... its not perfect, but the risks in my experience are similar to anywhere else I travelled - you just need to be aware and sensible ....
The support from the KimKim team was incredible - from my very first contacts with Margoth to created the trip, nothing was a problem I could change my schedule and she always came back with options and solutions, during our trip Margoth and her fellow their team members Felipe & Marcela were super responsive and always available to support with any question.... I mean any questions..... their guides Juan Fernando, Santiago, Juancho, Jose Miguel all professional, humble and knowledgeable guys who love what they do and love their country.
It was my first time working with KimKim and I was very impressed with the support they gave us..... If I go somewhere "new" and "different" again, I will definately consider them...... and I Do recommend them.

Our local specialist was very pleasant and extremely helpful as she created our 4 week itinerary to Italy. She listened to all of our preferences and shaped the trip around our requests. I have no idea how much time we saved with her booking all the hotels and many excursions. She also provided a lot of great recommendations for restaurants and activities during our down time. This was my second time using KimKim and I will be using KimKim for my next trip too.

I can’t travel without KimKim ever again! This is my fifth time traveling to Europe and I can’t imagine doing it without KimKim. Moonika took care of everything! The transfers were seamless, it was easy to access all of our tickets and passes needed. We never once worried about being on time for anything. Our guide Felipe for the Sauna Bike tour was amazing and was very knowledgeable about Helsinki and the sauna culture. Our Sea kayaking tour around the Archipelago was fantastic. Aavameri created a camping trip to remember. On to our Backpacking trip into the National Park with Ylläs Experiences, Yuusi put together our trip based on our experience and how far we wanted to hike. The food was great and who doesn’t love picking blueberries and cloud berries for breakfast. Nordic Odyssey was our final tour with a trip to a Reindeer Farm and a Lakeside Sauna. So fun to feed the reindeer and learn about this animal that makes Christmas so special. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of these experiences if you are looking to get to know Finland. Thank you Moonika we will back for a winter trip!

Hotel Reviews

Lapland Sky Ounasvaara

Rovaniemi

Beautiful hotel, delicious breakfast. It is a 40 minute walk to the center of Roveniemi so unless you plan to make reservations for dinner there meals elsewhere can be tricky. The Nature trail created around the hotel is gorgeous a great way to start your day with an hour trek.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful style, very modern and rustic at the same time. Nature brought inside.

Location

It’s quite a ways from the city center but if being in Nature is your goal it is Perfect

Staff

The staff was very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and bathrooms were very clean, the saunas always had plenty of towels

Lapland Hotels Saaga

Ylläsjärvi

Beautiful hotel, delicious breakfast. The rooms are modern and the sitting area outside was perfect for watching reindeer graze on the hillside

Authenticity & Character

Very Finnish, beautiful and modern at the same time.

Location

Away from other restaurants but during the winter you couldn’t ask for a better location

Staff

I can’t say enough about the staff, so helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kakola

Turku

Hotel Kakola was one of the favorite parts of visiting Turku, the Spa attached is incredible. You have to experience the saunas. There is also a brewery and cafe near but the restaurant inside was delicious! The history of converting the prison into a hotel a community is really interesting. When the Funicular is working it’s a fun way to drop down into the streets of Turku but you get your exercise on the steps if not

Authenticity & Character

Great history, love the way they preserved the characteristics of the prison but added modern style

Location

On top of the hill overlooking Turku

Staff

Great staff, very helpful and always available

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms and bathrooms were very clean

Home Hotel Jugend

Helsinki

Beautiful hotel, the staff was excellent! 15 min walk to 2 saunas and the beautiful water. Breakfast was great and they have plenty of seatings areas to enjoy a glass of wine or an Original.

Authenticity & Character

Great history and beautiful architecture

Location

Walkable to museums and the waterfront

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms and bathrooms were very clean

Activity Reviews

Helsinki Sauna Tour

Helsinki

Fun biking around Helsinki. Felipe was fun, easygoing and had lots of fun facts and tips for visiting the Saunas.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Turku City Walking Tour

Turku

Anu was lovely! So knowledgeable and made Turku one of my favorites in Finland. Such a beautiful city with a fascinating history.

Quality of Experience

Anu made sure saw the interesting and beautiful sites in Turku

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Transport

Hien was amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for her to arrange.
The organisation was flawless. Hotels were all excellent. The activities and trips were all very enjoyable and well organised. Guides were knowledgeable and fun. I would have no hesitation in highly recommending Hien and the Kimkim team. A++++
I’d recommend longer time in central Vietnam if you’re after relaxation.

I never write reviews, but I couldn't pass on the opportunity to write this one. My family just returned from an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime, trip to the Philippines! There were 7 of us total (my husband and me, our 4 teenage kids - who had never been to the Philippines, and my mom - who was born and raised there but has been living in the U.S. for the past 51 years). Thao was incredible! From the moment we started planning, I was impressed by her prompt and articulate communication skills. We spent a lot of time tweaking the itinerary, and she was always very receptive to my change requests, immensely patient with all of my questions, and so timely with her responses. She was professional, attentive, and enthusiastic, and I could tell that she was truly engaged in the process. I always felt like our trip and my family were special to her. Once our trip began, Thao remained involved and engaged with us through WhatsApp. If we had questions or concerns, she was there for us. She was responsive and accommodating - even through a couple of minor, unforseen issues, and we were always confident in her "presence" and support. She was readily available to us throughout our entire trip. I can't say enough good things about her! We would use Thao and kimkim again in a heartbeat!!

Our entire trip was very enjoyable. Hakim planned everything so well and all was seamless. I feel we now have a good sense of the history of this beautiful country because of all the guides that were arranged in each location. The shining star was our driver, Hisham, who was quick to lend suggestions for restaurants and sites during our off time. He was always prompt and courteous and developed a special friendship with our son. He is a gem. Thank you for all the details that went into this trip.

Kimkim and especially our travel agent, Rita, helped us have an excellent vacation in Spain and Portugal. Rita setup transportation, classes and private guided tours for our trip. Rita was very responsive while we were designing the trip and also when we were in the countries, she responded quickly to any questions we had. Also, we found Kimkim's app very useful and well laid out. I would highly recommend their services and will use them again.

Beatriz did an outstanding job in planning our trip. Her suggestions for various activities including planning many cultural experiences were exactly what we wanted. She was very responsive and met our needs on budget and what we wanted to see and do on our trip. All the day tours were small group and very personalized. The app is very effective and the train tickets, plane tickets etc. provided was very convenient. The guides were excellent - very authentic and knowledgeable and truly interested in ensuring that we got teh best experience possible.
San Sebastien: Amaia was a wonderful guide for the walking tour. Very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of background.
The Pinto tasting tour was very good too (sorry can't remember the name of the guide)
La Rioja wine tour was great. Our guides were Joseglu and Arriving (a new trainee) . Both were knowledgeable about the history of the country and the wine region.
Bilbao (Guggenhiem) and Gaztelugatxe tour was also guided by Joseglu and Arri and was very good. We felt that perhaps we could have spent more time at Gugenheim - we got only 1 hour 15 mins - and less time at Gaztelugatxe and walking around Bilbao.
Pamplona: Diego was fantastic. He is a proud Basque and gave us a lot fo history and information about the region and a great view of the running of the bulls. A once in a lifetime experience - very exciting.
The choice of Zinema7 hotel in San Sebastien was excellent. Probably the best on the whole trip.
Granada: The Alhambra tour was also very good. Our guide (forget his name) Small group and we learned a lot of the history. Hotel (Palacio De Santa Ines) was also good.
We saw on our own a flamenco show in Sacramonte - again a great cultural experience.
Granada to Malaga: The choice fo rent a car company (Sixt) was good too. The people there were very helpful.
Great idea by Beatriz to stop at Frigiliana and Nerja - small towns that give a close up at the Spanish countryside and people.
Malaga is a great spot and we saw it mostly on our own. The sunset cruise arranged by Beatriz was very good.
Malaga to Seville: Nice drive with a stop at Ronda. a good place to visit.
Seville: Pablo was the guide for the walking tour of Seville. He was also very good. The hotel - H10 Corregidor was good.
Cordoba: The train trip was convenient. We found Cordoba to be the most be the most beautiful mosque/cathedral. Our guide was Saray although the app said it would be Enrique. She did a good job.
Lisbon: Filipa Santos gave us the walking tour of Lisbon. She was excellent - and also very knowledgeable. We got a great understanding of Portugal history.
For the Belem tour by tuk-tuk our guide was Davide. It was a good experience.
Lisbon Roots, Food and Cultural Walk: Sofia was the guide - and amongst all the guides we had - she was the best. She taught us so much and she did it in such a personal way it was outstanding. The food choices and her tour of the neighborhoods was wonderful.
Sintra, Cascais tour: Paulo Pires was our driver and guide for the day. He is excellent - so personally committed to providing the best service. He also gave us such great information and made us feel special.
We saw a Fado show on our own and that was a great cultural experience.
Lisbon to Porto via Obidos and Nazare: Nuno was our driver and guide for the day. He was also very caring and knowledgeable. Had a wonderful day.
The hotel room in Lisbon - Madalena - was good. However the breakfast was lacking in quality compared to the Spain hotels.
Porto: Pedro Nelson was our guide. We liked Porto also and Pedro gave us a good walking tour.
Douro Valley: Gustavo was our driver and guide for the day. He also was excellent. The winery selected (Maos) was truly a unique personal experience. It was unique because we met the owner and shared a meal with him. We have seen wineries in many regions around the world but the tour here was so personal.
Madrid: Walking tour with Hector

Hotel Reviews

Zinema7

San Sebastian (Guipuzcoa)

Probably teh best hotel choice on the trip. Excellent room, great service, very nice restaurant and wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

7 Islas Hotel

Madrid

Nice hotel - rooms are good size and comfortable. Breakfast was good. Location is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto Charming Hotel

Porto

Hotel is very basic - and did not fit the quality fo the other hotels on the trip. Room was tiny with very basic amenities. Almost like a hostel. Breakfast was limited in quality and variety. One day they were 30 minutes late in opening and our tour got a bit delayed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Madalena by The Beautique Hotels

Lisbon

Location is great. Hotel looks renovated - in a unique style. Breakfast was below average. Food quality and variety was limited.

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast quality is average at best.

H10 Corregidor Boutique Hotel

Sevilla

Good hotel. Room was tiny. Nicely located. Breakfast was good. Staff is very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiny room.

Molina Lario Hotel

Málaga

The hotel is excellent and the staff helpful. The breakfast included was very high quality. The car access to the hotel is not the best and this will only impact people driving.

Authenticity & Character

Very new

Location

Centrally located.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacio de Santa Inés

Granada

Very nice hotel in the central part of Granada. Its a heritage building and unique. The staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walking Madrid’s Old Town

Madrid

A very nice walking tour of the center of Madrid. An educational trip to learn about the history of the city and its evolution. We saw teh palace from outside) adn various neighborhoods.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was Hector. He is very knowledgeable about Madrid and all of Spain from a historical perspective. He was able to tell us a lot about the city and country and also the neighborhoods of the city.

Transport

It was a great walking tour.

Tapas & Tradition: A Madrileño Evening

Madrid

We went to 4 different tapas restaurants and tasted their specialty tapas in each. From garlic shrimp to tuna on toast and many other delicacies we got to taste some excellent tapas and drink some wonderful wine. A great ecperteince because these were not the typical tourney places.

Quality of Experience

Food

The tapas was fantastic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was Noemi and she did a great job of taking us to all these places and explaining the different dishes.

Transport

It was walking tour and we got a great look at Madrid centro

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Douro Valley is an amazing place to grow grapes for wine. It is a large valley with the Douro river flowing through it. Very picturesque. Vines are planted all the way to the top of the hills. The river cruise was beautiful - very peaceful. The best part of the day was the wine tasting. We were taken to a small privately owned winery. Our host treated us to the wines from his estate which were excellent and also to a homemade lunch which was also excellent. We then took a short walk through his vineyard to get a first hand look at how they grow grapes and some of the challenges they face.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gustavo was our driver and guide for the day. He did a great job driving us and also telling us a lot about wine making in the region. He is an excellent guide.

Transport

The trip was safe and comfortable.

Private Guided Visit of Porto

Porto

Porto is a beautiful small town. We had a good walking tour of the city ending near the river. We then had lunch at a restaurant along the river and visited one of the tasting centers for port wine. As teh gateway o Douro valley its a must see town in Portugal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pedro Nelson was our guide. He told us a lot of great stories about life in Porto and pointed out many interesting spots in the city.

Transport

The walking tour was very good.

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Nazaré & Óbidos

Portugal

Obidos is a cool medieval town. We had a nice walk thru the town, stopping at some of the small shops along the main street. The views from the ramparts fo the fort were beautiful as we looked out on green farms all around. Nazare' is a very nice beach town that is known for its wide and long beach. In winter, the waves are ideal for surfing although at this time in teh summer the Atlantic was very calm. We had a nice lunch along the beach and then got some good views from the top of the cliff looking down on the beach.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nuno was our driver and guide for the day. He did a great job of driving us to Porto adn stopping at Obidos and Nazare. He is very knowledgeable about the country and was happy to share his thoughts on many aspects of life in Portugal.

Transport

Comfortable car.

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Definitely worth doing this trip to Sintra and Cascais. Sintra ia a beautiful town in the hills. The weather was lovely. The beaches near Sintra were also beautiful. Cascais was more like a beach resort town and somewhat touristy. We had a nice lunch at a local spot in the hills that Paolo, our guide. knew. The food was fantastic there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paolo was with us for the whole day. He did a great job showing us the area adn giving us a lot of information. HE also introduced us to his wife who runs her own coffee shop in Sintra. That was a special treat.

Transport

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

This walking tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Portugal. The food and tour of the neighborhoods was so educational. Lisbon has a great history with the intermingling of so many cultures. The food on the tour reflected that history and heritage.

Quality of Experience

Food

The selections of all the food and more importantly Sofia's explanations to what she chose them and the relationship with Lisbon was fantastic.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was Sofia. While all our guides were great, Sofia was outstanding. She loves what she does and so proud of the heritage of Lisbon. She explained all the history adn took care to respond to all our questions. She showed us so many corners of Lisbon. Thank you Sofia.

Transport

Its a walking tour. great exercise especially when one is eating all along teh way.

Go West to Belém by Tuk-Tuk

Lisbon

Riding in a tuk-tuk was fun - a bit touristy but worth it. The highlights of the tour was the Belem tour (a must see in Lisbon) adn tasting the pastels in the 1837 bakery that makes and sells them. It would have been better to spend a few more minutes at the monastery which has some amazing architecture rather than at the shops in the converted factory.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Davide was our guide and driver of the tun-tuk. He did a good job explaining what we were seeing along the way.

Transport

Tuk-tuk is a fun experience.

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Lisbon is a beautiful city and very walkable. This tour is a must do when in Lisbon. Our guide, Filipa Santos, did a great job in explaining the history of Lisbon and some fun facts like how Ian Fleming was inspired to create James Bond while in Lisbon. Seeing the different neighborhoods and their unique characters was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Filipa Santos was our guide - she is excellent and very knowledgeable about the history of Lisbon. She gave us a ton of information about Lisbon which added a lot of context to what we were seeing in the city.

Transport

It was a walking tour so one needs to be ready for a long walk. Lisbon is also hilly so there are some fairly steep slopes.

Córdoba Revealed: From Mezquita to the Alcázar

Seville

After seeing Alhambra (Granada) and Alcazar (Seville) and Alcazaba (Malaga) we thought Cordoba might be similar. But as we stepped into the mosque/cathedral in Cordoba we were awe-struck. This place is perhaps the most beautiful historical site in all of Spain. The beauty of the architecture fo the building and the combination of the mosque and cathedral is just magnificent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Saray was our guide for Cordoba. She did a great job in walking us thru the town including the Jewish Quarter and the mosque/cathedral.

Transport

The train ride back and forth from Seville was easy and very convenient.

Monumental Seville on Foot & Visit Real Alcázar

Seville

Beautiful city walking tour with Pedro. Seville has a beautiful town center. Alcazar has some similarities with Alhambra in Granada but has its own charm. Again, great history. We had a nice lunch in town before walking back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pablo did a great job in explaining the history of the town in the context fo Spain's history.

Sunset Sailing on the Mediterranean

Málaga

Cruise around the port of Malaga was good. Compared to all the other activities that were in small groups, this tour was on a large boat which was quite full and crowded. However, people were having a good time. We enjoyed it for teh views of the Mediterranean sea, and the city and its surroundings.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff on teh boat were helpful

Transport

Boat itself was good.

A Night of Flamenco in a Sacromonte Cave

Granada

This flamenco performance is different (in a good way) from the typical flamenco dances one sees in restaurants and other places. The ladies are not dressed in the fancy clothes, they dont use castanets for sound of the beat. Instead they are dressed in plain dress that perhaps were the type won by the people in teh villages who danced flamenco. It felt very authentic and original.

Quality of Experience

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Alhambra is fantastic. The history, architecture and the way it has been maintained is wonderful. The tour was well conducted by our guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very good. Sorry I forget his name. I think it was Nacho.

A Day in Pamplona with Local Guide

San Sebastián

One of the highlights of the entire trip! The experience of seeing the "running of the bulls" was exhilarating. IT was short trip since we had to return to San Sebastien to catch a flight. But we were able to see the running of the bulls from a balcony. The hosts were very nice and provided us with a basic breakfast. After the running, we walked the entire route and got a good look at the town of Pamplona. There was an amazing party atmosphere with thousands of people attending the festival.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diego is an excellent guide. He is so committed to making sure his guests have a good time. HE told us a lot about Basque history, the history of bull fighting and ensured that we got a good view. He took pictures and sent them to us - to add to what pictures we took.

Transport

Even with a tight timeline, Diego was able to get us back in good time for our flight.

Bilbao & Gaztelugatxe in a Day: Neighborhoods & Guggenheim

San Sebastián

We had a great time on this tour with the same guides as for Rioja. Gaztelugatxe was excellent. The walking tour of Bilbao was also good. However, I think the tour can be modified to allow for more time at teh Guggenheim. We got only 1 hour and 15 minutes which was not really enough. Some time could have been reduced at both Bilbao and Gaztelugatxe to allow more time at Guggenheim.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Joeglu and Arri did a great job. They were great hosts and guides.

Transport

Discover Rioja: Wineries, Tastings & Regional Cuisine

San Sebastián

Excellent tour of Rioja wine country. Choice of wineries was good. Laguardia was also good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Joseglu (driving) and Arri (trainee) were the guides. Both were genuinely interested in showing us and giving us a lot of information . They did a great job. Very personable.

Transport

San Sebastian Pintxo Experience

San Sebastián

Great exposure to the pinto culture of San Sebastien. Good choice of restaurants. Food was great and so were the choice of wines.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit of San Sebastian

San Sebastián

Very good tour. Great views of the city. However, the walking was a bit much. The walk back from the hill (with the funicular) back to Old Town seemed repetitive and if possible could be avoided.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amaia was excellent. She is so knowledgeable and authentic. she was truly caring about our needs adn questions.

We could use Nancy's itinerary very effectively as she gave us several options for the day. The hotels she booked were very convenient to the rail stations which made navigating our outings very easy. All but one hotel was perfect, the one was just a bit older and the sleeping situation was a bit uncomfortable. Overall, the trip was great and we will work with KimKim for another destination.

We had an incredible time in Iceland. The views, sights, and experiences were unforgettable. We booked a whale-watching tour with Elding and saw some Minke whales and a humpback whale. We also booked a glacier lagoon boat tour as well and were amazed at the icebergs and blue glacier water. The kids had a fantastic time and truly enjoyed themselves. Hrifunes Nature Park was fantastic views from our cabin.

Gummi, thank you very much for all of your help in arranging our trip. Our itinerary was perfect, and we liked that we could customize it, especially when traveling with children. Your tips and commentary were very helpful. I think this was the best way to travel in Iceland and we had a lot of freedom to choose what we wanted to do and see. I looked at other Iceland travel sites and we were limited to certain choices of activities that didn't suit us, so we're so happy we found KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hótel Vestmannaeyjar

Westman Islands

Rooms are small, but it has all that you need, except it didn't have a fridge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hrifunes Nature Park

Hrífunes

This is a cabin off the beaten path. About 6 km of gravel road to get to (30 minutes away from Vik), but well worth it for the privacy and amazing views. The firewood hot tub will take 4-5 hours to warm up. Sauna inside was perfect and we enjoyed that. There is a washing machine and dryer, and they left a few detergent tabs for us to use, along with a drying rack. The staff was friendly. We loved our stay there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stracta Hotel

Hella

The restaurant in the hotel was okay. Food took a while to arrive. Rooms were very spacious and beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Guesthouse Aurora

Reykjavík

The guesthouse is practical for cost-savings, but note that it means a shared bathroom. It was a bit of an inconvenience, especially with children, but other than that that it was fine. Our second stay was in the studio in the top floor and we had our own space and bathroom, which was really nice. The breakfast every morning was great. Lots of choices of food items.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to downtown Reykjavik

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Beluga whales & Puffin Sanctuary

Westman Islands

Kids loved the private tour and learning about what they do at the center.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My three adult children and I went to Morocco in July fo 8 days. The planning rocess (with Hamza) was so easy. Every question I asked (which were MANY), were answered so completely and throuroughly. After I paid I communicated with Said and he was equally as throrough.

Upon arrival we were met by Ilyace, our driver for our entire trip. He was kind, respectful, helpful, informative, timely and overall a perfect guide for us. He spoke excellend english so communication was perfect! He drove so well. He obeyed all speed limits and I felt very safe driving all over the country with him.

While doing long drives he pointed out so many interesting places. He also made sure we were comfortable.

The entire trip from start to finish was truly amazing. My only complaint (if you want to call it that), was that I was disappointed in our dinner with a local family (I was actually looking forward to this the most). We were told we could be in the kitchen and learn to prepare Moroccon food. It wasnt like that. The night was a bit awkward and the mom did not come out of the kitchen until after we ate. Our tour guide, me, my kids and , the dad ate together (the son was present but did not eat and the young daughter was too shy). It was not an interactive meal. Our driver and the dad had a previous rapport and they spoke a lot together, but this made it awkward for my family. After dinner there was some music and a little dancing and the mom did Henna on me and my daughter. Overall, this night was extremely disappointing.

Please know that the rest of the trip ws amazing! We travel a lot and this was pretty much in our top three favorite trips! We have NEVER done a tour before and this made the trip so relaxing. As the mom and typical vacation planner in the family, I did not have to worry about anything!! So fun!!

HIGHLIGHTS:
Marakesh-market, square and tour of the palace
Sahara desert--amazing!!
The Blue CIty -wonderful!!

The people in Morocco were so friendly and helpful. We felt very safe throughout our trip. People do try to sell you things EVERYWHERE so even looking and browsing is difficult as the shopkeepers keep trying to sell you things. That was a turn off to me, especially in the rug shops, fabric shops, etc.

If you are not interested in rugs and larger items I would recommend skipping those tours as they are all about the sales.
The tannery tour was informative and the tour guide did not hound us to by things.

Go to MOROCCO and have fun!!!

Brenda :

Hanna was so responsive and truly met our travel needs. Everything was well documented and in a flowing fashion for easy travel. All of her suggestions were spot on! Loved it!

Deborah planned a perfect trip for my sister and I to visit Italy together. We requested a more laid-back itinerary without visits to the usual sights because we had been there previously, and Deborah did an excellent job of planning alternative options like wine tastings, tours by boat, and opportunities to enjoy each place we visited. We visited Lake Como with a private tour of several locations on the lake, as well as Florence where we took a variety of day trips into surrounding Tuscany (including Siena, and San Gimignano, and Cince Terre). We also planned to attend a concert in Milan, and Deborah was able to incorporate our plans into her itinerary as well. Something really helpful was that she established "chaperones" in each city that met us at the airport, train station, or at our hotels to receive us when traveling from another city and help make sure we were settled. Deborah was thoughtful, friendly, and efficient with our trip plan, and even went so far as to book us a new tour when one of ours was canceled at the last minute while we were en route to Italy. We received a message when we arrived at the airport that she had booked us a new tour so that we didn't even have to worry about it which was amazing. We felt she took great care in making sure we were pleased with our trip before, during, and after. Thank you Deborah for a memorable trip!

I could not recommend Mathia more highly! From the first contact he was knowledgeable, professional, supportive, and flexible. He went over several options for our trip, giving great advice for transport and other considerations. The booking process was easy and transparent. Once we were travelling it became apparent what a phenomenal job Mathia did for us. Every hotel was brilliantly selected for comfort, location, ease of arrival, uniqueness, everything. Each place was better than the last. Mathia also went out of his way to secure a hotel we originally didn't get a booking for as well. All the travel details were clear and easy to follow, he even made sure to book us seats on the best side of the train for the journey! And on the road he was kind enough to check in with us daily to make sure all was going well, helping with extra bookings for events and providing great recommendations for activities. Overall, 10 out of 10 experience with Mathia, would encourage anyone to travel with him and his team. Thank you Mathia, we had a great time in Norway thanks to you!

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hotel

ÅNDALSNES

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Union

Geiranger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Fjord Safari Taste

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

He was accommodating to the individual changes and requests that we made in the planning process. He seemed genuinely focussed on the type of trip we wanted and worked with us on a very short time frame which was great.

Hotel Reviews

El Mesón del Marqués

Valladolid

Authenticity & Character

It was not particularly "mexican" feeling

Location

Staff

The communication was very poor, we had medication that needed to be stored in a fridge and as there wasn't a fridge in the room and we had to ask several times for the medicine to be located. Often parts of our orders were missed at meal times.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom needed upgrading of facilities. It did not feel like the 5 star hotel it is listed as.

El Peregrino

Merida

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was further from the city centre than we would have liked.

Staff

The receptionist was very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Diablo y la Sandia Boca del Monte

Authenticity & Character

The open kitchen and connection between yourself and other guests and the staff.

Location

A short walk to the town square.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tamara Hotel

Puebla

Authenticity & Character

It did not have a lot of "character" there was nothing wrong with it but it didn't exactly show off the country we were visiting.

Location

Walking distance to the main town centre and the view from the rooftop is amazing.

Staff

Everyone on reception was incredibly helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Punto Mx

Mexico City

Authenticity & Character

It was a great hotel but didn't feel authentically Mexican.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ek Balam Archaeological Site, Xcanche Cenote & Village Tour

Ek Balam

The archaeological highlight of our trip, it was increblie to see something still being restored and be part of that time. The cenote was incredible.

Immerse Yourself in the Peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote

Mexico

Explore Chichén Itzá: A Wonder of the Mayan World

Mexico

The site itself is an incredible experience. The only downside was that our guide, although knowledgable was not particularly personable and did not cater his "speech" to us as a group or take into account information about previous trips that he had asked us about.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He needed to be more responsive to the answers we gave following his questions about what we had seen and done already rather than being so scripted.

Kabah Archaeological Sites

Uxmal

A quiet site with a genuine opportunity to see the archaeological and restorative process

Uxmal, a city with Puuc style

Mexico

A not to be missed site.

Monte Albán and the alebrijes workshop: an unforgettable experience

Oaxaca

Monte Alban surpassed all our expectations of a historic site and we loved the chance to explore it. The quiet afternoon painting was a great family friendly moment

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rural cooking workshop in Oaxaca

Oaxaca

The market was incredible and we learned a lot. During the actual cooking time everyone was so attentive to us and got our daughter involved in everything demonstrating incredible patience and care for her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

Great vehicle and knowledgeable and friendly guide

See Teotihuacan by Hot Air Balloon

Mexico

The hot air balloon experience was great, our issues with this trip was the bad organisation of transport and the conflicting reasons we were given for a pick up that happened over an hour late. It was a shame that such an amazing opportunity was tainted by poor communication and service to start our day.

Transport

Our collection in the morning was a complete disaster, we were told we would be picked up at 4.30 am and no one showed up until 5.40am (after the time we should have arrived at our experience). We were given 3 different stories about what happened that morning which left us feeling disappointed in the experience and unsure of who was truly at fault in the process.

Sweets & streets! Family-Friendly Historic Center Tour

Mexico City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Clara was INCREDIBLE and really paid attention to our family and adjusted the tour accordingly. We loved our time with her.

Biking in Teotihuacán "The City of the Gods" & Overnight in Puebla

Mexico

This tour was incredible, the guide was super knowledgable and very personable with us.

Quality of Experience

Even when one of the bikes had a flat tire, the guide was very quick to resolve the problem and was solution focussed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Incredibly knowledgeable and friendly.

Our initial introduction to Barcelona was not the best. We were picked up by a driver and a guide, who was pleasant enough, but her English was so poor that none of us really understood anything that she was saying to us, and the driving tour was less than informative because of that. in addition, we were told that she would take us to a restaurant that she recommended to have lunch and she took us to the top floor of the mall which has beautiful views of the city, but the restaurant she took us to was awful. Most of what we ordered was inedible and I would get that off the list immediately .
The hotel, the Petit Palace BoqueriaGarden, was in the perfect location just a block off Las Ramblas and the rooms were small, but very nice. All the rest of the Recommended Restaurants were delicious.
Our guide the next day, Anna, was absolutely fabulous and we all loved the walking tour that she took us on through the Gothic quarter and the Jewish quarter, and then la sagrada Familia. Then she recommended a delicious restaurant for lunch, Las Sorrentinas, we liked so much we considered going back to it the next day.
And the next day we went on the park view tour, and although our guide was very good, we feel like that tour was misrepresented in the description, especially when the teenagers in our group were looking forward to seeing the dungeons in the castle on Monjuic but when we got there, we discovered that the dungeons were no longer being Open to the public so that was a big disappointment. As a result, we could have done without that tour.
And the next day, the car was delivered to our hotel, and although there was a bit of confusion, initially, it all went well, and we headed out of town. We absolutely adored our hotel, the Hotel Diana, and Tossa De Mar, which is a fabulous little Beachside resort.
The following day we had our hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and even some cliff, jumping experience with our fabulous guide Stepan who really made the whole experience so memorable and fun.
On the way back to Barcelona, the van broke down on the highway and the travel care team was instrumental in getting the van towed and a taxi to pick us up and get us to the airport in time for our flight so that we are very thankful for them. There was some confusion as we were getting mixed results from the care team and the Tow truck company, but we finally figured it all out and it all ended well

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Diana

Tossa de Mar

Perfect location right on the beach and a magnificent building and interior design. boutique style hotel with lovely and accommodating staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Petit Palace Boquería Garden

Barcelona

Beautiful hotel in a fabulous location with a lovely staff and lovely gardens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to lots of charming shops and just off La Ramblas

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Costa Brava: Kayaking, Snorkeling & Scenic Coastal Walks

Spain

Everything about it was just right! Our guide, Stepan, was fabulous, and we recommend it so highly

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona Old Town & Sky Views

Barcelona

We probably could have done without this tour. Some of the territory we covered was repetitive, and the castle that we went to visit was not completely opened and therefore misrepresented in the description. we had hoped to see the dungeons, but they are no longer open to the public and that was one of the reasons we booked that tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona Highlights: Guided Walk & Iconic Sagrada Família

Barcelona

Anna, our guide was fabulous and knowledgeable and so enthusiastic!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helena was a great help in planning our trip to Spain. It took us awhile to get it together but she really helped in narrowing things down. Our guide Jeanne in Barcelona for the best tapas was fun & knowledgeable. So was the rest of our guides Diana (La Sagrada de Familia), Alex for Monserrat & wine tasting, Carmen in Tarragona, Javi for excursion of hiking & visiting a castle in Madrid and Brad the walking tour of Madrid City and lastly in Valencia our bike tour guide (can’t remember her name but she was amazing). Everyone of guide are amazing!