Kimkim Trip Reviews

Angela made planning this trip so easy and was very helpful along every step of the way. She was always very quick to respond with any questions or issues we had and made sure to communicate any trip changes to us by both messaging us and informing our guides to let us know.

Our hotels were all clean, nice, and in great locations! Angela took into account my biggest request for accommodation which was to be centrally located and close to town/our activities.

Most of our planned activities were great and exactly as described. Some of my favorite activities were the Athens Highlights Mythology Tour, Plaka Sunset Walking Tour in Athens, the Milos Off-Road Experience, the Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Santorini, and the Naxos Culinary Tour. All of our tour guides were knowledgeable and and enjoyable to listen to/interact with.

We really enjoyed the Naxos Culinary Tour and had a fun time with the tour guide Alex. It was great meeting the locals and watching the pottery demonstration and helping cook our lunch for the day on the farm. I would recommend adding into the description to skip breakfast or eat a very light breakfast because we were absolutely stuffed by the time we were done with the tour!

Naxos was our favorite island - I would highly recommend it! It had beautiful beaches as well as an immersive feel of actually interacting with locals outside of the tourism industry. We also really enjoyed our scuba diving lesson. I really appreciated that Angela took our interests into account when selecting our itinerary of islands because I know we wouldn't have enjoyed this trip if we did only the most popular islands.

Out of all of our planned activities there were 2 that need improvement/more accurate descriptions. The first being the Kimolos Tour from Milos. I really enjoyed the island of Kimolos but unfortunately we weren't able to get the full experience because all of the museums were closed on the day we went there. We had 3 full days in Milos so it seems like it would have been easy to schedule this on a different day. Additionally, our tour was impacted by a misread/miscommunication on the ferry schedules. The tour company planned for us to take the ferry leaving at 11:15am but didn't read the schedule closely enough and the ferry actually didn't come until 12:30pm so we missed out on over an hour of being in Kimolos. It was also our guide's first time doing this tour in Kimolos so that added to the fact that we didn't have enough time because he was having to find his way around. I will say at least our guide was very knowledgeable about Milos so as we waited over an hour for the ferry he was able to take us to some spots close by in Milos to show us so it wasn't a total waste of time.

The other tour that was not as described was the Magnificent Sunrise in Santorini. The description listed a "fully stacked breakfast box" and listed a bunch of goodies including eggs, yogurt, spinach pie, bread, etc. What we actually got was a stop at a bakery along the way where we each chose one pie and one beverage to take with us. I also expected that there would be some sore of nice area to relax in (like a sun bed or beach chair) but we were simply taken to the public beach area and told we could sit on the public bench and eat or walk along the beach. It was a bit awkward cause we sat on the bench and ate our pies while the driver and "guide" just sat in the car right next to us.

Overall we really enjoyed this trip. Most of all I enjoyed how easy to plan it was and how organized it all was.

Hotel Reviews

Korali Palace Hotel

Naxos

We loved the breakfast each morning -- very authentic with lots of options for many different hot dishes and sides. The room was beautiful and clean. Staff was friendly and helpful. We loved our private balcony. Location was very close to shopping areas, restaurants, and the beach. Check in and check out was fast and easy and they were very helpful with our bags.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Blue Dolphins Hotels & Villas

Firostefani, Santorini

View from our shared balcony was breathtaking!! We also absolutely loved our breakfast tray each morning. So tasty and authentic. We also loved that we could choose the exact time we wanted our breakfast delivered and that we could eat out on the balcony and soak in the views each morning. One complaint was about the smells sometimes. Light sewage smell...

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Garifalakis Comfort Rooms

Milos

The owner of this hotel lived close by and was so nice! She remembered us and always checked in when she saw us. Check in and check out was easy and simple. Room was clean and comfortable. Only complaint with this hotel is the bathroom -- the floor is made of rocks which is uncomfortable to stand on and the shower is open to the room with no curtain so water gets everywhere even if you are careful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close enough to walk to all restaurants and stores.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

33 Solonos Suites

Athens

Love that we didn't have to deal with a lengthy check in process. We were given simple, easy to follow directions for getting our room key. Hotel staff was quick to respond when we had an issue with a tripped breaker and the power went out in our room. They arrived within about 30 minutes and got it fixed very quickly. Room was very modern and clean. Location was awesome -- close enough to be within walking distance of all major tourist attractions but also in a nicer, quieter location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Scuba Diving in Naxos

Naxos

Our instructor was very helpful and good at explaining everything we needed to know to be safe in the water. It was fun that she pointed out different sea creatures while we were on the dive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Naxos Culinary Tour

Greece

We both loved this experience getting to see some of the Naxos country side on the way to the farm and pottery workshop. Unfortunately there was no olive oil factory/sampling as was included in the description. The pottery shop was very cool and watching the demonstration of the traditional Naxian designs was amazing! I loved getting to shop around for some unique handmade items to take home with me. We also really enjoyed the meal and learning how to make it as well as seeing all of the farm animals and helping to feed some of them!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naxos Old Town Flavors

Greece

Really enjoyed this tour and our guide Alex. The different tastings were fun and interesting. The highlight for me was the Venetian castle. The dinner was also very delicious at the restaurant. One improvement would be more stops for pictures along the way. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get many that evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Santorini

This was the perfect length to be able to enjoy sailing, swimming, and the food without growing tired. The weather was on our side for this sailing cruise, wasn't too windy. The dinner was very delicious with several different dishes to try. The staff was excellent and made sure we were all having a good time while also being safe. Only downside was the disembarkation back to the port which was very busy with lots of boats all unloading at the same time at a very small port.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magnificent Sunrise 2023

Greece

The description said "Your breakfast box will be filled with local, homemade goodies: country bread, Brioche, Cake, Biscuits, Honey, Marmalade, Butter, Yogurt with honey and walnuts, Fried egg, Country spinach pie, Juice/Coffee/Milk, Bread Sticks." What we actually got was a stop along the way at a bakery to pick out one pie and one beverage each. That is a big difference! Felt like they should have been prepared with the food already on hand so we wouldn't have to leave as early. Additionally -- I would have expected somewhere nice to sit with comfortable chairs or sun beds to relax and enjoy the morning. Especially since the beach there was fairly rocky so it is uncomfortable to sit/walk on. All we got was a public bench with graffiti on it. It was also awkward that the driver and "guide" were sitting in the car parked right next to us. I felt like we couldn't enjoy the "carefree day on the beach" with them sitting there right next to us waiting the whole time. If we had not done this activity and just had breakfast at our hotel we would have gotten a much better meal with a much nicer view and somewhere comfortable to sit.

Quality of Experience

All time classic Santorini 2023

Greece

Best parts of the day were the archeological sites and museum. The tour guide for the first part of the day for the ruins and museum unfortunately was hard to understand and seemed to stop to explain stuff in weird locations, but I still enjoyed it. I also really loved the stop in Kamari for individual exploring/shopping. I also loved the look out view point from the highest part of the island. The parts that could use some improvement were the lunch/wine tasting and evening cocktail. I think the time spent at lunch and the cocktail was a bit too long. The view of the sunset for cocktails wasn't as good as I was hoping as well. The food during the lunch was pretty good, however. There were 2 different "beach" stops on the itinerary but it wasn't clear if there was going to be swimming or not so the communication on that end could be improved. Honestly the red beach stop should be removed from the itinerary as the beach is closed and the view is much better from a boat than you can see on land.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I loved the guide in the afternoon -- he was very personable and knowledgeable about the island. The female guide in the morning was difficult to understand.

Transport

Kimolos Tour from Milos

Greece

There was misinformation regarding the ferry timing. We were picked up from our hotel at 10:15am to get to the ferry - literally less than 10 minutes from our hotel. We waited for over 40 minutes for the ferry which turned out not to be coming until 12:15pm! Luckily our guide was able to take us to the papafragas caves and talk with us about the history of those while we waited so we had something to do. We had more than 1 hr less in Kimolos than we originally should have had. Additionally - the museums were all closed so we didn't get to visit those. This was our tour guides first time doing the Kimolos tour so there was some confusion about where to go for certain sites which also wasted some time. I did really enjoy walking through the capital city and visiting some shops there. Personally, I would take out the beach time in Kimolos as the beach we went to was pretty rocky and spend more time at the sites unique to Kimolos.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Sailing Tour Around Milos (Catamaran from Adamas)

Greece

We saw some absolutely beautiful sites that we otherwise would not have been able to see on this boat tour which was really fun. Unfortunately the weather was very windy and it was a little chilly that day which had a big impact on our enjoyment of this tour. The morning was a bit stressful as there were several different boat tours all leaving at the same time with different companies and we did not know which one we were supposed to be on for a while as it was a bit of a madhouse. I think this day would have been more enjoyable if the boat cruise was a little shorter. By the end of the day we were worn out and sick of the constant wind/cold. The sea was pretty rough towards the end of the day too. The staff was all excellent and we did have a lot of yummy food. They did the best they could with the weather.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milos Off-Road Experience

Greece

Loved that we were able to go to less populated areas of the island which definitely made it seem more personal/special. The mines were very interesting to walk through and our guide got some great pictures of us! It was great that he was from Milos and was very knowledgeable about everything/everyone!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sounio Sunset tour

Athens

Enjoyed our time with the guide Elena and the driver Mario. They made the long drive interesting. I enjoyed seeing this temple very much and the sunset was beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Boat Tour Unique Sailing Experience to Agistri Moni Aegina with round transfers

Greece

Loved the lunch served on board - lots of authentic greek dishes that were very tasty. There were long stretches of time of sailing in the morning and evening but it was very pleasant from the top deck. The islands we visited were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Plaka Sunset Walking Tour

Greece

One of my favorite tours. Our guide (can't remember her name) was so knowledgeable and entertaining for us. She had lots of anecdotes. She did great pointing out good spots to stop and take pictures and didn't make me feel bad for wanting to stop to grab a picture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Our guide on this tour (Anastasia) was engaging and knowledgeable. Tour was well-paced and interesting for all participants. Tour group size was manageable and not too large.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a fantastic vacation! Our favorite activity was the Ramen Cooking Class in Kyoto. Thank you!

Bruno was absolutely fantastic from the initial planning stages giving us good info and itineraries to look over and then on the trip providing us best parking locations and spots to visit for the following day. It was great not having to think about any of that and just concentrate on getting to the locations Bruno gave us. Along with this to have daily restaurant recommendations was also really good 😊

The KimKim team did an amazing job planning and executing our family trip to Greece.
Wehad drivers and guides and all were opposite the cruise ship drop off and other
added folks into the cities.
Our guide for the Acropolis, the city tour in Chania and the Hike in Crete were all amazing!
Not only informative but they were all so compassionate about the job they were doing!
Our drivers in Athens and Crete we awesome and safe and prompt.
I cannot say the same thing for our drivers in Santorini, first one was nice enough but on his phone the entire time and should have spent more time watching the road. The second driver taking us to an event, was late and not "because of traffic", because there was none. He also had mutliple signs in his vehicle to tip him! Unprofessional in my opinion. I will not tip when someone tells me to do so. Our Third driver picked us up from our sunset cruise and obviously thought he was a nightclub. the musinc an lights were super loud and bright. We asked to lower the volume to no avail. In addition the speed he drove was unacceptable! It was unsafe for everyone! Also he decided to take a longer route and drop us off last , intersting. He must have had some personal issues. Also he did have an extra body on the van that he was delivering too,

We had an amazing time on our trip in Ecuador. The hotels were perfect, providing clean places to sleep along with delivering character. All of our guides along the way were kind, punctual, and very informative. Mathias met us on the second day and checked in regularly with us. Santiago was so fun and informative on our bike tour. Alerio was wonderful. He was patient and fun and very informative. We really enjoyed our time with him.

The whole trip ran smoothly and according to plan. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Huasquila Amazon Lodge

Cotundo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Floresta

Baños

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rafting Río Jatunyacu

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pailón del Diablo Waterfall & Canyon Exploration in the Amazon

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Llanganates

Baños

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Cotopaxi & Transfer to Baños

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Quilotoa Lake & Transfer to Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caving at The Temple of Ceremony

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class

Quito

The staff was very kind and welcoming. The food was out of this world delicious. I only wished we were able to learn more about the food preparation to have more of a cooking lesson.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Bike Tour

Quito

The trip was fantastic and a great day to start our time in Quito. Santiago was really fun and informative. We learned a lot about the city and chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing journey perfectly planned through the cities of Oxford, Bath, and Cotswalds and ended in the big citiy of London. Marion did a wonderful job picking accomodations for my family of 4. She picked a variety of activities of relaxation and action days too. It was wonderful to see so many areas of the UK! We really appreciate all her hard work. The food tour in Bath was a huge favorite since we are foodies. We also loved the history in each city. The road book was awesome at suggestions. We would definitely look to use kimkim again for our next trip. Marion was also 2 steps ahead and made sure we knew what to expect and shared lots of great details. Summer 2023 to rememeber!

Sincerely,
Lesley Bush

Robi did a fantastic job arranging our transportation and tours in Croatia. The communication throughout the process was impeccable, even when our flight was delayed.

I connected with Kelly on Kimkim and she helped me plan a fun and relaxing trip to Thailand. From the start, Kelly gave me a great itinerary. There were some things I wanted to do, and she was able to make it fit into the itinerary. I was also picky with my hotels, but Kelly was patient and helped me find the perfect ones! My tour guide in Bangkok, Tammy, was very friendly and helpful. She was very knowledgeable on the history of Thailand and on the temples we visited. Vicky, my tour guide in Chiang Mai, was also great! She was able to show me the area and how it’s different than Bangkok. She also gave great recommendations on what to do during my free time. Overall fantastic experience!

The whole team, led by Effie, was very responsive and did their best to make my experience a smashing success! It was :)

I also had an incredible food tour organized through KimKim with Bianca. It was like touring Athens with a friend who was from the city. Great experience all around!

Hotel Review

Athens Ivy Suites

Athens

Nice hotel centrally located. Bed was comfortable and lots of space in my suite. Great experience overall!

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Athens Food Tour

Athens

This was such a fantastic tour led by an incredible person - Bianca. It was like touring with a very knowledgeable friend from Athens that I had know for years. The tour sites and food were also outstanding. It is a great way to get a sense of the culture and flavours of the city and country.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Epidaurus & Mycenae One Day Group Tour from Athens

Greece

I really appreciated the guide and tour. It brought everything to life!

SkyTrek Monteverde: Wonderful! Transportation picked us up right on time. Check-in was easy and when my youngest was nervous about zip-lining they were supportive and kind. All the guides were excellent, instructions were clear, and safety measures were great. Zip-lining about the cloud forest, with a few birds flying near was beautiful. I only wish they had given notice in advance that the last zip line is tandem for anyone <200 pounds. My teenager was not excited to have to tandem ride with his mom ;)

Activity Review

Treetopia Zip Lines

Monteverde

Wonderful! Transportation picked us up on time. Check-in was easy and when my youngest was nervous about zip-lining they were supportive and kind. All the guides were excellent, instructions were clear, and safety measures were great. Zip-lining about the cloud forest, with a few birds flying near was beautiful. I only wish they had given notice in advance that the last zip line is tandem for anyone <200 pounds. My teenager was not excited to have to tandem ride with his mom ;)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I would thoroughly recommend Kim Kim tours
Expertly planned and executed
All guides were extremely informative and experienced
Great hotels in the best places
They were in contact with us throughout the tour to ensure we were happy and that we did not require anything
We did have one member of our group not well, but we got over that situation
We were never worried about this as we knew Kim Kim was there to help if we needed them

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa 1800

Granada

Very authentic hotel Afternoon tea is served complimentary each day Very unique experience

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Soho Boutique Catedral

Seville

Great location In pedestrian part of town No cara allowed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Villa de la Reina

Madrid

Nice casual bar area where you can feel part of Spain

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Granados 83

Barcelona

Great breakfasts Amazing staff in restaurant Good locations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Seville - Ronda with winery - Granada

Spain

Great tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of Seville old Quarter

Seville

Very good tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening out for flamenco & tapas in Triana Quarter

Seville

Took us to some lovely spots Very informative Great night out

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of the Habsburgs' Quarter & Royal Palace

Madrid

Very informative guide A little too informative in some places

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private driver from Granada to Tarifa port (Ferry to Tangier)

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Tour of the Art Walk & Prado Museum

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montserrat & Wine

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona private guided tour of Gaudi masterpieces: Guell Park and "Sagrada Familia" Cathedral.

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barcelona private guided walking tour of the Gothic quarter & Picasso Museum

Barcelona

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christina was great to work with on our trip planning and the emergency line was very responsive when we had issues with our luggage which required us to adjust our travel plans in real time. We appreciated Christina providing driving directions and links along with a schedule which included departure times to make it to our destinations. We had great experiences with the travel guides that were booked and would highly recommend both Fjaerland Guiding and Trolltunga Active.

Christina was the absolute best travel agent I’ve ever interacted with. She was clear in her comms, quick to respond and on top of things when there were (small) changes to the itinerary. She’s the sole reason I’d book through KimKim again.

A BIG thank you to Christina!

Best,
Nickel

My daughter and I traveled to Morocco for the first time. We had the most amazing time and experience! Our Driver, Faisal, was professional, courteous, helpful, and is someone I now consider a friend. He made sure we were comfortable, and took such good care of us. The tour guides in each city were so informative. We learned so much. This was one of our best trips ever!

Wow--what an incredible holiday in Costa Rica! We had a wonderful experience and are very pleased with kimkim--we would definitely recommend working with their team again. Fio was attentive to our requests and connected us with a fantastic local travel agency and expert, Nancy (Serendipity Adventures). Both Fio and Nancy were prompt to answer questions and help facilitate our travel needs--even when we were in the middle of traveling.
-3Monkies transportation was excellent. Drivers were always on time (usually 5-10 minutes early). Vans were spotless. Drivers were all very friendly and willing to accommodate any unscheduled stops. They were knowledgeable local resources and could answer any questions we had.
-Hacienda Guachipelin was EXCELLENT. Accommodations were very comfortable, restaurant options and food were fantastic, staff was very friendly and helpful. It was so convenient to have the activity center on the property--there was absolutely no feeling of a "vacation factory" (as I had read ahead of time). The activities were well organized and were thoughtfully integrated into their natural settings. The zip line through he canyon was fantastic. Waterfalls felt like a Costa Rican Shangri-La. Edward was a fantastic guide on the Las Pailas loop hike. The tubing was a blast.
-Hotel Mosque del Mar and Playa Hermosa was lovely. The pool area felt like a jungle oasis...but was dense with mosquitos.
-Kuna Vela sailing was NOT a catamaran...but rather a very nice sailboat. Our reservation was incorrectly made for 2 (instead of all 4 of us), but the staff was very accommodating and welcomed us all aboard. We had some higher swells on our sail, so the kids stayed in the back of the boat with the captain. He-and the entire Kuna Vela staff-were so friendly helpful, they really made the trip a hit with our family.
-The estuary mangrove tour in Tamarindo was excellent. The naturalist/boat captain was very knowledgeable and was able to point out many birds, plants, and crocodiles that we would have missed! This was a great activity that felt off the beaten path.
-Coco tours transportation was also excellent. Our driver was able to make a great lunch recommendation for us in Tamarindo.
-Nummbu Bungalows on Playa Carrillo was absolutely beautiful. Hotel staff was very friendly. Unfortunately our stay coincided with a group fitness retreat that dominated the property for the weekend--including a late night, thumping DJ party. Not the vibe we were hoping for. We were told this retreat is annual, so keep this in mind when booking in early June.
-Isla Chora ocean kayaking and snorkeling with Samara Adventures was a highlight!! We loved the open-air ride to the beach. The paddle to Isla Chora was so fun--we had turtles popping up to greet us along the way. The guides were very safety oriented and friendly. This was a fantastic family excursion--would highly recommend this.
We had such a wonderful time--Costa Rica, the beauty of the land, ocean and people, is truly a treasure of this planet!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelín

Liberia

Excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nammbú Beachfront Bungalows

Sámara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Isla Chora Ocean Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour

Costa Rica

Mangrove & Estuary Safari by Boat

Costa Rica

Sunset Catamaran Sailing Tour

Costa Rica

This was NOT a catamaran tour, rather a sailboat

Hike to Las Pailas, Rincon de la Vieja National Park and La Oropendola Waterfall

Costa Rica

One Day of Adventure in Hacienda Guachipelin

Costa Rica

Amazing and unforgettable time in Portugal!
It was our first time working with KimKim qnd can’t say enough about the experience. From the beginning, we were impressed at the level of responsiveness and the travel “quiz” to help build a memorable trip that was aligned with our level and activity and budget. We hit the jackpot with working with Karenina! She built a picture perfect trip- from beginning to finish. She included amazing excursions that we would have never experienced or known about without her. She coordinated everything from excursions to private transfers. Each guide was wonderful, kind, knowledgeable and you can tell really enjoyed sharing the amazing culture, history and oftentimes - food with us! Karenina reached out two weeks ahead of time to confirm everything and provide helpful hints and she was there via the app throughout our time-
If we had any questions and just to check in with us. Can’t say enough about our experience and working with her. Friends have asked “how did you build such a great trip” and I simply answer- Karenina! We will certainly work with her again on our next trip to Portugal and hopefully other locations. Many thanks to Karenina and the KimKim team!

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Steps away from the subway station/Metro and at a great location to walk and explore on the way towards the downtown area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Wonderful hotel, amazing decor -right next to airport!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across from the beautiful marina!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover Rural Algarve on a 4WD

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was amazing- customized the pace to our needs and enjoyed seeing things in and off the beaten path— an especially understanding the history more

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fátima Pilgrimage Site: Half-Day Excursion

Lisbon

A moving and memorable experience. Our private guide Paulo was superb. It was over an hour drive each way and yet he allowed as much time as we need at Fatima. We attended Mass, lit candles and he even ensured our statues/artifacts purchased were blessed by a priest. He went above and beyond and we are so grateful!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paulo is amazing. A wonderful person, guide and now friend!

Transport

Antonia, my specialist, worked with me for several months and organized a complex trip for our group of four. The whole journey felt like a total concierge trip, with four and five-star hotels, excellent service, and Antonia being available to us 24-7.

Some of the highlights of our trip included a truffle tour, Skokin caves in Slovenia, Plitvice National Park, and exploring Hvar with a local guide. We were treated like royalty throughout our trip, and Antonia made sure everything was taken care of, from our transportation to our accommodations.

There were a few hiccups with a couple of hotels, but overall, everything was perfect. The best part was having someone in the same time zone as us, making communication and problem-solving much easier.

I would highly recommend Kimkim to others looking for a seamless and luxurious travel experience, and I can't wait to book another trip with them in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Korsal

Korčula

We did not have a good experience here due to issues with the air conditioning and subpar staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel More

Dubrovnik

Although the room wasn't exceptional, the pool was amazing, and we had a great stay at Hotel More.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zlata Ladjica Boutique Hotel

Ljubljana

The hotel was awesome, with great service and beautiful rooms. We had a fantastic stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Adriatic

Rovinj

This hotel was beautiful, and we were treated like royalty. It was an amazing stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bevanda

Opatija

We had an excellent experience at Hotel Bevanda. The staff and accommodations were top-notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia

Split

We had a major problem with the air conditioning and the staff was subpar. The only good thing about this hotel was the location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Boutique Hotel La Roche

Tivat

The hotel was lovely, and the staff was very accommodating. We had a great stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Lumbarda Wine Tour & Konoba Dinner

Korčula

We had an awesome day visiting two wineries and then having dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant. The people were incredibly friendly, and the food was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle Lunch with Presentation at Local Family Estate

Croatia

The truffle tour was phenomenal! We learned all about truffles and even got to taste them in various dishes. The family was lovely, and we had a delicious meal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hvar Day Trip from Split

Croatia

We had an amazing full day in Hvar with our guide. He took us to his family's wine cellar and provided a really personalized experience. It was an incredible day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia

The Plitvice National Park waterfalls were absolutely amazing. Our guide ensured that we had a fantastic experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We planned a trip to Prague and Croatia. We used KimKim to alleviate and the time and stress in planning all the details. Moreover, we were bringing our kids (11 and 13) to Europe for the first time and wanted to do activities that they would enjoy (ie not walking through museums and churches the entire time). KimKim and our local contact, Nikola, nailed it! We had a great time, everything went so well without a hitch. So easy!

Hotel Reviews

Villa King Apartments

Dubrovnik

Very very nice, but a little mush of a walk to Dubrovnik Old Town, particularly walking back because it’s all up hill. That being said, the actual room was very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Kogo

Hvar

Great location, big space, great host!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kings Court

Prague

Excellent location! Very clean and comfortable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)

Croatia

Really enjoyed the authenticity of this.

Quality of Experience

The family

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dubrovnik Sea Kayaking

Dubrovnik

Weather interrupted trip and really a lot of paddling - too much - for kids.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

We didn’t end up doing it.

Private Boat Tour to the Red Rocks & Southern Shore of Hvar Island

Croatia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Island of Hvar Cycling Tour

Croatia

The best

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day E-Bike Tour of Prague

Prague

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marisa went well beyond what we expected, especially since we had to change our itinerary several times. We originally scheduled a Douro River cruise (outside Kim Kim) and then had Marisa plan a week in Portugal before the cruise. We spent 3 days in Lisbon, which has now become one of our favorite cities, The tours which Marisa arranged were a real highlight and we can't say enough good things about the Ivens Hotel and their bar and restaurants. The location was ideal. The tuk-tuk tour to Belem was also a highlight. She then arranged for a rental car which we drove to Coimbra where we stayed for two nights in another wonderful hotel outside town in Lousa, the Octant. Thanks to the car we were able to visit places like Nazare where we had a great seafood lunch, Aveiro where we took a boat tour and had another good lunch, the Roman ruins outside Coimbra. the Knights Templar castle and much more. We eventually finished in Porto where we stayed in another nice hotel, the Royal Bridges, just a block or two from the train station. It too was in a great location, especially with all of the ongoing construction..
Anytime we had a question Marisa was available to help out and we were not bashful about contacting her as she was a great resource. Overall we had one of our best European trips ever and we are already talking about returning to spend more time in Lisbon and to see Southern Portugal. When we return we will again use Marisa and Kim Kim.

Hotel Reviews

Porto Royal Bridges Hotel

Porto

A modern, well-located hotel with a courteous and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms, while on the smaller side were well appointed.

Location

Staff

Friendly and helpful. They kept our bags for half a day until we met our river cruise at 6pm.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Other than the smallish room everything was clean and comfortable.

Octant Hotels Palácio da Lousã

Lousã

The staff was friendly and very helpful, Our room was amazing with wonderful views. The restaurant also served good food. We could not have asked for more. While this hotel is still know by the locals as the Palacio, it has apparently been acquired by Octant and is now going by that name.

Authenticity & Character

The sitting rooms made you feel like you were part of the family.

Location

Easy to get around.

Staff

Everyone was helpful and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer

Portugal

Driver was great and very helpful.

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

Lisbon

The first tuk tuk broke down, but a replacement was immediately sent. Our driver was amazing and knowledgeable. The only negative is that we did not know that we should have purchased tickets before hand to visit the cathedral. Because of the long line we missed touring it.

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The dinner was amazing, the performance not so much. They took a break after 3 songs at which time most of the restaurant cleared out.

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Our guide was great. She even showed us how to use the subway, which was a breeze. Her knowlege and love of Lisbon was apparent.

Quality of Experience

To Eat Suggestion: By the Wine

Lisbon

One of the best restaurants we ate at. The black pork was delightful and the wine was so good that we took a couple of bottles with us.

Quality of Experience

It was well done all around

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of the drivers were very helpful and helped make our trip stress free.

Transport

We were not certain about renting a car, but Marisa assured us there would be no problems and she was right.

FYI-I don’t like starred reviews-We would give a four and half, so don’t look at 4 as 80%.
Some closer attention to details as hotel and transportation location and name(Ex: we had a confusion about the Scandic Hotel in Alesund indicated on our plan, and the phone number was no longer working. We had a confusion about our second shuttle, not sure if that could’ve been avoided because the bus company Norway’s Best didn’t use their regular shuttle. They were using the shuttle to Stegastein ). Any problems we encountered were addressed in a timely manner as best possible by the team with a phone call.
We had no idea there was an indoor terminal to wait for the Hurtigruten coastal boat, also the info « deck » as our overnight accommodation led us to believe we were outside. There is no obvious information regarding that on the Hurtigruten website either, so that would have been relevant information. It was a welcome surprise that we had a fine comfortable space indoors on the seventh floor of the ship. There was also a hot tub on deck and it’s a good thing we had bathing suits with us because we were able to enjoy were able to enjoy it. So, in the future, it would be good to know to a bit more about the ship facilities.
We think it would be great if smaller family hotels were used instead of chains when possible. I know we asked for more economical lodging, so maybe we shouldn’t expect a room with a view. I didn’t think much about that myself in planning. In a country, with so many beautiful views, and with daylight for so long, it’s nice to have some kind of view.
Our experience at the Midtnes in Balestrand was so wonderful. We decided to go to Vik before leaving for Aurland and the owner had breakfast ready early and also brought us to the boat dock( and met our boat when we arrived). He also was full of information. We enjoyed the wonderful dinners at the Aurland Fjord Hotel, we kind of forgot they were in the plan -so it was a nice surprise :)
The guide (Toon?)for our hike in Balestrand was wonderful and we did hike to a higher view, he also brought coffee and Norwegian snacks for us. But we needed to meet him at the trailhead, not the tourist info- not sure what happened there- it was fine, we got his phone number and were able to start no problem.
We had a fantastic trip and it was great that all the necessary booking was done and we had enough free time to add lots to our trip on our own. We are providing details here only to help improve the experience. It was great to have the Kim Kim team on hand to call when needed.
Hester & Maria