Kimkim Trip Reviews

It was amazing and wonderful. The people were nice and couldn’t do enough for you.

We had such an easy and amazing time exploring a big chunk of Japan! Yas was our guide once we arrived and was very helpful in explaining how to travel while in Japan and Mina was a wonderful local specialist! She always answered all my questions and helped us whenever we needed anything! Would highly recommend this site, especially when traveling to Japan!

Hotel Reviews

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Very nice and spacious rooms! Breakfast was amazing as always in Japan. Very clean as well! Very comfortable nights rest!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE KANZASHI TOKYO ASAKUSA

Breakfast is amazing! Very nice and helpful staff, and very close to a lot of fun little shops, a temple, and more! Rooms are nice and clean. Very comfortable stay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Canvas Kyoto Nijo

Kyoto

Breakfast is buffet style! The rooms are very spacious and clean! Really nice after a long day of being on your feet! Very close to a train station and a 7-11 !

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Fukuzumiro

Very nice and amazing staff!! The rooms are very comfortable, and our helper was very attentive to our schedule and needs! The onsen are to DIE for and soooo relaxing! Very nice koi pond inside and an amazing view from the rooms!

Authenticity & Character

Very traditional japanese inn!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Yaenomidori Tokyo

Chuo City

Staff are very helpful and friendly. Highly recommend the foot bath spa they offer! Very nice rooms, very comfortable! Delicious breakfast too!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the Haneda airport and really close to major shopping districts!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Airport assistant premium Tokyo HND [8:00 - 20:00]

Tokyo

Very helpful in teaching us how to operate in Japan with our IC cards and explaining a bunch of our itinerary to us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pocket wifi 1 day to 1 month

Japan

Very very useful to keep us online for google maps and in case I needed my local assistant! Very easy to use and return as well

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transportation card IC

Japan

Very convenient and easy to use / recharge.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Japan!

Japan

Very fun arrival, learning how everything works! Relaxed arrival to prepare for the busy days ahead!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hakone Jinja Shrine

Hakone

Very beautiful. Peaceful shrine with a lot of fun things to do right before the shrine as well!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Ryokan

Japan

Amazing experience and very friendly staff. The onsen is very peaceful and relaxing after a long day of exploring. The food is delicious as well and having the view of the river as you sleep is unbeatable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Rental + Outdoor photo shooting

Kyoto

Had so much fun taking the pretties photos with a kimono! The photographer is super nice and so is the staff at the kimono rental facility.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Goodbye Japan!

Japan

I was really sad to leave. Make sure you know what terminal your flight is on, to help prevent getting lost (like me) Transport was really simple otherwise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo

Very fun activity! Dinner inside is a bit expensive but a very nice experience. Many souvenir shops, and very amazing views!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was amazing. The people we encountered as tour guides and drivers and hotel personnel were knowledgeable and friendly and just wonderful. We were very pleased with the entire experience from planning to booking and experiencing the whole trip. A big Thank you to ALL who participated.

Michael organised an incredible itinerary for our first visit to Colombia, with a great mix of history, culture, food and outdoor activities. The planning and organisation from Michael and the Chaska team was seamless and we appreciated how responsive they were from booking/planning to the actual trip. We would highly recommend Michael and Chaska for a visit to Columbia. Thank you for an unforgettable holiday!

Hotel Reviews

Aura Hotel Barú By Sport Barú

Cartagena, Bolivar

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Moraira

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Senda Koguiwa

Santa Marta

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manila Hotel Boutique

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Viajero Hostel Salento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Masaya Bogotá

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boquilla Mangrove Tour

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Market Experience: Bazurto Market

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour Peñol & Guatapé

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Medellín Transformation Tour (Public Transportation)

Medellín

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Cocora Valley, Coffee Farm & Salento

Salento

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bogotá Walking Tour

Bogotá

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leo was very useful, giving us a lot of options throughout the trip

When preparing, he was always receptive to our needs, and during the trip, when we needed his help, he was reactive

This was not our first KimKim trip and would use again

Our mountain guide, Camilo, was exceptional. He made us feel very safe and helped 2 of us summit Cotopaxi. You should use him whenever you get a chance. I can't say enough about how fun, knowledgeable and capable he is. He managed our acclimitization hikes perfectly helped us in so many ways.

I would spend some time refining the "gear list" you recommend. There were things we had at home that didn't show up on the gear list that were required. This resulted in us spending a few hundred dollars rebuying gear we already own.

The surest way to ruin (a) paradise is to advertise it. I’m tempted to keep the secret and hope that nothing changes. However, I will let the cat out of the bag because that is what the residents of San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica want. They made a conscious decision to forgo land clearing agriculture and to earn their living by providing high quality eco-tourism experiences.

This family trip was literally thrown together in two weeks and we lucked into a Costa Rica travel agency (Serendipity Adventures) that took care of everything except our flights.

What is paradise? Different people have different preferences but the my family believes in escaping Texas heat in August. But, doesn’t it get hotter further South? Probably but not if you are in the mountains of Central America.

I was looking at the better-known Monteverde cloud forest region NW of San Jose but Serendipity encouraged San Gerardo de Dota which is about the same distance but SE of the capitol.

My only issue was traffic in and around San Jose. We arrived on a Saturday and a 2 ½ hr drive turned into over 4 hours because San Jose was a parking lot and we have to go cross town from the airport. Our driver explained that people can drive on alternating days based on license plate numbers but no restrictions on Saturday when everyone gets in their car and becomes part or a city-wide parking lot. One we cleared the twin cities of San Jose and Cartago we found smooth sailing on the Pan American Hwy. The Pan Am had very fresh smooth asphalt (if I were driving I would want my Porsche). What the two-lane Pan Am lacks is consistent striping, shoulder, guard rails or passing lanes. If you leave the road there are three possibilities: 1) hit a ditch and roll over, 2) hit something hard like a very big tree; or 3) drop 2,000 feet and maybe the forest canopy below might slow your descent. No worries, we were in the care of a local driver. Getting back on a weekday was one hour faster but there were still massive traffic jams in San Jose. Tip, don’t fly on Saturday in or out of San Jose.

The road to San Gerardo de Dota and the Savegre Hotel and Narutal Reserve & Spa departs the Pam Am at 9.800 ft elevation and follows the narrow Savegre river. The resort is 6 miles below at about 7.200 ft, and about a mile above Savegre Falls. The road is about 50% paved and full of hairpin turns,,,but I wasn’t driving. There are about ½ dozen resorts and some Air B&B’s in the valley. Savegre Hotel is the oldest but also very modern, completely equipped i.e. great Wi Fi, Thursday night football in the bar, a spa, guided or self-guided tours through a private reserve, excellent staff, comfortable accommodations and so forth. Very good menu.

Tip. Don’t rent a car. Let a local drive.

You can read the Hotel Savegre backstory several places on the Internet. A condensed version is that the valley was undiscovered until the mid-1950’s. No evidence of prior human occupation. The first settlers cleared land for cattle, then a professor came along and said, why don’t you throw trout into the (fish free) river and Canadians will fly down here to pay to catch them. Later on the locals were encouraged to give up on cattle and take up hospitality. Within 30 years the cleared land regenerated back to forest.

So what is there to do: eat, relax, drink, hike, hike, hike, night hikes and go birding. I have never been a dedicated birder but, I knew where I was going so I bought a new super tele camera for the occasion. That was a good decision.

We spent two days hiking and birding, include a night hike with Raul Chacon who is the best nature guide that I have met and that is saying a lot. Excellent English, extremely well educated and knowledgeable and passionate without being overbearing in the least. He finally admitted that his grandfather and great uncle discovered the valley and established the community and resort. Raul has been finding Quetzals, Motted Owls and 49 varieties of Hummers for his whole life except when he was away at school.

So what to do in 4 ½ days? A couple of hikes above 10,000’ (epiphany, no acclimation issues because there is more oxygen at altitude compared to the Rocky Mountains further north), a hell of a lot of pretty birds to photograph, hikes to waterfalls, a trip to a coffee plantation, the most challenging horseback ride that I have been on, learning all about cloud forests, the local economy and people, and making plans for a return visit to Costa Rica at some point.

Hotel Review

Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

Páramo

Given the remote location it exceeded expectations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Coopedota Coffee Tour

San Gerardo de Dota

Coffee tour was fine but too much travel to and from Hotel Savegre.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Guided Hike at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Tour at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highland Bird and Paramo Tour at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Birdwatching and Natural History at Hotel Savegre

San Gerardo de Dota

Raul Chacon is excellent guide

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We loved our trip to Vietnam! Before the trip, I was worried because we were a large and rowdy group of 12 people. Some of us had physical limitations due to health conditions, and the flight tickets we’d managed to book only allowed us 9 days in Vietnam to explore from the North to the South of the country. In other words, this trip promised to be very packed and complicated logistically.

Nevertheless, Camellia worked a long time with us to meticulously build our dream itinerary. She listened to our suggestions, answered our questions promptly and booked everything, and our vacation went smoothly. Our 3 guides were welcoming, patient and understanding. They did everything to accommodate us, allowing us to make the most of our short time in the cities we visited. They were also very attentive to the mood of the group, anticipating our needs/preferences and occasionally proposing welcome adjustments to the planned itinerary.

In Hanoi, Cuong reorganized our schedule so that each of us could do what we enjoyed even if we had diverging interests. For instance, he took some of us back to the hotel to have massages and take a much needed rest from the heat, while those who still had energy went on with him to the Women’s Museum. Cuong also stayed longer after our food tour ended to accompany some of us to shops we had looked up online and absolutely wanted to visit. These local shops were small, and in the labyrinth of Hanoi, we never would have been able to find them on our own.

Next, Tay, a family father who enjoys traveling and learning foreign languages, took us to discover the beauty of his hometown Hue, followed by the picturesque city of Hoi An. My personal highlight was biking in the rural area in Hue under the clear blue sky, surrounded by the perfume of rice fields. When some of us got tired during the bike ride, Tay immediately hailed motorcycle rides for those who needed it. Additionally, the heat and humidity were extreme there at the time, so Tay adjusted the itinerary to take our exhaustion into account and did his best to find cafés/restaurants with good air conditioning.

Finally, our guide John in Ho Chi Minh was on the younger side. A stark contrast from the traditional air of Northern/Central Vietnam, John gave us a fresh perspective on how it was to live in the modern and vibrant scenery of Ho Chi Minh. He was friendly and humorous, and even serenaded us with Vietnamese songs as our small cruise boat drifted down the Mekong Delta. The coconut treats and fruits we tasted at the coconut farm we visited were exquisite! Our departure flight was quite early; John arranged for the hotel to pack us lunchboxes so we wouldn’t go hungry on the way to the airport.

In short, we had a wonderful experience. Vietnam is easily the most beautiful country I have ever visited. The people are hospitable and endearing, and their daily hard work is truly inspiring. Our group originally planned for this to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but many of us now wish to return to Vietnam someday. I would definitely recommend Kimkim to anyone looking for an affordable and personalized dream trip in Vietnam. Thanks to the crew who assisted us, we are deeply grateful to you all!

Hotel Reviews

Roseland Sweet Hotel

Ho Chi Minh City

The room is very clean and everything looks new and well maintained, but keep in mind that it can become a bit narrow if you have a lot of luggage (as we did). The hotel's location is practical, as it is within walking distance of many shopping spots like the Vincom Center and Ben Thanh Market. The bellboy and lobby staff were all kind and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Betel Garden Villas

The hotel is small and divided into bungalows of 2 rooms: a few steps and we could easily get to our friend's rooms. Our room was spacious and clean. We enjoyed the bathroom's practical design, with the sink, toilet and large shower being in the same room but partially separated by walls. The gardens are beautiful and well maintained, and the staff is very welcoming and helpful. The breakfast is à la carte, and is simply delicious (the fried banana pancakes are to die for!). The eating room is open to the outside with transparent glass walls, so you can enjoy the sunlight and scenery as you eat. We loved the warm and intimate atmosphere in the hotel: it felt like living in a small family complex. This was one of our favourite hotels during our stay in Vietnam.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Ecolodge

Our room was spacious and beautifully decorated. However, there were many ants, and we saw a big cockroach in our room. My family and I are sort of germaphobes, so the cleanliness is one of the first things we look at when rating a hotel. Nevertheless, I believe that people who don't mind bugs and want to have an authentic experience of Hue traditional architecture will love the hotel. It is an Ecolodge after all, and you can see the hotel's efforts to save on energy and reduce waste production. The gardens are breathtaking: we took many pictures there in the morning. The hotel is in a secluded and green area, so you really feel immersed in the laid-back rhythm of life in Hue. Furthermore, the breakfast was excellent: all the food was fresh and tasty. The air conditioning works but isn't very strong (something to keep in mind for people who don't tolerate heat well), but that wasn't a problem for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Cititel Hotel

Hanoi

Loved the room, it was spacious, very clean and had all the necessary accommodations. The staff was friendly and helpful, and every morning the breakfast was varied and excellent! The hotel is also very close to the Hoan Kiem park, the Old Quarter, and many of the city's touristic attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A day trip to the fertile Mekong delta, Ben Tre

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hoi An – Da Nang – flight to Ho Chi Minh City - Half day city tour

Ho Chi Minh City

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Hoi An – Da Nang – flight to Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Town Walking with Street Food Tasting - Beach relaxing

Hoi An

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hue City Tour, Bike to Rural Villages - Transfer to Hoi An

Hue

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

More cruising on the Lan Ha Bay (Verdure Lotus Cruise) - Fly to Hue

Vietnam

*La Casta Cruise

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay welcome on board (Verdure Lotus Cruise)

Ha Long Bay

*La Casta Cruise

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi City Tour - Street food tour

Hanoi

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hanoi arrival, free at your leisure

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Air-conditioned, spacious and comfortable bus. Cool water bottles were provided. Our driver Tu was very nice.

Leny was very helpful to customize and make MANY changes to our trip based on our requests.
Her team was also there during the actual trip to check up on us and help with any last minute needs.
I highly recommend her!

Hotel Reviews

hotel MONday Premium Ueno Okachimachi

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Kyoto-Shijo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vista Tokyo Tsukiji

Good location Rooms are quite small.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sushi Making Experience: Craft Authentic Sushi

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Tokyo Tour with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Tokyo

Very nice and knowledgeable guide, but his accent in English made it a bit hard to understand him sometime

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the most incredible trip to Greece, all thanks to kimkim. Every detail was thoughtfully planned — from stunning boutique hotels to unforgettable boating experiences that really made the trip special. Communication was excellent throughout the process, and their easy-to-use app made our itinerary seamless to follow. We truly felt cared for every step of the way. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a perfectly curated and stress-free travel experience! Highly highly recommend staying off the beaten path in Paros.

This was one our best trips and the third we’ve booked with KimKim. We started after a one week cruise around the Greek islands, and continued on with 10 days in Greece. This trip was well planned, with a variety of places, activities, and methods of arrival (planes, ferries, car services). Gustavo is based in KimKim HQ and I was worried about local Greek knowledge and access to him. No problem! He was highly responsive, walked through the trip plan via a video (his idea), and when we had immediate issues to be solved, someone from KimKim jumped into the What’s App chat. Problems solved.

In Santorini we did the Fira Food and Views Walking Tour, the Jeep 4x4 off-road experience, and the Sunset Caldera Catamaran trip. All were small groups and personal, where we got new views of the island and Greece overall. Very high quality vendors were chosen.

In Paros, our snorkeling adventure was cancelled due to high winds, so we just rented a car and drove around. Pretty easy. There are less “experience” options on Paros (vs Santorini or Crete, for example), and we were ok with the vacation being more low key.

Hotel Reviews

Sofitel Athens Airport

Athens

Good airport hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cove Paros

Paros

This is such a pretty property! It’s a big place with lots of variety, but still personal in its service. Shout out to the front desk team including Kristina who welcomed and oriented us to Paros. The room was looking out at the pool, clean, on the small side, but with good amenities including a fabulous heavy duty clothing steamer which we loved for our linen! We used the pool and the beach, both with comfortable lounge chairs that are light enough to move around. The sea is warm this time of year) so swimming was nice, and there was beverage/food service at both. Yamis and his team at both restaurants made us feel at home, starting with our welcome drink. Breakfast was absolutely amazing - you order small plates off a huge menu, and get as many items as you want. Terrific coffee. Dinner at their restaurant called Rada exceeded our expectations. Our two servers, both named Katarina, took great care of us. The food was outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

Comfy and elegant.

Location

Has its own private beach.

Staff

Yamas, Kristine, Catarina x2.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nespresso coffee machines, nice hair products. Great clothes steamer!

Kasimatis by La Perla

Santorini

Location is in Imerovigli which is a good alternative to Oia. You can cab or bus to Oia for one day, but here you can walk to 2 villages. The front desk was always available and helpful. We had the Cave Suite with hot tub, used the tub once. This room doesn’t overlook the caldera, so upgrade if you want that. The room is clean, there’s a good size refrigerator and hot water kettle.. The bed was comfortable, A/C strong, shower good, robes and slippers provided - which is nice. There is no separate hair conditioner, so bring your own if you use it. They only provide 2 water bottles when you check in, and it would be great if they provided 2 per-day. The pool is decent size and right next to the bar. Breakfast was terrific, and we had dinner in the hotel restaurant which was quite good with fabulous sunset views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get to - as long as someone else takes your luggage up and down the stairs!

Staff

Front desk (manager and her team) were very helpful. Housekeeping was really sweet and efficient.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Beach Day

Paros

We hung out at the beach hotel. Didn’t do this, didn’t have the time.

Self-Guided Island Highlights

Paros

We had ideas from KimKim but did our own thing based on the hotel recommendations. We only were out for 4 hours.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Parikia & Naousa Markets Visit

Paros

We didn’t do this.

Self-Guided Day Trip to Wineries & Brewery

Paros

We had some guidance from KimKim, but the hotel took care of the car rental, gave us a map, and walked us though the options.

Quality of Experience

Snorkeling Adventure

Paros

This was cancelled due to high winds. But they called the day before to let us know, which we appreciated.

Sunset Caldera Catamaran Cruise

Santorini

This was terrific. We made 3 snorkel stops. There were only 24 of us on the catamaran, plenty of space to find a spot you like. The beverages were limited to wine, beer, soda. The food was terrific and plentiful. The captain and the crew were attentive, professional, and fun.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jeep 4*4 Offroad Experience

Santorini

Alex picked up us and since we were the only people on the “caravan” tour that day, we went all over Santorini with Alex in his jeep. We covered a lot of the island, had a nice beach break, a very light dinner at an authentic restaurant but one that had absolutely no ambience, and a beautiful sunset view before we went back to town.

Quality of Experience

We learned a lot and covered a lot of ground.

Food

A different restaurant for dinner.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was excellent.

Transport

It’s a old-ish jeep, very bumpy!

Self-Guided Exploration of Santorini's Towns & Villages

Santorini

We just used this time to walk to the next town and relax. The self guided instructions weren’t especially helpful.

Quality of Experience

Fira Food & Views Walking Tour

Santorini

This was one of the best food tours we’ve ever been on! Lena was fabulous, we went to 7 places, we ate and drank for 4 hours. The food choices and venues were so good! It as my birthday, so Lena surprised me with candles in the Loukoumades (fried dough balls with honey syrup, served with ice cream!). Highly recommend this.

Quality of Experience

The number of food choices was great as was the food itself.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lena was wonderful.

We would like to sincerely thank Wendy for organizing the trip to Colombia for my mother and father-in-law. From start to finish, everything was perfectly arranged — the hotels were excellent, the guides were knowledgeable and caring, and the whole itinerary was thoughtfully planned to make the journey smooth and memorable.

Wendy’s professionalism, attention to detail, and warm approach gave us peace of mind, knowing that they were in the best hands. She went above and beyond to make sure every detail was taken care of, and it truly made a difference.

I cannot recommend Wendy highly enough — if you are planning a trip, she is the person to trust. We are deeply grateful for her efforts and will gladly work with her again in the future :)

We need to express our deep thankfulness about your great job. Amazing organisation, logistics and of course the brilliant tour guide- Havier. Thanks to him we learned so much of your beautiful country. All of you guys are excellent. It is a great pleasure to communicate with Havier knowing so exhaustive information about your country. We’ve been to 85 countries globally and can confirm you do the job very well and professionally. Tourism in Ecuador must soar due to people like you. We wish you health and good luck
Thank you

Georgi and Mariana
BULGARIA

We had such a wonderful experience working with Alisha on our Iceland trip! Everything was so thoughtfully planned, and we especially appreciated the clear driving directions that made exploring on our own easy and stress-free. The premium puffin tour was absolutely incredible, and the kayak on the glacier lagoon was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We also loved the hiking spots she recommended—especially Mulagljúfur Canyon, with its breathtaking views of waterfalls. The hotels she selected were top-notch and perfectly located, which made each stop along the way even more enjoyable. Alisha made the whole process smooth and enjoyable, and we’re so grateful for her expertise in creating such a memorable adventure!

- How did you feel while planning the trip with me? Did you feel well-assisted?
You were very helpful and made me feel well assisted.
Were my answers punctual and clear? yes
Did I succeed in making you feel I was the right person to plan your trip?
yes, you were very helpful and kind
- How would you rate the quality of the services we provided (drivers, guides, concierge, etc.)?
excellent drivers and I loved the transport with the suv's-clean
- What was the best moment of your trip?
Seeing the pope after our tour on our last day prior to leaving Rome and Capri boat ride

Michael planned a great trip for us. It was pretty complicated, with intra-country flights, and a lot of driving. All the guides were prompt, kind, and informative (and English-speaking, which we needed). In Bogota, Michael arranged a dinner with a private chef, with a host who was very friendly and so knowledgeable about native foods and sustainability. In Pereira, we had an amazing trip/hike to the Cocura Valley and the Santa Rosa hot springs. Our guide in Guatape was flexible when we asked to re-arrange the tour a bit, and then actually climbed all 750 steps with us so she could take our picture and make sure we were all comfortable. And in Tayrona, our guide took us to some amazing local restaurants and guided us on a great hike. He also got up early and arranged our park entrance in advance so we could save time and not wait in line. And finally, in Cartagena, our guide took us to some great street food places (including a top-notch ceviche stand). We also learned about George Washington's older half-brother's role in Cartagena -- which was fascinating. Overall, we highly recommend working with Chaska.

Activity Reviews

Walking Tour & Street Food

Cartagena

Our guide was very knowledgeable on history, and took us to some great local stands.

Nueva Venecia and the stilt villages of the Ciénaga Grande (On the Way to Cartagena)

Colombia

What's great about this trip is the history and current situation in this area. It's a great cultural experience, especially with the guide we had, who was thoughtful and informative.

Hike Tayrona National Park

Colombia

The guide took time to get our wristbands for entry in advance, which gave us more time to hike. He took us on a good trail, and spotted some wildlife that we would have missed.

Tubing on Don Diego River

Colombia

We loved our lunch before the tubing. Our guide was excellent, and the local tubing person helped keep us on track.

Guatapé Day-Trip

Colombia

Filandia, Salento and Valle del Cocora

Colombia

Valle Del Cocora was outsanding - probably only needed to see one town since we weren't into shopping, but if you like shopping, doing both would be good.

Santa Rosa Hot Springs

Colombia

It was nice that the guide watched our bags while we soaked and hiked.

Tejo Game in Bogotá

Bogotá

We asked for this and weren't disappointed. If you like to play cornhole, this is the sport for you!

Bogota's Essentials (City Tour & Monserrate)

Bogotá

The guide was great and knowledgeable

Traditional Dinner - Top Chef Private Dining

Bogotá

Level of knowledge of the host and quality of the food.

We travelled to South Africa, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and Botswana for 19 days, and Anna-Marie and her team did an excellent job in planning our itinerary.

Anna-Marie was our lead planner along with her colleague, Janneke, and others.

We provided Anna-Marie with our wishlist, our requirements for accommodation, and how we like to travel in a day, and she made sure each day was planned accordingly. We were celebrating our 20th anniversary of marriage anniversary and she had made sure to convey that throughout, so we were surprised by the celebrations at all our accommodations. All our accommodations, our rides, were exceptionally well thought keeping our family's requirements in mind.

We met Anna-Marie and her family while in Cape Town for dinner, and it was great to connect with her personally. My daughter and her daughter are now friends. She was very helpful and patiently answered all the questions I had before the trip. And during the trip, she checked in with us every day to make sure everything was as planned and also gave a heads-up for the next day. Constant communication with her on the trip was very comforting. We also got the opportunity to meet Janneke for lunch one day, who was a pleasure to meet with.

We had a great trip, and a well-planned itinerary plays a big role in making it a success. We planned to go back to South Africa and will definitely reach out to Anna-Marie for that. She is great with communication and understands your requirements very well, and is always ready to work around that. Got back with us amazing experiences and a lifetime of memories, and thanks to Anna-Marie for this. Couldn't have done it any other way.

Hotel Reviews

The Winchester Hotel

Western Cape

Great location, very comfortable stay

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

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Chobe Game Lodge

Serondela

What a great place, very comfortable, great location

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Staff

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58 On Hume

Randburg

They gave us an upgrade to their most amazing rooms, and they had the smallest details to make it super comfortable. Food and staff were amazing. Beautiful place.

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Staff

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Schoone Oordt Country House

Swellendam

It is such a cozy place to be run by a family. Small details during the stay were very comforting. Highly recommend.

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Staff

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Knysna Hollow Country Estate

Rooms were sooo big and very comfortable.

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Staff

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Ivory Wilderness River Rock Lodge

Hoedspruit

Such a cozy place, the staff is exceptional and took care of our smallest requirements. My 10-year-old did not want to leave the place.

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Location

Staff

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Activity Review

Classic Air Balloon Flight

Johannesburg

It was our first time doing an air balloon ride, the pilot was a very young lady, but very confident and knew what she was doing. We got to see Rino, and the whole experience was very smooth and comfortable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens was not overcrowded in August so we really enjoyed the historical sights and wandering around the streets.
Nafplio was charming and a beautiful surprise to us, I would highly recommend a visit there.
Our sailing day was amazing and our skipper Nadine was wonderful.
The transfer driver from Athens to Nafplio and back to Athens was grumpy and rude but all other drivers and guides were great.
Our cooking experience with Savor was fabulous, we made some great food and enjoyed eating it too, the wine pairing was enjoyed too.

Hotel Reviews

Glyfada Riviera Hotel

Glyfada

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Epoch House & The Orange Shop

Nafplio Greece

Authenticity & Character

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The Modernist Athens

Athens

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

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Activity Reviews

Private Cooking Class in Nafplio

Nafplio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sailing Adventure in Argolis Gulf with Snorkeling & Paddleboarding

Nafplio

The boat was great and the skipper Nadine was charming, very experienced and friendly

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sounio & Temple of Poseidon Day Trip

Athens

excellent driver and guide made this a memorable day

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing family trip to Japan. Leny and her team were wonderful to work with from beginning to end. We asked for her to cut the original cost in half, which she managed to do and still secure us a very nice itinerary and accommodations.

All of our planned activities as well as our self guided day suggestions were a great fit for our family. It was the best vacation we have ever had with our two teenagers, who are not always an easy age to travel with or keep engaged.

The night at the ryokan in Hokone was an unforgettable traditional Japanese experience. We also loved Hotel Brighton in Kyoto as we were able to rent bicycles from the hotel and enjoy Kyoto on bike.
We especially loved all of the animals we got to encounter while in Japan. The deer in Nara, the Monkeys at Arashiyama (Kyoto) and the Otters/owls/kapibara/meerkat at the “Cute otter cafe” in Tokyo. We also really enjoyed our ramen making class in Osaka as a family and our visit to TeamLabs in Tokyo.
A couple of items that weren’t on the itinerary that we loved was going to a Giants game in Tokyo, the Kyoto Railroad Museum, and visiting the Aquarium in Osaka.
Truly a trip of a lifetime. We will certainly be using KimKim and Leny’s services for traveling again in the future. It was our first time using a service like this and I can’t even begin to thank Leny and her team enough. They made our 2 weeks in Japan together go so smoothly. They were regularly checking in and reminding us of any updates and itinerary items. All of our documents were arranged and ready for us ahead of time and all worked as expected. This experience has changed how I will travel from now on.

Hotel Reviews

Kyoto Brighton Hotel

Kyoto

The Kyoto Brighton Hotel was really nice. It was a very nice hotel and added to our great experience during our stay.

Gora Kansuiro

Hakone

The onsen in Hakone was absolutely amazing. It was a whole different experience compared to a regular hotel. Our teenage boys even agreed that it was the coolest and best part of the whole trip. It was truly great.

Activity Reviews

Self- Guided visit in Nara

Japan

Our self-guided visit in Nara was one of the highlights of the whole trip. Nara's peaceful vibe, the deer, and the giant Buddha made it an amazing experience.

Afternoon Bamboo Forest & Monkey Bike Tour

Kyoto

The Afternoon Bamboo Forest & Monkey Bike Tour in Kyoto, also known as Monkey Mountain, was awesome. It was a highlight of our trip with its fascinating encounters and rich cultural insights.

Discover Tokyo with a Local (Private)

Tokyo

The Discover Tokyo with a Local activity was enjoyable, and the guide was great, but it didn't quite fit us as it included a lot of shopping and anime districts that weren't of our interest. We would have preferred a more tailored experience with a focus on temples and shrines.

Well, I have to say your team at KimKim is by far the absolute best!!!!You were there for us 24/7 . I only needed you a couple of times, but you were only a call away and never left me waiting. Thank you from all of us for that. Our seats at the tattoo were awesome, as were the dinner show tickets at the Merry Ploughboy. Our tour guide, Robert , on the walking tour of Edinburgh Was informative and entertaining. Our stay at The Fraser House in Inverness was by far the favorite of everyone in my group. The rooms all faced the river, so we all had a view, at the cost of our hostess, Leah giving up her own room. She was absolutely amazing, and went far above her duties by even giving some of us a ride to the train station in lieu of ordering another taxi. She prepared a delicious breakfast each morning, even on a day we had to leave super early. So very friendly and accommodating. we would recommend her Fraser House 200%.

On the downside, the Jacobite train ride was not worth the trip. It took too long to get there for a 2 hour ride in a train that was way too hot( unseasonably arm weather) no air conditioning and no open windows. The attendants went up and down the isles wit a hand held fan with water spray. But we still had fun. We also did not get to do the afternoon tea at Edinburgh castle. They claim they sent an email, however, I did not receive it. It wouldn't have mattered, we were still in flight, and trying to get to the hotel. They said last seating was 12noon due to the tattoo, we were there about 12:05, but they wouldn't seat us. They said she would check to see if anyone read the email, and if not they, would issue a refund. I would appreciate if you would follow up on that, please.

Hotel Reviews

Castle Hotel

Dublin

Staff was very helpful, but the elevator was out of service when we checked in, but the staff carried our luggage up for us. Rooms were good, plenty of room, but the tub was very high to get into and out of (no separate shower) Maybe take age into consideration when assigning rooms. The elevator was working when we left. Breakfast was great, and they offered a buffet other than full Irish breakfast.

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Clontarf Castle Hotel

Dublin 3

We were impressed with this hotel. Was not what we expected as a haunted hotel, but, it had air conditioning, still gave a castle feel, and the food was delicious. Other than it's location to city center, we loved this hotel, and would have stayed the entire time.

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Fraser House Inverness

Inverness

AMAZING!!!!!!!! Location was perfect. Leah, the owner was extraordinary. She accommodated our schedule, even though it was earlier than her normal hours, she helped us with reservations, recommended laces to eat and see, and even used her own vehicle to get some of us to the train station. If there is a higher than 5 * rating she deserves it....

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Royal Scots Club

Edinburgh

Authenticity & Character

Gave us a feel of history.

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Activity Reviews

Cliff of Moher tour from Dublin

Dublin

Amazing views. Quite windy.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel & Cork Tour from Dublin

Dublin

I've been to Blarney before, but the Rock of Cashel and Cork were new to me and I absolutely loved it. Lunch in Cork was coordinated perfectly which gave us ample time to return to the bus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Gerry with a G was a fun driver, intent on getting everyone to the bus on time.

Transport

Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour

Dublin

Tour and tasting was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night out at the Merry Ploughboy + Transport, show and a meal

Dublin

Show was awesome, and everyone in the group loved it. Food was good and a great ending to a great trip.Great transportation, even dropped us off at our hotel, saving us a walk.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dublin: Afternoon Tea Vintage Bus Trip

Dublin

So much fun, we all enjoyed the food and ride. Reese, Adam, Nicole and Pat were at our beck and call.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Dublin Private Walking Tour

Dublin

Ian our guide was informative and friendly

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day out on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)

Scotland

Too long a drive to get to for a 2 hour train ride with no air conditioning and no open windows. Mallaig would have been fun if we had more time there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tourkl was fun and gave us a good ride.

Transport

The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle

Inverness

The Isle of Skye was beautiful, and we got to see the fairy pool, also stopped at Talisker distillery, where we had a drink and purchased some whiskey..we stopped at Dunvegan castle instead of Eileen Donan although I don't remember why. and I think another stop was changed, one of my passengers mentioned disappointment.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Loch Lomond, Kelpies & Stirling Castle Tour

Edinburgh

Loved the Kelpies and Sterling Castle, and Loch Lomond. Full day, lots to see.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Private Walking Tour of Edinburgh with a Top Local Guide

Edinburgh

Robert was great, dressed in authentic kilt, made him super easy to find at the meeting point. Very informative and entertaining. Loved him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff