Kimkim Trip Reviews

Sallam was amazing. He is so knowledgeable. I learned so much from him about the history and culture of Morocco. He is an excellent driver and gas a great sense of humor.
The camel ride and tent in the Sahara was my favorite!
All the accommodations were top notch! Loved the Kasbah! The owner Michelle was so nice and enjoyed her company.

Hotel Reviews

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Food was fabulous and owner Michelle was hospitable. Enjoyed her company!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar l'Oussia

Essaouira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed extremely hard and pillows not comfortable

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga via Ifraine and Azrou - Camel Trek to Desert Camp

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day with the Locals in the Valley of Roses

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Costa Rica in February 2025 was preceded by months of planning. Throughout that process, Olman of Amazilia Travel, the partner of kimkim in San Jose, was incredibly helpful in suggesting an itinerary and in fine-tuning it in response to our evolving needs and priorities. The result was a wonderful vacation, sometimes as part of a group, sometimes self-driving, that exceeded our already high expectations.

Olman took care of airport pick-up, car hire, accommodation, and various outings -- in short, of all the challenges and uncertainties of travelling in a country unfamiliar to us. We were provided with detailed information about each step in the itinerary, and every thing unfolded according to plan -- the bus connections, the rental car pick up, the route suggestions, the accommodation, the tour rendezvous. And the tour guides we had ranged from the very good to the outstanding.

We were able to add a number of outings of our own as our trip progressed, a task made easier by the fact that we had such a solid basic plan in place and by additional information provided in our kimkim itinerary file.

During our travels, Olman's colleague Graciela was our contact in case of need. In fact, we only had to contact her once when the Google map reference provided by the place we were about to visit led us slightly astray. The problem was quickly remedied.

This was among the most satisfying and enjoyable vacations of our lives. Olman and his colleagues were indispensable in making it so.

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn San José by Radisson

San José

A convenient and comfortable stopover in San Jose. Within walking distance of the downtown core.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pachira Lodge

Tortuguero

This hotel is beautifully situated on the waterfront and surrounded by dense forest. The gardens are lovely and home to Howler Monkeys and a variety of birds. Our room was comfortable and situated quite deep in the forest. Meals in the communal area were highly sociable, and the waterfront bar is delightful. Added attractions were the adjoining short forest trail and access to the spa and massage facilities at the neighbouring lodge. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hampton by Hilton San José Airport

Alajuela

This is a chain hotel, and it lives up to expectations. It is comfortable and conveniently located near the airport and car rental offices. The staff were very helpful and the evening meal a pleasant surprise. A bag breakfast is also available. The main advantage of the hotel is proximity to the airport and a regular shuttle service. This is especially convenient when one has an early morning outbound flight.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dreams Lodge Monteverde

Santa Elena

This is a small family-run hotel, comfortable and homely rather than fancy. Breakfast is provided and there are several restaurants within walking distance for other meals. The staff are very friendly and the Capuchin monkey viewing second to none. We had a most pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Finca Sura Farm Tour

Costa Rica

The Finca Sura Farm Tour was truly a highlight of our trip. We had the pleasure of being guided by one of the family members, a younger son, which made the experience intimate and enlightening. The small group setting allowed us to engage and share ideas effortlessly, making the tour not just informative but also highly satisfying. The farm, being family-run and organic, added an authentic touch to the experience. Highly recommended for those looking to connect with the local culture and learn more about organic farming in Costa Rica.

San Jose - Tortuguero

Costa Rica

This trip is more than getting from A to B. The route takes one over mountains and through forest and ultimately banana and pineapple plantations. Our bilingual guide Fernando provided us with a wealth of information along the way, and did an excellent job in gently shepherding us when we stopped for breakfast, transferred into boats, and checked in at our destination hotel.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the Beauty of Tortuguero National Park

Tortuguero

The bird-watching boat ride and short jungle walk were rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable, not least thanks to our guide Fernando‘s enthusiasm, experience and enthusiasm.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

We were blessed with sightings of sloths and innumerable birds, including the elusive quetzal. Our guide Jose was highly professional and engaging

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was difficult to connect with my trip planner in Cairo. Only working through the KimKim website worked well. Phone calls were difficult to connect and difficult to understand. Not enough information is included in the .pdf provided with the itinerary. It is provided too late not giving us time to check on company names. There was no listed company providing the “Luxury Dinner Cruise of Dubai”. Our guide pulled a switch on us and we had an inferior experience. We did not recognize that we had been put on a different boat because we had no name for the company. By the time we realized what happened it was over. The trip planner said we should have reported it right away but if someone is speaking another language and it just “seems” wrong how could I report it. It was also after work hours. We missed out on what was probably a $100/person dinner with hotel transfer for a lousy pontoon boat with cold food and music loud enough for hearing damage. I feel cheated on that one.
Our tour of Abu Dhabi went well until our guide wanted to end the day before we saw two things we had tickets for: The Presidential Palace and the Etihad Tower. He said we didn’t have time. I texted our trip planner immediately and she made sure we got what we paid for. We got back to Dubai at 8:30 pm. The guide substituted a tour of Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Abu Dhabi instead thinking I wouldn’t notice one palace for another. A hotel is a hotel not a palace.
The hotel upon check in had our name wrong from the agent. We got twin beds instead of a King as they were fully booked and only assigned on check in. Our agent never said this. We assumed we would get what we paid for. The hotel said the room prices were the same. If it’s the policy of the hotel to assign rooms on check in I should have been told ahead of time. On the whole I felt we overpaid for the experience

Hotel Review

DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Jadaf

Dubai

Type of bed only assigned on check in. If you want a King bed for certain pick another place. Otherwise the hotel was nice.

Authenticity & Character

Modern

Location

Staff

No complaints

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very good

Activity Reviews

Dubai Heritage Land Rover Desert Safari with Traditional Dinner

Dubai

The experience was great and lots of fun. A good view of desert culture. I did not like that my only water source was a gift thermos. They were filled from a big wrapped container. I made a mistake in drinking from it or eating food from the Luxury cruise. One or the other made me ill.

Quality of Experience

The atmosphere of the desert

Food

Better water please

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dubai full day tour with Entry ticket to Burj Khalifa at the Top

Dubai

Please be aware that the line to get into the tour was 1 hour 45 minutes long with no where to sit. I’ve been told it can be longer. The view took all of 15 minutes long to see then a 20 min. Line to go back down. It was interesting but not essential.

Quality of Experience

Offer the premium entry

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver's English not great. Looked up facts to tell us while driving

Transport

Dubai Luxury Canal Dinner Cruise

Dubai

This was a disaster. We think our guide did a switch on us changing our ticket for a lesser boat. ( or not buying it at all). We were on a two deck pontoon boat with plastic garden chairs, warm water and inferior food that did not even keep up with the local women and kids who attacked it like the last meal. The music was deafening and I had to cover my ears waiting for the food line. The entertainment was a Disney style LED lighted Sufi dancer that shames the religion. The GI issues I got in Dubai probably came from this lukewarm food buffer. We didn’t realize we were being taken to the wrong boat. The guide lied multiple times. He gave it away at the end contradicting himself. We felt cheated of this experience. The company name was not on the .pdf given to us nor a photo of the boat we should have been on. It’s like going to a party with no address

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides who take you where you are supposed to go

Transport

Abu Dhabi Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Dubai

Dubai

This was amazing because we fought to see the Presidential Palace that we paid for. Our guide substituted the Emirates Palace and was going to skip the Etihad Tower. This time I was more careful about our itinerary and contacted my trip planner. She had the guide take us to the two sites we had paid for. We got back to Dubai late but we were glad not to miss the real Presidential Palace which was spectacular. The Etihad Tower had no line. This was a better experience than in Dubai

Quality of Experience

Food

Only a mall fast food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fine until he tried to bring us back to the hotel without completing the itinerary we paid for.

Transport

We booked this trip with Amr over a year ago and "paid in full." However we postponed it when war broke out in the Middle East. When it appeared the war would not spread further we rebooked, and Amr asked for and got more money. The "final" itinerary did not reflect what we actually did in Egypt. We visited the pyramids of Giza early in the trip and did not do the dinner cruise. Later our local guide thought we were still going back to the pyramids of Giza. We wanted to see the new Grand Museum of Egypt instead of repeating the pyramids. Getting this straightened out took more time and effort than it should have. We had to agree to pay the museum tickets in advance while we still have not been reimbursed for the dinner cruise that we didn't take or the second set of pyramid tickets we didn't use. Probably the most memorable thing we did on the trip was the hot air balloon ride in Luxor over the Valley of the Kings. This was something we arranged through the local guide Waleed and paid additional fees. Waleed was helpful and accommodating. Our first local guide, Mona was quite good. Knowledgeable, pleasant and helpful. Local guide Ahmed was outstanding. His knowledge of ancient Egypt was truly impressive. He was helpful and pleasant to be around. We thoroughly enjoyed his company. All the drivers were very good at their jobs which is saying alot given the crazy habits of Egyptian drivers.

Uma was fantastic and created an excellent itinerary for us. She had terrific suggestions about places to visit and activities. She was very knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend working with her to plan your trip to new Zealand.

Thank you so much to Alex for planning such a great trip for me. He was able to plan a trip for me in a short period of time to Belize and Guatemala. The guides and the accommodations were amazing and I am so happy that I was able to participate in this trip. I would recommend Alex to plan your next trip to Guatemala.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar. However, we would not recommend using Peter from Umoja African Journeys as we had too many issues on our trip to mention.

We had two outstanding guides on our trip. Moses in Uganda and Isaiah in Tanzania. They were fantastic taking the time to tell us about the country, animals, food, life in both countries. Isaiah is contracted from Watatu Tours in Arusha, Tanzania and would use him again.

When planning a trip to multiple countries, utilize an expert in that country as I would have used an expert in Tanzania and one in Uganda and Zanzibar. Find locals in that country.

We had an absolutely amazing trip to Costa Rica. Holden was great from the start and listened to all of our desires and built us a dream trip. This was my second trip with KimKim and I would highly recommend them. They are an outstanding travel partner and saved me so much time in researching, booking and confirming our adventures! I will use them again for future adventures. Thank You, Holden. I appreciate all your hard work and organization.

Our driver (Hemedi) was outstanding! Very experienced and knowledgeable about the tours and accommodations. Clearly made a point to understand our itinerary in detail, and made himself available to us whenever needed. Made suggestions about some activities to fill out our time. Was genuinely interested in our experience with our tour guides. He is proud of his country, and an excellent representative of Morocco and his tour company! We felt like we made a friend in him. We would highly recommend him to others!
The accommodations were excellent. We really enjoyed the location and character of the riads. In particular, we really enjoyed the staff at Riad El Yacout in Fes.
All of our tour guides were great. We felt like there was a lot of value in the information we got from them...great perspective on history and culture that we would otherwise not have gotten. We considered eliminating some of the private tours when we were developing the itinerary/trip cost...but in retrospect we would recommend that they be included. In particular we appreciated interactions with our guide in Fes (Reda) and food tour guide (Hanyn). We also enjoyed our guides in Merrakech and Imlil. One suggestion would be to utilize more female tour guides. Our female guides in Rabat and Meknes provided some cultural insights that Americans would probably find particularly valuable.
One recommendation we would make to others developing itineraries would be to include a second night in the Sahara. It is a long trip to get there.

We had a great trip, and it was only possible through Leny's help! She recommended places and activities, like the Takayama and the Nakasendo Trail hike which was amazing. She hooked us up with some great guides for food and sake tours and temple/shrine tours that exceed our expectations. We couldn't have done so much in the time we had without Leny's help, and the airport pick-ups and city transfers were especially appreciated, especially when the roads and most of the rail lines were closed because of heavy snowfall, but she instantly had a plan and we were able to continue our trip with an alternative route. Thanks Leny!

Hotel Review

Tsutaya Tokinoyado Kazari

Great ryokan experience! First off the meals were absolutely incredible! The onsen was nice and hot, the scenery from the large windows was beautiful, and the staff were also excellent. We really enjoyed it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable, unless you need a soft bed (they are futons).

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Sake Brewery Tour (Adults only)

Kyoto

Great way to learn about how sake is made and the range of flavors it encompasses. We tasted at three different breweries including a good lunch at one. Our guide was knowledgable and friendly. Thanks!

Hidden charms of Arashiyama

Kyoto

This was a great tour! Some of the smaller shrines/temples so it's more intimate. Our guide, Keith, was amazing in his knowledge and nuance of Japanese history and culture (and restaurants and nightlife), after living there for 25 years.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Relax and Savor Dinner in the Ryokan

Kiso-Fukushima

We had the most amazing dinners and breakfasts at this ryokan! So many different dishes and flavors: some slightly more than a thimble full, some you grill yourself at the table, some prepared table-side by the chef, but always 10-15 things to taste and enjoy. Truly amazing. And the staff is really great.

Esther was great to work with and organized a very customized trip for us that included lots of time with our local family while we were in South Africa, while also suggesting places to stay or visit that we wouldn't have known about. She helped find accommodations that our family of 6 were comfortable in and was super responsive and accessible throughout the planning process and the trip itself. She managed to keep us within budget, and when there were small hiccups a few places we went, her team was able to troubleshoot to get us the best outcome possible.

We had a magical experience with our family of 4 teen and pre-teen boys, and I know it was in no small part due to Esther's help, ideas, creativity, and resourcefulness.

The good
The hotels were top notch (although having an add on breakfast on the day we had a 6 am train seems like poor planning)
Las Alpujarras Village tour was fantastic. The guide realized early in that shopping and lunch were not really of interest and changed things up to include a hike. One of the highlights.
Kayaking in Costa Brava was fantastic and the other high point
Our kimkim trip planner worked with us and did a great job hearing what we wanted and booking the things we wanted to do. Kimkim is not responsible for the poor service we received from some of the guides

The really really bad
Rides -
our train driver in barcelona was in the wrong place and we spent over an hour trying to find him
Our driver to the train in Granada never showed up. He eventually called 30 minutes late to say he was on his way but by then we paid for a taxi and barely caught our train

Wine tasting in Granada
The guide went into a monologue about how wonderful it was that the jews and Muslims were chased out of the country by the great queen Isabelle. While there is historical accuracy (ham was adopted as a national dish in part to drive out certain cultures) having the guide extoll the virtues of racism, and explain to us that we were wrong in being appalled because it was wonderful to have certain cultures driven out l those cultures were removed from the country came across as racist, offensive, and disgusting.
The bar tender also made a big deal about one member of the group who only wanted to taste the wine, telling her she has to drink, insulting her, and not allowing anybody else to try the next one until her glass was empty.

The rest of it was okay but the wine tasting was offensive on many levels and overshadowed much of the trip.

Hotel Review

Hotel NH Collection Granada Victoria

Granada

Gorgeous room. Breakfast was amazing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to everything

Staff

Suggestions on where to eat, what to see. Help with taxis when our ride service did not show up

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private La Alpujarra Villages Day Trip

Granada

The guide had a set itinerary based on what most groups want (shopping and lunch) but switched it on the fly to include hiking down to a waterfall when we showed no interest in the quaint shops.

Quality of Experience

8

Transport

Good company on the drive, pointed out landmarks and helped me practice spanish

Great trip!! It was our first time in Australia and New Zealand and both countries were spectacular! Spending 5 days in Sydney was just perfect. We went on a bike tour (on our own) with Bonzo Bike Tours, located in the Rocks area. It was 5 hours of seeing all the best sights and absolutely perfect! I would also recommend seeing the opera at the Sydney Opera house, which we organized on our own. The only negative experience was the Blue Mountains Day tour. While the sights were beautiful and scenic, our guide/driver was constantly speeding and ended up getting a ticket. At times, we felt rushed and unsafe. He tried arguing with the police officer and spoke very negatively about police, construction workers, and others. After the ticket, he was not in a good mood and begged for a positive google review. The Outer Barrier Reef Cruise with Quicksilver was fantastic and we are so glad we added that to our plans. The best experience was the Milford Sound Fly, Cruise, Fly tour. Absolutely breathtaking reviews and the tour company was so professional and experienced in taking care of us. I would delete the stop in Dunedin, if I had do to do the trip again, the wildlife tour there was not much different than we already experienced and the town of Dunedin was not as vibrant as Queenstown.
The only other tour I would change was the 12 hour rail trip on the Northern Explorer Scenic Train from Wellington to Auckland. I would just get a flight to Auckland. We absolutely loved the food tour in Wellington, our guide was awesome and the Waiheke Wine tour was beautiful and fun for our last full day in New Zealand.

Hotel Reviews

Cairns Colonial Club Resort

Cairns

The Cairns Colonial Club Resort was a wonderful place to stay. They even upgraded us, providing a nice view and lots of room space. Having laundry facilities was a great plus, especially for a long trip.

City Life Auckland

Auckland

The hotel in Auckland was great. It had a fantastic location, and we enjoyed walking around and exploring the area. The hotel added to the whole Auckland experience.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to the Blue Mountains

Sydney

The day trip to the Blue Mountains was incredibly nice. We got to see some amazing wildlife and the natural beauty of the area was breathtaking. It's a must-do activity if you're in Sydney.

Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise

Australia

The Quicksilver Outer Barrier Reef Cruise was absolutely fantastic. It was a very safe and well-planned tour that was both educational and visually stunning. I highly recommend this if you're visiting Cairns.

Great Ocean Road Adventure

Melbourne

The Great Ocean Road Adventure had a bit of a hiccup due to our guide, who was not very friendly and even got a speeding ticket during the tour. It was not as enjoyable as we had hoped.

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour

New Zealand

The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour was fantastic. We really enjoyed the tour and the wine experience. It was a wonderful way to spend the day and a highlight of the trip.

Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges

Auckland

The Auckland City & Waitakere Ranges tour was fantastic! The rainforest, the bush, and the beach were beautiful. Our guide was wonderful and made the experience really special.

Wellington Food Tour

Wellington

The Wellington Food Tour was fantastic. It ended up being a private tour as we were the only participants, and the guide was very passionate and added his personal touch, making it a memorable experience.

Skyline Queenstown - Gondola and Buffet Dinner

Queenstown (NZ)

The Skyline Queenstown Gondola and Buffet Dinner was a highlight of our trip. The food was high-quality and abundant, far exceeding our expectations for a buffet. The views from the gondola were simply stunning.

Our recent trip to Sri Lanka was nothing short of spectacular, thanks to the exceptional hospitality and professionalism of our driver/tour guide, Anura Kumar, and the outstanding service at Hilton Resort Yala – Safari Ranger, where Sanka made our stay truly memorable.

From the moment we arrived, Anura Kumar ensured that our journey was smooth, comfortable, and packed with insightful experiences. His deep knowledge of Sri Lanka’s history, culture, and hidden gems added immense value to our trip. Whether it was exploring ancient ruins, enjoying scenic coastal drives, or discovering local delicacies, Anura’s warm personality and expertise made every moment special. He went above and beyond to accommodate our requests, making sure we had a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout.

Our stay at Hilton Resort Yala – Safari Range was the perfect retreat after days of adventure. Nestled close to Yala National Park, the resort offers breathtaking views, luxurious comfort, and world-class service. Sanka, in particular, stood out with his exceptional attentiveness and dedication. His personalized service, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality made our stay extra special.

The Yala safari itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were fortunate to witness incredible wildlife, including leopards, elephants, and exotic birds, all while being guided by expert ranger who ensured a responsible and respectful wildlife experience.

Overall, this trip exceeded all expectations. Sri Lanka’s natural beauty is breathtaking, but it’s the people—like Anura Kumar and Sanka—who make the experience truly unforgettable. If you’re planning a visit, I highly recommend both Anura as your tour guide and Hilton Resort Yala for a luxurious yet immersive adventure.

Hotel Review

Hilton Yala Resort

Yala

The Hilton Yala Resort was simply incredible. The hospitality, food, location, and service were all exceptional. The resort's location in the forest allowed us to see elephants, monkeys, and even a crocodile right from the property. The newness of the resort added to its charm, making it my preferred choice over other accommodations during our trip.

Activity Reviews

Morning Safari in Yala National Park

Yala National Park

The morning safari in Yala National Park was a beautiful experience even though we didn't see everything we hoped for. We saw elephants, buffalo, and some amazing birds, which were fantastic.

Afternoon Safari at Yala National Park

Sri Lanka

The afternoon safari at Yala National Park was unforgettable. We had almost given up hope of seeing a leopard when, just fifteen minutes before leaving, we spotted a huge one lying on the ground, staring right at us. Capturing that moment was magical and a testament to the wonders of Yala.

Kanneliya Rainforest with a lunch by the stream

Sri Lanka

Visiting the Kanneliya Rainforest was a highlight of our trip. The early morning hike was perfectly organized with a knowledgeable guide, allowing us to explore various plant species and see snakes. The walk to the waterfalls was breathtaking, and we captured some beautiful photos there.

Fantastic trip!

Doris was great. Excellent planning for us and she checked in to see how things were going.

Guides were good. Drivers were excellent!

Hotels were excellent. Only exception was in HCMC the Muong Tranh hotel is more for business people not tourists. Should use a better more character option there.

Fantastic trip. Thank-you KimKim and Doris!

Hotel Reviews

Hoi An Delicacy Hotel & Spa

Hoi An

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Anam Mui Ne

Mui Ne

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Ha Long Bay - Overnight on Cruise

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi city sightseeing

Hanoi

Hue: Thuy Bieu Ecovillage, Cooking Class & Imperial Citadel

Hue

Mekong Delta - Overnight on board

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An

Sai Gon city sightseeing

Ho Chi Minh City

We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well planned and laid out.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Gullfoss

Tungufell

Charming hotel! Friendly staff l.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skuggi Hotel Reykjavík by Keahotels

Reykjavík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Katla by Keahotels

Vík

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

It was cold and rainy yet a wonderful experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights and Stargazing

Reykjavík

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip to Chile was for four of us. We are experienced travelers (including two prior trips to Argentina) and it is from that perspective that we have unqualified praise for Lorena and her team. We provided a general idea of what we wanted to do, she provided options and then helped us make final decisions. With only minor exceptions, (which we have already told her about) everything she booked for us was perfect--the lodging, the tours, the boat trip and the transfers. We had one transfer fail to show at the Balmaceda airport, but she had us rebooked with someone else within 30 minutes. Also, we had some itinerary adjustments along the way, including adding a land transfer to Argentina.
Lorena was just super helpful with everything
Other Highlights:
-- Soledad, our guide in Santiago and Valparaiso was top notch. We really enjoyed the two days we spent with her.
--Dinner with Gloria: We felt so fortunate to be able to enjoy a home cooked meal in Glorias home. This feels like a special touch that most travelers don't get.
--The Skorpios Cruise: The perfect way to experience the fjords and archipelago of southern Chile. The crew and program on the ship was very high quality.
--Vicente Perez National Park Tour: Our guide Christian was excellent and proved invaluable in solving a minor medical issue one of us had in Puerto Varas
--Transfers: We had a lot of them and with the one exception noted above, they were perfect. The drivers were on time, interesting to talk with and helpful

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique Le Reve

Santiago

Great location, lovely garden for breakfast, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel NOI Blend Colchagua

Santa Cruz, O'Higgins

Set among the vinyards and close to many excellent wineries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Don Luis

Puerto Montt

Do not recommend. Conveyed this to Lorena earlier

M/V Skorpios II Cruise

Santiago

Incredible cruise. The archipelago is stunningly beautiful and the San Rafael glacier was amazing. Highly recommend it. The crew is knowledgeable and helpful Everything is well organized. The food was really good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra

Puerto Varas

Great location with great views. We had two separate one night stays during our trip

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Skorpios II - 6 days/5 nights Cruise

Puerto Montt

The Skorpios II cruise was absolutely fabulous. It was easily one of the highlights of our trip. Everything about it was just incredible. Highly recommend it!

We had a great experience planning our Costa Rica honeymoon. Holden provided several options and curated an itinerary based on our preferences. Serendipity Adventures was the local tour operator and Wilman was fantastic. He was extremely attentive to any questions with a speedy response time. We LOVED the Manoa Hot Springs Resort and experiences we did in La Fortuna. We did the coffee, chocolate and sugarcane farm tour and the organic farm and cooking class. We would definitely book with Kim Kim for future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Papagayo Golden Palms

Guanacaste

This property sufficient but nothing exceptional. The restaurant did serve good lunch and dinner. The pizza was a miss, but everything else was fine. The hot tub was not working during our stay, but the pool was nice and the bartender was attentive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs

Fortuna

We loved this hotel! The view from our room was incredible and looked like a postcard. The on-property shuttle made getting around very convenient as the property is quite large. The breakfast included was very good and the sushi restaurant and pizza restaurant were both very good. The property was in pristine condition. The hot spring and swim up bar was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Organic Cooking Class

Arenal/La Fortuna

Loved Huberth and his lovely family. Their farm was beautiful and such a special place. It was the exact experience we had hoped for and we will be cooking that Costa Rican meal at home with our family. Huberth spoke English and his mother spoke only Spanish. We had no trouble following her instruction and the meal was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate and Sugar Cane Farm Tour

Arenal/La Fortuna

We loved the Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Farm Tour. The format was great, the group size was manageable, and the facility was fantastic at explaining things and keeping everyone engaged. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River

Arenal/La Fortuna

The Safari Float on the Peñas Blancas River was really good. However, the description mentioned 'small groups', but our group had about forty people, which I wouldn't consider small. This might affect others' expectations.

Our trip to Morocco was a great experience. Yassine helped us put together an itinerary in less than 2 weeks to departure date since we got a very late start to planning. Everything was taken care of as per our expectations. We were assigned a personal car & driver Said who was with us for all 9 days right from pick up to drop off at the Casablanca airport. Said was a fantastic driver and guide and we truly had a great time because of him.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Meziana

Chefchaouene

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but small. My husband and me had 2 large suitcases with very little room to move around. The bathroom too was very small.

Riad Kalaa 2

Rabat

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Luxury Camp Chebbi

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Sayeda Alhora

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Isfoula

Ait Ben Haddou

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful hotel. I wish we could have stayed an additional night.

Location

Staff

Very attentive and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean and beautiful room

Riad Jona

Marrakesh

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hammam Visit: Traditional Body Scrub

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overnight in the Sahara Desert

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My sister-in-law, Mindy, and I recently returned from an amazing trip to New Zealand. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, filled with adventures, new experiences, and unparalleled beauty. I believe it was all of that because Uma from KimKim helped us every step of the way, from ideas, to planning, to reservations, to support while we were there.

Mindy and I started talking about going to New Zealand about a year ago. We knew where it was, and had heard lots of rave reviews about how gorgeous it is, but not much else. When we got more serious about making it happen, we didn’t know where to start.

While searching online for some ideas, I came across the website for KimKim. I liked that the person who would be helping us actually lives in New Zealand. I decided to give them a try.

We communicated with Uma via messages on their site. She gathered lots of information from us via a detailed questionnaire – length of stay, whether or not we wanted to drive, how strenuous we wanted the activities to be, and our interest in many things, such as tours, hiking, biking, bungee jumping, city vs. nature, budget vs. average vs. luxury accommodations, and so much more.

With that information, Uma suggested that we would enjoy touring the beauty on the southern island. Two islands? Who knew?! She sent us a preliminary itinerary including lots of details and asked for feedback. Over the next couple of weeks, communicating back and forth, we had our plan in place. Uma set everything up for us – booked all the hotels, transfers, tours, and activities.

Uma stayed in touch with us as the date of our trip approached, making sure we had the correct documentation and travel visas in place, correct clothing for the weather and sun protection, travel vouchers, and anything else we needed.

Every day of the trip was filled with fun and adventurous activities. The most memorable was Mount Cook National Park. We spent an hour and a half hiking up Mount Cook on well-kept gravel paths and steps and across a long, moving (& scary for me) suspension bridge. The area was absolutely stunning! The bridge spanned over a small river of runoff from a glacier at the base of the mountain. Mindy and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be experiencing this!

Another favorite was taking a cruise from Queenstown across Lake Whakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamship. The scenery on the cruise was amazing! It took us to the gorgeous Walter Peak Farm, which is a real working farm. They served us a bountiful, delicious meal and then taught us about sheep shearing and sheepdogs. Afterward, we cruised back to Queenstown. A most enjoyable experience!

Another highlight was the drive from Queenstown to remote Milford Sound and the cruise around the sound. This was another amazing experience with sights so breathtaking, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. We decided to take a small plane back to Queenstown – another first for us, and it was worth the price being able to see the beauty from above.

We had many more memorable experiences on our trip to New Zealand. There were only a couple of “hiccups” in transfers, and Uma was just a text or phone call away to take care of it. I truly believe we couldn’t have fit in so much wonderfulness if we had planned it ourselves. We highly recommend visiting New Zealand and using KimKim to expertly craft the perfect itinerary for you.

Hotel Reviews

Rydges Latimer Christchurch

Christchurch

Not fancy, but a nice hotel and very clean. Their restaurant, Bloody Mary's, has fabulous food and service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very conveniently located for our tour.

Staff

We were very well taken care of!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We were pleased with the comfort and cleanliness.

Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Queenstown

Beautiful and upscale. Had everything we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Franz Josef Westland

Loved the foresty setting and vibe. Upscale and beautiful, great restaurant!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We were treated like royalty!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn't have been better!

Activity Reviews

Christchurch to Queenstown Via Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour (One Way)

Christchurch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak, BBQ Dinner, Farm Tour

Queenstown (NZ)

The TSS Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak was remarkable! The cruise itself was excellent, and the visit to the farm was surprisingly wonderful. We had a delightful meal and really enjoyed the sheep farming demonstration. It was a unique and memorable experience.

Milford Sound Coach - Cruise from Queenstown

Queenstown (NZ)

The Milford Sound tour was incredibly beautiful and impeccably organized. It was a smooth experience with no issues, and the stunning landscape was like something out of a dream.