Kimkim Trip Reviews

Emanuela was great in planning our trip. The provided itinerary was highly detailed, easy to follow and very helpful. We appreciated all her dining recommendations and places to stop off the beaten path. Emanuela was very responsive and communicated with us during the planning process and checked in with us throughout the trip! Thanks for a great adventure

Activity Review

A Day at the Westmann islands

Iceland

Enjoyed seeing the puffins! Less busy than other places. It was nice to get away from the crowds. The island was beautiful!

Galápagos Islands trip review

This is the second time we worked with Mathias for our trip. The first trip was Ecuador adventure tour including Quito, Banos, and Amazon. It was a great trip.

This time we worked with Mathias for our Galapagos island trip and it was amazing. Mathias is super thoughtful, he made sure that every single detail of the trip was taken care of. He is very patient and is so accommodating with our requests and needs. When we first arrived at the Quito hotel, Mathias met us in person with a gift of wine, chocolate, coffee, and soap. This is such a wonderful personal touch that made us feel so welcome.

During the trip, Mathias was available any time we needed any assistance and fixed any issues. On one our trips that they put us on a tour without kayaking, Mathias made sure to put us on another kayaking tour—complimentary from him. In the morning we left for Galápagos Islands the hotel forgot to pack us breakfast, Mathias offered us free breakfast after we checked in at the airport. In addition, we got an upgrade for our flight back to Quito from Santa Cruz. All these gestures made us feel super welcome and taken care of.

All the day tours we were on were amazing: with awesome tour guides and on time pick up and drop off—not a worry at all from our part. We were confident that we were well taken care of.

I would work with Mathias in the future again. He is truly an incredible person to work with and I give him the highest recommendations!

Our trip to Costa Rica was excellent in every way. Olman did an outstanding job of putting together an itinerary geared to our interests and we were so happy with every part of it. We started with white water rafting on the Pacuare River which was unforgettable and exhilarating. And the Exploradores Outdoors guides were exceptional in their instruction, support, and unwavering vigilance. It was an experience of a lifetime for us . And our hikes near the Arenal Volcano and the Fortuna Waterfall were also unforgettable in their quieter way. I was very impressed with our guide, Randall, from Amazilla Travel, who was very engaging and remarkably knowledgeable about the volcano and the plants and animals of the jungle. We learned so much and I have brought back home with me the memory of the magical quiet of the rainforest. Every place we went we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the accommodations, the food (which we will miss), the warmth and hospitality of the people we met, and the beauty of Costa Rica. Kimkim was the way to go for us.

Great support from Linda - all the KimKim crew was very helpful and supportive

Hotel Reviews

Vieja Cuba

Quito

Very charming hotel, with loads of character.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Posada del Mar

Santa Cruz

I give 3 stars, as it was quite basic, but the reception was very friendly and helpful. Location was very convenient

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

San Jose de Puembo Quito Airport, an Ascend Hotel Collection

Puembo, Quito

A very c harmful hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Otavalo Market & Cuicocha Crater Lake

Quito

An interesting experience - a bit tiring, maybe

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to an uninhabited island

Ecuador

That was the peak of the holiday. We felt privileged we visited San Bartolome’

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Puerto Ayora

Very interesting visit

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Quito Airport, Arrival to Galapagos & Highlands of Santa Cruz

Ecuador

Our guide was super helpful

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dimitris was an excellent help on my first trip to Greece. He booked us in wonderful, cute, small hotels, planned our transfers to perfection and was extremely accommodating to our needs before the trip, and as the trip was ongoing. I would certainly recommend Dimitris for anyone looking to go to Greece.

I love researching and planning trips but this year I just did not have the time to do it and as our family wanted to try somewhere new and different I was delighted to find KimKim ! The process of booking our Norway trip was really easy and Merée was able to design a customised itinerary based on a little feedback on our group needs and interests. This included some really enjoyable events that I don't think would have been on our radar had I been researching myself, such as Ciderhuset and Oslo Opera House. The kayaking in Sognefjord was a big hit. We had a nice amount of down time to go find our own experiences and found Oslo and Bergen really easy to get around, with plenty of things to do. The best part of the planning process was how easily we could tweak it before arriving at a final plan. All of our hotels were great and Merée managed to get the best room configurations for our group despite a busy hotel season. The KimKim platform was excellent for the planning process and also while on the trip, and Merée and her colleagues were very quick to respond when I posted enquiries. We really appreciated having them on board as they were very responsive and helpful when we hit issues with the travel delays that are unfortunately an inevitable part of travelling these days! Finally, the weather for our trip was amazing and definitely a big part of its success - although I don't think Merée can take the credit for that!

This is an overdue review for a trip completed pre-pandemic. Pauline did an amazing job planning the trip. We loved driving around and exploring the waterfalls, black sand beaches and cliffs. The natural springs were great too. Looking forward to planning more trips through kimkim now that traveling is more accessible!

We had a terrific time in France thanks to kimkim!

Isabelle was terrific to work with in the planning phase of the trip, and Joel helped us finalize details and offered us valuable on-the-ground support when we needed it. We loved our stay in Paris at the Baum Hotel that Isabelle recommended. It was in a great location, the breakfasts were delicious, and the staff was tip-top. Our excursions were excellent -- though the heat caused some members of our party to pass on a few of the planned outdoor activities. The catacombs and Louvre were wildly different, but equally intriguing. Everyone appreciated tasting the sweets on our Paris tasting tour. We were especially grateful for evening tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower -- not only because it was cooler, but also because we got to see the magic of the lights of Paris. A few of us braved the heat to see Versailles, and we won the jackpot with our Fat Tire guide, Nick. He was deeply knowledgeable about French history and culture, very clever and entertaining, and his positive energy and enthusiasm kept the group from flagging in the 100+ F temps.

After our stay in Paris, we journeyed south to explore some historic towns and our own family history near Loudon. The place we stayed, Domaine de Roiffe, was a spacious, albeit quirky place with an "old school" country club vibe that took us back at least half a century. The restaurant offered something for everyone, and we enjoyed excellent local wines at our family dinner.

Further south in Bergerac we stayed at an incredible accommodation -- Clos d'Argenson -- for five fabulous nights. Our hosts Francois and Ann Marie were wonderful, the three-story building was beautifully appointed and full of interesting art, we enjoyed spacious common areas to read, play billiards, and eat scrumptious breakfasts with homemade delights on the balcony. The grounds were beautiful and quiet, with a peaceful swimming pool we used each day of our stay. In addition to enjoying the charming city and local village connected with another side of our family tree, we took advantage of the excursions Isabelle recommended: canoeing on the Dordogne with spectacular views of castles and chateaus, visiting the site of the Lasceaux caves, and dining at a Michelin starred-restaurant in St. Émilion. A small group of us even ventured a couple hours away to see a French cyclist win Stage 19 of the Tour de France in Cahors. Worth the 2-hour scenic drive!

Our time in Bordeaux exceeded our expectations -- it's a spectacular city with so much to see and do, and the FOOD was fabulous everywhere we went. Because of road closures due to wildfires, the crew that wanted to visit the Dune of Pilat had to make alternative plans. Our place in Bordeaux, Maison Bordeaux, was in a great location and was quite nice, though my parents encountered a few minor issues that did not get resolved during their stay (e.g. their door did not lock).

It was too sad to say goodbye, so we decided to go with, "See you next time!" Thank you, kimkim, for helping us put together our itinerary, figure out the lodging, arrange for our three separate car rentals, the various transfers, and all the local tours/activities that made our time in France an unforgettable experience. We're proud of our French heritage and connecting with it together as a family was a true gift.

Hotel Reviews

La Maison Bord'eaux

Bordeaux

Maison Bordeaux was in a great location and was quite nice, though my parents encountered a few minor issues that did not get resolved during their stay (e.g. their door did not lock). The parking on the premise was a tad clunky to manage (e.g. needed some help a few times with the gate).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clos d'Argenson

Bergerac

We HIGHLY recommend this incredible accommodation. Our hosts Francois and Ann Marie were wonderful, the three-story building was beautifully appointed and full of interesting art, we enjoyed spacious common areas to read, play billiards, and eat scrumptious breakfasts with homemade delights on the balcony. The grounds were beautiful and quiet, with a peaceful swimming pool we used each day of our stay. In addition to enjoying the charming city, a local village connected with another side of our family tree. It was a perfect place for us to stay.

Authenticity & Character

The space and decor was both comfortable and interesting -- very tasteful without being pretentious.

Location

In the heart of the city center, but not noisy.

Staff

Perfect hosts!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The air conditioning was great. The bathrooms were sparkly clean, the linens and towels changed as we requested.

Domaine de Roiffé

Roiffe

Domaine de Roiffe was a spacious, albeit quirky place with an "old school" country club vibe that took us back at least half a century. The llama and sheep grazing on the property were entertaining, and the horses were beautiful to visit on an early morning walk. The restaurant offered something for everyone, and we enjoyed excellent local wines at our family dinner. The breakfast buffet was also really good, and we enjoyed the outdoor eating option. If we'd had more time, some of our party would have enjoyed playing some golf, but we had to set out for our adventures in the south. The location was really great for us since we went to visit the Maison de l'Acadie in La Chaussée.

Authenticity & Character

The rustic charm was appreciated by many in our group, but others were concerned that we didn't have air conditioning.

Location

Very close to one of our family heritage sites.

Staff

Everyone was really helpful. Wait staff and front desk especially!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Same as above: The rustic charm was appreciated by many in our group, but others were concerned that we didn't have air conditioning.

Hôtel Baume

Paris

We loved our stay in Paris at the Baum Hotel that Isabelle recommended. It was in a great location, the breakfasts were delicious, and the staff was tip-top.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Professional, responsive, friendly, and competent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathrooms were especially bright and sparkling clean.

Activity Reviews

The Vezere Valley and Lascaux IV

Sarlat

Two of us eight had been to Lascaux II back in 1998, and we were impressed with the improvements afforded by Lascaux IV. Having the audio transmitter/headsets made listening quite easy. And the new space created as a replica to the original cave gives visitors more opportunity to get close to the cave paintings.

Quality of Experience

It's a powerful learning opportunity!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was quite good and the exhibition floor guides were also very knowledgable and friendly.

Transport

Parking was not completely full, but quite crowded. As mentioned above, give yourself time to park and walk from further away than you might have anticipated.

Canoeing in Dordogne

France

This was a winning excursion among all members of the family. The biggest surprise to our group was how MANY canoes were on the river at the same time -- it was not as crowded as "bumper cars" but you were never on a stretch of river when you were alone among your party.

Quality of Experience

Stunning scenery. Lovely way to spend a summer day. Three folks in our party of eight dared to jump from the rock ledge after seeing some other people do it without hurting themselves. Very exciting!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff were really helpful at the point of set up and departure. It's just that we were surprised that no one shared more about the history of the river or offered any details about the specific sites we anticipated seeing along the way. It would be handy to have a printed guide with some interesting facts, or a basic orientation -- perhaps akin to what we heard guides sharing on the motorized tour boats along the river -- that would give us a bit more context to the region.

Transport

The equipment was good and the bus rides to the launch and from the end point were excellent. It was helpful that they provided each boat with containers to keep your stuff dry in the event of a capsize.

Biking Day Trip Through Historic Versailles

France

This was fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Overall a 10 out of 10!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We won the jackpot with our Fat Tire guide, Nick! He was deeply knowledgeable about French history and culture, very clever and entertaining, and his positive energy and enthusiasm kept the group from flagging in the 100+ F temps. He was also extremely helpful. When a member of our group had difficulty with her bike, he rode it back while we were getting our picnic items and brought her a new one. When the store we were shopping at lost electricity, he helped us get to the best places for alternatives.

Transport

When we got there the train that departs from our meet up location was not operating, so we had to get on the metro for a few stops and take a different regional train. The 3-speed bikes worked well for the flat terrain we had that included some gravel.

Eiffel Tower Summit Ticket

Paris

We were glad we did this in the evening when the temperature was cooler. Our guide was really good, sharing history of the tower with us as we looked up at it from various vantage points. It was especially useful having him guide us around the different directional sections of the tower pointing out key sites below.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was nice having the option to walk the stairs.

The Sweet Side of Paris Food Tour

Paris

We ALL looked forward to this tour. Our guide was really friendly and easy-going, and she took us to some of the best locations for delicious treats. At our first stop, for eclairs, we asked about the history of the eclair and our guide was stumped -- which seemed a bit odd since she has no doubt been there many times. With the help of the internet we looked up the answer to our question. Problem solved. Later on in the tour, our guide had more of a handle on the history of specific sweet delicacies, which made the entire experience more interesting. Because it was a Monday, and nearing the start of the summer holiday for the French, a few places we would have stopped at were closed. It was not a big deal, but if I had been leading the tour, I might have called ahead to the places I planned to go to confirm whether they would be open or not. Despite a few places with locked doors, we got to see and taste a lot of excellent tidbits. The tour provided a wonderful orientation/welcome for our trip to France. And since it was a really hot afternoon, I would recommend including a place for ice cream or sorbet tasting. Lucky for us the tour ended near where we were staying!

Quality of Experience

I liked the fact that it was a private walking tour for our family group. We got to try lots of goodies and everyone was quite pleased.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Barbara was easy-going and friendly. And she had great recommendations for what to try.

Our trip to Colombia was amazing. I whole heartedly recommend this trip to anyone seeking an interesting, inspiring and fun vacation. Wendy was a fabulous specialist - very responsive, helpful and kind. We enjoyed so many activities! In Bogota we loved visiting the Traditional Farmers Market with Maria Jose. She was so passionate about Colombia and her work. We learned so much and enjoyed the fruit and market. We had a blast dancing during a LBGT night in Bogotá! Our guide throughout, Andrea, was absolutely lovely. We learned so much about the city, Colombia and a bit about what it is like to live there. We loved our experience in Medellín. What a beautiful city. Our guide Andres was awesome. We were in awe of how this city and the community has transformed after so much suffering. The vibrancy and passion we felt in the Comuna 13 was amazing. I think I will most remember the moving stories, hopefulness and how much incredible work performed by the community has transformed this city. We also had a fun evening out to a gay bar with Andres. Great conversations! The visit to the “silletera” farm was lovely as well. Our last days were spent in Cartagena. Really had some great meals! Also had a blast with the rum and chocolate tasting! As I write this review, I feel a longing to go back! It truly was amazing. My impression is mostly of the people we met, our guides and others we spoke with. I feel so grateful for how much I learned and got to experience in this beautiful country with such amazing people.

Activity Reviews

Legendary Rum & Chocolate Tasting

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Medellín Nightlife

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colorful Colombia: Hike to Guatapé Rock, Guatapé & Peñol-Guatape Reservoir

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

LBGT Night in Bogotá

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The City of The Eternal Spring & Comuna 13

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Farmers Market

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

To William , Stephen and all the KimKim team. Ron and I want to thank you for all the work you put into planning our trip. We enjoyed out tip through England to Scotland and back to England. All of the choices for our accommodations were wonderful. One of our favorite places to stay was The Upper Largo Hotel. The pub and restaurant there was so nice. The food was wonderful. Also, our accommodations in Port Isaac , The Slipway was so ver nice. All the Bed And Breakfast and Hotels were extremely nice. We would stay at all of them again.
The excursions, punting , Tea at Blenheim palace, The tour of Manchester stadium and one of our favorites was the walking eating tour. The guide was fun and so nice and very informative and all the places we stopped to taste food were awesome. Definitely anyone who wants to visit in Manchester I recommend that eating tour with our guide. From there we go to bath . Accommodations at the Abbey hotel were wonderful. Circus Restaurant was beautiful inside and the food was so delicious. We also toured the Roman Bath. We would recommend everything to anyone asking about our trip. Port Isaac was a wonderful way to end our vacation. Very beautiful village . Restaurants were all delicious. We never had a bad meal the whole trip. We are big fans of the British TV show Doc Martin and the setting for the show is filmed in Port Isaac. How fortunate were we to actually be there when they were filming the last episode of the series. From our balcony at the bed-and-breakfast we were staying in we could literally watch the actors and the filming happening.
Thank you so much for everything. Thank you for dealing with my phone calls I made through out the trip. There is not one bad thing to say about our trip. It was wonderful.

Ron and Gloria Beavers

Hotel Reviews

Hard Days Night Hotel

Liverpool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Eton Mess Boutique Hotel

Eton, Berkshire

Very nice place to stay. The staff were very accommodating and helpful. Set an a perfect location for touring.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Slipway

Port Isaac

Couldn’t ask for a better place to stay. Great view from our balcony. Such a charming village. Food was awesome at all the restaurants we try. All around definitely want to go back

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Upper Largo Hotel

4 Main St

Absolutely awesome. Love this hotel the staff was so friendly and helpful. The restaurant was so clean and the food was out of this world delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Love the charm. The setting and all the stuff

Lionsgate Guest House

Bicester

Absolutely wonderful place to stay. Very very clean. Great location to walking. Staff was wonderful. Will definitely stay here again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dakota Manchester

Manchester

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Head of the River

Oxford, Oxfordshire

Beautiful setting. Food is delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Setting, location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Reviews

Port Isaac Walking Tour

Padstow

Very very informative. Our guy was so knowledgeable and the village is absolutely adorable and had just so much fun on the tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cornwall Private Horse and Carriage Tour

Padstow

So fun and relaxing. Great getting to see the countryside from the horse and carriage

Quality of Experience

So fun and relaxing. Great getting to see the countryside from the horse and carriage

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Or guys were so friendly and very informative. Had a lot of fun with these guys

Transport

Or guys were so friendly and very informative. Had a lot of fun with these guys

Eat the City Tour

Manchester

This was very enjoyable. Our guide was awesome and made the experience even more fun with his knowledge of the city. Everywhere he took us to eat was absolutely delicious. Just a lot of fun and would definitely recommend this to anyone wanted to do something in Manchester.

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome. really friendly guide.

Transport

Everything

Old Trafford Stadium Tour

Manchester

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liverpool by The Beatles - Classical tour

Liverpool

Punting in Oxford

Oxford

Great experience very relaxing. The picnic lunch was out of this world. Way more than we expected. Loved it

Quality of Experience

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were so lucky to have a seasoned guide. He made it a great experience and he was very knowledgeable

Transport

We were so lucky to have a seasoned guide. He made it a great experience and he was very knowledgeable

We had never heard of KimKim prior to booking this trip. Once we read the reviews, we were sure this is the agency to go with...and we were NOT disappointed. Our local specialist, Nada, helped us plan our trip from A to Z. She had really good recommendations, travel advice and was extremely responsive. Our itinerary, driver's contact details, hotel information etc. was all provided well in advance with a lot of detail so we knew what to expect.
Our driver, Awni Naser, who was with us for 5 days carting us around the sights of Jordan was exceptional as well. Very knowledgeable and helped re-arrange our itinerary slightly based on our needs for an even better experience. He gave us excellent pointers during the entire trip.
Our Jordan trip included Amman, Kerak, Mt. Nebo, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead sea. Wadi Rum and Petra were the highlights for us. We stayed in a panoramic dome "tent" (in Aicha camp, highly recommend the accommodations and food here). Nada also organized a dinner for us with a local Petra family, which was nice to see how people in the area live. We highly recommend the Petra By Night tour, it is simple and quite magical.
Overall, we have nothing but good things to say about our trip - very well organized and executed. We will definitely book with KimKim again for our next adventure. 5 stars all around (would rate it higher than 5 stars if we could!). Thank you very much, Nada and Awni!

Michele, our local specialist was fabulous! He went out of the way for us when we were called home early due to some issues at home. He made all the last minute changes we needed and they were perfect. The hotel accommodations we had during the entire week were very nice, but we especially enjoyed the Hotel Laki and Hotel Selja, both of which were newer facilities with more spacious bathrooms. The others were nice, too, but these were nicer. All the tips for things to see along the route were excellent and much appreciated.

Overall, we absolutely enjoyed our Iceland vacation. Iceland is so unique and special; it was definitely worth our effort. We enjoyed hiking to various waterfalls, such as Grundarfoss, Kirkjufellfoss, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, and those higher up on the hike to Skogafoss – Hestavaðsfoss and Fostorfufoss. We attempted to hike to the Glymur falls, but were turned away when we thought the log bridge crossing over the river Botnsá was beyond our capability – the river was flowing rapidly! We enjoyed driving around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and hiking off of Road F575 and hiking to Klukkufoss and Snekkjufoss. Taking in the sights of Djúpalónssandur beach on the west coast of the Peninsula was a unique experience. Our adventure to the Secret Lagoon for a dip in the oldest swimming pool in Iceland – located in a geothermal area near Flúðir was warm and relaxing. We also thought the sights of Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon were exceptional as was hiking in the area of the Svinafellsjokull Glacier near Vtnajökull National Park. But our absolute favorite activity was the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon excursion! It was a magnificently beautiful and warm day and the sights were once-in-a-lifetime views. How special - we will remember it for the rest of our lives.

Lize did a good job. Some suggestions in hindsight:
At Victoria Falls, I recommend doing both sides of the falls. Pioneer Lodge is very good. The trip to Chobe is very good.
At Cape Town our guide Mario was very good.
Tangala--the tents have no heat. The sleeping and shower were accordingly very uncomfortable. Guests should be made aware of that before hand; we were not.
Elephant Plains is a great property, but the wi-fi is very limited to the bar area--nothing in the rooms. The quality of the wildlife viewing was good, but the quantity was lacking. The quantity at Chobe and Tangala was much greater.

I cannot thank Bryan from Serendipity adventures enough!

He helped us to plan the most wonderful trip in Costa Rica! Not only did he give us wonderful suggestions but he also took into account our interests and our desires to see as much as possible in a short frame of time. He planned our activities meticulously and followed up with us throughout the trip to ensure that everything was going smoothly.

All our guides arrived on time and were extremely well trained and informed. Their enthusiasm to share their knowledge about their country, the wildlife and the forests was contagious.

I would like to particularly mention Arenal Star, their service was impeccable. The owner picked us up and had local sweets and chips as well as drinks for us in the car. Not only that he stopped on the side of the road to get us Rambatans so that we could taste them. We made use of his company the next day for a hike and again we had the most incredible experience with fresh fruit being beautifully cut for us after our hike. Our guide was extremely informative and really went over and above to ensure we had an unforgettable experience.

In Monteverde we would really like to mention Andy from Forest Alive. He was by far the most experienced guide we had for the whole trip. He allowed us to freely use his spotting scope so that we could see all the animals. He had an array of specialist equipment that he used to show us so many interesting things that we would have otherwise not seen. He also understood our desire to take it slowly and really "see" the forest. We noticed how other guides were on their second or third trip with clients whilst we were merely completing our first excursion. He really took his time to show us nature at its best. He also showed us how diverse the forest is and gave us an in-depth explanation of the difference between all the various forests (dry, could, rain, dwarf). Our experience in Monteverde with Andy was one of the main highlights of our trip. He really is an exceptional guide and we will be forever grateful to him for everything he shared with us. Not only that he is also a fantastic photographer and he was able to teach us and show us how to take beautiful photos of what we were seeing.

We had an amazing time and we will definitely be using the services of Kimkim in future for all our trips. They make planning your dream trip a walk in the park!

Thank you to everyone for the most unforgettable experience in Costa Rica!

We were so very lucky to meet Tamer , and have him help us plan our trip to Ecuador . Planning is really not the right word , for what he did , caring , constant communication , before , during and after the trip . He listened to our personal needs, responded immediately at all hours , altered the itinerary as needed, and went above and beyond to not only assure comfort , but safety . A couple examples would be :, he took me out to coffee upon arrival , met our whole group after first day , and walked us to dinner to be sure we were safe, rearranged our guide , added two days of tours while we were there, had breakfast packed for us by hotels when leaving early . He is not only in constant contact with us , but also the guides. His english is perfect , all this is very comforting in a foreign country away from home for a extended trip .

I was recovering from a broken knee , he made sure steps were minimized at all hotels. Everywhere we went they knew ahead about my limitations and our dietary restrictions . He also stayed within our budget .
We loved everything about the trip . Especially the Amazon trip to the Napo cultural center . We had a wonderful guide , Jose, and terrific accommodations . Our driver and guide Francisco , could not do enough for us . He brought us homemade treats his mother cooked, coffee his friend grew , and tried to arrange for us to see his friends rose farm , when my daughter asked if we could see one .. he took us to much needed trips to the pharmacy , where his Spanish was necessary . There are countless little things he did to enrich our experience .

I hope this is the beginning of a long travel relationship with Tamer and a Kimkim . I can’t think of a better service , and really friendship .

Thank you , thank you . It was a meaningful experience for us , a once in a lifetime trip . Can not recommend them more . Beyond grateful .

Hotel Review

Napo Cultural Center

Quito

This was a really great and special experience . The guide , the program , the food, and the accommodations were so wonderful . It is extremely well run . The most clean place we were in Ecuador . They care a lot about you being there . It is a rugged trip , but we’re were very surprised with how nice the room was .

Authenticity & Character

Not a tourist trap . Authentic

Location

Amazon , tree tops

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanest place we were

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Papallacta

Quito

This was a nice day . Easier ride than mindo . Liked the hot springs . Definitely go to the more expensive spa . Even that was quite crowded . I guess I would try to go on weekday . We were there on weekend , and it was packed with little kids , very crowded . This took away from the experience for us . But the whole setup w food , hot springs and services is nice .

Quality of Experience

Food

We are there and the food was good and well priced

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kuri Muyu (Kichwa traditions) - Canopy Tower - Traditional Dinner

Yasuni National Park

The hike and the canopy tower was one of my most favorite activities of the 3 weeks in Ecuador . It was amazing . Pictures don’t do it justice . Seeing the birds , going at sunset . Being above the trees and seeing the whole forest and eco system . Our guide was beyond knowledgeable .

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Quito

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What a wonderful experience we had in Galapagos!

Alvaro was super attentive and responsive to all of our questions and had great insight on local activities. We felt very safe in our travels. Safe even to walk at night dressed like a tourist honestly. In all the places we visited in the Galápagos Islands. We speak Spanish but in all honesty the trip was so completely planned from start to finish with transportation and quick support that it really didn’t matter. I would definitely recommend the planning service to my friends who speak no Spanish. We wish we had done our scuba certificate because this is an incredible place to dive, but we did get to do a beginner/non-certificate “discovery” dive which was an amazing experience.

Some favorite places we visited below:

Isabella: smallest town we visited but the tours were WOW

Hotel- Casa de Marita - beachfront boutique hotel with an incredible view walking distance from the doc/ snorkeling/ beachfront dining. Walk the boardwalk and explore the seaside. =]

Volcano (Sierra negra) 10 mile hike in Isabella - Visit to the second largest crater in the world. This was an intense, gratifying hike. Definitely bring hiking boots (not sneakers) and a camera. Incredible view, and and quite satisfying.

Tintoreras: This tour was rather short compared to some others but we saw the most penguins, blue footed boobies, and sharks (in just a snorkel) than any other tour! Also lots of sea lions and marine iguanas.

San Cristobal:
Here the sea lions are everywhere along the boardwalk area (the most we saw anywhere). Go for a walk and greet MANY sea lions on the way on the park benches and sidewalks.

Casa Blanca- ADORABLE boutique hotel with incredible view (on the bay) and just in front of the main doc which was very convenient for our tours that left from there. Restaurant there is superb. Hostess was incredible.

Tijeretas- easy paved hike with a favorite snorkel spot. Up close and personal experience with playful sea lions and tortoises! Interpretation center is a great family activity.

Santa Cruz:
This is a fun island with lots of food, shopping, tours, and activities! The below 2 favorites are great family activities!

Acacia hotel - beauuuuutiful eco hotel that definitely felt like a treat with a private pool and modern/tasteful amenities.

Exploring and uninhabited island- Bartolomé. I wasn’t sure what to expect here but this was a great package because it was a larger boat with a great crew/ tour guide. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and champagne included with a rather easy hike and beautiful snorkel. We saw new and different creatures such as a manta ray and puffer fish in the reef, as well as tortoises, playful sea lions and parrotfish up close.

Highlands tortoises farm- a beautiful home for the tortoises and we were able to see them up close, watch them eat their fruits freely and had a wonderful tour guide who was passionate about her work. Wonderful restaurant was there too.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Blanca

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

We stayed at the top floor suite and it had a great view, and a huge private patio. We could see the sunset from their incredible restaurant downstairs. Hospitality was wonderful and we felt well taken care of as well as safe in the area. Overall very impressed. This place is right near the bay doc which is both convenient and provides a great view!

Authenticity & Character

Lots of personality- was quaint and charming.

Location

Very convenient and beautiful sunset waterfront view .

Staff

Very attentive and took care of us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable. Loved the privacy of the top floor suite.

La Casa de Marita

Puerto Villamil

This place was very impressive. One of our favorite hotels! The waterfront view was incredible. The garden was also so charming! Water front tapas for happy hour was a classy treat and dinner was also very good. Staff made us feel very taken care of as well.

Authenticity & Character

This place was very charming and definitely had a proud Latin American personality.

Location

This is located on the end of the beach where it’s quieter, but also just a few steps down the beach are many waterfront restaurants and also pharmacy/essentials in walking distance.

Staff

Welcoming, warm, and took great care of us!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Areas were clean, comfortable, and beautiful.

Acacia Galápagos Boutique Hotel

Puerto Ayora

This was so wonderful and charming. Beauuuuutiful eco hotel that definitely felt like a treat with a private pool and modern/tasteful design and amenities. The had robes hung up for us and several beautiful lounge areas. Also the hostess was wonderful, helpful, and inviting. Breakfast was fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Modern eco style was very tasteful

Location

Central location

Staff

Warm, inviting and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable. Lived the robes and also the bathroom was no the stylish and clean.

Activity Reviews

Welcome to San Cristóbal Island! Visit the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill, or La Lobería

Galapagos Islands

This was our first real tour. We actually were offered to do both areas to snorkel but elected to do just the first (tijeretas). This was a wonderful snorkel with an easy paced hike beforehand. Sea lions were very playful and friendly. Tortoises also were happy to swim with us! Snorkeling go pro pictures were included for free =]

Quality of Experience

Exploring the Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Galapagos Islands

Beautiful family friendly experience with wonderful guide and ability to get up close and personal with land tortoises free range style. They seem very happy here. It was a beautiful tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Cafe we visited on site was a delicious 3 course meal. So good!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing tour guide. Passionate about her field, educated, and an obvious live for the wild life.

Transport

Cabs

Kayaking on Tortuga Bay

Puerto Ayora

This tour was rather self paced which was good for fitting different schedules. A long simple walk through town and on a beach, then kayaking was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self paced and more hands off large group tour

Transport

This was a lovely walk to the beach through town

Discover the Wonders of Tintoreras Islet: A Journey into Breathtaking Biodiversity

Puerto Villamil

This was a favorite tour for sure. This tour was rather short compared to some others but we saw the most penguins, blue footed boobies, and sharks (in just a snorkel) than any other tour! Also lots of sea lions and marine iguanas.

Quality of Experience

Food

Gave us tangos (local chocolate covered biscuits kind of) after our snorkel =]

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super knowledgeable and friendly, enthusiastic, and funny =]

Transport

Exploring the Underwater World: Discovery Basic Diving Day in Santa Cruz

Galapagos Islands

We did the discovery tour and felt very well taken care of. We had an instructor walk us through instructions (just 2 students:1 instructor) and our instructor was very attentive. He made me feel safe and comfortable and took great go pro pictures and videos which were provided to us for free!

Experience the Pristine Beauty of Galápagos Islands: Discovering an Uninhabited Island

Puerto Ayora

I wasn’t sure what to expect here but this was a great package because it was a larger boat with a great crew/ tour guide. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and champagne included with a rather easy hike and beautiful snorkel. We saw new and different creatures such as a manta ray and puffer fish in the reef, as well as tortoises, playful sea lions and parrotfish up close.

Quality of Experience

Staff was so attentive and friendly! Also so many amenities. Very relaxing yet eventful day.

Food

Salad and dressing, fish, fried/battered bananas, huge breakfast, champagne, flan, everything was great and they thought of everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and attentive.

Dinner by the Sea

Galapagos Islands

Isla Grill was incredible. There were small sharks by the foot of the restaurant in plain view which was an added bonus for us! It really felt like a special occasion place. We had a bottle of the Isla Grill wine which was so good!

Hiking the Sierra Negra Volcano

Galapagos Islands

This was an intense, gratifying 10 mile hike. Definitely bring hiking boots (not sneakers or hiking sandals) and a camera. Incredible view, and and quite satisfying. Tour guide was very energetic and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Was the kind of challenging hike I was hoping for!

Food

Bagged lunch provided was good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Transport

Diego did an excellent job planning our trip! All the excursions and airport/city transfers were timely in picking us up. All our tour guides were knowledgeable and excited about sharing their expertise with us. The hotel selections were perfect. There was one last minute change with one of our excursion providers and we received multiple notifications to ensure we were aware of the change. Overall, my family and I had a wonderful trip!

Very well thought out trip plan, great picks for both our hotels and activities. Beatriz, our local specialist really catered to our needs and was very helpful whenever we contacted her.

My husband and I recently made a very successful first trim to Norway and Sweden, spending a total of 2 1/2 weeks. The Swedish leg was straight-forward so we made all arrangements on our own. For Norway, we used KimKim Tours because we felt that the intricacy of the transportation system (in our case, a combination of domestic trains and ferries) was more than we were comfortable handling on our own. In addition, KimKim offered the maximum degree of customization compared to other providers. They took care of booking all hotel stays, 'Norway in a Nutshell' train tickets from Oslo to Myrdal/Flam, ferry tickets to Balestrand and one dinner reservation there (Kviknes Inn), Fjaerland fjord excursion, ferry to Bergen, and a walking tour of Tromso. To reach Tromso from Bergen, we self-booked a 4-night Hurtigruten cruise; however this could also have been arranged through KimKim.
While in Norway, we traveled with friends from the US -- a couple who, in addition to participating in our jointly developed itinerary, requested tickets for a Grieg tour in Bergen and slightly different hotel arrangements so that they could extend their in-country travels to accomplish ancestral research. The KimKim system allowed us to view each others exchanges with the specialist which was most helpful. It’s worth noting that at the start, the four of us were set up as a single account. However we learned that the way the cancellation insurance was structured, if one couple had to cancel for any reason, then the other couple would be impacted. As a result, KimKim offered to split us apart though we had already put down a deposit. This was very much appreciated though there were some initial technical difficulties in accomplishing the split. Therefore we suggest that KimKim clarify this particular aspect of their offered insurance before any money is collected. In the end, the global covid-19 pandemic seriously interrupted our travel plans which began in 2019. Our trip was finally undertaken in 2022. KimKim held the money we had initially paid and applied it to the trip when conditions made it possible for international travel to be resumed.
Overall, our bi-country trip was a great experience. In Sweden we easily got around on our own. We rented an apartment in Stockholm, took the train to Gothenburg to visit Swedish friends and from there went on to Norway via bus to Oslo. Once in Norway, we followed our customized itinerary designed through use of the KimKim online platform with advice from KimKim's selected local travel specialist (in our case, Guide Sør based in Kristiansand, Norway). As noted, the KimKim process allows maximum customization (up to 100%). For this to work well, the specialist needs to be given as much detail about the goals of the trip as possible. Upon request, the specialist was able to suggest specifics such as hotel bookings which we had the freedom to use or reject; we were also able to request that the specialist book alternative arrangements. In addition, the specialist advised us about days/hours of operation for various venues (e.g., restaurants, museums) so that we knew this before traveling.
A concern prior to departure was that the final itinerary was posted at least 2 weeks later than anticipated and was not packaged or delivered as expected. The itinerary was posted online in the system 'conversation' requiring us to then print a copy for travel as opposed to being sent to us in hard copy via regular or overnight mail. Nevertheless, the online version allowed us to move forward and provided reassurance that each booking requested had been made.
Land accommodations were all satisfactory (rooms were fine; included breakfasts were excellent). However, at 3 different hotels, our fellow travelers who had booked and paid (in full) in coordination with us, were told that that they had not yet made payment. The first such incident was resolved overnight by KimKim with no additional payment necessary. In the other two cases, our friends had to pay again and then get reimbursed by KimKim. This was accomplished timely but double-payment shouldn’t have been necessary. Apparently, there is a problem with the way things work 'behind the curtain' so to speak. It seems that KimKim uses a third party to accomplish hotel bookings rather than making or re-confirming them directly with each hotel. Other reviewers have similarly commented so our suggestion is that KimKim find a way to avoid this situation in the future. A similar, less concerning glitch occurred when we showed up at Kviknes Inn for dinner, i.e., the reservation noted in our itinerary was not recorded in the restaurant's log. Fortunately there was plenty of seating and no money had been paid in advance.
Of great value was KimKim's ability to advise us on the specifics of local transportation so that getting from one point to the next, whether overland or by water, worked seamlessly. Our helpful specialist secured passage for us, providing detailed input on the location of various stations and docks.
In summary, the degree of customization we sought led us to choose KimKim -- this is a strong selling point for the company. International travel, especially in the midst of a pandemic, can be fraught with problems so we were happy to have accomplished our journey knowing there were specialists we could reach if necessary. A final suggestion is that an emergency phone number to reach a ‘live’ voice after hours should be given to every client; using the number provided, we were only able to reach an answering machine. Luckily, because all hotels honored KimKim’s reservation requests on our behalf, the four of us we were never without accommodations and the various payment glitches were resolved.
Lastly, we’d like to personally thank Julia, Sonia and Kjeld of Guide Sør. We believe that each worked very hard to make our trip a success in spite of the extreme impact of the pandemic.

James put together a customized itinerary that was tailored to our interests. He listened carefully to what we were looking for, presented an itinerary, and worked closely with us to tweak it until it was perfect! Our drivers and guides made our vacation stress free and very informative. Most memorable were our cooking class in Barcelona, our “Cultural Triathlon” and flamenco night in Sevilla, hiking the Caminito del Rey, and visiting the Alhambra in Granada. Each hotel was beautiful in its own way. I especially loved our hotels in Sevilla and Granada!
Once we arrived in Spain, James or a member of his team were always available and checked in with us regularly to make sure everything was going well. We really appreciated that!
I would absolutely recommend KimKim and specifically Tailor Made Andalucia if you are planning to travel to Spain!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa 1800

Granada

Perfect location for walking around the city. Tucked away from the noise on a small pedestrian street with lots of charm! Very peaceful, beautiful courtyard where afternoon tea and sweets are served… a really nice touch and much appreciated! Nice breakfast buffet as well. No elevator, so ask for help if your room is at the top of the stairs and your bags are heavy!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff should offer to have someone carry bags for those whose rooms are on the top floors.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza

Sevilla

Really pretty hotel with beautiful courtyard for breakfast and lovely pool and lounge area! Restaurant onsite with good food. Very relaxing to eat poolside!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gallery Hotel

Barcelona

Friendly, helpful front desk staff, large and modern rooms, excellent breakfast buffet! Perfect location for walking to just about everything or using the subway. Yummy gelato place across the street!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip from Ronda to Hike the 'Caminito del Rey' - Ending in Granada

Spain

Very beautiful, cool experience. Perfectly safe.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Triathlon in Sevilla!

Seville

Our guide, Pilar, was exceptional. She clearly loves her city and loves to share its history and its charms! The horse drawn carriage picked us up at our hotel and took us to the Plaza de Espana. After the ride was finished, we walked to the river where our boat was waiting! The boat took us to Triana, where we learned some of the history, walked through the market, and did some shopping. It was a great trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Cooking Class of Spanish Cuisine

Barcelona

Great experience! Class of 12 included retirees, a family of 6, and 4 others including us. Our chef took us shopping for the ingredients at the big market and gave us a tour of the market which was an unexpected perk. We made many different dishes and then sat at a big table to enjoy the meal. It was a unique experience, one of the highlights of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walk of the Gothic Quarter with Tapas Dinner

Barcelona

If you love history, this is the walk for you! Very informative tour guide! Tapas dinner was fun… we went to 2 places to experience some variety.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport