Kimkim Trip Reviews

All the local guides were quite good. They all seemed very knowledgable about a number of things of interest to us. We should have been more specific that we needed guides who knew plants, birds, trees, etc., but for the most part they knew enough to help us understand the environment. And their knowledge of the landmarks was quite extraordinary! We cannot find fault with anyone.

We had a wonderful trip to Chile. All the flight conne tions were seamless, pickups and transportation always on time, and very nice. We loved the red rocks tour and valley of the moon tours in Atacama. Shout out to Marta who was an outstanding first guide in Chile! The geyser tour a as fine but the 430 am pickup was too early for two vacationing families with teens especially since it was still dark when we got to the geysers so couldn't see a lot of detail. Pablo our driver in Puerto Natales was kind and welcoming. Paulina and Heme were patient guides with 4 middle aged Americans and 4 teens! We felt safe and well served and the view for the base of the Towers was amazing. Our teens saw a puma and the adults survived the walk. The glacier tour was wonderful and a nice down day between two active hiking days. Our rental house was amazing with outstanding views! We loved our time in Chile!

This was my 1st trip booked through KimKim and I could not recommend it more highly ! Our local specialist, Emerson (based in Estonia) was extremely knowledgeable about Finnish Lapland, and incredibly helpful. He listened to our every concern and adjusted the itinerary accordingly - and he even anticipated things like late night trips which meant avoiding early morning tours the next day. He was unbelievably responsive, always getting back to me within 24 hrs of my every question. When our flight on a Saturday was cancelled, he immediately stepped in to rearranged transport, even though it was a weekend. And then he kept checking in on us to see if everything was OK. My travel companions joked that we are going to miss his friendly messages now that we are home! I honestly can't think of a single thing I would change about the final itinerary - it was perfect. The local companies he booked were all fantastic - on our 2 snowshoe trips we even had just the 3 of us plus a guide, which made it SO personal. And Emerson was clearly genuinely pleased to hear that we were having such a good time.
I am going to recommend both Finnish Lapland and KimKim to all my friends! My only complaint? Typing this review on the App doesn't allow me to go to the top and check for any spelling mistakes, so forgive me if there are any!🤣

Angel was very helpful in the planning of our trip. He was readily accessible during the trip when questions came up.

We are big fans of walking tours. In Paris, we did a French Revolution tour, Sebastian was great and interactive. I have a better understanding of timelines and how it shaped modern Paris. The Wine and Cheese tasting was intimate and delicious. We learned the French way of wine tasting and tried red and white in different regions. Also, watched Parisians come in and choose wines for their evening. The Notre Dame and Sainte Chappelle tour was rich in history, architecture and interesting stories. We would have missed 90% what was there without an educated guide. The same goes for the tour of Palais Garnier, deep in beautiful and layered architecture, stories and history.
Liz planned our activities so that we didn’t waste time in our few days there. It was an active, relaxing romp around Paris.

Hotel Review

Hôtel Lorette - Astotel

Paris

Great staff, lobby and breakfast. Rooms are clean and beds were firm and comfortable. We slept great facing the courtyard. Metro and restaurants were good near the hotel too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience

Paris

We enjoyed visiting this new area of Paris. It’s an intimate gathering where you can ask questions and experience wines from different regions of France. Very memorable and fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private French Revolution Walking Tour For All Ages

Paris

Sebastian was a great guide! We finished with a good upstanding of the timeline, where it started and who was there (don’t want to give away the surprises). It’s an easy walk and he was good with engaging the 15 year old in our group. Good for history buffs and always good to have a chance to talk with locals.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We engaged KimKim to put together an itineray for my husband and I for Australia. We had used the online travel agency last year for a trip and really liked their selections of hotels and execursions.

After a month long cruise, we were debarking in Sydney and planned to spend nearly two weeks there. Paula, our travel consultant, was very responsive in helping us plan our time there and finding places to stay. Overall, we are very pleased with how the trip went in Australia. There were two hotels that just okay. One had water damage and the chef didn't show up for breakfast on a morning we had an early excursion and had to scramble to find a quick breakfast.

That said, I would recommend using KimKim to my friends and family. The team does a fantastic job in helping travelers get around in countries that they have not traveled before. I like that we receive an itineray with all of our day to day activities that includes key contacts and addresses.

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Cairns

Cairns

Tbere was water damage in the lobby of the hotel. The chef didn't show up for work on a morning we had an early execursion. The first morning we went to breakfast, the coffee machine wasn't working. The second morning, we had to scramble to find a quick breakfast before we were picked up as the chef didn't show up for breakfast. They didn't offer to help us pay for that. While the room was nice, it was very hot and humid and the room's AC had a hard time keeping up.

Authenticity & Character

Overall the hotel seems a bit shabby.

Location

Very good location to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

The staff at the front desk were very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, while clean, except for the waer falling from the ceiling tiles, the hotel seemed shaby.

Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, an IHG Hotel

Adelaide

Really enjoyed staying at this hotel. It seemed new and was very well appointed.

Authenticity & Character

It had a great vibe.

Location

While across the public market, it was a bit of a hike to the CBD, restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Everyone at the front desk was extremely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes.

Mercure Welcome Melbourne

Melbourne

The hotel is located in the middle of Chinatown and on a busy street. It lacked any character and the breakfast was inedible. The rooms were small and lacked storage space for suitcases, etc. Plus the rooms were very warm, again it was hot and humid and the AC couldn't keep up.

Authenticity & Character

The entire hotel seemed bland and uninviting.

Location

There were other hotels not right in the center of everything and on a street (alley really) that had busy traffic.

Staff

While the staff was friendly, the front desk seemed to be busy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was small and we just didn't want housekeeping to come in. I'm not even sure the cleaners even tried to come in every day. Overall, the place didn't seem super clean.

Activity Reviews

Dolphin Sanctuary Guided Kayaking

Adelaide

The place was not inviting and the operator didn't open the doors until the time the tour started. There was no place to wait and we had to find our own tranportation there and back. They seemed a bit short staffed and disorganized until the last minute. Even though we did see dolphins, I wouldn't recommend this tour to anyone.

Quality of Experience

There were two groups but at the end it was one big, unruly group. At one point, all the kayays ended up to a narrow point going into a mangrove, those of us in the front were pushed into trees and had a hard time getting through the narrow point.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

When we did have a chance to chat with our guide, he seemed knowledgable. But once the two groups merged, it was hard to follow instructions.

Transport

Transportation was not included and it the location seemed a bit out of the way. We had to pay for an Uber both ways.

Private Dinner, Tales & Cocktails Experience

Melbourne

This was an amazing experience. Our guide, Raff, took us to three unique places we never would have found on our own. Plus he was a great conversationalist and shared information about the arts scene in the city. Very impressive.

Quality of Experience

Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. He took us to some great restaurants and had lots to share about the surrounding locations. The entire experience was incredible.

Food

All of the food was so good. We ate house made tqcos at a rooftop restaurant, enjoyed wine with cheese and crackers and ended with a drink at a unique speakeasy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above.

Transport

Daintree Rainforest Full Day Adventure by 4WD

Australia

Overall this was a good tour, just really long. Rown, our guide, was very knowledgeable and engaging. He did a great job with the group and well-versed about Daintree and the rainforest and its history. Great storyteller. The only drawback was the cruise we took on the river. I don't think that added anything to the experience. We probably gotten home a bit sooner if we skipped that.

Quality of Experience

Our guide did a fantastic job. Plus we were seeing so many beautiful locations.

Food

The food at the restaurant was good but not great. Knowing there aren't a lot of options it worked. The restaurant offered a great backdrop to the forest. Plus many in our group were able to go for a swim in the river next to the restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rowan is really good at what he does!

Transport

The vehicle was clean and comfortable.

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

This was an amazing tour. I'm so glad we were able to do this. The story of the construction and updates just fascinating.

Quality of Experience

We got to see nd listen to the orchestra practice playing in the large hall.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was knowledgeable but came across a bit snooty.

Transport

We walked there ourselves after lunch and took an Uber to the hotel

Discover Melbourne by Bike

Melbourne

I did not participate as we had a long tour the day before on a tour we booked on our own. However Glen went and enjoyed seeing the city by bicycle. The guide, Pat, asked the group if they minded if the tour went on a bit longer to cover more ground. Everyone agreed and had a good time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowlegeable about the city and bicycling.

Transport

Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Day Trip

Sydney

While this was a long day, it was enjoyable. Steve was a great guide who was very knowledgable.

Quality of Experience

Was very excited to pet a koala bear and feed kangaroos and wallabyes.

Food

We stopped at a restaurant on the beach. There were great options to choose from and the food was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very knowledgeable about the places we visited and the surrounding area. He was also very personable. too.

Transport

Clean and comfortable.

Morning Panoramic Sydney Sights

Sydney

It was great to drive around and have someone point out points and places of interest. However, we saw some great architecture and didn't really stop in the city, probably due to traffic. Our guide took us out of the city center to nearby neighborhoods where we did stop a few times. I probably would have preferred a walking tour of the city.

Quality of Experience

Overall it was nice and the guide was knowledgable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very knowledgble.

Transport

Clean and comfortable.

Michaelmas Cay Cruise

Australia

Overall, the tour to see the Great Barrier Reef was great. That said, the weather brought high winds making the sea choppy the cruiand the cruise a bit uncomfortable for several people. But the staff did a great job in offering ginger to help those struggling with seasickness. tThey also had two marine biologist to provide educational components on the way to the reef and back.

Quality of Experience

The staff did a great job getting people ready to visit the island and snorkel if they wanted.

Food

They had a variety of food that provided those with diet restrictions with options. The food was well marked and tasty!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The ship was rocky, but that's not the fault of the tour operator. The ship was very nice and comfortable overall.

We wrote a detailed review already but to recap: we had an excellent experience. Logistically, everything was perfect. All the guides or transportation reps always arrived early and were very accommodating. We never had to stress the whole time. Liz, our local specialist, did a great job of making adjustments when conditions weren't appropriate for rafting.
Overall we loved our accommodations. Particularly, Palacio del Inka in Cusco due to its historic nature, luxury style and on site activities (tour of historic hotel, Pisco Sour class, performances, excellent spa). Our least favorite hotel was Casa Andina in Lima. The rooms were very dated and in need of repair.
To any families traveling, our favorite activity was the cooking class in Lima at Urban Kitchen and we really appreciated the additional Machu Picchu guide just for the kids. I could tell they were far more interested in what she was telling them than they would have been in the detailed perspective we were receiving. Also the bike ride in the sacred valley was lovely.
Overall great experience and we're glad we used Kim Kim and their local agents.

Hien and her team made our trip to Vietnam as effortless as possible. She worked with me for weeks to finalize the travel plan and tours, which was tricky because I was traveling with a young child. She provided check ins and numbers throughout the trip. When we found that one of the hotels was not what we expected it to be, Hien found a solution quickly to correct the situation. We really appreciated how seamless our travel was because of her plan and execution of transport, guides, tours and hotels. I would definitely recommend her again.

We had an excellent trip to Costa Rica planned by serendipity Adventures. Representatives Elena, Nancy, and William were wonderful. We could’ve never planned the trip ourselves and would not have felt comfortable planning all the activities without knowing the area.
We stayed at La Mariposa, which was quaint, quiet, secluded, and beautiful in Manuel Antonio. We also stayed at Baldi Springs in La Fortuna, which was quite opposite and a bit more like a Disney World hotel, but nice. It was super busy with daily buses of guests to use the hot springs. The hot volcano Springs were amazing.
Our scheduled events included a volcano, hiking tour, swinging bridges, zip lining, Whitewater rafting, Manuel Antonio National Park with monkeys, sloths, and toucans, waterfalls, and a dinner sunset boat ride with snorkeling. All were great.
Would recommend doing only one hiking day with swinging bridges. Two days of hiking with swinging bridges was too much repetition. We skipped the Trek hiking & swinging bridges after zip lining. The zip lining was no joke. We have zip lined many times in the states and have never been on lines that high or that far. The white water rafting was one of my favorites. We did the 3/4 rapids and loved it.
The drive from Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna was long, with curvy parts, and took up a day. But it was worth it to see two different beautiful areas of Costa Rica. The ride from La Fortuna to the San Jose airport was very curvy if you get car sick, pack some Dramamine.
The people of Costa Rico were kind, hospitable, and very prideful. The drivers and activity hosts were kind, hospitable, and fun! We enjoyed getting to know each of them. We felt safe and taken care of the entire time.
We had one hiccup at the second hotel at check-in with five people in our family. However, we notified serendipity and they took care of everything the next morning with a favorable outcome.

We would definitely use serendipity adventures again for a future vacation for our family. We felt the price was reasonable, and the trip was stress-free already planned out with our family preferences

Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

La Mariposa Hotel

Manuel Antonio

Lovely hotel- quaint, charming, modern, and beautiful! Was perfect for a family of five with two adjacent rooms that shared one large balcony. The view was amazing from the room and from the outdoor restaurant restaurant balcony area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Could walk to shops, restaurants, and market.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Hotel & Spa

Fortuna

The hotel was nice and the volcano springs were amazing. The hotel was very busy though and reminded us of a Disney World hotel here in Orlando Florida. Several daily buses unloaded with guests for daily use of the Hot Springs. It made the hotel and springs very busy. They also charged us an additional $100 a day for a 5th person. We booked two rooms both with double beds and one with a pullout couch. However, when we went to check in, they charged us $100 for every night to have the third person in one of the rooms even though there was bedding for the 3 people. I thought this was a rip off and unnecessary. They insisted on the charge and would not budge. We had no choice but to pay it.

Authenticity & Character

It was like a Disney World hotel

Location

We took Ubers to downtown for dinners and to shop. The Ubers were about five dollars and very convenient. However they only have Ubers for 4 people. This was a bit tricky with a family of 5.

Staff

Michael was amazing! He was so helpful and always around when we needed assistance or got lost on the property.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Manuel Antonio

We loved this hike. Our guide was very knowledgeable, kind and professional. We were able to see howling monkeys, white face, monkeys, slots, and various birds, lizards, and bats.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting Sarapiqui River (Class III-IV)

Costa Rica

Family of five had an amazing experience on the 3 to 4 rapids white water rafting. Congo was a trip! We enjoyed getting to know him and had a lot of fun. We felt safe the entire time. The nature was beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunset Sailing Cruise on the Brisa Elegante

Manuel Antonio

The boat ride was nice. The workers were kind and fun! The food was fair. The drinks were good! The water was unclear the day we went , so the snorkeling was not good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sky Tram, Sky Trek & Sky Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

The zip line was no joke. We have zip line many times in the United States and have never been that high or gone that far. The staff was nice, kind, and professional. The kids loved it. It was quite an experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano

Arenal/La Fortuna

The hiking of the volcano was fair. Our toy guide was great. He shared a lot of information with us. He was kind, hospitable, and professional. We enjoyed getting to know him. We also enjoyed learning from him.

Quality of Experience

Food

Our driver took us to a restaurant for lunch. The food was amazing. We enjoyed the lunch!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had a great visit to Morocco. Everything was well planned. A special shout out to our driver and my new friend Soufaine. He was fun to be with and made the sometimes long drives go by quickly.

Hotel Reviews

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Glamping fun in the desert

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everyone extremely friendly

Kasbah Titrit

Ait Ben Haddou

Really interesting place. To spend a night in. Dinner and breakfast were very good and everyone extremely friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

We had a great guide who really knew her stuff!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The private city OSLO walk with Bjorn our tour guide, was amazing. His in-depth knowledge of not only of the Oslo architecture, but of all Norway kept us intrigued for the entire walk. He is so easy to talk to and learn all aspects of Norwegian customs and traditions. It was a little disappointing that the Oslo Street food tour was cancelled. We were delighted with almost every aspect of the itinerary provided by Kimkim, including all of the hotel accommodations, the cruises, and transfers. In hindsight, we wished Kinkim could have provided more information on the public transportation bus and subway routes around Oslo as we had to rely on the more-expensive Uber services to get to the various scheduled activities. Also, in hindsight, we wish Kinkim offered a walking tour of Bergen as well. The weather was perfect: 40 - 50 degrees with sunny sky's. Otherwise, we were most pleased with our trip and look forward to working with your expert specialists the next time we travel.

Katie and all who had a hand in our adventure....

Karen, Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed our two-week odyssey from one end of Norway to the other. While I was not involved in the planning of the trip, I commend you for the selections of hotels and travel arrangements throughout. Well-situated for our purposes, clean... and the laundry facilities in Bergen a real plus! I personally appreciate your extra effort to add this 3rd traveler in an efficient and economically viable program. The detailed itinerary you prepared was VERY essential to the smooth transitions from one locale to the next (and for accessing travel tickets AND local bus/museum pass in Oslo!); we referred to it daily. The suggested restaurants were spot on for those we tried - as much for a taste of the local culture as for a wide range of food options. The couple who welcomed us on Senia, John and Stiig were all as personally engaging as they were knowledgeable about their cities... and also honest about recommendations about how to use our remaining time in Bergen and Oslo, respectively. Plus.... we got a real feel for each city with the walking we did.... a joy! The extras.... a short snowshoe test, the aurora cabin experience, a floating sauna with dip into a fjord, and the open-air fjord tour in Senia (replete with a short hailstorm) allowed us to experience the real environment of Norway, replete with sea eagle sitings while hunting and nesting. Grateful for the dry suits provided for this expedition.... fun! Finally, my gratitude for the pre-trip conference call to review and finalize details of the trip shortly before departure. The nuances of your scheduling after we hung up were icing on the cake. And it was credit card ONLY throughout the trip.... (with exception of tips to the guides) just as you said. Many, many thanks for excellent service throughout.

A couple of personal observations and a question:
1. It would be helpful if all the information re each step of the itinerary (hotel, tour guides, schedule (arrival/departure) and transportation logistics, city background info, suggested sites to visit) info could be summarized chronologically for easier referral. We got lost in looking for info in a city as pieces appeared in different sections of the itinerary.
2. In Senia... it would have been helpful to know about the dry suits in advance. We dressed in layers for the anticipated cold .... and it took time to remove all the clothes to suit up as others waited for us to finish. Might also avoid packing unnecessary clothing.
3. A single guest is often assigned a room no bigger than a closet.... with a bed to match the dimensions. Almost like sleeping in a coffin. I encourage you to do all you can to ensure that this does not happen to one of your clients. It was miserable in Oslo in particular.

And my question:
I was felled by a virus upon our arrival in Senia. I missed the Northern Lights tour (and never had a chance to see them again as I was still sick as we moved to the second location in Senia). Is it possible I could receive a reimbursement for this activity due to my illness? Such a disappointment to miss this AND to lose my day of outside exploration before traveling to Bergen.

Hotel Review

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

The hotel is very well located for easy movement around Bergen, especially of traveling by train. The hotel was clean, the staff friendly and accommodating, and the availability of coffee and tea in the reception area a welcome gift after hours of touring. A special kudos to the hotel for making laundry facilities available - at no cost to guests - on a 24/7 basis. Customer-friendly doesn't get better! The restaurant facilities are very nice and the ability to use this space outside of formal service hours was a plus..... especially due to the small size of the single guest room (a little bigger than a coffin). My only complaint is that while people around us received a generous glass of wine when ordered, we received a MUCH smaller quantity in the same size glass. NOT an optical illusion. I reported this at the reception desk as we departed... it was noticeable and questionable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

As a single guest, I was assigned to a very, very small room. Almost a coffin. Very uncofortable.

Activity Review

Arctic Boat Safari in Senja

Senja

I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to experience Norway up close through this time on the open water. The provision of the dry suits was unexpected and MUCH appreciated.... made this tip entirely do-able. The boat's captain was an experienced sailor and kept a watchful eye at all times for any opportunity to see wildlife in air or in the water. The only "needs improving" for this event would be more guidance regarding what we are seeing or stories about the area as we are passing through it for the entire group. The tour manager spoke to smaller groups at times, but there was no real tour information provided at any time during the excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As noted, the boat's captain kept a watchful eye out for any opportunity to see wildlife throughout the cruise. He made the difference.

Transport

I appreciated the opportunity to be able to remain outside throughout the excursion, even when water was choppy or weather uncooperative.

kimkim organized a memorable Norway experience for my teen and me. So many great moments to highlight, from snowshoeing above Aurlandsfjord with our wonderful guide Irvin, to exploring the same fjord in a small boat, to discovering Oslo by bike with our very knowledgeable guide Patrick, to snowmobiling above the 69th parallel north near Tromsø in a small group. Our only regret is not spending more than a week in such a mindblowingly beautiful country.

Jeab was great to work with and developed a wonderful itinerary for us. It was so helpful to have someone local to confirm transfers and tour times, without us trying to phone each day to confirm activities over the next couple of days. We spent 13 nights across 4 cities/towns, each hotel was as advertised and met our expectations. We enjoyed all of our tours and our guides were all knowledgeable and friendly.

We had an issue on the first day (I fell over, 100% my fault) but Jeab and Noemie (the KimKim support person we had available 24/7) were helpful and sympathetic. They checked whether tours could be adjusted to accommodate my newly acquired walking stick, and could make recommendations regarding treatment - we did come home with a few different herbal balms that helped the healing.

The Thai Family Experience Home Host Tour in Chiang Mai (cooking with the host family) was better than we expected, the food was delicious, we actually got in and helped with the cooking rather than being mostly spectators (of course we didn't do everything but it was quite hands on), and the large host family prepares several dishes as appetizers as well, all amazing.
Also near Chiang Mai the Patara Elephant Farm tour was good, you get to feed and wash the elephants, plus some cuddles and a few pictures of course. The handlers there were excellent and clearly care for the elephants.

From Phuket we took a full day boat tour Hong by Starlight. Highly recommend this tour to anyone. We were gone 11 hours from hotel pick up to drop off, tired from the fun of the day but not worn out because it is so well run (and pretty much everything is done for you). There is a guide for every couple, they take you from the main boat on inflatable canoes through caves/tunnels, show you the wildlife, and take photos of you with the perfect backdrops. The third and final canoe trip was after dinner, it was pitch black on the water just around the other side of a small island from the main boat. In the darkness we could see the bio-luminescent plankton clearly. It was a great day, they take care of you really well. Not expensive, and certainly worth every dollar for the experience we received.

We'd love to go again and would certainly trust Jeab to plan us a perfect holiday.

We had a fantastic trip , very well planned , no stone left unturned . All the people we met were amazing , accommodation wonderful , no complaints , would definetly recommend

Lucy created a perfect 19-day trip to Vietnam. There were 6 people in our group, and we all had specific things that we wanted to do on the trip and she made it all happen. The accommodations were nice, with good locations and breakfasts. The guides and drivers all showed up on time and made tours and transfers effortless.
Thank you to Lucy and her team for coordinating our wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews

Mekong Rustic Can Tho

This hotel is tucked back deep into the little village off the main road, and the grounds are beautiful. Very nice staff, and good food cooked on site. The friendly puppies and kitties were a special bonus!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Pretty remote, so plan to stay on property unless you make transportation arrangements.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Classic Hang Thung

Great location, warm pool, good spa services and amazing breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk around Old town and to the Night Market.

Staff

Wonderful staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acnos Grand Hotel

Ho Chi Minh

Great location and staff. They even had a to-go breakfast ready for us when we had to go to the airport early.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doris Cruise

This was a fun addition to our trip. The rooms were nice and staff was lovely. We didn’t have very good weather but still got to kayak, swim and bike, too.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Our porter was Vu, and he was so good we wanted to take him with us on the rest of the trip!😊

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Charm Hoi An Hotel & Spa

This hotel was in a great location, and we enjoyed the breakfast and the pool, and even borrowed their bikes to go to the beach! We loved Hoi An so much!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy walk to the market and lantern street.

Staff

Wonderful staff!

Cleanliness & Comfort

New Livitrans Train

A great experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It’s a train!

Le Clos Du Fil Hotel

Ninh Binh

Nice authentic hotel with good location and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Was able to walk just down the narrow drive to bars and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sin Chai Ecolodge

Gorgeous views! Beautiful wooden bath tubs!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cherish Hue

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walk To The Love Waterfall And Heaven Gate

Sapa

This was a fun place to see. Nam was a good guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat trip to Tam Coc , Mua Cave Climb and Cycling

Vietnam

Be ready for lots of steps, but it’s fun and totally worth it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek to Lech Dzao & Thanh Kim Villages

Sapa

A great trek through the farmland valley. Nam and some local village women walked us from on tribe village to another.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Saigon By Night - Vintage Vespa Street Food Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

So fun! Just do it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Touch the History of Former Imperial Capital - Hue Full Day Sightseeing

Hue

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Hanoi Local Life - Food tour

Hanoi

Wonderful experience!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide! (Mr Ningh)

Transport

We learned how to walk on the busy streets, and took a fun cyclo ride.

Cycling At Viet Hai Village – Kayaking – Swimming (Doris Cruise 3D2N)

Ha Long Bay

Fun day! Make sure you find the fish pond in the village for a fishy “pedicure”!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi Half Day City Tour & Train Street

Hanoi

Mr Ningh took us to interesting places, and the eggs coffee and Train Street are not to be missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lan Ha Bay – Dark & Bright Cave – Disembark Cruise (Doris Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ninh Binh - Halong bay - Lan Ha Bay ( Doris cruise)

Ha Long Bay

Vu was our porter and took good care of us. Despite bad weather we went swimming, kayaking and bike riding and had a great time!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An Sightseeing and Food Tour ( Afternoon)

Hoi An

Great tour. Mr Robert even arranged an acupuncture session for us!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling in Cam Thanh & Thanh Dong Organic Farm Visit

Vietnam

Really fun bike ride, a fantastic lunch, and our guide Mango was one of the best on our entire trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall very pleased. Tour guide’s English at times was difficult to understand. Interesting that all our female guides English was excellent. Only glitch was not getting the correct room in Hanoi the first four days we were there. Loved the Vespa tour with Ang, Trevor, and Brian! Too many multi course lunches. Next time we would do lunches all on our own to discover more local food.
Our travel specialist, Minh, was super helpful and listened to all my requests or changes in our itinerary. The accommodations were lovely, clean, quiet with good breakfast buffets.
Thank you Kimkim for taking the worries out of our trip! ❤️ Sincerely Katherine and Rick

Hotel Reviews

Furama Resort Danang

Great location and place to recover from long flights. Excellent rooms and buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the water. Lovely views.

Staff

All helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Pu Luong Retreat

Thanh Hoa

Such a magical spot. After a long drive up the mountain we were rewarded with an amazing view of the countryside. Looking out on rice fields from our balcony was so mesmerizing.

Authenticity & Character

Nestled on the mountainside it’s a magical spot.

Location

It’s quite a hike to cottage but staff is available to help.

Staff

Welcoming and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa

Quảng Nam

Amazing location just out of town. Quiet beautiful landscaping. Great food.

Authenticity & Character

Room spacious and quiet.

Staff

All staff friendly and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senna Hue Hotel

Lovely hotel and grounds. Right in city but room quiet. Delicious food.

Authenticity & Character

Not sure how authentic but it was beautiful and very classy.

Staff

Everyone

Cleanliness & Comfort

Can’t recall.

Hanoi Pearl Hotel

Hanoi

Initially placed in wrong room but manager, Kevin, came to our room to apologize and offer compensation for mix up. We changed to upgraded room. Back now for two nights in Terrace Room-lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Not authentic but great hotel on “quieter” street close to many places of interest.

Staff

They were a the door acknowledging our return or letting us out. Friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hanoi is a busy city. Hanoi Pearl is located on a side street so not as crazy as other streets. Close to the lake and many roof top bars, which are very fun.

Tam Coc Garden Resort

Ninh Binh

Not fair out of Ninh Binh but seems miles away. Small outside sitting area to see countryside. Nice pool area. The best food!

Authenticity & Character

Rices fields outside hotel viewed from restaurant balcony at breakfast mesmerizing.

Staff

Very welcoming and informative. Also make excellent vodka tonics!

Cleanliness & Comfort

View of rice fields from cottage just lovely. Make you exhale.

Renea Cruise

We had larger room with small balcony. The tender was often tied up below our room so fumes were and issue. It was an amazing trip through Ha Long Bay!

Authenticity & Character

Wooden boat, small group, less that 25 people-11 rooms. Kayaking was such a quiet to experience our surroundings. Kenny was the MC of our trip and great at his job.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mattresses need replacing. Have tender boat driver turn off boat when docked next to cruise ship.

Activity Reviews

Da Nang Arrival

Da Nang

Tour guide, Loan, met us outside the airport. Even though our time with her was short she was wonderful about sharing information about DaNang.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loan is great!

Transport

Picked up and dropped off was seamless.

Danang - Marble Mountain - Hoi An

Vietnam

Was amazing to see all the statues.

Hanoi After Dark Street Food on Vespa (Group Tour)

Hanoi

This is a must do. We rode with “ The ride of Your Life” Ang was our guide and Trevor and Brian our drivers. What a blast! Yummy food. Amazing being in the traffic but we felt safe with our drivers. Train street was so fun. Touring around Hanoi on a scooter was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Pu Luong Nature Reserve & Hike

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Too many multi course lunches serving same food. We would have liked to eat at small, non tourist local restaurants. The buffet breakfasts at every hotel were good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Minh was our driver for several days. We communicated with translation app. We was always waiting for us. Tee was our guide for several days in the countryside. He challenged us with a few hikes but it was worth it. Beautiful scenery.

Transport

On time, clean cars, competent drivers.

See Hue Heritages & Local Handicraft Villages

Hue

So interesting hiking from village to village through the rice fields. Incredibly beautiful.

Hidden trails of Pu Luong (Don village)

Pu Luong Nature Reserve

Amazing countryside.

Despite a bit of an uphill climb in the early stages of planning and booking, once we were booked the KimKim team really take care of all the details. Their proactive follow-ups and engagement with the local services and guides were excellent and everything went off incredibly smoothly. A special thanks to Liz, our coordinator, her suggestions on the activities in Paris were 5-star amazing and perfectly laid out for the duration of our stay. She set the stage perfectly for what we could accomplish and get the most out of a short 4 night stay. We all walked away from the trip having felt we learned so much about Paris, the French Revolution, and history of the city, now we look forward to going back again to explore further. The hotel location was excellent, and really had us in the heart of what we were looking to experience in the form of an authentic Paris neighbourhood with families and young couples. There were lots of authentic dining options close buy, and the most amazing collection of local bakeries, cheese shops, and wine shops all within 5 min of the hotel. Great work KimKim and Thank You Liz!!

Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower Guided Tour with Summit Access via Elevator

Paris

Entertaining guide, and critical to have if you want to get to the top of the tower. We were fortunate that our timing was righ around sunset and we left the tower just as the 5 min light show started with a beautiful pink sky background. Amazing way to start out time in Paris.

Private French Revolution Walking Tour For All Ages

Paris

Fantastic guide and fascinating journey through the history of France's monarchies with their impact on Paris. The tour really revealed the nature of how the French Revolution impacted the western world and many of the things we take for granted today. It was also an amazing foundation to understand Paris and many of her sights. Highly recommend as a day 1 activity for any trip to Paris.

Palace of Versailles Day Trip

Paris

Excellent guide and we would not have been able to understand the true history and context of Versailles without his expert knowledge walking us through the history and meaning of each component of the Palace. Of particular interest were the paintings and frescos throughout the royal apartments. Our guide took the time to point out the meaning of all of the different pieces of art, and how they played a role within the royal court. Overall Versailles is beyond imagination in its scale and impact.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Car service from the hotel to the guide was seamless and perfectly coordinated in a very comfortable 'black' car.

This was our second trip to Costa Rica with Bryan as our local planning specialist. As the first time, Bryan and the entire kimkim were excellent to deal with. Our three days in Corcovado were exciting and memorable. The Corcovado Wilderness Lodge had incredible and dedicated staff. I'd like to mention Luis, Borman, and Orlando as being extraordinary, although everyone there was wonderful. The hikes and snorkeling to Cano Island were the highlights of the trip. Then we were off to Uvita where we stayed at the beautiful Golden Pineapple. The staff which included Marlin, Marlin, Pablo, and Leo were all very accommodating and attentive. The only negative was that we really weren't given the option of planning excursions ahead of time in Uvita even though we inquired about this in our planning phase of the trip. What this meant in practical terms is that when we arrived in Uvita around noon we had to scramble to make plans for the afternoon and the next day. Our arrival day, Tuesday, was disappointing. We went to Whaletail Beach and it was ok, but we didn't need to spend an afternoon there. Wednesday was much better because we went to the Nauyaca falls. Overall, we had to do much too much work at this stop and it was very hit or miss. The Dantica Cloud Forrest Trail was invigorating and challenging and we enjoyed it very much. The drivers, pickups, and drop-offs were impeccable as we've come to expect of kimkim. Wilman at Serendipity Adventures was literally in touch with us daily making certain that everything was going well. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with. Also, a quick shout-out to our driver Alex who drove us from Dantica Cloud Lodge to the San Jose Airport. I enjoyed speaking with him and he made the 2.5 hour drive pass quickly. Overall it was a great vacation with the exception of the lack of planning in Uvita. I definitely recommend kimkim and Serendipity Adventures highly.

Hotel Reviews

Golden Pineapple Villas

Uvita

The Golden Pineapple Villas in Uvita were lovely, but a bit too remote and isolated for my liking. The accommodations were nice, and the staff was very pleasant, but they didn't offer much in the way of planning or activities. It felt like we were on our own to figure out things to do, and given the location, that was a challenge. We ended up scrambling to find activities and, unfortunately, wasted quite a bit of time.

Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge

Copey

Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge was okay. The service was nice, and although the place itself didn't stand out significantly, it was fine for a short stay. It met our basic needs for sure!

Activity Review

The Golden Pineapple is an ideal retreat for relaxation

Uvita

The Golden Pineapple is indeed an ideal retreat for relaxation if you're into lounging by the pool, but that wasn't what I was looking for. We were more active travelers and found the lack of planning and activities a bit frustrating. For those who enjoy just laying back and enjoying the scenery, it might be fantastic, but we were left wanting more structure and options.

I have always traveled with an established tour group, so this was my first venture into a personalized tour. The idea of this vague, on-line platform made me nervous. I was quite worried before the trip, but all my worries were for naught. It was an incredible tour from start to finish.

First, our specialist Lacey was beyond phenomenal. Even though we're half a world apart, she was so responsive to our questions and always replied quickly. We made numerous adjustments throughout the planning stages, but she was kind, courteous and upbeat from start to finish even though I'm sure we drove her crazy. She had excellent suggestions and followed through consistently on any of our questions or concerns. We also had the privilege of meeting her in Hanoi (her home base) during our visit (one of the highlights of the trip). I would like to add that she remained in touch with us throughout the tour and made sure everything went as planned. When the airlines switched our flight time, she made all the arrangements necessary to get us to the plane on time.

Were there a few glitches on this trip? Certainly. That's the nature of international travel. Would I have changed a few things in hind sight? Certainly. But overall, the trip was flawless. With the exception of 2 guides who were less than wonderful (one simply didn't feel good and probably should have requested a substitute and the other simply wasn't much of a guide -- more of an escort who got us to all the places we needed to be without any explanation).

But we also had two of the best guides I've ever had. Our Cambodian guide (Set) and driver (Buhan) were marvelous. They treated us like queens. I highly recommend them for anyone traveling to Cambodia. And the best of all was Ae in Bangkok. I don't think I have words to describe how incredibly wonderful she was. She wanted us to love her country as much as she did, and she succeeded. She had the most incredible smile always, was constantly handing us a new food or treat to try, and shared personal stories that allowed us to totally experience her culture. I've kept her photo because it makes me smile every time I see it.

So thank you Kimkim. To my great surprise, I would work with you again on another trip to somewhere else in this magnificent world we live in. Thank you for putting us in touch with a local travel specialist who would design a custom tour.