Kimkim Trip Reviews

Elena was incredibly responsive and helpful while we were planning our itinerary. She responded quickly to our feedback regarding hotel rooms and activities and answered our questions about finalizing our planning.

We loved both hotels we stayed at. We booked our trip fairly last minute, and most places were nearly fully booked. Elena got us into two hotels we really liked, and she even managed to get us adjoining rooms in both hotels, which was one of our key objectives.

Serendipity Adventures was our point of contact on the ground in Costa Rica. Wilman was in constant touch with us via WhatsApp, ensuring we had the most current information and confirmation numbers, updating information as it changed, and answering our questions about specific activities. Mariano, our guide in Arenal, was terrific. We enjoyed all of the trips we took.

This was our family's favorite vacation so far and we can't wait to return!

(My sister planned and booked the trip, so I didn't have that experience.)
We had a fabulous trip with our tour manager, Omar. It was truly an immersion in Moroccan culture, geography, and people. After our diverse experiences, I have a lively picture (understanding) of Morocco that no trip guidebook could give me.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Nesma Suites & SPA

Medina, Marrakech

Convenient location, friendly staff, comfortable rooms

Sahara Stars Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Don't think desert tent, think hotel. Comfortable, good food.

Kasbah Tiziri

Kelaat Mgouna

Fun to experience n amazing renovated kasbah! Delightful hosts! Great food!

Riad Merzouga Dunes

Merzouga

Great location, comfortable, quiet and peaceful, great food, friendly staff

Riad Farouzi Fes

Fes

Convenient location, very friendly staff, good food

Hotel Al Khalifa

Chefchaouen

Convenient location, comfortable room, good food, friendly staff

Hotel des Oudaias

Rabat

Convenient location, comfortable room, friendly staff, good food

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Hicham was very informative and I learned a lot. Also, in each space he gave us time to look around before we moved on.

Day Excursion to Ourika Valley

Morocco

It was raining during this day trip, which affected what we could see and do. The waterfall area was more touristy than I would have liked. Our local guide Hassan was very solicitous about my balance and footing on the slippery stones.

Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Ben Haddou

Morocco

Interesting drive with a number of stops to stretch and look around. Ait Ben Haddout was definitely worth seeing. Our flexible tour guide Omar helped us find a museum I'd read about, which turned out to be the Musee de Oasis in the ksar El Khorbat. This was definitely worth visiting while our guide patiently waited. It was fun soaking in Omar's love for his home area,the Dades Valley.

Hiking the Road of 1000 Kasbahs

Morocco

Our Monkey Fingers hike was fantastic, with the help of our local guide Ahmed, who helped me over the rough spots. It was great to hike in nature.

Dades Valley to Merzouga via Todgha Gorge & Tinghir

Morocco

We could have skipped Todgha Gorge. We expected something like Monkey Fingers, but there was no hiking and it was way too touristy. Tinghir was disapppointing, since our local guide Abdul recited his script while looking down, did not engage with us and often walked ahead of us. I did like walking back through the village, though.

{{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Volubilis and Meknes

Morocco

The drive with Omar was pleasant despite the rainy weather and we got to see some sights by car. It was raining more at Volubilis - ground was very muddy. Our guide Moustafa delivered his message in a monotone while looking down; he did not engage with us and walked on ahead of us. This was disappointing. I was glad to see the site, though.

Tour of Desert Region

Merzouga

Driving into a desert area with our free-spirit guide Atti to look for fossils was fun. It was interesting to see where fossils are quarried. Touring the fossil museum was a very informative, interesting experience. Hamid was a great tour guide to the larger desert region, so that we got a larger picture of this area that is not yet sand dunes. Walking through the market in Rissani was also fun. Riding a camel was a unique experience. I wouldn't want to have to do it daily! The camel driver was helpful and friendly. At the end, just before leaving us at the desert luxury camp, he told us that he wasn't paid to take people by camel to the desert camp, so he encouraged us to buy polished fossil artifacts that he'd brought with him.

Guided Tour of Fes

Fes

Rachid, who was friendly and polite, provided a thorough to the medina of Fes , guiding us well and sharing information. He talked a lot, so that after awhile we stopped asking questions because we didn't want a 10 minute or longer speech.

Merzouga to Fes via Midelt, Azrou, & Ifraine

Morocco

A good day, though a long drive, because our tour guide Omar was attentive to our needs and we stopped several times, and also walked in the forest for a brief time in the area where the monkeys wait for tourists to feed them.

Orientation Walk & Free Afternoon in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

Our tour guide gave us a good brief orientation. It was good to have time to explore the medina, then. We went to the kasbah museum in the medina; this was disappointing as there was not a lot to see for the price, poor lighting inside made it difficult to read information, which was not in English, and 3 employees stood in the garden the whole time when they could have been helping visitors learn about the site.

Hike to Cascade d'Akchour

Chefchaouen

Rained out! We drive to the entry to the waterfall area for a brief look but then returned to Chefchaouen to walk the medina further.

Driving Tour of Casablanca

Casablanca

It was interesting to see some of the older, and modern, sights of Casablanca by car. Entering the Hassan IImosque was very worthwhile; I hold mental images of the beautiful artistry of the mosque.

We had an amazing family trip. We were very happy with Ben in helping us plan and make decisions for our family. We also appreciated the accommodations that he provided when things went differently (unexpectedly) than originally planned. We are thankful for the small gifts and showing of gratitude that he provided during our trip as well (an extra private transport, engraving for our souvenir chopsticks). We also thought our guide Yoko was wonderful and we felt that we were in very good hands with her. We appreciated her flexibility to change/adjust plans when needed for our family, and trusted her advice along the way. We believe she had our best interests in mind.

While our experience was very positive, we do have feedback on some areas of improvement. I think better details regarding the schedule/timing of the day would have been helpful BEFORE the trip. The itinerary for some days was overly ambitious and we had to adjust (cut back) based on dwindling energy levels of everyone. We could have used better judgment/advice regarding that in advance, and built in some down time for everyone to just relax and enjoy the moment.

Another note -- I traveled with other family members who also used KimKim, and they had a very questionable (arguably negative) experience with KimKim. The travel agent Olivia was not responsive, provided inaccurate or incomplete information, and not particularly apologetic or accommodating for major mistakes/errors in the trip. Even though that was not my personal experience, I witnessed it firsthand with my other family members, and as a result, I do have concerns about KimKim and wonder if the service is inconsistent across travel agents. That is something I think about.

KimKim specialist Micaela strongly encouraged us to stay at the Hotel del Paine rather than Hosteria Pehoe, and that worked out well. We enjoyed the room, food, and view at Hotel del Paine very much, and it was only 4 minutes outside the national park. Though the view from Hosteria Pehoe is unmatched. :) I definitely recommend Hotel del Paine and KimKim.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Paine

Torres del Paine

Outstanding excursion! Cesar was a great guide, and he and Miguel took great care of us on a gorgeous blue day. It was magical!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grey Glacier Navigation

Torres del Paine

Ricardo delivered us to the navigation point and thoroughly explained what would take place that day. The hike was pleasant and not too long, and the boat ride was exceptional! We were so close to giant icebergs that we could almost touch them, and in the sunshine they glowed a brilliant blue. We also got great views fairly close to the glacier. The crew on the ship made the whole trip quite fun. We highly recommend this excursion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was amazing from start to finish. Eric was a fabulous driver, and navigated the congested Panama City traffic like a pro. Victor, our tour guide in the Panama City area, was friendly and informative. He provided lots of information on the areas we visited, and even worked in some time for me to do some shopping (which is a must). Carlos, our tour guide in El Valle de Anton was friendly and very informative. I liked listening to his history of the area and the evolution of natural landmarks over time, and the preservation ideas being considered for the future. We saw monkeys and sloths in the trees, and lots of beautiful birds. The Golden Frog Inn was my favorite of our accommodations. I tried ceviche for the first time, and I liked it. I tried an electric bike for the first time and after the first mile I wanted to buy one for myself. Whether we were hiking in a forest, on a boat ride, swimming in the blue waters, or walking around town, everything was enjoyable. The catamaran cruise to end the week was perfect - great music, great food, beautiful views, friendly people, and time at the beach. Thank you to KimKim Travel and your partner in Panama, Gapa Travel, for all of your efforts.

Hotel Reviews

Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel

Panama City

This hotel was very nice. The decor beautifully reflected the name. It was pretty in all of the common areas, and had all the amenities you would need. The room was spacious and clean. The rooftop bar was convenient for evening cocktails. The rooftop infinity pool was nice, and inviting. The breakfast buffet was plentiful with a lot of variety. We could walk to nearby stores, restaurants, and the Metro easily.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful decor that reflected the "Zen" theme perfectly.

Location

We could walk to nearby stores, restaurants, and the Metro easily.

Staff

The staff were helpful with answering our questions about the location of restaurants, stores, the Metro, etc.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Every was clean, and the atmosphere was comfortable.

The Golden Frog Inn

El Valle de Antón

The Golden Frog Inn was tucked away in the woods, and the views from our room, and from the dining area, were like looking at a small piece of paradise. Very green, lush, and plentiful with flowers and birds. The staff was accommodating and nice. The food was delicious, and the drinks were refreshing. We liked the swimming pool, and we also enjoyed walking around the grounds to look at the many flower varieties. There was a craft brewery within walking distance, which was an added perk.

Authenticity & Character

Delicious food and drinks. Nice swimming pool. Golden Frog theme is cute.

Location

The Golden Frog Inn was tucked away in the woods, and the views were like looking at a small piece of paradise

Staff

Staff were attentive and friendly. They called cabs for us when we need them, since we didn't speak Spanish.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was comfortable and clean, with a beautiful view.

The Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel

Playa Bonita, Panama Pacifico, Ciudad de Panama

The Westin was a nice hotel. We stayed on the 16th floor with an Ocean View. The room was clean and spacious. There were lots of restaurants to choose from and several swimming pools.

Authenticity & Character

The common area was open and nicely decorated.

Location

The hotel was right on the beach.

Staff

There were communication difficulties occasionally because we don't speak Spanish, but the staff seemed nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel seemed nice, but there was a lot of debris in the swimming pool, and an elevator that was broken.

Activity Reviews

City Tour - Casco Viejo & Panama Canal

Panama City

We enjoyed seeing the city and visiting the Panama Canal. The viewing platform allowed you to see the ships and the locks. The iMax video was informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to the Pozo Azul Waterfall

Valle de Antón

The waterfall was very pretty. A nice place to take photos and enjoy the natural beauty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Experience Dinner

Panama City

The ceviche was delicious, as was the dinner food. A very enjoyable experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife Sanctuaries and Panama Canal Boat Tour

Panama City

The boat tour was very nice. We saw a variety of wildlife and beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panama Canal Ferry Adventure: Partial Panama Canal Tour

Panama City

Very enjoyable experience. Took lots of photos and watched a lot of ships.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided E-Bike Tour in El Valle de Antón

Valle de Antón

Had a lot of fun and enjoyed every minute. My first time on an electric bike. We walked through a little jungle, saw animals and birds in the trees. Visited the town, the market, and a waterfall. Had lunch. The staff at the bike shop were nice. The experience was very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos, our guide, was great. I enjoyed his dialogue immensely.

Transport

Catamaran Cruise to Taboga Island

Taboga Island

Great fun! Perfect way to end the week. The catamaran crew were all very nice and attentive that everyone have a good time. The music was lively and fun. The drinks were delicious. The food was plentiful and very tasty. While I didn't go swimming off the boat, the others with me did and they had a wonderful time in the water. I went swimming at the beach on Taboga Island. A totally enjoyable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portobelo Day Tour: Ruins, Beaches and Snorkel in Carribean waters

Panama

I enjoyed walking around the ruins, learning about some of the history, and playing in the crystal clear water at the beach. Had lunch at a waterfront restaurant, and the food was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Panama City: Free Day

Panama City

We enjoyed exploring the city, and did some shopping.

Quality of Experience

Cairo Vacation

Had a great trip with Kim Kim and the local company, Original Travels, in Egypt.
Samara, Mohammed, and Zakarya were very knowledgeable and super accommodating to our needs. Samara went above and beyond helping us secure our luggage 7 days after arrival. This is my second time using Kim Kim and plan to use them in the future

Hi KimKim team......thank you all for putting together a fun, educational, interesting, workable, walkable, cultural, meet wonderful people itinerary for us. We all had an amazing time! All of our private guides and tours were definitely the way to go for the 5 of us.....no waiting in lines or having to decide where to go, how to get there, or what to expect. The order of the daily activities was also good...one day built on the next especially learning about King Louis XIV...from the Chateaux Day tour, to the Louvre, to Versailles and finally the covered passages - he definitely got around. It's hard to pick out one favorite activity....each one had its highlight. Joel, our chateaux day trip driver and guide, Laurine at the Louvre, and Chef Dominque were exceptional. We all loved the Louvre teen quest tour- Laurine's stories made the sculptures, art works and history come alive. Since this was my 3rd visit to Versailles I enjoyed seeing the grounds by bike (even though it was a cloudy day and the gardens were not in bloom), but felt a little bad when our time at the Palace was cut short due to the length of the ride. The Opera Garnier was beyond imagination in decor. A special treat was seeing the outside and inside renovation of Notre Dame combined with Sainte Chapelle - our guide was able to go in with us, again a plus for having a private tour. Oh yes....and we all came home smelling very French!

Hotel Review

Citadines Trocadéro Paris

Paris

We had 2 rooms for the 5 of us. The 2 teenagers enjoyed having their own room as did the 3 adults. The adult room had a sitting room with a twin sofa bed (very comfortable) and one bedroom with a double bed ( it would have been nice to have 2 single beds instead). As you would expect, the rooms were small but adequate. The kitchenette was nice for snacks and coffee. The hotel had a breakfast buffet but we did not partake. There was a nice bakery 2 doors down for morning pastries as we headed out early every morning. There was a nice restaurant next door plus small market just down the street. The neighborhood was very welcoming and within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, Arc of Triumph and Champs-Elysees and close to 2 metro stations. We found taking an Uber or taxi to get across town was expensive since we were about 3 miles from the Louvre area where a lot of our activities took place so walking and the metro were our favorite modes of transportation!

Authenticity & Character

Older hotel with small lobby and nice sitting room with fireplace. Breakfast buffet was extra. Very nice courtyard and patio if we had had time to enjoy it!

Location

The walkable and local neighborhood. We did not have a view from the hotel but loved having the Eiffel Tower as our landmark especially at night.

Staff

Friendly and available to give directions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were clean, bathroom/shower was nice. Extra towels were readily available. Would have been a little tight with 4 in the one room with the one bedroom and sitting room with the twin sofa bed.

Activity Reviews

Eiffel Tower Guided Climb (stairs) to Second Floor with Optional Summit Access by Elevator

Paris

We all made it up the 360 stairs to the second floor, then took the elevator to the top. It was a sunny, cool day with clear skies so the view from the top was amazing. Dasha our guide was very personable and had lots of stories to keep us going.

Quality of Experience

Just being there!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dasha our guide was a good storyteller.

Transport

We were able to walk from our hotel.

Seine River Gourmet Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Paris

Our window side table was the best.....another beautiful night on a beautiful river! The food and wine was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle Visit

Paris

Private tour allowed us to skip the lines plus have the benefit of a very knowledgeable and passionate guide.

Quality of Experience

Seeing the renovated Notre Dame outside and inside.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Another amazing private guide.

Transport

A 3-mile walk from our hotel !!!!!!!

The Louvre quest for teens

Paris

A private tour and guide with a focus on seeing 15 iconic masterpieces - sculptures and paintings - to uncover a secret code and unlock the cryptex was a fun and learning experience for all of us. The Louvre is just too big and overwhelming to just wander around without a focus!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience

Paris

Learned about the various wine regions and how the right cheese can enhance the enjoyment of the wine.

French Cooking Class & Market Visit

Paris

Fun to go to the market with Chef Dominque and choose the food for our lunch. It was a hands-on cooking class so we all learned some new tips. Oh....and the food was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Unlock the Secrets of Perfume-Making!

Paris

Had no idea how many scents can go into one eau de par fun creation. Fun chemistry lesson!

Quality of Experience

Versailles Bike & Palace Day Trip

France

It was fun to see the Palace grounds from the backside and around the canal. The Palace was of course beautiful and rich with history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Montmartre Local Food Walk

Paris

Fun seeing another area of Paris with cobblestone streets, historical architecture, art and steep hills leading to Sacre-Coeur and sampling rocks, macaroons, wine and cheese along the way.

Opera Garnier and Covered Passages Tour

Paris

The covered passages gave us another view of Paris and French history.....more Louis XIV references. Beautiful architecture and store fronts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Loire Valley Châteaux Day Trip: Chambord, Clos Lucé & Chenonceau

Paris

Great to get out of the city and see the Loire Valley countryside plus 3 very different but beautiful Chateaux!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When we landed on the soils of “The Mother City” we were greeted by the KimKim team to welcome us to “The Motherland” and to make sure we had access to transportation that got us to our first destination in Cape Town. The small touches of wine and treats really made this a special time to celebrate our milestone birthdays. What a beautiful couple of days we would have exploring CT, Robben Island, and Table Mountain. Before heading off to Hoedspruit, where we would then stay at Unembeza and tour the panorama views of with Titus who was great. The lodge where we stayed was other worldly — we never expected waking up to a giraffe right outside of our bedroom window, we didn’t anticipate the views of the African Sky, and the delicious meals we had cooked and prepared for us daily. It was the true essence of being cared for. And our tour guide for the panorama views was exceptional we think he was an actual historian or professor shadowing moonlighting as a tour guide. Titus was so knowledgeable and impressive with his info sharing. It was intoxicating the amount of knowledge he shared about the views, the history of the land, and the people and villages we passed. It was like being on a private tour of some of the most hidden gems of South Africa. Again, the lodge and Nokuthula had delightful small touches to make us feel special.

Then we were off to the Bush for Safari which was STUNNING to say the least. We did have a small issue with our housing (please prepare for camp style living if you are going on safari) after we were upgraded to the suites housing got better thanks to Nokuthula. But other than that the public amenities of our safari lodge was warm, comfortable, and tasty food. Our safari guide Michaela and watcher were I think the best. We got to see ALL of the BIG 5 during our (4 nights 5 day safari). Low key we didn’t want to leave the once in a lifetime views and animal crossing but had to be on our way to Johannesburg which was part of the tour that we planned ourselves in terms of excursions. Yet the parts that KimKim planned was exactly what we needed.

If you’ve never been to the Mother Land I urge you to Go!! But most importantly if you’re looking for talented individuals who actually live on the continent to help your planning you must start with the talents of KimKim and Nokuthula. We will certainly return to now one of our favorite places on EARTH South Africa and it’s largely due to the time we had during this our first journey home.

Magalie,
I would echo John’s comments to a very large degree.

Our driver Eric was great. Punctual, personable, and able to navigate the chaos they call traffic with ease.

Victor was personable, knowledgable, informative, and willing to tailor our outings to our wishes.

Carlos knew the area well and obviously had a real connection to it as he provided information about El Valle de Anton.

I enjoyed the trip through the locks a great deal. It was fascinating to watch the operation.

The accommodations were all nice. Though John and Sharon were stuck on the second floor of the Playa Bonita with a very obstructed view. It would have been much better had they been up on the 16th floor near us with a clear view of the canal entrance.

The trip excursions were all enjoyable and provided a wide range of experiences and different areas of Panama.

The only thing that might have assisted us and provided a better journey was more clear descriptions of what we would be doing. There were times where we were uncertain if we would need to bring our swim wear or not.

Overall, a very nice trip that was efficient in connections, informative as to the area, and very enjoyable.

Regards
Ken

Our trip to Panama was wonderful and exceeded my expectations! We had a phenomenal driver, Eric, who skillfully navigated the busy Panama City traffic. Our main guide, Victor was very personable, knowledgeable and informative. He went out of his was to ensure that our trip was memorable and meaningful. I especially enjoyed his candor and sense of humor. The Zen Panama hotel was very modern and the location was in a lively neighborhood with great restaurants and easy access to the Metro. Carlos, our guide in El Valle de Anton was very friendly, knew the area well and gave us excellent recommendations for restaurants. He lead us on a very enjoyable e-bike tour. The Golden Frog Inn and the grounds were stunning! It truly felt like a slice of paradise. Our final hotel, the Playa Bonita was a beautiful gated resort. The accommodations, restaurants and pools were all very nice and we enjoyed our stay. The highlight of our trip was the Red Cat catamaran tour. Jumping into and swimming in the calm, clear Pacific Ocean was unbelievable! Of course the Panama Canal boat trip was a once in a lifetime experience and mingling with and observing the Panamanian people was very rewarding. This trip opened my eyes to the beautiful country and peoples of Panama. I highly recommend it to others.

Hotel Reviews

The Golden Frog Inn

El Valle de Antón

The Golden Frog Inn and grounds felt like a slice of paradise. The views from our balcony and the dining patios were stunning! I really enjoyed listening to the birdsong as we dined each day. I highly recommend the Golden Frog to anyone looking to get away from the city and enjoy nature.

Authenticity & Character

The beautiful foliage and views made the Golden Frog feel like a slice of paradise!

Location

Staff

The staff were very efficient and friendly. They were very patient with my very limited Spanish language skills.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The grounds, common areas and individual rooms were well cared for, clean and comfortable.

The Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel

Playa Bonita, Panama Pacifico, Ciudad de Panama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel

Panama City

This was a very modern hotel in a lively neighborhood. The accommodations were very nice and the restaurant, bar and swimming pool very enjoyable. Easily walked to neighborhood restaurants, shopping and the Metro.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cultural Experience Dinner

Panama City

The Ceviche was amazing!

Quality of Experience

The Ceviche was amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was very helpful, friendly and welcoming.

Transport

We had an amazing driver , Eric , who made us feel safe!

Portobelo Day Tour: Ruins, Beaches and Snorkel in Carribean waters

Panama

Enjoyable walk through the old town.

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent lunch!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour - Casco Viejo & Panama Canal

Panama City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panama Canal Ferry Adventure: Partial Panama Canal Tour

Panama City

Once in a lifetime experience! Pictures don’t do it justice…you have to see it for yourself.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was very helpful and patient, especially with my very limited Spanish language skills. Everyone was very professional.

Transport

Wildlife Sanctuaries and Panama Canal Boat Tour

Panama City

We really enjoyed the informative walk through the nature preserve and the boat ride. It was especially nice to eat a leisurely lunch on the boat, taking in the gorgeous surroundings. The monkey, birds and sloth sightings were fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Cruise to Taboga Island

Taboga Island

Great experience! It was such a happy, relaxing time. Great music, drinks and dancing. The highlight was jumping into and swimming in the clear, calm Pacific Ocean! Unbelievable!

Quality of Experience

Such a happy, relaxing time! Great music, drinks and dancing.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our personal guide on board the catamaran was very helpful and friendly. The entire staff/crew were very upbeat and helpful.

Transport

The catamaran itself was amazing. Surprisingly comfortable!

Guided E-Bike Tour in El Valle de Antón

Valle de Antón

The e-bike tour was a much welcomed chance to commune with the natural surroundings and get some exercise!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos, our guide was terrific. He shared his love of the area and made the experience very positive.

Transport

First time on an e-bike and it made biking on steep roads a breeze! Highly recommend it!

Trip to the Pozo Azul Waterfall

Valle de Antón

Enjoyed being surrounded by the serenity of the forest. The birdsong and fragrant plants and waterfall were very pleasurable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos was a wealth of information and he truly loves this area. He made the experience impactful.

Transport

 The trip was wonderful.  
Our driver, Eric, was punctual and superb in the chaotic Panama City traffic.
Victor, our guide for the Panama City area was personable, helpful, knowledgeable, informative and went out of his way to make all our outings enjoyable. The Panama Canal tour, being able to travel through the locks was especially interesting. Carlos, our guide in El Valle de Anton, was friendly, knew the area well, gave us excellent suggestions on where to eat and made our stay there very enjoyable. We really enjoyed the E-Bike tour.
We would say the highlight of the trip was the Red Cat catamaran tour to Isla Taboga. Jumping off the catamaran into the Pacific was a thrilling experience. The water was so fresh and clear.
The trip's excursions exceeded our expectations.  Everything was very well organized and went as planned.

Hotel Reviews

The Westin Playa Bonita Panama Hotel

Playa Bonita, Panama Pacifico, Ciudad de Panama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel

Panama City

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Golden Frog Inn

El Valle de Antón

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Panama Canal Ferry Adventure: Partial Panama Canal Tour

Panama City

Being to travel through the locks was especially interesting.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Catamaran Cruise to Taboga Island

Taboga Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour - Casco Viejo & Panama Canal

Panama City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cultural Experience Dinner

Panama City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip to the Pozo Azul Waterfall

Valle de Antón

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panamanian Night Tour

Panama City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided E-Bike Tour in El Valle de Antón

Valle de Antón

It was fun to tour Anton by bike.

Quality of Experience

First time I rode an E-bike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Carlos was an excellent guide

Transport

Wildlife Sanctuaries and Panama Canal Boat Tour

Panama City

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portobelo Day Tour: Ruins, Beaches and Snorkel in Carribean waters

Panama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When I first approached Tetiana with the rough concept of what we wanted to accomplish on the trip, she immediately got to work constructing a plan. We essentially wanted a 2 week trip of England that mostly avoided London and took us to as many of the places that we specifically wanted to see as possible. We would not do any driving and wanted all of the connections to be easy. Within a short time, she created a reasonable initial framework and worked with me to adjust a few things. We ended up with a masterful plan that combined train trips, private tours and transfers, and small group tours.

In execution, the plan worked perfectly. Our strongest indicator of the quality of the plan was the stunned reaction of British folks we met along the way to the breadth of what we had seen and done in just 2 weeks.

Hotel Reviews

Amano Covent Garden

London

The hotel was well located near Covent Garden and the theater district and the breakfast buffet was good. Beyond that, I cannot recommend it. The room furnishings were excessively spare. There was no surface designed to house a suitcase. I had to push together the only two chairs in the room to house one bag, and put our other bag on a small cocktail table. Simply inexcusable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near Covent Garden

Cleanliness & Comfort

A place to put your luggage!!

Clayton Hotel Cambridge

Cambridge

The Clayton Hotel was comfortable and just a couple of hundred feet from the train station. Dinner and the breakfast buffet were fine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very close to the Cambridge Railway Station

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Bath

Bath

The Indigo is a quirky reuse of a series of historical buildings located in a place that’s within convenient walking distance of Bath’s major attractions. The hotel and room itself have more of a B&B feel than that of a hotel. That’s both good and bad. It gives the place a more unusual feel, but also a less comfortable one. The hotel was generous with complementary wine and soft drinks in the room. Supposedly, the buildings are connected at the garden level, but we were told that this route was not available. As a result, we had to put on jackets and walk around the block outside to get to the breakfast buffet. This annoyance alone prevents me from giving an overall score higher than 3.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, not so comfortable

The Grand, York

North Yorkshire

The Grand is a wonderful, traditional hotel with old world charm and great service by an attentive staff. An added bonus is its proximity to the York railway station, tour bus pickup points, and the York Minster. Each are within 5 minutes walk. Together with the fine included breakfast, this all makes the Grand the nicest hotel we have visited in quite a while.

Authenticity & Character

Wonderful traditional atmosphere

Location

York railway station, tour bus pickup points, and the York Minster. Each are within 5 minutes walk.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard by Marriott Oxford City Centre

Oxford

I really wanted to like this hotel. A front desk manager spent more than 30 minutes helping me to get the tv working properly. But I can’t recommend this hotel because the room and bathroom are so very TINY. As I write this review, I am at sea on a cruise and staying in a basic stateroom whose size exceeds the Courtyard’s by a considerable degree. There was no convenient place to put luggage or to unpack. Marriott price for a Motel 6 room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but uncomfortably small room

Activity Reviews

Yorkshire: All the Creatures Great and Small Mini-Coach Tour

York

We were very fortunate to arrive in Grassington (Darrowby) on a day when the town was dressed for filming!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Moors, Whitby & The Yorkshire Steam Railway Day Trip from York

York

We were the only 2 passengers on a 16 person tour bus! Our driver/guide was great. Whitby as a very interesting town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One Day Trip Canterbury & Dover Cliffs

England

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Cambridge from London

London

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shakespeare's Stratford and Cotswolds

England

Steve was a friendly and fun guy and we enjoyed our time with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Wells and Cheddar Gorge Trip from Bath

Bath

We enjoyed the tour very much

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bridgerton Walking Tour

England

Our guide from the city really knew his stuff about Bridgerton and covered a tremendous number of sites in just two hours. He was not excessively friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Private Tour in Winchester

England

Andy was a great guy with whom to spend a couple of days.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jurassic Coast

England

Once again, Andy was a great companion and guide, but our feeling was that the sites within the range and itinerary of this tour were not as generally interesting as the rest of our tours.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

kimkim took care of us from (before) the beginning until (after) the end. Angel was very responsive to our requests and knowledgeable about almost every facet of our itinerary. She provided regular updates during the planning stage and then made sure we were ready to travel. Once we were in Japan, everyone we interacted with (private guides, group activities, drivers, etc) was timely, polite, and exceedingly patient as we asked questions, made adjustments, and explored. In particular, we made multiple adjustments to our itinerary while in Japan and Angel was available to help us make sure everything went smoothly. It was my birthday and kimkim even treated me and my son with some surprises!

Hotel Review

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

My favorite accommodation of the trip was definitely the Ryokan Aura Tachibana in Hakone. The experience and the vibe of staying there were just wonderful. It was traditional yet had enough modern amenities to keep our stay comfortable, especially for my child. There wasn't any friction, and the authenticity made our stay feel special without compromising on comfort.

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Friendly and knowledgeable guide. Found out we had dietary restrictions after booking and made sure that these (incredibly tasty) local spots could accommodate in some way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and absolutely delightful. She knew the exact right balance of sight seeing/historical insights and keeping it interesting for my 10 year old son. We were able to nimbly manage some very crowded spots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Fun Time in Tokyo: TeamLab Planets and Miraikan Museum

Tokyo

TeamLab Planets in Tokyo was one of the highlights of our trip. It was an activity I specifically requested to be added to our itinerary, and I'm so glad we did it. The immersive art experience was not only fascinating but also incredibly engaging for my child. We truly enjoyed the visit, and it stood out among the many activities we did in Tokyo.

We can never put into words how happy we are with our holiday in India. We began planning the trip 2 years in advance, and Ravi and his team worked tirelessly and patiently with us until the itinerary was perfect. The hotels we selected together exceeded our expectations, and thanks to Active India's requests, we received several upgrades.
From the moment we exited the airport, until being dropped back off, we were treated like esteemed VIP guests. We had the "BEST" local experienced guides in every town. And our drivers managed to keep us calm and cool while dodging cows, goats, motorcycles, potholes, and crazy traffic. Driving in India is an experience all unto itself!
Our holiday included a lot of rural time. We were in forests and jungles tracking tigers and leopards. We visited small off the grid villages to meet locals and learn about their customs. And we visited many temples and sites miles away from the hustling cities. This made our trip feel less chaotic, as spending only time in cities will not allow you to chill and recharge.
KIMKIM made sure we balanced history, food, culture, nature, spirituality, and fun fun fun. Our photos clearly show this.
We cannot thank our agent and his wonderful team of professionals enough, they made this a trip of a lifetime. Thank you India for welcoming us with open arms, kindness, and sharing all of your treasures with us. We leave India knowing so much more about you, the West has gotten the messaging all wrong. We look forward to visiting your beautiful country again!
Steven and Stephane.

We would highly recommend our driver Oussmma. We have had the pleasure of working with him for the last 10 days of our Morocco trip and he has consistently demonstrated exceptional driving skills and professionalism.
He is an incredibly reliable and punctual driver. He arrived on time, and ensures that the car was in immaculate condition. We have witnessed his driving skills with ease, whether it’s heavy traffic or challenging weather conditions & consistently prioritizes the safety.
He is an excellent driver with knowledge of all the attractions and shopping places with authentic items at reasonable price. If you plan to visit Morocco, we highly recommend to engage with him as your driver/guide for an amazing experience to remember for lifetime….
Overall it was a great trip!

Hotel Reviews

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Barceló Casablanca

Casablanca

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Authenticity & Character

Location

I’m

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ksar El Kabbaba

Skoura

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chefchaoeun to Fez via Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes

Morocco

Quality of Experience

O

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sunrise hot air balloon ride in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Skoura to Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quick Tour of Casablanca with your Driver-guide

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Desert Adventures around Merzouga

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

ATV Ride in the Dunes of Merzouga

Merzouga

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Casablanca to Chefchaouen via Rabat

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Sightseeing in Fes

Fes

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Fes to Merzouga via Erfoud & Camel Ride

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marrakesh Evening Food Tour

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hammam & Spa Experience Marrakech

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We thoroughly enjoyed our Iceland adventure and I'd like to give a big thanks to KimKim and Hanna (our Iceland expert) for their help in making it happen. In the runup to the trip, I was busy with work and living in Austin, TX and my daughter was living in London. My daughter had some ideas and worked with Hanna to put together the itinerary. Occasionally I'd want to change something. Hanna was always very pleasant and very helpful, she responded quickly to any questions or requests, had endless patience waiting for my daughter and me to resolve any differences. We very much liked all the arrangements for accomodation, car hire, trips and flights and everything went very smoothly. This was my second vacation organized with KimKim and would definitely recommend them and use them again.

Overall the trip was extremely well organized. All the guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. Once or twice, in Cordoba and Madrid we felt a little rushed, as the guides seemed focused on making their next assignment. We had a wonderful time, in spite of the weather. All the hotels were great. Our favorite was the h10 in Sevilla.

Hotel Review

H10 Casa de la Plata

Sevilla

The H10 Casa de la Plata in Seville was my favorite among all the hotels we stayed at during the trip. The staff was exceptional, the location was perfect, and the room met all our expectations. While the breakfast wasn't the absolute best, it was still quite good, adding to the overall enjoyment of our stay.

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit of Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Spain

The guided visit of Alhambra and the Generalife Gardens was astonishing. The guide was excellent, bringing the rich history of the place to life and making the entire experience enjoyable and enlightening.

Madrid of the Bourbons & Prado Museum Private Tour

Madrid

The Madrid of the Bourbons and Prado Museum private tour was a bit of a rushed experience for us. Our guide didn't give us time to fully appreciate or absorb each part, and due to a late train, our overall schedule was compressed. Unfortunately, this made the tour feel hurried.

The trip that you guys organized for us was awesome! The sights, the wildlife and the logistics were impeccable. Our guides in Quito (Christian) and Isabela island (Julio) were fantastic.

Our coordinator Karla went above and beyond when we ran into some unforeseen issues related to canceled flights and health issues.

Thank you so much for a once in a lifetime experience.

Akieee in Hiroshima gave us an incredible tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima island!
We also loved our Kimono tea ceremony in Kyoto and our guide Taka Sakai !
And our experience in Kanazawa had so much lovely history, a beautiful place Hiroko was so knowledgeable!
And Nara outside of Osaka had amazing views and out kids loved interacting with the deer there! We couldn’t have done it without Taka Sakai!
Thank you to angel at KimKim for organizing a trip of a lifetime

Thank you,

Taka Sakai ‎

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour

Kanazawa

So much to learn, amazing place, less tourists than some of the other bigger cities! Worth the visit!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Such a unique experience! Even our 10 year old boys enjoyed dressing up for this experience!

Quality of Experience

Our tea ceremony instructor!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Miyajima island is a can’t miss beautiful place!

Quality of Experience

Transport

We loved taking the ferry over!

Osaka-Nara Day Trip

Osaka

We had an amazing guide, beautiful temple and shrines! And so many deer! A great unique experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

Mount Fujibis a must see!

Quality of Experience

Lo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Despite our family-of-6 booking late for peak spring break week, Holden and Kimkim organized a very memorable first visit to Costa Rica. Our itinerary showed Holden's impressive local knowledge and experience, balancing destinations suiting our wishes for a beach with a walkable town, together with forest, nature and family hiking, with minimal transport connections.
The whole family loved the amazing ancient rainforest with waterfalls, hot springs, volcanoes etc, and wildlife such as monkeys, sloths and parrots. The hotels, tours and guides exceeded all our expectations, and our transportation was all on-time.
Our first time with Kimkim, it proved a great way to enjoy a new, more exotic destination without limiting ourselves to a large resort.