Kimkim Trip Reviews

My husband and I felt very taken care of in planning ring road trip. Essentially Michele did everything for us, booked the car, hotels, created maps and driving routes, and stops for us to see. We are both busy professionals and the fact that we didn't really have to think about this trip until we landed in Iceland was absolutely perfect and we enjoyed exploring the itinerary on a day to day basis. The hotels were also really nice and comfortable. Thank you Michele!

Diego and Green World Adventures did a great job helping us plan our honeymoon. We had an amazing trip to Costa Rica and Diego tailored our itinerary to exactly what we were looking for. In the process he was helpful in giving us all the information we needed to optimize our trip/timing and avoid travel pitfalls. He also coordinated all of our transportation and found amazing accommodations that were within our budget. During our travel we felt well supported and assured without the hassle or worry of conventional international travel. Finally, we were extremely impressed with the sustainability initiative as well. I would recommend Diego and or GWA to anybody thinking about traveling to Costa Rica.

I cannot say enough good things about Anna or this Croatia trip that she and I planned together! I just completed a 2-week solo trip and actually started crying when my plane left Split, because I just didn't want to leave.

Some of the things that made this vacation so memorable were the little things I usually have to worry about all by myself when I do solo trips. I am famous for getting lost, boarding the wrong train or bus, getting meeting places wrong, etc., but this time it was a breeze! When you're in a new country it usually takes you a few days to get a feel for how things work, but Anna even went so far as to send me pictures of what my buses would look like, checked in with me just about daily to make sure I wasn't having any issues, and somehow also managed to make many last-minute substitutes for excursions when the ones we'd booked months in advance canceled due to Covid or other issues. She is truly a miracle worker!

Our trip (and I call it "our" because I feel like she was there with me the entire time) was a labor or love since I'd first reached out to her nearly 8 months ago, and she put incredible thoughtfulness and detail into everything, even down to knowing when I'd need a quiet day to just relax and catch up on sleep or put my feet up - I really did request a whirlwind of a trip!

This is the second time I've used kimkim for international travel, and I plan to stick with them for future trips as well. It's so easy when you give them a timeframe, a budget, and some general ideas of what you'd like to see and do. In fact, on this trip there was so much more I was able to include that it felt like I got a bonus week of sightseeing for my investment.

If I could give Anna ten stars, I would! I rarely visit the same country twice, but for Croatia, I definitely plan on making an exception.

Emanuela did a great job planning our 12-day trip. Everything went smoothly and she checked in on us several times during the trip to make sure all was going well. I would recommend her for trip planning in Iceland.

Antonia was the absolute best! We were blown away by the service we received from Kimkim, she went above and beyond to make sure everything was smooth and perfect for our trip. All the excursions and transportation were perfect and easy to follow. We never felt lost or confused, we even talked about how this was the first time going to Europe that we didn't feel stressed about how to get somewhere or what to do. Even when we accidentally left our passports at the previous hotel, Antonia handled everything and made sure they were found ASAP. The trip was perfect. Thank you so much!

Trip was great, well coordinated, Jared was always immediately available with help / guidance along the way, even when I was abroad. I would recommend Mostar for future guests in place of Travnik day trip, but all else was interesting to see. Jared is the best!

Antonia was truly our honeymoon fairy godmother and made all our dreams become reality. She was consistently thorough, patient, friendly, and knowledgeable. We felt so well cared for during the planning process (including Covid and weather concerns), every day during our trip, and all the way until we arrived back home. The itinerary was a fantastic glimpse of all the beauty, culture, food, coffee, and adventures Croatia has to offer. We had a great time touring the Plitvice Lakes with Petra, learning about life in Hvar with Grgo, and sunset kayaking around Lokrum Island with Denis, among so many other wonderful memories. With the amount of detailed, personalized assistance provided, it was amazing to learn that we were among seven trips that Antonia was running simultaneously. We were so grateful to have this stress and worry-free experience, and for burek.

Kate was wonderful. Having her a text or call away averted lots of averted frustration. The emergency number was appreciated, as well. I knew that no matter when it was, she knew I was traveling and was there to assist.

Have had great service from Greece, as well.

However, the young couple I have been working with on a trip to Europe in May for my family is not giving me much confidence. Their service doesn’t appear to be up to your standards. They have made it very plan that they are unavailable on weekends and outside of regular weekdays working hours. I will be traveling over three weekends and trouble seems to always strike after 5.

They have a language barrier. I have lots of experience with English as a Second Language folks but I am struggling. I fear I am going to be on my own in Europe in three countries for almost a month with no safety net or the kind of backup and preparatory support Kate provided.

They are in Slovenia. I am going to France, Germany, and Prague. I only speak English and my arrogant American (I try not to be that way! Ask Kate.) ways expect service for the money I invest. I recognize their background in a different culture and hope that my years of teaching cross cultural awareness pay off when I travel. However, if their future business aspirations include service to Americans, they need to soften their touch a bit and plan ahead using their knowledge to benefit travelers who will benefit from that.

For example, they have not mentioned COVID. We will need tests before flying to Europe. More critically, we will need PCR tests in Prague before flying to Bordeaux where we will board a riverboat cruise which they are aware we are booked on. I have no confidence that they have even thought of that. Who knows.. It may not be required by then. However, the cruise line has already asked us to upload vaccine records and forewarned us about the COVID test requirement prior to boarding.

My lifelong BFF and I decided to spontaneously get away in late August, with trip dates for Sept 2021. I work long hours and don't have the time nor desire to look for deals and reviews, especially so close to our trip date. I found KimKim online and it was the very best thing we've ever done! Our specialist, Andrijana, was better than we could've ever wished for in a travel partner. We only had 7 nights and no idea of where to go, do or stay; Andrijana curated the most perfect vacation for us. Working together we planned some structured days and some to be 'free' days, where she offered us ideas of where to go, and best places to eat. It completely took the stress out of vacationing, including where to get our Covid test to come back home. The hotels were exactly what we had hoped for. Our drivers were always prompt and courteous.
A couple of highlights (so hard to pick as it was all magical) was the hotel in Positano with the most spectacular view. Small-sized boat trip from Sorrento to Capri. Our private guide, Giuseppe, who took us to Pompeii and then on to a private winery for lunch, followed by the climb up Mt.Vesuvio.
I would absolutely recommend this incredible agency - the personal connection and knowing that the agents are just a message away, is exemplary and next to none.

We were pleased at the transfers, ferries, and excursions planned and paid for in advance. We also were thrillwd at thw team work at kimkim and the reaponse time rhw only time we had a concern. The response rate and resolution was excellent. Would recommend to anyone.

We thought KimKim and Tasos were great!! Tasos planned all aspects of our Greece trip (including a sailboat charter, numerous excursions, car rental and boutique hotels) and did a wonderful job. He selected boutique hotels and suggested excursions that on our own would have been difficult to find or research. We especially enjoyed the sailboat charter and the boat captain and his deckhand were great Tasos was very responsive and as questions and issues happened he and his team got back to us immediately with feedback. We ended up asking Tasos for suggestions on where to eat and all of his choices were excellent and better than the places we picked on our own. It was especially comforting knowing Tasos and his team were available during Covid times and he assisted us in getting a second Covid test when the results of the first test were delayed. I would highly recommend using KimKim and Tasos if you are thinking of planning a trip to Greece.

Booking the trip through KimKim made for much more peace of mind leading up to and during our travels. We were able to speak with our specialist Terry prior to booking and she made a specialized itinerary based on our interests. I didn’t have to worry about what I didn’t know when going to a foreign county because she and she folks on the ground in Iceland took care of all the bookings and scheduling and even gave us driving directions. When one of our tours was cancelled due to weather we were able to call and have them handle rescheduling for us. All in all made for a much more relaxing vacation, and I would definitely do it again and recommend the service to others. Thanks Terry and the KimKim team!!

Our experience with the team at KimKim was very professional. We had a well organized itinerary. The team checked in with us to ensure everything was going well and helped us make some necessary changes in hotels when we found the one that had been booked was unacceptable.

We had a glorious 16 days along the Wild Atlantic Way. The helpful hints of where to stop for coffee break or where to go for dinner helped us find hidden gems we wouldn't have found on our own. The place we loved the best was the Glen Arm Castle and Walled Garden. A delightful place to stop explore and rejuvenate before heading onward.

From the first minute we contacted KimKim it was an amazing experience.
Sharon our facilitator listened to what we were looking to experience and built a trip tailored just for us.
When we needed to make changes Sharon responded immediately and and made sure those changes worked for us.
Our journey through Morocco with Hicham and Morocco Immersions was an amazing experience. We were transported to a place we could only imagine.
The Ryads and Kasbahs were beautiful to see and wonderful places to lay our heads at nights as we remembered the sights and sounds we had experienced throughout the day.
Our driver Hicham was enthusiastic and so informative.
I had broken my foot a few weeks before our trip and he was so thoughtful and took care to make sure I was comfortable and adjusted the schedule and challenges of some of the excursions to accommodate my limitations.
Our excursion tour guides were very friendly, enthusiastic and very informative.
The Camel trek into the desert was a moment I will remember forever. Seeing the Sunset over the dunes and staying the night in the Luxury camp was truly an experience beyond my expectations.
I cannot express enough how much I appreciate Morocco Immersions dedication to providing such a wonderful tour.
Thank you Sharon and Hicham for your dedication to ensuring that our trip through Morocco was exactly what we were looking for.

NOT JUST A TRIP...AN ADVENTURE..

Sharon of KimKim Tours proved to be the most proficient tour organizer I have used to plan a tour. She never missed a beat in making it designed to fit our needs and expectations. We were hooked up with Morocco Immersions for our Moroccan trip. Hicham our private driver was the single most person making the trip unforgettable. He was there for our every need to navigate us through a country that never seemed to surprise us both in food and exploration. I will never forget the Dunes of the Sahara on Camel back at sunset, it was breathtaking, a lifetime memory. Thank you Sharon and Hicham for EVERYTHING!!! I highly recommend visiting Morocco using Kim Kim Tours and I WILL use again. They're not just arranging trips ... they're adventures of a lifetime...

We had an incredible 10-day trip to Peru. Kristy & Miski Travels crafted a wonderful itinerary for us, and we got to explore the Amazon, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Macchu Picchu / Aguas Calientes, and Palccoyo (Rainbow Mountain). Kristy was extremely helpful in answer all of our questions, particularly around COVID requirements and protocol. We showed up at the airport prepared with the affidavit of health that she informed us about, and were able to use the at-home rapid testing kits that she told us about in order to get back home to the US. Peruvians were incredibly diligent and respectful about keeping masks on, and we felt very safe while there. Around Cusco & Macchu Picchu, our guide José taught us an incredible amount about Incan history, architecture, religion, and more. We are so excited about everything we had learned, seen, and eaten, and can't wait to go back again someday!

Robi was a GREAT guide! Very informative, helpful and available for our trip before and during. We could not have experienced all Croatia has to offer without him!

We had a fabulous time in Iceland from September 18-26th. I worked with Emanuela to plan all what we hoped to see in Iceland and we were not disappointed! 2 night in Reykjavik, 2 nights in Vik and 2 night in Grindavik on our self driving tour. We loved our hotels, dinner suggestions and tours. Emanuela was in constant contact with us throughout our time in Iceland - even alerting us to the bad weather alerts and offering us alternative plans. We hope to return to see even more of beautiful Iceland and I will definitely be calling Emanuela to book our visit!!

I have an interest in Medieval history and specifically the Knights Templar. Spain's rich history includes the Templars, so it was high on my list of places to visit. Susana and Paula immediately got what I was looking for and put together a great itinerary that allowed me to not just see but experience Medieval Spain and the Templars.

Because of my interests in learning more, it's important that the local guides are knowledgeable about the history and the legends. Each of the local guides Susana arranged was excellent. Not only were each of them very knowledgeable on the history, but personable, flexible and great storytellers. It was like traveling with a good friend rather than a guide I had never met before.

The attention to detail was suburb. The detailed travel book came in handy a number of times. The hotels were great and in the middle of what I was going to be seeing. Susana kept in touch each day to ensure I knew what was happening the next day, plus she happily stepped in a couple of times to solve minor problems, like when I got off at the wrong train station. She immediately called a local taxi company to transport me to the right station and interpreted with the taxi driver.

I would be remiss in not thanking Leo the taxi driver Susana arranged for me in Peniscola. Not only was he an excellent driver, but went into the clinic with me to translate and make sure I got the right COVID test. When I forgot my passport in the hotel, he drove me back to the hotel and back to the clinic.

I know that I'll be returning to Spain as there's much more I want to see and learn about. I will definitely use the great team at KimKim again.

It was an incredibly amazing treat to visit Costa Rica – There are so many wonderful things to describe I am not sure where to begin. First of all Costa Rica is in Central America with coastlines on the Caribbean and the pacific ocean complete with volcanos, rain forests and most impressively, Cloud Forests! My camera could not capture the unique view of the cloud forest – I will try to describe it: totally lush forests on the mountainside with the clouds visible and the trees up above the clouds! The air is thin because it is a high elevation. This is where the zip lining occurred. This is no ordinary zip line my friends! This is way up high and the lines are very long. I loved to hold on to the middle and turn around to look at the vastness of the cloud forest as I sped past. Again and again Zoila and I zip lined until there were no more lines

But woah! I am getting ahead of things!
We landed in San Jose and were picked up right on time and transported to our hotel. Early morning bus ride to the Caribbean coast to a village called Tortuguero; named because various sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand here.
We view the wildlife from the lagoons in the day time and at night I went out to the beach to view the giant greenback female turtle lay her eggs in the hole that she had dug and then she buried them with her back flippers. The poor girl was quite tired . We also saw a different turtle make her way back to the ocean; her tracks looking like a small tractor passed through. The next day back on the boat to traverse the lagoons – Lush is the only word that applies here if not totally peaceful and serene too.

W We stopped for lunch at this very picturesque stream.
I want to add that I tried new food and I did not have a bad meal once. The food is delicious! From this lovely place a van took us to the base of the Arenal Volcano where we stayed at the Casa Luna hotel and spa.

The volcano from our balcony at Casa Luna.

I am in the back of this raft on the right having a fabulous time!!

Jose was the captain of our raft and was tremendous! So much fun!

Continuing on – the next day I relaxed by the pool and swam laps while enjoying lunch poolside. Later we both had a really interesting chocolate and coffee tour of the Don Juan plantation We got to make our own flavored chocolate! That evening I pampered myself with an aroma therapy massage in the most sublime setting of one wall open to the lush plants with the sound of rain gently falling. Slept really well that night. Then we said fairwell to the volcano and the village of La Fortuna. Everyone was super warm and welcoming. Melvin, at the font desk was the best.

Another on-time transport to take us up to the Cloud Forest of Monteverde! Where I started my story.
An example of the lush path we walked between the zip lines

After the ziplining we visited the butterfly house and the habitat where they care for the sloths that they rescued. This is where I was able to obtain some photos you could actually see what they looked like instead of a bunch of leaves in the trees.

The fellow travelers I met along the way were also part of the benefits of this marvelous journey into Pura Vida – this is the saying heard everywhere which is loosely translated as live your best life and do not worry. Don’t worry be happy Here I was on a night walk with a young couple from Isreal. In Tortuguero a really fun couple from Barcelona. I saw birds and vipers, and spiders but my camera was quite lacking. The air was cool so my sweatshirt came in handy.
Beautiful final view of the cloud forest at breakfast and then we were picked up for the next destination: The pacific ocean and the Manual Antonio park. We were at a hotel where you could walk to the beach and the restaurant had a lovely view and the sound of the waves added to the ambiance. Andreana was my favorite waitress at this locale. I also swam in the ocean and their pool.

It is a very tough decision to decide what, out of all the truly wonderful things we did and saw, was the best, but I have to say it was the humpback whales! Zoila and I were picked up and taken to an office where we went out in the ocean waters and got on a boat to go out to see if we could possibly ee any view whales. And we did!! We saw a male, a female and her baby! Swimming together and surfacing near us then they would move away and surface a little ways out. We watched them for a very long time just transfixed with the sight – everyone yelling when we spyed them! Dylan our guide, was very informative about the whales, turtles, birds and the whole area.
Finally shopping at the marina in Quepos town prior to the transport back to San Jose to a totally modern hotel complete with room service. Then to the airport and home to Chicago. I wish everyone could experience the remarkable Costa Rica! Pura Vida!