Kimkim Trip Reviews

This is a joint review from Tim and Mary.

This was our first time using KimKim for travel planning service and we were pleased with the ease of planning and collaboration with Natalia Canonico and the Buenos Aires-based agency Designer Trips Argentina. We worked together over several weeks and chat correspondence to develop a plan that suited our interests, time-frame and budget. Natalia was very open to our requests and questions, while also providing valuable insights on the elements of the trip.

First, our in-country travel services were excellent and we especially appreciated Sophie from Turismo Milodon reaching out to us while we were on the Chilean side of Patagonia.

We were equally thankful that Natalia continued to check in with us while we were in Argentina. She was especially helpful when Mary suffered the blow to her head in BA.

We were also completely satisfied with the drivers, all of whom were friendly and reliable.

Our experience at Hotel NOI Blend Colchagua was very nice and had a very friendly staff, particularly Esteban. We appreciated the rooms, the restaurant and the setting.

We loved Hotel Las Torres in Patagonia-Torres Del Paine National Park . The staff was very friendly and attentive and we appreciated the number of choices for day excursions as well as the quality of the meals. Three of our guides there stood out for their enthusiasm, knowledge and friendliness: Daniel, Valentina and Sebastian. Each of them were thoughtful and open to the sort of wide-ranging conversations that can occur on long hikes. They made our time with them especially enjoyable and memorable. We also liked the bar as a place to gather after our hikes.

Our favorite hotel was EOLO just outside of El Calafate. The staff there was notably well-trained, the food and wine were exemplary, and the vibe was especially relaxed. We found Lucy, our guide on a two or so hour horseback ride from the hotel, to be especially charming.

The Perito Moreno mini-trekking excursion and viewing of the glacier from the National Park was another highlight of the trip, and we were well-attended to by the driver and private guide.

Hostería El Puma in El Chalten was nice, but the highlight there was our day-long hike up to Laguna de los Tres with Nicolas, who, like Daniel, Valentina and Sebastian in Chile, shared his knowledge of the flora, fauna and mountain enthusiastically and was genuinely gracious. He also set the pace to match our capacity.

The El Casco Art Hotel in Bariloche was our second favorite hotel, to EOLO. Both were wonderfully designed and were very comfortable. The highlight of Bariloche was the Isla Victoria Trek and lunch, guided by Carolina. Carolina was charming, informed and we loved our conversations with her as we hiked around the Isla. But the most enchanting part of the day was the lunch prepared for us by Gustavo on the Piedras Blancas Beach. The view, the food and the weather made for a cinematic experience we’ll always remember.

Our hotel in BA, the Mine, was nice, albeit with small rooms common in large cities. We enjoyed strolling the streets of Palermo neighborhood, and had a delicious steak dinner at Lo de Jesus. The Mine Hotel staff, especially Claudio, were very helpful when Mary suffered her accident.

Overall, we were overjoyed with the trip and appreciate Kim-Kim and the agencies, guides, drivers and hotels assembled for us.

One final comment about Kim-Kim’s approach. We found it less than transparent as to pricing for components of the trip, which we find contrary to its fundamental attraction (on-line, message-based communications and service). You might consider our view as the ‘Uber-ization’ of services suggests that competitors of Kim-Kim that are more transparent as to pricing may garner more customers.

Best wishes,

Tim and Mary

Activity Reviews

Victoria Island Navigation & Trek

Bariloche

Trek to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Torres del Paine Experience

Torres del Paine

Duncan was a dream to work with. Our trip was meticulously planned and laid out for us. All we had to do was follow it. We appreciated Duncan checking in during the trip to ensure things were going well. When we requested to change a planned event, he was quick to cancel for us. We would definitely work with Dunan and KimKim again!

This was our first time doing a vacation through a travel agency, and KimKim made it very easy to get in touch with a local agency specializing in Thailand trips, and the agent they connected us with was incredibly responsive! The only issues we had during planning were with the platform -- we encountered some trouble uploading and updating our passport information (my wife's last name was recently changed), which caused some confusion during the booking process and resulted in us needing to buy a new ticket in her new name right before one of our in-country flights. It would've also been nice to have an app version of the portal to make it easier to look at and respond to things on our phones.

Our trip itself was fantastic. Honestly a 9/10 and one of the most memorable experiences we have ever done! Thailand is an amazingly exotic place with incredible food, architecture, and friendly people. Bruce's itinerary made it so at the end of the trip, we felt like we truly got to experience all aspects of the country. The only change I would have made was to add a full free day to our stay in Bangkok and Chang Mai. There is so much to do in both places, it almost felt like we just got a slice of what they had to offer, even though our schedules were full of sight seeing and other activities! Some of the highlights of our activities were the bicycle tour in Chang Mai, walking around Ayutthaya, seeing the many beautiful temples (everywhere), the imperial palace in Bangkok, the two restaurants we went to in Bangkok (rooftop bar with view of the city skyline and river and one local place that had some of the best authentic Thai food we've ever eaten), cooking with a local family in Chang Mai, and snorkeling off Monkey Island in Phuket.

A few experiences did feel a bit "touristy," although we enjoyed them nonetheless. For example, zip-lining wasn't actually in our itinerary, and exists in other places we've been. The 3-hr round trip drive to get to the mountain took up a lot of that day.

Having personal guides and drivers in each location was absolutely crucial. We didn't have to worry at all about transportation and there wasn't much "down time" waiting to be picked up. For some activities farther from the city center (Ayutthaya, elephant care center, zip-lining), I'm really not sure how we would've gotten back to the hotel if we were relying on taxis!

Our guides were very efficient, friendly, and spoke almost fluent English. They were very responsive to questions and changes in schedules, so we always knew when to be were. Mike (our Bangkok guide) was fantastic. Great sense of humor, really knew the history of the city, and took us to some attractions and AMAZING restaurants off the beaten path that were some of the highlights of our entire trip. Ming (our guide in Chang Mai) was super friendly, and we appreciated her taking pictures of us during some of our activities so we could simply enjoy being in the moment and not feel like we were missing out documenting our experience to look back fondly on later.

All of the hotels we stayed at were fantastic. As cost of high-end of hotels in Thailand are relatively affordable for the outside traveler, I encourage everyone to splurge and enjoy the great food, service, and atmosphere that come with them. (Granted, you will pay higher prices for food, drink, and spa services at them!).

In conclusion, even though we might have changed a few things in retrospect, we are overall very happy and satisfied with our trip and would like to thank everyone involved.

Hotel Reviews

COMO Point Yamu

One of the most unique hotels I've stayed at in my life. Fantastic character, stunning views. Very much worth splurging on a room with a personal pool. Every morning and night we would just stare out at our surroundings and marvel that we were there. The Thai restaurant inside the hotel is only open a few days per week, but was one of the culinary highlights of our trip. Mouth-watering dishes for a reasonable price. Service could be a little slow at times, but everything else more than made up for it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort

Chiang Mai

Very calm atmosphere - perfect "river spa" feel. Great included breakfast, and fantastic (if pricey) spa experiences. A little far from the city center, but close enough that they are a very cheap taxi ride away.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lancaster Bangkok Hotel

Bankok

Fantastic hotel with a great included breakfast and accommodations. Staff was friendly and helpful. The only downside to this hotel is most things are not within walking distance.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phi Phi Island

Phuket

It was magical to see all the incredible islands up close and for the most part, snorkeling and swimming were fantastic. Quite an experience to swim in a cove surrounded by massive jungle rock walls. The boat staff were fun, and we appreciated the big cooler full of free drinks to keep us hydrated! Monkey island was kind of a disappointment, although the snorkeling around it was amazing. Very crowded and we only saw one monkey "in the wild." There were more on the edge of the beach, but they were all in cages, apparently because they were sick? It wasn't clear. The food was okay, as it was a buffet of spaghetti, chicken wings, and watermelon that hundreds of people were eating. I would've preferred to pay extra to go to a local restaurant.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Chiang Mai Countryside Exploration by Bicycle (Join-in)

Chiang Mai

Our guide for this tour was one of our favorite locals we met on our trip. Super friendly and genuine, didn't rush us anywhere, and seemed so easygoing. He showed us some amazing local spots that we would've never seen otherwise! Was great to get a feel for the local area and how Thai people live. We regret not getting a photo with him!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Elephants Day Care at Baan Chang Elephant Park

Chiang Mai

It was amazing to see elephants up close and to touch them! It became clear the elephants were very well cared for, but at first we were a bit nervous because the elephant camp we went to was a different one than was in our itinerary and the facilities were all very VERY new, so it seemed like this camp was recently built (keeping in mind that exploitation of these gentle giants is still alive and well). The English language staff member named Ice was very friendly and supplied us with many interesting elephant facts. Some other staff members felt a bit pushy when it came to engaging with the elephants -- i.e., do this pose for the photos now. Lunch was an interesting affair, as some of the staff didn't seem to know how to cook the dishes properly as they were guiding us through the recipes. Overall a good and memorable experience, but I think this camp needs to polish up some of the rough edges.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Explore Doi Inthanon National Park Tour

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Fun Cooking Experience With a Local Lanna Family

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Bangkok City Tour With Grand Palace and Long-Tail Boat Ride

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Night Food tour with Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We enjoyed our trip of a lifetime thanks to the help of Christina. She listened and planned a trip that was perfect for our preferences and also the pace of travel. Our bike trips were fabulous...although now we are hooked on pedal assisted e-bikes! The Dunston Bike Trail is amazing. The helicopter landing on Franz Josef as well was over the top! We couldn't have asked for a better trip.

Activity Reviews

Twin Glacier 30-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

New Zealand

We stayed to attempt the landing after a bad weather day...totally worth it. Hang out til the weather changes if you can!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wanaka Bike Tours - Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail

New Zealand

Amazing path. Use an ebike for this one...worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Full-Day Adventure

Queenstown (NZ)

Weather did not cooperate so we had to shuttle back rather than fly. Made for an extra long day that we would have preferred to not have.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tekapo to Twizel with Cycle Journeys

New Zealand

Loved their bikes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Amazing experience...don't miss it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Big Day Out

Hokitika

It's a hard ride...not for the faint of heart. Be sure to bring your own food and water...there's nothing on the trail. But a beautiful way to see the landscape!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good stories

Transport

It's a van

kimkim did it again, putting together the perfect itinerary for us during a 5-day visit to Cambodia. We especially appreciated our guide, Hout Bunhak, who made the trip extra special and made us feel like family. The travel partner, Travel Asia a la cart was excellent! Our hotel was perfect for our preferences. We hope to return to Cambodia in the future and will certainly utilize kimkim to arrange our next Cambodian adventure!

Hotel Review

The Aviary Hotel

Siem Reap

Great service, perfect location, walkable to many spots in town, nice roof pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phare, the Cambodian Circus (Seat B - open seating in the rear half of the middle seating area)

Siem Reap

We really enjoyed this visit. The art program involved is quite unique and we would like to spend more time exploring other activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling the back roads of Angkor (full day)

Siem Reap

This was a great trip and was a nice way to see the temple area.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day cookery class

Siem Reap

This was one of many highlights on our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So sorry to advise - my trip had to be postponed until late Spring 2023.

Please do not hesitate to contact me then for a review.

Kindest regards for Christmas and the New Year. Carl

Our time in Costa Rica was phenomenal. All of it was facilitated directly by KimKim and its outstanding specialist, Jessica. Each event we partook in was exactly as described, from the excitement of the hanging bridges tour’s animal sightings to the beauty of the sunset cruise along Lake Arenal. My fiancée and I felt so encouraged by the passion all of our tour guides showed for Costa Rica and specifically La Fortuna. Jacamar Tours ensured that we received the best service possible throughout our treks through the rainforest to Arenal Waterfall and the hike around Arenal Volcano.

One tour guide in particular, Victor, who guided us through the Night Walk, provided us with an unforgettable experience. He knew every route perfectly and tailored the walk toward the animals we wanted to see most. We got closer views of sloths and even a caiman than I ever imagined we would. He was also so remarkably knowledgeable and kind, something we found with each of the guides KimKim recommended.

Activity Reviews

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Rafting Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

The safari float was an unfortunately underwhelming experience because it was entirely dependent on wildlife appearing, which didn’t happen much for us. There isn’t as much vegetation or scenery. We did glimpse some howler monkeys that made for some excitement though!

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Arenal Lake cruise was one of the most special events we experienced in Costa Rica. The scenery was beautiful and the view of the volcano was breathtaking. Our guides were so knowledgeable and friendly

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacón Hot Springs with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Discovery Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Meree was absolutely incredible and helped us out while we were traveling. Will definitely recommend KimKim to others and specifically to our friends wishing to travel to Norway.

1. The highlight of the trip was to hike the base of Torres del Paine because of the ranger strike we did the pine hill trail. we were little slow compared to the rest of the group and the leader decided that we should just go back and not reach the top. this was totally absurd, we should have been informed that if you are slow get a private guide. We came prepared for this hike and were not allowed to do it. After spending so much money this is what we get.
2. On the way back from Bermuda glacier we did not have anyone to pick us up. we waited for half an
hour and then took a ride from a stranger.
3. The last day we were waiting to be picked up to go go the airport and the driver had the wrong time for the flight, totally not aware. We had to call the company and they sent a driver we barely missed the flight.
4. When we reached Santiago our luggage didn't arrive we texted you no response. It was not a great experience after the amou t of money spent.

Hakim and his team were amazing and helped arrange the most wonderful birthday trip for my husband. From start to finish and very moment in between, Hakim was great to work with and was attentive to all our needs and wishes. Such a special trip! I would recommend KimKim and Hakim, in particular, to anyone who wants help in planning an excellent, stress free holiday! Thank you!

Ecuador is an incredible country and I feel so lucky to have visited !! Everything was so wonderfully organized and Alvaro’s dedicated planning made the trip so enjoyable. Each morning we were picked up and shown another incredible part of the country. Highly recommend working with them. Ecuador is such a richly diverse country I would recommend being clear what kind of activities you enjoy (hiking vs relaxation vs cultural activities) etc so the guides may specifically tailor your experience to your interests.

Hotel Reviews

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

Charming, clean, and cozy place to stay !! Highly recommend !!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

Location

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Activity Reviews

Quilotoa Lagoon - Papallacta

Ecuador

Horseback Riding in Cotopaxi National Park

Cotopaxi

Otavalo Market - Cooking Class - Quito

Ecuador

Cloudforest of Mindo & Return to Quito

Mindo

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

Quito

Hotsprings in Termas de Papallacta

Ecuador

All of the guides and van drivers were excellent. All of the hotels were clean and well appointed.

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Loved that this hotel was right on the beach. I wish we had stayed here longer than one night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The beach was so close

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

The location of the hotel had amazing views of the ocean; however, to reach the hotel you had to take a boat. There is no dock so the staff had to hold the boat in the surf so that you could climb out of the boat into the water. For older people this is a real challenge.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views of the ocean

Staff

Daniel went over and beyond to cater to our every wants. He is such a professional, warm and caring person. Lucky to have him as a staff member.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was at the very top of the mountain location which meant we had to climb about 60 stairs to get up to our room. Also, the bathroom was located on the first floor and the beds on the second floor. There is a spiral staircase leading up to the bedrooms which makes it extremely dangerous going to the bathroom in the middle of the night because if you leave the light on for the staircase it shines directly into the bedroom. Therefore, we had to feel our way down to the bathroom at night which was trickly on a spiral staircase no less!

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

I wish the location of the hotel was not in such a busy part of San Jose.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

The views from this hotel were amazing. The room was well appointed and very clean. Staff were very welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

The view of the volcano.

Location

Close to Arenal area.

Staff

All of the staff made sure you had a comfortable stay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Love the front porch overlooking the volcano and the back balcony overlooking the mountains.

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Drake Bay

Kendall, our guide, was amazing. It was the best snorkeling experience I have ever had. I am extremely uncomfortable in deep water and Kendall made sure I felt safe with him. We saw some beautiful fish , turtles and stingrays and Kendall dove down and took amazing photos .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our tour guide was very friendly and well versed in the area. A couple of people in our group were afraid of heights and he so patient in helping them overcome their fears of the swinging bridges.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour to Corcovado National Park in Sirena Station

Costa Rica

Our guide, Juan, was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He found all kinds of animals and birds that I could never have seen without his expertise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

I wish the hot springs had been better. The locker rooms were very small and a bit run down. The hot spring was quite small as well. We had dinner at the springs which was a buffet. It really was not up to par.

Quality of Experience

Another hot springs that was not so rundown.

Food

The buffet lacked variety.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Priscilla and her husband are excellent hosts. She is an amazing cook and the dinner was wonderful! Loved being in someone's home to enjoy the full culture of Costa Rica.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All the guides we had as well as all the drivers we had were kind and caring people. They answered any questions we had and were on time so we never waited. All of our stays were amazing but we had wished we stayed closer to the airport when we arrived and departed.

Hotel Reviews

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

Our view from our room was amazing. The people are very friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

The beach Was beautiful and the room was very nice. We would not have minded to stay two days instead of one

Authenticity & Character

Location

We appreciated having rooms on the beach side of the road since the hotel was on both sides. We had an ocean view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

This hotel was an amazing experience. Our only way to go anywhere was by boat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Very noisy hotel with parties and music. We didn’t have a lot of areas to sit and chat with our friends.The hotel was too far from the airport for our arrival and departure when we passed at least two or three on the road before we got to our destination.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We would’ve like to stay closer to the airport.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

After being a little nervous about walking on the bridges, my guide helped me and made me comfortable with crossing all of the hanging bridges. We really enjoyed this activity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our group expected to be in pools that were more authentic with warm Hot Springs water. We felt that we were in regular swimming pools with hot Water running down into the pools of 75° water. Our hike with the volcano was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food at the restaurant was nothing special.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our hosts were truly amazing. We enjoyed our experience helping prepare dinner and then eating our dinner. Our house were friendly, caring and interested in us and our customs

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim paired us with Spanish travel specialist Irene who coordinated our 7-day drive through the Extremadura region southwest of Madrid, after we spent 10 days with friends in Sevilla and Madrid. With minimal Spanish fluency, my husband and I were nervous about driving on our own through the countryside for a week, but Irene managed every detail, allowing us to experience this extraordinary agricultural and historical region. She designed an itinerary that incorporated each destination we requested and hit the mark in every respect, assuring that we felt safe and looked after throughout this part of our journey. She arranged the car rental, reserved exquisite hotels for no less than two-night stays as we requested, and arranged local English-speaking tour guides for each major destination we requested along the way. Although our tours ranged from laidback to frenetic, each guide was prompt, passionate, and informative, aimed to address our interests as well as share their favorite sites and stories, and helped us feel safe and welcome. The best guide for us was Álvaro with whom we spent two full days. An expert in the region’s “dehesa” and agrarian culture, Álvaro shared a thrilling visit to witness as hundreds of newly born lambs were vaccinated and marked to pair them with their mothers, a stroll among a herd of Iberian black pigs, and a tour and tasting at a family-run processing plant for curing ham. Álvaro also guided us through architectural antiquities in Plasencia and through the Monfragüe National Park, including a mountain top hike and birdwatching expedition, and provided two of the most outstanding culinary experiences of our trip: the tasting with the owner of the processing plant and a picnic with his colleague Esther at a panoramic mountainside location. We are grateful to Kimkim and to Irene for her understanding and for meeting our specific requests to create as seamless and stress-free a travel experience as possible.

Hotel Reviews

Parador de Trujillo

Trujillo

Authenticity & Character

Quiet setting, lovely interior courtyard.

Location

great location with rooftop views of centuries old structures. Blocks from the central sites and walled city. Gorgeous sites well within walking distance.

Staff

Front desk staff were attentive and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, simple, well appointed.

Hotel Soho Boutique Casa Don Fernando

Caceres

Spacious corner room with a great view of the Plaza Mayor. Airy and bright but easy to black out the windows for sleep and quiet. Good breakfast in convenient dining room. Front desk staff were attentive and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Modern facility in charming renovated building with vestiges of antiquities.

Location

Could not have been better. Directly on the Plaza Mayor, just a few steps from the walled city and numerous bodegas, restaurants, and shops. Parking was a few blocks away, easily manageable one we understood the arrangements.

Staff

Front desk staff were helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable room and bed, well appointed.

Hotel Hospes Palacio San Esteban

Salamanca

Wonderful hotel and experience. Comfortable modern room in this historic renovated convent. Excellent breakfast buffet and table service and one of the best dining restaurants of our three-week travel through Spain. Convenient location.

Authenticity & Character

Peaceful interior courtyard, lovely dining room and bar. Low-key restful throughout. Simple and elegant decorations for the winter holiday season.

Location

We parked once at the hotel and were able to walk everywhere to visit antiquities and local sites of interest. Safe and central location on a side street a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor.

Staff

Helpful front-desk staff. Highly attentive and professional dining room staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, orderly. Felt pampered simply by the ambiance of the facilities.

Activity Reviews

Guided tour in Salamanca

Salamanca

This was a busy tour both because there was much to see and because our guide kept a fast pace to cover a number of sites in limited time. His knowledge and passion of this hometown were evident as was his professional commitment to being a guide. He encouraged us to return later to visit several sites we passed; we were able to return to a couple of them but the initial tour was so rushed that we could not get our bearings and had difficulty finding some locations when we tried to return. Nevertheless, Salamanca was one of our favorite cities to visit in Spain due to its remarkable architecture, profoundly significant 15th-century history regarding discoveries of the "new world," and the presence and influence of the third-oldest surviving university in Europe.

Quality of Experience

We greatly enjoyed touring the university buildings and learning the historical functions of particular classrooms and significant spaces. We were fascinated learn highlights of the history of the university and its alums and leaders and to see the mix of architectural influences on major buildings across centuries of varied cultural, religious, and political influences. We enjoyed the vibe of the city and the mere experience of walking within the central areas.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide had extensive information about the university and the political and religious history of the city.

Excursion in Monfragüe

Trujillo

A tour of this beautiful park was a great change from the urban areas we also visited on this trip to Spain. We enjoyed a mountaintop walk to an ancient Castillo offering amazing 360-degree panoramic view of the area, birdwatching with binoculars and a telescope the guide provided, and a delicious picnic provided by our guide.

Quality of Experience

We were lucky to have a beautiful fall day: sunny and cool. We enjoyed the hike, the vistas, and a great picnic at the end of the day.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Álvaro drove us around safely, prioritized our interests and curiosity, and was keenly prepared for each of several varied activities. We felt very well catered to on this day.

Discover the Dehesa

Trujillo

Perhaps the highlight of our three weeks in Spain, the experiences our guide Álvaro shared in the dehesa met and exceeded our hopes for pastoral experiences of the Spanish countryside. He shared deep knowledge and passion for sustainable agriculture and demonstrated an impressive grasp of the intersection of politics, economics, geography, and biology in determining the past and likely future of this region. We got rare glimpses of the workings of animal husbandry due to his investment in and commitment to individuals who work the land and whose efforts maintain the local culture and economy. We strongly recommend this experience for anyone interested to get out of the urban centers and seek to learn about the people and culture of this region of Spain.

Quality of Experience

The sites and experiences on this day were varied, educational, and eye-opening, a welcome difference from our visits to urban areas in Spain. As we moved from one fascinating location to another, Álvaro provided informed commentary to make sense of the land we were traversing and its importance to the economy and culture of the region.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Álvaro's passion for the dehesa was evident from the first moment of the tour. He was flexible to our interests and needs while being driven to share as much as possible about his extensive knowledge and intimate experience with this region and its people. For the full two days of our tour, he got us safely from place to place, making the experience both intriguing and restful. A bonus was meeting his colleague Esther who joined us for an exquisite picnic at the end of our tour.

Transport

Our guide drove us from place to place from early morning into the evening, allowing us to view the terrain and activities he was describing. This made the days feel safe and easy, and kept us from getting weary along the way.

Guided tour in Merida

Mérida

The Roman ruins in Merida were our primary focus and we were thrilled to walk among the ruins of the theater, amphitheater, and Temple of Diana. These spots have enough authentic relics to ground the viewer in their historical relevance and enough restoration to give a feel of their awesome grandeur. Our guide Juan Luis, native to the city, was informed, funny, and responsible to attend to our interests and comfort. Right away, he stepped up to help us find parking, paced our walk among sites to match our interests and stamina, then recommended restaurants for us to access following the tour. He relayed stories of historical importance and reveled in trivia about the daily lives of ancient Romans which made his tour especially fun and engaging.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We strongly recommend Juan Luis. His knowledge about local businesses and personalities added richly to our experience beyond the historical sites of interest.

Guided tour in Caceres

Cáceres

The tour began on the steps of the walled city, where we stood too long next to a loud generator that made it difficult to hear and understand our guide; we wish our guide had taken the initiative to step to a quieter spot much sooner. Our guide Javier was relatively low energy and, unfortunately, the night was cold and rainy, which detracted from the experience. Javier was well-informed and shared many intriguing stories and points of history. The sites themselves were stunning and beautifully lit at night. We did not know how long a tour to expect, so when Javier said at several points that we could go into a building or museum then or come back later on our own, we opted not to enter each time in order to walk and see more. In retrospect, I wish Javier had encouraged us to step inside from time to time to get out of the rain and cold. We were able to tour the walled city fairly thoroughly, and did return the next day, but might have enjoyed touring some of the interiors with Javier who had extensive knowledge about the architectural, political, religious, and art history of the city.

Quality of Experience

The walled city of Cáceres was fascinating, ethereal, and allowed a profound opportunity to imagine the lives of generations of inhabitants over the centuries.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

What a wonderful trip with a lifetime full of memories! Starting with Yassine who helped me plan out our trip meticulously to every last detail, keeping in constant touch over the 2 year period of our planning and finally making the trip due to Covid! He was wonderful, patient and very prompt in his responses. Amine our driver stayed with us all 10 days and was a wonderful, energetic and very patient resource with lots of local knowledge. He never rushed us and moved us just from point to point but ensured we were satisfied and saw everything we wanted to see and our heart was full before we moved to the next venue. He was such a great company during the road trip and kept us engaged and shared his lovely Moroccan culture and traditions. He took is to some unique and wonderful local places for meals as we requested. He was very courteous and helpful. I have never felt so safe in a country before walking the streets at all times. There are lots of check points and lots of armed police and guards through the city so you feel safe all the time. All the local folks are extremely friendly and warm people. Very welcome people. All our riad stays were exceptional with a very warm and friendly staff! Sa'ed at Marrakesh especially at Riad Anita was wonderful. He accommodated a very early 7 am departure but making us hot, fresh breakfast and didn't give us a premade to go breakfast packet. Just felt warm and welcomed through our visit. This trip, beauty of Morroco and the warmth of the local people will always stay close to our heart. Would highly recommend Yassine and Kim Kim travels and Amine for any of your future travels to Morocco!

My heartfelt thanks to EMI for diligently finding our stargazing picture of Nov. 12. Just a picture of all of us, but it is such a wonderful memory and does mean a lot. THANK YOU!

Janet

Sergio is the best. Honestly he had so much patience and was so helpful with every aspect of the trip. He would have your back all the way! And Costa Rica is the best, thanks Sergio, thanks serendipity and thanks Kim Kim for making such an amazing trip possible. Pura vida!

Our trip to Ecuador for our honey moon was incredible. We were incredibly impressed with every detail from the transport, the food, the scenery and our guides. The overall experience was just one we will never forget. Upon landing in Quito we were greeted by our amazing tour guide Pablo who spent the next 6 days giving us basically our own private tour across the mainland of Ecuador and the amazing Amazon rainforest. He was so knowledgeable and accommodating and we learned so much!!

We went to Galápagos Islands for the end of our trip and again we were taken back by our experience. We absolutely loved our time here. Our lovely tour guide Ricardo greeted us in the Baltra airport and guided us to the beautiful island of Santa Cruz and from there we spent a couple days touring that island and then taking a boat to islabella island for a few days.

Our experience in Ecuador will be a trip that will be hard to top, and we truly think it should be on top of everyone’s bucket list!!!

We can’t thank Kim Kim travel enough for everything and being so accommodating (i failed to previously mention that our flight got cancelled and we almost missed a full day but Juan reorganized everything and we were able to still hit every activity on our itinerary).

Where do I begin! It was such a wonderful experience from start to finish, and our specialists were extremely helpful along the way. We changed our mind on the itinerary a couple of times, but were met with patience and professionalism at all times. I actually ended up booking a different hotel through my work after booking, so we were able to book a different tour instead which was great! Okay, so down to the nitty gritty:

Days 1-5: La Fortuna

We were picked up by our lovely drivers, who I wish I could remember the names of as we met so many amazing people - I really should have written it all down! They made great conversation for the long drive from Liberia, and got us there safely. Our hotel, Brisas Arenal, was unreal. Our room was clean, the beds comfortable, but the best part was the outdoor patio with hammock overlooking the volcano and surrounded by jungle. We booked the Arenal Hanging Bridges and Tabacon Hot Springs & Dinner tour. Alonso was our tour guide and it was so fun! Tabacon is an absolute must and the dinner was delicious. This might have been my favourite tour of the trip. We also did the Sloth and Bird walk, which was the only time we saw sloths thanks to Jose! We saw 4 and he was apologetic that we didn't see more, but he didn't need to be. We were so happy - and we even saw some poison dart frogs that we definitely would not have seen without a guide!

Day 5-8: Monteverde

This was where we switched up the hotel, so we actually didn't book it through Kimkim, but they arranged the transportation from La Fortuna and it was an exhilarating experience! The boat ride across Lake Arenal was lovely. It was my least favourite bus ride (very terrible road conditions and uncomfortable seats), but I would not have travelled there any other way. The scenery through the mountains was incredible! I could not keep my eyes away from the window as those views - wow. Our first day was spent doing the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane tour and it was very informative! You can tell the guide truly enjoys what he does and it was great to learn all the process of how these things are made and produced, along with the rich history.

Day 8-12: Nosara

My favourite place and hotel of the whole trip! Another adventure on the road as the last hour or so is on dirt roads, and all the roads in Nosara are dirt roads which makes it an even more special place. We checked into the Hotel Guiones (formely the Gardens hotel), and was greeted by Specialle, who was lovely and recommended great restaurants and things to do. We did not book any excursions as we wanted to relax on the beach and just enjoy the end of our trip with no place we had to be. The hotel was a 6 minute walk to the beach, so you can surf every morning! We made use of their outdoor yoga pad. The rooms was surrounded by tropical plants and the sound of howler monkeys in the morning. While swaying on the hammock, you can hear the iguanas pitter pattering on the roof. The pool was an excellent addition on the hot afternoons, and the bar, El Local, made the best Chiliguaros that we enjoyed our last night! I will definitely be here again.

This truly was a trip of the lifetime, and I am so grateful to Brittany and those who made it so special. We could not have done it without them!

Hotel Reviews

Brisas Arenal Hotel

La Fortuna

Our room was clean, the beds comfortable, but the best part was the outdoor patio with hammock overlooking the volcano and surrounded by jungle. Just a short taxi into the town for meals, but we did have a couple dinners at the restaurant on side, which we very much enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

amazing view of the volcano, even with cloud cover

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Guiones

Nosara

My favourite place hotel of the whole trip! We were greeted by Specialle, who was lovely and recommended great restaurants and things to do. She recommended we book a paddling tour of the mangrove, which we did and so glad we did! We made use of their outdoor yoga pad which included all the mats and blocks. The rooms was surrounded by tropical plants and the sound of howler monkeys in the morning. While swaying on the hammock, you can hear the iguanas pitter pattering on the roof. The pool was an excellent addition on the hot afternoons, and the bar, El Local, made the best Chiliguaros that we enjoyed our last night! I will definitely be here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I wanted to Surf for maybe an hour the very last morning, and Jorge helped with the board the night before. Thank you!!! And the restaurant staff - amazing.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde

Senda is a short 10 minute walk into town, however I should add that the way back is all uphill! They had wonderful activities on site, we took advantage of an afternoon yoga class after a long hike. Amazing breakfast and cocktails.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk & Tabacón Hot Springs Visit with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Alonso was our tour guide and it was so fun! Saw a lot of wild life and he was very knowledgeable about the area. Tabacon is an absolute must and the dinner was delicious. This might have been my favourite tour of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

The ceviche was unreal and beef tenderloin - amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience

Monteverde

Our first day was spent doing the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane tour and it was very informative! You can tell the guide truly enjoys what he does and it was great to learn all the process of how these things are made and produced, along with the rich history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth & Bird Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was the only time we saw sloths the whole thanks to Jose! We saw 4 and he was apologetic that we didn't see more, but he didn't need to be. We were so happy - and we even saw some poison dart frogs that we definitely would not have seen without a guide! He dropped us off in town after so we could explore the shops and restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Leandro team was professional and planned us out a wonderful trip. Overall, the trip, which had many moving parts, went off as planned, and saved us many hours of research. We liked the amount of time spent in each place, the lodging chosen for us, the guide and transportation services. The details were all taken care of, and we could transition from place to place without stress. We found the people we met to be warm and welcoming.
Our Buenos Aires team, tour guide Andrea and driver Fabio, went out of their way to make our few days there memorable. We felt we made some true friendships and had a glimpse of authentic Argentina.
The Explora Hotel experience was one of our most memorable experiences. We didn't understand how it worked, but the all-inclusive experience was fantastic.
Our transition in Puenta Arenas was a bit more confusing. We didn't get timely notification of our transportation arrangements, and the Rey Don Felipe Hotel had us in a tiny room, with no window and a shower in the corner of the room. However, any time we reached out to the tour concierge service, we got a quick response and solution, if needed.
We will use the Kim-Kim platform again.