Kimkim Trip Reviews

Overall Comments.
We had a fabulous three weeks holiday due very much to the quality of Kim Kim’s itinerary planning, logistics organization, the quality of the operators and tour guides employed and the on-going communication and support to us throughout the trip by Kim Kim.
Trail damage and mud due to heavy rains prior to our trip or on several days during our trip, forced some limited rescheduling of tours but in all cases tour operators (and we) adapted without problems.

Kim Kim Organization
Kim Kim organization of our itinerary and communication with us was first class. Gustavo was very responsive to our concerns and suggestions in crafting our itinerary. Greg did a fabulous job of attending to the details and building this into our on-line itinerary. The scheduling of a Skype type call with us just shortly before our trip was very helpful in our preparations.

Kim Kim Support.
Greg’s availability throughout the trip to clarify issues was reassuring.

Locations Visited.
We were very happy with all locations visited and, with one exception, the amount of time spent in each. With advanced information on the closure of the Tortuguero Hill trail which evidently had been closed for around two months because of a fallen tree, a day less in Tortuguero would have been appropriate.

Tours.
All the tours organized by Kim Kim and the guides they employed were first class. Of the self guided days that we had built into our itinerary as efforts to cut down on costs or take a break, the Day 1 Cahuita Park trek and the three days in San Jose worked out well. Because of the mud situation with the jungle hike in Gandoca Manzanillo Refuge the Exploradores guide, Rodriguo made an excellent substitute by taking us kayaking. We loved that experience. The Tortuguero Hill trail was closed so we organized our own water taxi to San Francisco and that was perfectly fine. Making a self guided trek to the Arenal Volcano proved impractical because of the isolated location of the Lost Iguana Resort so we took a tour of the Arenal Volcano through the hotel. The English language skills of the guide were nowhere near as good as the other guides we had. In Santa Elena we decided taking a tour for the Curi Cancha Reserve was a good investment both for the guiding services and transport to get there. We booked this through Ocotea, the same company as Kim Kim engaged for the Cloud Forest Reserve, and it was a good tour. The San Pedrillo tour in Corcovado was much better for us than the Sirena tour but this was largely because of the fantastic wildlife sightings we made at the first compared with the second (a tapir and a puma up close) and also because of the shorter trip and easier sand beach access of the first. Our sightings on the second day in Sirena were slim and disappointing by comparison but from what we heard about prevalence of wildlife at each location our sighting experiences could easily have been the other way around. The beach embarkation at Sirena at low tide on large rocks as well as long rock slippery shelves had its difficulties for us and the wet shoes we had didn’t help our experience. Flip flops are not an option particularly at Sirena. Unfortunately for Susan one of her Keens’ water shoes had separated at the sole so weren’t usable so she was making do with flip flops which were not advised.

The zip line experience in Santa Elena turned out to be quite a highlight for us. We were nearly going to pull out but after our two test runs and encouragement from the staff, we went ahead with all five more.

Transfers.
The transfers operated and coordinated by Ride CR (almost all) all went off very smoothly. So did our Sansa flights.
The boat trip from Puerto Sierpe to Drake Bay was an hour and a half later than expected (the boat departs at 4pm as opposed to 3pm) and possibly not with the boat and skipper we were expecting. We are not even sure we even met Captain Licho 😊 But it all worked well in the end and we enjoyed the experience. We certainly were happy to have taken this method of getting to Drake Bay rather than an extra two and a half hours by road.

Accommodation.

Hotel Santo Thomas - San Jose.
This proved a great choice for us. The location relative to downtown, to a number of excellent restaurants and a bank was superb. The room was spacious and comfortable with all the amenities we needed. The breakfast was perfectly adequate. The staff were all cheerful and helpful. The price was also excellent.

Umami Hotel - Puerto Viejo.
This hotel was also excellent. A well appointed and nicely decorated room although the mattress on the main bed was not as firm as I would have liked. The staff were friendly and helpful. The location was great. We really enjoyed Puerto Viejo.

Mawamba Lodge - Tortuguero.
This lodge is well located in reasonable proximity to the village and ocean beach. It is well laid out and the pool is great. The ability to walk into the village of Tortuguero was very good. However the hot water in our room was intermittent. Some of the staff could have been more friendly and enthusiastic.

Lost Iguana- Arenal.
This hotel was excellent and staff were universally helpful, friendly and enthusiastic. The food at the property was good and our room excellent. However it was very isolated from La Fortuna and because we didn’t have our own car it cost us US$40 each way to go to La Fortuna and didn’t allow us to eat dinner anywhere else other than the hotel’s restaurant.

Mar Inn - Santa Elena.
This motel, though modest in services and appointments met our needs very well. It was located close to the centre of Santa Elena village.

Rancho Corcovado- Drake Bay.
This motel was a real mixture. We were in a beautiful and huge room that seemed only partially furnished. It had no chairs or tables (other than recliner chairs on the balcony) and no hangers of any description either for clothes or towels

Possible areas for Improvement might be two or three page printed spreadsheet itinerary that was more easily referenced in off-line locations (we created our own). Also, better information on things like the trail closure on Tortuguero Hill would have been good.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Santo Tomas

San Jose

This proved a great choice for us. The location relative to downtown, a number of excellent restaurants and a bank was superb. The room was spacious and comfortable with all the amenities we needed. The breakfast was perfectly adequate. The staff were all cheerful and helpful. The price was also excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Old tile floors, spacious rooms, high ceilings.

Location

Easily walkable distance to downtown attractions such as the Teatro Nationale and the Museo Nationale, a bank, on the edge of the Barrio Anon district with a number of great restaurants of different cuisine styles and price levels and a number of good souvenir shops.

Staff

Thomas, the owner provided a lot of good advice and all the staff were helpful and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was firm and very comfortable.

Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

Fortuna

The Lost Iguana Resort & Spa was a fabulous experience with beautiful surroundings and great amenities. However, its location half an hour outside of La Fortuna with no public transport made things a bit difficult. Getting to town required a cab ride, which was quite costly at $40 USD each way, making it less convenient to explore local dining options. It's a great place to stay if you're not planning on heading into town frequently.

Activity Review

Corcovado National Park Hike from San Pedrillo Ranger Station

Drake Bay

The Corcovado National Park Hike from San Pedrillo Ranger Station was an incredible experience. Being in a small group was a significant advantage, allowing for a more personal and quiet exploration of the park. We were extremely lucky with our wildlife sightings, getting up close to a tapir and a puma, which was unforgettable. Despite some wet access on the boats and rocky terrains, this activity was a highlight of the trip due to the amazing wildlife and scenery.

My trip was based in Mexico City and Puebla. Accommodations, transport and guided tours were arranged according to my interests, and all of the tours chosen were perfect. There were wonderful food tours in both Mexico City and Puebla, visits to the Pueblos Mágicos Zácatlan and Chignahuapan, a visit to Teotihuacan, and tours of Talavera factories in Puebla (in one of which I painted my own piece). All of the tour guides (Luis, Yimnah, Lupita, Pablo and Ayleyn) and drivers were wonderful - friendly, knowledgeable, informative and fun to be with. I spent the most time with Lupita (3 separate tours) in Puebla. She is truly a precious resource to have.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Azulai Puebla Hotel Boutique

Puebla

This hotel seems fairly recently renovated, and has lovely decor. It is convenient and modern in comfort, yet retains historic charm. The staff are friendly and accommodating. I had several breakfasts there, which were delicious. The hotel is conveniently located in the historic center, close to places of interest, shopping and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely decor which seamlessly blends historic charm with modern convenience.

Location

It is in the historic center.

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was very comfortable, and the shower was great.

Casa González

Mexico City

My room was large and comfortable. The hotel is very conveniently located. The reception staff were extremely friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely outside patio.

Location

Very conveniently located near restaurants and many places of interest. Safe neighborhood; I felt comfortable walking around as a solo female.

Staff

Reception personnel in particular were helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover the flavors and colors of the exotic San Juan Market

Mexico City

My guide Yimnah was wonderful - friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. She chose excellent food samples so that I could experience many flavors of Mexico, and some foods specific to Mexico City itself. We walked to a local market in an area of the historic center that I would never have thought to explore on my own (not because it was dangerous, just because I didn’t know it was there). Yimnah also shared interesting facts about that specific area of Mexico City.

Quality of Experience

The explanations about the historical significance of some of the dishes and restaurants.

Food

Everything; the torta, the cheese sampler, the mole, the fruit.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yimnah was so friendly and knowledgeable, and always asked me about my preferences and how I was doing.

Transport

My hotel called a taxi for me.

Teotihuacán Walking Tour - DO Puebla/Cholula - 8h

Mexico City

With my guide Luis, I believe that I was able to visit the areas of greatest significance of Teotihuacán.

Quality of Experience

I learned a great deal about the area, the former residents of Teotihuacán and their lives, and the process of archeological discovery and preservation.

Food

I had a typical lunch (chicken with mole, rice, beans, tortillas) in a local restaurant with a view of one of the pyramids.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luis was highly informative; he made every detail interesting. He was also very solicitous about how I was doing e.g. if I needed to rest, etc. The driver took me from Teotihuacán to my hotel in Puebla; he was very kind and helpful.

Transport

As above

Puebla City Tour & Talavera Workshop

Puebla

The visit to the Talavera workshop was great. I was a fan of Talavera ceramics before my arrival, and was thrilled to tour the Uriarte factory, one of the most historic and iconic Talavera factories of Puebla. It was informative and after the tour, for better or for worse, I was able to paint my own piece. We later had a fantastic walking tour of the city of Puebla.

Quality of Experience

The experience of trying to paint my own ceramic piece, which is being shipped to me after it has been fired and finished!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lupita was the guide for this experience. She is truly a treasure - friendly, humorous, knowledgeable, kind and a great teacher. She shared her knowledge of Puebla history in general as well as the history of each individual building we visited. She was always concerned about my welfare, asking if I needed to rest and making sure I didn’t walk into the street when there was traffic. She chose a number of iconic churches for us to visit, as well as the Biblioteca Palafoxiana.

Transport

Kind of N/A; it was a walking tour.

Gastronomic tour in Puebla

Puebla

My guide Lupita chose typical dishes of Puebla for us to sample - tacos de canasta, tlayoyos, quesadillas (not like those in the US), and sweets. Although there were other dishes, like cemitas, that we were unable to try (because too much food) Lupita provided background information about those foods. While we were in the street of dulces, she pointed out the former home of the Serdán family, which continues to display bullet holes from the start of the Mexican Revolution on its facade.

Quality of Experience

This tour was as advertised; a true food tour which includes dishes which most people from the US would not know as Mexican. A truly marvelous cultural experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was my second day with Lupita. I was thrilled to learn that she would be my guide again!

Transport

N/A. Walking tour.

Visit Cholula and a talavera factory

Cholula

We visited a famous Talavera factory, Talavera de la Reyna, on the way to Cholula. The tour was fascinating, and included a thorough explanation of the process of producing the ceramics. We then proceeded to Cholula, where the guide discussed the largest pyramid in the world, located there. We visited the museum and walked around the pyramid, viewing the excavations of previous pyramids. We then climbed to the top to see the famous church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. Additionally we visited Templo de Santa María Tonantzintla and La Purisima in San Andres Cholula.

Quality of Experience

It was very well planned to include the visit to the Talavera factory (a special interest of mine), as well as the historic and spiritual sites. The sites are must-see for anyone in the Puebla area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pablo was very informative, explaining the significance of the pyramid as well as the cultural significance of the different styles of decor in the churches. His commentary on the exhibits in the museum was invaluable.

Transport

The car was comfortable; the driver arrived for pickup promptly and dropped us at convenient spots for each activity.

Mole Poblano: Market Tour & Cooking Class

Puebla

This class was very well-organized and incredibly fun. I was the only tourist in this activity, which added to the experience since I felt like I was really able to participate in the cooking. However I think that a larger group would be great as well.

Quality of Experience

In contrast to previous cooking classes that I have taken in other places, I feel that I will really be able to possibly make mole myself after I return home. We also visited a local market where I had the experience of shopping for some of the ingredients we used later. We sampled a sweet breakfast tamale at the very beginning of the experience, just enough to keep me from getting ravenous before the mole was ready!

Food

Aleyn shared her recipe for mole, which was less extensive (in terms of number of ingredients) than I had expected. She encouraged me to taste the sauce at each crucial step to make sure it was going in the right direction. It turned out delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aleyn, the guide, teacher and chief cook, is an excellent instructor. She was both encouraging with my efforts and also patient with my lack of expertise! She is incredibly fun to be with!

Transport

The little bit of driving that this tour required was done by the tour guide herself.

Discover Zacatlan de las Manzanas & Chignahuapan

Mexico

To my delight, Lupita was my guide for this day’s experiences. It was a day full of unique experiences; we visited 2 of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos, Zácatlan and Chignahuapan, and hiked to a waterfall Cascadas San Joaquin Tomatlán. Zácatlan is a town bejeweled with beautiful and intricate mosaic murals which depict the history of the town, early Mexican history/mythology, and things of cultural interest such as typical clothing from each state of Mexico. To add to the value and interest of this excursion, the actual artists were working as we toured and spoke with us about their work! The hike to the waterfall took place through a cool refreshing mountainous area, and the local guide discussed the indigenous plants of medicinal value. During this tour I sampled some local delicacies such as bread stuffed with an entire apple, elote and a maguey worm (actually very tasty and a good source of protein, no kidding).

Quality of Experience

I loved the opportunity to visit Pueblos Mágicos, places which are not necessarily on the tourist route for folks from the US. Also, it was truly priceless to be able to see the dedication of the mural artists at work, and to meet those amazing women. My memories from this tour will always be cherished.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

As noted before, Lupita is a fantastic guide and I was happy to have her in charge again. I cannot say enough good things about her. She is indefatigable, kind, personable, and a gifted teacher. She was always careful of my welfare, and asked if I was tired or if anything was too much for me. Our driver Miguel is also a very kind man and an excellent, safe driver.

Transport

Miguel was the driver; very comfortable car which was fanatically clean at the beginning of our trip but, unfortunately for Miguel, dusty and/or rain-soaked at the end of the adventure!

Free day in Puebla

Mexico

I visited the forts commemorating the battle of Cinco de Mayo, and the Ex-Convento de Santa Rosa. I wanted to visit the house of the Serdán family but was unable; it was closed for some sort of maintenance.

Quality of Experience

I enjoyed the day, but can’t compare it to the previous stellar guided experiences!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

N/A

Transport

N/A

Vicky did a superb job of booking accomodations and activities that fit us perfectly. Her attention to detail was spot on. Every transfer, flight, check
In and excursion were perfectly executed. I would 100% recommend Vicky and Kim Kim for any travel needs. Well done!

The entire trip was fantastic! Our tour guide, Anna, and her 2 drivers were knowledgeable and friendly!

Activity Reviews

Sightseeing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

The viewpoints were lovely

Quality of Experience

P

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural and Nature Explore of the Kowloon Peninsula and Lai Chi Kok Park

Hong Kong

The gardens and pagodas were beautiful! A must see for any nature lovers

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driving to Tai Mo Shan and Tai Po Waterfront Park Visit

Hong Kong

This is a hidden gem and amazing views for those who hike.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I was impressed with KimKim from beginning to end. I worked with Olman to plan our itinerary and everything went like clockwork. All our transfers were arranged and on time. Our tours were scheduled and went off flawlessly. We stayed in wonderful lodges/hotels with no issues. We visited three areas of beautiful Costa Rica -La Fortuna, Monteverde and Manuel Antonio. Our itinerary allowed us to experience waterfalls, safari river float and hot springs in La Fortuna, cloud forests, hanging bridges hike and horseback riding in Monteverde and beach time in Manuel Antonio. In Manuel Antonio, we watched monkeys from our balcony while staying at the Jungle Vista Boutique Hotel. I Gracia from KimKim checked in us while we were in Costa Rica. Because of rain we had canceled one tour and she wanted to see if we were ok. She also answered questions I had about our departure so we felt well taken care of while there. I highly recommend KimKim and am a very satisfied customer.

Our 17 day trip to Morocco was everything we dreamed of! Yassine and MOBT saw to it that the planning and organization were flawless. There were no hitches at any point. Our driver Said was superb - friendly and helpful at all times. He went out of his way to ensure our comfort and to recommend places and experiences that we would enjoy. The accommodation was of an excellent standard. It was wonderful to experience living in a Riad in the Medina! All the guides provided by MOBT were extremely knowledgeable and helpful in providing useful recommendations and including experiences that they knew we would enjoy - Abdelgani in Rabat, Rabab in Tangier, Zahra in Fes and Marouan in Marrakech. If/when we return to Morocco, we would not hesitate to use MOBT again and to recommend their services.

Our first guide in Thailand, Mike, was amazing. He quickly understood why we were in Thailand (for the food) and made sure we tried all the local dishes and market treats wherever we were!

Hotel Reviews

Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge

Pakbeng

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

My Dream Boutique Resort

Luang Prabang

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Athena Cruise

Ha Long Bay

Wonderful room, terrible food

Authenticity & Character

Location

Overrun by other boats. A quiet bay would have been much nicer

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hoian Central Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residence Wat Damnak

Siem Reap

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flower Garden hotel

Authenticity & Character

Êmm Hotel Saigon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cherish Hotel Hue

Hue

Activity Reviews

Full Day Lao Cooking Class (join in ) and Night Market Tour

Luang Prabang

Local Farm Visit, Waterfall & Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre

Luang Prabang

The waterfall is gorgeous but would be best experienced early before the crowds. The bear center is just sad and disappointing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Mekong Delta: Boat Ride, Local Villages, and Cycling

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So much fun! We took many forms of transport

Transfer to Pakbeng by a boat ride along the Khong River (shared boat/ Shompoo Cruise )

Chiang Khong

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class at Red Bridge School & Walking Street Food Tour

Hoi An

Fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Too cowded

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat

Siem Reap

Take the Mekong River Cruise to Luang Prabang (Join-in)

Thailand

Quality of Experience

Mi

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Hanoi City Tour with Museum of Ethnology

Hanoi

Not our thing.

Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan

Siem Reap

Late Afternoon Street Food Tour in Hanoi: Fermented Pork, Grilled Fish, and More

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Athena Luxury Cruise - Day 1

Thailand

This was a bit of a circus. Too many boats and people all doing the same thing. It would be better to cruise longer among the islands on our own.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An - countryside and ancient town exploration, local food taste

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Athena Luxury Cruise-Day 2

Ha Long Bay

Quality of Experience

Food

Full Day  Cooking Class & Dong Ba Market Tour

Hue

Not done because we didn’t get picked up

Half Day Ho Chi Minh City Tour with Dong Khoi Street

Ho Chi Minh City

Not our thing

Full Day Hoi An City Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Hoi An

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Joe was great and full of excellent information. He made the interactions with our local guides very easy and ensured our trip ran smoothly and we were always taken care of at all times.

Our driver ‘Dragon’ Ergon was a very safe and gave us great confidence with his calm nature putting us at ease in the hectic roads. He went above and beyond to ensure we had a comfortable time on the Sumatran roads.
We had several local tour guides and all were great with their local knowledge and always ensured we were looked after.

Activity Review

Trek in Gunung Leuser National Park

Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra

We couldn’t have gotten any luckier with our guide and the animals we saw. Our guide had amazing knowledge of the local wildlife was fantastic. His ability to quietly traverse the jungle and spot various animals was an amazing site to see. I’d highly recommend this jungle trek.

Quality of Experience

The guide put the animals before anything, ensuring we were safe but let the animals roam freely.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was I great source of knowledge and ensured we got to see as much as possible.

My favorite part of the trip was time I spent in Hanoi. I loved my Walking Food tour with Cherry. She was so informative and has a wonderful personality to make the tour so enjoyable. She was knowledgeable and fun. The Chaos of Hanoi was delightful. My jeep tour with Robin was also very good. Loved the train street and the Pagoda. Robin spent time teaching me about the experiences and seemed especially knowledgeable about the Pagoda. Halong bay was such a wonderful retreat from the city. The overnight cruise was lovely. Accommodation on the boat was very comfortable. The floating market was a marvel. The guide was terrific with bits of information about the markets and how they are diminishing. I totally enjoyed cruising the market and even getting some soup from a floating vendor. Ho Chi Min was a very different flavor than Hanoi. A bit more sophisticated. Rooftop bars and entertainment were aplenty. The war museum and tunnels were sobering. All along the trip accommodations were above my expectations and I was completely impressed with the service and punctuality of the guides. A rather pleasant surprise was all of the decorations for Luna New Year. I was unaware of the start of the celebration but was lucky enough to be there before the actual New Year. Flower markets were bursting with Orchids, Kumquat Trees and Cherry blossoms. It was very special to see.

Overall, the trip was wonderful. We fully enjoyed our excursion to Arcachon from Bordeaux and the wine region as well. The days spend in the Loire Vally were amazing, we could not have asked for more. The time spent in Paris was also exactly what we were looking for. We did have some issues with being taken to the wrong train station by an arranged driver for a day trip to Normandy. Although, Audrey was able to help us regroup and got us there the next day for an abbreviated trip, It took additional arranging on our part also. The next time we would like a few more specific details about where to find drivers so we don't spend time looking and miss. The only other thing we would have liked is to have dinner reservations made for us , instead of spending time figuring that out. We did not make them in advance so we were relying on hotel conceirge and found some to be booked.

Overall it was a great experience. Just be aware that sometimes things run on time and sometimes pickups run 30 minutes late

Activity Review

Bike Tour Laguna Cejar

Chile

Great guide. Good exercise!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Liz was easy to work with and helped me plan my first trip to NZ. She was professional and knowledgeable about the cities I wanted to visit and recommended a few options based on my preferences. The local partner was extremely helpful on the ground to support my tours throughout the 18-day period. They were responsive and provided quick coordination when change was needed. I would highly recommend Liz for New Zealand trips and would love to work with her and the kimkim team again for another trip in the future.

The tours, attractions, and accommodations that Aleksandra helped us plan were all fabulous. In London, we particularly enjoyed the guided tour of Westminster Abbey, the high tea, and day trip to Oxford. Transportation to Amsterdam (as well as all transfers) went without a hitch. During the one hiccup in Amsterdam, where we went to the wrong location for our canal boat tour, Aleksandra responded immediately and helped us in the moment. It was truly a wonderful and memorable family trip!

I'm 66 years old and recently retired. My husband and I are well traveled and I usually plan our trips. There were so many moving parts to visiting Patagonia that I searched for help with the plans. I was lucky enough to stumble upon Dittmar/KimKim and even luckier to work with Erin. Erin was very help from the moment I reached out and I was happy to know that she lived in Chile!! Erin and I had many conversations regarding what we wanted and she always came back with suggestions or follow-ups. I told her that I was very picky about hotels and she stayed with me and found places I liked. As far as the trip is concerned, everything we agreed on came off without a hitch. I found our guides and drivers to be very friendly, helpful and cared that we were having a good time. I am so happy that I found Dittmar/KimKim and I will use them in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

so charming....

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

I left my apple earbuds in the safe of our room....discovered it days later and they found them!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hosteria El Puma

El Chalten

Our favorite hotel on the entire trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are large and modern. Just loved it here.

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

love love love

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Design Suites Calafate

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mine Hotel Boutique

Buenos Aires

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location in Palermo area of Buenos Aires

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Patagonia

The day trip to the Patagonian Estancia was a standout experience. Horseback riding on the ranch followed by a wonderful lunch was beautiful and perfectly done. Everything met our expectations and style of travel. It was just perfection and beautiful.

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Patagonia

The Torres del Paine full day private tour was good despite the rainy weather. Our guide was very nice, helpful, and answered many of our questions. Though we only stayed at the hotel for one night, it was nice and added to the experience.

Our trip was wonderful our activities were great the people are so friendly and are eager to help in anyway they can.
I would recommend this trip again and again

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Baru Calablanca

Cartagena

They people are so friendly and helpful the food is wonderful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

So friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are clean and comfortable

Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena

Cartagena

The people are so friendly and helpful such a beautiful hotel food was amazing

Authenticity & Character

The age of hotel and how beautiful it is and wonderful staff and food

Location

Good location lots of things to do around

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Local Colombian Emerald Workshop

Cartagena

Wonderful activity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ceviche and Coconut Lemonade with Transportation

Cartagena

This was a wonderful experience I would recommend it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Coffee Tasting with Honey Pairing

Cartagena

I now alot about coffee great activity

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All the individual guides and drivers were very good, especially those on the Rio Celeste hike, they were very thoughtful in dealing with the rainy weather. The accommodations were each very different, Tenorio Lodge had exceptional wildlife and birds.

I recently booked a trip to Vietnam and Thailand through Doris, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience! Despite the short notice, she went above and beyond to put together an incredible itinerary that made my trip seamless and unforgettable.

Doris was incredibly helpful, especially with all the last-minute issues that came up. Whether it was adjusting bookings, handling unexpected changes, or providing great recommendations, she was always there to assist and make sure everything went smoothly.

Thanks to Doris, I had an amazing time exploring beautiful destinations, enjoying great food, and experiencing the local culture without any stress. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated travel expert. I’ll definitely be booking with her again in the future!

Where to start? This was SUCH a terrific trip! As we were planning our Morocco trip, we Zoomed with Majid to talk about priorities for a 9-day, 2-person trip with a driver; he put together a detailed itinerary that fit our needs and budget. It took us on a counterclockwise loop from Marrakech to the desert to Fez, then Chefchauen and finally to Casablanca. Rabat, Tangier and Agadir will have to wait until next trip.

We are the kind of travelers that usually prefer to make our own itinerary, but choosing KimKim to plan our trip turned out to be a wise choice. Having a van and driver felt indulgent, but for such an epic trip, it made our trip so relaxed and enjoyable. The accommodations were mostly family-owned, safe, clean, friendly, charming places, which we loved. If you looked for things to complain about, they could be found (a light bulb out, a confusing shower controls situation, whatever), but nothing unclean or impacting sleep or hygiene, and all had decent Wifi and wonderful Moroccan food, but could also accommodate other dietary needs. Most places were riads (older, renovated buildings with a central garden/courtyard with all windows facing the courtyard), and at least this time of year (late January), quiet and super customer-oriented.

For two of us with a driver, the driver can make or break the trip; Mohamed was just terrific. Personable, low-key, smart, flexible, experienced and very safe. Since we wanted to touch a lot of far-flung bases, we were literally 30+ hours on the road. One thing I hadn't anticipated was, at least with Mohamed, how relaxing the road travel can be when you don't have to drive and don't have to worry about the unknowns. We just sat back and enjoyed the ever-changing landscapes, and whenever the urge to take a photo struck, Mohamed would pull over or tell us that a good photo spot was coming. He also was able to adapt our itinerary by stopping at local places of interest, time permitting.

That road-time also gave us plenty of time to ask whatever questions we had about the country, the people or what we were seeing out the window, which made for pretty effortless learning. I basically travel to gain perspective, and having ready answers to whatever crossed my mind was a joy.

A tension point with guided tours is that shops incentivize guides/drivers to bring customers, so you can end up in way-overpriced shops where they ply you with food/drink treats, have a personable host guide and inform you, then give you the hard sell at the end. Mohamed avoided such places, though I'm sure there are endless such establishments. Such a blessing.

In Marrakech and Fez, local guides took us through the city sites, and both were personable, knowledgeable fluent English speakers who provided good perspectives on what we were seeing. There seemed to be less personal crime in Morocco than other developing countries I've been, but Mohamed and our guides were nicely safety-oriented. We never felt unsafe, and it made for an stress-free relaxing trip. Sometimes, 9 days in a developing country can feel exhausting; with a trip like this, I could have stayed indefinitely.

We were connected with Majid via WhatsApp, in case we had any questions or concerns, which we appreciated. In the end though, we never needed to call him for anything. The only suprise along the way was a dinner with a host family that had to be cancelled due to host illness. Majid and Mohamed deftly handled that, and provided a delightful memorable private rooftop dining experience at our riad that we'll long remember.

We stumbled upon KimKim online, so we sent our deposit, part of me was thinking, I hope KimKim is real - maybe this trip is a little too good to be true? Alas - Mohammed actually WAS waiting for us at the Marrakech airport with a little sign with our name on it. And so began one of our all-time favorite trips. Morocco is a fascinating country, with friendly people, amazing landscapes, and wonderful food. And KimKim provided an unforgettable experience.

All of our activities went flawlessly, our accommodations were outstanding. All of our guides and hosts were very knowledgeable and service oriented.

Hotel Review

SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort

PHUKET

We loved the setting, beautiful gardens and outstanding customer service. Over the top-amazing breakfast buffet

Authenticity & Character

The amazing staff.

Location

Right on a beautiful white sand beach.

Staff

Everyone made our stay special.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our room was checked on twice a day. I loved the special herbal drinks that they dropped off each afternoon.

Activity Reviews

Romantic Dinner on the Manohra River Cruise!

Bangkok

Perfect way to see the city. Amazing food and service,

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Doi Inthanon National Park - A nature walk and culture (Kaew Mae Pan Nature Trail)

Chiang Mai

Beautiful hike

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise Phi Phi Island Joining Tour

Phuket

Food

Nice lunch and snacks

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an absolutely incredible experience working with Sarah to plan our 2-week trip to the Philippines! From start to finish, she went above and beyond to ensure our trip was perfect. She took the time to listen to our preferences and customized an itinerary that included all the locations and excursions we wanted, plus a few amazing surprises we hadn't even thought of. Every part of our trip was well-organized, and the logistics were seamless.

What stood out the most was how easy it was to communicate with Sarah. She was always quick to respond to any questions we had, no matter the time difference, and her suggestions were spot on. We never felt lost or confused about the next step in our journey because she had everything mapped out for us.

Overall, we couldn't be happier with the service and planning that Sarah provided. If you're looking to visit the Philippines, we highly recommend working with her—you won't be disappointed!