Kimkim Trip Reviews

From start to finish, we had a great experience working with the Original Travels/Kimkim team. Ali and Said were incredibly helpful in advising us before the trip, from helping us plan a fun itinerary to answering our questions about what to pack. Our driver, Faisal, took great care of us throughout and made travel feel seamless. Even when we had to change our itinerary at the last minute due to weather concerns, Said and Faisal adapted quickly to figure out the best solution and put our safety first. It was wonderful to connect with local guides throughout our journey--we learned so much about Moroccan history and culture, and were touched by the kindness of everyone we met. Our favorite part of the trip was the day we spent exploring the Fes medina - we loved wandering the souks, visiting artisan workshops, and cooking a Moroccan meal. The riads we stayed in were beautiful and were also a huge highlight!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Casa Hassan

Chefchaoeun

This riad was so cozy and beautifully decorated. It was in a great location for exploring Chefchaouen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Ghita

Fes

This riad was so beautiful! It was in a great location and our room was gorgeous. Food was some of the best we ate in Fes!

Authenticity & Character

We loved learning the history of the building, which had been a family home since the 16th century.

Location

Staff

Everyone was so kind and helpful. We had so much fun doing a cooking class and helping make a meal!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hammam & Spa experience in Fez

Fes

The hammam was unlike anything I've ever experienced. The setting was beautiful for experiencing this traditional practice. Afterward we felt completely rejuvenated!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cooking Class in Fes

Fes

It was so much fun for us to get to know Fes a little better by not just going shopping at the market and helping prepare a meal, but also spending time with locals and learning more about their lives. The morning we spent together was an experience I'll never forget, and the meal was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything was really well prepared in my opinion. Think the offer of hotels should not be made based on a global budget announced my the client … the offer should include always hotels with more stars. Almost always with a small increase of price the client can obtain a better hotel.. If I say 4 stars you should include also some with 5 stars… and the client decide.

I really liked the proposed tours and the guides were really competente… Emma in Hoi An, the one in Min Bei (south Hanoi) were for me the best ones. I liked too the one in Bangkok.

I really recommend Realistic Tours and Ashley as trip manager

Hotel Reviews

De Charme Hotel

Amphoe Muang, Si Phum, Chiang Mai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

True Siam Rangnam Hotel

Phayathai, Rajthevee, Province

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LCS Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HARI Residence & Spa

Svay Dangkum Commune, Siem Reap

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Adora Art Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoi An Rose Garden Hotel

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cherish Hotel

Nice overall impression

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfect location …

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Journey Halong Cruise

Nice boat… nice ambiance with the staff… quality of the boat could be better.

Authenticity & Character

Good

Location

Good

Staff

Nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dal Vostro Hotel & Spa

Hanoi

I liked … and I will come again there when in Hanoi

Authenticity & Character

Staff really authentic

Location

Perfect location in the old town

Staff

Always available…

Cleanliness & Comfort

All ok

Patong Lodge Hotel (โรงแรม ป่าตอง ลอดจ์)

Don’t recommend for clients that are able to pay 5 stars hotel even in a 4 stars budget for the overall trip

Authenticity & Character

Massive tourism without quality offer

Location

Close to the beach

Staff

They treat me perfectly and professionally when I asked to check out 30 min after my check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

Could be really better

Activity Reviews

Self - Guided Day in Phuket

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phuket Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Phang Nga Bay (Join big boat)

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Swimming & Snorkeling on the Phi Phi Islands (Join speedboat)

Phuket

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Tao Garden Health Spa

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai City Safari - Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Chiang Mai Street food tour by Tuk Tuk (N)

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Ayutthaya temples and a boat trip to Bang-Pa-In

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damnern Saduak Floating Market Tour Grand Palace and Wat Po

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phnom Penh sightseeings

Phnom Penh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting the Floating Villages on Tonle Sap Lake

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Siem Reap – Angkor Wat

Siem Reap

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ho Chi Minh city tour - Cu Chi tunnels - Joint in tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ba Na Hills & Golden Hand Bridge Day Trip - Joint in tour

Cambodia

Only the bridge deserves the trip in my opinion

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Walking Tour of Hoi An's Ancient Town

Hoi An

Fantastic

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Emma knowledge fantastic

Transport

Hue Sightseeing Full Day - Join in tour

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Le Journey Cruise – Hanoi (N)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Halong Bay - Le Journey Cruise (N)

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Hoa Lu & Tam Coc - Joint in tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi City tour - Joint in tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great trip
Seeking adventure with a short time frame of a week Jordan fits the bill
Samir does a wonderful job organizing it based on how much adventure you want.
Insist on Mr Walid as your driver low key no hassle but will definitely show you a part of Jordan that you want to see as a traveler
Great Trip

Hotel Reviews

Petra Moon Hotel

Wadi Musa

Average rooms are small

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxury Rum Magic Camp

Great Desert experience

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dana Guest House

Al Tafileh, Dana

Rustic bit delivers on basic comft

Authenticity & Character

As Local as it gets

Location

Great view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trekking from Dana to Feynan lodge

Jordan

Start early a bit of a slog Great guide and desert hike

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Feynan (The Bedouin experience )

Jordan

Shoback Castle

Jordan

Feynan (Sunrise hike )

Jordan

Hike in Dana Nature Reserve (Shaq al Reesh Trail)

Dana

Hike in Dana Nature Reserve ( Nawatef Trail)

Dana

Full Day Petra (With Site local Guide or private guide)

Jordan

Go it alone a guide is not required Overall great and entertaining experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rum Valley CAMELS SUNSET RIDE FOR 01HRS

Wadi Rum

Hike in Dana Nature reserve ( White Dome Trail)

Jordan

My sons and I had a fabulous time in Guatemala! Chris was very responsive, flexible, and patient during the planning phases of the trip. In addition, he was able to tweak our plans slightly while we were traveling so that everything was perfectly tailored to our needs. I greatly appreciated his knowledge and expertise. Our local guide, Esmerelda, was also a tremendous asset to our trip.
Thank you for a very memorable and smooth trip!

We had such a great experience with KimKim! The local guide and driver they connected us with were amazing. We felt like family at the end of the trip! In the time leading up to the trip, I worked closely with Tatiana to get our itInerary perfect and she was very receptive to listening to what we wanted to do and making all of the changes. We had to leave Ecuador unexpectedly due to political unrest and our amazing guide and driver got us out safely and we were so grateful to have them!

Anne, and the Peruvian Soul team organised my first solo South American trip at very short notice, with impressive attention to detail, coordination and planning. I was equipped with the right information prior to the trip, communication with the team was excellent throughout and the trip was speculator. The guides were welcoming and knowledgeable, especially Julito. I will cherish the memories for a long time to come.

This is a joint review from Tim and Mary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best wishes,

Tim and Mary

Activity Reviews

Victoria Island Navigation & Trek

Bariloche

Trek to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Torres del Paine Experience

Torres del Paine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

COMO Point Yamu

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort

Chiang Mai

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lancaster Bangkok Hotel

Bankok

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Phi Phi Island

Phuket

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Chiang Mai

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Elephants Day Care at Baan Chang Elephant Park

Chiang Mai

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Explore Doi Inthanon National Park Tour

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Fun Cooking Experience With a Local Lanna Family

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Historical Ayutthaya Tour from Bangkok

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Night Food tour with Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Activity Reviews

Twin Glacier 30-Minute Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wanaka Bike Tours - Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail

New Zealand

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Milford Sound Full-Day Adventure

Queenstown (NZ)

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tekapo to Twizel with Cycle Journeys

New Zealand

Loved their bikes.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Glacier Explorers - Mount Cook

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Amazing experience...don't miss it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Big Day Out

Hokitika

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good stories

Transport

It's a van

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

Hotel Review

The Aviary Hotel

Siem Reap

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Siem Reap

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cycling the back roads of Angkor (full day)

Siem Reap

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day cookery class

Siem Reap

This was one of many highlights on our trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

Kindest regards for Christmas and the New Year. Carl

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

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

Activity Reviews

Río Peñas Blancas Safari Float Experience

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise with Wine & Cheese

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacón Hot Springs with Meal

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sloth Discovery Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

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

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

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

Hotel Reviews

Termas de Papallacta

Papallacta

Cuello de Luna Mountain Lodge

El Chasqui - Pastocalle

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sisakuna Lodge

Mindo

Location

Ikala Quito Hotel

Quito

Activity Reviews

Quilotoa Lagoon - Papallacta

Ecuador

Horseback Riding in Cotopaxi National Park

Cotopaxi

Otavalo Market - Cooking Class - Quito

Ecuador

Cloudforest of Mindo & Return to Quito

Mindo

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

Quito

Hotsprings in Termas de Papallacta

Ecuador

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

Hotel Reviews

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

The beach was so close

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful views of the ocean

Staff

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

Cleanliness & Comfort

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

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Authenticity & Character

Location

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

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

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

Authenticity & Character

The view of the volcano.

Location

Close to Arenal area.

Staff

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

Cleanliness & Comfort

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

Activity Reviews

Snorkeling at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve

Drake Bay

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking tour to Corcovado National Park in Sirena Station

Costa Rica

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Another hot springs that was not so rundown.

Food

The buffet lacked variety.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Hotel Reviews

Montaña de Fuego Mountain Resort & Spa

La Fortuna

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karahé Beach Hotel

Manuel Antonio

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

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

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Caletas Lodge

Puntarenas

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Auténtico Hotel

San José

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

Authenticity & Character

Location

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

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arenal Hanging Bridges Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour & Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Food

The food at the restaurant was nothing special.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Cooking Class with Dinner

Arenal/La Fortuna

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

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Hotel Reviews

Parador de Trujillo

Trujillo

Authenticity & Character

Quiet setting, lovely interior courtyard.

Location

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

Staff

Front desk staff were attentive and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, simple, well appointed.

Hotel Soho Boutique Casa Don Fernando

Caceres

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

Authenticity & Character

Modern facility in charming renovated building with vestiges of antiquities.

Location

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

Staff

Front desk staff were helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable room and bed, well appointed.

Hotel Hospes Palacio San Esteban

Salamanca

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

Authenticity & Character

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

Location

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

Staff

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

Cleanliness & Comfort

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

Activity Reviews

Guided tour in Salamanca

Salamanca

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

Quality of Experience

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

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Excursion in Monfragüe

Trujillo

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

Quality of Experience

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

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Discover the Dehesa

Trujillo

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

Quality of Experience

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

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Transport

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

Guided tour in Merida

Mérida

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

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Guided tour in Caceres

Cáceres

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

Quality of Experience

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

Guides, Drivers and Staff