Kimkim Trip Reviews

Overall, the trip to Scotland was very successful. It was our first time cruising and we took our 20-something kids. While there were bumps in the road, the most important matters were attended to. It was great to have an agency taking care of all the transport transfers, and obtaining tix for various sightseeing. They also researched and booked the cruise. I'm not sure if our agent had much experience with cruises, and we certainly didn't, so we didn't know what questions to ask.
There was a lot of confusion about the travel insurance that the boat required, and I ended up having coverage from three different sources (admittedly, I was not willing to risk showing up at the boat and being turned away because we didn't have the proper coverage). We didn't know that there was a choice before arriving to the boat of an all inclusive alcohol package, which was more expensive if we obtained in on the boat. We didn't know that there was a lottery on double beds in our cabin level, so my husband and I ended up with single beds, which would not have been an acceptable risk had we known in advance. To their credit, Kim-Kim refunded us 300GBP for this oversight. Also, our cabin reservation and our kids were not linked so we were assigned different dining room tables, which then had to be sorted on the boat. Regarding the choice of Fred Olson cruise line for our group, it wasn't a good fit. The clientele on the ship was 90% UK residents and 90% over 70 years old. Thus, everything from the music, comedy and other entertainment like trivia quizzes were focused on a very different demographic than our crew. Perhaps this is inevitable with a Scotland cruise? Another hiccup was that I had researched the kind of adaptor we needed for Scotland, which we used for our three days in Edinburgh, but we had no idea that the adaptors on the cruise were the different, European kind. Next, I believe our agent made a mistake in not giving us access to our cruise accounts until very close to the cruise date, and many of the onshore tours were sold out by the time we got access. Our agent gave us a referral to a private tour company in Kirkwall--Venture Ashore. We were very disappointed with the tour. We booked a 4 hour private tour for 4 people for $850. Our tour guide was a cabbie, Kevin. We were picked up in a cab, which wouldn’t have been a problem except that Kevin had just moved to Scotland in Nov (it was now August) and didn’t know much except how to get us to the places, where he dropped us off and then sat in his cab until we returned!? He didn’t even have enough knowledge to fill the time while we were driving from place to place, and he often repeated himself. Kevin was a very nice man. I’m just shocked that the tour company considered this to be an $850 level private tour. I will not take a Venture Ashore tour again.
Some comments about the Fred Olson cruise itself (besides the cautions I mentioned above): There was no shampoo and conditioner in cabins--you had to go purchase it in the onboard store if you didn't bring it. There were upsells everywhere you turn. The kids were woken up many days by multiple (hourly!) announcements into their cabin that they didn’t need to know, and this was after the cruise director had said that announcements would only be outside cabins.
Having said all of that, Aleksandra was very responsive, very organized. She seemed to be working weekends. She picked up the phone when we were struggling to connect with one of our transfers. I could tell she was trying very hard and maybe just didn't have the experience yet to foresee all of these subtleties. I would use Kim-Kim again, but I would be more on top of some of these issues, having gotten more experience myself.

Hotel Review

Apex Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

Activity Reviews

Private Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

We are pretty last minute with our planning and we weren't even sure there was time to pull a decent vacation in Peru together but Io, our kimkim specialist, was fantastic! She put together a great itinerary for our family of five, including plenty of history and cultural experiences, local sightseeing, as well as adventure. We had enough free time which was important as some of the family needed time adapting to the altitude in Cusco. We didn't have a list of must-sees and we simply trusted her recommendations and we are glad we did. Our day in Pisac and Ollantaytambo was unexpected and fascinating and one of the best! Adriel, our guide, was incredibly knowledgable and passionate about it all and we all swore we lucked out with the best guide! Of course Machu Picchu was a wonder to see and we were grateful for the guide, Rosa, who met us as soon as we disembarked the train and rushed us to the bus to head up to it. We would have never been able to figure that out and get there on time without her swift and urgent guidance! Another highlight was the Via Ferrate Climbing and Ziplining in the Sacred Valley. Our family has ziplined in some pretty amazing countries but the climbing up portion of this experience was new and exhilarating! We agreed this was the best day and our two guides, Brian and (forget his name) as well as Karla who took our photos, were outstanding! Additionally, all the hotels were even better than expected, with online photos not doing them justice. They were all in great locations, easy to explore on our own and walk to markets, coffee shops, restaurants, etc but also clean and comfortable. Have to give a huge shout out to Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, our hotel in the Sacred Valley. This place was so stunning. There aren't words for how enamored we were with this place. Photos don't begin to show the beauty of this place. My husband wanted to cancel the rest of the trip and stay here! But honestly, it was sort of an oasis in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere but it had everything we needed and was just very unique. We also took a cooking class the last day and honestly, while we all like to cook, no one was sure what to expect. I can't locate the name of the place but it was a 3-hour full immersion cooking class in the heart of Cusco and Chef Fernando taught us so much about local cuisine and ingredients, provided samples of several things as well as walking us through making a couple of delicious and beautiful dishes. He was an entertaining and fun and there was so much food! The people in Peru were lovely, the food was all pretty great, the hotels were better than expected and there was the perfect mix of planned and free time for our family. Lisbeth, at Andean Travel, who was our local contact, was responsive and helpful when the altitude affected our plans one morning and all the guides and drivers we had in every city were great. kimkim delivered for us once again!

Hotel Reviews

San Augustin Plaza

Cusco

Location was great! The plaza was up the road a few blocks and it was very walkable to all things we wanted to do and see there. The rooms were clean and comfortable. They had the tea in the lobby and O2 for those struggling with the altitude. I will say it was pretty cold in the lobby, hallways and rooms. Rooms did have portable heaters though so we were warm enough when sleeping. Staff was very nice but as we don't speak great Spanish, communication was sometimes a little tricky for us. There was a great breakfast spread but we preferred the coffee from the little cafe next door. Overall, it was a great place. We stayed there three nights, two night then left for two days and then came back there for our last night.

Authenticity & Character

I love anything that is clean and comfortable and safe but feels like we are somewhere different and this ticked all those boxes.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Five star clean, four star comfort. It was just chilly inside. We were there in August. Bring warm pajamas and a jacket or sweater for the halls/lobby.

Dazzler Miraflores by Wyndham

Lima

Clean, spacious, comfortable. Nothing over the top but very good.

Authenticity & Character

Again, nothing mind-blowing but very nice.

Location

We were only there one night but it was easy to walk to restaurants, etc

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay

Urubamba

I cannot describe how much we loved this place! The photos don't do it justice. Amazing design, big beautiful rooms, gorgeous greenery, restaurants and coffee shop on premise, we took so many pictures here. This is no standard hotel experience, it was something different. I can see why they have weddings here. Gorgeous!

Authenticity & Character

Private balcony off each of our rooms, huge wooden doors with iron finishings, rustic but yet really nice. Hard to describe but best hotel!

Location

We were only there less than 48 hours and it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere driving into it but it had everything we needed so didn't matter where it was.

Staff

It was cool when we were there at night and rooms have portable heaters. I called because ours wasn't working and it was replaced within 2 minutes. I'm not even sure how they got to our room so quickly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Half-Day Walking Tour: Sacsayhuaman, Cusco City & San Pedro Market

Cusco

We had two (altitude) sick kids so I missed this but my husband and older son said it was amazing! They recounted all they saw and learned and later that afternoon, when the kids felt a bit better, we all went back to the museum together and it was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Machu Picchu (Private Guided tour in Machu Picchu) SV Htl

Peru

What's not to love? It's Machi Picchu! We will the third one, seeing and going into many of the structures. It's incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Rosa rushed us from the train to the bus to go to the top and we would never have figured that out on our own so quickly. Be prepared to run from the train to bus. Not sure it's always like that but we did a full uphill sprint! Our guide through Machu Picchu was great was well. Very calm, relaxing voice, fitting for the environment.

Transport

Private Full Immersion Cooking class

Cusco

Chef Fernanado taught us about local ingredients, cuisine, etc. We got a lot of history, information, samples and then fully made two dishes with the Chef. Food was delicious and Chef Fernando was very knowledgable and entertaining. My family loved this!

Quality of Experience

Food

Shared Ziplining & Via Ferrata in The Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley

We have ziplined in other amazing places and countries but haven't done the climbing like we did here. It was exhilarating and the views were over the top! Guides Brian et all were great. Our day happened to be stunning and perfect weather too. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

It was a snack bag which we chose to take with us at the end. We didn't want to stop to eat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared tour to Pisac & Ollantaytambo tour

Peru

Amazing! Knew nothing of these places before going and loved every bit of this day. Our guide, Adriel, was the best! We learned so much and had so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bruno put together a fabulous tour of Croatia. He communicated with us through every step and his suggestions for activities and dining were spot on.
We were very pleased with the hotels. Loved the locations for all 3 places. They were all very clean and well staffed. Breakfast was included in all 3 that made it simple for us to start our day. Bruno introduced us to 2 great tour guides. Mia in Split and Ana in Dubrovnik. Both were very informative and interesting on their tours. Both were very personable and easy to talk to.
Transportation from city to city and the tours was excellent. The drivers were very timely and also very personable.

I cannot thank Bruno enough for making our tour of beautiful Croatia so easy that we were able to spend our time enjoying the scenery, the people, and the great food in Croatia.

Thank you Bruno for the perfect Croatian vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort

Hvar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Villa Filaus

Lovely setting. The room was clean and the hotel well maintained. The only issue was that it is not well served for handicapped as there is a flight of stairs to the lobby. They neighborhood was very attractive and felt very safe to walk around. A great walkway that was used by the local residents and tourists that led to the beach and shore area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritage Hotel Santa Lucia

Split

Great location on the plaza. Staff was very helpful. Breakfast buffet was very good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

You do need to transport luggage and walk a block from where cars are allowed as they location is in pedestrian plaza. The staff helped us.

Activity Reviews

Goodbye Dubrovnik

Croatia

We had an early pick up to get to the airport for our flight out. Marco was there on time and we made good time to the airport. It was great to be able to say good bye and thank him for his service while we were there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montenegro day trip from Dubrovnik

Croatia

Marco, our driver was alot of fun. Also very informative of the area. It was a beautiful drive around the inlet into Kotor. The city of Kotor is on a marina that was interesting to watch. The fortress is free entry and filled with all kinds of restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik Old Town

Dubrovnik

Ana, our tour guide was great. She was very knowledgeable and very easy to ask questions and talk to.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dubrovnik Old Town and the City Walls

Croatia

Our driver, Marco, picked us up from the ferry and was awesome. He took us on the day trip to Montenegro also. Debrovnik great area to walk around. We were able to take the local bus from our hotel back and forth to the old town. It was very easy to use.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Hvar, active or leisure day

Hvar

Leisure day to explore on our own. Walked the walkway from the harbor around the shore. Great views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Hvar and exploring the Old town

Croatia

The jet ferry was a fun experience to the island. As requested this was a free day and we were able to walk and explore to our liking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Split Walking Tour with a visit to Diocletian's Palace

Split

Mia was an excellent tour guide. Lovely to talk to and very informative on the history of the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrival in Split and transfer to accommodation

Split

Since autos are not allowed on the plaza the staff comes to your vehicle a block away and helps you transport luggage.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norway Trip

Our guide in Oslo, Lene was very knowledgeable and accommodating to some mobility issues. The Thief Hotel was great, centrally located and very comfortable and helpful staff. The train trip to Flåm was memorable and we really enjoyed our time in Flåm. The fjord cruise was beautiful, but the large number of people on the boat was not what we expected, as our itinerary indicated small group. The hotel in Bergen was unsatisfactory, but I have already communicated that to Alex and he has responded favorably.

Hotel Reviews

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel

Bergen

The room assigned to us had a drainage problem in the bathroom. Tub drain overflowed, flooding the bathroom. When I asked to be moved, I was told there were no rooms available and they offered to send up extra towels. I insisted that was no solution and they were able to find a room for us. We had no assistance in moving to the new room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the harbor and close to restaurants and attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

The historic nature of this hotel means that you give up a little in the comfort of the accomodation. Specifically, the shower over tub in the bathroom was difficult for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thief

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to shopping, restaurants, attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Depart Norway

Norway

Our driver had a battery problem with his car and was unable to pick us up. He said we were being assigned another driver. I called the company because I had not heard from them. They gave me information on the new driver. However, he was not the one who picked us up. We ultimately made it to the airport, but felt it was a little dicey.

Quality of Experience

Fjord Cruise to Rosendal

Bergen

Cruise was just a boat ride. The cruise out of Flåm was way more interesting. We were there on a Monday and much of Rosendal was closed. We visited the rose garden at the Baroniet, but the castle was closed.

Quality of Experience

Fløibanen Funicular Ticket

Bergen

Fun was to spend a few hours. Great views

Quality of Experience

Cultural Walk with a Local

Bergen

Thomas was quite a good guide and gave us a good experience. He was somewhat difficult to understand,

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

None included

Ægir Viking Meal Experience

Flåm

Well, it was an experience. My husband thought the food and beer pairing were good. I didn’t drink beer. The food was OK for the most part and you have to consider the experience. I did not care for 2 of the 5 dishes.

Quality of Experience

Njardarheimr Viking Village Day Trip with Nærøyfjord Cruise & Bus Transfer

Norway

Was pleasantly surprised and pleased with this activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Would enjoy a smaller group on the cruise if that is possible.

Explore Flåm

Flåm

Very cute village, if somewhat touristy.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Hike to Brekkefossen

Flåm

We were not able to complete this hike due to time and physical ability constraints.

Mathallen Food Court Visit

Oslo

Did not go there.

Quality of Experience

Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo

Oslo

We saw only part of the exhibit, but it was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Private City Walk

Oslo

Lene was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Oslo Exploration

Oslo

Itinerary was too much to accomplish in the afternoon we were there. We visited the National Museum, which was great.

Quality of Experience

We had a very enjoyable and enlightening trip. Our guides were excellent…Juan particularly during the Sacred Valley tour. They were all knowledgeable in their subject matter, but were all also compassionate and patient. One of us suffers from asthma and when she had to move slowly or stop due to the altitude, there was never any impatience or frustration on their parts. The drivers were also excellent and amenable. Vehicles were clean and comfortable. The train from Cusco to Puno was a unique experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history and the culture of the Andean people, found the cuisine delicious, and the mountains simultaneously breathtaking and calming.

Hotel Reviews

Dazzler Miraflores by Wyndham

Lima

The location was very good. We walked about with ease. Hotel had modern elements, and again the staff was very welcoming and helpful. One of the bellhops gave us directions to a famous restaurant where we got the best empanadas. All within walking distance. The room and bathroom were fine except that the half glass on the shower could be extended. No matter how careful we were, the floor still got wet. All in all it was a good experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tierra Viva Puno

Puno

The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The location was good. Breakfast choices could be upgraded. Bathroom shower had a plastic curtain and the shower did not drain properly. It looked and felt like a low priced hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the main street with shopping and restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom

Novotel Cusco

Cusco

Lovely hotel and very accommodating staff. Centrally located. Great breakfast spread. Beautiful appointments. The only reason we didn’t give it five stars was because our room was one of the ones overlooking the reception area and so all the noise from there traveled up to our room. People coming in late or staying up to drink and meet with friends, all that noise went straight into our room. Apart from that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. Maybe noise canceling windows could be a suggestion?

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Albergue Ollantaytambo Boutique Hotel

Cusco

The hotel was located essentially in a train station. The views of the mountains some of which seemed close enough to touch and then the snow capped peaks in the distance were simply magnificent. We enjoyed the flora in and around the hotel, and totally appreciated their excellent attempts at protecting the environment, growing their own organic and ecologically friendly produce, as well as fostering sustainability. The food was delicious, and the staff everywhere was excellent and very accommodating. The only fly in the ointment were the fumes from the trains. It was supremely convenient to have the trains stop there, but their fumes remained in the air for a while. Nothing that the hotel can control, but the only fly in the ointment as it were. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at El Albergue, and would recommend it to family and friends despite the caveat mentioned above.

Authenticity & Character

As noted above the flora, decorations and commitment to the environment made it unique.

Location

Interesting location being in the train station. Now if only PeruRail used cleaning burning engines.

Staff

Very helpful and responsive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Quite clean. Hot water pressure can be challenging but it’s there.

Activity Reviews

Private Lima City Tour and Larco Museum

Lima

The tour was fine. We enjoyed walking about. Highlights were the Francis of Assisi Monastery and the Larco Museum. We gathered nuggets of interesting information from each place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared Lima Dining Experience: Culture, Flavor & Style (PM)

Lima

Kimberly did an excellent job of selecting restaurants and dishes on the food tour. All the dishes were tasty and reflective of the Peruvian cuisine… an amalgam of many… and we thoroughly enjoyed her explanations. She gave us the cultural contexts for the different dishes, and the restaurants also reflected the culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shared Uros & Taquile Floating Islands tour

Puno

This was quite a fascinating experience. We enjoyed learning about how the Uros made and maintained their island. We also admired how they have adapted to changing times and are now seeking other avenues of income including their gondola like reed boats and their weaving and crafts. We also liked learning about their cooperation with the other islands to determine which one would be visited by tourists. Paquile was also quite interesting and we learned about their local customs as well. We enjoyed a simple but delicious lunch afterwards. Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable and the boat drivers were competent and careful. Overall, visiting both islands were wonderful experiences.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Titicaca Train from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} NC

Peru

The train ride was enjoyable. There was good entertainment on board…we particularly enjoyed the fashion show and the local dances. The views were lovely, and the service was excellent. Felix, our particular waiter, was outstanding. The food was great. Embarking and disembarking was also well organized.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Tour to Tipon, Piquillacta & Andahuaylas

Cusco

At Tipon, we managed to get there before the hordes, and found it amazingly quiet and calming. The fountains flowed behind us while we looked at the mountains in front of us. Again the Incas hydraulic prowess was once again on full display. The four fountains expelled water at exactly the same rate. At another point, the force of the water coming from higher elevations was mitigated by the placement of a stone at exactly the right height. Piquillacta … the visit to this Wari walled city was different from the first site. In direct contrast with the peace and calm of the first site, this site was more oppressive due to its emphasis on protection and its multiple layers of walls, some of which were quite high. Andahuaylillas was a lovely Andean Baroque church and the insertion of Arabic influence in the decoration of the ceiling was illuminating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Half-Day Walking Tour: Sacsayhuaman, Cusco City & San Pedro Market

Cusco

Sacsayhuaman was another example of Incan engineering ingenuity. Those massive stones aligned at well calculated angles to lessen the overall impact of earthquakes. Absolutely fascinating. Cusco City was also interesting and we had the good fortune to witness even more of the Peruvian culture as we encountered groups of costumed school age children performing a variety of dances which illuminated the cultural heritage of Peru. San Pedro market was intriguing. While we saw some familiar items, many of the goods were unusual. We enjoyed a delicious drink made from the lucuma fruit which is only found in Peru. This was altogether an interesting and fascinating day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Inkary Museum, Pisac & Awanakancha Tour

Peru

Again this was very informative and enlightening. Again Juan was excellent. Learning about the strengths and weaknesses of the various groups who preceded the Incas was completely fascinating. The different customs of each group including unusual burial practices, and seeing how some of them carried on through the Incas was really wonderful. This was a thoroughly worthwhile tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Observatory Train & Machu Picchu Exploration

Sacred Valley

Machu Picchu was interesting. Maybe because it is so well known our expectations were too high. Still very interesting to see and to learn more about the use of astronomy and its relationship to worship.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The train ride back from Macau Picchu was something! The train swayed for the entire journey. Fortunately no one became ill. Was much nicer going to Machu Picchu. Was it the seat selection which was reserved by the travel planner?

Private tour to Moray, Maras & Chinchero

Sacred Valley

Learning that this was essentially a botanical laboratory for the Incas, and learning how incredibly knowledgeable about thermodynamics, physics, botany, and engineering they were was simply awe inspiring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kobe was exceptionally attentive during the planning process. He was open to my ideas, took into consideration our budget, and made wonderful suggestions. He communicated clearly and concisely ensuring I understood everything being presented and was flexible with changes. He worked very diligently to create a trip that would meet our desires and expectations. Kobe was very easy to work with.

Hotel Review

El Refugio

Rio Claro

Río Claro is amazingly beautiful. It is full of birds and gorgeous! The climate is hot and humid so prepare to sweat while engaging in activities. To get to the Refugio cabins you will need to be able to ascend and descend steep stairs. Once in the cabin the view is spectacular!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Gorgeous views

Staff

Staff were friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Day One Birding In Rio Claro Reserve

Río Claro Reserve

We weren’t expecting the heat. The birding guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Also a good teacher.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great service provided by Kim Kim as always! We had a great time and our itinerary was planned perfectly according to our needs and requirements. We loved the whole experience and look forward to using Kim Kim again for our future travels.
Thank you
Rajan and Janki

We have just returned from the most unforgettable trip to Indonesia. This was the first time we used a travel agent to organize our trip, and I admit I was a bit nervous about how it would turn out. But what followed exceeded all our expectations—by far the best family holiday we have ever experienced!!!
At the planning stage, Laura and her team carefully guided us through various options for hotels and activities, taking the time to listen and understand exactly what we wanted. We had several conversations with Laura to ensure our trip would be exactly tailored to our needs. She patiently answered every question, offering invaluable advice and tips on what to expect. Before we set off, she even created a WhatsApp group so we could stay connected during our journey—her dedication and care made us feel very supported.
Laura did an outstanding job!! Her organization was impeccable; she responded to our messages promptly and checked on us throughout our stay, making us feel genuinely cared for. Her attention to detail turned this trip into a once-in-a-lifetime experience!! The hotels were the most beautiful we have ever stayed in, and the adventure activities were very well organised. We were blessed to have two amazing drivers: Windy in Sumatra and Puja in Bali—both so warm, friendly, and welcoming. They ensured that we arrived on time for every activity and flight, making the entire experience smooth and safe.
I cannot recommend KimKim highly enough as a travel partner. Thanks to Laura and her incredible team, we experienced an holiday filled with wonder, excitement, and heartfelt moments. Truly, this was a holiday of an incredible lifetime that we will cherish forever!!!

Hotel Reviews

Puri Santrian

Denpasar

Very nice hotel by the beach. Staff were friendly and welcoming! Variety of pools located in different places were great. The food in the restaurant was delicious and there was a lot of variety especially at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menjangan Dynasty Resort - CHSE Certified

Pejarakan

Wow, what an absolutely breathtaking hotel! We stayed for 4 unforgettable nights and truly didn't want to leave. Nestled in the most stunning spot in north Bali, this place felt like a hidden gem. Our stay in the Cliff Tent Pool Villa right by the shimmering sea was nothing short of magical. The villa was beautifully designed, and every tiny detail was thoughtfully cared for, creating a space that felt truly special and welcoming. The hotel restaurant was simply incredible! The variety on the menu was extensive, and every dish we tried was bursting with flavor and passion. The staff were genuinely wonderful—so warm, welcoming, and friendly, making us feel right at home. The surrounding grounds were immaculately maintained and spotless, adding to the overall serenity and beauty. We fell deeply in love with this hotel and, genuinely, didn’t want to leave this paradise!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arya Arkananta Resort & Spa

Ubud

The hotel is amazing!! When you first get to the parking lot, a golf cart will pick you up and take you to the hotel, which is just about a 5-minute ride. The hotel is set right in the middle of rice fields, making it feel really authentic. We stayed in a bungalow-style room located by the pool which was clean and spacious. All the staff were super welcoming and friendly and the food at the restaurant was incredible!! We were very lucky to have a massage in the spa, a little treat from our travel agent. It was very nice!!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel has a lot of character because of its location, and it’s really nicely decorated and well maintained.

Location

Hotel located in the middle of rice fields. Great location as not far from Ubud town centre

Staff

Staff were very welcoming and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean hotel

Wisma Leuser Sibayak

Bukit Lawang

Good accommodation! Basic rooms with everything you need before going on the jungle trip. Food in the restaurant was great and the staff were friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Snorkeling in Menjangan

Pemuteran, Bali

This was genuinely the most incredible snorkeling experience we've ever had! We stopped twice to explore the vibrant underwater spots around the island of Menjangan—each more breathtaking than the last—before sharing a delicious lunch on the island itself. The fish and coral were so bursting with colour and life that it took our breath away; we even had the chance to spot a turtle! It was truly unforgettable and absolutely stunning. One of our guides had a GoPro, capturing our underwater moments in videos and photos, which we were so grateful to be able to purchase afterward. We higly recommend this trip—an adventure that will stay with us forever!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Rafting Adventure on the Ayung River

Ubud, Bali

Thrilling experience! The scenery down the river was beautiful! Our guide who took us on this trip was very welcoming, friendly and funny!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trek Leuser Park (overnight in tent) day 1

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

What an unforgettable experience!! We had the most wonderful time ever! Witnessing orangutans in their natural habitat was truly breathtaking! Our guides for the two-day trek were incredibly funny and made the whole experience so much fun. They thoughtfully provided us with food during the day and genuinely looked after us, throughout every step. After five hours of trekking, we finally arrived at the jungle camp, where we were warmly greeted by our amazing guide Windy. She was absolutely incredible, helping us settle in for the night. The evening meal was absolutely delicious and filled us with joy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Planning our trip with KimKim was quite easy. Louis was flexible in our requests for changes and provided prompt responses. We requested specific luxury hotels and he was able to provide feedback or suggestions on the hotels we asked or provided better options. We also had to move our trip by a week and that was accommodated well. We did 10 says total which is too short as we went to 6 cities starting and ending in Casablanca and included the Sahara desert overnight tour. Next time we would definitely space it out more.

We opted to have a driver and travel by car the entire trip rather than flying. Our driver Said was incredibly attentive, thoughtful and we thoroughly enjoyed his company. He provided a lot of suggestions and also was a tour guide for us when we didn’t have a hired tour guide for the driving part of our tour. He found and suggested some excellent restaurants during the road trips as well. Said was also available to us 24/7 to take us to places that we had booked separately from KimKim.

Overall we would book again with KimKim and would request Said as the driver.

Activity Review

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

I don’t remember place we were taken to but it was not traditional as we didn’t get to see any of the baths. We only got the scrub and it was so rushed.

Quality of Experience

Aleksandra was a wonderful guide, always responsive and flexible. She helped us with everything and was always available during the trip for any last minute changes.

Lucy went above and beyond to ensure we got everything we wanted for our trip.

We recently returned from a 10-day family trip to Greece for my husband and I and our 4 kids and we could not have been happier with the service provided by Angela, our travel agent.

From the very beginning, her communication was absolutely incredible. She responded quickly to every question—often even out of hours and on weekends—which gave us so much confidence and peace of mind during the planning process.

Every detail of our trip was perfectly coordinated. The drivers communicated seamlessly with the boat drivers and other transfers, making everything flow effortlessly and allowing us to truly relax knowing all logistics were taken care of. There was only one very minor change to our itinerary (due to ferry time changing), and Angela not only notified us immediately but had already taken care of coordinating with the drivers so there was no stress on our end.

Her accommodation choices were spot on—very comfortable, well-located, quite luxurious and perfect for our family. The activities she suggested were equally fantastic, giving us a great mix of culture, relaxation, and fun.

What stood out most was Angela’s dedication. Nothing was ever too much trouble for her, and she went above and beyond to make sure our experience was smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

Overall, we highly recommend Angela. She is truly wonderful and made our trip unforgettable.

Noga and Nick were both really easy to work with and so helpful. The trip was great and exhausting on 4 old ladies but we had a great time and the weather couldn't have been better. After our terrific late afternoon zodiac tour looked for a restaurant and the closest one we went to was already booked and weren't taking any more reservations. We did not get into a town that had any restaurant and the only gas station had closed their restaurant at 8pm. We arrived just after that time. On the next day we were 20 km from our hotel and we had no idea if it had dinner service so we found a place in town to eat, which was really nice, as we didn't want to take the chance of not having service and driving back to town and possibly missing a nice meal again. As it turned out when we got to the hotel, it did have dinner service.

The only recommendation is to ensure travelers where restaurants are and their hours. The hotels were very nice, especially the Landhotel.

Joao and team provided an exceptional service for our family trip to Portugal. Having someone with local knowledge helped us find great hotels and tours. We were pampered with airport transfers, private walking tours in Lisbon and Porto, wine tasting in Duoro region, hiking in the mountains with a guide who shared with us pumpkin jam made by his Mom with local bread and cheese. While using drivers for Lisbon, Porto and Duoro we rented a car to travel to the mountains and Algarve and Portugal roadways are easy to drive. Our time in the Algarve was our highlight, kayaking, hiking and swimming. We finished off with two relaxing days in Cascais where pool time was a perfect end. Joao and team checked in daily to let us know timing for our next day which was lovely as I didn’t need to think about these details. Their support in planning our trip as we tweaked and changed activities, dates etc was fantastic and took away tons of hours of internet research and gave us the confidence in what we were booking. And they did all the booking. Truly exceptional service and local knowledge. I would recommend Across Portugal to anyone planning to visit Portugal.

Hotel Reviews

Pousada da Serra da Estrela - Historic Hotel

Covilha

Cool location up the mountain. Restaurant was ok, but not great. We found a pub 5 mins up the hill further that had more atmosphere and good food for our second night.

Authenticity & Character

Interesting history.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Montebelo Lisbon Downtown Apartments

Lisboa

Great location to central historic district of Lisbon. Nice 2 bedroom unit. Self check in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Self check in, so only connection with staff was through What’s App.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vila Galé Cascais

Cascais

A little dated. Very family friendly.

Authenticity & Character

While situated adjacent to historic buildings, this is more of a standard hotel and is dated.

Location

Close to the coast, and the Inferno. About 15 mins walk to town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Condes de Azevedo Palace

Porto

Wow. We walked into our two bedroom suite and we couldn’t believe how nice. Great location for sightseeing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great access to sightseeing historic sights and river front.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ponta da Piedade Small Group Kayak Adventure

Portugal

Great trip….small kayak tour…it was just the four of us. Lovely coastline to explore and helpful guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Driver was knowledgeable. We learned about cork trees!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hike & Bite with Peaks & Paths

Serra da Estrela Nature Park

Local guide shared with us locally made products including his Mom’s pumpkin jam. Our hike was adjusted due to wild fire risk that closed the National Park. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and trails we did at the peak.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Douro River Escape: 1-Hour Exclusive Cruise

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Great way to see the highlights of the city and go back to spend more time inside. Incredible knowledge of the city and history. The train station is beautiful and tells such a story.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Historic Odyssey Walking Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Be ready to walk with Claudia. We did almost 20,000 steps thru short cuts that only a local would know. Lots of historical knowledge and a wonderful private wine tasting and charcuterie at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Portugal

Very neat experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

Due to wild fire risk Sintra palace was closed and our driver was hesitant due to traffic to travel into the village. We were a bit disappointed in hindsight. Lovely lunch restaurant recomendation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lots of personal recommendations and history to share.

Transport

Gummi planned a wonderful trip for me and my partner to Iceland! The schedule hit the major sites around the Ring Road without feeling too crowded or busy. Gummi's daily insights guided us to the best spots in each location. He selected great hotels, and it was awesome to have detailed driving directions for every day (particularly when the names are difficult for non-Icelanders!). We also really appreciated having restaurant recommendations for each stop.

There is such great comfort with a service like KimKim. When there was a minor snafu and I sent Gummi a WhatsApp message after 10pm, he immediately called me and handled it with the hotel clerk (in rapid-fire Icelandic!).

Overall, if you're thinking of visiting Iceland, you want Gummi directing your travels!!

Hotel Reviews

Hótel Grímsborgir by Keahotels

Ásborgir

This was a good spot for Golden Circle adventuring. The room was very nice, and great hot tub!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshotel Stykkishólmur

Stykkishólmur

Nice enough hotel, but a bit generic. Easy to walk to spots in the cute town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sigló Hótel by Keahotels

Siglufjörður

Very charming location, nice rooms (the window seat was particularly lovely).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Berjaya Hotel Mývatn

Mývatn

This hotel had great character, and I loved the hot tub!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshótel Vatnajökull

Höfn

The hotel was nice, but very tiny rooms, and the location was a bit far away from town without good reason.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Magma Hotel

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

I loved this hotel! The setting was beautiful, and the cabins were particularly lovely. Great dinner, too.

Authenticity & Character

I loved the small detached cabins.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CenterHotel Plaza

Reykjavík

This hotel was in a great location and an easy resting place for a stay in Reykajvik. The rooms are on the small side, but with everything you might need.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located and easy to get to everything within a short walk.

Staff

We forgot a pair of sunglasses, and they kept them safe until we returned a week later.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Silfra Snorkeling Adventure

Iceland

This was a very cool (and very cold!) activity! The tour operator was first-rate, making sure we were properly kitted out. Seeing the crystal clear water was a wonderful and unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Icelandic Food Walk

Reykjavík

I loved this tour -- great food (including some off-the-beaten path options) and a lovely chance to meet other travelers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Horse Riding on Black Sand Beach

Iceland

The horses were lovely, but this wasn't the most exciting outing -- just walking in a straight line to the nearby beach. There isn't much scenery on this path different from anything you could easily see on your own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were all friendly and welcoming.

We enjoyed an adventurous and memorable family trip to Bosnia, Montenegro, and Croatia. Nikola did a great job crafting and arranging an exciting itinerary, and providing excellent support during the week of our trip!

We made it home from an amazing adventure. Thank you so much for all the work you did in planning our trip! It truly was exceptional. I'll leave a review too, but quickly, we had many highlights.

First was for sure the stay in Aurland at the Wangen Apartments. The view was spectacular (we had a full double rainbow end-to-end just outside our window the first morning!!), the sauna and swim was incredible, and the zipline/bike ride through Flam was so adventurous and fun!! I highly suggest you put the Kest Tasting at the Hotel Aurlandfjords on your radar. It was by far and beyond one of the best tasting experiences we've ever had - Norway and beyond (including the seafood one at the end of our trip, which was also delightful).

We really enjoyed the cider tasting at the apple farm in Balestrand. Definitely keep that on your to-do list for folks. If I had known earlier that they also were a restaurant I would have definitely gone back again. The food-pairing with the ciders was so good!! And it was one of the 2 sunny days we had while we were in Norway, so it was nice to hike around the orchard with the fjord views in the blue sky background. The glacier trip was worth it, but unfortunately the guide was the absolute worst one we have ever experienced in our years of travel! haha, he was an American and seemed basically annoyed the whole time that he even had to be hanging out with tourists. But that didn't stop our good time. The Hotel was nice in the lobby areas and dining room. Our bedroom was clean, but definitely not the feel of the older part of the hotel.

We loved Bergen! We aren't city folk, but did enjoy the quaintness of it. Hotel was a good location for getting around. We went up the funicular twice to hike around up there. Kayaking in the north sea was dreamy, the guide lovely. It did say in the notes that we'd have lunch on an island, but that wasn't the case. It was after we returned at the base camp. But that was just fine with us. The trip to Rosendal was nice except for that it was Sunday and all the shops were closed. But that didn't matter because we took the waterfall hike and it was the 2nd sunny day of the trip so we savored the outdoor time in the sunshine! It was lovely!

You are correct, we did have a snafu on the departure day. The driver wasn't there as stated at 8:30am, and we were there 10-min early. There was no contact information for me to reach out, and I hadn't heard anything from them, so we just grabbed a cab. Thanks for the refund!

Overall it was a lovely trip! This is the first time we've not rented a car or a campervan, so that took some adjusting to. I know that Norway lends itself to transport without a car, but we often times felt like we were a little stuck in the tourist spots and couldn't enjoy all the hikes you gave us recommendation for because we would have needed a car to get to them.

Thanks again! We will keep KimKim in mind for future travel.

If you’re looking for an incredible trip, we can’t reccomend Kimkim enough! This was our first time using a travel planner, and it was the best decision we have ever made. We booked a 10 day Scotland honeymoon, and Salome took care of Eid everything. From thoughtful notes and upgrades, to taking the time to listen to exactly what experiences would make our time away perfect, to being available while we were away, we couldn’t not be more pleased. We will definitely be repeat customers!

Hotel Reviews

Angel's Share Hotel

New Town, Edinburgh

This hotel felt so upscale in downtown Edinburgh! We loved the chemex coffee in the room, the high ceilings, comfortable bed, and the restaurant downstairs was so lovely!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lawriestone Guest House

Fort William

This was one of our all time favourite places to stay on our holiday. The view from the chairs in our room will forever live in our memories as one of our favorite spots in Scotland. Our hosts were so friendly and had great recommendations of places to visit and a great hike. We cannot recommend this guest house strongly enough!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Bosville Hotel

Portree

The food was absolutely incredible- location was perfect, and our accommodations were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Druid House B & B

Inverness

Our accommodations were amazing!! We loved the space, the big beautiful room and bathroom, and our host was so thoughtful! The on site massage was a lovely added touch!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cairngorm Hotel

Aviemore

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leonardo City Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Excellent accommodations, attentive staff, delicious breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Ride Around the Canal & Loch Ness including a Visit to Urquhart Castle

Scotland

We loved the boat ride, the guide and information about the loch, and the time on the shore exploring the castle is highly recommended!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edinburgh Castle Tickets

Edinburgh

Quality of Experience

Rothiemurchus by Horseback Trek

Aviemore

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you to Kadri & Fenne for helping me plan & book our exquisite girls’ trip to Norway! From the recommended adventures (glacier kayaking, RIB tour of the Finnabotn Fjord, & Loen Skylift) to our drives to the Vøringsfossen waterfall, Lovatnet, the Jostedalsbreen National Park, the Kjenndal Glacier & the Borgund Stave Church, our trip was full of water, mountains, waterfalls, skinny roads, roundabouts, more tunnels than I’ve ever seen in my life, & absolute beauty. Kimkim was extremely responsive for any questions we had along the way, guiding us when we got confused & ensuring we had all of the information we needed. The team ensured we had a memorable trip in a land foreign to us, guiding us (as requested) off the beaten path into the backroads & beauty of Norway. I highly recommend using KimKim for your travel needs, & I will be using them again in the future - 10/10!!

Activity Reviews

Loen Skylift (round trip tickets included)

Loen

The Loen Skylift did not disappoint. The views at the top are amazing!

Quality of Experience

A fun trip up & down!

Transport

Felt safe the entire ride.

Finnafjord Safari by RIB

Balestrand

The RIB tour was awesome! We went to the Finnabotn Fjord to experience quiet solitude in nature. It was beautiful, & the boat ride was fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lars was a great tour guide - very friendly & knowledgeable.

Transport

The boat ride was fun!

Glacier Kayaking Excursion

Norway

This was an amazing experience! Our tour guides, Maria & Jens, were excellent in teaching us the proper way to kayak & guiding us to the glacier for lunch & viewing. It was a very fun day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria & Jens were fun guides!

Transport

We drove ourselves, following Jens & Maria in their car.

We all loved our trip to Norway, it was fun and full of adventures. Our hotels were very comfortable and in great locations. Food was very good. I was also surprised how clean and comfortable mountain huts were.
I will definitely recommend you to all my friends who are planning to go to Norway.
Best of luck, Irina

Activity Review

Romsdalsstigen Via Ferrata - Intro wall

Åndalsnes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport