Kimkim Trip Reviews

Ivan was very responsive, flexible, and helpful in building an ideal trip for us. We like to stay busy, and Ivan always had quick and efficient ideas to fill the itinerary and maximize our experience. We hit a snag with passport control in Frankfurt that caused us to lose a day, however, Ivan was tremendously helpful in guiding us through our schedule pivot!

Hotel Reviews

Berkeley Hotel & Day Spa

Dubrovnik

This hotel was the perfect spot to set up our base camp for four days in Dubrovnik. No frills, just a nice, clean and comfortable spot to rest, regroup, and get going again. The people working there were absolutely wonderful hosts!

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is newer and fits in with the feel of the neighborhood around the harbor. We had a nice harbor view from a balcony where we enjoyed a glass of wine each evening while watching the action on the water and the street below.

Location

Arriving by Ferry from Hvar, the hotel is a block up from the harbor. Ivan had a transport arranged, though we easily could have walked. The Old City is a 30-40 minute walk...do yourself a favor an choose the longer route listed on google maps, the shorter route is less scenic and much steeper for much longer (trust me). Uber ride to old town is 10-15 Euros one way. The bus is the way to go if you want quick, cheap, and easy (stop is right in front of the hotel). Immediately after checking in, we went exploring and were cursing the distance from old town (lol). Though once we arrived to old town, we immediately realized that staying closer would have offered a far greater set of challenges: steps, luggage management, noise, transport pickups etc. Since we were doing much more than just old town while we were in Dubrovnik, The Berkeley was the perfect spot for us. An excellent reason to book with someone who knows what they are doing!

Staff

So kind and friendly. We overslept on our first morning, and they were ready with "to go" coffees for us when we got down stairs to grab our ride, while also jokingly noting how much earlier we were rising each day. Whoever was occupying the desk gladly served as concierge, bartender or local guide helping us wth restaurant recommendations, reservations, drinks, pool towels etc. Checking out the morning of our last day, our flight was not until 9pm. The hotel offered luggage storage, pool use, and changing facilities for the entire day prior to our flight. Very much appeciated!

Cleanliness & Comfort

We ran pretty hard with activities in Dubrovnik, and the Berkley was perfect for us to regroup, recharge by the pool, and rest well at night. The room was clean, well-appointed, and we slept quite well!

Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort

Hvar

We do not typically choose "resorts" when traveling, so we were a bit nervous about Amphora. Our nerves were calmed once we observed the view of the Adriatic, and checked in to our newly renovated room

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was built as a show piece in the late 60s/early 70's when the country was still part of Yugoslavia, so the authenticity and character is obviously related to that time rather than "old world". The lobby bar is really a gourgeous place to have a drink and relax. The pool is very nice and also overlooking the sea.

Location

Right on the Adriatic, incredible views, and easy walk to everything around the harbor (Ferry, restaurants, historic sites)

Staff

We arrived via Ferry from Split, and were greeted by friendly hotel staff who loaded our luggage into a van for transport, while providing easy directions for a relaxing stroll to the resort. At check-in our reservation could not be located at first (it was filed under our first name). No big deal, easily resolved without delay. However, they considered it a snafu and upgraded us to a seaview room. Totally unnecessary, though very much appreciated! The hotel was very well staffed with plenty of friendly folks providing quality service at breakfast and poolside

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable, clean , well-appointed room with plenty of storage. The upgraded room with balcony was an added bonus. Honor bar offered juice in water included with the room, and additional bottles of water were delivered every afternoon.

Residence Stine

Split

Authenticity & Character

The hotel is only about 6 years old, though it was put together for modern convenience with an authentic vibe. Embedded in Split's old town, we felt were part of the neighborhood. We kept our windows open to enjoy the breeze coming off the adriatic, while enjoying the church bells and neighborhood sounds.

Location

Perfectly located in Split old town just a few steps from excellent restaurants, the palace, and seaside. Know ahead of time (we did) that vehicles cannot drop passengers at the entrance and there is a short walk from the drop off point on stone streets that seems longer on initial impression, though we laughed at its ease once we became familiar. We checked in after hours, though I believe they will meet folks when checking in by a certain time. Worth the steps!

Staff

Renata was super with communication and assistance. We checked in after hours after our rough start traveling. The instructions to enter and retrieve our room access were clear, concise, and simple. Renata greeted us warmly at breakfast; helped us with directions; ATMs; ferry schedules, and just general insights. One other staff member handled breakfast service housekeeping. While I am blanking on her name, she was lovely as well, and prepares a fantastic omelet!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was spacious and well-appointed with a desk, chair, and love seat. We had a corner room that offered windows on tree walls with nice views and fresh air. The room was very clean, and a welcome snack of nuts, fruits, and cheeses was there upon checking (though this may have been a sympathy offer for a rough travel lol). There is a bed and breakfast feel in that there is no staff on duty in the evening or overnight. This was not a problem for us, though in conversation with staff, we learned that some guests have been surprised by this.

Activity Reviews

Half Day Boating Excursion to the Elaphite Islands

Dubrovnik

-We like boating, and we loved this trip exploring the island, sea caves, coastal villages, and light house. The skipper had a cooler of refreshments (water, beer, wine) which was a nice touch. -This was the morning of our last day prior to our 9pm flight, and was a perfect culmination of our trip

Quality of Experience

Loved it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our skipper, Josef, was highly confident and capable handling the boat. A University tourism student, he is beginning his first season in the role. A super host who was eager to make sure we were happy by giving us many choices: wait at the blue cave v more exploration; swim at sandy beach or just look; stop at small village for walk around; lighthouse. The highlight for us was the cave he took us to where we were the only people there. Josef has a successful career ahead of him if this is the path that he chooses. Well done!

Transport

-We could have easily walked to the boat location from our hotel (15 mins) and were kind of embarrassed that we had a transport, lol. -We appreciated the flexibility of our driver to drop us off near the old town after the excursion, rather than the hotel

Private Day Trip to Cavtat & Family Farm Day for Traditional Lunch or Dinner

Croatia

This trip turned out to be more than advertised. We thought our driver, Juraj, was transport to Cavtat and then the family farm for dinner. Little did we know... First, he asked if we had been to Mt. Sri...we had not..."I'd like to show it to you if you do not mind"...Of course not! Riding to the top, he discussed the history of the Napoleonic fortress, the history of Croatia's independent spirit, and gaining independence from Yugoslavia. He walked us through the highlights of the museum, then we took in the spectacular views of the old town. In Cavtat, he walked us to the Vlaho Bukovac museum...another unexpected treat. Then off to a wonderful schnapps tasting and traditional meal on the farm in Cilipi, then finally home. We slept well, lol

Quality of Experience

The quality was that the experience entailed much more than expected!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

-Givo was a gracious host on the farm and the food was fantastic -Juraj was just an absolute delight. Born and raised in the area, veteran of the conflict, and 25 years in the hotel industry. He was full of knowledge, and the more questions we asked, the more stores he shared. We tried to tip him, and he refused: "Absolutely not! Your are my guest!"

Transport

Juraj was a good driver also!

Dubrovnik Kayaking Adventure

Dubrovnik

Unique views of the the Old Town. Good exercise and fun and refreshing to be out on the Adriatic. Included a swim at a sea cave and a paddle up to Lokrum Island. We lucked out that the wind was down, other travelers we met said it was a lot of work when windy. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

The efficiency of the guide company was impressive

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Josef was our kayak guide/escort. He shared some interesting and fun facts while focusing on his primary role as escort. He continually made sure he was "herding" the group and circling up with folks individually to check on them.

Day Trip to Mostar

Croatia

Good change of pace day suggested by Ivan getting away from the coast. A stop at Kravica Falls along the way was well worth it. Only need about an hour to take it in. Scenic drive through agricultural areas and Mountains. Unique cultural experience with different architecture and food. A different vibe in a different country

Quality of Experience

Really enjoyed getting away from the coast; learning the history of the converging cultures. We were fortunate to witness a bridge jump. Those guys are nuts!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

-We spent nearly 5 hours in the car with Dora. She was a highly capable driver, and pleasant conversationalist as we peppered her with questions throughout the drive. Her experience in the border crossings certainly alleviated any potential stress that can occur in those situations -Philip was our guide who met us in Mostar, and he was an enthusiastic ambassador for town and country. Very professional, informative, and lots of fun!

Transport

As noted earlier, Dora was fantastic. We had a rough start to our day when we overslept, however, she was patient and understanding as our start was delayed about 15 minutes. Communicated updated meeting time with our Mostar guide, and kept us on track without missing anything. Very much appreciated!

Tour Dubrovnik's Old Town

Croatia

Excellent historical overview of the old town from its founding to the present day. Some Game of Thrones sprinkled in, but not too much (thankfully!)

Quality of Experience

Day one in Dubrovnik. We learned a lot with the added bonus of the learning our way around to make things easier for the nexts several days.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fun and informative. Just an excellent host. We had dinner plans in Old Town after the tour, and she made sure to point out where that was as we enjoyed our afternoon touring with her.

Hike to Lost Villages of Hvar

Hvar

Starting at the top, the hike to the abandoned village was mostly downhill an not difficult at all. As our guide (Marco) described the evolution of the area, he also pointed out the different plants (rosemary, st. johns wort, carob etc.) which have been raised and cultivated there for thousands of years. We made an unadvertised stop at an "inhabited" village where we rested in the cellar of a local family. Vanessa provided samples of her homemade rakija and wine, and showed us soaps and balms that she had made from vegetation foraged by her husband. We also got to meet her father in law and two children. No pressure to purchase (in fact we had to ask to), and a very enjoyable experience. Lunch in the abandoned village was pre-ordered the day before (we chose octopus) and prepared peka style. All enjoyed with a cold beer in a hauntingly beautiful setting. The hike finished up on the water in the town of Milna (started when everyone moved off the mountain) where we had another beer while waiting for our transport.

Quality of Experience

Active, fresh air, great views, unique landscape and stories

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Marco, while interesting and knowledgeable, was also quite fun. We did not spend much time with the driver, though he was very engaging as well. As we finished up, they were interested in what we were doing next, and connected us with a taxi driver friend for the off the beaten track restaurant we had found. Much appreciated

Transport

Picked us up at the hotel, got us to the starting point of the hike, and did the same to return. Easy peasy!

Guided Walking Tour of Split

Split

Ina met us at our hotel where we began our tour. Diocletian's Palace is the main attraction, and Ina knows here stuff! We also very much enjoyed her insight into daily life in Split while we strolled through the old town and along the Promenade. We highly recommend this activity, and one would be hard pressed to find a guide as knowledgeable, fun, and friendly as Ina!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ina is terrific!

Private transfer from Dubrovnik to Split (stop for oysters and wine on the way)

Croatia

We unfortunately lost this experience when we lost a day of our trip due to passport control delays in Germany. We were really looking forward to it and very disappointed that we could not enjoy this part of our trip. Rating this 5-star in order to continue on the page

Emanuela and her team need to be commended for making our vacation in Iceland to be remembered for as long as I live. It was incredible to the experience the nature's beauty in Iceland. Trip planning, route tips, hotel accommodation, food spot recommendations and precautions to be taken, provided by Emanuela and her team were on the spot, helpful and made our trip more enjoyable, relaxing and stress free. Keep up the good work !!

We were overall very happy with the trip. The transfers for the most part and the stays were all great. And most of our tours were amazing. We also loved the details of little celebrations of our anniversary in each one of our lodgings. The ease of planning a multi stay trip in Italy was the best part, as all this planning would have taken us weeks on our own.
We had a couple of minor inconveniences, but otherwise were so pleased with the entire experience.
Our transfer to Cinque Terre could have been a bit smoother. We figured out easily how to get the car in Rome and then drive to Tuscany easily, based on instructions. After Tuscany, however ,there was some information we were missing. We needed to get the car to the drop off in La Spezia and then get on the train there to get to our lodging. None of this was mentioned in the transfer details. We also had to take a bus in La Spezia to the train station from the car drop off, also not mentioned. We managed this all fine, but would have been nice to know prior to the day of travel.
We were very grateful for the nice upgrade to rooms in Monterosso since we think the original hotel we were booked in was closed for repairs. This was a wonderful stay and we were treated so kindly there by the hostess Tamara.
Our other tours were very well done. The itinerary indicated that all the tour guides would be advised of my celiac disease and inability to eat gluten. The tours that included food were not all advised and on the boat tour in Cinque Terre the guide felt terrible as the boat had not loaded any GF items to make up for the appetizer, bread, or dessert for me. I was disappointed at this as was my husband as he was eating all the food and I could only eat the fish and salad. Lisa, our guide in Rome for our food tour was advised however and made sure that I had GF options for the majority of the tour. She was amazing as a first guide to start out the trip and we loved Rome even more because of her. Also our second food tour in Rome, dinner with a local, was in the same restaurant as one of our stops with Lisa. This would have been hard to predict, and overall did not take away from the experience, but it would have been nice to try a different restaurant. That guide, although I can't remember her name was amazing. She was a college student and had a great perspective on Italy.
The tour from Radda was a bit odd as the guide did not seem to know what our tour was supposed to entail and had some difficulty with English. We did a 10 k loop hiking which was fabulous and the scenery was amazing and the guide gave us a lot of good info about the area and local flora and fauna in English. However, that tour was supposed to include a wine tasting at the end and she did not have that as part of the tour.
Overall this was a lovely trip and having everything mostly planned for us was a life saver with our busy schedules. We also appreciated the detailed attention to the transfers at the beginning and end of the trip, as those long travel days are a lot.
Beatriz had great communication and going forward we have already planned on using KimKim for our next trip to Europe.

Sydney planned an amazing trip to Greece. She took thoughts on what we wanted to experience and turned it into a reality. From Athens to Milos to Santorini to Crete, we were able to experience all of Greece. The private tours, the private sunset cruise, and I can go on and on and on.

Sydney is the best and KimKim too!

Thank you for another well thought out and planned trip!

Hotel Reviews

Phaea Blue Palace

Agios Nikolaos

This was the highlight of our trip. The BEST hotel I have ever stayed in my entire life. I cannot say enough good things about this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ducato di Oia Boutique Hotel

Santorini

It was a bit on the older side - the room was not as nice as the other 2 hotels. But the service was impeccable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Santa Maria Luxury Suites & Spa

Milos, Cyclades

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athens

Activity Reviews

Crete Wine & Culture Adventure: Private Tour of Peza Wineries, Olive Oil, and Traditional Pottery

Heraklion

WOW! Another highlight for us! The best experience! Spyros was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Spyros was the best guide, ever

Transport

Private Day Trip to Spinalonga Island

Heraklion

We could have done this on our own. We were also supposed to have lunch included but we did not.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Sunset Caldera Cruise

Santorini

WOW! The best!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Chasing the Santorini Sunset

Santorini

Half Day Kleftiko Catamaran Adventure

Milos

One of the best Catamaran experiences we have had. Great captain and staff, food was amazing. We could have not asked for a better experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day of Highlights

Milos

We really enjoyed the exclusivity of the day. Our guide was awesome. And we were able to see parts of Milos that we would have missed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-guided Exploration of Plaka

Milos

Acropolis Beat-the-Crowds Discovery Walk

Athens

My cousin and I decided to go to Greece on short notice. Since we didn’t have time to do our usual planning we decided to let kimkim plan the itinerary and do the logistics. We told them we liked “off the beaten path” and they found beautiful unique places for us to go. All the guides were knowledgeable and delightful. Will definitely use kimkim in the future.

Our trip was booked as a 5 star adventure and everything meet our expectations!

MANY THANKS TO HEIDI!!!
HEIDI WAS AWESOME, EASY TO WORK WITH AND EXCEEDED ALL OF OUR NEEDS. WHAT A JEWEL.
JIM

Mathia setup a wonderful trip for us, with a beautiful hotel in Oslo, then a train trip on the Flam scenic railway. Next stop was Aurland, which I loved our hotel there as well, with a gorgeous view of the fjord. My favorite part was traveling on the fjords to Balestrand (quaint villlage) and then on to Bergen. Our trip went very smoothly and I've highly recommended it to all my friends. Thanks so much

Good morning Eirini
We had a wonderful time in Greece. The hotels that you selected for us were great and we enjoyed our stay and each one of them.
Callan and I did the tour of the Acropolis Museum and the Acropolis with Poppy and she was wonderful. We learned so much she was patient. She answered every question that we had
I don’t remember the names of the other guides, but we thoroughly enjoyed the first wine tasting. He was knowledgeable and his wines were great.
The entire trip was memorable, but I would have to say one of my favorite memories was in Lemeni - it was like a fairytale
The guides are all knowledgeable. I just wish my memory was better for their names.

I did not know what to expect in the southern part of Greece. I didn’t expect all the mountains, loved the small villages— it was really beautiful. We had a great time. Thank you for planning such a wonderful trip.
Daphne Seabert

Hotel Reviews

Althea Apartments

Pyrgos

This is a charming boutique, hotel, great location very nice staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Limeni Village Mani

Lakonia

This hotel is in a beautiful location, charming great vibes like a fairytale village

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ennea Muses Rooms & Suites

Nafplio

Lovely, boutique, hotel, good location, and good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Urban Stripes Athens

Athens

The hotel was in a great location, clean and modern however, the breakfast could use an upgrade

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ancient Olympia guided tour

Greece

Wonderful experience we had the museum and site pretty much to ourselves as it was late afternoon The guide was very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The wines of Nemea tour

Nafplio

Love the wine maker and learning about how wine is made and sold it was a fun experience and the wine was great

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch was fantastic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis & Museum tour

Athens

Our guide Poppy was so knowledgeable. She answered every question we had. Since it was afternoon, we practically had the museum to ourselves. It was quite wonderful. And the trip up to the Acropolis was fantastic

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall we enjoyed our trip to Japan. We came back and reflected on what we did. There are things I definitely would have changed. I'm not sure we would have done more than a day trip tp Kyoto. It was just me and my 12 year old. I came to Japan for fun and futuristic experiences. I was trusting the guides but I should have done more of my own research. This is my first international travel that I had to plan myself. Having someone on the ground helped some but it wasn't the experience we were hoping for.

The hotel in Tokyo was great. The place in Kyoto was really basic. That also made me long for Tokyo.

We took the anime tour. I wish they had a decent idea of what a 12 yo would really like to do. I felt like they were asking me to make suggestions even though they were guides. The male guide suggested a maid café for my son. That felt inappropriate. I wish I would have remembered the Pokémon Cafe. It wasnt suggested. Our guides were Masato and Melania. They were nice. It felt like we hit the tourist traps, places to buy pokemon cards and anime souvenirs. We went to a regular restaurant for lunch. It was good. The guides asked me fo pay for their modest lunch and I did. After that I guess it was over. They helped us get a cab and we left. Overall I'd rate it a 5 of 10.

Our plane arrived after an overnight delay. We basically lost a day and a half and didnt get to enjoy Tokyo at all bc of jet lag. We had a 15 hr flight. Not Kim Kim's fault but knowing what I know now, with only 7 days vacation I would have stayed in one city. By the time we recovered we were off to Kyoto. I would kind of think these are things the planner would recommend but I dont remember that being the case. A bit of a loss.

We enjoyed the ninja class and sushi making. We didn't enjoy being the only ones in the sessions but it is what it is. We weren’t able to take the bike tour. I will say that Leny suggested a food tour and I turned it down. I wish we had done that.

I also think it would have been helpful to have a 'places to see' type guide provided by Kim Kim ahead of time. We got a guide about customs and manners but that's all I recall. Overall Japan was cool. There were a lot of things I wish we had done in Tokyo but we didnt have the time or scheduled activities. I hope we can come back again and get the full Tokyo experience in the future.

I think Leny was helpful. I just didnt know what I didn't know so I wasnt sure what to ask about. Had I taken a stronger lead, I believe that would have yielded a better experience. It's just a lesson learned for my next international trip. Overall we give our trip to Japan a 7 out of 10. Thats cool but for one of the top travel destinations in the world, we hoped for more.

We did appreciate the Whatsapp updates and reminders for trains and activities.

Hotel Reviews

Koko hotel Kyoto Sanjo (formerly Hotel Wing)

This hotel was nice. Nothing about it was impressive. It was very standard. I appreciated the washing machines. Breakfast was okay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hard beds

PROSTYLE RYOKAN TOKYO ASAKUSA

Tokyo

We really loved this hotel. It was clean and comfortable. The drink station and sitting area in the lobby were inviting. The bathrooms felt elevated and the room had lots of thoughtful details.

Authenticity & Character

Felt elevated yey traditional. Little details were appreciated.

Location

We walked to Akihabara in 25 min taking in the city along the way.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sushi Making Experience: Craft Authentic Sushi

Kyoto

The host was a sweetheart. We enjoyed this. She was patient with us both. She had great conversation and they have a nice takehome gift. We will be making sushi at home!

Anime, Manga, Game & Pop Culture Tour in Akihabara

Tokyo

If felt like we went to tourist traps. Felt like more of a shopping tour. I was hoping for better suggested activities. I think Pokémon Cafe is better suited for a 12 yo than a Maid Café. Better explanations and discussion would have been appreciated. We didnt get a lot of that.

Ninja 1-hour Hands-on Lesson by Japanese master in Kyoto -Entry

Kyoto

Fun experience. We were the only ones in the class. Made for a personalized experience. Got to try things multiple times.

We had an amazing trip to Ecuador. Paul provided all the guidance we needed, listened to our requests, and tailored the itinerary to our preferences. Even better, he provided emergency assistance at the very beginning of our trip when our flight was grounded due to mechanical issues, requiring quick adjustments to our plans. He always answered promptly when we needed him. Janeanin and Mishell provided excellent help during our time in Cotopaxi, Baños, and Quito. We made amazing memories with a horseback ride (Cabalgata) in Cotopaxi, white-water rafting in Baños, a visit to the Mitad del Mundo museum, and trips to the Quito Teleférico and historic center.
We are so grateful to the entire team for making our vacation truly unforgettable.

Activity Reviews

Ride the Cable Car to Pichincha Volcano

Quito

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the "Middle of the World"

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Activities in Baños & Return to Quito

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, the trip was AMAZING! Hector was great. Only misstep was the guide in Madrid. I total loser who didn't really seem interested in walking us around.

Best excursions were the glow worm kayak at night and the funyak trip on the Dart River. Rotorua was a pleasant surprise how much I liked the area. What a relief to have a trip all planned out and well timed! Thanks Liz!

Hotel Reviews

The Rees Hotel

Queenstown

Beautiful hotel. We stayed here for the view but from our room it was obstructed by another building unfortunately. Great restaurant! Amazing staff who literally do it all - bar tend, shuttle driver, receptionist. Only complaint was too far to walk every time. About 40 min to town center.

Authenticity & Character

Location

View great but not convenient

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hermitage Hotel

Mount Cook Village

Wow! The view out the window! Ski lodge vibes.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Amazing breakfast buffet

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Regent of Rotorua

Rotorua

The room was huge and well located in town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Travelodge Hotel Auckland Wynyard Quarter

Auckland

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Historic Steamship Cruise to Walter Peak Farm + BBQ Dinner

Queenstown

Beautiful cruise out to station. Enjoyed the sheep show.

Quality of Experience

Food

Eat the sticky pudding!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

beautiful boat ride even in autumn. Lots of blankets to snuggle up with

Half Day Routeburn Trail

Queenstown

Glad we made the waterfall overlook. Not sure it would have been worth it if we didn’t. Same drive as Glenorchy tour and funyak tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Jet-Boat Adventure & Funyak River Safari

Queenstown

So beautiful! So much fun!

Quality of Experience

Food

The picnic was great!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Love the three different boat experiences

Half Day Glenorchy and Paradise Explorer

Queenstown

We could have skipped this. Nice guide but basically got to see all of the same area on funyak trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoyed learning about conservation efforts in NZ

Transport

Appreciated a hotel pick up

4 Line Zip Line

Queenstown

Beautiful area to zip line through.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Skyline Gondola Ride

Queenstown

Fun way to get to the top. Great view and nice restaurant

Quality of Experience

Glacier Boat Trip -

Aoraki / Mount Cook Village

Liked it much more than I expected from the pics! Definitely worth doing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt Cook & The Glaciers

New Zealand

Well organized experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It was a helicopter! 😅

Big Sky Stargazing Adventure

New Zealand

We had a partially cloudy night )4 stars because of that) but had an amazing guide to make up for it. What a great set up they have!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - 3 hour guided

Rotorua

One of my favorite experiences of the whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They went above and beyond

Transport

TE Puia: Te Ra (Day Pass) Guided tour (90 minutes)

Rotorua

This was very informational and we enjoyed the stroll around the geothermal area after our tour was done.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitai Cultural Experience & Dinner

Rotorua

My adult kids loved the cultural show. They were worried it would be in some way disrespectful to the Māori people and were really impressed with the care and authenticity of the production. Plenty of food!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Auckland to Rotorua visiting Hobbiton with lunch

Auckland

Amazing!!! Just blown away by detail and the ability to go inside a hobbit hole!

Quality of Experience

Food

Great buffet

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

90 Minute Weta Workshop Unleashed

Auckland

Great way to start our NZ adventure

Quality of Experience

Costa Rica was our 4th trip with KimKim and it was wonderful. We explored the Arenal volcano and lake in La Fortuna, the cloud forest in Monteverde and the beautiful coast and Manuel Antonio State park in Quepos/Aguirre. The trip included hiking, horseback riding, viewing wildlife and enjoying beach activities. The Koora Hotel was exceptional.

Hotel Review

Koora Hotel

Monteverde

First-class boutique hotel with spectacular views and even better service. We enjoyed a two-floor suite which was beautifully appointed. The food was exceptional and the staff was kind, attentive and always accessible. Highly recommend and would absolutely stay again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Catamaran Adventure with Barbecue

Manuel Antonio

Nice activity if you'd like to see the beautiful coast line by boat. The crew were very good and the catamaran is spacious and well maintained. we enjoyed snorkeling in the cove and were able to view dolphins jumping alongside the boat.

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Private Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike

Manuel Antonio

This is a must do for the area. would have preferred a longer guided hike in the park with more time to enjoy the beach. the main trail is very crowded with tourists and guides. we did see numerous birds, sloths, monkeys, insects and diverse landscapes.

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Private Organic Farm & Spice Garden Visit

Manuel Antonio

This was just ok. This experience is likely dependent on the guide. we were disappointed that we did not learn much about chocolate and coffee harvest and production and the quality of the tour and food was poor. would skip this.

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El Tigre Waterfalls Excursion

Monteverde

spectacular falls. kids loved swimming in the pools and climbing over the rocks. must see.

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Private Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna Waterfall Hike with Lunch

Arenal/La Fortuna

Must do. Jay was our tour guide and was the best guide we have ever had. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the flora/fauna of the region. Beautiful hike, wonderful guide.

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Robi was a great planner and communicator. All of our logistics ( hotels, transfers and tours) were well organized and executed. He put in a lot of effort to also give us background history of every place we visited. Our hotels were within walking distance of all the attractions we came to see so we could walk out the door and start seeing the sights. He was always available to answer and questions we had. It really made the trip go ver smoothly and without a hitch. Thank you Robi for a great vacation!!!

Activity Reviews

Explore Split & Diocletian's palace

Split

This is the main reason to go to Split. It was facinating to see the palace especially the underground foundation of the Palace. Don't miss it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pero was a great guide for the Diocletian tour. Very intelegent and knowledable and spoke very good English.

Transport

Dubrovnik Old Town and the City Walls

Croatia

This is a highlight of Dubrovnik. Don't miss this activity as it gives you the best views of the city and the ocean.

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Emanuela did an outstanding job planning our Iceland trip. From the very beginning, she worked with patience, professionalism, and attention to detail, helping us organize every aspect of our journey.
The itinerary she put together was thorough and well organized, making our entire journey smooth and hassle-free. Everything went exactly as planned, and we never ran into any issues along the way. Her recommendations for hotels and activities were excellent, and the car arrangement was comfortable and convenient.
What impressed us most was her responsiveness and dedication to customer service. When we experienced issues with our wireless network, Emanuela immediately reached out to her local contacts and ensured the problem was resolved promptly.
Thanks to Emanuela’s hard work and attention to detail, we were able to relax and fully enjoy our vacation. We truly appreciate all her support and would highly recommend her to anyone planning a trip.

My wife and I spent a glorious 7 days exploring the Snæfellness Peninsula, Akureyri and out to Lake Myvatn with a day in Reykjavik at the end of our trip. We had the trip of a lifetime, and the major part of that was due to our local specialist extraordinaire, Guðmundur Óli, AKA Gummi.

Gummi was very attentive to the vibe of the trip we were envisioning. He crafted a preliminary itinerary for us, and was great and speedy about making certain tweaks and adjustments, fine-tuning the activities and sight-seeing to meet our requests. Once we arrived in Iceland, Gummi remained completely available and responsive to any of our questions, and if any problems arose he solved them in a matter of minutes, no matter what time of day. His down-to-the-minute itineraries were super helpful, as were the driving maps and personal recommendations he provided.

Iceland in and of itself, is a magical, wonderous place. In 7 days we got to see so many incredible things and experience so much that we could not have planned on our own. Even so, we know we've only scratched the surface of this beautiful country, and when we return, we'll be tapping Gummi to help us expand our explorations!!!

Costa Rica was wonderful. The people there are genuinely happy to have you there and show you their beautiful country. The first stop was Fortuna. We stayed at the Arenal Manoa and Hot Springs. None of us was ready to leave. It was fantastic, and so many things to do in Fortuna. You must get a massage. It is an open-air studio situated on the riverbank. We ziplined on the first full day. I was not sure about ziplining and almost chickened out. The guides with Sky Adventures Arenal were really fun and did not push you beyond what was comfortable; they helped you feel safe, and it was a really fun day. That evening, we had a traditional cooking class. Kathy was amazing. It was a private class, so she was able to tell us a lot about the history of the food we were making. It was one of our favorite days. On the second day, we hiked to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall. Our guide Melony was aceses!! She and our driver spotted a sloth- the only one we saw the whole time- a few scarlet macaws and a toucan. She seemed to really enjoy her job and was up for whatever we wanted to do. The next day was the coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane farm. It was interesting, but a long tour that covered a lot of the same things. We transferred to Nosara, and our place there was top-notch!! Our host at the Hotel Guiones was just lovely. She was so warm and welcoming. Jorge ran the front desk and was just as amazing. Henry, the chef, made magic with his food. Jorge booked a private boat for us one afternoon, and we went fishing. Such a great trip, and we caught several huge fish. They cleaned and filleted them for us. We brought them back, and Henry made a three-course, traditional Costa Rican meal for us that was the chef's kiss!! Henry makes breakfast every morning as well. I have celiac disease. He was very careful with my food and even made the most delicious GF bread I have ever eaten. We went snorkeling, and everyone saw a lot of fish and had a great time!! We had a wildlife-and-waterfall adventure hike scheduled, but it was canceled at the last minute. Be sure to check in with your excursion outfits because they do. not have your names; the agency that scheduled the tour has them, and we did not get the message. The third stop on our trip was Tamarindo. It was much more commercialized. The boys went scuba diving and had a great time. My daughter and I had a massage in our room, which was great, and walked around downtown. The beaches in Nosara and Tamarindo were super nice. The sunset was beautiful every day!! It rained a bit in the afternoons, but it never kept us from doing what we wanted to do. Every excursion had pineapple and sometimes watermelon for a snack. Best I have ever eaten, and I am from the south in the US, where watermelon is so good. Overall, it was a great trip. 100% we will visit Hotel Guones in Nosara again. I also forgot to mention that they have a chocolate shop there at the hotel that is to die for. They make their chocolate on site. I hate that we did not get more. If you have celiac disease, ask a lot of questions; people seem to be educated as to what gluten is and they can help you.

Dean was the best! We did a self guided tour and his guidance took us to the most beautiful places! When people ask, what my favorite part of the trip was…I say, I loved it all! The lush rolling green hills with sheep, the castles, the gorgeous beaches, the dramatic cliffs, the wild flowers, and the lovely sea side villages. Ireland will forever hold a place in my heart 💚 Thank you so much for this experience.

My husband and I had the best time in Italy! Tasos and the kimkim team did a fantastic job from start to finish. We stayed in beautiful hotels, usually tucked away on a quiet street but still in the heart of each city. The excursions booked were all with incredibly knowledgeable guides. My favorites were an ebike tour through the heart of Tuscany and a boat ride around the Amalfi Coast. The restaurant recommendations in each city were also great, kept us away from any tourist traps. The kimkim care team was super responsive during our trip as questions came up. The whole trip was so seamless, and we can't wait to use kimkim for future European travels.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Michelangelo

Sorrento

A very nice hotel in Sorrento! We stayed here three nights in one of the recently renovated suites. Beautiful balcony with a view, used the pools, and enjoyed drinks at the rooftop bar. Decent location, about 25 min walk to get down to the main marina.

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Hotel Modigliani

Roma

Loved this hotel! It's tucked away on a quiet street in the heart of the city. We walked past the Trevi fountain every night on our way back to the hotel. The breakfast was decent, and the dry cleaning service was a huge plus after traveling for several days prior.

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Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi

Siena

This is the sweetest bed and breakfast in the heart of Siena! Very close to the Siena Cathedral and main piazza, with a beautiful view of the city. I would give this hotel 5 stars, but my husband had a hard time sleeping due to some festivities in the alley behind our room both nights of our stay.

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Hotel Olimpia

Venice

The best hotel breakfast! We stayed here for two nights. It's in a very better restaurants and museums, but didn't have to walk more than 25 minutes or so in any direction. convenient location, close to the train station and the part of Venice accessible by car. It did mean it was a bit further to walk to. Room was quaint and clean, and staff was very friendly.

Authenticity & Character

The best Euro breakfast!

Location

Close to train station and ferry station, but a bit further from the best restaurants.

Staff

Very friendly and knowledgeable about the city

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento

Italy

Quality of Experience

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Chianti E-Bike Tour with wine tasting

Italy

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Venice Boat Tour by Night

Venice

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KimKim did such a wonderful job with our trip! We'd talked about traveling to Korea for years but weren't sure how to go about it, which ultimately led us to KimKim, and they made it everything we could have ever hoped for. From our private guides (Luke and Jun were wonderful!) to our cooking class and everything in-between, KimKim did such a great job. I couldn't recommend them enough.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Haedong Yonggungsa and Gwangalli Night Food Tour

Busan

We had so much fun with Luke on this tour! His preparation, expertise and personality made the day so much fun.

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Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market

Busan

Luke did such a great job with this tour! We had some rainy weather, so rather than just forcing the planned stops, he customized the tour to better match the conditions. The result was a day we'll never forget!

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Korean Full-Course Meal Cooking Class at Local Home with Local Market Experience

Seoul

This was so much fun! The cooking portion was great (as expected), but it was so much more than that. We learned some Korean language, history and customs that really made the experience come to life.

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Food

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Explore Seoul Highlights

Seoul

Jun was great! In addition to the places we had planned, he also added a few spots he thought we would personally enjoy. It was such a great first day in Seoul!

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