Kimkim Trip Reviews

I used Kim Kim travel to help me create my much anticipated family trip to Japan this summer. Because my husband and I were traveling with our children, ages 13 and 10, I wanted to be sure that everything went smoothly. After doing my own research online, I had a list of the places and activities that I wanted to visit and experience in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. It was easy to schedule the initial 15 minutes phone call to discuss my basic preferences for travel accommodations and the things that were most important to me. I wanted a smaller, more intimate experience with just my family instead of a larger group because I was traveling with young children and needed flexibility if we wanted to end one of our days short to return to our hotel. (Sometimes kids get tired). After relaying my wants on the initial call, I was connected with Ben via email. Ben was wonderful! Over the next few months, he and I emailed back and forth on the Kim Kim site about every minor detail of my trip. He was able to take my list and organize which activities were near each other so that our time was efficiently spent. We were able to visit every place that I requested, including a few random restaurants that my kids and I found online that we wanted to experience. He booked 2 fantastic hotels for us in Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as our train tickets to travel to and from both cities. He reserved the times and tickets for the majority of our activities. The best part of all were the 2 wonderful and knowledgeable local guides that accompanied my family around each city. Ms Yoko was our guide in Tokyo and she was amazing! She was an expert at navigating the Tokyo subway and train system. Every restaurant and store that I inquired about, she was able to write down directions for us on how to get there on our free day. Ms. Yoshida was our guide in Kyoto and she was also outstanding! Not only was she extremely knowledgeable about our activities there, she was also helpful in making suggestions to make our time as efficient as possible. Having our personal guides really put that special touch on our trip. With all that said, this travel service is a MUST! I HIGHLY recommend using Kim Kim for your trip to Japan. It is a great way to experience the country and the culture.

Hotel Reviews

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection by Best Western

Kyoto

The beds were comfortable and the shower was great. The breakfast was also very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PROSTYLE RYOKAN TOKYO ASAKUSA

Tokyo

Great location close to many attractions as well as the subway.

Authenticity & Character

The food at the restaurant was a good cultural experience

Location

Close to subway and many attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Fusion: Odaiba, TeamLab, Harajuku and Shibuya food tour（Day tour with public transport）

Tokyo

Team lab was my kids’ favorite activity! A very unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tokyo's Rich Heritage : Tsukiji Outer Market,Imperial Palace,Sushi Making Class, Senso-ji Temple，Nakamise-dori by public transportation

Tokyo

We loved the sushi making experience with Chef Tuki and his assistant Ms. Yoki! We highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Great sushi

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya in Public Transportation

Kyoto

Both the kimono tea and Samurai experiences were fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience the Magic of Kyoto with a guide : Monkey Park, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market (By public transport)

Kyoto

We enjoyed hiking up the mountain to see the monkeys. My daughter enjoyed feeding them. Great exercise experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day Trip to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo (by private transfer)

Japan

Beautiful scenery. We enjoyed this a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr. Q was our private driver and he was great.

Transport

Gustavo was very easy to work with from the beginning when we were trying to come up with ideas for our holiday to Greece. He was able to accommodate a variety of changes to our itinerary when we were first were organising and was easy to contact via the site. His suggestions for accommodation were amazing!! Leah was also easy to work with and able to assist whilst we were away and quick to respond.

Our favorite excursion was the day trip to Balos Lagoon and Falassarna Beach, which was suggested by Gustavo.

Thankyou!!

Hotel Reviews

San Salvatore Monastery

Chania

The location and uniqueness of this accomodation is amazing! We loved staying here. The breakfast provided was incredible and the beauty on the deck, amazing! So close to walk to the many restaurants and harbor. Only negative was the air conditioning being quite loud. Good set up for our family.

Authenticity & Character

charming place to stay.

Location

So incredibly close to everything and a beautiful view.

Staff

Irene was very nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

City Lion

Heraklion Crete

This apartment was in a very convenient location in Heraklion. It was quiet, there was a small kitchenette to use. Was comfortably able to accommodate our two children (one on the sofa and the other on a trundle bed type arrangement). The main bedroom was upstairs with a balcony and small view. The staff were so lovely! You can also order take out from a nearby restaurant that delivers to the room. No meals included in the stay, but this isnt a problem as it is so close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Cute place to stay and lovely staff

Location

Location was amazing, can walk to all the restaurants and locations with ease.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aqua Luxury Suites Santorini

Imerovigli

This is a lovely place to stay in Santorini. The staff here were very friendly. Breakfast was lovely and can be served in your room or in the restaurant which has an amazing view. We were in the cave suite which easily accommodated our family of two adults two kids. Just remember - sofa bed, is literally sheets on a sofa. Only disapointment is that with this room - you don't get a view from your room or a plunge pool - so just check which room when looking at the photos!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to Fira and of course, amazing views.

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Balos Lagoon & Falassarna Beach 4WD Day Trip with Lunch

Chania

Our family loved this day trip! our guide was Vasili, he was very knowledgeable, great with the kids, took us to great spots for photos and was very friendly. Lunch was amazing. Good to experience having your own deck chairs/umbrella already arranged as part of the tour. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Visit to Zeus Cave & Lasithi Plateau

Greece

This trip was a real let down and we would not recommend. We knew that Zeus cave was closed (undergoing repair) when we booked, but decided to go with this day trip to see more of Crete. I suspect the whole thing was a little dodgy - we didnt get a tour guide, we had a man who was very nice, but admitted he had never been to some of the places before and just followed the points in the itinerary. He was not able to tell us about anywhere we went. Definately dont need to go and see the village that was under the dam - it does NOT match the description provided..

Quality of Experience

This trip was not what was described

Food

Food was great and was included, taken to a restaurant from a long time local in a small village. This was probably the highlight of the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

we didnt get a guide. Rather someone that was driving us to the points provided to them on an itinerary, some of which they had never been to themselves previously.

Transport

Knossos Palace Experience

Greece

Our tour at Knossos Palace was great and was with a very knowledgeable guide. She was able to provide us with all the details of the palace. It was quite a quick trip to the palace and might have been good to have a little longer but because we had the pick up/drop off included time was limited. Having said that, having this arranged certainly made life easier as it looked a little crazy for those trying to arrange transport themselves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Island Villages & Akrotiri Day Trip

Santorini

We had a lovely guide Sakis, who was able to accommodate our requests for the itinerary - we had independently booked tickets to the cultural symposium in Megalochori which we were able to attend first as part of the time. We had been to Oia and Pyrgos the day previously so we adjusted the itinerary. He took us to see the windmills with our extra time. Worth going to Akrotiri also. Lunch was not included in this day trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

This cruise was definately worth doing. All members of our family enjoyed. Lovely views, ability to swim and snorkel and great lunch provided. Guides also provide some local information of sites seen. Can be quite a long trip - travelling in July means that sunset isnt until 9pm - but you stay out on the water until you have seen the sunset which is amazing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Karen was absolutely fantastic and a pleasure to work with. She created an itinerary that totally worked for our family and was very receptive to our input. She was on top of everything!

Jane and team set us up with a wonderful trip to England and Scotland. All our accommodations were top notch and excursions were wonderful!

We had a great trip. Can I review this on the trip chat so I can see the names of places?

Hotel Reviews

Apótek Hótel by Keahotels

Reykjavík

Great location. Very kind staff. Rooms are lovely. And one of the best restaurants in the city!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Reykjavík Saga

Reykjavík

Good location. New and very clean. Appreciated the AC because it was a hot day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Húsafell

Húsafell, Borgarbyggð

We liked the secluded location, close to the waterfall. Lots of activities like hiking. Great restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Grímsborgir by Keahotels

Ásborgir

The rooms were very nice, very clean. We liked the common areas, but it was a bit awkward sharing with strangers. The hot tub was unusable. The surfaces were covered in a slimy biofilm. We reported this to the staff (all of whom are very very young), and they drained and refilled the tub, but did not clean it. So we could not use it. The restaurant was ok.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot tub was the issue

Skálakot Manor Hotel

Hvolsvöllur

This place is really cool! What a special location, plus being on a horse farm was awsome. The staff were phenominal. Restaurant was amazing, rooms were authentic and views gorgeous! Beds a bit harder, per my husband. But still was a great place!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Went above and beyond

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Jökulsárlón - Glacier Lagoon Hotel

Hofn

Wow! The hotel is brand new, and smells of delightful wood. Gorgeous architecture, and spectacular views! The restaurant was wonderful as well. We wished we could have had a second night there to enjoy the hot tubs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

the VIEWS!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

A very nice experience. Great guide (Magnus). Our only complaint was the group had some elderly people who needed a lot of assistance and slowed the process down significantly. Poor Magnus had to basically carry one woman out!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you, Clothilde, for planning our amazing trip to Switzerland! Everything went as planned without any interruptions. We began our trip by landing at the Zurich airport late at night, and our driver was easy to find at the pickup location. He quickly and safely got us to Interlaken. Our hotel was great...very clean, great location and very comfortable. We had our first full day with nothing scheduled, which was great since it left it up to us depending on how jet lagged we were. We ended up just fine and took a train and had a nice day exploring Lauterbrunnen and Murren on our own. The next day, we rented bikes and rode along Lake Brienz (beautiful blue/green water and under the shady trees), then we had the chocolate making lesson, which was fun and delicious! We ended up with so much chocolate, we left with a whole bag for us to enjoy on the rest of our trip. The following day was our paragliding session, which was one of the highlights of our trip. It was so beautiful and actually very serene up in the sky! Due to rain, our kayak excursion was cancelled, for which your company quickly refunded our money. The next day we took the train to Zermatt. Very easy and enjoyable, although I was a little nervous as to how difficult it would be with 3 train connections. Your recommendations and directions made it easy to navigate. It was a fun adventure to do it on our own. Our hotel in Zermatt was so beautiful and our room had a huge patio facing the Matterhorn. We loved it! Our first full day there, we had a half day private guide take us up into the mountains. He was very interesting and we had a great time with him. Our tour was scheduled to end back at our hotel, but he said that if we wanted to, he could stay with us up in the mountains for our full 4 hour allotment, and then gave us suggestions on other areas to hike before coming back into town. This worked perfect for us...he was very knowledgable and flexible with whatever we wanted to do. The next day was the Glacier Matterhorn Paradise, which was so cool. We got to walk on a glacier and see the skiers. What an amazing view! The next day, we had the same driver (that picked us up at the airport) take us to Geneva with a stop at Vinorama. That was an interesting winery tour, very unique and beautiful! We had a great charcuterie board and tasted 6 wines. Our only full day in Geneva was spent in Annecy, France, which was great! Not a very far drive to get there and such a cute town. We had a 2 hour walking tour, which we enjoyed. Our driver was flexible with us, as we felt we didn't need 5.5 hours there after the walking tour(as it was hot that day) and he agreed to pick us up earlier, after 3 hours (which was just the right amount of time for us). He was flexible with us as we requested he drop us off at another location instead of our hotel. The hotel in Geneva was amazing as well! Overall we had a great experience with KimKim and I wouldn't hesitate to book a vacation with them again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Jnterlaken

3800

Beautiful historic building in a great location!

Authenticity & Character

Historic yet modern amenities.

Location

Close to center of town, train station and river. Behind the hotel is a beautiful church and park.

Staff

Helped us arrange a taxi and gave recommendations on how to use train.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, and room had air conditioner, but I think it had a hard time keeping up with the high temperatures we experienced in June. I think it was an individual room a/c unit, not throughout the whole building.

Hotel Bristol

Geneva

Great location and felt very fancy in the room!

Authenticity & Character

It felt very high end with the room decor.

Location

Close to Lake Geneva and shopping/restaurants.

Staff

Everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Christiania Mountain & Spa

Zermatt

Amazing view of the Matterhorn from our room! Very comfortable!

Authenticity & Character

Cute and clean hotel! Pretty flower boxes on patios!

Location

Walking distance to everything we needed, trains, shops, restaurants. The best view of the Matterhorn from our room!

Staff

Very helpful and efficient!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean room and comfy beds.

Activity Reviews

Chocolate workshop in Interlaken!

Switzerland

Soooo yummy!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A paraglide session!

Switzerland

Very smooth and efficient company! They have this down to an exact science! It was so fun and not scary. We had amazing views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Riffelsee and Riffelberg tour!

Zermatt

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved our guide!

Transport

Wine tastings and visit of Lavaux vineyards, UNESCO World Heritage

Switzerland

Quality of Experience

I'd say the tour could have been a little shorter since it was so hot out, but that's unpredictable!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Annecy

Annecy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kim Kim put together an AWESOME experience for us! We traveled to Kenya in April for 10 days as a family of four, with two girls (ages 11 and 13). Our itinerary was as follows: Nairobi (2 nights), Ol Pejeta Conservancy (2 nights), Nakuru (2 nights), Maji Moto (1 night), and then Masai Mara (2 nights). I was a little worried it would seem like a "bag drag" with all the separate locations, but it didn't! Everything was executed well and went smoothly with just enough downtime. While planning the trip, we were also concerned about traveling during the rainy season; however, we were reassured by local experts that it would not impact our experience. It did affect us, but only in a positive way. The afternoon showers often occurred after lunch and during our siesta, and our evening drives were filled with animals emerging to enjoy the cooler weather after the passing storms. Not to mention, the crowds were minimal. We saw the Big Five on day three and continued to see everything we had dreamed of.
Our two favorite things:
1. Our driver, Andrew, was the best! He made us feel comfortable, safe, and communicated well; he could also drive that Land Cruiser! We were all sad to say our goodbyes and feel like we made a friend.
2. Maji Moto was an incredible experience for all of us, but especially the girls. We felt honored to be a part of the Masai for two days, and camping in the bush under the stars, eating goat, and listening to them sing was something we will never forget! I am very grateful to all the members of this camp for their time and for teaching us not only about their culture but also for letting us experience it for a short period. What wonderful people! If you do go, pack some extra school supplies and clothing for the kids. We brought a little but not enough, and wish we had brought a whole suitcase!

Hotel Reviews

Fair Acres Boutique Hotel

Karen, Nairobi. P. O Box 1121 – 00208 Nairobi.

Wonderful Rooms. The only complaint was that we had to move rooms the second night, and wish we could have just been assigned one room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lake Nakuru Lodge

Nakuru

We had a fantastic view and loved the pool after our day drives.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms need some updating, but we would still stay again!

Sweetwaters Serena Camp

Nanyuki

Loved this place! Tents were very well appointed, food and service were fantastic and we loved watching the animals at the watering hole.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp

Maji Moto

If you're looking for a full cultural experience and are up for a bit of adventure, you must give this place a try. I wrote more about this place in my trip review. Please take a look there. It was the highlight of our trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olive Bush Camp

We loved our awesome family tent and enjoyed hearing the hippos while we fell asleep. The food was incredible, and the staff were terrific. I highly recommend Olive Bush Camp.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Nairobi National Park

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Nakuru Full Day Game Drives

Nakuru

Behind Scenes Chimpanzees

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Maasai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara

Maasai Mara Game Drives

Masai Mara

David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

Kenya

Worth the quick visit. Very educational and enjoyable, with great interaction with the elephants.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giraffe Center

Kenya

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Ol Pejeta Conservancy Game Drives

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Quality of Experience

Night Game Drive

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

Very cool experience! Definitely worth giving it a try.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lake Nakuru National Park Game Drive

Nakuru

Maji Moto Maasai "Olpul" Bush Camp

Maji Moto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall we had a good experience, but there were highs and extreme lows (good excursions and they tried and customer service, but logistics and transportation was a nightmare). I go with travel agents when there is a logistically challenging trip I need assistance on to ensure low stress and efficient trips. I can honestly say this was the MOST STRESSFUL trip experience I have ever taken, and we have traveled with 3 generations of family in and out of the USA before.

The Bad:
-We had several logistical issues small, medium, and large. I was very clear that we had an 80 year old with double knee replacements and I am limited to about 10,000 steps max. My steps were mostly spent chasing cabs down in our recurring transportation issues. The travel agent was made aware of this, did not ask the appropriate questions and thus did NOT accommodate properly for this. We had so much stress and wasted time fixing everything.
-Our stadium tour was not booked on the day planned and had to be updated days before the trip.
-Our cooking class was great, but was changed the night before to a town not close to where we were staying. we had a mad scramble to and hours spent figure this out for the next morning. Kim Kim luckily set up a transfer but the address was wrong on the building so we had to walk to each building buzzing the owners until we found them.
-Both of our hotels were in nice historical areas but we could not get a van taxi for 5 people to drop or pick us up at the locations. We had to walk/run to various different places and had several Uber cancelations.
-Several locations we could not get picked up. Two time we had walk to a gas station for a taxi since there were none around and Uber would not pick us up (AS Roma Stadium and Ostia Antica).
-Our Bari rickshaw trip (good once figured out) got scheduled for a walking tour so yet another scramble and wasted time changing that up.
-Our speed boat tour of the caves near Bari was the absolutely wrong location link, yet another mad dash but at this point I had no confidence in our travel logistics and showed up two hours early at the supposed meeting location.
-We needed to get a train from Bari to Rome since we flew out of Rome the morning after so we asked Kim Kim to set up one to make sure we did not miss the train. The driver was told by someone to go to the airport, so once we noticed we were going to the wrong place we got to the train station running with our luggage and my 80yr old mother with two knee replacement to get on the train as the doors closed.
-There were other discrepancies in the itinerary in addition to the location and scheduling conflicts, like one area said breakfast was included and another did not.
-A medium issues was the in the hotel rooms: we had a window that would not close in 100F degree heat that was not fixed, a sink the leaked, a shower drain that would not drain, got put in separate buildings. We would have chose a less historic area if we knew about all of these issues.
-Steps up to the bathroom on 2 of the 3 rooms we stayed, which may mother tripped on at least once...I can't believe no one even asked about steps, safety bars, or anything having to do with all the mobility concerns we told them about...I could not imagine if someone used a walker or wheelchair!
-I HIGHLY recommend setting up more set transportation ahead of time on the itinerary so a lot of the issues would be prevented.

The Good:
-Our travel agent was pleasant to work with and had good excursion recommendations.
-The excursions were good to excellent.
-The travel agency made a good effort to resolve the issues.

Activity Reviews

Polignano a Mare: Speedboat Cruise to Caves with Aperitif

Bari

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bari by boat

Bari

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class at a Local's Home

Bari

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Alberobello, Monopoli and Locorotondo from Bari

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the "Sassi" of Matera and all the traditiones

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided tour of Bari and the old city with street food tasting - By Rickshaw

Bari

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Highlights Tour: Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este Half-Day Tour from Rome

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Golf Cart Tour of Rome

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ostia Antica Tour | Half Day Trip

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum Underground Tour with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Rome

Rome

Carlos was amazing driver to Sentra. Busy palace and town but we escaped to the beach for lunch.

Ricardo was great. I wish he would have had water in the van. We were for many hours to Porto and Douro with no water. Other than that he made great suggestions and was a great guy during our time. So helpful.

Knowing in advance we had a kitchen would have been great info to share. We had no hot water on night 1 in Porto until 11:30 pm.

The Pine Cliffs resort was so BIG and our room clear at front gate. Everything was a bit overwhelming. Maybe in future we would choose a smaller hotel. Was not aware we needed to make a reservation for dinner and wound up eating so late because all restaurants were booked. So many young children.

All in all we loved our expeditions and seeing this beautiful country. Thank you

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Liberdade

Lisbon

No hot water day 1 but was corrected late into the evening. The garden was fabulous and rooms very clean. We were on the top floor so lots of stairs. Be prepared

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

No hot water day 1 but was corrected late into the evening. The garden was fabulous and rooms very clean. We were on the top floor so lots of stairs. Be prepared

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Pine Cliffs Resort

Apartado, Albufeira

Hotel is gigantic and a bit overwhelming. Need reservations for dinner well in advance but need to know this. Lots of children! Young kids and babies. Very family friendly but as a family with older children we were looking for a bit more relaxing feel. Our room was very nice but way at front near exit. Would have predatory be closer to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flavors of Lisbon: A Gastronomic Tuk Tuk Adventure

Lisbon

Do not recommend. Not authentic and cobblestones made for uncomfortable ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Sintra was beautiful. Must see but be prepared for long lines

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos was so great. We had a great day

Transport

We really enjoyed the tours provided by our local guides in Japan. Our first guide Nick came very well prepared to provide current and historical information on the sites we visited which included the Meiji Jingu Shrine, and the Sensoji Temple. At lunch time, he navigated the crowded Tsukiji Outer Fish Market to lead us to a restaurant with delicious sushi: Sushizanmai Honten.

Zumi was our guide in Osaka who took us to see the impressive Umeda Sky Building along with the Osaka Castle. The day ended with a visit to Nara Park. Zumi was very kind and easygoing; our family connected with him over our shared love of baseball. Both guides were considerate of the high temperature and humidity and provided breaks to rest and hydrate which we really appreciated.

Clover, our guide in Jeju, was a joy. Among many of the sites, she took us to see Jeju's beautiful beaches on differing sides of the island: Woljeongri Beach and Hyeopjae Beach. Throughout both tour days, she displayed thoughtfulness and consideration of everyone in our family such as helping my elderly mother navigate Dongmun Traditional Market and carrying all of her purchases. She even helped by providing tips for our self guided day on Udo Island.

This kindness and consideration were further extended by Jones, our guide in Seoul. My husband and I had visited Gyeongbokgung Palace before but we learned so much more about its history and architectural symbolism from Jones. We mentioned our impromptu interest in visiting a bookstore in Seoul and Jones gladly accommodated our wish; while at the bookstore he helped our family find the topics of books we were searching for.

Though it was our first time meeting each of our guides, upon arriving in Japan and Korea, we felt like we had friends waiting for us to show us hospitality. Our family left Japan and Korea with so many amazing memories thanks to our guides.

Hotel Review

Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino

Please note that I provided the following review on TripAdvisor as well: My family and I enjoyed a five night stay at Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino and loved our experience there. The staff were so warm and welcoming each time we arrived back at the hotel from an excursion. Special shout out to Ahn Tae Young who went out of his way to help our family find a delicious naengmyeon (cold noodle) restaurant! The location of the hotel is conveniently located to bustling shops and restaurants all within walking distance. There is nearby bank where you can convert your currency. There was even a nearby park that held a free concert featuring young Korean artists on a Friday night. The hotel boasts a beautiful, bright and open lobby area which lifts your spirits after a long day of sightseeing. If you view other nearby hotel lobbies on the same street, they are rather bleak and bare. There’s really no comparison to Jeju Sun’s lobby and reception area. To the right of the lobby, you will find the Garden Buffet which served the most delicious breakfast buffet offering both Western style breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon) and Korean cuisine. The freshness, quality and presentation of the food shows how much effort the chefs and staff put into the food. There was a green fruit compete dressing that I couldn’t get enough of; I wish I could get the recipe to make at home. Our room consisted of a spacious two bedroom, two bathroom suite that fit five people. After five days in cramped hotel rooms in Tokyo and Osaka, our room at Jeju Sun provided room to breathe. It was clean and comfortable and great for spending time together. One recommendation I would make is for the hotel to offer beach towels for guests who plan to visit Jeju’s beautiful beaches. I saw that most other Asian tourists spent the day at the beach dressed up to take pictures. We came to Jeju to actually swim in its lovely waters.

Authenticity & Character

Bright and inviting lobby area, decor, fixtures.

Location

Nearby shops and restaurants within walking distance.

Staff

One staff member went out of his way to make sure we found a delicious cold noodle restaurant.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I appreciate how clean the bathrooms were on a daily basis.

Activity Reviews

Half Day Horseback Riding and Kayaking Experience

Jeju Island

Our itinerary was adjusted so that horseback riding and kayaking were split into two separate days but I would say these were my favorite activities. The first day we rode horses in light rainfall crossing the street to reach a UNESCO site - a beach that had the most stunning views. The rain, the clacking of the horses as they walked, and the views made it a special experience. Kayaking was great exercise! It was fun to be out on the water with your family. I enjoyed the clear kayak where you should fish swimming beneath you!

Quality of Experience

Stunning views of the landscape near the horseback riding business are priceless!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at the horseback riding business were considerate; they offered to take family photos while on horses.

Transport

Comfortable, clean air-conditioned van. Clover brought us water to ensure we were all hydrated.

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

We loved Nara deer park. We fell asleep on the way to Nara and when we arrived, we were surprised to see so many deer frolocking about. The Todaiji Temple was set in a beautiful and serene setting. And having Zumi guiding us along the way was a treat!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Seoul Highlights

Seoul

We really appreciate the tour of Kwangjang market. While we're not hungry to eat because of lunch, high temperatures and upcoming dinner, we enjoyed seeing all of the delicious street food options. We have this market bookmarked to re-visit on our next trip to Korea.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jones broke up the market into separate sections (seafood, pancake area, textiles).

Transport

Planning with Kim Kim and Rita was VERY easy and our 19 day trip was FABULOUS!!! We were very impressed with every tour we went on, accommodations, and transportation services. The communication during the trip was immediate and thorough when we reached out to Kim Kim. We definitely will use Kim Kim again for future trip planning! We Highly recommend Kim Kim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel The Square Milano Duomo

Milan

The hotel was very clean, comfortable rooms, and the amazing breakfast each morning. Excellent location! We Cannot praise the desk staff enough! We were in great need of their help with some luggage transport and they helped us above and beyond their duties. We very much appreciated their help!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to so many sites and easy to walk everywhere!

Staff

Very friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Carnival Palace

Venice

Hotel was clean, friendly staff and comfortable rooms. Morning breakfast buffet was excellent! Location of hotel Is in a nice quiet part of Venice! We so enjoyed our stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nice quieter part of Venice and still so easy to walk to everything!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Hotel is nice and clean, friendly staff, cute boutique style.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk everywhere from hotel!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Monte Cenci

Rome

Very clean, Comfortable, quiet hotel in a great location! Very friendly staff!

Authenticity & Character

Very nice rooms and ammenities

Location

Staff

So friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Unico Relais

Napoli

Rooms are very nice, staff is very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Neapolitan Street Food & Local Market Experience

Naples

Fun evening experiencing Naples local scene and so much delicious food!!!

Quality of Experience

So fun and everyone was so friendly everywhere we went! Excellent food!!!!

Food

All the food was DELICIOUS!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was bery personable, gave us a great tour of the local scene of Naples! Highly recommend!

Privately Guided Visit of Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace

Venice

Tour was EXCELLENT! Tour guide was so i formative and knew her history well. She was able to answer all of our many questions. Beautiful tour!! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guide was awesome! Enjoyed it being a private tour!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo

Italy

Excellent tour of the city when tight on time! We enjoyed it so much and our guide was amazing!!

Quality of Experience

Our tour guide!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent!

Evening Aperitivo Private Street Food Tour

Milan

We really enjoyed this beautiful evening walking to the couple Bars for a drink, appetizers and the tour guides recommendation for our dinner.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Interacting more

Colosseum & Roman Forum Visit: Arena Access, Gladiators Gate & Ancient City

Italy

Excellent tour! Amazing to see! A must see site!

Quality of Experience

Tour guide was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide knew her history and gave an excellent tour!

Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Italy

A must see and soooo worth being on this tour, skipping the very long lines to get in and amazing to see!

Quality of Experience

The site, the tour guide, the small number of our tour group.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide did an excellent job!!

Pompeii Archeological Site Guided Visit: Travel to Ancient Times

Italy

Pompeii is worth the visit. We sooo enjoyed Seeing it. Highly recommend seeing it.

Quality of Experience

Transportation and the tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

There was difficulty with transportation AC and it was of no fault of driver and guide but they were having trouble understanding the issue occurring for all the passengers and not listening to the passengers. The tour guide of the actual site was hard to hear

Transport

AC did not work

Joao curated a terrific trip for us. While we really enjoyed our time in Lisbon, Joao gave us a great history lesson on the city and the country over several centuries. That history lesson provided us with a much better appreciation as to what inspired the architecture over the years. Outside of Lisbon, we really enjoyed our visits to Fatima, Batalha Monastery, Pena Palace and Nazare (home of the world’s largest waves). We had some last minute adjustments to our schedule and Joao accommodated those requests and was incredibly friendly and helpful along the way. At the end of our trip, one of our family members accidentally left their eyeglass case in his van. He could have easily left in the van and did nothing. Instead, he texted us, met us at our last excursion and offered to drive us in his personal vehicle back to a spot near our hotel. Joao was caring, thoughtful and worked very hard to ensure that we had a memorable experience in Portugal (which we did!). Thank you again, Joao!!!

Angela our agent, was amazing. She was attentive and responsive and on top of every detail of our trip. Greece was an amazing place to visit and she had every excursion set with an extremely knowledgeable guide. The hotels were amazing top notch. We’ve experienced everything at a very comfortable level and felt everybody was very kind and helpful Throughout the trip. Although tips aren’t expected, everybody was extremely grateful to receive them.
All the ladies at the Woo hotel in Athens great and friendly and so much fun. They made it feel like home. Highly recommend that great place, position in the middle of Athens.
The Melrose hotel in Reythmno was beautiful and a fantastic breakfast display. This hotel was in the perfect place right by the beach, walking distance all fun, cool shops.
Crete was a beautiful island and would definitely love to see that again. The Nautitech 46 Fly catamaran taught crew was amazing!! we absolutely enjoyed their company and having conversation and lunch on the yacht was delicious. Love that crew.!!

Hotel Reviews

Athens Woo Suites

Athens

Great hotel, fantastic location and amazing people that work there

Authenticity & Character

From the rooftop, you have the Acropolis. Absolutely beautiful.

Location

I was in the walking distance of so many cool shops, and areas to see

Staff

The staff was so accommodating anything we needed or wanted they provided. They also were fun and friendly. Made us feel extremely comfortable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The whole place was clean. It was comfortable absolutely loved it.

Melrose Rethymno by Mage Hotels

Rethymno, Crete

The hotel is perfect, a block from the beach. It was updated beautiful rooms and very comfortable beds. It was a walking distance of a bunch of restaurants and the boardwalk with all the stores. Very nice to walk down at night. The breakfast bar was fantastic and delicious and everything was so fresh. Heads up to the Chef.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast buffet had some authentic foods on it, which was very pleasing and delicious

Staff

The staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything is so picked up clean and in order constantly.

Activity Reviews

Rethymno 7-hour Cruise to Georgioupoli/Morning

Greece

This is probably our favorite thing to do and probably our favorite group of people we hung out with. Was chilly, but it was beautiful. It was a beautiful ride and very relaxing after going from all the different excursions that was a perfect way to end for our last day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Thank you, Chef. Everything was delicious.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

That was so friendly and fun

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

lol

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Ultimate Delphi Day Trip from Athens

Greece

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Crete Sightseeing: Rethymno - Argiroupolis - Kournas Lake - Chania from West & Her

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Greece was amazing! Angela did an amazing job. We have a few instances where we needed to communicate with her and she was super responsive and easy to work with. Everything we did from all the tours, the guides and the hotels were perfect for our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Athens 21

Athens

The staff here was super friendly the breakfast and coffee were great and the views from the rooftop were 10/10!

Authenticity & Character

Location

This is right in the center and can walk everywhere we needed

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand View

Santorini

Let's just say the view is the winner! Staff was great and Photis was the perfect bartender. Would highly recommend this place. One thing to note is that it's a minimum of a 40min drive to Oia where a lot of the action is but if you want something quite and relaxing this was nestled in the cutest little town. We very much enjoyed the down time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great for those looking for something quite and near the wine tasting rooms

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Athens Wine Tasting Tour & Nightlife

Athens

This was so fun! 10/10 recommend and everyone was amazing especially our guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Sunset Cruise 2025

Santorini

This was overall a fun day however from start to finish this is about a 10hour deal. Highly recommend doing the sunset cruise since its still day light when you start so you get to swim and see all the different types of beaches around the island.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Highlights Mythology Tour

Greece

Penelope was great! She was easy and very knowledgable about greek mythology.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Jeep Tour to Delphi, Mount Parnassus, and Arachova

Athens

So glad we had this day! It was relaxing with all the scenic views yet we did a lot of hiking this day. Adam was amazing and really customized the tour for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I loved Katie’s local knowledge which helped to go beyond the beaten path and helped to find unique and hidden gems which made our vacation truly special! We loved the smaller boutique hotels that were tucked in quieter places surrounded by Norways beauty. Will definitely go thru KimKim again!

We had an amazing time, this is our second time using KimKim to plan a large trip and it was for the most part seamless. Jessica and Storywalking were in contact with us constantly which was amazing. We could have used a little additional guidance in determining the best time to go to certain locations and the best way to organize that, (i.e. scheduling around afternoon reposo when everything is shut down) but we had an amazing time exploring Italy. Thank you so much!

Hotel Reviews

Albergo California

Positano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing location with gorgeous views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room while large, seemed a little dated compared to the other rooms the people in our party had.

Il Giardino di Venere

Palermo

The villa is beautiful and very spacious. The photos honestly don’t do it justice. The pool was used a lot. The location was good as well and walkable to the beach and restaurants and gelato.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were very kind and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day Trip to Monreale & Cefalù

Italy

Monreale is amazing but there wasn’t enough time to go to both cities. We spent more time driving to Cefalù then we spent in the actual city. Both cities were must-see locations but we felt super rushed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was so nice!

Transport

The overall trip was wonderful, beautiful and amazing. The guides were good and connections and transfers went smoothly. Accommodations were great and food was super. Overall everything was well organized.
Here are a few thoughts, my personal opinion:
A better list of what to bring for the Rainforest Resort would have been helpful. We needed long socks, long sleeved shirts and long pants. It would be a good idea for the resort to provide boots. It was very muddy and slippery. Utan Rainforest Lodge did provide boots.
The snorkel gear was not included in our stay as the information provided said.
Melaka was very interesting and I enjoyed the historical background, but it took a lot of time in transit.
I would leave out the day of the Heritage Walk and Trainride Adventure in Kota Kinabalu and substitute a day to walk around the waterfront, shops and markets.
The cooking class was great and the Kinabalu Park was great.

Hotel Review

Danum Valley Rainforest Resort

Lahad Datu

The rooms at the Danum Valley Rainforest Resort were absolutely gorgeous, and the service was good. The guides were knowledgeable and patient, providing an excellent experience. However, I felt underprepared for the jungle treks, as there were no boots or gators available to tackle the slippery and muddy terrain. A better preparation list and provision of proper gear would have greatly enhanced the experience. The food and service overall were satisfactory, with stunning room accommodations.

Activity Review

Kota Kinabalu Cooking Class

Kota Kinabalu

The Kota Kinabalu Cooking Class was a wonderful experience. Going to the market and participating in the cooking was especially nice, and it provided an opportunity to get to know some locals better. The family that hosted the cooking demonstration was very friendly and gracious, making the experience quite special.

Great trip and I would highly recommend it to others.
The logistics seemed spot on, the guides were excellent, and the lodging was top notch.
As for activities, the day trip from KK to Papar was the least enjoyable activity. This felt like a missed opportunity to learn about the people/culture. Also, I wish I had known in advance that the Danum Valley Lodge did not provide boots and gators for hiking through the jungle. The cooking demonstration in KK and the excursions at the jungle lodges and Lankayan Island Resort were truly awesome.

Activity Review

Heritage Walk & Trainride Adventure

Kota Kinabalu

The train adventure involved getting on a regular train for a short trip to a town just outside of KK. The heritage walk amounted to walking to a church, mosque, and temple. The entire activity felt like a missed opportunity to learn about the culture and people. The time for this activity could be better used doing something else.

We recently used Aleksandra to plan our trip to London and Paris, and she was absolutely amazing. She handled every detail—hotels, activities, and travel between cities—with such care and expertise. Everything was seamless, and her recommendations were spot on.

She made the entire process so easy for us. Aleksandra was responsive, organized, and really listened to what we wanted. Thanks to her, we were able to relax and fully enjoy our trip without any stress. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a smooth, well-planned travel experience!

We had a great trip to Japan that worked for all ages, from young children to grandparents. We were active and moving every day which was exhausting in the heat (so maybe I"d pick a different season), but I started to get excited to surpass each days steps on my pedometer! Our tour guide in Tokyo, Allen, was fabulous. He really taught us a lot on our rides to and from sites and helped us understand the Japanese culture. He brought Pokemon cards to a disappointed fan when the store had an hour wait, and seemed to just "get us." Our tour guide, in Kyoto and Osaka, was also knowledgeable, but we seemed to struggle some with communicating our desires and being understood. He was flexible when we needed a break from the heat or when we were ready to skip another temple/shrine. If I had the trip to do over I would spend more time exploring the different areas of Tokyo, see one or two fewer shrines and temples, and more of the day to day living of the Japanese people. I'd even like to stay in a traditional Japanese home set up with the tatami mats. Heidi, our local specialist, revamped our trip several times to meet our needs and was lovely to work with.

Hotel Reviews

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

The rooms were sufficient and clean, but they were quite small. I wish we had more space to put our luggage and that the bathroom set up was different.

Authenticity & Character

Some really cool art adorned this hotel. It was also neat how it was built at the top of a building and you had to go up to get out.

Location

Right near shopping and a mile walk from Dotonbori.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

What a fancy place to be. While there was minimal A/C in the central atrium, the rooms were nice sizes, the beds were comfy and the amenities were plentiful. The breakfast options were also a plus, as after being in country for a week we were ready for something more familiar than a Japanese breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was nice to be in a quiet neighborhood that felt safe to walk at night alone. We were nearby to restaurants and saw some of the residential side of Kyoto.

Staff

Greeted us with cool wet towels when we arrived after a HOT walk from the train station, helped us make reservations and were ultimately super respectful and polite.

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable. Loved the shower/bath set up.

Activity Reviews

Authentic Japanese drum (Taiko) experience

Osaka

So much fun and quite a work out! The language barrier meant that we didn't learn as much about the history of Taiko drumming as we would have liked, but we did learn how to play them and play for an entire hour!

Quality of Experience

We would have liked more history so we understood the significance of the Taiko drum to Japanese culture.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

We had so much fun being dressed in traditional tea ceremony outfits. My kids and I loved the experience of what it's like to layer on a kimono and kneel to make tea. The sweets were delicious and we learned a lot about the ritual of making tea. Plus, lots of fun photo ops in the garden.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day driver and guide service:Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway, Lake Kawaguchi, Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, Kawaguchiko Music Forest, Cruise on Lake Kawaguchiko

Tokyo

Fuji sang did not come out from behind the clouds on our visit, but it was still a beautiful area. The music forest was closed the day we visited and our tour guide pivoted us to a museum sharing the history of Mt. Fuji and a World Heritage Village that was amazing to see. This was when I learned that in Japan your wealth is measured by your garden, not your house. Our tour guide also took us to a traditional soba house for lunch where we sat on tatami mats and ate huge bowls of soba with tempura.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Allen took us to some neat places that were not on our itinerary.

Transport

Safe, smooth, drive in rainy weather.

The Ghibli Museum

Tokyo

It was very neat to see how Miyazaki created his animated films. I think we could have spent less time in this museum.

Sumo Show and Experience (with Sumo Lunch)

Tokyo

Super fun to learn about Sumo and get to try it ourselves. The entire experience was geared toward tourists, but it didn't matter. We had so many fun photo ops posing with the sumo wrestlers.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food left us wanting. The kids weren't into the pork cutlet and the gluten free meal was quite bland.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver in Tokyo was top notch, cool vehicle, safe, and always there when we needed him.