Kimkim Trip Reviews

4.8
Based on 16,972 ratings
Read 16,972 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Fantastic Customer Service!
Greece | Jun 11 - Jun 25, 2025

D
Dale V.
Concord, CA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
Both Eirini and Julia were extremely wonderful to work with. In the planning of our trip, Eirini was very attentive and listened to what we wanted. The trip was extremely well planned and met all of our criteria. While on the trip, Julia was very responsive. When we had some issues, Julia was very quick to respond and extremely helpful. Read more

Both Eirini and Julia were extremely wonderful to work with. In the planning of our trip, Eirini was very attentive and listened to what we wanted. The trip was extremely well planned and met all of our criteria.

While on the trip, Julia was very responsive. When we had some issues, Julia was very quick to respond and extremely helpful.

Hotel Reviews
Heloni apartments
Athens

Great location and very clean. Had issues with the WiFi, but owners were quick to respond and resolve.

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Ethos Suites
Chania

Great location and extremely friendly staff!

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Opal Executive Suites
Nafplio

Amazing and helpful staff. We had an issue with ants, but the staff quickly resolved the issue.

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El Mar Naxos
Naxos

Amazing view and extremely friendly staff

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El Verano Suites
Santorini

Amazing views and extremely friendly staff. Amazing pool!

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DOM Boutique Hotel
Heraklion

Great location and very clean!

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Local specialist: Eirini Tzoka
Eirini
Eirini Tzoka
Local specialist in Athens | Replied on Jul 08, 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words, Dale!
Julia and I are so happy to hear that you had a great experience, and it truly means a lot to us to know the trip met your expectations.
We really appreciate you choosing to travel with KimKim and with our agency, and we’d love to help you plan another memorable Greek adventure in the future!
Wishing you and your family all the very best,
Eirini

Three generations explored London, Paris and Amsterdam, myself, my son, daughter-in-law, grandson (16) and granddaughter (11)
England | Jun 17 - Jun 27, 2025

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Jan W.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
Three generations explored London, Paris and Amsterdam, myself, my son, daughter-in-law, grandson (16) and granddaughter (11), through a wonderful itinerary made possible by Aleksandra. Though we had only a little over 2 months to put together a 12 day European trip, Aleksandra worked with us via email and Zoom calls answering a multitude of questions and clarifying the itinerary. She especially saved the day (precisely 4 nights in London) when upon arrival we found inadequate hotel... Read more

Three generations explored London, Paris and Amsterdam, myself, my son, daughter-in-law, grandson (16) and granddaughter (11), through a wonderful itinerary made possible by Aleksandra. Though we had only a little over 2 months to put together a 12 day European trip, Aleksandra worked with us via email and Zoom calls answering a multitude of questions and clarifying the itinerary.

She especially saved the day (precisely 4 nights in London) when upon arrival we found inadequate hotel rooms, as it was not the beds we thought we had for five people. After notifying Aleksandra, she promptly corrected the situation with a third room at no charge. Her efforts were greatly appreciated and it allowed us to enjoy London stress free. Two separate days of London tours were broken up with a private tour with John our driver, to Stonehenge and Bath. It was a lovely day to experience both of those fascinating places.

On to Paris and of course the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night. We enjoyed the view on a late evening Seine River cruise and also during our trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower on another evening. We especially loved the Versailles bike tour led by Jean-Baptiste where we biked to the Sunday market to purchase our picnic food for lunch and continued a bike tour of the grounds and ponds until it was time for entry into the palace. In Paris, we loved the private cooking class at Cookin' With Class where Chef Christian taught us how to make chocolate candies, truffles and our own personal chocolate bars. He was excellent with the kids and revised the marshmallow recipe due to an an egg allergy in our family. Chef Christian made it a fun, hands on experience for all of us and so much chocolate to take home!

Amsterdam was charming with our Hotel Mai facing a lovely canal in the older section of the city. Anne Frank House was a must see and we found it very emotionally moving. De Kas is a farm to table restaurant where we had one of our best meals. Imagine eating for 3 hours, trying so many fresh, delicious dishes and desserts. On a day trip, Erik our driver and guide took us to see working windmills and the small village of Giethoorn where we boated down the canal to a lake with over a hundred swans.

We thank Aleksandra for helping us plan a wonderful European trip that we shall long remember.

Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on Jul 08, 2025

Dear Jan,

What a truly heartwarming review — thank you so much for your kind words! It was such a joy to help plan this special journey for three generations of your family, and I’m thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed it so much. I hope the trip leaves you with beautiful memories to cherish for years to come.
Wishing you many more wonderful adventures together! 🌸
Sincerely,
Aleksandra

Elena was the absolute best!
Greece | Jun 19 - Jul 4, 2025

Stephanie
Stephanie L.
Granite Bay, CA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
Elena was the absolute best! She was attentive, helped with all questions we had and pivoted when our flight was delayed. She was even one step ahead and when she saw that one of our days when we were supposed to have a catamaran ride it was going to be too windy she change our plans around to ensure we could go on another day. Everything she planned was amazing. Hands down our most memorable vacation and included once in a lifetime experiences that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Read more

Elena was the absolute best! She was attentive, helped with all questions we had and pivoted when our flight was delayed. She was even one step ahead and when she saw that one of our days when we were supposed to have a catamaran ride it was going to be too windy she change our plans around to ensure we could go on another day. Everything she planned was amazing. Hands down our most memorable vacation and included once in a lifetime experiences that we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Hotel Reviews
ONBOARDING TEMPLATE Decumani Hotel de Charme
Naples

It was a very clean hotel and the staff was nice. The breakfast room is the highlight of this hotel. Our girls loved that they felt like princesses!

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Hotel Florida 3* Sorrento
Sorrento

The staff were vey nice. The hotel was clean and in a perfect location.

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Heliotopos Hotel
Santorini

It was the best hotel we have ever been to. If you want to have the best view, the kindest hotel staff and be in the the middle of Santorini, this is the hotel for you!

Authenticity & Character
you can not beat this view!
Location
Staff
The staff were super sweet. They made us sandwiches and even got in early to make us coffee before our early morning flight.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liana Beach Hotel & Spa
Naxos

The staff was kind and having the beach right across the street was amazing.

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Amalia Hotel Athens
Athens

It was right downtown and next to everything! I would recommend it to anyone. It was the perfect location for us as we only had one day in Athens and from this hotel you can walk to everything.

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Activity Reviews
 Amalfi Coast: Amalfi, Positano & Ravello from Sorrento
Amalfi Coast: Amalfi, Positano & Ravello from Sorrento
Greece

We loved our guide, she was amazing and we had the absolute best day!

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Diamond Caldera Morning Cruise
Diamond Caldera Morning Cruise
Santorini

Hands down the best experience we have ever had. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I would do again. It is a must do for anyone traveling to Santorini!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazing Staff
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Pompeii guided tour en route to Sorrento
Pompeii guided tour en route to Sorrento
Greece
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
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Acropolis & Plaka Walk Guided Tour
Acropolis & Plaka Walk Guided Tour
Athens

Our guide was very knowledgeable. We only had 1 day in Athens and .he did an awesome job at making sure we got in everything we needed to know

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Tour To Capri From Sorrento
Tour To Capri From Sorrento
Greece
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Cooking class at Anna Maria's
Cooking class at Anna Maria's
Sorrento

We had the best experience at Anna Maria's Cooking Class. My husband and our 3 daughters had so much fun. They really amerce you into the experience. It is a must do if you are in Sorrento. You will not forget it!

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Local specialist: Elena Kyrimi
Elena
Elena Kyrimi
Local specialist in Athens | Replied on Jul 10, 2025

Hello Stephanie,

It is so great to read all these wonderful comments and feedback! It is truly rewarding for us to continue all this good work!

Thank you for the detailed feedback on all hotels and activities. This is really helpful for us to improve our services and create great experiences for our travelers!

We would love to see you again in the future, and I would be more than happy to plan another trip for you, wherever your heart takes you!

All the best,
Elena

The trip was amazing, with all the very detai...
Croatia | Jun 26 - Jul 3, 2025

Sunil
Sunil K.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
The trip was amazing, with all the very detailed planning, especially for a larger group. Great job. Very memorable time. Read more

The trip was amazing, with all the very detailed planning, especially for a larger group. Great job. Very memorable time.

Hotel Reviews
Occidental Hotel Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Authenticity & Character
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Cleanliness & Comfort
AC Hotel
Split
Authenticity & Character
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Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Tirena
Dubrovnik
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Bled Lake & a small town of Radovljica
Day Trip to Bled Lake & a small town of Radovljica
Ljubljana
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Split
Private Walking Tour of Split
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
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Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia
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Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
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Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour
Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour
Dubrovnik
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
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Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština

Trip with our two daughters to Tokyo and Kyoto was a hit - all thanks to Kimkim!!
Japan | Jun 29 - Jul 6, 2025

Susie
Susie L.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
We are so thankful we used Greg with Kimkim to help us plan our 8 day trip to Tokyo and Kyoto. He was not only helpful and answered all of our questions thoroughly throughout the entire planning process, but he gave awesome suggestions. We were traveling with our 8 and 11 year old daughters and wanted to make sure we hit the high points, but didn't totally beat them into the ground. We did various walking tours. Our guide Pam, who did the Temple and Shrine Walking Tour in Kyoto was one of the... Read more

We are so thankful we used Greg with Kimkim to help us plan our 8 day trip to Tokyo and Kyoto. He was not only helpful and answered all of our questions thoroughly throughout the entire planning process, but he gave awesome suggestions. We were traveling with our 8 and 11 year old daughters and wanted to make sure we hit the high points, but didn't totally beat them into the ground. We did various walking tours. Our guide Pam, who did the Temple and Shrine Walking Tour in Kyoto was one of the sweetest humans ever and we could tell she knew her history and has so much pride in Japanese history, which made the tour that much more fun. She was fantastic with the kids too and really made them feel included. Our guide on our vegetarian food tour through Shibuya, Mayu, was also fantastic. She took us to spots we would have never known were there in a million years. Our guide, Yujiro, on our walking tour through Nishiki Market, was kind and let us stop at food stalls and shops along the way to taste test everything. We had originally booked a tour to see Mt. Fuji, but it was so hazy the entire time we were here, that Greg actually recommended switching gears since he knew we weren't going to be able to see the mountain. So, he recommended TeamLab Planets and Tokyo Sky Tree for that day instead. TeamLab ended up being one of the kids' all-time favorite things to do. So if you're traveling with kids of any ages, I highly recommend going there. Also, 3 of the 4 of us are vegetarian, so with each day, Greg also listed out specific restaurants to try in whatever area we were in that day. Lastly, we are tall. My husband is 6'6 and I am 5'9 and we weren't sure if we'd fit in the beds there haha! Greg and Cory went above and beyond to help us find accommodations that we could configure beds together to be comfortable. We kept saying on our trip that had we not had Greg's help, we wouldn't have known where to start. We also would've never found some of the gems he led us to. If you are wondering if it's worth it or not to use Kimkim to help plan your trip - it 100% is. There is no way we would have had as great of a trip if we did what we normally do where we just plan it all ourselves and hope for the best. Greg also recommended getting a pocket wifi which was worth its weight in gold. We were surprised that Japan doesn't have free public wifi in a ton of places, so having the pocket wifi was immensely helpful. And we used both the subway and taxi cabs (which we used the Go Japan to hire) for so many rides, we became "gold" members on Go Japan in just one week. Greg also sent us guides on how to pack and tips on how to fit in with the customs in Japan, which I appreciated as we never want to show up in an unfamiliar place and come off as rude. I can say a million great things about all of the guides, tours, and Greg but the most important one is that you won't regret using Kimkim to help plan your next big trip! Thank you to all of our guides who made the trip that much more special too!

Hotel Reviews
The Blossom Hibiya
Minato

Loved this hotel! We were here the first two nights of our trips and got two separate rooms for my husband and I and our 8 and 11 year old daughters. The view from the higher level rooms knocks your socks off as your first time in the city. We included breakfast in our daily stays and loved the breakfast buffet too. The location was great, hotel was clean, staff was friendly, and it was in a great location!

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Hotel Yuraku Kyo-yasaka
Kyoto

This was such a unique place to stay in Kyoto. We loved having an onsen in our room, as our 8 and 11 year old daughters did not want to go to a public one and be nude in front of other women haha! We loved our room and it was huge which surprised us! Beds were comfy and the staff was so accommodating on getting us a fantastic vegetarian breakfast in the morning. It was like a five-course fancy meal that we were not expecting at all. It also was walking distance to so many things including the Yasaka Shrine and Pagoda, all things we wanted to see. Would stay here again in a heartbeat!

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Nohga Hotel
Kyoto

We loved this hotel! We got the large suite on the top floor for our family of 4. (My husband and I and our 2 daughters - age 8 and 11.) The beds were comfy and large enough for my husband who is 6'6 which is always a feat! We also loved this breakfast buffet that our trip planner, Greg, added in for us. The location great and close to so many things. The room was clean and huge with so much space. Would stay here again and request our room in a heartbeat!

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Hotel New Otani Tokyo Garden Tower
Tokyo

The hotel is clean and in a great location. If you've ever been to Las Vegas and stayed on the strip, that is what this hotel reminds me of. It's not easy to just go in the lobby and get to your room. You walk past shops on the basement level and take two different sets of elevators and meander to get to your room. So the vibe of it reminded me of one of the larger casinos. Rooms were clean and we got two that joined together so we could have our 8 and 11 year olds in the room next to us!

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Activity Review
Kyoto Temples & Gion Afternoon Walking Tour
Kyoto Temples & Gion Afternoon Walking Tour
Kyoto

Our guide Pam is what made this walking tour even more magical. She was so sweet and kind and made our 8 and 11 year old daughters feel included. She knows her history and really gets excited to share it, which made us so excited to hear it. She led us through various shrines and temples and was so patient while we shopped at washi club which is a unique stationary store. She gave great recommendations for restaurants and even helped us find ones that had vegetarian options. It was blazing hot on the day of the tour and she handled it like a champion. She was definitely one of our favorite guides we have ever had on any tour ever in all of our travels.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pam just has the best demeanor. She's so kind and thoughtful and knowledgeable.
Transport
We were walking distance from our meeting spot at the Yasaka Shrine which was fantastic!
Local specialist: Greg Varga
Greg
Greg Varga
Local specialist in Tokyo, Japan | Replied on Jul 14, 2025
Susie and Vincent, thank you so much for this amazing review. You truly made my day and the whole team’s too. I really appreciate that you noticed the care and attention that went into planning your tour, and it’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed it. We had just as much fun organizing it for you. I’ve shared your kind words with Pam, and as you can imagine, she was thrilled. She asked me to thank you again for such a lovely day, and mentioned that you and your family were the nicest... Read more

Susie and Vincent, thank you so much for this amazing review. You truly made my day and the whole team’s too. I really appreciate that you noticed the care and attention that went into planning your tour, and it’s wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed it. We had just as much fun organizing it for you.

I’ve shared your kind words with Pam, and as you can imagine, she was thrilled. She asked me to thank you again for such a lovely day, and mentioned that you and your family were the nicest she’s ever had the pleasure of guiding.

I’m also really glad to hear that you were happy with the hotels and that the activities and experiences met your expectations.

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and kind review. We’d love to welcome you back to Japan someday. 感謝しています 🙇

We had a wonderful time on our recent self-dr...
Scotland | Jun 20 - Jun 28, 2025

K
Kathleen E.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025

We had a wonderful time on our recent self-driving tour of Scotland and Shetland! Aleksandra was incredibly responsive and worked with me to create a trip that worked with our budget. Adding the extra trip to Shetland made this a unique experience for us and having someone that helped with the planning and deciding where to stay was really helpful.

Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on Jul 08, 2025

Dear Kathleen,

Oh, what a joy to read this! 🥰
Thank you so much for trusting me with your adventure and for letting me play a small part in your beautiful story. Wishing you many more journeys just as memorable — and if the road ever winds back this way, you know where to find me!

Warmly,
Aleksandra

Wonderful overview of the Spanish Basque Country!
Spain | Jun 22 - Jul 5, 2025

J
Julie B.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
We had such a wonderful trip as set up by Helena! Communication was seamless - she and the support crew responded quickly to adjust plans when needed. We enjoyed our local tour guides - Audrey in Paris, Miguel D. in Barcelona, and Diego in San Sebastian - as well as the pintxos tour in San Sebastian led by Erica and cooking lesson in Barcelona led by Mariángeles. Of special note, Jaime curated a truly enjoyable tour of the Basque Country coastal towns from San Sebastian to Bilbao, and... Read more

We had such a wonderful trip as set up by Helena! Communication was seamless - she and the support crew responded quickly to adjust plans when needed. We enjoyed our local tour guides - Audrey in Paris, Miguel D. in Barcelona, and Diego in San Sebastian - as well as the pintxos tour in San Sebastian led by Erica and cooking lesson in Barcelona led by Mariángeles.

Of special note, Jaime curated a truly enjoyable tour of the Basque Country coastal towns from San Sebastian to Bilbao, and Stepan led us on a super fun hike and seakayak Costa Brava experience. Those two days were our favorites!

Thank you Helena!

Hotel Review
NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu
San Sebastian

Really nice hotel in a quiet location - long-ish walk from old town but great access to interesting neighborhoods and a slightly less crowded beach.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Transfer  {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coastal Route
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coastal Route
Spain

Wonderful guide, beautiful and interesting countryside, really fun time soaking up the atmosphere, sampling at a winery, and eating a wonderful lunch. Enjoyed every aspect of this as curated by our guide, Jaime.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Coastal Hike, Kayaking & Lagoon Dipping in Costa Brava
Spain

Really great guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Helena Fernández
Helena
Helena Fernández
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Jul 08, 2025
Hi Julie, Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! 😊 I am so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed the guides and experiences. The coastal tour with Jaime and the Costa Brava adventure with Stepan are truly special ones, and I am thrilled they stood out for you.
I am also happy to know how much you appreciated the knowledge and enthusiasm of all your guides, they will be delighted to hear your kind words.
It was a real pleasure helping you craft... Read more

Hi Julie,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! 😊

I am so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that you enjoyed the guides and experiences. The coastal tour with Jaime and the Costa Brava adventure with Stepan are truly special ones, and I am thrilled they stood out for you.
I am also happy to know how much you appreciated the knowledge and enthusiasm of all your guides, they will be delighted to hear your kind words.

It was a real pleasure helping you craft this trip, and I hope the memories of your time in Spain will stay with you for years to come.

Warmest regards,
Helena

Group trip to Croatia
Croatia | Jun 26 - Jul 3, 2025

D
Dan D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
Hi, in all of our travels (we have quite a lot), we have never had a partner like Jake. His level of awareness, sensitivity, flexibility and compassion for his group is unparalleled. He is very patient and anticipates the needs of his group better than anyone I have seen. He truly made our trip much more pleasant and memorable. Thank you for assigning him to us. He has 2 years to learn about Turkey, so he can be our guy there too Read more

Hi, in all of our travels (we have quite a lot), we have never had a partner like Jake. His level of awareness, sensitivity, flexibility and compassion for his group is unparalleled. He is very patient and anticipates the needs of his group better than anyone I have seen. He truly made our trip much more pleasant and memorable. Thank you for assigning him to us. He has 2 years to learn about Turkey, so he can be our guy there too

Hotel Reviews
Occidental Hotel Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Tirena
Dubrovnik
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
AC Hotel
Split
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Day Trip to Bled Lake & a small town of Radovljica
Day Trip to Bled Lake & a small town of Radovljica
Ljubljana
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Croatia
Quality of Experience
I
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Split
Private Walking Tour of Split
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour
Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour
Dubrovnik
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština

Sicily A Treasure
Italy | Jun 28 - Jul 5, 2025

Ellen
Ellen F.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
We had an amazing trip to Sicily, and loved working with our local specialist Lorenza! She was so easy to work with and attentive and worked with us through several itineraries as we finalized our trip. She was also super responsive while we were on our trip to one small glitch we had and was willing to answer any questions we had. We loved every part of our trip and hard to pick a favorite. We love history and archeology so loved Salinunte, Valley of the Temples, Syracusa Greek Theater and... Read more

We had an amazing trip to Sicily, and loved working with our local specialist Lorenza! She was so easy to work with and attentive and worked with us through several itineraries as we finalized our trip. She was also super responsive while we were on our trip to one small glitch we had and was willing to answer any questions we had. We loved every part of our trip and hard to pick a favorite. We love history and archeology so loved Salinunte, Valley of the Temples, Syracusa Greek Theater and Amphitheater as well the theater in Taromina. Also went to Syracusa (specifically stayed in the island of Ortigia) and Taromina a must.

All our guides were truly wonderful! Chaira (Palermo), Carmelina (Valley of the Temples), Azzurra (Selinunte), Sabine (Ragusa), Giuseppe (Syracuse Neapolitan Archaeological Park) and Aureliano (Taromina Theater). Chaira, Sabine, Aureliano and Carmelina were particular standouts but all wonderful!

Hotel Reviews
Bed & Breakfast Il Giardino di Ballarò
Palermo

The staff are wonderful. Room very comfortable. Great location near to so many sights and restaurants. Felt very safe. Loved our stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Centrally located in old city.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Le Terrazze di Pirandello

Good location. Didn’t love our room. Good breakfast!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Not great air conditioning and bed not comfortable. Shower not great.
Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel
Syracuse

Lovely hotel and great breakfast. Good location. Easy to walk everywhere. Very safe.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Casa Adele
Taormina

Lovely room. And close to everything - shopping, great restaurants and sights!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Habitat Boutique Hotel
Catania

Such a cool hotel. We only stayed a night and wish we could have stayed longer! Great location! Vibrant and close to things you will want to see in Catania!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Syracuse Neapolis Archaeological Park - private guide
Syracuse Neapolis Archaeological Park - private guide
Italy

Good guide! Very interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guided visit to the Ancient Theatre  of Taormina (private guide)
Guided visit to the Ancient Theatre of Taormina (private guide)
Italy

This was a beautiful site and tour. Aureliano was of our best guides!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Palermo guided walk insight on the anti-mafia movement and street food tour (private guide)
Palermo guided walk insight on the anti-mafia movement and street food tour (private guide)
Italy

We LOVED our guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Selinunte Archaeological Park visit - private guide
Selinunte Archaeological Park visit - private guide
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boat Tour in Syracuse
Boat Tour in Syracuse
Italy

Great trip. And had a lovely group!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Temple valley guided visit
Temple valley guided visit
Italy

Wonderful and knowledgeable guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ragusa guided visit
Ragusa guided visit
Italy

Sabine was a wonderful guide! We loved our afternoon here and wish we could have stayed longer.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mount Etna half-day trip (group experience)
Mount Etna half-day trip (group experience)
Italy

Guides were great and spoke good English. It’s a lot of driving and wish there was more hiking!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lorenza Cannarsa

We had an incredible time in Japan. KimKim h...
Japan | Jun 26 - Jul 4, 2025

Janet
Janet H.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025

We had an incredible time in Japan. KimKim had everything planned out and made it easy. We would use them again going abroad

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jul 14, 2025

Dear Janet,
Thank you for entrusting KimKim with your Japan travel experience. We're delighted to hear our meticulous planning contributed to your memorable journey. Your satisfaction is our greatest motivation to continue delivering seamless travel solutions worldwide.
Warm regards,
Angel

A Wonderful Introduction to Costa Rica
Costa Rica | Jun 28 - Jul 6, 2025

Victoria
Victoria P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
This was our first time to Costa Rica and we wanted to bring family from several places to join including in-country and from three spots in the US. After some reasearch, we chose KimKim as the company to help us have an all-inclusive trip through the highlights of Costa Rica. Olman was assigned as our travel advisor and, in short, he did a bang-up job arranging our trip and getting everyone gathered into one spot smoothly. We gave KimKim a budget, a wishlist of activities, quality of hotels... Read more

This was our first time to Costa Rica and we wanted to bring family from several places to join including in-country and from three spots in the US. After some reasearch, we chose KimKim as the company to help us have an all-inclusive trip through the highlights of Costa Rica. Olman was assigned as our travel advisor and, in short, he did a bang-up job arranging our trip and getting everyone gathered into one spot smoothly. We gave KimKim a budget, a wishlist of activities, quality of hotels and asked for private transfers between places as it was the rainy season and the driving sounded iffy. Olman listened carefully and was very patient in revising our itinerary many times before it was set. It became increasingly apparent that who you know is important. Olman connected us with local services, guides, tours, restaurants and hotels that enabled us to not worry about the details and just enjoy ourselves. Any issues we did have, Olman and his team were fairly responsive and got back to us within hours, if not sooner. We never tried the emergency number, so have no info on that service.

Itinerary (8 days): San Jose - La Fortuna and the Arenal volcano. - Monteverde (cloud forest) - Manuel Antonio (beach)

Travel: Private driver (Leo). Olman arranged transport from the San Jose airport to each of our hotels and back again. It went perfectly. I want to put in a kind word for our driver Leo, who stayed with us almost the whole trip and was fantastic. He was unerringly on time, careful, thoughtful, courteous and friendly. He would stop when he saw wildlife he thought we'd like to see, he planned stops and suggested restaurants and was generally flexible and helpful for the whole trip. Leo made going from place to place seamless and stress free (and there is a lot of driving). If you do use a private transport, be prepared to tip your driver $10 - $20 per person, per day depending on your experience.

Hotels & Places:
> La Fortuna and Arenal volcano. We stayed at the Arenal Montechiari hotel, which had bungalows which blended with the landscape and had a terrific view of the Arenal volcano. We took a tour of the volcano area and local waterfall led by the local tour guide Franklin (as recommended by KimKim). Franklin was a character - full of knowledge and stories. We highly recommend him, especially for those who want to know about the local plants and wildlife. This was one of the highlights of our trip.

> Monteverde. We stayed at the El Establo Mountain Hotel. Beautiful hotel with unbeatable views of the clouds and countryside. It has extensive wildlife paths on the property. In the area we enjoyed a tour of the local coffee, chocolate and sugar cane farm as hosted by Don Juan Monteverde - again, the local and deep knowledge of the process was really interesting. We also went to the zip line adventure park including cloud forest canopy bridges and gondola ride. This was another fantastic day. You really get a sense of how naturally diverse the area is. Finally, we also did an amazing night hike at the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge which you MUST have a guide for. Our guide, Mario, did an incredible job spotting snakes, spiders, birds, owls and bats. This was a longer hike with lots of ups and downs - a poncho, flashlight and binoculars come in handy.

> Manuel Antonio. Our last location was at the Kahari Beach Hotel. The hotel is a beach hotel and was a little plainer in it's amenities than our other hotels, however Olman told us to give it a chance and he was right. The staff, food, access to the beach and views were terrific and we would come back again. Beach is a wide swath of volcanic sand n which you can walk into the waves a good distance. They also had beach life guards which we were glad of. Hotel is surrounded by wildlife with sloths, monkeys, iguanas and more hanging around the property. Drinks and lunch on the beach was very relaxing and staff was attentive. We also took a day hike in the nearby Manuel Antonio preserve. Olman had said we did not need a guide for this one, and again, he was right. Paths are clear, wide and well mapped. It's a circle, so you won't get lost.

We ended our trip with a ride back to San Jose and the Hampton Inn by the airport which has shuttles to the airport every 15 min or so. Good hotel, comfortable rooms and a good choice for our last night.

Bottom line was this was a memorable family trip that went amazingly smoothly given all the moving parts. Thank you, Olman and KimKim!

Hotel Reviews
El Establo Mountain Hotel
Monteverde

We loved our stay here. While very spread out, the views were wonderful. There are walking paths on the grounds, a nice pool with a bar and a decent restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the stone facade and integrated nature.
Location
Up on the hill side, views were beautiful and often dramatic.
Staff
Friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very nicely appointed rooms. Could use screens on windows to enjoy the views but keep insects out.
Hotel Arenal Montechiari
La Fortuna
Authenticity & Character
Bungalow style was fun an made you feel integrated into the surrounding nature.
Location
Within walking distance of La Fortuna with a good view of Arenal volcano.
Staff
Friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms are bungalow style. AC is each, which was nice. Bathrooms are open air vented. Room was clean and comfortable.
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

Hotel is adequate, but amenities, grounds, and staff upgrade the whole experience. Higher floor rooms seem nicer than lower rooms. Rooms are basic, but clean and comfortable. Restaurant, staff and beach are terrific. Food was good, standard Costa Rica fare, drinks were good and staff went the extra mile. Direct beach access is a big bonus and the beach itself is lovely. There are life guards, which we liked, and you can go out a long way because it is shallow. Playing in the waves was terrific and you can rent surf boards and boogie boards right there. There are roaming beach vendors, but they were always nice and backed off immediately if you said no. There is lots of wildlife right on the grounds with sloths, monkeys and birds. Would definitely stay again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Direct beach access and only 1.5 miles from entrance to Manuel Antonio Park entrance.
Staff
They did a great job taking care of us.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms are very clean. Beds are comfortable. Furniture is basic. Remember that it is a beach hotel and salt eats everything.
Hampton by Hilton San José Airport
Alajuela

Good place to stay by the airport. Very comfortable rooms and dining was fairly good. Shuttle to airport runs 24/7 every 15 minutes. Great place to start or end a trip.

Authenticity & Character
It's a Hampton.
Location
10 minutes to airport.
Staff
Very attentive and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Arenal 1968 Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal 1968 Hike & Visit to La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

Rustic and outdoorsy. Our guide, Franklin, really made the difference as he knew an amazing amount of info about the volcano, plants, insects and animals. Amazing views and well worth it.

Quality of Experience
Food
A very nice coffee shop by the entrance. Wonderful views from the roof terrace.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide, Franklin, was excellent. Took his job very seriously and had a great amount of knowledge of the area and the natural surroundings.
Transport
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience
Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience
Monteverde

We didn't know what to expect at Don Juans, but turned out great. Our guide was entertaining and was very knowledgeable about the process, uses and market of the chocolate, coffee and sugar cane farms. Lots of opportunity to smell, touch and taste.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde
Night Excursion at the Wildlife Refuge in Monteverde
Monteverde

One of the best excursions we had. You really feel a part of the nature and night time is when you can see the animal and insect world in full swing. The walk is about 2 hours and is up and down, so be ready for a good walk. Our guide, Mario, was excellent and we saw far more than I expected.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
TreeTram, Self Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
TreeTram, Self Hanging Bridges & Zipline Adventure
Monteverde

We almost skipped this but turned out to be one of the favorite things we did as a family while in Costa Rica. Wonderful guides, terrific views, and it really gave us a chance to feel part of nature. Zip lines were high above the forest, were fast and a long distance so you had time to look around as you went. Suspension bridges were right at tree top level and we spent time with butterflies, monkeys and birds. Walking paths were great to meander along and take time to look around. There is a cafe at the end for a quick lunch, if interested.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Damas Island Boat Tour
Damas Island Boat Tour
Costa Rica

This was at the tail end of our vacation and we’d already taken several nature walks, so we were looking for a different experience. Going through the mangroves by boat gave us an entirely different cut at Costa Rica’s nature. The guides were very knowledgeable and went out of their way to make sure that we saw plenty of birds, iguanas, and snakes, as well as gave us detailed information about the ecosystem. The boat ride was very pleasurable and a great way to take in the nature around at a slower pace. Be sure to bring binoculars for the best experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Olman Romero
Olman
Olman Romero
Local specialist in San Jose, Costa Rica | Replied on Jul 13, 2025

Hello Victoria,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review!
I'm truly glad everything came together smoothly for your family trip and that you enjoyed the experiences, guides, and beautiful destinations.

It was a pleasure helping you plan this special journey, and I’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Leo and the rest of the team.

Pura Vida!
Olman

Our Trip to Ecuador = June 2025This was a wonderful trip. Thanks to kimkim ...
Ecuador | Jun 25 - Jul 3, 2025

B
Bill K.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
This was a wonderful trip. Thanks to kimkim for working with Responsible Travel of Ecuador, to Sebastian, our outstanding guide in Quito, to Sani Lodge in the rainforest, and to Raul, our excellent guide during our stay at Sani Lodge.
Sebastian met us at the airport in Quito and drove us to our hotel (La Casona de la Ronda – excellent, recommended) in the city. The next day he took us to the Middle of the World where we toured the museum and visited the actual equator line. This was fun...
Read more

This was a wonderful trip. Thanks to kimkim for working with Responsible Travel of Ecuador, to Sebastian, our outstanding guide in Quito, to Sani Lodge in the rainforest, and to Raul, our excellent guide during our stay at Sani Lodge.
Sebastian met us at the airport in Quito and drove us to our hotel (La Casona de la Ronda – excellent, recommended) in the city. The next day he took us to the Middle of the World where we toured the museum and visited the actual equator line. This was fun and informative and the museum tour guide was very good. Afterwards, we drove back to the city and Sebastian led us on a fascinating and informative walking tour, stopping for lunch in the afternoon.
Next day Sebastian drove us out to Otavalo, stopping at a rose farm on the way. We participated in a cooking class in Claudia’s house. She was very hospitable and it was great fun picking herbs and vegetables in her garden and preparing a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. Then we drove back to the city, stopping to visit the market in Otavalo and, briefly, for traditional bizcocha cookies.
Next morning we took a short flight to Coca and a three-hour boat trip along the Napo River and tributaries to Sani Lodge. Our guide for this portion of the trip, Raul, met us at the Coca Airport. The boat ride was fascinating and we began to feel as if we were in an entirely different universe. Sani Lodge is owned and operated by the Kichwa Indigenous People. Everyone working there made as feel so welcome and seemed to be incredibly proud of their heritage and their accomplishments.
We traveled with Raul, assistant guide Pato, and two other guests on several trips in a small canoe during the next three days observing the lush and dense rainforest and spotting innumerable birds, monkeys and other creatures. Sometimes we hiked on muddy trails, sometimes we went out after dark to experience the night time sounds of the rainforest, and sometimes it rained quite heavily. On one trip we visited a small Kichwa settlement. The inhabitants were very gracious, sharing knowledge about their simple and humble lives and teaching us some traditional cooking skills. Raul’s knowledge of the ecosystem and it’s plants and animals was remarkable and he was ably assisted by Pato. Accommodations at the lodge were excellent and the food was very good. The entire experience was wonderful and truly exceeded our expectations.
After our three-day stay, we returned by boat to Coca, then flew to Quito to await our flight home. We enjoyed this trip greatly and learned so much. Very highly recommended.

Local specialist: Karla Guerrero
Karla
Karla Guerrero
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jul 07, 2025

Dear Bill,

How wonderful it is to read your feedback, thank you so much for your kind words!

I'm truly happy to hear that you and Kim had such a great time in Ecuador. It was a real pleasure helping you plan this special journey, and I hope you’ll return someday to explore even more of what this beautiful country has to offer.

Warmest regards,
Karla

KimKim and our trip review.
Norway | Jun 23 - Jun 30, 2025

Mollie
Mollie G.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
KimKim Feedback
Working with KimKim really helped me with getting ideas and plans for transitioning to one town to the next on our trip to Norway with 7 people. It was extremely helpful to have someone figuring out the tickets, times, locations, etc. for the hotels, drop off and pickups, activities, etc. My only recommendation is to verify the links you include in the itinerary. A few of the links did not work so I'm glad I verified and asked the questions before we left.
Here are a few...
Read more

KimKim Feedback
Working with KimKim really helped me with getting ideas and plans for transitioning to one town to the next on our trip to Norway with 7 people. It was extremely helpful to have someone figuring out the tickets, times, locations, etc. for the hotels, drop off and pickups, activities, etc. My only recommendation is to verify the links you include in the itinerary. A few of the links did not work so I'm glad I verified and asked the questions before we left.
Here are a few reviews of the things we did.
Oslo
• We had a pickup scheduled from the airport to our first hotel in Oslo, but the driver cancelled. I contacted KimKim and they quickly arranged a different ride.
• The Grand Hotel Oslo was beautiful! We loved the rooms and the morning breakfast was amazing. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, even stopped by the hotel as we were there. The location was perfect for seeing all the common sights in Oslo.
• The 3 hour Private City Walk was okay. We ended up taking a ferry to the Fram museum. The guide was excellent at providing us with some background and history regarding the Fram. It was very interesting, and the museum was excellent and I highly recommend it. Once we were at the Fram, we wanted to stay there and look around but our time with the guide was up so she left and we stayed at the museum. I’m just not sure if the guide was really that useful, but without her we may not have attended the museum so we are thankful for that. The time may have been better spend walking around Oslo and getting the history and background about the palace, opera house, etc. from the guide and then doing the Fram on our own.
• We took scooters to the Mathallen Food Court which we all really enjoyed. We also shopped around that area which had lots of unique boutiques and secondhand stores. Very fun to see a variety in shopping areas. Downtown Oslo has lots of “chain” stores, but since we are not from Norway, they were all fairly new to us as well. Very fun shopping.

Stavanger
• Took the train to Stavanger. The train was fabulous - quiet and a great way to see the scenery.
• The second hotel, Scandic Stavanger Park, was fine. Not bad, not great – very standard. It was on a very busy street, so it was loud when the windows were open which we did because our room was hot. I personally would not recommend this hotel.
• The kids did the hike to Pulpit Rock which became the highlight of the entire trip.
• I loved looking at Old Stavanger and the buildings, as well as shopping around Ovre Holmegate in all the boutiques. I love to shop and look at goods so this was excellent for me.
• My husband and I went to the Petroleum Museum also – which I highly recommend. It was very well done and informative.
• The art all around the city is very fun. It would be fun to do a “scavenger hunt” for the art.
• Several of the hotels allowed umbrella checkout. We didn’t use it because we had raincoats, but I thought it was a great thing and worth mentioning to people you are planning trips for.
Bergen
• Took a Fjordline “ferry” to Bergen. This was more like a cruise ship. Very comfortable and beautiful. We loved this way of traveling. Highly recommend.
• The hotel, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, was very nice and in a very central location. The only drawback is that there is a nightclub right by it, so it got loud at night.
• We did the Fjord Cruise & Seafood Dining Experience. I would not recommend this. It was fine, but our service was extremely slow and the food was okay. Not worth the money or time in my opinion.
• The Norway in a Nutshell was a great way to see a lot of things in a short time, but there was very little time to explore the places that we visited. We would barely get off the boat/train/bus and would have to get in line to catch the next boat/train/bus. It would be nice to have 1-2 hours at each stop.
• We did love seeing the fjords and mountains as we traveled. Stunning views!!!
• In hindsight, we should have stayed in Flam or Voss a few nights. My kids love “doing” things like hiking/biking and there were lots of opportunities for this in those smaller villages.
• The Catch and Cook Fishing Excursion was fun. It was rainy, but they had tons of clothes to outfit all of us so we were not miserable. My husband and sons are avid fisherman so to them it was a bit “touristy” and not real fishing, but it was an activity versus more sight-seeing so they liked it because we were doing something. We did catch some fish and enjoyed the cooking of it. Our guide, Iris, was great. I would recommend as an activity to do with the understanding that this is not for the serious fisherman.
• The Fløibanen funicular was good. Excellent views of Bergen, and a fun park. We could not get into the restaurant because we did not have a reservation so I would recommend this as something to consider to your clients when doing this activity.
• One activity we looked up and did on or own was the “Magic Ice” bar. I heard it was a bit gimmicky and expensive – which it was – but fun to experience and see it nonetheless.

All in all – it was an excellent trip. I loved seeing all that we did. Knowing what I know now, I should have done more activities versus sightseeing, but now I know for our next trip.
The kimkim app was very helpful to have all our tickets and information in one spot. I hope you continue to use and improve it.

Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Grand Hotel Oslo
Oslo

This hotel is beautiful and is in a great location to the central Oslo. The breakfast buffet was amazing and become a food highlight of the trip. I highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Very central
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Radisson Blu Royal Hotel
Bergen

Nice hotel and excellent location to Bergen,

Authenticity & Character
It's pretty and clean.
Location
Very central location to get around Bergen
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The cleanliness and comfort of the hotel is great. The only issue is that it is close to a night club so it got loud at night.
Scandic Stavanger Park
Stavanger

This hotel is fine, but I would not recommend. It was on a busy street so it was loud in our room. Our room was on the top floor and it got hot. They brought us a fan, which helped, but we could not adjust the temperature. The breakfast was included and was very good.

Authenticity & Character
Not bad, not great. Just not memorable.
Location
We were able to walk to central Stavanger
Staff
Several times staff was not available at the front desk or there was only 1 person so it took time to get help.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The hotel is on a very busy street so it was loud. Our room was hot and we could not adjust the temperature. They gave us a fan, which helped.
Activity Reviews
Self-Guided Pulpit Rock Hike
Self-Guided Pulpit Rock Hike
Stavanger

The kids in our group did this activity and it was their absolute favorite.

Quality of Experience
Private City Walk
Private City Walk
Oslo

The 3 hour Private City Walk was okay. We ended up taking a ferry to the Fram museum. The guide was excellent at providing us with some background and history regarding the Fram. It was very interesting, and the museum was excellent and I highly recommend it. Once we were at the Fram, we wanted to stay there and look around but our time with the guide was up so she left and we stayed at the museum. I’m just not sure if the guide was really that useful, but without her we may not have attended the museum so we are thankful for that. The time may have been better spent walking around Oslo and getting the history and background about the palace, opera house, etc. from the guide and then doing the Fram on our own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mathallen Food Court Visit
Mathallen Food Court Visit
Oslo

Fun to see and experience some food.

Local specialist: Alex Mottler

Glorious trip to Croatia- thanks to Sara!
Croatia | Jun 23 - Jun 30, 2025

Kristin
Kristin F.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
We just returned from the most amazing family trip to Croatia- thanks to Sara and KimKim. We booked very last minute and had so little time to plan / research what to do. Sara guided us from the very start- working within our budget to craft the best possible trip- finding great hotels just a couple of weeks out and developing an itinerary that left us feeling like we truly explored the Dalmation Coast.
Sara was a pleasure to work with- attentive and informative and incredibly helpful...
Read more

We just returned from the most amazing family trip to Croatia- thanks to Sara and KimKim. We booked very last minute and had so little time to plan / research what to do. Sara guided us from the very start- working within our budget to craft the best possible trip- finding great hotels just a couple of weeks out and developing an itinerary that left us feeling like we truly explored the Dalmation Coast.
Sara was a pleasure to work with- attentive and informative and incredibly helpful with every detail!! The private tours she arranged left us feeling like we got to know not just the area we were visiting, but the local people as well. Ivana spent two days with us in Split and she provided a great foundation for our trip. She is funny and knowledgeable and great company- we all enjoyed being with her. Grgo in Hvar was an outstanding local guide. He provided us with the most memorable tour of the island and his life there. Our time with him , visiting his homeland, was the highlight of the trip for us all. We cannot say enough positive things about our trip- and our experience using KimKim. I will tell ANYONE who is heading to Croatia that they must contact Sara- she is THE BEST! Thank you for so many wonderful memories and a fabulous family trip to the beautiful country of Croatia!! K. Filling

Hotel Review
Valamar Argosy Hotel
Dubrovnik

Perfectly positioned on the coast with amazing views and a great pool!! Loved our time here!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Split
Private Walking Tour of Split
Croatia

Ivana gave us a wonderful overview of the thousands of years of history in Split! :) She was a wonderful, knowledgable and personable tour guide and my whole family enjoyed their day with her. It felt like a local friend walking you around their hometown. Highly recommend, Ivana for anyone visiting Split!

Hvar Half-Day Private Island Tour (Afternoon)
Hvar Half-Day Private Island Tour (Afternoon)
Hvar

This half day tour of the island of Hvar was the highlight of our trip. Great views, interesting information, fabulous food, wonderful wine, and the most amazing tour guide, Grgo!! It was a very special day having Grgo show us the island his family has called home for seven generations. What he shared with us truly felt like a gift in every way. This is the ideal way to go beyond the vibrant waterfront and see more of the real Hvar. Spectacular in every way and we left feeling like we had made a friend. Thank you, Grgo, for sharing your home, your insights, your passion and your humor with us for the day. We will never forget it. This tour is a MUST for anyone visiting Hvar!! K. Filling

Quality of Experience
Food
lovely traditional dinner - very yummy! followed by a wine tasting- also very yummy! :)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
exceptional driver AND tour guide - Grgo!
Transport
Local specialist: Sara Skok
Sara
Sara Skok
Local specialist in Zagreb, Croatia | Replied on Jul 08, 2025
Dear Kristin, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback! I am glad you and your family had such a great time in Croatia. We always do our best to connect our travelers with the most incredible guides who share our passion and love for our home country.
I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Grgo and Ivana!
Thank you once again for putting your trust in me, I am very happy we were able to create a perfect trip for you. I hope we will get a chance to work together... Read more

Dear Kristin,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback!

I am glad you and your family had such a great time in Croatia. We always do our best to connect our travelers with the most incredible guides who share our passion and love for our home country.
I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Grgo and Ivana!

Thank you once again for putting your trust in me, I am very happy we were able to create a perfect trip for you. I hope we will get a chance to work together in the future as well and wish you all an amazing rest of your summer! 😊

Sending my best from Croatia,
Sara

We, overall, are very satisfied with the serv...
France | Jun 24 - Jun 30, 2025

Warren
Warren G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
We, overall, are very satisfied with the services provided by the Kim Kim team especially Sebastian. Throughout the planning process he was always quick to respond and make suggestions that worked out well for us. Our personal guide in Bordeaux, Hela, was a delight and took the time to explore the city and many of it's delightful food and beverage vendors. Ala Francaise host Vicki was also great and we really enjoyed her knowledge of the wine region and the process of wine making. Read more

We, overall, are very satisfied with the services provided by the Kim Kim team especially Sebastian. Throughout the planning process he was always quick to respond and make suggestions that worked out well for us.

Our personal guide in Bordeaux, Hela, was a delight and took the time to explore the city and many of it's delightful food and beverage vendors. Ala Francaise host Vicki was also great and we really enjoyed her knowledge of the wine region and the process of wine making.

Hotel Reviews
Hôtel du Cygne
Tours

Great location and fantastic large room. Most importantly, air conditioned! We happened to be in Tours France during an early heat wave and coming back after touring wineries and having dinner to a comfortable air conditioned room was most appreciated. David and the staff were friendly and accommodating during our three night stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lola Boutique hotel
Bordeaux

This small hotel was delightful and the staff was always helpful when we needed recommendations on things to do. It's location right across the street from St. Michel was a bonus. The atmosphere every evening for happy hour was fantastic taking place on the plaza in front of the church steps. The bartender made some amazing craft cocktails and we enjoyed sitting and people watching as we wound down our evening.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Wine tasting and discovery tour of Caves Ambacia
Wine tasting and discovery tour of Caves Ambacia
Amboise

This tour was worth the short train ride from Tours to Amboise. The castle and Da Vinci's resting place and home were very enlightening.

Quality of Experience
Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau castles & Vouvray wine tour - Full-day
Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau castles & Vouvray wine tour - Full-day
France

Our guide, Marion, for the tour of the amazing Castle Azay-le-Rideau, the Vouvray wine tour and the Chateau Villandry was amazing. She was so knowledgeable and was obviously a subject matter expert on the history and lifestyle of people who inhabited the Caste and Chateau.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Tourraine Wine tour
Afternoon Tourraine Wine tour
France

Our guide for this private tour was a former Lieutenant Colonel in the French army and current winery co-owner. Very knowledgeable and took the time to take us first to the vinyard to explain the cultivation, pruning and harvesting of grapes before taking us to the wine cave for a tasting. This was a hightlig for us and we learned so much about appelations, terrior, and thcuteriee types of grapes allowed in the production of wines in the Lorre Valley. The tasting in the cave was accomapnied by a great selection of Cheeses. Really enjoyed this tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wine discovery day from Bordeaux to Saint-Emilion
Wine discovery day from Bordeaux to Saint-Emilion
Bordeaux

Our guide was delightful and our first wine tasting was great with the winery staff taking time to explain the wines and the process of how the wines were grown, produced and bottled. Our second tasting stop was more of a hard sell on the owners preference for the sparkling wine they produced. Lunch was provided there and it was a great selection of cheese, charcuterie and fresh salad with a nice red wine paring. Saint -Emilion was amazing but we were only allowed 45 mins before we needed to be back to meet the driver for our return to Bordeaux.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gourmet Dinner in Bordeaux
Gourmet Dinner in Bordeaux
Bordeaux

This dinner was fantastic and we were treated to a window seat that looked out over the central plaza and river bank. Food and wine were amazing and the cheese course for dessert featured a delicious selection of interesting cheese varieties.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
UNESCO Guided cruise on the Garonne river
UNESCO Guided cruise on the Garonne river
Bordeaux

Our guide was delightful and knowledgeable but the trip was short and it's highlights were really just the history of the bridges we passed beneath and some overview of the architectural rules governing development and restoration of the city's building facdes. We schduled this for the afternoon after Cite du Vin and wished we had spent more time at Cite du Vin

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cité du Vin : priority access with the skip the line ticket and wine tasting
Cité du Vin : priority access with the skip the line ticket and wine tasting
Bordeaux

We wished we had alloted more time to tour this museum. It's multimedia and interactive exhibits were immersive and informative. Our wine tasting experience there was top notch and an experience not to be missed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bordeaux gourmet & wine experience with a local
Bordeaux gourmet & wine experience with a local
Bordeaux

Hela was so engaging and knowledgeable about the history of Bordeaux and took us on a walking tour of some great local wine and culinary shops.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Sebastian Prino
Sebastian
Sebastian Prino
Local specialist in Marseille | Replied on Jul 07, 2025
Hi Warren and Maureen, how are you? Thank you so much for your kind words — I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback! It was a real pleasure helping you plan your trip, and I’m so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that the suggestions worked well for you. I’ll be sure to pass along your lovely comments to Hela and Vicki — they’ll be thrilled to know they made your experience even more special. If you ever feel like exploring another region of France (or... Read more

Hi Warren and Maureen, how are you?

Thank you so much for your kind words — I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback!

It was a real pleasure helping you plan your trip, and I’m so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that the suggestions worked well for you. I’ll be sure to pass along your lovely comments to Hela and Vicki — they’ll be thrilled to know they made your experience even more special.

If you ever feel like exploring another region of France (or coming back for more wine and food adventures!), I’d be delighted to help again.

Wishing you all the best,
Sebastian

The best trip we’ve ever been on!
Croatia | Jun 26 - Jul 3, 2025

L
layantie p.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
We really can’t say enough of the service provided by Zeljko and Antonia. From the beginning Antonia was responsive, quick to offer suggestions and solutions, and knew exactly how to manage a large group. I can’t think of 1 complaint on how she planned and executed this trip for us.
Zeljko is a STAR! He was not only our travel guide but became our friend by the end of the trip. Everything that was asked of him was followed up on and executed without fail. He noticed needs immediately and...
Read more

We really can’t say enough of the service provided by Zeljko and Antonia. From the beginning Antonia was responsive, quick to offer suggestions and solutions, and knew exactly how to manage a large group. I can’t think of 1 complaint on how she planned and executed this trip for us.
Zeljko is a STAR! He was not only our travel guide but became our friend by the end of the trip. Everything that was asked of him was followed up on and executed without fail. He noticed needs immediately and remedied them as quickly as he noticed them. He accompanied us to trips when he was supposed to be his free time.
Our family travels extensively and this trip was one of our best trips we’ve ever experienced.
I cannot recommend Antonia and Zeljko enough for making this happen.
It was flawlessly planned and executed.

Hotel Reviews
Occidental Hotel Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
AC Hotel
Split
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Tirena
Dubrovnik
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Private Walking Tour of Ljubljana
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Bled Lake & a small town of Radovljica
Day Trip to Bled Lake & a small town of Radovljica
Ljubljana
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Private Walking Tour of Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Private Walking Tour of Plitvice Lakes National Park
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour
Elafiti Islands - Private Half Day Speedboat Tour
Dubrovnik

Wish it was longer!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking Tour of Split
Private Walking Tour of Split
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Konavle Region Culinary Experience (small group)
Croatia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Antonia Šutić Ljuština

Amalfi Coast and Rome: A Dream Family Vacation
Italy | Jun 27 - Jul 4, 2025

Michelle
Michelle P.
Tuckahoe, VA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
The Gems of the Amalfi Coast and Eternal Rome vacation was my family's favorite and most memorable trip we've taken together. I usually plan our family vacations, but I was less confident about planning an international trip that would require either renting a car or scheduling multiple transfers during the trip. I decided to contact kimkim. I was so fortunate to have been connected with Chris. He listened to what I wanted, made adjustments along the way, and created a dream vacation for... Read more

The Gems of the Amalfi Coast and Eternal Rome vacation was my family's favorite and most memorable trip we've taken together. I usually plan our family vacations, but I was less confident about planning an international trip that would require either renting a car or scheduling multiple transfers during the trip. I decided to contact kimkim. I was so fortunate to have been connected with Chris. He listened to what I wanted, made adjustments along the way, and created a dream vacation for my family. He even arranged transportation for my oldest child to join the rest of the family on the second day, which was when she completed a summer term abroad. In addition to Chris, Maria was our local contact. She was always just a text away to answer questions and to provide us with drivers' contact information and pickup times. Having our activities and transportation taken care of allowed us to have a more relaxing and enjoyable vacation. The accommodations were another excellent aspect of our vacation. The Charme Spagna Boutique Hotel in Rome was a little gem! The room was comfortable and quiet, breakfast was excellent, and the staff were so kind and accommodating. In Sorrento, we enjoyed Hotel Leone with its lovely pool and patio, delicious breakfast, quiet but convenient location, and friendly staff. When we ended our trip with another stay in Rome, we found the accommodations at The Republic to be outstanding. Again, the rooms were comfortable and spacious, the staff accommodating, and the breakfast very enjoyable. The activities were where we truly made our memories, and Chris selected the perfect ones for our family. My family of five had so much fun at our Mediterranean cooking class at Villa Pane (even my 17-year-old son enjoyed it). Luca took us on an amazing tour of the Amalfi Coast, sharing many stories about local history and landmarks. We were so grateful that he was driving on the narrow and busy road! Paola was the most entertaining and engaging tour guide on our visit to Capri and Anacapri. She really took care of our group and made sure we had the best experience. Our private tour of Pompeii was fascinating. Our guide there was extremely interesting and informative, as was our guide at the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. We were impressed with and appreciative of the knowledge all of our guides shared with us. We were also grateful not to be part of a large tour group. The most people we were grouped with were another family of five. Another great thing about our vacation was that not every moment was planned. We had free time to explore Rome and Sorrento, visiting places that we chose along the way, including the beach in Sorrento and various historical sites and museums in Rome. We made the most of our time in Italy without stress, thanks to Chris, Maria, and the kimkim team. Now that we're home, we can't stop looking at our photos and dreaming of our next trip to Italy.

Hotel Reviews
Charme Spagna Boutique Hotel
Rome

The Charme Spagna Boutique Hotel in Rome was a little gem! The room was comfortable and quiet, breakfast was excellent, and the staff were so kind and accommodating. My family arrived very early in the morning in Rome. Although our room wasn't ready, the staff kept our luggage while we explored. They were able to open the room to us earlier than expected, which was nice since we were jetlagged. Of all the hotels we stayed in, my children enjoyed the breakfast and snacks here the most. Our room even opened to a lovely patio, where we enjoyed our meal. The hotel is also in convenient walking distance to Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Convenient to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Capuchin Crypt.
Staff
The front desk staff were extremely kind and accommodating. They kept our luggage before we could get into our rooms and after we checked out, before our train out of Rome.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed and shower were fantastic!
Hotel Leone
Sorrento

We enjoyed Hotel Leone with its lovely pool and patio, delicious breakfast, quiet but convenient location, and friendly staff. Our family of five had two rooms, which were conveniently assigned next to each other. Because it was so hot when we visited in July, we were glad to have the pool. We only wish it had stayed open past 7 PM.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It was nice and quiet outside of the main square of Sorrento, but it was easily walkable to all the restaurants and shops.
Staff
They were friendly, and the breakfast staff was especially attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The housekeepers kept our rooms very nice. We also enjoyed having a balcony.
The Republic
Roma

We found the accommodations at The Republic to be outstanding. We were graciously welcomed at the front desk. Our family of five was assigned two spacious and comfortable rooms. We were even treated to a surprise bottle of Chianti when we arrived. Because it was so hot when we were visiting in July, we were happy to have a nice, luxurious shower in the room. Our family also enjoyed the breakfast with its variety of hot and cold foods, fruits, and beverages.

Authenticity & Character
From the treatment of the staff to the quality of the furnishings and comforts in the room, this hotel feels high-class.
Location
This hotel was convenient to the Rome Termini Station. We found the metro an easy way to travel across the city. We found some restaurants and shops within walking distance that had a more local/authentic vibe than some more centrally located ones.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Chris Gravas
Chris
Chris Gravas
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jul 07, 2025
Dear Michelle, Thank you so much for the detailed review and description of your trip, and all your kind words and appreciation. I am humbled by your wonderful review, and Maria is grateful as well. I was very happy to help plan this memorable family experience for all of you, and that you enjoyed every aspect of it, transfers, tours, hotels, guides, free time, as well as the direct help from Maria and me when needed. I will be very happy to plan your next adventure again, either to Italy... Read more

Dear Michelle,

Thank you so much for the detailed review and description of your trip, and all your kind words and appreciation. I am humbled by your wonderful review, and Maria is grateful as well. I was very happy to help plan this memorable family experience for all of you, and that you enjoyed every aspect of it, transfers, tours, hotels, guides, free time, as well as the direct help from Maria and me when needed.

I will be very happy to plan your next adventure again, either to Italy or Greece. Until that time, I wish your family a wonderful rest of your summer and happy and safe travels!

Kind regards,
Chris

Amazing Experience in Norway
Norway | Jun 27 - Jul 5, 2025

S
Susan B.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
Mathia planned an amazing trip for 11 of us incorporating all that we wanted to see and do in Norway. He was attentive, informative and efficient the whole way through. All the hotels were excellent, the tours were wonderful and all transportation was perfect. We could not have navigated this ourselves. Mathia is a professional with intimate knowledge of Norway. We all highly recommend Kim Kim and Mathia. Read more

Mathia planned an amazing trip for 11 of us incorporating all that we wanted to see and do in Norway. He was attentive, informative and efficient the whole way through. All the hotels were excellent, the tours were wonderful and all transportation was perfect. We could not have navigated this ourselves. Mathia is a professional with intimate knowledge of Norway. We all highly recommend Kim Kim and Mathia.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Norge by Scandic
Bergen
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amerikalinjen
Oslo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clarion Hotel Tyholmen
Arendal
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Thon Hotel Opera
Oslo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Mathia Pacenti
Mathia
Mathia Pacenti
Local specialist in Vesterålen, Norway | Replied on Jul 07, 2025
Dear Susan,
Thank you very much for your lovely review.
I’m happy to hear that the trip was such a beautiful experience for you and the whole group—it means a lot to know it was memorable for everyone.
You made everything easy for me with your kindness, great communication, and wonderful cooperation. That’s real teamwork, and I genuinely appreciated it.
I would recommend you to any travel specialist out there—you were amazing to work with. I also hope you might decide to visit Norway again... Read more

Dear Susan,
Thank you very much for your lovely review.
I’m happy to hear that the trip was such a beautiful experience for you and the whole group—it means a lot to know it was memorable for everyone.
You made everything easy for me with your kindness, great communication, and wonderful cooperation. That’s real teamwork, and I genuinely appreciated it.

I would recommend you to any travel specialist out there—you were amazing to work with. I also hope you might decide to visit Norway again one day, perhaps exploring the northern part where I live.
I’d be more than happy to assist you in planning another unforgettable journey.
I wish you and your family all the best. :)
Mathia

Holiday in the South of France and Paris with my grandchildren 2025!
France | Jun 27 - Jul 6, 2025

Judy
Judy W.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
My specialist Simon did an excellent job in making my France experience with my grandchildren absolutely perfect. Our drivers were great, giving us some info on each place we were visiting, I literally never had to worry. Our hotel accommodations were absolutely wonderful especially in Nice and Aix en Provence - I could have stayed in Aix much longer as it was so beautiful. We had a lot of fun in Monaco in the Casino - No one won but definitely had fun while Nicole and Hillary enjoyed... Read more

My specialist Simon did an excellent job in making my France experience with my grandchildren absolutely perfect. Our drivers were great, giving us some info on each place we were visiting, I literally never had to worry. Our hotel accommodations were absolutely wonderful especially in Nice and Aix en Provence - I could have stayed in Aix much longer as it was so beautiful. We had a lot of fun in Monaco in the Casino - No one won but definitely had fun while Nicole and Hillary enjoyed browsing the stores and doing a little shopping at Zara’s.

The heat was my only downfall, kids didn't mind as they went to the beach to swim in the ocean and also in the pools to keep cool. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Perfume Making experience, so happy I did that. Our tours were all anmazing and the kids really enjoyed their night life in each place we stayed, not getting to bed until the wee hours of the morning. Paris is such a beautiful city with so much to see and do. The hotel we stayed at was wonderful as it was walking distance to everything. All the restaurants we went to had fabulous food, wine and cocktails no one complained.

Thank you Kim Kim for another wonderful and memorable holiday.

Hotel Reviews
Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel
Paris

Wonderful hotel walking distance to everything - disappointed their spa and pool closed even though they offered us to use another hotels pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Saint Ange
Aix en Provence

This hotel was beyond beautiful with its lovely gardens, fabulous pool with restaurant attached to the pool area where we enjoyed lunch, excellent breakfast and walking distance to town .

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Bastide Saint Antoine
Grasse
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful grounds and excellent dinner
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Boscolo Nice Hôtel & Spa
Nice

Absolutely beautiful, walking distance to beach, excellent breakfast - highly recommend

Authenticity & Character
It’s beautiful decor
Location
Close to beach, cafes and bars
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Dinner at Le Plongeoir
Dinner at Le Plongeoir
France
Food
Local specialist: Simon Hardy
Simon
Simon Hardy
Local specialist in Marseille, France | Replied on Jul 16, 2025
Dear Judy, What a joy to read your message – thank you so much for your kind words! It was truly a pleasure (and a great adventure!) helping you plan this special trip with your grandchildren. I’m thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly and that the hotels, experiences, and tours all lived up to your expectations – especially Aix-en-Provence with the Villa Saint Ange! The image of you all enjoying Monaco’s casino, the beach, the perfume workshop, and Parisian nights paints quite the... Read more

Dear Judy,

What a joy to read your message – thank you so much for your kind words! It was truly a pleasure (and a great adventure!) helping you plan this special trip with your grandchildren.

I’m thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly and that the hotels, experiences, and tours all lived up to your expectations – especially Aix-en-Provence with the Villa Saint Ange! The image of you all enjoying Monaco’s casino, the beach, the perfume workshop, and Parisian nights paints quite the postcard.

We’re also very aware that the summer heat was a challenge during your stay. Climate-related events like heatwaves are becoming more frequent, and as local travel specialists, it’s a growing priority for us to anticipate and adapt our services accordingly – from well-designed accommodations to thoughtfully timed activities and flexible pacing. We sincerely hope the arrangements we made provided you with the comfort you needed to enjoy your time here despite the temperatures.

Thank you again for your trust, your energy, and your kind words. We’d be delighted to welcome you back to France whenever the inspiration strikes again!

Warmest regards,
Simon | France by Locals

The trip was fantastic. Virtually all of the ...
Indonesia | Jun 25 - Jul 6, 2025

Mark
Mark F.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025
The trip was fantastic. Virtually all of the accomplishments exceeded expectations. The guides and drivers were fantastic. Felt like we got an excellent feel for Indonesia. Regarding all of the above Yuqqa did a terrific job. There were a couple of areas she fell short in. She arranged two hikes for us, only one of which we did. That was the Mt Batur hike. She did not adequately explain what the hike was. The first ninety minutes or so were on a road going up the mountain with cars passing... Read more

The trip was fantastic. Virtually all of the accomplishments exceeded expectations. The guides and drivers were fantastic. Felt like we got an excellent feel for Indonesia.

Regarding all of the above Yuqqa did a terrific job. There were a couple of areas she fell short in. She arranged two hikes for us, only one of which we did. That was the Mt Batur hike. She did not adequately explain what the hike was. The first ninety minutes or so were on a road going up the mountain with cars passing us. I don't understand why we weren't dropped off further up the mountain. On the way down we were. It was poorly planned or executed.

The second hike was supposed to be to the Wae Bae village. My son looked it up on All Trails and the reports were daunting. We have hiked all over the world, but were not prepared for anything serious. We received virtually no explanation from Yuqqa about the hike. She actually tried down playing the trail report. Even asked to see it. Once we had decided not to do the hike she continued to press us to do it. In fairness maybe she just thought it would be an amazing experience, but regardless it was way too much. She was very inconsistent with her descriptions of the hikes, at one point even countering what she had said in the itinerary. She asked me the same question a few times when she was pushing the hike. She wasn't even communicating with the guide who did a terrific job of making alternative plans. She sounded angry and unaware of what was going on.

My other criticism of her regarded her availability. She wanted to arrange for a call, but when I went on the website her open times were at 3 and 4 am of my local time zone. Not acceptable. At times I didn't receive a response on the WhatsApp chat for an overly long time, sometimes not until the next day. Fortunately our guides or drivers were always available to help.

I really enjoy working with Kimkim. I would not do another trip with Yuqqa.

Hotel Reviews
Jakarta Airport Hotel
Jakarta

Hotel was basic. We arrived into terminal 3 at Jakarta. Yuqqa had selected a hotel in terminal 2, but we flew out of terminal 1 the next morning. Why so much movement. Spending the night at the terminal we arrived at would have been much easier and better.

Authenticity & Character
Location
A different terminal
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arma Museum & Resort

Absolutely fantastic. Was our favorite hotel of the trip. Grounds were magnificent and the staff was great.

Authenticity & Character
Felt like you were in Indonesia
Location
The center of Ubud
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Puri Santrian Beach Resort & Spa
Bali

A beautiful resort right on the ocean

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right on the ocean
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wae Rebo Lodge

VERY basic, but we expected that. We were only there to access the hike, which we never did.

Authenticity & Character
Maybe a little too authentic
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bayview Gardens Hotel

Gorgeous views of the harbor

Authenticity & Character
Location
Views of the harbor and access to downtown
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Loved breakfast being served on our private porch every morning
Private cruise trip in Komodo National Park
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

The highlight of the trip was the MonaLisa 3. The crew was great. Boat was lacking only one small thing, places to sit. There were no chairs. A couple of benches but nothing else. Everything else was great. Our guide Robert was absolutely sensational. By the end of the trip it felt like we were hanging out with a friend who was a local. When we had the problem with the Wae Rebo hike Robert saved the day. He was amazing looking for Komodo Dragons. He made up for all of Yuqqa's mistakes. One of the best guides I have ever had.

Authenticity & Character
Food was all local and tasty
Location
The snorkeling was amazing.
Staff
Crew was focused on all our needs
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Komodo Cruise Day 2
Komodo Cruise Day 2
Indonesia

Ten stars. Best day of the trip. We saw eight Komodo Dragons! Two terrific snorkeling experiences. We will remember this day for the rest of our lives.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Sunrise trek to Mount Batur
Indonesia

A little bit touristy and poorly scheduled as mentioned previously. View was magnificent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Komodo Cruise Day 1
Komodo Cruise Day 1
Indonesia

Fantastic

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vanilla Plantation Trekking at Dukuh Buahan Village
Vanilla Plantation Trekking at Dukuh Buahan Village
Ubud, Bali

Very authentic. Loved the hike through the rice fields

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Komodo Cruise Day 3
Komodo Cruise Day 3
Indonesia
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Yuqqa Macdalena

Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan
Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

Secure & easy booking

Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.