Kimkim Trip Reviews

How do I put into words my Patagonian Adventures that I've experienced with the people I've met in this journey of self discovery. They are all now a part of my extended family. I've seen such splendor, majestic beauty, and an overwhelming sense of grandeur. It's like when God finished creating the world in 6 days before he rested on the 7th he dusted his hands off over the Patagonian Provinces of Argentina and formed a lavish banquet of wonders with an array of unique wildlife, mountain peaks, glaciers, forests, and lakes all in Argentina for all the world to enjoy and embrace.

(INSERT PHOTO OF ANA AND ME TOGETHER HERE)

I thoroughly recommend Kimkim as they have outperform, and surpass my expectations. All the accommodations were nothing less than 5 stars, all transfers to and from hotels, all my domestic flights across Argentina were handled with such detail, my friend Ana was handling it all. ( I just can't call her a tour specialist). I feel Ana has been with me through this journey from start to finish. When I started this plan to cover as much of Argentina in 16 days I thought it was an impossible task. From Day 1 to Day 16 Ana was right there with me. From My Buenos Aires Querido to all of Patagonia. Starting with my first stop in Calafate as I ventured on a Mini Trekking across the Perito Moreno Glacier, in San Marcos Bariloche experiencing the Nahuel Huapi National Park in the province of Río Negro and Neuquén, along the Valle Encantado route 237 la Angostura this region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, rainforests, and glaciers in the west and deserts, rich tablelands and steps to the east. Patagonia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and many bodies of water that connect them. More than a trip of a lifetime. This checks all the boxes on my bucket list.

BARILOCHE
I can't forget my friend Luis (now a part of my extended family) my private guide as he shared with me the beauty of this province and the wealth of its natural resources. Luis’s knowledge of the province from the Condors nesting grounds to how the locals protect and respect nature. Luis and I spent 14 hours covering as much of the Patagonia landscape before night fall. Stopping to see Llamas crossing the routes and capturing their beauty as local commuters were missing out on what was in front of them. The voyage on board CauCau ferry headed to Victoria Island overjoyed with the breathe-taking views. You have to see it in order to believe it. I did the Circuito Chico Lago Moreno. Llao Llao, saw llamas, Rio Limay, it’s un-imaginable how small we are and what we take for granted, we miss out on what is in front of us. I took time to listen, hear, smell and taste the pureness of the air that was surrounding me. I even visited the smallest Rio in the world. (Thank you Luis for this gold nugget) Rio Correntoso. Folks...the list of lakes and wildlife goes on and on.

IGUAZU
Next stop was Iguazu Falls National Park, my dear guide Camila more than just a guide, she's smart and very pretty. Super knowledgeable with the flora and fauna of Iguazu and has the ears and eyes of a hawk to find the smallest of details of the wildlife that live and breathe in this region. Camila and I managed to walk 600 meters on the green path, 1750 meters on the superior circuit and rounded it out with a 2200 meter walk to the Devils Throat (astounding 80 meters in depth) all while managing to see an early morning rodent Acuti, birds like the Magpie, Boyero, Mallard Ducks, Jotes (black head and red head), Aninga, and Coati mammals.

MENDOZA
My families home, this is where the self discovery comes in. Rich in ancestral history that dates back to the 1900s starting with my Grandfather Don Gustavo Julian Ruiz Cornellias and his lovely wife J. Elvira Ruiz de Gagliolo they migrated from Madrid Spain to Buenos Aires at 30 years of age. I was born in Buenos Aires and came to the United States, and the rest of my family settled in Mendoza where I managed to learn of my great great grandfather's contribution to Argentina’s rich history as he is immortalized at the Plaza Marcos Burgos right next to the national hero of Argentina, Chile and Peru Jose de San Martin. If you love wine Mendoza is the place for it and visiting the vineyards of Tupungato & Tunuyan is the right place to start. Time to relax, inhale the beauty that is Valle de Uco. Ana and her dream-maker team set me up with an experience that I will never forget at Casa De Uco, a must stay, wine testing at various vineyards like Gaia, Sophenia and the Piece de resistance lunch at Andeluna, I totally recommend this place, the food, the warmth of the staff at Andeluna is unmatched. Take 3-4 hours for lunch its so worth it. I was the last to leave. Make sure you stop at Puente de Inca along the Rio Mendoza before you experience Cerro Aconcagua, have a picnic lunch at the foot of Laguna Horcones and take in the beauty that is this province.

In closing don’t let a day go by without embracing it. I found real meaning on this trip. What truly matters. It’s Family and Time. There is a balance. Life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. So live for today. Be grateful for what you do, what you have, and share with those around you that are not as fortunate. We are all part of one another in one shape or form, we touch peoples lives with kindness whether you believe if of not….so be kind.

Day tour to Sintra with guide Matilde and driver Miguel. We felt very cared for traveling with these 2 the whole day. Matilde answered all our questions thoughtfully and explained all the stops thoroughly.

The walking tour of Lisbon with Elsa was effortless. Elsa made the 8 hour long day seem very short. Her lively explanations and wonderful sense of humor made the day go by so quickly and the walk easy. She shared with us some of her favorite local spots. Bifana was delicious and her recommendations for dinner were spot on! Obrigada Elsa.

Our drive up the coast to Porto with Nelson was very comfortable. Nelson was our very informative body guard/driver of the day. The beautiful streets of Obidos and the breathtaking view of the coast of Nazare were fabulous

Arriving in Porto we had our walking tour with Andre. He showed us the wonderful sights/sounds/tastes of Porto. You must try the Pastel de Nata of Porto since we learned it tastes very different from those in Lisbon. Much crispier crust and oh-so delicious.

Duoro Valley. WOW. What more can I saw about this place. Our private boat tour was exactly what the family needed towards the end of our visit.

Overall, I would definitely recommend working with Joao and plan to contact him again when I go back to Portugal. Joao was very patient and listened to our multiple requests and made magic happen. I thank him and his team for allowing our family to relax and have fun. Definitely a trip to remember. OBRIGADA!

Emi and Francesco were absolutely amazing. Emi did a fantastic job planning the trip of our dreams, while Francesco was fast and accommodating - making our time there a breeze! When our train was canceled last minute, it literally took 10 minutes for them to book us a new way of transport, saving the day and our trip. We will absolutely be using this service again and have already recommended it to all our friends and family. Thank you, thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni

Florence

Beautiful hotel with friendly staff. Amazing stay all around.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rome Times Hotel

Rome

Friendly, accommodating - first-rate service all around. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quick walk to some of the best places to see and surrounded by fantastic restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Beautiful tour that really helps you acclimate to the city. The tour guide was gregarious and funny - we enjoyed learning from her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uffizi Galleries Tour

Florence

A wonderful experience with a fantastic guide. Thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot.

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Accademia Gallery Tour

Florence

The tour guide was funny, smart, and enjoyable to listen to. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

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Duomo tour with Brunelleschi's dome & secret terraces

Italy

An absolutely amazing tour. The guide was affable and knowledgable - and incredibly patient and comforting when I ended up succumbing to my fear of heights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Florence walking tour on Medici's footsteps

Florence

Fantastic and informative walking tour. The guide was funny, smart, and enjoyable to listen to.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums guided tours

Rome

Good, semi-private tour. Guide got into a few weird religious things, however, that didn't feel relevant or needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My daughter and I have had the most amazing trip to Greece. We are in love and will be back. It was great having Irene of Kimkim help plan our trip of 9 days as we wanted culture, art and history at a relaxed pace.

We visited Athens, Naxos and Santorini and it was fantastic. Irene organized a cooking class, a trip to Delphi with olive tasting and in Naxos convinced me the best way was to drive to see the beautiful landscape! She was right.

In Santorini, we had a pottery class with a local famous Greek artist which was fun for the both of us and walking around and seeing the sunset was out of this world.

We loved our accommodations too and Irene chose well and to add that the entire team from KimKim were always available in case of anything and made me feel safe should something go wrong.

Everything was taken care of and on time and grateful for our tour guide in Athens, Magda who was entertaining and knowledgeable.

We had a very relaxed holiday and I was glad I had some assistance thanks to Kimkim to navigate around!

All in all, we will back to Greece and would recommend anyone short on time and energy to let Kimkim sort you out. They really know some hidden gems and where to go and are quick to respond so it lets you breathe and be free.

Hotel Reviews

Athens Cypria Hotel

Athens

Right in the heart ofnthe city. Can really hear the hustle and bustle and great restaurants including vegetarian ones. The buffet breakfast was amazing from Greek yogurts to a full English breakfast, Pastries and coffee, tea and juices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to most things like Acropolis

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat Sunset & Sunrise Lodgings

Santorini

Stunning views, breakfast in your room. Management was great and we had amazing views where we were. Also for those who like some peace and quiet it’s perfect as it’s not super big and has a certain charm to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Views are stunning. Breakfast is delicious and can walk to many places.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Beautiful location, clean and amazing food! Staff was helpful and we loved how relaxing it was.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right close to the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Local Dinner in Naxos

Naxos

Quality of Experience

Food

Definitely the cheese platter with the local Naxian cheese … we didn’t finish it but it was yum!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked and found beautiful spots to eat

Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Cooking Class in Athens

Athens

The restaurant was amazing and the food too. We really enjoyed it but wished we had the chance to make a couple of dishes as I was with my 9 year old. A menu to cater that would have been great. Still we enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Acropolis & Athens Mythology Tour

Athens

Learnt so much on this tour and Magda was highly knowledgeable and engaging. My daughter loved her. She has a way with kids. Carry some snacks and water as it’s quite long.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trek with Kim Kim has been a fantastic experience from start to finish. The communication from Ngima was exceptional throughout. He helped us to think through the various options for the trek and provided helpful guidance and links for further reading. Being met at the airport meant our arrival in Kathmandu was much easier than finding our own way to the hotel and the pre-trek briefing answered any queries which we had. The team on the trek were also excellent - our guide Dafuri Sherpa was knowledgable and responsive to our requests, and the porters Nuru and Finju Sherpa were positive and professional. Their connections with local people meant that we were guaranteed a warm welcome at every place we visited. The whole of the valley was beautiful but there is no doubt that ascending Kyanjin Ri was the highlight

Everyone at all the places we stayed were professional and courteous, very enjoyable stays.
We do not remember all our tour guides names (many were wine tasting tours!) but all were friendly and knowledgeable.
Restaurants, while all were good, had some types of food that were not to our liking. That is a matter of taste though.
Air New Zealand is now our favorite airline. We can not say enough about how well we were treated, both at the airports and on the flights.
Overall all we loved New Zealand. Wonderful people living in a clean and fascinating country. We will be returning for another visit.

Hotel Reviews

Marlborough Bed & Breakfast

Tuamarina

Steve and Natalie (spelling?) with their lovely dog Paddy were the best. We loved the whole time we were there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

QT Wellington

Wellington

While the hotel, staff, location, restaurant, valet parking were all excellent the overall atmosphere was a little to trendy/cutting edge for this retired couple. Personal taste.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Napier

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Taupo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Auckland

Auckland

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Marlborough Icons Tour

Blenheim

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Sip Wine Tour

Blenheim

Again drank too much. This is why we have guided tours! The three other people on the tour were great company.

Quality of Experience

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3 Hour Private Capital Flavours

Wellington

Louie (who works for Jackie) was great. Had a wonderful time learning about Wellington.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wear really good walking shoes.

Napier To Wellington Self Drive

Napier

The trip was fine. The driver (me) did not take enough breaks and enjoy the drive like he should have!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Gannet Safaris

Napier

Guide/driver was very knowledgeable and a good driver. Some of those road were a little narrow and windy but the guide/driver was great.

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Half Day Wine, Beer and Cider Tour

Napier

We drink too much, can not remember our guides name but he was great!

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Full Day Private Sculpture & Fine Wine

Auckland

Jackie was filling in at the last moment and was a joy to be around.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Auckland Best of Both World: Bush and Beach - Full day

Auckland

Quality of Experience

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Ferry to Waiheke Island

Auckland

The island itself was nice with great food and wine. We found a local cab driver who helped us around. The ferry ride there was bad. Overcrowded with no seats and people taking extra seats with their backpacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We worked primarily with Stephen on our trip to Scotland. From setting up the trip in the beginning we received lots of communication. They listened to what we wanted and adjusted the plans accordingly. We did have a few issues arise once we were on our trip that could have been avoided, but once we told kimkim the issues they were handled very promptly and efficiently which we were very thankful for. The customer service team while on the trip was extremely helpful for answering any questions in a very timely manner. Overall, we had a great trip and it was nice to have someone set up things for us that we would not have done on our own.

Our trip to the Atacama was fantastic! We appreciated all the interaction prior to and during the trip :)
The scenery was absolutely incredible and we enjoyed meeting lots of people from around the world. Each of our guides were lovely, full of knowledge and expertise. We would highly recommend visiting!

Hotel Review

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Efforts to take an eco friendly approach

Location

Great central spot

Staff

Everyone was so helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche

San Pedro de Atacama

Such a beautiful tour to end our trip - fabulous experience swimming in the salt water lagoon!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Great tour but a very early start!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Amazing guide and interesting tour Beautiful scenery and worth getting up early for!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puritama Canyon Trek

San Pedro de Atacama

Súper chilled time with our guide who was friendly with great energy Beautiful and unique scenery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

This was an absolutely amazing trip - not a long drive and such a special evening. Our guide was incredible with his knowledge and thank you so much for our photograph of the night sky

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Enjoyed the tour with a great guide - incredible introduction to the atacama!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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As a family, we recently embarked on an incredible trip to Italy over spring break, and it was truly a trip of a lifetime! We visited Rome, Naples, Florence, and Milan and saw all the major tourist attractions in each city, including attending an AC Milan soccer match. We are so grateful to our travel agent, Fabio Ilardi, for his exceptional planning, coordination, and responsiveness throughout the 10-day journey.

From the moment we landed in Florence to our final stop in Naples, every aspect of our trip was meticulously planned by our travel agent. The hotels they arranged for us were ideally located, allowing us to explore each city's highlights easily. The tickets they secured for the soccer match in Milan were fantastic, and we cheered on the team with the local fans, creating unforgettable memories.

We were in awe of the iconic landmarks in each city, from the historic ruins in Rome to the vibrant streets of Naples. Our travel agent's recommendations for local cuisine were spot on, and we indulged in delicious Italian food at every stop.

What truly set our trip apart was our travel agent's exceptional coordination and responsiveness. Their attention to detail and professionalism was evident in every aspect of our journey, and their passion for travel shone through. We felt confident and well taken care of throughout our trip, which allowed us to relax and fully immerse ourselves in the Italian culture and history.

We are immensely grateful to our travel agent for creating an unforgettable Italian adventure for our family. Their expertise and dedication to ensuring a seamless and memorable trip are truly commendable. We highly recommend their services to anyone planning a trip, and we look forward to planning future adventures with them.

Thank you, Fabio Ilardi and Italy Bespoke Tours, for making our Italy trip a dream come true!

Andre Christian and Family.

This was a fantastic trip planned and organized with Mieke. Mieke was so easy to work with. She adjusted our itinerary at least five times to make sure we saw what we were interested in the most. We started in Amsterdam the day before our tour officially began with a trip to the Rijksmusuem for the Vermeer exhibit. What a stunning show! We then walked around Amsterdam and came upon the delightful Albert Cuyp Market. We ended our exhausting travel day with a gourmet meal at De Kaas. This is a gorgeous restaurant set in its own gardens. There even was a stork next with parents outside the window!. We were able to follow Mieke's instructions to get back to Haarlem by public transportation.

The Boutique Staats was a lovely, old, boutique hotel with a delicious breakfast. Our rooms on the top floor were very small; I believe the rooms on the lower floors had very high ceilings and were better. The beds were super comfortable and the location was very good.

Highlights of the rest of the tour included the private canal ride to Amsterdam. We loved our captain. Caroline met us for a private tour of the Van Gogh museum - she was great, navigating us to the most important parts of the museum and educating us on Van Gogh's fascinating life. We were especially delighted with the trip to the Poldertuin gardens in Anna Paolowna. This is smaller and more accessible than Keukenhof and almost as gorgeous. The flower mosaics throughout the town were less impressive than I had imagined, but were fun to see. The auction house was fascinating. We didn't see an actual auction but did see the hundreds if not thousands of carts of flower being driven around for delivery to buyers.
Keukenhof was stupendous. Fully in bloom and almost too beautiful to describe. Our driver, Marten, also took us to a private flower bulb farm with rows and rows of tulips in bloom.
Haarlem was an excellent base for day trips and for dining at night. The restaurants were quite good. Plan well ahead, though, for many of them as they fill quickly during the high season.
Our driver Marten was excellent. Always on time and cheerful.

This trip was organized by my daughter with KimKim. I enjoyed the trip thoroughly and I sense the joy and opening up from my family members as well. The trip brought us to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo to experience the different aspects of Japan. The Osaka city life and food, the religious and cultural aspects, the hotspring and nature (flowers, parks, mountains), the complex efficient transport network, unforgettable crammed hotel rooms, the demeanor of Japanese, the theme parks and Japan commercial products. There is also the interesting spring weather to experience in different locations from cold street weathers, gale in the mountain top, icy cold in Mount Fuji, beautiful sunset in a cherry blossom village Oshino Hakkai. The personal local guide and local transport driver add a touch of freedom and enjoy and experience Japan in a deeper manner. It seems to be costlier compared to the Japan trips made by others but the ability to experience so much in a 10 day trip make this a wonderful trip for me.

Not everything was perfect. Example, the driver came 30mins earlier than expected; the local guide detail was provided a little late than what we would be comfortable; an easier way to understand the complex Japan transport system which to be frank I doubt is very very hard. I like to think the imperfectness is what spices up also the trip in a different manner.

This is the second time I used KimKim for my family holiday. Kudos to them, I am glad to say that they have again done a nice trip for me and my family.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience planning our Greece vacation through kimkim. The entire process, from the initial introduction call, to the connection made to our local specialist Ioannis who guided us through all our options, to the flexibility in adjustment our upfront payment schedules, everything was professional and top notch.

Once we were able to share the types of things we were interested in doing across our two families traveling together, Ioannis was able to suggest great options for us to choose from. This included village excursions, cooking tours, luxury catamaran rides etc. Overall, his guidance was really helpful in allowing us to make great choices.

For all the tours that we went on (4 organized ones in total), the local guides were absolutely excellent. All of them spoke great English, gave us a great background in Greek history, exposed us to "local/ traditional" adventures, and really made the trip memorable.

The hotel selections were also great, with good breakfast options every morning, and convenient locations. In the one hotel where the first room we were offered wasn't that great, we got in touch with Ioannis to explain the situation. Ioannis was on this instantly, coordinating directly with the hotel and making sure that we were upgraded to better quality two room as no additional costs! This was really appreciated by us!

Overall, this was very memorable and we intend to use kimkim in the future!

We just had the most phenomenal trip in Morocco with the help of KimKim and our driver - Samir from Original Travel.

Morocco is a unique destination and Samir made our experience extra special. It is a vast country and therefore you will spend a lot of time traveling in a car which means your driver can make or break your trip. We couldn't be happier with our driver Samir, who took care of us, and ensured that we have the opportunity to experience the real culture of Morocco by arranging unique experiences for us like eating with a local family near Volubilis, and a phenomenal local guide the incredible Muhamad in the Dades Valley who invited us to his house where we had homemade Tagin to name just a few.

We were also so impressed with the way he and Ali dealt with issues when they arose to ensure that we have a wonderful time.

If you are planning a trip to Morocco, make sure you take the time to come to the Sahara and stay in Tiziri Camp in Merzouga. This was our absolute highlight. An eco camp, run by local Berbers, offered a unique and highly tailored experience for us, one that we will savor for many years to come.

We enlisted the help of Deb and the Kim Kim team to help us organize a whistle stop trip to S. Africa and Zimbabwe. We only had 10 days so needed help getting the most out of our limited time.
We were so impressed with the level of communication throughout the planning process and whilst on the trip itself. Some great dinner spots and additional activities were suggested which made a huge difference to our experience. It was also great to be given a variety of accommodation options which we could select to best suit our budget.
All transfers and activities ran like clockwork and took the worry out of traveling in a new country with kids. Every guide we came across was exceptionally knowledgeable and professional.
We would definitely use the Kim Kim service again and wholeheartedly recommend Deb and her team for anyone considering a trip to S. Africa. Thank you for the most amazing holiday - we didn’t want to come home!

Hotel Reviews

Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa - Kasane

Chobe, Kasane

Authenticity & Character

The isolation of this place was quite special - we loved the open air dining areas and viewing deck and of course the thatched roof.

Location

It took 3 border crossings to reach this lodge but it actually added to the experience. Loved that it was only accessible by river.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super big beds!

The Capital On The Park

Sandton

Authenticity & Character

A big hotel with a great pool area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the shopping mall.

Location

Close to the shopping mall.

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A great 2 bed apartment for our final night.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A great 2 bed apartment for our final night.

Phezulu Guest Lodge

Victoria Falls

Authenticity & Character

Location

Lovely quiet location but it was easy to organise taxis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Southern Sun De Wagen

Stellenbosch

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms/ beds needed to be bigger!

Parker Cottage

Cape Town

This was a holiday highlight for us. Tomas and his team and the accommodation was exceptional - a home away from home and a blissful sanctuary after a busy day sightseeing. Outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

A beautiful old heritage villa.

Location

A safe walking distance to restaurants in the area and close proximity to Table Mountain and the Waterfront.

Staff

Great advice and super friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Last morning at Chobe Savanna Lodge

Chobe River - Namibia Side

We actually saw very little wildlife on the morning safari. We ended up watching a troop of baboons for ages. The river ride and sunset was perfect though.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/a

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival at Chobe Savanna Lodge

Chobe National Park

We crossed 3 borders to get here. This sounds overwhelming but each crossing was slick and efficient and we were directed by the driver on where to go. It added to the whole experience. The river ride to the lodge was beautiful - we spotted lion, hippos and elephants. It was nice to be offered a cold drink on board.

Quality of Experience

Food

N/a

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dusty Road Township Lunch/Dinner Experience **highly recommended by our team

Victoria Falls

Loved the little tour that you get upon entry. Great atmosphere and loved the community aspect of this place and the focus on sustainability.

Quality of Experience

Food

The authenticity. Some of the dishes took me back to my own time living in Africa.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took our own taxi and paid more than we were told to pay.

Guided Tour of Vic Falls

Victoria Falls

What’s not to like? The Falls are breathtaking!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gourmet Dinner on a Sunset Cruise

Victoria Falls

This was outstanding! It was stunning scenery on the Zambezi and we saw our first hippo! The 4 course meal was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner at GOLD Restaurant

Cape Town

The additional drumming workshop was well worth it. We all loved it! It was great to taste various dishes from around the continent and to watch the dancing/ entertainment. This was definitely a very touristy activity but something I would recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Authentic and rustic - some dishes were really tasty, some were more interesting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Robben Island

Cape Town

This is something I have wanted to do for a long time. We had an amazing guide on the bus around the island and a former inmate for the prison tour. Very interesting and humbling. It was quite a big group and sometimes hard to follow what was being said when we were off the bus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

We had a friendly and experienced guide. We loved the penguins, haggling with the street vendors and the views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Table Mountain

South Africa

We loved this trip! We headed straight here after checking in at our accommodation. We took a later cable car up to catch the sunset. It was super quiet and the sunset/ views were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Winelands

South Africa

My kids loved this activity! It was an amazing setting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Michael from Chaska tours proposed an excellent itinerary and was attentive to our wishes and needs during the planning phase, and was very patient with our endless questions. When our arrival flight was delayed by a day, Michael rescheduled our affected tours more than once providing us peace of mind during airport chaos. When one service didn't work out as planned, Michael promptly arranged a refund. We truly enjoyed the personal and in-depth experience of all the tours and transportation.
Our tour guides Jauren, Joker, Sandra, and Jamie were fabulous and spoke good English. It was amazing to tour a coffee farm with a 5th generation local who grew up and worked there. Touring through the forest and archaeological site by someone who is clearly committed to the preservation of native fauna, flora and peoples was captivating even for the teenagers in our group. I can't say enough about this service and our visit to the country of Colombia. Cartagena is historic and charming, the area around Tayrona Park is beautiful. Hotels were clean and comfortable, the food was delicious and not expensive. The people we met were gracious and welcoming. Everything about our trip went great and we're looking forward to using this service to plan our next family vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel El Prado

Barranquilla

It's an older hotel, very large, historic. Staff was very helpful. The breakfast was spectacular.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Watapuy

Santa Marta

Wonderful resort style hotel in a natural setting. You can walk to Tayrona Park from here. The staff is helpful, the restaurant is great. The cabins are peaceful and large. Book it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa La Fe

Cartagena de Indias

We had adjoining family rooms on the street side with balconies. These are fabulous rooms. The breakfast was made to order from a menu with many selections. The rooftop pool and bar are fun, the views delightful. Many nearby restaurants to choose from. The staff was helpful and wonderful. Would totally stay at this hotel again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Cartagena Street Food Tour

Cartagena

Our guide Joker was funny and great! Food was excellent, it was fun to walk to various parts of the old city to try different things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

N/A really - we were walking :)

Reda was excellent very kind, respectful, appropriate and a good driver ❤️ him!

We understood we had a guide but he was more a driver and couldn’t come in to the ferry terminal to pick us up, that was very confusing for us another guide helped us. We love the camping trip & Marrakesh.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Wow

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Inara Desert Camp

Marrakech

Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Very nice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

Lovely people but the accommodation was in need of repair.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Sightseeing in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

We didn’t have any food?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Rabat to Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Hercules caves

Tangier

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We only had a driver, Reda

Transport

Pura Vida!

This was a once in a lifetime trip for our group of friends to be able to take together and using Serendipity Adventures with the help of Bryan Leon made our trip the best we all have ever experienced.

Bryan was very helpful and quick to respond to all of our questions and concerns. And the whole team at Serenity Adventures were very attentive and helped to fix any issues we had.

We did a 7 day tour through multiple cities in Costa Rica with 1-2 excursions almost every day. We were able to enjoy all our transports, meals, and excursions set up by the company without any issues. And if we did have any problems, we were easily able to contact the travel agency at any time.

Overall, this trip was wonderful for each and every one of us because we were able to use Bryan’s help to customize each day to our liking from meal accommodations, to different hotels and excursions that better suited our wants and needs.

I would highly recommend using Serendipity Adventures for your next Costa Rica trip for the best experience possible!

Hotel Reviews

The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa

Playa Conchal

This was one of the best all inclusive resorts we have ever stayed at. The beach front property was perfect and the water was amazing. The food and drinks here were the best I have had in a resort type setting. They whole staff was very accommodating and everyone was so attentive and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

This hotel was a very lovely hotel. Rooms and bathrooms were spacious and breakfast was amazing! Views and wildlife were a huge plus!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

Beautiful hotel, food was amazing and service was wonderful! I can’t wait to go back!

Authenticity & Character

Cute hotel property, beautiful wildlife

Location

Perfect volcano views

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

TreeTram, Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure

Monteverde

This was a well-organized and safe experience, with sturdy equipment and experienced guides. The company had clearly been doing this for a long time, and we felt secure throughout the adventure

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Guided Hike

Monteverde

This was a nice hike, but it felt repetitive after the previous day's tour. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable, and we saw many animals like birds, monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eternal Rainforest Night Walk

Monteverde

This tour was interesting and full of bugs and critters. We saw snakes, tarantulas, and other creatures. It was a unique experience, but not for those who are squeamish around bugs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee & Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica

This was a fun experience, but we felt rushed toward the end due to having to go on a guided night tour immediately after. We could have used an extra 30-40 minutes at the coffee farm to fully enjoy the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mambo Combo: Canyoning and Rafting

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a thrilling experience, especially for those who had never done it before. The tour guides were very helpful and instilled confidence in everyone. The adventure included rappelling down waterfalls and mountains, as well as ziplining. The whitewater rafting was more on the mellow side, which was perfect for me. The guides were great, and the two different tour companies communicated well to ensure a smooth transition between activities.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide was very helpful and attentive! We saw monkeys, snakes, and a sloth with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What an amazing week!

Margoth helped us put together a fantastic, varied 8-day sampling of Colombia, starting in Bogotá and the surrounding Andean Highlands, making a quick detour to the Coffee Region, and ending with some (relatively) relaxed days on the Caribbean Coast.

We really enjoyed all the different experiences, from the unique, remote, soaking wet landscape of the páramos, to the hot, bustling streets of Cartagena, and ending with a blissful day on Isla Barú.

We had Byron as our guide for our first four days, touring Bogotá and the surrounding area. He was absolutely brilliant — knowledgeable, friendly, and professional from the first minute to the last.

Our favorite excursion was the Chorrera waterfall hike, a fun adventure with Byron which took us through some of the most beautiful countryside we have ever seen.

The cooking class at Sazagua was also wonderful, even though by that time we were exhausted -- the chef was quite the character, and kept us laughing as we made some delicious food which I will be attempting to recreate at home!

The rum tasting in Cartagena was a really fun way to start off the more relaxing third of our trip, and the tropical fruit tasting also surpassed our expectations. I have a lot of allergies, and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to participate very much, but with Margoth’s help, the staff at Oh La La went way out of their way to accommodate me and make things fun for both of us.

Our guides in the Coffee Region and in Cartagena were also competent and professional, if less fantastic than Byron. In particular, our Coffee Region guide was quite negative about the Cocora Valley, and while we were interested and saddened to learn that most of the famous wax palms are slowly dying (and cannot be replaced due to the removal of the surrounding forest to make way for agriculture), his overall disparagement of tourism in the area was depressing, surprising to hear from a tour guide, and even seemed hypocritical considering that he was contributing to erosion in the park by walking on the grassy slopes instead of the step paths. He did perk up some while showing us Filandia and teaching us about the local coffee, which are clearly his preferred activities.

Our drivers throughout the trip were all skillful and professional, and most were also very friendly, sometimes feeling like extra guides. I especially enjoyed chatting with Alexander in the Coffee Region, Johannis (sp? Our driver to Chingaza), and the driver who took us to our hotel in Cartagena (whoops, forgot his name), and we were impressed with the way Edwin skillfully handled some mechanical problems on the way back from Chorrera.

We were initially a bit nervous to travel to Colombia after growing up hearing bad things in the news, which was part of the reason we decided to use a tour company, even though I am usually an independent traveler. In the end we felt safe throughout the trip and it went very well, but when a few things did go wrong (a bit of altitude sickness, the aforementioned car trouble), Margoth and her team were so responsive and got things right back on track. We felt very taken care of and were able to spend our time enjoying instead of stressing or worrying about details. I am now considering going through Kimkim again for future trips.

We were very impressed with Colombia as a country and with Aracanto as a tour company, and would highly recommend both to anyone looking for a South American adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique las Carretas

Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar

This was a great find, with a fantastic location, a small pool, a great breakfast, etc — and the staff were so helpful and kind (when my friend wasn’t feeling well one morning, they made her a special soup for breakfast!) Excellent experience and value, but I do recommend bringing earplugs as it got a bit noisy at night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

Lovely beach resort. The swimming area is a bit small and they close both the beach and the pools right at sunset, a bit early for my taste. It can be a bit of a hike from your room to the lobby and restaurants, but for check in and check out they bring you and your luggage on a golf cart.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique Sazagua

Pereira

Really lovely hotel. We loved our cooking class and watching the birds at breakfast. This wouldn’t be the best place to stay for someone afraid of dogs, as several (big, friendly) live on site… then again, Colombia wouldn’t be the best country for someone afraid of dogs.

Authenticity & Character

Felt family run and friendly

Location

Near the airport

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great showers

Residence Inn Bogotá

Bogotá

Great place to ‘land’ in Colombia. The rooms were spacious and the breakfast was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The breakfast staff was great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

I loved the spacious, well laid out room.

Activity Reviews

Walking Tour Cartagena Highlights and Fruits

Cartagena

Nice informative walking tour of the old town, I learned a lot about the history of the area and the meaning of the knockers on the doors. It was super hot up on the old city walls, so we stopped for refreshments before continuing to the fruit tasting. I was worried I wouldn't be able to participate much in the fruit tasting due to my allergies, but they went above and beyond to accommodate me. I enjoyed it much more than I expected to due to the friendly staff and the experience of seeing and tasting so many different things. The last part of the tour took us through some of the street art of Getsemani, which was also cool to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner Reservation at Candé (live music)

Cartagena

This is a very lively restaurant with live performances. The food was very good as well. It was on the louder side for my taste and was a bit of a confusing wait to get drinks and seats.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rum Tasting with Chocolate Pairing

Cartagena

A fantastic start to our time in Cartagena. We got to try 8 very different rums, and the bartender was very friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cooking Class and Dinner

Colombia

This was really fun. We were worried about cooking since we were tired after five busy days of touristing, but the chef kept us laughing the whole time. The dish we made was a delicious chicken dish somewhere between a risotto and a curry. I will definitely be making it again at home with the recipe, spices, and pot we were gifted!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cocora Valley, Salento, and Filandia Coffee Town

Colombia

The sites were beautiful, but this wasn't the best experience of the trip, partially because we were exhausted, partially because the trip was a little rushed due to delays after our plane came in late the night before, and partly because our guide wasn't very excited about Cocora Valley -- it's clear he goes there too often and thinks tourism is having a detrimental effect on the local nature, which we can understand, but it was a bit of a bummer especially when we were quite tired. The towns were very cute and we loved the overlook from Filandia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chorrera Park with Waterfall

Bogotá

This was our single favorite excursion during our trip to Colombia. The countryside was beautiful from the car and the hike, and the waterfalls themselves were spectacular. You get to go behind Chiflón, and close enough to Chorrera to feel the mighty, wet wind blowing from the cascade.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chingaza Natural National Park Tour

Bogotá

It was very cool to learn about and see this unique landscape. The drive there and back through the countryside was also beautiful. I appreciated how the team stopped whenever I wanted to take a closer look or a picture of a roadside shrine, abandoned factory, or tiny calf. If you are on the fence about which excursion(s) to take from Bogotá, I would prioritize Chorrera and Guatavita over this one (especially because you can see a little bit of the páramo landscape on those tours as well), but if you have time, it is great to see these Andean wetlands and the unique forms of vegetation that thrive here.

Quality of Experience

Food

It was a picnic lunch with simple sandwiches, but I enjoyed going to a supermarket to buy the ingredients, and the chicharrones and guava candies gave it a local touch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at El Cielo - Please confirm on your side

Colombia

It was a lovely and special meal, but not the best I have experienced… mostly because the pacing was a little off especially at the beginning (three times, we had just put the food in our mouths, with no chance to savor or discuss it, and they were already whisking it away and describing the next thing… and yet the whole experience still took over two hours). The reservation process was also rather bizarre, and they didn’t seem to understand the recommended procedure of calling a cab for us (eventually, and awkwardly, they called us an Uber). Still, I very much enjoyed washing my hands with chocolate and watching the flaming brandy at the next table over, and several of the courses were both creative and uniquely delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day City Tour of Bogotá Highlights

Bogotá

We saw the highlights of the Gold Museum and explored the pretty neighborhood of Candelaria and busy Bolivar Square. Our guide, Byron, was very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, because of spending the morning in Usaquén, we were a bit rushed and did not have time to go up to Monserrate, but the weather was not great for a view anyway.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Usaquén Stop with transportation and Chocolate Workshop

Bogotá

This was a lovely way to spend our morning in Bogotá. Usaquén is a cute area and we quite enjoyed shopping at the flea market, though I could have spent even more time there. At the chocolate tasting, we learned a lot about how chocolate is made and how the terrain and the process contribute to its flavor profile. I also got to try the famous local snack of chocolate and cheese!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lake Tour

Bogotá

We loved this tour for our first day in Colombia. There was a fair amount of driving, but we enjoyed seeing the countryside along the way. During the short hike to the lake we learned a lot about the Muisca people, the history of exploitation by Europeans, and the local plants. Our guide Byron was knowledgeable about everything! We had a quick lunch at a local bakery, and then it was off to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral, which was really unique and cool. I was astonished to learn that it is still a working salt mine in addition to an active church!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Colombia!

Colombia

Very smooth pick up at the airport and drop off at the hotel

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner Reservation at Harry Sasson

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Excellent tomato soup

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Helena was an amazing trip specialist. She provided us with so many options and ideas, and helped us to finalize what we wanted/did not want to do, as well as answer any questions or comments we had. There is no other way to describe our trip other than perfect! The private transfers, hotels, and locations were all perfect for what we needed! I will definitely use KimKim again for our next future trip, as well as continue to recommend to friends and family :) All we had to do was book our flights and make some dinner reservations. Couldn't have been easier! Las casas de juderia was an amazing hotel we stayed at, truly breathtaking. A great way to end our trip.

Our family vacation to Morocco was amazing! Said and Abdellatif were very professional and helpful during the whole process. They catered to our requests right away, and were very understanding of any changes to the trip last minute.

Our driver, Mohamed Hammami, was wonderful! He was always prompt, professional, and an incredibly safe driver. We reached all of our destinations on time and had nice conversations along the way.

Each tour guide was very informative and helpful in our navigation of each city. We learned a lot about the history of Morocco and enjoyed spending time with each guide.