Kimkim Trip Reviews

Macarena was professional, flexible and responsive. Quick follow up is very important to me when planning a trip.
Her suggestions made my trip special: cooking class, wine tour and Termed hot springs I would not have found.

Overall this was a wonderful trip, and we were very pleased with our accommodations at Hotel a la Villa des Artistes in the Montparnasse area. That Les Jardins de Luxembourg was walking distance made it even lovelier.

All of our guides through Localers were extremely knowledgeable. We do want to offer a bit of constructive feedback regarding the Treasures of the Marais walking tour with
Patrick. I was at first reluctant to book this tour during discussions with Joel because I felt it would not be of much interest to our daughter, but he assured me that we would enjoy the historic aspects of the traditional Jewish community and the LGBTQ communities. The tour was far more about the French royalty and aristocracy than it was about the historic communities. Our itinerary also stated that we would be offered a midway stop at a traditional French and local cafe for a hot beverage — this did not happen. I felt that while Patrick was very knowledgeable, he was not reading his audience well at all.

While we found our Louvre guide, Melanie, did a great job, we found the itinerary description misleading. When we were told that we would have a private, after hours tour, we expected that the museum would be closed except for small private tours. This was not the case as the museum was open to the public at this time. I think you should be more accurate in the description of this tour. The term “after hours” has definite connotation.

I do want to offer a special accolade to our guide for Musee D’Orsay and L’Orangerie, Victor. He brought great insight and wonderful narrative to his tour with us. His passion and knowledge were outstanding. I am very glad that we were able to enjoy these two museums that highlight the Impressionists since Giverny was not an option at this time of year.

Overall, we had a great trip and with minor exceptions all the logistics and tours went very smoothly. Some notes regarding our specific experiences in each destination:

1. Bariloche
- Gabriella, our guide for the first two days (Kawen Adventures) was exceptional. She was extremely knowledgeable and provided a wealth of information regarding the geology, flora and fauna, etc. She was very attentive and accommodating to our individual needs and interests.
- Both drivers (Tricky sp?, and Freddy) were very good. Freddy in particular was very attentive and functioned almost as a 2nd tour guide rather than just a driver. He shared Mate with us, helped with lunch, and assisted us in navigating some rough terrain when we hiked to a waterfall near Lake Traful.
- Kawen Adventures was very responsive with including Rupert in our tours when his plans for fly fishing on 24 and 25 February did not work out.
- The gluten free lunch we requested through Mery was not provided for Patricia on the first day. Gabriela made the effort to ensure a gluten free lunch on Day 2, but the lunch providers need to improve their ability to respond to dietary restrictions in a creative way.
- The Design Suites hotel was comfortable and the restaurant at the hotel was very good. However, the rooms did not have good sound insulation, and the showers did not drain properly. The front desk staff were a bit surly and not very customer friendly.
- We thoroughly enjoyed all of the tours and activities in the Bariloche area, including strolling around town.
- The white water rafting was well organized and a fun day. Lack of changing or bathroom facilities at the shore where we began the trip was a challenge. The lunch provided was very nice.

2. El Calafate:
- The Esplendor Calafate Hotel was comfortable and had a good breakfast. The front desk staff was very helpful. We had to arrange our own laundry service in town as the hotel's clothes dryer was broken. I don't understand why the hotel could not have taken our laundry to a private facility, but this was a minor inconvenience. There was a problem with elevator floor not stopping at the same level as the corridor floor, which resulted in Carol tripping and falling. The hotel did take the elevator out of service, and fortunately Carol was not injured.
- The Perito Moreno Glacier tour was spectacular, and our guide Natalya was exceptional. She was fun, knowledgeable and responsive to our interests and requests. The itinerary incorrectly identified the meal to be provided as "breakfast". In fact, we ordered our box lunches to take with us from the hotel's kitchen.
- The bus trip from El Calafate to Puerto Natales was OK, but not the most comfortable bus we have experienced. The bus departed about 45 minutes late. The immigration and customs process to enter Chile was time consuming, and we waited in line outdoors in a very fierce wind.

3. Puerto Natales:
- The Weskar Lodge Hotel was cozy and comfortable, although the rooms are a bit small (challenging when you are traveling with luggage). The Ennos Restaurant in the Weskar Lodge is very good, as were the breakfasts. Nicole at the front desk was exceptionally helpful, and even adjusted the breakfast serving time to accommodate our schedule. They also were very helpful with arranging taxis, and coordinating the pick-up times with Patagonia Planet.
- We clearly did not receive the same level of personal service from Patagonia Planet that we enjoyed with Kawen Adventures and Huellas del sur. When we went to the pre-tour briefing on 29 February, Macerana of Patagonia Planet told us we would be in a group of seven (7) rather than with a private guide as per our itinerary. She also seemed to exaggerate the difficulty of the trek. We worked with Ines of Say Hueque while at the briefing and Patagonia Planet honored the commitment for a private tour.
- The vehicle that Patagonia Planet sent to pick us up at the airport appeared to be a personal vehicle and was too small for all our luggage (so we had to hold some bags on our laps).
- They did not provide the gluten free lunch that we had requested for Pat.
- They required that we travel to their office for the briefing rather than meet us at our hotel.
- It appeared that the first time they really paid attention to the requirements that you had arranged for us was when we showed up for the briefing on Saturday evening.
- The the trek in Torres del Paine National Park with Rosanna (our guide) went very well. Rosanna made adjustments to the pace, and Carol decided to stay at the "refugio" (where the cafe and bathrooms are) while Rupert, Pat and I continued. We did not make it all the way up the the lookout over the lagoon, but we made it onto the moraine. We were tired and it was getting late, so we decided to return. On the way back, Rosanna took us to a 2nd lookout behind the ranger station where we ate our lunch. We got back to the vehicle at about 6 p.m. We had a very good day. A little rain at the end, but otherwise the weather was very good (and not windy), although when we arrived at the lookout the clouds and fog was coming in and partially obscuring the 3 towers.
- Overall, Patagonia Planet seems more focused on the physical logistics of moving bodies to the Park, and not really focused on providing personal service and an experience matched to the needs of the client. That said, Rosanna was very attentive and accommodating to our needs and we had a great day.
- The tour of the Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers was enjoyable, although a bit crowded due to the size of the group on the boat and on the trail. We very much enjoyed seeing the sea lions, and the interesting flora along the trail to the Serrano Glacier. The itinerary indicated that we needed to get a taxi to town to the 21 de Mayo office, but the Weskar front desk was able to call and confirm that they would pick us up at the hotel on the way to the dock.

4. Santiago de Chile:
- Luis, our driver, was great. It was nice that he did all the transfers for our stay.
- The Cumbres Lastarria Hotel was very luxurious and comfortable, and the staff very helpful. We had a great dinner at BocaNariz just a short walk from the hotel.

5. Regarding the entire vacation, we are very pleased with everything. The only significant issues have been that the tour providers did not provide the requested gluten free meals for Pat (although Kawen Adventures made an effort to provide a gluten free meal for Pat on the 2nd day), and the disconnect with Patagonia Planet regarding the private guided tour to Torres del Paine.

When my son said that he had a lifelong dream to see the northern lights, I knew that I'd need the help of a travel agent familiar with northern Scandinavia. A quick internet search led me to Kimkim, which had already done the work of planning the outline for a perfect trip. I had never used an internet based travel agent before, but the idea of using agents based where we would be traveling was quite appealing so I gave them a chance. I was very glad I did.

From the very beginning it was a personal experience. I worked with Ingrid and Hilde, who both were very responsive and worked quite hard to create a custom trip for us. Their communication was excellent, and I especially appreciated their attention to emergency contacts in case anything went wrong. Unfortunately we arrived in Bodø to gale force winds, which immediately threw a wrench into our itinerary since the ferries were canceled. Hilde immediately rebooked our hotels and suggested an alternative and completely worthy itinerary. I expect that a lot of travel agents would let you down in circumstances like this, but not Kimkim. This "above and beyond" service convinced me to use them again for any of my future travel plans.

The trip itself was exceptional, and had many highlights:

- Northern lights. Even though we had poor weather, our guide in Tromsø managed to find the one spot with clear skies and we were rewarded with an amazing display
- Dogsledding. We really appreciated that it was much more than a glorified ride at Trapper's Farm, which has been our past experience with other sledding opportunities
- The people. The staff at every hotel, shop, guided tour, and museum were knowledgeable, friendly, and exceptionally welcoming.
- The sights. Lafoten in particular was extraordinarily beautiful
- The museums. The Bodø aviation museum, and the Tromsø polar and WWII museums were particular highlights. Honorable mention also goes to the science center and planetarium in Tromsø, where we went to ensure at least one sighting of the northern lights.
- The meals. We ate like kings and loved the food!

All in all I can't recommend the Norway tours more highly. There are plenty of sample itineraries to choose from, but the Kimkim agents are perfectly happy to customize one of the tours to your needs. You won't regret it - we certainly didn't!

This is a long overdue review of our fabulous November 2019 trip to Colombia.
Despite a prolonged wait to clear customs, we were greeted by Lina who graciously made sure we were safely transported to our destination. For the next two days she provided an energetic and welcoming introduction to Bogota. In Villa de Leyva Mauricio was a delightful guide, providing a personal and entertaining opportunity to explore area. We really enjoyed his musical background and knowledge.
Natalia brought the Cocora Valley to life despite rain and mud! She is passionate about the flora and fauna and a great ambassador for nature lovers. We enjoyed Salento and Filandia with her and a very special stop at Finca Divisa de Don Juan (coffee farm)
Daniel was our special personality in Medellin. His walking tour and history lesson were amazing. We were appreciative of his attention during our visit to Penol Rock and Guatape making for two rewarding experiences.
Juan was our steady, patient and knowledgable guide in Tayrona Park. We very much enjoyed learning about the area as well as his family background. It was a strenuous excursion and he timed the pace and experiences beautifully to match our requests.
David helped us enjoy Los Pinos. His familiarity with the area diminished our concerns with the muddy, rutted roads to arrive safely at our destination. Again, this guide's love of the area made for a special day.
A highlight of the trip was a visit to Bazurto Market with Carolina. The market was incredibly interesting, and Carolina's presentation, interaction, and selections were memorable. Her class was extraordinary.
Ending our trip in Cartagena, we were entertained by Ingrid - an insightful and fun-loving personality that enriched our time there.
Chio and team were responsive and supportive throughout. We were especially appreciative of their flexibility when our departure coincided with national protests. They made sure our transport got us to the airport with time to spare.
Colombia is filled with beauty, architectural charm, intriguing history and welcoming nationalities.
Thank you for a trip that will not be forgotten!

The trip was beautiful. We saw amazing places and were very happy with location, activity and settings. However going from Manuel Antonio to Arenal takes 5h and might be too ambitious for those on shorter trips

Carlos was very responsive.

This was an excellent trip not only for Jordan but all the facilities extended to us by the Kimkim team. The guides, drivers were all excellent.
Thanks a lot
Ram & Madhu Addanki

Hassan was fantastic booking this trip. I decided to go two weeks before I left. He was able to make all the my requests happen and more! The day before I left I slipped on the sidewalk and fractured my knee. I thought for sure I wasn’t going to be able to go but the doctor cleared me for the trip and I was so excited. He helped me get a better seat on the plane and wheelchair assistance at the airport which was much appreciated. He made sure I was well taken care of throughout my trip.

My driver Abdul took fantastic care of me from the time I arrived until I left! He taught me so much about Morocco’s culture and history while taking me to beautiful places and views along our drive around the country. I've traveled solo a lot but never had a driver before. I wouldn't see Morocco any other way. I felt safe as a solo female traveler and truly got to have best experience from the best driver!

I truly fell in love with Morocco! This trip was my 21st country outside of the USA and first time in Africa. It was above and beyond my expectations. Traveling over 1600 miles by car from Casablanca to Meknes to Fes to Chefchaouen to the Sahara to Rose’s Valley to Marrakesh, and all the stops in between I would do it again in a heartbeat. There is so much to do and see but I truly loved spending time in the desert and exploring everything each stop and city had to offer.

I’ve been humbled by the Berber way of life, by their culture and by their hospitality. Having worked in hospitality for 20 years and living in NYC working tireless hours you can loose site of anything outside of your of day-to-day. I truly found the meaning of hospitality and happiness again in Morocco. Having tea with the nomads really changed my perspective. Seeing a family actually live in a cave in 2020 invite me for tea to provide a stranger hospitality with just enough means to live was so easy for them. It’s hard to imagine they have never read a book, watched tv, surfed the internet or used a cellphone, yet they wanted to have basic human connection over tea. We should all live a little more like the Nomadic Berbers and the world may just feel a little less complicated and more welcoming to everyone. Morocco you have my ❤️!

What an unbelievable trip! I’m not sure what was better; Costa Rica or Carlos! This was my first time using KimKim and it won’t be my last. Carlos planned the perfect trip. From starting out in the rustic Corcovado national park to the cloud forests and then ending at one of the nicest/relaxing hot spring resorts in Arenal. The trip had everything; rainforests, jungles, wildlife, zip lines, bungee jumping, volcanos, delicious food, amazing resorts, beaches, 6 seater airplanes, snakes, night hikes, monkeys, birds, hanging bridges...I could go on and on. The best part was it was all planned by Carlos. We didn’t have to worry about anything. Pickups, transfers, logistics, all the boring stuff no one wants to take care of but needs to be done/planned for trips, Carlos did it. Whatever KimKim is paying Carlos, they should double it. What an amazing trip, all thanks to KimKim and Carlos. Pura Vida!!!!

We had an enjoyable time in Buenos Aires and the Iquazu Falls. Emilce had done a wonderful job for all the transfers between places and the pick ups were on time. Also thank Federico who was so wonderful in guiding us thru the city of Buenos Aires. We learnt a lot about the political background, history and cultures of Argentina. We really appreciate his service. The hotel which Emilce arranged in BA was really good. However we were not very happy about EcoIguazu's tour on the Argintina side. I was not sure about it was the S American Trip's role or the EcoIguazu's role. The guide for the Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side was not good. His didn't understand our questions very well and was not organized at all. Wasting time in making decision what we should do next. I felt so sorry for the tour members who had paid for the boat ride but no seats for them after all. I still wonder how it can happen if they have arranged the boat ride few months ago and still no room for them on the day. Other than that, I enjoyed my trip in Argentina very much. Oh, I forgot to mention about the tango show and the Argentine Experience. Both events were excellent. We enjoyed them very much. Thank you Emilce again for the arrangement. Will recomment KimKim to my friends.

My husband and I did a 10 day Highlights of Morocco tour and it was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken! The booking experience with Megan was quick and easy and she was able to customize the tour to suit our interests and budget. Our driver, Brahim, was absolutely superb! He was a fantastic guide and took care of us from the moment we were picked up at the airport. He was always courteous, timely, and very helpful. During our time in Merzouga, his family had a lovely surprise for us and it was one of the absolute highlights of our trip. Our riads were beautiful and the local guides were very informative and showed us quite a bit during our tours. Our favorite spots were the Sahara Desert and the beautiful medinas in Fes. Our private trip with Wanderlust Voyages was the perfect way to explore the country. Morocco is a beautiful place and the people are so kind and welcoming - we’ll be back again!

My wife and I booked a private 13-day Chefchaouen to Sahara and Beyond trip with Wanderlust.  We had the excellent fortune of being assigned Said Attioui as our driver.  Said went up and beyond to make our trip an incredible experience.  He was knowledgable about every location we visited and made our two weeks in Morocco seamlessly comfortable.  Even though it wasn't on the itinerary, Said made time to help us find and visit the grave of my great grandmother in Casablanca.
Seriously, request Said if you can.  You wont regret it!

Over 13 days, we visited Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, Meknes, Merzouga, the Erg Chebbi Dunes, Boumalne Dades, Ouarzazate, Ait Benhaddou, and Marrakech.  Trip highlights included hiking in the High Atlas Mountains, staying in a tented camp in the Sahara desert, being guided to incredible handcrafted goods in the medinas of Fes and Marrakech, and having tea with Said's family in Erfoud.  We were able to see and learn so much but never felt rushed or pressed for time.

While planning the trip, we worked with Megan who used our preferences re must-see sites, trip pacing and budget to create our ideal vacation.  We were especially happy with (1) Megan's hotel picks for us and (2) the fact that she was able to put together our vacation in such a short period of time (I think we first contacted her 3 weeks before our departure date).  We also had wonderful experiences with the site-specific guides we met for day tours in Fes, Meknes, Merzouga, the Toudgha Gorge, the Ourika Valley, and Marrakech.

Many thanks to the Wanderlust team (and especially Said) for enabling us to have such a wonderful experience!

We couldn't have had a better experience than we did in Vietnam and Cambodia thanks to Kimkim. All of our travels went smoothly with people meeting us at the airports and transferring us to our hotels. The local guides were all fantastic with good English skills and great knowledge to share. We especially loved Hui in Hoi An and Se Vannesak in Siem Reap. The accomodations were wonderful and very well located so we could walk to city centers for dinners. We had a great five weeks on the road thanks to Kimkim. Much thanks and appreciation to Will for setting it all up.

This is a great way to plan and book a vacation. Will worked us to put together a wonderful 4 week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. Our accommodations were perfect- beautiful hotels every one with great staff and morning buffets. Our guides and drivers were always punctual, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. The activities were interesting and fun as well. Everything went as planned and we could just relax and enjoy the trip knowing every detail was well taken care of. We will likely never plan our own international trips again.

Truly the best trip ever!! From planning to execution everything was flawless. 10 days 2 teens and a single Mom not a single argument, PRICELESS!!. Every excursion was amazing. Waterfall rappelling was our adventure highlight. Relaxing in Manuel Antonio was the cherry on top. Between the high end accommodation, fabulous food, wildlife and beaches couldn’t have asked for anything better. Can’t wait to book our next trip.

Isabel Fernandez worked so hard to make our trip to Ecuador so memorable. Every part of the trip was smooth. No hassles in terms of pick ups and transportation. Our guide, Christian was fantastic. We told Isabel what we loved to do as travellers (hiking, nature, etc.) and she worked with us to plan a perfect vacation. She made great suggestions and we worked together to make our Ecuadorian experience so memorable. Rich and Melissa

I had pretty much planned out my trip to Egypt and Jordan on my own, when I decided to contact kimkim to see what assistance might be available. I had used kimkim to help plan a trip to Myanmar which was incredible -far beyond my expectations - and so I decided to use kimkim again for on the ground support in Egypt and Jordan.

I am so glad I did - everything went like clockwork. From the moment we were picked up at the airport in Luxor until we were deposited at the airport in Amman at the end of the trip, it was an incredible journey. Our guide for the Luxor to Aswan portion of the trip, Mahmoud, was terrific. His vast knowledge of Egyptian mythology and history was inspiring and we very much appreciated his guidance and willingness to share with us what life in Egypt is like today for the people who live here.

Likewise with our guide Hisham in Cairo - and here I would like to put in special thanks for Hisham and the other support staff in Cairo. I managed to contract the dreaded TD for a couple of days in Cairo and the support I received was fantastic, from constant checking in to make sure I was okay, help in obtaining antibiotics and the like. Egypt was far more interesting and exciting with the support of Ibrahim and his colleagues than it would have been on our own.

We then flew to Amman, also with the help of Ibrahim. We were met at the Amman airport and whisked through border control like celebrities. The next morning, we met our guide and driver, Abou, whose support was priceless. We talked about what we wanted to do and he strongly suggested that we alter our plans to include an overnight stay in Petra, which we were able to do and which greatly enhanced that experience. Again, Abou's willingness to share with us his life, and what it is like to be Jordanian, greatly enhanced our experience.

Thanks to everyone who helped us along our two weeks in Egypt and Jordan - it was exactly what we wanted, and more.

Pissa was the best guide and the insight and cultural history I learned from the inside was invaluable. High highly recommend KimKim and, if possible, a solo tour with one of their guides.

Every aspect of the trip that Patricia planned for us was flawless. The guides and drivers, particularly Miguel, Daniel, and Inma were so knowledgeable and concerned with our experience and comfort. I have travelled extensively in Europe, individually, as the leader of student groups, and as part of a travel group, and I can say unequivocally that this was the best trip I have taken. I loved meeting Patricia and I especially thank her for her terrific work.

First of all, I want to say thank you to Lena for sticking with us! We took months to plan and finalize our trip, and she was with us through it all, changing our itinerary multiple times and answering our seemingly endless questions promptly!

Jordan was full of natural beauty and we LOVED our hike in Dana and our guide Mohammed. Will never forget having Bedouin tea and freshly warmed pitas with him over lunch. Equally lovely was Wadi Rum. Aicha Camp was gorgeous (and they upgraded us to a panoramic tent - superb!), and our driver on our Jeep tour, Adam, was wonderful. We loved our driver for the first portion of our Jordan trip, Hasan. Always on time and very kind! The only thing I wish we had done differently is make sure that we had transportation arranged for our day at Petra, as our hotel was a bit off the main Tourism Street (Petra Quattro). It was easy to hire our own guide for Petra at the Visitor's Center, but I'm sure Lena could have arranged this for us in advance had we wanted! I also want to note that we loved our cooking lesson at Beit Sitti in Amman our first evening!

Lena was very helpful in prepping us on what to expect during the border crossing at King Hussein Bridge. We were a little nervous, but it went smoothly and our driver Awas was waiting for us on the other side.

Jerusalem was an overwhelming city, but we had the most wondeful guide two days in a row for it and Bethlehem (I loved that we got the same guide as it really allowed you to make a connection). Ibrahim was one of my favorite tour guides ever, anywhere. If I am back in Jerusalem, I know who I am calling. He even checked in on us a few days later to make sure we were okay and ask if he could help us with anything more! The location of our hotel was pretty great too (Gloria on Latin Patriarchate Street near Jaffa Gate). It was definitely older (the dining area is currently being remodeled), but the location makes that worth it.

I thought the price we paid for the trip was quite fair, and appreciated the flexibility Lena showed in booking everything for us.

Thank you again for an unforgettable trip!