Kimkim Trip Reviews

Great trip. Thanks to Amandine for adjusting our plans at the last minute. Debt of gratitude for your help. Thanks.

In planning for our trip (interrupted by covid) the Spaintop consultants (Sylvia and the Joël) helped us to put together a most memorable experience in Spain and Portugal.
Our journey started with a train to Léon where the hotel was in the main square. Two great days during the Easter festivals. Then onto Santander via Picos de Europa which was amazing. Our guide Alejandra and driver Jorge were friendly and knowledgeable. We also had Mercedes take us on a foot and wine trip - the winery was definitely a highlight.
On to San Sebastián, via Balboa and the Guggenheim, again a very nice hotel and our San Sebastián guide, Amaya, took us on a memorable Tapas journey.
Barcelona was next `after a short flight. We were picked up at the airport by another very nice driver. The hotel staff were very friendly and were quite happy to look after our bags - we had arrived to early. A small group tour of Barcelona which included a quick entry into the Sagrada Familia.
The visit to Cordoba was also interesting including a tour of the Mesquita with a knowledgeable guide who firstly showed us some of the historical parts of the town.
Sevilla by train, again a very nice hotel. Our guide, Juan, new his stuff as he showed us around the historical parts and recommended our lunchtime restaurant.
The next part was a tour of the white villages to Ronda by our guide Alfredo - a really great guide - who explained about the villages.
Alfredo also was our guide a day later for the Caminito Del Rey - a truly fantastic walk. Again his knowledge and insights were really good.
Granada was our next stop and again a very knowledgeable guide for the Alhambra.
Malaga was next - great hotel and used the hop on hop off bus to get a good overview.
In Lisbon our guide was Cristina who showed us around the historical centre and into the Aflame district. She also made sure that we had a table at a little restaurant for lunch.
We also stayed in the Douro Valley where the hotel was idyllic.
In Porto we met Joana who took us on a lovely tour (in the rain!) to finish in a wonderful little restaurant.

Overall the efforts of SpainTop have been excellent.
We had a wonderful journey that went without hitches.
I would certainly recommend them and personally would use them again.

We had planned our trip before the COVID -19 happened. We were one week from our departure when the lockdowns were announced globally. Fast forward three years,we finally managed to visit the beautiful Argentina. The team during these three years was extremely cooperative.
Special call out to our local specialist,Emilce. She accomodated us at a very short notice. Her suggestions were excellent and the selection of the hotels was super. Everything was meticulously planned and we take back the most amazing memories from the trip with us.
Many many thanks to the entire team for doing such a great job.

Miryam,Romina,Fernando, RodriguezJr.,Franko(it's a crime to be vegetarian in Argentina) we found plenty of options though. I am forgetting some names here though I would like to thank everyone who helped us make this trip,it was booked pre pandemic and we took it in 2023! Our initial coordinator Virginia and our next one Emi very very helpful. Liked the choice of hotels. Ushuia tops the list!! What views from the view top.

Hotel Reviews

City Falls Iguazú

Puerto Iguazú, Misiones

Lovely hotel in the old part of town, very clean and lively decor.

Authenticity & Character

It was nice without being themed to the destination

Location

We wanted to be nit so far and things at walkable distances

Staff

I forgot to pack my umbrella, the hotel manager lent his personal one! Also we arrived before check in time they accommodated us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They cleaned all the time because I guess of the weather and the amount of rain

Hotel Loi Flats Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Very centrally located oall the downtown buzz,also an older property,with it's quirks. Plus weekends are party time,so not suitable for people looking for peace and quite. It met our needs everything we needed was a walkable distance

Authenticity & Character

Residential area with restaurants outside

Staff

Marit the lady at reception was very aware of the work and was a solution finder

Cleanliness & Comfort

As mentioned it is an older property, very clean

Hotel Sierra Nevada

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located, what we had asked for

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again very friendly

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Lovely location

Authenticity & Character

It is an older hotel with slightly frayed edges which is maintained and doesn't try to hide that it is an older property

Location

Its a small town ,hotel is right in the middle of it

Staff

They lent wme their walking sticks! The ones I rented were slightly difficult

Cleanliness & Comfort

It is an older hotel with older amenities

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

Lovely receptionist and warm rooms

Authenticity & Character

The reception really is warm and friendly The heating in the rooms is topclass

Location

The view top is amazing

Staff

They were in love with their jobs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heating was amazing

Activity Reviews

Argentinean Falls - Full day

Puerto Iguazú

This was an outstanding tour

Quality of Experience

I mean it's a natural phenomenon

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rodriguez Jr was very knowledgeable and knted out things of interest to lay person like me which encouraged me to ask more questions

Transport

Lovely drivers accommodative of requests

San Antonio de Areco & Estancia el Ombu

Buenos Aires

Just do it for the horses!!!They are beautifully kept and pampered to death I think. Such well behaved ones too. Oh! I can go on. I am a city dweller,chances like these don't come very often in my neck of woods. The last show with Brian and his horse,their bond is to be seen to be believed.

Quality of Experience

It is a working ranch, though these days tour like ours must bring revenue too, it really felt like a open air very posh picnic with lively gaucho music,singing and dance

Food

We are vegetarians! They knew it be f ore hand and the food prepared accordingly, while not a 10 course meals feasted by meat eaters, it was well thought out.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I mean the singers and the couple with their adorable boy, God bless the family. The little one was singing and dancing too.

Transport

Well managed and executed

Neighborhoods Tour

Buenos Aires

A lady on our toye got her phone stolen, nit only did she chase the their down with the help of locals, the tur guide, stayed with her for the process and arranged a substitute guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Niko was very helpful to the lady whose phone got stolen, Rominafinished the tour for us who didn't muss a beat.

Transport

The driver was very good and tried informing us of all the happening with the police and lady along Niko. Very sweetly in Spanish .

Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion 🗻

El Calafate

It's a lively expedition. I felt like an explorer.

Quality of Experience

A healthy glacier. Need I say more

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tierra del Fuego National Park (Half day visit) 🌲🌿

Ushuaia

The first views took my breathe away! It really is like walking into something sacred.

Quality of Experience

As I said it's a special space, you have to experience it yourself to feel how the place speaks to you.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The drivers were very good,the guides knowledgeable,barring the penguin hiccup.

Transport

Thank you for organizing such a great trip to Bhutan for us! We spent five amazing days in this beautiful country, so rich in nature, culture and tradition. It was truly fascinating to learn how strong the belief and conviction of the power of compassion and kindness is embedded in the Bhutanese people. We could not be happier with our local guide (Tashi) and driver (forgot his name unfortunately)! They were so patient, kind and service minded. Our guide was full of knowledge, which he convened to us in a great way. He also did everything in his power to make sure that we had a good time. Overall, a great experience! There were many highlights during this trip, but the very best was the hike to the Tigernest Monastary (Thaktshang Goenba), which offered amazing views of the Bhutanese landscape as well as the fascinating monastary itself! A truly memorable journey <3

Service provided by local specialist: Outstanding!
I wanted to give my husband a surprise vacation to Belize, a gift for his 36 year retirement celebration (we've never been) I chose KimKim as a starting point and was assigned to Columbus Guatemala Travel. I worked with Catharina, she helped me plan a 10 day trip. I expressed to her that I wanted to spend half of our time doing land excursions and the other half doing water activities. I also was very certain on what type of accommodations I wanted , as well as preferring private tours over group tours. Long story short- our trip was amazing! We spent 5 days in the Cayo district at a mountain jungle ridge resort- then transferred 3 hours away to the peninsula coast and spent the remainder of our time. Renee our personal tour guide in the Cayo district was awesome, he was very thoughtful and really tried to tailor the experience to what was important to us. We had different guides at the coast and all were very friendly and professional. While abroad we had 24 hour access to Catharina and her team- and when an urgent situation arose in the middle of our trip I reached out to her and within a few hours the situation was resolved and we were able to continue with our vacation.

Hotel Reviews

The Placencia Resort

Let me first say....I chose this resort, I stayed here 1 night- the next morning being very distraught ...spoke to Catharina about the condition of this place- she jumped into action! she immediately , set up our transfer driver, and booked us into the Turtle Inn Lodge ( another Francis Ford Coppola Resort) where we finished out the rest of our amazing Belize adventure! The Placencia Muy'O Resort is NOT as advertised- Not a 4 or 5 star resort- Think more along the lines of a timeshare resort with deferred maintenance throughout the resort and including the room I booked . I chose Placencia Muy'Ono Resort based on the advertised pictures (chose ocean view king size bed rm 221) -Upon arrival we noticed the beach was beautiful and the pool seemed really nice. However our room wasn't ready for us so we hung out a little and walked around. We began to notice all the missing tile around the pool sitting area, cracked /broken tiles along pathways and stairs- broken or missing ground lights (and the kicker) we went to see the organic garden , that was actually a weed patch. -Room: worn old furniture, stained light shades, water damage stain on up-wall near ceiling, stains running under a/c, hole in balcony ceiling , open electrical with missing light fixture outside bedroom door, dirty coffee cups for use in cabinets, bathtub with mold, the list goes on and on (we took pics of everything) -On-site Restaurant : Food was awful and overpriced, my husband sent his pork chop dinner special back and ordered a burger - I simply could not eat my fish dinner plate. Staff: some were really friendly others were not. Management : assistant manger took our call, listen to complaint (my husband did not sleep at all on the worn spring mattress- I woke up with a headache) she looked at the pictures we took of everything that was broken/dirty etc...and she apologized, said she was working on our request for the one night stay refund. We were told K.Williams was the manager and was the person to approve the refund. However K. Williams was never available when we called .....and still has not responded to our complaint or request for refund of our one night stay ( we were stuck for the night ) -We asked 3 people that worked there if this resort was a timeshare, they said yes- assistant manager said no -Length of stay: we were booked for 5 nights, we stayed 1 night -The Casino is closed down (local tour guide said an incident happened) ...Maybe at one time this resort may have been really nice, I can't speak to that- but based of my experience, I would say vacationer beware !

Staff

Service was not of a 4 or 5 star resort....Poor management

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean the rooms, update the furniture , complete routine maintenance ....so rooms will match advertised pictures

Blancaneaux Lodge

Amazing, I highly recommend the Honeymoon Hut with plunge pool over looking the forest mountain ridge (Hut 12) No Television, No Air Conditioner- I never missed either! We really connected with the vibe, so relaxed, so tropical, so unique, so beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

Loved the cultural influence in all the decor

Location

Felt like I stepped into a tropical daydream

Staff

Staff provided excellent service with a smile- everyone made a point to know/remember our names and what we liked (food, beverage,snacks and services)

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean!

Activity Reviews

Jaguar Preserve

Belize

The Jaguar Preserve was educational and a great experience for those interested in the preservation of jaguars. Even though we didn't see a jaguar, we enjoyed the hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Barrier Reef Snorkeling

Belize

We had a good time snorkeling at the Barrier Reef, but we were in a group, which impacted the experience. In the future, we would prefer a private snorkeling experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caracol And Rio Frio Cave & Pools

Belize

Our visit to Caracol and Rio Frio Cave & Pools was enjoyable, thanks to our guide, Rene, who understood our interests and made the experience more engaging. If we went back we would definitely want to explore more of the caves. His wife even prepared a delicious, traditional lunch for us, which added to the authenticity of our experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Xunantunich

Belize

We had a great time visiting the Xunantunich Mayan ruins, even though not everyone would want to walk up 120 steps in humidity our local guide, Rene, made the experience memorable and informative as he was of Mayan descent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

LEISURE DAY

Belize

We spent our leisure day exploring the surroundings and relaxing at the resort, which set the tone for our entire trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We arrrived into Oslo Norway April 18, 2023 by bus from Sweden. We checked into the nice Thon Hotel Terminus at 1400. We set off on foot to go to the Marina to visit the KonTiki and Fram Museums. Oslo was abuzz with people enjoying the nice sunny day. We had difficulty finding our way due to lack of street signs. The museums were very interesting.
After a wonderful breakfast at the Thon Hotel we had a short walk to catch the 8:25 train to Myrdal. After leaving Oslo
the train has amazing views of the snow in the mountains. Our train was stopped on the tracks for 78 minutes and I emailed Anna that we were not going to make our 1445 kayaking trip that afternoon. Anna rescheduled Kayaking to Friday morning (which we had free anyway). Because half of the people had to get off the train at Myrdal to get on a bus to stay on schedule, we had great views on both sides of the train on our amazing trip to Flam.
We checked into the Fretheim Hotel and had to switch rooms because (surprise) ours did not have a tv or a shower.
On Thursday we took the amazing Naeroyfjord Cruise to Gudvangen. We were going to see the Viking Village in Gudvangen but we were advised by another tourist that they were not open (surprise), we jumped back on the cruise so we didn't get stuck in Gudvangen for 5 hours with nothing to do. I counted 12 waterfalls out of Gudvangen.
On Friday was the highlight of our trip with a 3 hour kayaking trip in the fjords. Our kayaking guide was highly trained and made sure we were safe and entertained on our trip. Being on the water on a beautiful sunny day with that scenery is something we will never forget. At 15:30 we boarded the Ferry for a 5 hour boat ride to Bergen, That boat ride was really nice thru the fjords without having to go out in the open seas.
On Saturday after having another great breakfast in the Bergen Bors Hotel we waited in the hotel lobby for 45 minutes for our Bergen 3 hour walking tour guide who never showed up or even called (surprise) we just took off and went shopping. After lunch we took the tram up Mt Floyen. The views of Bergen from the top were stunning. After walking the wrong way up the mountain against traffic, we turned around and walked for 2 1/2 hours down the mountain.

We had an amazing trip and Norway, I liked KimKim because we could pick and choose what we liked to do. Anna was very helpful in planning our trip. Anna could have been better at scheduling but we were flexable and had a great time.

Hotel Reviews

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Very close to downtown, but difficult to find front entrance which is on back side of the street. Great breakfast. Clean. Secure- need room key to ride the elevator. Front desk was very helpful in helping with missing tour guide and arranging taxi to airport.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful restaurant

Location

Within a block of shopping, boat dock, and downtown

Staff

Front desk was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

After switching out of a room that did not have a tv or a shower, our room had a great view of the bay and the town. The breakfast pancakes were very good, the pastries were very average. Clean. Very close to everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

Very close to the train station. A bit loud at night. Clean. Very good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Long Hike with a Local in Bergen

Bergen

We waited for a guide for 45 minutes that didn't show or even call. We decided to explore and shop around Bergen on our own and took the tram up to Mt. Floyen. We were refunded for the tour, but it was still disappointing.

Quality of Experience

Show up

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Show up

Round Trip Fjord Cruise Nærøyfjord

Flåm

A must-do to experience the fjords, Very comfortable. Good enough food. We had a minor issue with the Viking Village not being open, but overall, we enjoyed the time spent on the water.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking near Aurland in Sognefjord

Norway

A must do. Our guide made sure we were safe. He was highly experienced. Excellent storyteller. So amazing to be on the water in the fjords. The best part of our whole trip.

Quality of Experience

My wife even loved it

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Best

Transport

Leo, was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. He provided excellent ideas, listened to our input and planned a great trip.

He even sent specific directions with suggestions on what to wear and weather updates.

We had a couple snags along the way (which is expected when you travel) but Leo was attentive and helped us determine the best possible outcome.

If planning a trip is to stressful, let Leo do it for you.

We highly recommend him and Kim Kim.

Activity Reviews

Napa wine tour with picnic lunch

Napa

We went on a winery tour in Napa, which was great, but it would have been helpful to know the various pricing structures and deals offered by each winery beforehand. This would have allowed us to strategize better and potentially save money on tastings and wine purchases.

Quality of Experience

Food

Just an ok ham sandwich.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monterey Bay whale watching

the United States

Crew was great especially Isaiah. Saw lots of whales and sea lions. Dress warm would be my recommendation to future travelers. We stayed at the Stargazer Hotel in Monterey, but it was a really bad experience. However, Leo quickly rectified the situation and as a Marriott Platinum member, we found another accommodation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sonoma e-bike wine tour

the United States

Great experience. Enjoyed our guide Mike. We weren’t too keen on the second winery (Sebastian). I was very, very deliberate and out asking the fees for the tasting and what the purchase requirements were to get them waived. My whole family heard the same thing and when we went to check out it changed. Very frustrating. The reason this is important is because one family member may have opted out of this tasting because they really didn’t want anymore wine that day. Regardless, great time and experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Very nice lunch. They also asked our preference and we got to select from a small menu prior. Helpful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Napa and Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Tour

the United States

Fantastic experience but I’m rating this a 4 out of 5 because our reservation was messed up and one of us almost didn’t get to go. Luckily someone didn’t show and it all worked out. The pilot and crew were excellent and I highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Our reservation was messed up we paid for 3 people and the morning of they said they only had 2. Be sure to triple check.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The most memorable I think was the Camel trek to the campsite. The local guides was extremely knowledgeable also and gave us insight about Morocco. Our guide for ten days Amnay was very accommodating to all our needs. He’s very nice and fun. He made our trip easier and answered all our questions. I would recommend him and driver Waleed to anyone visiting Morocco. We give you 10 stars!!

Hotel Reviews

Merzouga Dunes Camps

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chez Ichou

Dades Gorge

Authenticity & Character

Location

No

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad al Rimal

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Al Makan

Fès

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Hicham

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Look

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel des Oudaias

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades Valley to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Quality of Experience

I’m

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Merzouga to Dades Valley Via Todgha Gorge

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

I o

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rabat to Chefchaouen

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Ok

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

{{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Volubilis and Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive in Casablanca & Transfer to Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Orientation Walk & Free Afternoon in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic trip to Costa Rica that was made easy through Kim Kim.
We loved our three hotels and our transport between locations was seamless.
We are not in the habit of pre-booking tours, but really enjoyed all the tours selected.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use Kim Kim again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Bosque del Mar

Playa Hermosa

A nice hotel in an excellent beach location. Helpful staff and nice rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ficus Sunset Suites

Monteverde

Stunning views, beautiful gardens and an excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

A beautiful hotel with fantastic views of the volcano. Friendly staff who went out of their way to ensure we were enjoying our trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hanging Bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall Guided Hike

Arenal/La Fortuna

An enjoyable trip with our guide Mariano. Beautiful scenery, a swim and great lunch. Mariano was knowledgeable, good company and flexible. Would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cloud Forest Reserve Hike

Monteverde

A great experience with our guide Bernie. I would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour to Las Catalinas Islands

Costa Rica

A fantastic day out. An excellent tour guide, delicious lunch, great snorkeling and wildlife and plenty of drinks available!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I decided not to read up about Morocco beforehand as I had some preconceived ideas about the country after reading various WWII accounts. The ideas got blown away and I came away with a different perspective and understanding of the country and the great people. The landscape changed continuously and much comparable with our western USA. This immersive package is really the way to go, but some caution in that it is a rigorous trip and one should be prepared for a lot of walking and up and down steps. Fortunately we were all fit for it. The accommodations were particularly interesting and beautiful and added to the cultural experience. Ayman and Waleed looked after us and our safety was never in doubt. Overall a great vacation with many memories and photos

Our family of 4, including two kids, aged 9 and 11, just had a wonderful trip to Costa Rica with kimkim doing much of the heavy lifting in terms of planning. Highlights would be our day spent at Rincon de la Vieja's adventure park, Hacienda Guachipelin as well as a hike to El Tigre Waterfall near Monteverde, which was not booked with kimkim.

kimkim pros: Overall, it was easy to review different activities and hotels prior to booking via the kimkim website, which made the stress of planning a vacation much less. Communication was easy with Jessica via the kimkim website. Having activities booked ahead limited time scrambling trying to book activities when we arrived. Almost every activity that we booked through kimkim was high quality with an excellent guide with only one or two exceptions.

kimkim cons: The variety of activities and hotels that kimkim offers on their website are not exhaustive and we realized once we arrived that there were better options available in many cases. No special attention paid to flight arrival times or transfer arrival times relative to hotel check in times. You do pay a premium for having a laid out itinerary before you go-we realized that had we booked the activities independently from kimkim, the cost would have been about half, in general.

Overall, we would recommend kimkim's services. Having a laid out itinerary prior to arriving decreased the stress and increased the amount we were able to see and do on our 2 weeks vacation. Unfortunately, you pay a bit more of a premium for this peace of mind but it was a positive experience.

Day 1: We arrived to Liberia at 0600 and drove 1.5 hrs to Blue River Resort via CR Ride. The driver was excellent. Feedback for kimkim would be to pay special attention to the flight arrival time and hotel check in. We arrived at our hotel at 9 am after an overnight flight and check in for the hotel was not until 2 pm.
Blue River Resort is a beautiful destination off the beaten path. Cabins are basic but comfortable. Restaurant on site was ok. It is close to Rincon de la Vieja but it's on the north side of the volcano and to get to the activities at the adventure park, it's a 1.5 hr drive around the volcano to the National Park. Not the location we were expecting and we would not recommend this hotel for anyone that is planning to spend time going over to do activities in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Day 2: Day at Rincon de la Vieja National Park. Big highlight for our family. We were expecting a 2.25 mile hike and a hot springs visit but when we arrived, we were informed that we had a full day planned- ziplining, horseback riding and tubing down the rio Colorado. Although it was a surprise, we agreed and had a great time. These were large group activities. Ziplining included 9 cables over beautiful canyons, a Tarzan swing and an option to rappel and climb at one point. There is an option to do the zip lining tandem with your kids, if needed. After a short 5 minute break, we walked down to the stable and hopped on a horse for a 45 min trail ride, which the kids really enjoyed. The tubing, which was a short 5 min drive to the starting point in the rio Colorado, was so fun! There were some small rapids and some slower sections and we managed to see a white faced monkey and lots of little creatures, like frogs and spiders along the way. Overall, the guides at Hacienda Guachipelin were excellent throughout the day. Unfortunately, because we were not expecting a water activity, we were not prepared to get our hiking shoes wet, but shoes are mandatory during the tubing. We ended the adventure day with the Rio Negro hot springs. The hot springs boasted "mud baths" but seemed to only be mud mixed in a 5 gallon pail and handed out in bowls to be rubbed all over our bodies.

Day 3: We were set to head back to Rincon de la Vieja National Park for a self guided hike that was planned via kimkim but with the drive being so long around the volcano and it being a 3 hour detour to our next destination, we opted to forego this activity. In our opinion, a local specialist planning the trip should have foreseen both the poor location of the hotel in relation to the activities planned as well as the major detour this day of hiking would have been, knowing our next destination. Instead, our driver picked us up from the hotel and we headed towards La Fortuna. On the way, our driver suggested we go to Rio Celeste for a 4 km hike to a waterfall. We paid $38 US for entry to the park. It took us about 2.5 hrs there and back. There were multiple flights of stairs down to the waterfall then onto a lagoon where the natural water meets the blue water (from the minerals from the volcano). Challenging hike in parts and some difficult terrain but worth the impromptu stop. The driver with CR Ride was amazing and stayed with our things in the car all day.
Our hotel in La Fortuna was the Country Inn Arenal. This place was in a very convenient location for the respective activities planned during the next few days. Beautiful grounds, swimming pool, breakfast included, walkable to grocery store.

Day 4: Hanging Bridges in Mistico Park and La Fortuna Waterfall with Jacamar Tours. 16 other folks on this tour. We walked 2.5 miles on paths, stopping along the way to look at venomous vipers, a boa, hummingbirds, and other creatures. Our guide, Diego, was super knowledgable but not overly energetic. There were a series of 6 hanging bridges, all various lengths and heights from the ground. They offered amazing views of different layers of the canopy. We then took a 10 min drive over to La Fortuna Waterfall. There are 2 areas to dip in the water. This is a fairly developed area, which comes with high numbers of tourists and guides. Both the kids and the adults in the group enjoyed getting in the water! Next we went to a small farm owned by Jacamar Tours to eat lunch. TIP: Lunch seemed to consistently be served around 2 pm so if you're travelling with kids or you get hangry easily, bring some snacks.

Day 5: Farm Tour with Eco Terra. This was a 3 hour farm tour to a small organic farm that keeps some cows, turkeys, chickens, goats and some rescue animals. The owner grows medicinal plants and restorative trees. We saw ginger, turmeric, taro root, cilantro, oregano, wild and commercial cocoa trees, and the list goes on. They generously allowed us to pick and sample whatever we wanted. Our small group was made up mostly of kids and some energetic adults. The activities of milking a cow, crushing sugar cane and making chocolate were all hands- on activities, which the kids loved! Amazing hospitality and generosity of this farm family. Would 100% recommend this tour.

Day 6: Arenal Volcano Hike and Tabacon Hot Springs with Jacamar Tours. This was a 2.5 km hike loop at the base of the north side of Arenal. Our guide was knowledgable about the history of the eruption of 1968. Total hike took about 2 hours, seeing new growth on the lava rocks along the way. We were then dropped off at Tabacon Hot Springs, which is a resort. We chose how much time we wanted to spend there and were told that someone would come and pick us up later in the day. It was strange knowing that we paid a tour company for a day of guided activities and we were simply dropped off. It poured rain almost the entire time but it was warm and we enjoyed the various hot pools around the site that happened to be in the natural river. Beautiful site, very much set up like a resort. This activity was definitely a crowd pleaser.

Day 7: Safari Float on the Penas Blancas River. 2 hours, 3 miles, float on a small raft. Our guide was knowledgable about the birds and animals found along the river and eager to point out wildlife. We saw a lot of different species of birds, a turtle and some howler monkeys. Boat was uncomfortable for 2 hours, sitting sideways but the family were shared this little adventure with was lovely.
We ended the day with a cooking class at the grounds of Desafio Adventure Company. We made a traditional Casado with Kathy. Kids loved it, it really was a fun experience.

Day 8: Transfer from Arenal to Monteverde via car and boat with Ride CR. The boat ride across Lake Arenal was really amazing and really only available to those traveller who did not rent a car.
Hotel in Monteverde was Los Pinos. This beautiful site with its own small system of hiking trails is a bit out of town and not walkable to anything of note except a small grocery store. It has a full kitchen which was great to make some of our own meals.

Day 9: We did not have any day activities planned via kimkim this day so we booked ourselves a ride to El Tigre Waterfalls. Highlight of the trip. Paid $30US per adult and $20US per kid to do a 8 km hike - "the big hike". Last 3 km was tough uphill but amazing day hike.
We ended the day with a "coffee experience and nighttime nature walk" with Coffee 'n Jungle. This was a weird experience and not one that we would recommend. The owner, Junior, buys most of his beans from other farmers. We learned a small amount about growing coffee, the drying process, and the roasting process. Because Junior had just cut down most of his coffee plants (which they do apparently every 6 years), and it was not harvesting season, there was not much of a tour. They do not grow cocoa in this area of the country, therefore the chocolate tasting was a mixture of cocoa powder which Junior mixed with brown sugar, powdered milk and peach liquor and then poured it on bananas. Junior was very sweet and friendly and was good with the kids but the educational component of the tour was limited and poorly organized. The nature walk was nothing more than an hour of walking around the cut down coffee plantation. Would not recommend this tour.

Day 10: Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve Hike with Ocotea Tours. This hike was through new and old growth forest. Our guide, Bernie, was also our driver and very knowledgable about plant life, birds and symbiosis in the forest. He was able to engage the kids and keep them interested. Overall, really great experience.

Day 11: Children's Eternal Rainforest Hike with Ocotea Tours. This was a 2.5 hour walk. Our guide, Guilliano, was great. Conditions were very dry. Overall, by this point, the kids were tired of walking around forests for the last few days and got bored with this hike but done at another time in the trip would have been a bigger success.

Day 12: Transfer from Monteverde to Tamarindo. 3.5 hour drive.
We booked Hotel Mar Rey without the help of kimkim. The options for hotels in Tamarindo were not great on the kimkim website. The activities that we had been super interested in doing in Tamarindo, like snorkelling, were not available through kimkim because the water was too rough. These activities, we realize now, could all have been booked once we arrived.

Day 14: Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Marlin del Rey. This was a 5 hour sunset tour including a 1.5 hr stop in the middle to swim and snorkel. There were about 35 people on board which was about half capacity. There was a bar on board and the drinks were included as well as a served chicken BBQ lunch mid afternoon. A big highlight was stopping in the middle of the tour and swimming and snorkelling in a secluded bay. Overall this was a great tour and a nice way to get away from the beach activities. Pros: shady interior of the boat, on-board bathroom, free drinks and friendly staff. Cons: it was a bit long for the kids.

Activity Review

Catamaran Sailing Adventure with Barbecue

Costa Rica

Overall a really great experience. Pros: shady interior on the boat, on board bathrooms, free drinks, friendly staff, lunch included. Highlight for us and our kids was the stop in the middle to swim and snorkel in a secluded bay. It was a great way to get away from beach activities. Would 100% recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a lovely trip to Ireland, London and Scotland. This was my first time traveling out of the USA and I was a bit apprehensive but our specialists took care of all of my requests and answered all my questions. The accommodations were great and convenient except for one. However, we reached out to KimKim and they were able to assist us with other arrangements quickly and it made our stay so much more enjoyable. We enjoyed all of our excursions that were pre-arranged. We did miss out on one castle visit because the timeframe just did not allow us to make our reservation. I would recommend KimKim and I will reach out again when we decide onour next trip. Thank you Stephen and William for assisting us with a "Once in a Lifetime Trip".

Hotel Reviews

Destiny Scotland - Hill Street Apartments

EDINBURGH

We enjoyed our stay at Destiny Scotland-Hill Street Apartments. The rooms were nice, clean and comfortable. We did not cook any meals but the kitchen was nice and available if we needed it. We did have a little issue upon arrival with which room was ours and our room code but we reached out to KimKim and it was taken care of. We did not see any staff to ask for assistance or phone numbers to call if you needed help. We felt safe and we would stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was just a short walk to everything we wanted to see and do in Edinburgh.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The accommodations were well taken care of and clean when we arrived.

Residence Inn by Marriott London Tower Bridge

London

We enjoyed our stay at the Residence Inn. The location was convenient for our visit. We were thankful we had a taxi to deliver us to the inn because it is difficult to find. Our visit was short but we would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Green

Dublin

We enjoyed our stay at The Green. The location was great! The staff were so helpful in giving us directions when needed. The breakfast was delicious! We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Native Glasgow

Glasgow

We ended up not staying here because the city was just so busy and there was no where to park close to the hotel. We finally found a parking garage but our rental vehicle would not fit through the gate. We had a 3 year old with us and we did not want to walk through the city and crowd with all of our luggage. This may be a perfect place for a couple wanting to visit the city but it did not suit our needs. I am giving it 3 stars just because of the location and inconvenience for our needs.

Claymore Guest House

Perthshire

Authenticity & Character

The home has so much character. The landscape was lovely.

Location

Loved the quaintness of the town and enjoyed the local dining establishments.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist

Scotland

We loved the excursion! The staff were so knowledgable about the local wildlife and terrrain. We would love to visit again and see what other trips they could take us on. Beautiful country!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer to or from the airport

Dublin

We enjoyed talking to our driver. He was very knowledgable about the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The vehicles were clean and comfortable.

Irish Dancing - The Irish House Party (Dinner & Show)

Dublin

We loved this show! The talent was amazing! Loved the stories!

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was delicious and in a timely fashion.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We believe they were training some new staff the night we visited. The service was not exceptional but they were trying really hard.

Transport

We decided to walk through the rain and cold. But it was so worth it!

We just returned from Portugal and had an outstanding vacation. A great part of it was because of the tour designed by Tiago and the tour guide that he had assigned to our care. Tiago put a package together that checked all the boxes that we asked for and everything was handled with perfection and not an issue with anything. We were picked up at the airport and in their care until we were dropped off 5 days later. Excellent job by our tour guide. We hope we have the pleasure of returning some day and will definitely, start our dream vacation again with KimKim tours. Thank you again Tiago.

I want to start off by saying that Kim Kim is hands down the best travel agency I have ever worked with. From start to finish, they made the planning process simple and stress free and curated the most amazing Portuguese experience we could have ever asked for! Tiernan, our local specialist, worked very hard to plan a dream Portugal vacation for my husband and I to celebrate our anniversary! He was extremely helpful, communicative and attentive and made appropriate changes to the itinerary when needed. We both work in the wine industry in the United States and wanted a true wine experience in Portugal and Tiernan went above and beyond to make sure we had just that! It was also very easy to get in touch with him while on our trip if we had any last minute needs or questions. The hotels that Tiernan chose were perfect and convenient to everything we wanted to do! The tours and suggestions he made throughout our trip were all amazing! If you are traveling to Portugal, I highly recommend reaching out to Tiernan and letting him plan the vacation of your dreams!

A few experiences that we want to point out:
We had a lovely dinner at a local's home on our second night in Lisbon. Our host Margarida and her son were fabulous! We were only supposed to stay for 2 hours and ended up staying for 4! Margarida was so friendly and welcoming and cooked us an amazing 3 course meal paired with wine! She is definitely one of the highlights of our trip and we will never forget our night with her!

We visited several vineyards throughout our stay and all were incredible. We would highly recommend visiting all of these amazing operations and we bought several bottles from each that we visited! Tiernan did a great job choosing some wineries that were larger commercial operations and much smaller, family owned operations as well! We enjoyed the experience and the wines at each stop! If they are offering tapas with your tasting, we highly recommend trying them as they enhance the experience!
Wineries we visited:
Casal Santa Maria
Adega Belem
Prova Wine Bar
Quinta De Crasto
Quinta Do Infantado
Sem Igual
Vale dos Ares

I also want to give a huge shout out to two of our drivers: Ronado Santos and Pedro!! Ronado took us to Colares and Sintra and we had a wonderful time getting to know him! We took him up on his suggestions for lunch and dinner and both were absolutely delicious! He was extremely helpful and friendly and didn't mind when we took too long at our first vineyard stop! Tiernan then set us up with Pedro, our local guide/winemaker, who met us on our first day in Porto and was with us for the rest of our trip! He truly was the best guide we could have asked for and we appreciated how helpful, friendly and passionate he was! His knowledge of Portugal's history is extensive and there wasn't a question he didn't know the answer to! Pedro took us to Douro Valley and Vinho Verde and we enjoyed every minute of getting to know him! It was very exciting being able to spend so much time with a local winemaker so that we could compare notes on everything wine! I cannot recommend Pedro enough and we hope to see him again on our next visit!

Again, we cannot thank the Kim Kim team and especially Tiernan enough for a magical, dream vacation to Portugal! We could not have asked for a better anniversary trip and learning experience. We look forward to working with Tiernan again in the future! Obrigada!!!

Hotel Reviews

Legendary Porto Hotel

Porto

This hotel was beautiful and in the perfect location, convenient to any attractions or restaurants! Maria at the front desk gave us a room upgrade which had a marvelous view of the cathedral from our balcony! She made our stay extra special and was always smiling! The staff was extremely helpful and gave us great recommendations throughout our stay! They also helped us a lot in the process of shipping wine back over to the United States! The breakfast was delicious! If Antonio is working the lobby bar, be sure to try his famous Port Tonic! We would definitely stay in this hotel again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Aeminium Coimbra Hotel

Coimbra

We only spent one night in this hotel but it was beautiful! A very convenient location to the bus and train stations and a beautiful walk to the river front where there are lots of great restaurants! The rooms were clean and spacious and the staff was extremely helpful! They made our reservations for dinner and also helped us get a taxi on time to make our train! We would definitely stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Convento do Salvador

Lisbon

We truly enjoyed our stay at Hotel Convento do Salvador! It is located in the beautiful and historic Alfama district and is within walking distance to great cafes and restaurants. A short walk up the hill provides one of the best views in Lisbon and you can easily walk to the city center! The staff was amazing and very helpful throughout our stay! Our train went on strike and the staff helped us book the correct bus to get us to our destination! If you are visiting Lisbon and don't want to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle every night, I highly recommend staying here!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Vinho Verde Wine Country with a Winemaker

Porto

The Vinho Verde wine region was definitely one of the areas that surprised us the most. The wines are very unique and delicious. It is also pretty amazing to drink wine in Portugal while staring at the mountains of Spain!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro Valley Wine Country with a Winemaker

Porto

No trip to Portugal is complete without a visit to their most famous wine region. Douro Valley is definitely worth the drive from Porto and offers amazing views and delicious wines! We highly recommend visiting a larger, commercial style operation as well as a small, family owned operation! Again, if you can request Pedro, you won't regret it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto Street Walk and Wine tasting with a Local Wine Maker

Porto

WE highly recommend Pedro as your local guide if you have the chance. He was wonderful and took us on a very informative walk around Porto! He knows a lot about Portuguese history and showed us some of the beautiful architecture around the city. He then suggested that we end our evening at Pravo wine bar which was a wonderful experience. WE met several Portuguese winemakers at the bar and drank lots of delicious wines from all around the country!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rabelo Boat Cruise of the Bridges on the Douro River

Porto

This was a great one hour cruise with a wonderful view of the bridges with lots of history!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Urban Winery Experience

Lisbon

We visited Adega Belem and had a beautiful experience. Catarina and her husband, the owners, were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their wines! The tapas provided enhanced the entire wine tasting experience! We spent several hours talking to the owners and other guests and left with several bottles of their delicious wines!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Casal Sta. Maria Winery Visit & Tasting | The Most Western Vineyards of Europe

Lisbon

We visited Casal Santa Maria for a wonderful wine tasting experience! We toured the vineyards with our guide and she was extremely knowledgeable! The wine tasting and tapas were absolutely delicious! We spent so much time enjoying the wines that we had to skip Cascais but it was totally worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Colares, Cascais & Sintra

Lisbon

Pena Palace is beautiful and definitely worth seeing! Be sure to take your time to take in the amazing views and history! It may be a bit crowded but the experience is worth it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portuguese Dinner at a Local Home

Lisbon

This experience is one that will always be a fond memory for us! Our host, Margarida and her son, were absolutely wonderful people! They were so friendly and welcoming and we enjoyed spending our evening with them! Margarida cooked a delicious meal and paired it with some of her favorite wines! Everything was superb and it was a very special evening on our trip! Obrigada, Margarida!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip exceeded all expectations and dreams! Amanda was wonderful planning this trip with us over a two year period, and it was fantastic to finally get to meet her after all that correspondence! Our guide, Rajive Shakya, could not have been better! He was a wealth of knowledge! I had a million questions and he patiently answered them all! Our lodgings each night were beautiful - the people we met were so kind and lovely. At Rajive’s suggestion we watched the sun rise over the Himalayas in Pokhara! Bandipur was simply gorgeous - it was like being on a movie set, it was so unreal! Chitwan was unforgettable - hugging and feeding the elephants was simply a dream come true! We actually were fortunate enough to receive a blessing from a Hindu Living Goddess on our last day! I could go on forever - it was THAT amazing and so well planned out! And we learned SO much from Rajive! Our drivers were wonderfully skilled in navigating the rocky unpaved roads! It was perfect! We are already planning our next trip with Kim Kim! 🙏 Dhanyabad! ❤️

Our trip in Spain was better than anticipated, from North to south what a beautiful country. Our guides really did make it Toledo was an incredible stop totally unexpected
Irene was helping all the way thru we had a couple of hiccups but Irene looked after us all the way
Thanks to everyone at KimKim

One of the best things we ever could have done was worked with Liz to organize our trip to Australia and New Zealand. The process of organizing our trip (hotels, transfers, events) was so much easier working through Liz as it narrowed down the millions of options and she kept us within a reasonable amount of our budget. What really stood out was when our flight to Australia was completely canceled. Between Liz and Leslie in Australia, they helped reorganize our trip, working with the tour companies to ensure our trip was still amazing. They were both so helpful and we would have been so much more stressed without them during that time. Also, Liz was able to coordinate our tours so that all but maybe two tours picked us up at our hotel, eliminating the need for a rental car everywhere we went.

A couple highlights for others planning to go to Australia and New Zealand who love the outdoors:
Sydney
- Explore the Gardens
- Do a harbor cruise at night, the views are worth it!
- Full Day Blue Mountains Tour -> One of the top things we did, the most amazing day and most amazing guide
Cairns
- Great Barrier Reef is a must, Passions of Paradise was the company we took and the experience and what we learned was amazing!
- Wait-a-while Evening Rainforest Tour was amazing! The guide was so knowledgable and friendly!
Brisbane
- We rented a car and did the Australia Zoo ourselves which was perfect because we got there right when it opened and left just as is was closing. You need a whole day!
Auckland
- Afternoon Wilderness Experience
- We did a shared tour to Hobbiton that dropped us off in Rotorua, cutting down on travel time which was great!
Rotorua
- Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience was a must to learn about the culture and the history of New Zealand
- Loved the Regent of Rotorua Boutique Hotel, it was central and near tons of places to grab a bite to eat!
Queenstown
- The Rydges Lakeland Resort was stunning and made it easy to walk to places in Queenstown
- Full Day Routeburn Hike --> Absolutely stunning!
- Milford Sound
- Full Day Funyak Safari Trip --> So much fun! JJ led our group as we kayacked down the Dart River and was just so much fun to chat with and explore!

After heavy research, my friend and I wanted to see Ecuador more than the “typical” Galapagos trip so we thought KinKim provided that to us. It delivered what we were looking for when we went, from the ornate gilded churches of Quito to the Mitad, the dizzying scenery of Quilotoa, to the spectacular waterfalls of Banos and views of the mighty Cotopaxi from a full day’s hike. Our itinerary manager, Alvaro, was very thorough but we found the asset of KimKim Ecuador was our guide, Sebastian. Ecuador is a jewel in the crown for sure so I’d highly recommend KinKim to anyone who wishes to explore it.

Last August, I Googled "14 days Netherlands and Belgium" and I found Kim-Kim. It proved to be the best search result ever! Throughout the planning process and when we were on the trip, Mieke was very professional and full of great ideas. She steered us away from the ordinary and suggested terrific alternatives. For example, as opposed to staying in Amsterdam (which we have visited before), she suggested Haarlam and as an alternative to Bruges, we directed us toward Ghent. Moreover, she was available to help during our trip. When our flight to Europe was delayed, she was quick to help us adjust our schedule. And we even had the opportunity to share a glass of wine with her during our trip. We were particularly grateful that In the weeks before we began our trip, she offered to get us tickets to the Vermeer exhibit in Amsterdam. We didn't even know this much sought-after exhibit was an option.

We loved Harrlam and the Frans Hal Museum. We had a really fun boat ride in Giethoorn. The Freedom Museum and the Flanders Field Museum were informative and impactful. Ghent was excellent; a beautiful city and some great restaurants. And the tulips!