Kimkim Trip Reviews

I am absolutely thrilled with the entire process of planning the trip and the trip itself- we had the most amazing time in Iceland and saw so many things! Gudmundur made the planning so smooth- we were able to pack so much into just the 5 days that we had. The extra tips were so helpful and he was always responsive to messages and questions- each day felt different and although we were busy- we never felt rushed or over scheduled and had plenty of time at each destination to enjoy each experience- I will absolutely use this service again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Örk

Hveragerði

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

Hótel Lækur

Hella

Loved the location , staff and restaurant-

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arnarstapi Hotel

Snæfellsbær

The location was lovely in the village, but we did miss having breakfast included.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Baron

Reykjavík

Room was great and the breakfast was outstanding!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Reykjavík

The tour was interesting and pretty scenery but we did not see any wild life- they did give vouchers to return but with our full schedule we could not make the reschedule work- we would likely skip this n the future as it took a lot of time and ultimately we didn’t see any thing

Vatnshellir Lava Cave Experience

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Very interesting guide and amazing experience- it was very cool to learn about the history and lava flow/ eruptions.

Explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by Amphibian Boat

Iceland

This location was beautiful but the activity was cancelled at the last minute due to high winds- certainly safety is important but helpful to know if you have children looking forward to this activity that it is weather dependent-

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

The lagoon was also a highlight of our trip- it was beautiful and relaxing- we did this at the end of a day and it was rhe perfect way to end a busy day of hiking- the facilities were so beautiful, the staff was amazing and the water was warm- they included details like hair dryers and bags for your wet swimsuit which was so helpful as well

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

This was definitely a highlight of the trip- we all loved it- the guide was so informative and the scenery was absolutely amazing- would definitely recommend

We recently decided to tour Columbia before a family wedding in Cartagena, and after reviewing the itineraries and ratings of 5 tour companies (including one recommended by the wedding planner), we decided to use KimKim and Chaska Tours. Wow what a good decision. I have never experienced the level of professionalism, attention to detail, flexibility and responsiveness in a tour company like Michael provided us. I revised our itinerary multiple times, and frankly communicated anything that I needed with him, and he would always respond within the hour and have a thorough response for me shortly after. The tour guides at each location were knowledgeable, patient and fabulous, and the hotels were amazing...overall, the tour exceeded our expectations. Thank you Michael for everything you did to ensure our trip was thoroughly enjoyable. I would not hesitate booking with KimKim at all ... less stress and more enjoyment guaranteed.

Activity Reviews

Filandia, Salento and Valle del Cocora

Colombia

Wow...what an amazing experience. Our tour guide was soooo knowledgeable about all kinds of things and was patient and thorough. He provided us with information on the flora, fauna, history...really enjoyable and informative. I would definitely recommend him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Sofia our tour guide in Cartagena was good, but we found her to less informed/knowledgeable than the other tour guides we experienced on this trip. She provided basic information but we found that she did not freely share information unless asked. Additionally, given how hot it was that day, we asked her to provide some breaks during the 3 hour tour, and instead of taking us to air conditioned locations, we simply stopped at various places along the street in the stifling heat so we really could not cool off. The home she took us to for the "ice cream" stop was quite dirty and the washrooms not acceptable. Overall we did not find this tour worthwhile.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bogota Highlights Tour

Bogotá

Mayelline, our Bogota Tour Guide was awesome! She was very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting and informative for us. We highly recommend her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Coffee Farm Tour in Finca Buenos Aires

Salento

The tour coordination was not well planned as we were picked up from the airport by a driver who could not speak english at all and even though we explained that we were hungry, he communicated that there would be food on the farm. We asked it we could stop along the way to pick some snacks up and he did not. We were told that they would be selling typical Colombian snacks (home-made empanadas) and refreshments at the farm, but they were not. We did not eat anything the whole day, and the tour was so so. The facilities were being repaired, it was quite minimalistic, the hats and ponchos were re-used without cleaning....just overall lacked quality and substance. Another more established farm should be considered for future.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Dinner - Top Chef Private Dining

Bogotá

Although this was supposed to be the highlight at the beginning of our tour, we felt that the description of the activity and what was actually delivered did not match at all. The quality of the venue, the food and overall experience was less than acceptable. The food was more cafeteria quality (than top chef), and no wine/alcoholic beverages were offered. We would have preferred to skip it and do something on our own.

Quality of Experience

Food

Absolutely loved our 12 days in Morroco with our fantastic driver Abdul. Each local tour guide was amazing. The helpful, thoughtful and friendly Raid staff in each accommodation were amazing. Really enjoyed the communication with Adbul & his easy going nature. There was a few hiccups with the organizer of the tour so I can suggest dealing direct with your driver for any restaurant/activity you have booked personally & to definitely be advised with any changes of accommodation from the tour operator.
Absolutely loved the trip. 5 stars to Abdul.

We had an amazing trip to Iceland which we will remember forever and a significant part of the success of the trip was the planning by Kim Kim and our local specialist, Alicia. Alicia listened closely to what we wanted, understood our traveling vibe - how much we wanted to drive in a day, the kinds of things we wanted to see and do and the kind of experience we wanted to have - and she planned an itinerary that matched the mandate exceptionally well. She was very responsive and communicative, had great ideas, and even handled a last-minute glitch seamlessly. Alicia helped us create a self-guided portion of the trip with a short group-guided portion and the combination was great. It is difficult to say what part of our trip was the most memorable as each natural wonder seemed more beautiful and awesome than the next. We enjoyed staying near the Harbor in Rejkyavik and beyond that it is hard to choose between the waterfalls, black sand beaches, glacier lakes and ice formations and lava fields. But one thing is certain: a steamy hot water lagoon experience is a must and is amazing whether it's sunny or cloudy and rainy.

We had a great experience with Olman. He provided prompt responses and good advice.

Activity Reviews

Nocturnal Rainforest Walk

Arenal/La Fortuna

We saw a lot of frogs and butterfly’s. Joe shared his great pics with us on What’s App. He was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sweetest driver ever!

Transport

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Costa Rica

Our guide was great. I wish I could remember his name! He made sure we saw all the good animals including two snakes and several sloths. He helped us get great pictures of them too!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arenal Volcano National Park by Arenal Lake

Arenal/La Fortuna

Our guide Val was great! She was so knowledgeable! Sadly, we didn’t get to see much of the volcano because we got caught in a huge rain storm. But that’s life in Costa Rica!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peñas Blancas River Floating Safari Adventure by Raft

Arenal/La Fortuna

This was a great tour. We saw lots of animals and it was fun to be on the water. Our guide Lawrence, was great!

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire team was very helpful and provided activity and hotel recommendations that were a good match for me. The instructions and information in the app were intuitive and helpful. I also appreciated the quick responses on a couple of logistic items while we were on vacation. We really enjoyed the boat tour in Oslo, partly because the weather was perfect and our tour guide in Oslo was wonderful as well. I liked the Oslo hotel and its history. The hotel in Flam had a great view and reasonably appointed but the shower in room 12 was atrociously small. I am not a large person but it was small for me and there was nowhere to put any of your shower items. The other rooms may have a better layout but the shower was so bad that I was grateful that it was a one night stay. It would be helpful to have a general but better understanding of what food and drinks are included in the food and culture tour in Bergen. For example, we'll try a two local drinks, a few small tastings and finished off with a lunch. Thank you all for helping us have a wonderful trip in Norway.

Hotel Review

Flåm Marina

Flåm

The hotel in Flam had a great view and reasonably appointed but the shower in room 12 was atrociously small. I am not a large person but it was small for me and there was nowhere to put any of your shower items. The other rooms may have a better layout but the shower was so bad that I was grateful that it was a one night stay.

Activity Review

Food & Culture Walk

Bergen

It would be helpful to have a general but better understanding of what food and drinks are included in the food and culture tour in Bergen.

We spent wonderful nine days in France, traveling from Paris to Tours to Bayeux and back to Paris. On arrival in Paris, we took the high-speed TGV from Paris to Tours where we rented a car for our travels over the next few days. We drove to our hotel in the countryside from the city of Tours and spent time biking and touring Châteaux in the region.
We then drove to the city of Bayeux in Normandy where we toured the Allied landing sites from WWII as well as the American cemetery. We had an excellent guide that took us through the history and sacrifice of the Allied troops on June 6, 1944, as they begin the task of freeing Europe from Nazi occupation. Our hotel in Bayeux was in the town center within close walking distance of many nice restaurants.
Next, we traveled back to Paris where we spent four nights and toured many popular sites including a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and guided tours of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral and the Sainte-Chapelle Royal Chapel. Notre-Dame has been beautifully restored after the fire of 2019, and our guide gave us an engaging history of the Cathedral and its architecture. Sainte-Chapelle has the most beautiful stain glass windows one could hope to see.
We toured portions of the Musée du Louvre with an excellent guide where we focused on the Ancient Greece, Roman, and French Renaissance exhibits. Our guide brought history to life with detailed explanations of what was happening in society during these periods. Afterwards, we enjoyed a wine and cheese pairing at a lovely wine shop.
A final highlight of the trip was a private cooking class with French Chef Myriam where we learned to prepare a three course French meal. After the preparation, we enjoyed the meal with a nice bottle of French red wine (Une belle bouteille de vin rouge français).
Kimkim guided us through setting up the customized itinerary to focus on our specific interests, covering a region of France we had been wanting to explore. All our guides were outstanding. When we had an issue (which was rare), KimKim was very responsive to be sure everything was right. They even surprised us with a bottle of champagne on our first night for my wife’s birthday.

Sarah (and Ivan) were incredibly helpful in planning our trip to Croatia and Slovenia. Everything went off without a hitch. All of our details were attended to-every guide and transfer was on time. Sara made great recommendations for restaurants. And we knew that they were available with any questions as the trip went on and their responses were thorough and prompt.
We covered a lot of territory in 11 days but the way that Sarah planned made it seem like we experienced lots of things without being rushed. Thank you so much. Highlights were walking the wall of the old city of Dubrovnik, bike tour of Korčula, island tour of Hvar, Plitvice (so worth stopping there/ do 5 mile hike to upper falls!), Ljubljana walking tour and trip to Lake Bled. Loved it all!

My husband and I contacted Shona with only a 5 week lead time on an improptu trip to Japan to spend time with our daughters. Shona did an outstanding job of arranging transport and guides who were not only well educated in Japan's history, but were also fun to talk to and spend the day with. Our guides expertly shared their knowledge of cultural icons, food, and helped us navigate lunches at restaurants.
KimKim receives two thumbs up and five stars from me and my family!!!

Lisbet was awesome through this whole process. Her patience and knowledge was amazing. The trip was everything we wanted and it couldnt have gone any smoother. There was zero hiccups along the way. We got to see everything we wanted to see and had an amazing time.

Going in this felt like a once in a lifetime trip but using Lisbet and Kimkim made it so easy that it could be a one a year trip

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Holt—The Art Hotel

Reykjavík

Older hotel. It must have been something cool back in the 80's. Our first room was very tiny. Not a whole lot of room to move around with our large luggage. Luckily the hotel was running a special to upgrade to a junior suite at a reasonable price. That was much larger two room space. No restaurant in the hotel although they did offer breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

lots of character

Location

A bit of a walk to get to from most of the activities.

Staff

Everyone was very nice and on top of things

Cleanliness & Comfort

Once we got into the bigger room is was good

Magma Hotel

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Amazing experience staying here.

Authenticity & Character

LOVED having our own cottage. The food at the main house was AMAZING. So charming and a very cool experience

Location

Hotel was great for the days we were there. Worked out very well for our daily excursions

Staff

Everyone was on point and exceptional. They even helped us out when we missed out on dinner hours our first night there. Food was awesome.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was extremely comfy and loved the lay out

Hotel South Coast

Selfoss

Room was a little small but very nice. Parking was a pain as there is not a lot of dedicated spots for hotel guests.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were a little small

Location

Served us well for the days we were there

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was really clean and kept in order

Activity Reviews

Hvammsvik Hot Springs

Iceland

One of the many highlights of the trip. Worth the drive. We enjoyed this more than we did Blue Lagoon

Quality of Experience

Loved it. So cool being right next to the water

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very courteous and helpful

Transport

We had our rental car. Worth the drive

Katla Ice Cave Tour

Iceland

AMAZING ADVENTURE!! Make sure you have the right clothing. You will get wet. It was raining the day we went so we were already prepared but others showed up in sweats and fur boots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great Guide. Very straightforward and knowledgeable

Transport

We had a full tour and the van was cramped and a little dated but it handled the off road just fine.

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

This was great to do after the day of travel. Not a rough or far drive from the airport and a very nice introduction to Iceland. I will tell you this....it does make you sleepy. We struggled to get much done after this besides getting to the hotel. We did the red eye in and didnt get a chance to sleep much so I am sure that didnt help things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to London and the Cotswolds came alive because of the guides and the personal knowledge they shared on every place we visited. Each guide, each driver allowed us to see a personal side of our trip and made it incredibly memorable. The trip was planned perfectly so we were able to keep on schedule and enjoy all the sights. We walked some, took a cabbie or bus, or was dropped on a a restaurant the guide recommended. As a result in a few short days we experienced a memorable trip packed with history and sights we will always remember!
Kate was a supportive and capable trip planner and using Kim Kim to plan our trip was an excellent choice!

Tetiana planned us the most wonderful trip. She listened to all of our requests and we saw and did everything we hoped for. Our guides were all so knowledgeable about the places and sites we were seeing and all of our guides were on time and on schedule for everything. It was all seamless! Every hotel was charming in its own way and within walking distance of where we wanted to be. Thanks to her we had a fantastic trip to Scotland!

Our first visit to Japan was absolutely incredible, and a huge part of that was thanks to Shona. She organized every detail of our trip so well, making the entire experience smooth, stress-free, and unforgettable. She was always easy to contact whenever we had questions, and her expertise and knowledge about Japan were clear from the very beginning.

Thanks to her thoughtful planning, we were able to truly enjoy and experience the beauty, culture, and energy of Japan without worrying about logistics.

Thank you, Shona, and the Kim Kim team, for helping create such an amazing trip and memories we’ll always cherish! We will definitely be using Kim Kim on our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews

ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort By IHG

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central. Near many restaurants and stores.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kabira Bay SUP/Canoe + Blue Cave Snorkeling

Ishigaki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Bonsai and Garden tour in Kyoto

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi Cruise Tour

Fujikawaguchiko

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo City Tour with Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ngima was a great help and made arrangements according to traveler’s wishes before and even during the trip. Hotels were very pleasant and transport by bus and plane were comfortable. Expectations about tipping were shared and he was able to fluently explain the trip plan and local cultural context. I felt so safe and reassured at all times. Had such a wonderful and memorable time.

Activity Reviews

Full-day Chitwan activities

Chitwan National Park

The Tharu village tour was culturally important but a little too slow. Learnt more watching the cultural dance at the hotel. Safari and canoe ride was incredible with so much wildlife to be spotted.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive to Dhampus, hike up to Australian Camp, then return to Pokhara.

Nepal

Bumpy ride up there! But Pokhara and dhampus are so beautiful, even on an unfortunately cloudy day. Enjoyed the hike. Safe and clean camp at the end. Beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara through Tourist Bus

Nepal

Longer than expected but the bus was very comfortable with plush sofa seats. View was very nice. highway stops were sufficiently clean and had what was needed (snacks, drinks, lunch)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

World Heritages Sightseeing tour to Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Pashupatinath ( Kathmandu)

Kathmandu

Beautiful, purposeful and mindful visit to cultural icon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katerina was exceptionally helpful. We had a wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews

The Old New Inn

Bourton on the Water

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riu Plaza London Victoria

London

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cotswolds Trip to Oxford via Stow-on-the-Wold, Blenheim Palace Tickets Included

England

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so fun, knowledgeable & truly made our time memorable!!

Transport

The Royal London Tour: Changing of the Guard and More

London

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stonehenge and Windsor Castle from London, private group

London

Loved Windsor Castle!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thames Cruise with Lunch

London

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover London in a Private Black Cab

London

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Andre was fantastic and very informative about all the locations we visited! His driving was impeccable and if we wanted to stop and take more photos he was always very accommodating! There was so much to see and I appreciated his knowledge, insights and calm demeanor. The recommendations on places to eat by Irene and by Andre were spot on.
Thank you for taking such good care of us! KS

My sister and I had a fantastic holiday in Ireland! Claire was a great resource and helped us create an itinerary that allowed us to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of each of our stops and take advantage of the curated experiences available to us. We loved the sheep herding & lamb feeding at Killary Sheep Farm and the Faha Falconry exhibit. The ebike tour in Galway was a great way to get outside of the city and see the beautiful coastline.

All of our lodgings were tip top. Lovely surroundings and gardens. The staff were so hospitable and treated us so well.

KimKim and Claire helped us plan the best trip for the two of us and we are very grateful for their help and expertise.

Hotel Reviews

The Victoria Hotel

Killarney

A wonderful staff and very comfortable room. It was nice to have a bar and dining option just steps from our room. We were able to spend a bit of time enjoying a glass of wine on the outside terrace. A great place to stay for a visit to Killarney.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gregan's Castle Hotel

Greegan's was out of this world. I fell in love with the various rooms, the details, the fireplaces and the overall ambience of the place. Beautiful gardens to sit in or stroll through. The staff was absolutely amazing! I hope to return for another stay! Greegan's is one of those places you can't say enough about; it's simply amazing from the moment you pull in until you depart.

Authenticity & Character

The building and the grounds are amazing; so well cared for with first rate furnishings.

Location

Staff

Jackie was our breakfast server and she was a gem and provided us with the perfect conversation each morning!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The appointments were to a very high standard.

The Hyde Hotel

Galway

A wonderful location in Galway! The staff was ever so helpful and kind. You can't go wrong with a room at The Hyde.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stauntons on the Green

Dublin

Beautifully appointed rooms and a fabulous garden space at the back. The breakfast was top notch. We'd happily return for another stay.

Authenticity & Character

I love the fireplaces and the bar area. So cozy!

Location

Staff

Everyone was so helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rock of Cashel

Ireland

An amazing place with incredible views. It was nice to walk around the castle and weave in and out of the various buildings.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Falconry Adventures

Killarney

What an amazing demonstration with Mark. We interacted with a falcon, an owl and a red tailed hawk. Such beautiful animals. It was interesting feeding the birds, learning about their backgrounds and training. I'm so glad we included this adventure in our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Doolin ( 50 min)

Doolin

A great way to see the cliffs. You can't beat the view!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional working sheep farm and Sheepdog demonstration

Ireland

Farmer Tom was a great guide to his sheep and his dog, Holly. Such an amazing experience watching Holly herd and the views were breathtaking! Can't beat feeding a baby lamb either :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided E-bike Tour Of Galway City

Galway

A great way to experience Galway - both the city and the surrounding area. Highly recommend as a way to take in the sites and understand the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

E bikes are a great way to get some exercise, but not overdo it!

Dublin Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

Dublin

Our guide John was so knowledgeable. It was a grand tour of Dublin and we are glad we included it on our itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

For years I have wanted to visit The Netherlands to see the tulips but could never get the timing or became exhausted looking online for the where/how/who of planning a trip. This year we decided, "let's do it" and luckily found Mieke, who was nothing short of wonderful. She took our wishes and needs, asked questions and understood what we were looking for, then organized things to fit just perfectly in our time frame. She put together not just a great itinerary but wonderful activities we would not have found on our own. The private driver was amazing - so helpful and personable, we left feeling like we'd made a good friend. The private canal cruise in Hoorn with a very kind and informative captain was so enjoyable, as was the Tulip Train, and the other activities she organized for us. We had a fabulous trip and it was all down to Mieke's expertise and piecing it all together so seamlessly!

Hotel Reviews

Ysbrantsz Boutique Hotel

Hoorn

We enjoyed the town and this hotel, right at the heart, was a great fit for us. The room was well-done and had a sort of "upscale" feel, staff was accommodating and nice, and the restaurant there is excellent. Focus seems to be on the restaurant as it was always very busy with locals and travelers, but the rooms were nicely done and very clean. The garden side is quiet and nice and the other side opens onto the main square.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ambassador City Centre Hotel

Haarlem

This hotel turned out to be a great location for us - right in the center and easy to walk to everything we needed. Room was comfortable and looked at the church. We loved hearing the bells chime and watching the people parade as they met up for drinks at the many cafes along the street (and of course participating ourselves in that activity!) The breakfast was well-done, restaurant meal was good, staff was very helpful and friendly. We had a great stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Hoorn

The Netherlands

First, the hotel that Mieke set up for us was perfect - great location, lovely rooms, nice staff, very good restaurant and easy to get around. We enjoyed seeing Hoorn, which was a pretty town and lively; sitting on the square for a beer, watching the people parade, looking in the shops, watching sunset over the water...it was quite nice. Second, my main review is for the private driver that was organized for us. Robert was absolutely top-notch. He picked us up at the airport, assisted my husband, who has a disability, was personable and interesting while also professional. He took us to Hoorn by the backroads as requested, to allow us to visit some of the private tulip farms and see them up-close. He came back to Hoorn at an early hour to take us to the airport at the end of our trip, again going above and beyond for us and by the end of our time with him we felt like we'd made a new friend. We are so grateful to him for the help and the good time he showed us, that really helped make the trip special.

Hoorn - Tulip tram

Hoorn

An old-time steam train with antique wooden rail cars that took us amidst the tulip fields - what's not to love? While there was some confusion at the station and the train was late departing, therefore not leaving us time in Medemblik to walk around, the experience of riding through the tulip fields was just lovely. It would have been nice to be able to walk between rail cars, but it being an antique train, I guess that wasn't possible. Having a beverage car would have enhanced the experience as there was little time at the stop in Wognum, barely enough to queue up at the tiny restroom and get back onboard, much less get something to drink or snack. I'd hoped they'd slow down more as we passed the tulips (they slowed more going through unused stations!) but I think it may have been due to the delayed departure and needing to get back in time. Medemblik was supposed to be "a tulip station" but didn't have any flowers on display as in Wognum. Despite the somewhat disorganized situation, we did enjoy the trip.

Quality of Experience

Signage to reach the train, timing, better facilities (more than one or two toilets at the stop would be beneficial), slower passage through the tulips, time to explore Medemblik. Could be better organized.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The antique train and wooden cars were well-preserved and a nice "old time" experience

Haarlem - Canal cruise

The Netherlands

The cruise was smooth and had an audioguide in a couple of languages as it took us among the canals of Haarlem. Overall the process of easy and user-friendly and gave us a glimpse of the city from the water and some details we would have missed walking around town. Haarlem felt sort of like a "mini Amsterdam" and this experience enhanced that impression while allowing us to get off the streets and onto the famous canals to see things from a different perspective. It was more "commercial" than our canal cruise in Hoorn (but that one was a private cruise) though the staff in the canalside shop were helpful and friendly here.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoorn - Private boat tour historic harbor

The Netherlands

Our captain was so sweet and informative - we learned a lot about the town, history, architectural details, and had a great time ducking down under the bridges, seeing the canals, and seeing the town from a different perspective. The private tour let us really talk to the boat captain, ask questions and hear his insights. He included a lovely surprise of drinks and snacks, and we were so glad we did this outing. It was perfect.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valentine was very thorough in her planning and understanding of what we wanted to accomplish on our trip. The yacht tour to Cap Taillat was very special with our captain and assistant very accommodating. The selection of the vineyards Valentine planned was exceptional.

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Wine Tour at Chateau d'Esclans & Gulf of St Tropez vineyards

Saint-Tropez

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A day on a Luxury Boat: Cap Taillat & Pampelonne

Saint-Tropez

The captain and his assistant were very accommodating and friendly. The yacht was exceptional and seemed to be brand new.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Giulia was wonderful to work with!! She helped really make the trip what we wanted it to be. We especially enjoyed our time in Bologna. The cooking class with Veronica and the tours with Riccardo were highlights!

Hotel Reviews

Antica Locanda Leonardo

Milan

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Locanda Alberti

Mandello del Lario

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

R&B Santo Stefano

Bologna

We enjoyed the apartment-style accommodation and the access to a washing machine mid-trip. The place was clean and comfortable. Our only complaint was the shower; it has very low water pressure, which makes rinsing shampoo and conditioner out of hair more difficult.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable. The only challenge is the low water pressure in the shower.

Carlo Felice Boutique Hotel

Torino

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided visit of Bellagio and Villa Melzi Gardens

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking Class *****

Italy

We often take cooking classes in different countries/cities when we travel. This one has been the best so far. Veronica made us feel very welcome; it felt like learning an old family recipe and sharing a delicious meal with a good friend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Food day (half-day) including Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic Vinegar - from Bologna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bologna private guided walk and Food Tastings (3h)

Italy

We love Riccardo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Turin guided walk (private guide)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Langhe hills wine tasting (1 winery)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day in The Langhe with driver assistance (from Turin)

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The car smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, which irritates my allergies a bit.