Kimkim Trip Reviews

When we decided to visit Italy we knew we would need help and guidance. We have never traveled to Europe and we were visiting our daughter studying abroad in Rome. We really just stumbled upon KimKim. However Andrea, who runs KimKim for Italy, was excellent. He was responsive, experienced, and helped us plan everything. We relied heavily on his experience and expertise. By doing this, we were rewarded immensely.
Andrea got to know us and once he knew we were “clueless”, he put together the most detailed trip and took care of everything!
Everyday was planned out from hotels, to drivers, to guides, restaurants, plus travel tips basically everything we never thought of. Andrea took care of everything.
Each day besides arrival day had basically a half day plan or guide. We went from Rome to Naples to Florence and back to Rome. All within 8 days. Everything was planned out - hotels, drivers, trains, taxis etc. The transfer between cities was flawless. Andrea’s drivers were always on time and provided first class service! They were extraordinary. The hotels were each one - everything we wanted. All different and memorable. The staff at each hotel was very attentive and the breakfast at each was excellent.

However for us the best experience we had was with the guides! We really didn’t understand what that experience would be like. My wife and I always like the educational aspect and these guides were fantastic. We had the same guide in Rome for two tours - she was so sweet and knowledgeable. We liked her very much. Our guide in Naples was just as charming and knowledgeable. She really made a difference in us getting to know Naples and the people of that city. Again she was excellent. Then we went to Pompeii and that was a highlight of our trip - we were transported into a Roman village. We did not expect Pompeii to have the effect it did on us. Our tour guide brought that Roman village alive. She was amazing. In Florence it was the same experience. Our guide showed up early and she gave us a wonderful tour of Florence and the David statue. She was special in that she gave us so much history around the city Florence. We really didn’t know that much about Florence so it was very memorable.

So what more can I say. The execution of Andrea’s plan was flawless. The people were extraordinary. The trip was amazing and it’s something we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
Thank you Andrea and thank you KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Alexandra Rome

Rome

Perfect location! Very attentive staff! The accommodations were very European.

Authenticity & Character

Very European

Location

Perfect Location

Staff

Very attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments

Naples

Very modern hotel! We liked the setup and the atmosphere. Excellent breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Style and service

Location

Good location we had everything we need within walking distance

Staff

Good staff very attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and liked the vibe

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Great hotel! The hotel really expressed the city of Florence. Excellent service staff! Very attentive and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Hotel expressed the city of Florence

Location

Perfect location

Staff

Excellent staff very attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful rooms

Activity Reviews

St. Peter's, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter Basilica - private guide

Rome

Our guide was excellent. She was so very knowledgeable and friendly. They was an almost immediate connection. She brought the history surrounding the Vatican alive. She was patient and allowed us to move at our own pace. Wonderful experience and you could tell she was a wonderful person!

Quality of Experience

The knowledge shared

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guide very friendly and a lovely oerson

Transport

Naples guided walk

Italy

Our guide was excellent. She was very friendly and was so proud of Naples. She lived in Naples her entire life. She showed us places and Naples life that I believe kk one on their own could experience. She really brought Naples to life for us. What an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine tasting in Tuscany countryside (1 winery)

Italy

Great experience, wonderful service, beautiful environment. It was a fantastic day. The wine was excellent and I look forward to drinking the bottles I purchased very soon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naples guided walk

Italy

Our guide was excellent. She was very friendly and was so proud of Naples. She lived in Naples her entire life. She showed us places and Naples life that I believe kk one on their own could experience. She really brought Naples to life for us. What an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Excellent tour a side of Naples rarely seen

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Our guide brought the Roman village of 0 Pompeii alive! She was excellent and this was an experience to remember.

Quality of Experience

Brought Pompeii alive!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

Our guide was friendly and very knowledgeable! We learned so much about the history of Florence. The guided tour and the history was very memorable. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

We were blessed to have this tour guide twice! Another excellent experience. She knows EVERYTHING about the Colosseum and Roman Forum. We learned so much and she again was very patient and friendly. We really did enjoy her company.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful tour guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leo gave us an excellent itinerary for our California road trip. The hotel choices were always in a convenient location and the details in the hiking trails was appreciated. Links to google maps were provided. We spent time in Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia, Monterey & Carmel.

I cannot say enough great things about this family run company! Sharon responded quickly to all of our messages and questions. She provided us some great tips to help us be successful on our trip.
Abdou was a wonderful driver who shared so much rich information about the culture. I highly recommend this company to tour Morocco! Abdou customized our trip to fit our needs by adding in a stop to the day market specifically because I wanted a picture with a donkey. He also made sure I was dressed for the camel trekking! He was so much fun and made us laugh throughout the five days. I enjoyed all the Riads we stayed at and can’t wait to come back.

Our trip to the Amazon was amazing! Our guides, Rom and Jefferson made our experience unforgettable. Daniel was in constant contact with us every step of the way. The Nicky lodge chef, Freddie made exceptional food and also sings and plays the guitar along with the other guides.

Hotel Review

Nicky Amazon Lodge

Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

The Nicky lodge is cozy and clean. All the staff make you feel right at home. It's a big happy family and everyone loves nature and wants to share their knowledge with the guest.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you bring products for mosquito and sun fly bites

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They couldn't do enough for us. Friendly, sincere.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Colonial City Tour, Cooking Class & the Middle of the World Monument

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

I was impressed with the quality of the food at the lodge. The soups were amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The transportation is great. The bus trip from Quito to Amazon is very long so be prepared for that.

Tom and I knew we wanted to go to Mexico. We knew we wanted a little bit of culture, some wildlife, and maybe a splash in the ocean. That's it.

With the vague and minimal information we gave them, Jorge and KimKim were able to put together a perfect trip for us. We had a flawless itinerary. It's so clear that KimKim really cares about the communities (animals and humans) in Mexico. Everything we did and everywhere we stayed felt like they were helping us experience Mexico as authentically and respectfully as possible.

It's almost impossible to pick a highlight, but top of the list has to be the day we shared with Enrique, a Mayan host who was unbelievably generous with us. He shared the community gardens, including history and background about the families that live in Nuevo Durango and other nearby communities. He showed us the neighborhood cenotes, Punta Laguna, Uma Nojoch Keej (a wildlife reserve), and more. We picked and prepared the plants as Enrique and his wife Blanca showed us the best way to cook them (and rescued us when we were pricked by the nopales!). We saw howler monkeys and spider monkeys in the wild which was very cool.

That had to be the very best day, but every day was amazing. Sian Ka'an reserve was lovely, the Mayan ruins were spectacular, the snorkeling in Puerto Morelos was fabulous, the bicycle cenote tour was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I'm waxing superlative but it really all was like a dream.

Beyond the activities, the scheduling and pace were perfect for us. We felt like we really made the most of our six days, but with enough downtime to explore and enjoy at our leisure. From picking up our car at the airport to finding our accommodation, the logistics were very smooth at every interaction. Special shoutout to Melina who pretty much instantly helped us when we had any questions about the trip.

We've never used a travel planning service like this before. But after this trip, we'll never go back to the old way!

We really enjoyed everything that was planned. All of our guides were great. Sintra was probably our favorite outing. The accommodations were perfect. The hotel in Porto was very beautiful but it was a little far from everywhere we saw or ate. It felt like it was a 20 minute walk everywhere we went. It would have been nice to be a bit closer. The hotel in Lisboa was in the perfect location. There was no way to change the weather. As we could see a couple of days in advance that there was a 99% chance of rain, I should have made a backup plan in Porto. It would have been fun to do the tile making or cooking class instead of just walking around the city seeing more sights. Really everything else could not have gone better. We appreciated the restaurant recommendations. It was so nice to be able to check in with you with questions. You were very accessible and easy to work with. Thank you so much for helping us have such a wonderful trip.

Hotel Review

Rossio Boutique Hotel

Lisbon

This hotel is in the perfect location. It is centrally located and close to almost everything we wanted to see. It was clean, had a good breakfast and the staff were nice to work with. The rooms on the Main Street are noisier but our room that wasn’t on the Main Street was quiet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lisbon Foodie Experience

Lisbon

This exceeded our expectations. The food was good, the guide was knowledgeable and interesting. We learned a lot about the history of Lisbon, the different neighborhoods as well as tasted good food. We even went back to one of the restaurants later in the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailing Cruise

Lisbon

It was a beautiful way to see the city. We really enjoyed it. The employees were nice and accommodating. It felt like it could have been a little shorter, just because it was chill. We were there with our kids and it felt like we watched people get more and more drunk. It would be nice if there was an option that didn’t involve wine, maybe geared for families.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sintra Heritage Hike: Hidden Secrets

Portugal

We loved this outing! Our guide Susannah was wonderful. She was happy and fun to talk to and very knowledgeable. We loved where she took us to the castle and palace and the way down through the forest. She made us a yummy picnic lunch which we really enjoyed. We would highly recommend her and this excursion.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get to know Porto by E-bike

Porto

This is a great way to see Porto. The bikes make it so easy to get around and see a lot of places. Our guide was fabulous. She knew a lot and was fun to inerrant with. We highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guides in Matera, Alberobello and Lecce were excellent. Enthusiastic and well informed about the history and other more mundane things we showed interest in.
We loved Matera, Bari, Alberobello and Lecce and we were very happy with our hotels. The stay at the masseria was particularly notable for the wonderful food.

Andrea did a great job helping us plan this trip. He had to endure our frequent changes and our last minute decision to take the tour despite Covid warnings. We managed to get through from Sicily and Puglia without getting sick. It was a most memorable experience.

Hotel Review

Ai Terrazzini

Matera

The site of this hotel was perfect. The view from the windows and the terrace outside our room added to the magic of this amazing town.

Authenticity & Character

The rooms set in the old caves.

Location

The views.

Staff

Friendly, helpful service.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Matera Guided Walk

Italy

A very knowledgeable guide who made occasional stops to talk to us as our older group wound our way up the hills. He also pointed out trips in the town that we should do on our own.

Quality of Experience

The amazing history and the rehabilitation of the town.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was my first trip to Morocco and have fallen in love with the culture and the genuineness of the people. Abdel was our trip coordinator and answered all of questions and catered our trip to us. Our driver Karim picked us up at the airport and was with us for our entire trip. He was so knowledgeable and proudly shared information about his Berber culture. He was friendly and kind never hesitated to make us feel welcome!
The riads we stayed in were stunning and the staff were all accommodating. We had no issues checking in or out of them.
Our tour of the handcrafters in Fes was remarkable. We were told we were under no obligation to buy however we did feel some pressure to make purchases. We got good value at the Tannery but just know the prices were considerably less at the market in Marrakech.
We had a great time with Said and his family for dinner. The food was delicious and it was fun to meet the family and do a little dancing in traditional Moroccan costumes.
Our tour guide Hannan in Marrakech was top notch. She was knowledgeable, patient, kind and a fabulous photographer for all of your Instagram pictures!
The Inara Camp in Agafay was more than we could hope for! The accommodations were comfortable and the staff went above and beyond to meet our needs.

I'd like to add some notes to my travel partner's review of our trip to Morocco. I echo her sentiments about how perfectly Hakim, as a representative of kimkim, handled our trip. Which wasn't easy, given the number of delays and changes due to Covid. Also, I agree whole-heartedly that our driver Mohamed (last name to be supplied by Hakim!) really made the trip what it was: he was well-informed, articulate, funny, attentive, and always willing to share his thoughts on culture, politics, and history. Mohamed made sure we could purchase rugs from a cooperative rather than a tourist trap. When I had a problem with the pottery coop he resolved it for me quickly making that another good experience. While the local guides were, for the most part, engaging and full of info, Mohamed was able to fill in the blanks between guides.

Speaking of guides: all but two were top notch. In one case there was a clear tempo and maybe personality misalignment. We were struggling until Mohamed gave him a secret signal and he began to ask what we wanted and what he could do better, resulting in a good overall experience. (Because Mohamed knew most of the guides he could navigate the rough places for us.) The second guide that was a bad fit was a local young man, new to the business; he may improve with time.

A word about the accomodations: we had such a wonderful variety of places, most unique and charming. And just when we were ready we got a Western style 5 star hotel. But I wouldn't have traded a single place, no matter the quirks. A few stood out, not to be missed: Riad Yacout in Fes was beautiful, although quirky in the electrical and plumbing department. But the people were so warm and accommodating and the food so delicious that everything else fell away. (Note - be prepared for a lot of steep stairs and music into the night!) The Kasbah in Imlil was a personal favorite. Walking up on narrow paths while a donkey carried our baggage was the start. The Kasbah was under the highest mountain in N. Africa and while it was cloudy and snowy for most of our stay, the views were amazing. We had scheduled a full-day hike but the snow put a damper on that. Still, the staff found a jacket and boots for me so I could still go hiking. The group of people working there could not have done more for us, all with smiles. Again, the food was just fab. In Essouria we stayed in Riad Chbanate - a real jewel. Once again the people were so very wonderful, and the room and the view and the part of town just perfect.

Finally, I'd like to commend kimkim and their partner on the itinerary. We went from cities to towns to the desert, then to the mountains. Down to Marrakech and out to the coast. We skipped the touristy things and concentrated on getting to know the real Morocco. We had so much variety, every day a real adventure. I feel like we met and supported a lot of off the main street people. And that leads me to my final comment...

The Moroccan people are warm and generous. Yes, some try to get you to buy their whatevers, but a simple "No thank you" works. They have suffered tremendously during that last two years and we were happy to buy from them, to tip them generously, and to talk and laugh with them. I've traveled in many places around the world - I won't forget this trip.

We had an amazing time in Costa Rica thanks to our local specialist Randall. He tailored our trip to exactly what we wanted in this trip. Communication/response time was excellent. Randall timed everything just right; the pace for all of our activities were spaced just right. Transportation was punctual, comfortable and pleasant. We had excellent guides at Monteverde Cloud Forest, Hanging Bridges, and Manuel Antonio National Park. They were all experts of the rain forest and at finding wildlife. Our guide even spotted the Resplendid Quetzal in Monteverde Cloud Forest! He took photos and video for us through his scope. Costa Rica is so full of wildlife. We even had a resident three-toed sloth at our hotel in Costa Verde! Our trip to Costa Rica will live forever in my memories. Thank you Randall for your amazing service. ¡Pura Vida! ☺

Hotel Review

Hotel Costa Verde

Manuel Antonio

Loved the view and the wildlife everywhere we looked!

Activity Review

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

Our expert guide was wonderful and full of information about the rainforest.

Quality of Experience

It wasn't crowded.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Well-informed.

Transport

They were punctual.

We worked with Laura to customize a two week trip and it occurred flawlessly. Despite still some COVID restrictions, she helped plan many details we would not have been able to execute on our own with such ease.

Every pickup was on time, every detail perfectly managed. Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, El Chalten, El Calafate, Bariloche, Villa LA Angostura, St Martin De Los Andes and back to Buenos Aires with many treks, kayak trips and activities along the way.

Highly recommend letting the local experts guide your way here! Thanks again Kim Kim Team

Hotel Review

Cyan Recoleta Hotel

Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Great location next to Recolea and being able to walk around the city.

Authenticity & Character

H

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half Day Excursion in Tierra del Fuego National Park

Ushuaia

Doing it with a guide so much better. Parts were difficult to navigate and it’s LONG but we’ll worth the effort.

Quality of Experience

Mo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Add-on review for Kimkim in Morocco

Kimkim’s travel specialist in Morocco, Hakim Alibouche, just hit the “exceeded expectations by a lot” button on a trip I took to Morocco over 2 months ago ( March 20-April 5). I recently wrote that he assisted my travel partner and me to create a great itinerary and experience in Morocco. Everything went well and he was always available to respond to any questions or concerns that we had during the planning and then during the trip itself. Great, right?

However his service, and Kimkim’s by extension, also shone after we returned home. We recently found there was a serious problem with a Moroccan vendor’s products we had purchased over 2 months ago. After going back-and-forth with the vendor we turned to Hakim for advice on how to get to a satisfactory resolution. He stepped in to help and got it all worked out in very short order. I wouldn’t have expected that assistance from a travel agent once the trip was over, and I am so grateful that Hakim was willing to help us.

I don’t know if I’ll have the opportunity to return to Morocco but if I do, I know that Hakim and Kimkim will be my travel planning choice.

Kimkim created and executed a Moroccan trip for my travel partner and I that was unforgettable. We first planned the trip in 2019 for March 2020 travel. COVID changed all that but kimkim, Hakim in particular, stuck with us for the next 3 years as we rescheduled several times only to postpone until this past March. Hakim’s service was stellar: informative, responsive, reliable, patient—and whatever other positive adjective could be applied to a travel professional. Hakim and kimkim were also available to us throughout the trip-proactively checking in or responding quickly to any questions we had.

The other notable representative of kimkim’s excellent service was our driver throughout the trip, Mohamed. From start to finish he ensured we were well-looked after. Another set of adjectives: great driver, accommodating, helpful, accessible 24/7, well-informed, friendly; equal parts driver and general guide. We were very fortunate to have had his services.

The itinerary kimkim created was also a treat. I experienced mountains, cities, villages, desert areas that were fun and/or eye-opening. Food was fabulous throughout. The various tagines and pastillas were so special, as were the breakfast spreads.

The guides provided had deep knowledge of each leg of the trip-both historical and cultural. Accommodations ranged from charmingly rustic to very high-end with the Riads being especially wonderful. My only note on the Riad is to expect to climb lots of stairs. My 72-year old legs were a bit challenged by 3 and 4 flights. However the Riad experience is absolutely necessary!

All the stops were terrific, but I’d say a “not-to-be-missed” experience is the medina in Marrakech at night. It comes to high-intensity life with scores of food stalls (pick the meats and veggies for your meal and watch them being cooked right there), musicians, drum circles, snake charmers, dancers, henna tattoers and more all in motion.

It was a truly magical trip!

Our trip was amazing! Lucas did a great job tailoring the itinerary to our family's desire to be active on vacation with our 10 & 12 year olds. Maxi and Hernan took us around Buenos Aires in style, and gave us the local's view of lots of places. Dario and Geronimo in Bariloche did a great job of customizing our kayaking adventure for the windy weather and made it memorable. Zoe and Nicholas in El Chalten we're stars, giving great information and chatting with the kids all the way up and down the trails. Overall, an amazing experience.

We made a last minute decision to go on a trip to Colombia. We had very specific interests and goals and Michael's service made it easy to customize our itinerary. Communicating through WhatsApp was quick and efficient and all our questions and changes were answered promptly. The pre-trip information was detailed and organized. It would have been nice to see a breakdown of expenses as opposed to a lump sum payment. We have travelled extensively through Central and South America and feel the prices were reasonable. The accommodations, guides, and transportation chosen for us were of top notch quality and the professionalism and expertise of our leaders were evident. We never felt unsafe and would definitely use and recommend KimKim for future trips.

Hotel Review

Mundo Nuevo Eco Lodge

Santa Marta

This location is just so unique. SUBLIME. It is called an EcoLodge and it does try to live up to this image--the delicious vegetarian meals, the connection to the local indigenous community, and the ambiance and proximity to the natural environment. The interactive social setting in the dining area added to the travel experience. Though it is very remote, we still had access to modern conveniences such as Wifi, warm showers, and filtered water. In fact, it was the only lodge that we stayed at that had potable water in our rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Constant cleaning and maintenance was evident

Activity Review

Birdwatching Tour in Minca

Minca

Our bird guides were extremely knowledgeable about the local endemic birds of the Santa Marta area. They were able to find, identify, and communicate the various bird sightings with us during the hikes. We appreciate the ethical way in which the outing was conducted and didn't feel like nature was being impacted for the sake of the tourists.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica .We planned the trip with Brittany’s help and she did a wonderful job. The people are very nice in CR. We felt very safe. Our accommodations were top notch - clean and excellent service .

Hotel Review

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Absolute paradise

Tips for future travelers

Just enjoy the view and the ambience

Authenticity & Character

Privacy, facilities, fabulous breakfast and restaurant

Location

View is fantastic though a little far from the town. .

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Activity Review

Shuttle Transfer with Rafting on the Sarapiqui River En Route

Costa Rica

Just do it though you better be a strong swimmer and in good health

My mom and I had an amazing time in Sicily! Our trip planner, Andrea, was outstanding. We were definitely in good hands. He was there every step of the way in case we had any troubles or questions at all. Every one of his hotel, restaurant, etc. suggestions were superb. We would have had a lot less enjoyable trip without him.

Andrea arranged the most phenomenal guides on this trip. Lilly showed us around Catania, Taormina, and Ortigia. She's so knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. Also Alessandro was our guide in Siracusa, Noto, and Ragusa. He knows his history! It was like having a college professor taking you around Sicily. We learned so much from him. Lorenzo led us through The Valley of the Temples. His presentation was so inspiring. Maria did a great job as well in Selinunte. She's got so much knowledge as well. I was honestly so impressed by how knowledgeable all of our guides were as well as how incredibly kind and hospitable. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wishes to learn more about the culture and history of Sicily.

Overall this was an outstanding trip that we will never forget.

We had a wonderful trip. We had contacted Kim Kim to plan a hiking trip to Delphi and Meteora. They were so accommodating and went out of their way to plan the trip the way we wanted and not make it the cookie cutter tourist trip. Delphi and Meteora were breath taking and we could relax knowing we were in good hands. Thank you for a wonderful trip.

Hotel Review

Dellas Boutique Hotel

Meteora, Kalambaka

The hotel staff was very friendly and the breakfast bar was perfect before a long hike.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Divine Delphi & Breathtaking Meteora in Two Days (DAY 2) - Return to Athens

Greece

We love to experience hiking in whatever country we are in because you really get to see the beauty of each place. Our hiking guide was friendly, entertaining, and gave us an amazing hike to see several Monastaries and the monks cells( caves) . You cannot really appreciate the seclusion of these beautiful Monastaries from a modern road. Seeing them from the valet was breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was so friendly. They were kind enough to get us snacks and a picnic lunch for our hike. At the end we were met at our hotel with souvenirs of Greece. It was very thoughtful. Thank you for your hospitality.

Transport

We had an amazing time in Jordan! Oriana was incredibly helpful during the planning stages and created a seamless plan for us. She was always prompt with replies to my many questions. Mohamed was a fantastic driver and host for us and we enjoyed every minute with him in the car. He was always perfectly on time to pick us up so we had no delays. We loved going to Petra, staying in Wadi Rum, and swimming in the Dead Sea. We will definitely use KimKim again when planning future trips!

Hotel Review

Wadi Rum UFO Luxotel - Campsite

Wadi Rum, Petra

We loved staying at the UFO Luxotel - even though we were there during a cold spell we enjoyed our stay very much. It was so fun staying out in the desert and looking at the night sky. The food was yummy and the staff was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Petra by night

Petra

We had read about this experience on Trip Advisor being a disappointment but we did not feel this way at all. We ended up leaving toward the later side and were able to have a fairly quite walk through the Siq with little other tourists. We enjoyed seeing Petra with the candles and listening to the music.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our first experience planning travel with kimkim and we will definitely use you again. The trip was really flawless due in large part to Marina and the kimkim team listening to what we thought we wanted to do and acting on, and enhancing, our ideas. Our local guides in Madrid (Geza, fun, enthusiastic, knowledgeable), Cordoba (Olivia, extremely knowledgeable, loved her visual aides), and Sevilla (Raul’s love of the city and the Alcazar really came through), were OUTSTANDING. Each hotel was more charming than the last and I am ready to move in permanently to the H10 Casa de La Plata in Sevilla. Gorgeous lobby, great room, A+ staff. The hotel staff in Madrid were also top-notch. We found the tour and olive oil tasting at Hacienda Guzman to be another highlight: our guide there, again, knowledgeable and engaging. But the overarching positive was Marina and her hands-on attention to every detail. She anticipated everything we needed and was readily available via messaging, even phone, on the occasions we needed anything while we were there. Marina helped us have the perfect introduction to Spain. We are grateful to have had her guidance throughout the trip.

Hotel Review

H10 Casa de la Plata

Sevilla

Location, lobby, room, bathroom, breakfast, staff members, were all exceptional. You really cannot improve on the location: walkable to so much shopping, dining, sites.

Tips for future travelers

Be aware that it is not accessible by car. Your taxi/Uber driver will need to drop you about a block or so away and you will walk through the narrow streets to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful decor, elegant and updated.

Location

Staff

Very friendly, professional, accommodating, spoke excellent English.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfectly clean.

Activity Review

Visit an Andalusian Olive Oil Estate

Seville

Our private tour guide was engaging and knowledgeable. The tour and tasting were both so enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was one of our favorite family vacations ever. Diego was a HUGE help in planning it and making sure everything was exactly as I dreamed.

We were able to hit all the highlights we wanted to and the hotels were nothing short of spectacular. Everyone in my family had a different group of favorite activities from the trip! The zip lines and hanging bridges were a universal top-3, but we also loved all of the other excursions Diego helped plan for us. In 8 full days of vacation we managed to tour the Rio Celeste (my favorite), hike around the Arenal Volcano eruption site, float down the Arenal River, relax in some hot springs, take a horseback ride over the cloud forest mountains of Monteverde, hike through Monteverde, visit a sugar cane/cocoa/coffee plantation, go on a night hike, do zip-lining and walk the hanging bridges, and hang out at the beach finishing off with a sunset cruise on Tamarindo Bay. There wasn't a day we didn't enjoy ourselves. I just wish I had more days available where we could just relax and enjoy the beautiful country.

Everything was extremely well organized as well. The car rental went smoothly and every tour picked us up as scheduled with absolutely no stress on our parts. It was so nice to have a trip where I wasn't worried I had missed something or gone to the wrong location. Most tours were either just my family or my family a few other people - you never felt like you were part of a huge group and unable to hear the guide.

In fact, literally the only concern we had the whole time was when we landed in Costa Rica and tried to find our car rental. The directions said to find an agent from the car rental company at the airport, but there were 4 companies directly in the terminal so we assumed it was supposed to be one of those. When we asked one of the airport workers, they told us our company was a few kilometers away and we would have to rent a taxi which obviously concerned us. However, once we made our way out of the terminal the company's agent was right there and got us taken care of. May just want to change the directions to go out of the terminal and find your agent there.

Thank you for a wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews

Tamarindo Diria Beach Resort

Tamarindo

OK hotel but very touristy and busy. The parking lot and most of the accomodations are across the street from the hotel so expect some walking. The pools themselves were great and it was wonderful having straight access to the beach (which is obviously it's main attraction). There is no room service so if you want to get something in your room you have to order it at the restaurant, wait for it, and then carry it across the road and to your room. Staff were also very impersonal compared to the hotels we stayed at in Arenal and Monteverde.

Authenticity & Character

not much character - just a Vegas-like hotel to get as many people as possible into the limited space

Location

beach-side access was wonderful

Staff

not very personal, had to ask them for what amenities/activities the hotel offered, laundry was a day late getting back despite dropping off at 8AM the day before

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rio Celeste Hideaway Resort

Bijagua

Absolutely beautiful hotel and great service. The room had a balcony opening right into the rain forest and a private outdoor shower in the back (along with a normal indoors one) where you could just listen to nature around you. Our kids loved eating here - they had fruit stands around the dining area so animals would constantly be climbing them to grab a bite to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

Koora was a quiet, beautiful hotel to relax and enjoy the cloud forest in. Our bungalow was surrounded by the cloud forest and we enjoyed the privacy and having nature all around us. While it doesn't offer as many amenities as other hotels, we enjoyed the quieter tempo and more personal atmosphere. Every one of the staff knew us by name and would check on us to see how they could best help us. We'd have our table for breakfast and dinner ready every day and, if we had any questions, they would quickly respond to a message through WhatsApp. Would love to return again and just spend days relaxing and enjoying their nature trails and atmosphere.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal

La Fortuna

Definitely a must-visit hotel. Extremely high-quality service. Many of the staff would call us by name despite us only being there 3 days. The hot springs were terrific - definitely try the ones down in Club Rio. They are surrounded by the rainforest and much more natural than the ones by the hotel. Our kids loved Club Rio, especially the rock climbing. We also all loved the entertainment room - our teenagers would happily go here to play some PS5 or other games while my wife and I could get some peace and quiet ourselves. You could spend a week here easily and not do everything they have available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Great hike around the volcano. Guide was very knowledgeable from everything of the local plants to the volcano and it's eruption itself. Great visual aids to help in teaching. We got some absolutely beautiful views of the volcano from the closest you are legally allowed to get to it. On the way back he led us off the usual path up the mountain side and you really felt like you were exploring the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Cloud Forest

Monteverde

Extended horseback ride through the cloud forest. You go through a variety of areas, from shrubs, to mountaintops, to the cloud forest itself. We ended up on the mountaintop as the sun started to set with an amazing view of the surrounding mountains I will never forget. Longer trip than I thought it would be, but that was a good thing and it wasn't so long I was sore the next day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Trapiche Sugarcane Mill Tour

Monteverde

Very fun tour that both we and our kids enjoyed. The guide showed us how they grew sugar cane, coffee, and cocoa and how each was processed. You saw everything from plant to machinery to process. Along the way we were able to taste the coffee beans, raw cocoa seeds, and processed chocolate and we made our own raw sugar candy. Definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent chance to see many of the animals in the rainforest. Guide had an amazing ability to spot them and then get us to see them. We saw iguanas, bats, owls, monkeys, and TONS of different birds. One highlight was definitely when the guide managed to get the howler monkeys to start calling back to him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Río Celeste & Tenorio Volcano National Park Guided Rainforest Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a ton during the hike and had a great time. We worked well with our kids, even when our youngest started getting a little tired of the hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

This was my must-do adventure and it was exactly as I hoped. The hanging bridges tour was awesome - our guide was a lot of fun to talk to and always open to questions. We saw quetzals, tarantulas, hummingbird nests, and lots of other creatures. The hanging bridges themselves were terrific - we went across 6 of them, the largest spanning quite a long ways with beautiful view of the cloud forest around and under you. Zip-lining was awesome. You go on 7 total lines with the longest being 1/2 a mile. Sometimes they'd have my kids go separate, and others they ride paired. Everyone was very great and you always felt safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport