Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 16,689 ratings
Read 16,689 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Quito and surrounding area
Ecuador | Jan 19 - Jan 23, 2020

U
Unni S.
Brazil | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2020

We were two teenager families traveling in mainland Ecuador for the first time. Stayed 6 days in Quito area with visits to Mindo, Cotopaxi and Quilotoa. Our guide Marcelo was perfect match with his deep knowledge of biology and earth sciences, as well as being very flexible and service minded. Highly recommended!

Local specialist:
Linda
Linda S.
Ecuador | Replied on Feb 10, 2020

Dear Unni, thank you very much for your feedback and your recommendation, I'm more than happy to hear that you and your teenagers have enjoyed the trip into the surroundings of Quito with Marcelo!
Greetings from Quito to you and your family,
Linda

I never met Lena. During planning she was v...
Jordan | Jan 27 - Feb 1, 2020

S
Stanley H.
New Bern, NC | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2020
I never met Lena. During planning she was very helpful and responsive in answering questions. I do not know where in the process there was break down in communications. Lena was given the details of arrival - 2 separate flights. airlines and arrival times for the party of 7. The first flight to arrive had no one to meet them. They sat 3 hrs before the arrival of the remainder of us. The person who met the second group paperwork was based on all arriving together on the later flight... Read more

I never met Lena. During planning she was very helpful and responsive in answering questions. I do not know where in the process there was break down in communications. Lena was given the details of arrival - 2 separate flights. airlines and arrival times for the party of 7. The first flight to arrive had no one to meet them. They sat 3 hrs before the arrival of the remainder of us. The person who met the second group paperwork was based on all arriving together on the later flight but was asking where the first 2 were as he couldn't find them. He was very anxious and thus confusing us. Our tour guide Hassan was the worst guide all 7 of us have ever had. All of us have been traveling throughout Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia for many tears.

Local specialist: Lena Sluga

Great trip and guide and local people who pro...
Sri Lanka | Jan 29 - Feb 6, 2020

R
Robert A.
Canada | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2020

Great trip and guide and local people who provided services as per the plan

Hotels all good with one exception on the last night when a local disco partied all night preventing sleep. This should have been known easily by Kim Kim with a little bit of research into reviews of the hotel by other people. This hotel should NOT be used again. Very disappointed that our trip conclude on this sour note

Local specialist: Ikshula Weerasinghe
Ikshula
Ikshula Weerasinghe
Local specialist in Sri Lanka | Replied on Feb 11, 2020

Hi Robert,

Thank you for your feedback about the guide and local people with the services. I'm sorry about the situation you had to face during your last night where a party was happening outside the hotel. We will make sure not to promote this hotel for our future clients due to this experience we had to face.

Please do spread your good memories with your friends and family .

Thanks,
Shalindra

South Island, New Zealand 16 days 19 January...
New Zealand | Jan 19 - Feb 3, 2020

C
carol w.
Goodyear, AZ | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2020

South Island, New Zealand 16 days 19 January through 03 February, 2020. Kimkim organized our self drive 16 day trip of South Island. It was perfect from start to finish. All the BnBs were fabulous. Having a local NZ phone was a great addition for contacting hosts of our arrivals and to check on excursions. Promt refund issued for a cancelled excursion. Would highly recommend and would use again to put a trip together.

Local specialist: Franck Lemaitre
Franck
Franck Lemaitre
Local specialist in Auckland, New Zealand | Replied on Feb 10, 2020

Thanks a lot Carol for your great feedback, we are very happy you had an amazing trip! Best wishes from our Auckland team

He Great Galápagos Experience
Galapagos Islands | Jan 27 - Jan 31, 2020

L
Linda M.
Canada | Reviewed on Feb 07, 2020

I can’t remember all of the guides names but they were all very good. The entire trip was incredible.

Local specialist:
Isabel
Isabel P.
Ecuador | Replied on Feb 10, 2020

Hi Linda! Thank you so much for your feedback. I'm extremely happy to hear you and Allen have enjoyed every minute of your trip. David and our guides in Galapagos send their regards, they couldn't but mention how an amazingly cooperative couple you are, and we thank you again for that.
My best wishes to both of you and I hope to hear from you again in the future, maybe to plan you another adventure in this wonderful country, Ecuador :)

Greetings from Quito!
Isabel

More than happy!
Iceland | Jan 23 - Jan 30, 2020

A
aleina landes l.
Detroit, MI | Reviewed on Feb 07, 2020

Our trip was perfect! Sotiria did a great job. I had tons of questions and she never seemed bothered by me and my need for details. She always responded quickly and was available before, during and after our trip. She went above and sent a anniversary gift our first night, to our hotel!

Local specialist: Sotiria Prodromiti
Sotiria
Sotiria Prodromiti
Local specialist in Reykjavik | Replied on Feb 10, 2020

Thanks so much Aleina for your great feedback, I am very happy to hear that you enjoyed your anniversary trip here in Iceland and thanks for the great collaboration in preparing this trip!

I wish you many more great adventures in the future!

Our experience of a lifetime in Spain
Spain | Jan 23 - Feb 1, 2020

Wendy
Wendy S.
Worcester, MA | Reviewed on Feb 07, 2020
We had a wonderful trip to Spain. Ramon listened to our interests and created an outstanding itinerary! Ramon checked in with us daily, inquiring about our travel and providing us with the names of our guides and a phone number in case we needed. In Madrid (Pablo), Toledo (Almudena), Cordoba (Joaquin), Sevilla (Elena), and Malaga( Julian) we learned about Spain's rich history from our knowledgable guides with a passion for Spain. Almudena surprised us with a visit to her beautiful home... Read more

We had a wonderful trip to Spain. Ramon listened to our interests and created an outstanding itinerary! Ramon checked in with us daily, inquiring about our travel and providing us with the names of our guides and a phone number in case we needed. In Madrid (Pablo), Toledo (Almudena), Cordoba (Joaquin), Sevilla (Elena), and Malaga( Julian) we learned about Spain's rich history from our knowledgable guides with a passion for Spain. Almudena surprised us with a visit to her beautiful home where we were greeted with hot tea and an extravagant table of baked goods and Marzipan. Our tour guides were personable, considerate and accommodating to our needs. Ramon listened and was sensitive to my needs by having our guides provide transportation when the extent of the walking would be too much. Helio, our driver to Malaga , was very kind and professional. The hotel accommodations were luxurious and all in ideal locations with beautiful views. Our room in Cordoba had the original mosaic ceiling. We feel very fortunate to have experienced Spain through the eyes of people who love their country! We loved experiencing the culture, history, and sights of Spain. Some highlights included meandering through the gardens, touching the stone that has withstood time, learning about the religious and Jewish history of Spain, the cooking class, markets, museums in Madrid, listening to a group singing and playing guitar in the street, wandering the narrow streets of Toledo and sampling the tapas, wine, churros with chocolate, and ice cream. An experience of a lifetime that we will always hold dear. A special thank you to Ramon and kudos to kimkim!

Local specialist: Ramon Tormos
Ramon
Ramon Tormos
Local specialist in Spain | Replied on Feb 07, 2020

Wendy and David,
Thank you for your kind words. Thank you for choosing us to discover Spain. But above all, thank you for being as you are.
We wish you the best!
Ramón.

Sister Trip to Colombia
Colombia | Jan 11 - Jan 20, 2020

Melissa
Melissa W.
Allendale, MI | Reviewed on Feb 07, 2020
I really enjoyed my trip to Colombia. It is now my favorite Latin American country. I was impressed with it's infrastructure, cleanliness and kindness of the people.
One of my favorite places I visited was Bogota and our guide Juan. The city was very clean and the graffiti murals were gorgeous. Going to the market and trying all the different fruits was a lot of fun. Juan was very knowledgeable and did a great job showing us around the city.
My favorite hotel was the Finca...
Read more

I really enjoyed my trip to Colombia. It is now my favorite Latin American country. I was impressed with it's infrastructure, cleanliness and kindness of the people.
One of my favorite places I visited was Bogota and our guide Juan. The city was very clean and the graffiti murals were gorgeous. Going to the market and trying all the different fruits was a lot of fun. Juan was very knowledgeable and did a great job showing us around the city.
My favorite hotel was the Finca Barlovento-Maloka. It was pure paradise and I would go back in an instant.
My favorite cities were Penol and Guatape. This is another area I would go back to in an instant. Climbing The Rock was exhilarating and the view at the top was absolutely beautiful. The city of Guatape was very pretty also and I would love to go back and enjoy more of the water activities.
We ended our trip at the hotel Movich Buro 26 where the staff were the kindest and most professional. I would stay at that hotel the next time I visit Bogota and take a taxi into the city. The hotel is located very close to the airport and the rooms were extremely quiet.
One of the nicest perks of the trip was having all our transfers set up for us. Everywhere we went our driver(s) were there to greet us and take us to our destination. All the vehicles were very clean and the drivers very professional.

Local specialist: Oliver Fischer
Oliver
Oliver Fischer
Local specialist in Cali | Replied on Feb 11, 2020

Hey Melissa,
Thank you very much for your comments. I am very glad that you had such a good time in Colombia! As I mentioned you are very welcome to send me a message whenever you are ready to begin planning your return to Colombia to explore the rest of the country!

Oliver

Fantastic Uganda trip thanks to KimKim/Natureissan and Vivian!
Uganda | Jan 22 - Feb 1, 2020

E
elizabeth c.
Shaw, DC | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2020
We just returned from an amazing trip to Uganda. Vivian was a true pleasure to work with. She is super responsive and planned us a first-class trip with one week notice. She arranged for the best guide ever in Hamid, who stopped us up at the airport and showed us all over his country for 12 days. We saw the rare African shoebill, chimpanzees in Kibale, lions and elephant in QE park, rare golden monkeys in MGhahinga--each a special trek or exploration. We stayed in beautiful lodges, especially... Read more

We just returned from an amazing trip to Uganda. Vivian was a true pleasure to work with. She is super responsive and planned us a first-class trip with one week notice. She arranged for the best guide ever in Hamid, who stopped us up at the airport and showed us all over his country for 12 days. We saw the rare African shoebill, chimpanzees in Kibale, lions and elephant in QE park, rare golden monkeys in MGhahinga--each a special trek or exploration. We stayed in beautiful lodges, especially the Volcanoes Kyambura Lodge. Vivian thought of everything and planned a logical and effective loop to end with an epic trek with a four-hour habituation permit to see mountain gorilla in Bwindi. It was a trip we will never forget, nor will will ever forget our new friend Hamid.

Local specialist: Vivian Kironde

Good Trip
Australia | Jan 20 - Jan 24, 2020

Ira
Ira H.
Shaw, DC | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2020

I very much enjoyed the trip. I would have like to attend the Dinner in Forest with the aborigines but it wasn't an option. The only thing I didn't enjoy is the hotel in Cairns, it was a bit outdated and the bed was uncomfortable. Our Guide form Billy Tea safari was excellent and very knowledgeable.

Local specialist: Lisa Sultanova
Lisa
Lisa Sultanova
Local specialist in Gold Coast, Australia | Replied on Feb 06, 2020

Hi Ira,
Thank you for your lovely feedback. I am glad you enjoyed your trip and sorry to hear that hotel in Cairns didn't meet your expectations.
If you decide to come back to Down Under we will be more than happy to assist you with the trip.

Thanks,
Lisa

Great trip.
New Zealand | Jan 24 - Feb 2, 2020

Ira
Ira H.
Shaw, DC | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2020

Great trip. I especially enjoyed City Lights and Kamana Lake Hotel.

Local specialist: Eloise Le Bout
Eloise
Eloise Le Bout
Local specialist in Auckland | Replied on Feb 06, 2020

Thank you Ira, I am happy to read that you loved your stay and our choice of accommodation. Have a great day and hope to see you again in our beautiful country.
Kind regards
Eloise

Highlights Galapagos, jungle, cuenca...
Ecuador | Jan 19 - Feb 2, 2020

xiaojing
xiaojing j.
League City, TX | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2020

Highlights()
1. Galapagos
2. jungle
3. cuenca
4. scenery while driving
5. The Old Towne Hotel in Quito was very nice and the owner was great to assist with any questions, needs and went above and beyond to make our stay memorable

Negatives (in no particular order)
1. No electricity or air conditioning in jungle
2. The driver from Quito to spoke no English
3. The hotel in Alausi was very bad.
4. The return schedule from the jungle to the airport quite poorly calculated and created unnecessary stress with us nearly missing our flight

Local specialist:

Yogesh has been very good and helpful, he mad...
Nepal | Jan 24 - Jan 31, 2020

Z
Zhen L.
Hong Kong SAR China | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2020

Yogesh has been very good and helpful, he made my whole trip. Everything went exactly as in the itinerary, except for a minor mistake on Temple Tree Hotel check out and pick up time. The hotel staff told me the wrong time which was one and half hour earlier than the arranged. The last day photograph tour was the best, far beyond my exception. The guide was a super kind and knowledgeable gentleman. He was the best during this trip.

Overall, great experience. I will surely consider Social Tour next time in Nepal.

Local specialist: Raj Gyawali
Raj
Raj Gyawali
Local specialist in Kathmandu | Replied on Feb 04, 2020

Zhen, thanks for the wonderful review and apologies for the miscommunication in the hotel in Pokhara. They constantly change staff and sometimes communication between the teams is not always perfect.

I will definitely let Yogesh know how good you felt under his care. He has recently joined the company and is already a great asset in preparing all the logistics for the trip.

Thanks for taking the time, and thanks for the review. See you soon again in Nepal!

Great time of year to visit Greece!
Greece | Jan 8 - Jan 21, 2020

J
Joseph S.
Eldersburg, MD | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2020
The positives - I would definitely recommend using Chris. Very impressed with the overall trip of 2 weeks we booked with Chris at kimkim. The organization and schedule was perfect. Every driver, guide, and event was exactly on time. We did not wait on a single person over two weeks . When there was a problem once, they handled immediately. Every private tour guide was the best except for one that was just average. Our best guide was Penny at Delphi, that engaged all of us but especially... Read more

The positives - I would definitely recommend using Chris.

Very impressed with the overall trip of 2 weeks we booked with Chris at kimkim. The organization and schedule was perfect. Every driver, guide, and event was exactly on time. We did not wait on a single person over two weeks . When there was a problem once, they handled immediately. Every private tour guide was the best except for one that was just average. Our best guide was Penny at Delphi, that engaged all of us but especially our daughter. The hotels were all boutique with charm and great service. Great time of year to visit Greece as all sites are empty and easy to use. Chris really created a customized trip that created awesome memories.

Changes - we drove around for 5 days and saw every part of the culture in Greece which was fantastic. I would not have gotten such a large SUV as most of the streets are narrow and tight.

I wish the hotels selected in Olympia and on Crete were up to the same standard as all the other locations. Most of the hotels here are just average. So I would just stay in the best place you can find.

Local specialist: Chris Gravas
Chris
Chris Gravas
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Feb 05, 2020

Dear Joe,

Thank you so much for your valuable input and comments, and may I say it has been a challenge and a real pleasure at the same time, organizing this trip for you, with such a special focus on archaeology and history. I truly appreciate your recommendation and I will make sure to evaluate your feedback accordignly so that we offer nothing shorter than the best, to our future travelers.

Warmest greetings from the team and myself, and looking forward to having you visit us again!
Until the next time
Best,
Chris

Hsu was very responsive and offered several i...
Myanmar | Jan 26 - Feb 2, 2020

Ed
Ed M.
Asheville, NC | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2020

Hsu was very responsive and offered several itineraries as I explored possibilities. Once I settled on one she failed in details of activities, lodging, and travel very well! Our guide in Bagan was outstanding. Her knowledge of the area was superb and she filled our days til sunset making sure we were happy with activities. Our guide in Chin State was also good but we finished by 3:00 one day and while friendly and informative he was a bit quiet.

Local specialist: Hsu Hlaing Phyo
Hsu Hlaing
Hsu Hlaing Phyo
Local specialist in Yangon | Replied on Feb 24, 2020

Hi Ed,

Thank you for taking the time out for sharing your experience with us. I really appreciate your kind review and am glad to hear that everything went well. I sincerely hope you will come back again and explore more of Myanmar with us!

Kind regards,
Hsu Hlaing

Amazing Trip to Croatia!
Croatia | Oct 25 - Nov 4, 2019

A
Amber H.
Stevens Point, WI | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2020

Our trip to Croatia this past fall was amazing! Our guide was extremely helpful with giving us places to see that really fit our personalities! He really was there for us whenever we needed him. The sites and guesthouses we stayed at along the way were very nice...and the hosts were extremely welcoming. Such an amazing and beautiful country to explore...

Local specialist: Robert Pinčević
Robert
Robert Pinčević
Local specialist in Croatia | Replied on Feb 04, 2020

Hi Amber,
so nice to hear from you! Thank you very much for your feedback and kind words!
I am very happy to hear you liked Croatia in general and that I contributed to your good experience during vacation!
Many regards from Croatia!
Best
Robi

Happy visit to Jordan, (January 2020)
Jordan | Jan 22 - Jan 30, 2020

Errol
Errol M.
Singapore | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2020
My January 2020 trip to Jordan was a great experience. The natural and historical sights were breathtaking - especially Petra, the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum. The trip went so well because of the patience, attention-to-detail, and local experience of Sarah who planned and co-ordinated the arrangements for me. I was a solo traveller and could not have been happier with the sights selected to visit, the accommodation venues, the food, and the skilled, safe, courteous and professional drivers... Read more

My January 2020 trip to Jordan was a great experience. The natural and historical sights were breathtaking - especially Petra, the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum.

The trip went so well because of the patience, attention-to-detail, and local experience of Sarah who planned and co-ordinated the arrangements for me.

I was a solo traveller and could not have been happier with the sights selected to visit, the accommodation venues, the food, and the skilled, safe, courteous and professional drivers - Hasan and Akram.

And, above all, the warm Jordanian people that I met along the way made me feel very welcome.

Highly recommended.

Errol McDonald
Brisbane
Australia

Local specialist: Sarah Eaton
Sarah
Sarah Eaton
Local specialist in Taybeh, Jordan | Replied on Feb 04, 2020

Errol, thanks so much for letting us know that you enjoyed your trip with In2Jordan. I will pass along your compliments to the drivers.

It was lovely to have the chance to meet you in Aqaba as well. I wish you many great trips in the future!

Sarah

Joseph and Jossy Travel Rock! Absolute must for Kenya Safari
Kenya | Dec 14 - Jan 3, 2020

B
Barry D.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2020
I recently went on holiday with Joseph from Jossy Travel for a 3 week solo safari. The holiday was planned last minute due to some personal issues and I simply gave Joseph a short description of what I wanted to do (Im a photographer who also loves hiking), a request for a driver with a truck for viewing and an idea of my budget. From the first contact, Joseph himself planned and organised the holiday from start to finish! He prepared a detailed itinerary within 24 hours which covered most of... Read more

I recently went on holiday with Joseph from Jossy Travel for a 3 week solo safari. The holiday was planned last minute due to some personal issues and I simply gave Joseph a short description of what I wanted to do (Im a photographer who also loves hiking), a request for a driver with a truck for viewing and an idea of my budget. From the first contact, Joseph himself planned and organised the holiday from start to finish! He prepared a detailed itinerary within 24 hours which covered most of what I wanted to do, and after a call to agree the details, he booked all the hotels within 2 days without issue. Joseph also recommended a flying doctor service and provided a packing list. Best of all, he also said he would be happy to act as my guide for the 3 weeks!

Joseph picked me up at the airport directly and we spent the next three weeks driving through national parks and across Kenya. Joseph was fantastic from start to finish. He organised every day from the moment I woke up, until evening and nothing was forgotten. We stayed at multiple hotels and camps throughout the 3 weeks and the quality and service was perfect. On christmas eve, I had a problem with one camp, and Joseph immediately moved me at no additional cost, without effort to a new camp....Joseph seems to know most of the camp and hotel owners in Kenya as they always welcome him!

Joseph's guiding skills are also excellent. On average, we spent 10-12 hours per day in a park or reserve and every day was always interesting as he taught me about the animals and local customs from each of the local tribes. Aside from all that, Joseph was simply fun to be with! We laughed a-lot throughout the trip and I also had the pleasure of meeting his family during the trip.

I would have no hesitation recommending Joseph and Jossy Travel to help plan and run your safari holiday.

Local specialist: Joseph Njoroge
Joseph
Joseph Njoroge
Local specialist in Nairobi, Kenya | Replied on Mar 12, 2020

Barry, my apology for late reply, thank you for your honest and 5 star review, I quickly learned you love nature and wildlife which is also my passion making great teamwork, it turned up to be one of best trip the end of last year and great way to start this year, we visited 8 different parks and reserves and tries to get the best early and late afternoon shorts, getting stuck with our 4X4 was fun and to crown it all was visit to my family on our way to Samburu Park, I will say it was a 3 weeks of fun. Hope you will Come back with your photography friend.

Joseph

Valentin was excellent in helping plan my tri...
New Zealand | Jan 17 - Jan 31, 2020

K
Keith D.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2020

Valentin was excellent in helping plan my trip

Local specialist: Emeline Rose

We had an amazing experience using Kimkim for...Ecuador
Ecuador | Jan 8 - Jan 19, 2020

Rachael
Rachael M.
Australia | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2020
We had an amazing experience using Kimkim for the first time.
Our booking agent Gabor was extremely helpful, responsive and had some great recommendations for us. When we had to change our travel arrangements due to disruption in the country he was able to accommodate our additional requirements as well.
Our first guide Roko was fantastic- from the moment he collected us at the airport until 8 days later when he dropped us off at Cuenca airport. Roko made every effort to ensure we had a...
Read more

We had an amazing experience using Kimkim for the first time.
Our booking agent Gabor was extremely helpful, responsive and had some great recommendations for us. When we had to change our travel arrangements due to disruption in the country he was able to accommodate our additional requirements as well.
Our first guide Roko was fantastic- from the moment he collected us at the airport until 8 days later when he dropped us off at Cuenca airport. Roko made every effort to ensure we had a fantastic time , getting to know us and what we enjoyed in travelling. His car was always clean and tidy and he ensured we knew how to get hold of him every evening in case we needed something. Roko has a great sense of humour , a great driver and really knowledgeable about the country and people.We had a fabulous time travelling wit him! Our second guide Dario did his job but was not as engaging and the same level of care and attention to detail was not there and even when we were hiking was on his mobile phone alot- maybe an age thing!. We still had an enjoyable time as Ecuador is such a beautiful country but wasn't as great as the days we spent with Roko. Ecuador is an amazing country with great scenery, food and people. Thank you we had an wonderful trip with a lifetime of memories. Thank Gabor and thank you Roko !!!

Local specialist: Gabor Csizmadia
Gabor
Gabor Csizmadia
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Feb 03, 2020

Dear Rachael!

I´m so happy to read your kind words :) I already expressed my gratefulness to Roko and had a small chat with Dario - he is going to pay attention to details and show his interest in making people really get to know with Ecuador in the future.

Again, thank you so much for your kind thoughts, and I hope to be able to help you out again in the future.

Take care both of you,
Gabor

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.