Kimkim Trip Reviews

Wonderful guides, an amazing experience. Would love to go back to Turkiye !

This was my first trip planned with a travel expert. I normally book everything myself. Gummi was fantastic from start to finish! We chose an active vacation, and so it was. He picked wonderful hotels and cabins for us. Places I never would have chosen.Stayed in touch the whole trip, even letting us know the nights we could expect Northern Lights, activity cancellations and updated hotel info. He was also super helpful at adding last minute activities to our trip (snorkeling the continental divide). His recommendations along the route were also great for activities and food. Plan to leave at the 'suggested time' as you may find yourself driving after dark. We explored many places, started after the suggested time, so we had to skip a few optional stops. We also stayed many places longer than suggested. You just never know what you will get. We were so lucky to have wonderful weather and longer days, so we explored and took literally thousands of pictures.Get ready to keep saying 'WOW'!!!

Hotel Reviews

Hótel Búðir

Búðir

Beautiful drive to get here. Great views. Wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hill Hotel at Fludir

Fludir

Loved this hotel. Great sunset, great food-wonderful kitty!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Magma Hotel

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Cute cabin rooms. Wonderful food and staff.

Krákhamar Apartments

Djúpivogur

Got to see the N. L's from this cabin. Cozy and great amenities. Owner was very nice. First place we stayed in Iceland that we didn't roast all night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fosshótel Mývatn

Myvatn

Awesome views! Breakfast and dinner here were fantastic! midges were a problem in the parking lot, but no where in the hotel. We even had our patio door open for a while, and no issues.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

CenterHotel Klöpp

Reykjavík

Downtown, no parking. We stayed here 2 nights. First room was very small, second night was huge. It was loud due to being in the city. We got spoiled by the quiet of the country. It is central to everything and very walkable. Breakfast is very plain.

Authenticity & Character

Location

city noise

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

wet bathroom

Activity Reviews

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

Our guide Magni was great! Very sad to see where the glacier was just 2 years prior and where it is today.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seaside Horseback Ride

Iceland

Guides were great, wish we had more time on the horses.

Quality of Experience

we spent most of the time just walking to the beach, then we walked on the beach for 20 feet, then up a hill.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Silfra Snorkeling Adventure

Golden Circle

Once in a lifetime!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Whale Watching Safari by Traditional Boat

Iceland

We followed a humpback and Minkie whale.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Kayaking Excursion

Iceland

sadly the winds were really high the day we were scheduled, so our activity got cancelled the day before.

Quality of Experience

just the lagoon, we didn't kayak

Alfonso did it all for us! Helped plan our whole trip, led us on a bike tour of San Sebastián, and served as tour guide on a driving trip to Biarritz!
He was an encyclopedia of historical facts about Basque country. We are just lucky to have found Alfonso thru KimKim. He made our visit truly memorable. And we couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable person to spend time with.

All of our drivers and guides were excellent: Marco, Bruno, Giuseppe, Fredricko, Steve, our driver in Malta that took us to Gozo. All get exceptional reviews.

Sara was top notch from the time we started arranging our trip to Croatia. Everything was arranged and all events booked perfectly. Sara always responded quickly to our questions and concerns. At the end of each day or our trip she would prepare us for the next day. Our trip was wonderful; there were no low points.

OUR DRIVERS IN LISBON WERE INCREDIBLE. THEY WERE ALL FRIENDLY AND EXTREMELY HELPFUL. WE HAD THE OWNER FOR 2 OF OUR TOURS AND FELT LIKE HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND!!!! All the tours wee great and the one to Sintra was extraordinary. Our guide again was exceptional. The accommodations were also wonderful, and the hosts were extremely helpful, especially with restaurant recommendations. The travel to the Douro valley was very long and we were happy we had the long hike once we arrived. Our guide was very friendly during our hike. The accommodations were again excellent, and our host was helpful and friendly. He even had a friend who was a taxi driver who took us wherever we needed to go and gave restaurant recommendations. The first night he just ran a tab instead of having us pay per trip. At the end of the second night we paid him for all trips. We could not believe he was that trusting. We, of course, offered to pay each time but he said we would settle up at the end. Our wine tour was incredible. Our guide who was the son of the owner of the family winery was also incredible. We learned so much about running a winery and it was on the river. We bought some of his wines!!!! While one cannot buy his wines retail, once you have purchased on sight you are now able to order direct from him.
Then we come to a part of the trip that was not good. We had a driver from the valley to Porto who spoke no English and did not even tell us until we reached Porto. His driving was erratic and made us very nervous. Obviously as he had not even spoken to us, we did not know he had no English. We would advise you not to use them again.
Our Porto walk and wine tasting walk were informative and fun. The guide for the wine tasting was great and of course we found a port that you cannot buy here. We are looking forwarding to enjoying the bottle we purchased. Our accommodations were incredible, the garden house, and our hosts were also quite helpful, especially when we had to leave so early. The only tour we did not enjoy was our final day. The day trip to Braga and Guimaraes was not enjoyable. The driver was not on time and the service kept sending different messages, first that he would be 30-45 minutes late, (which meant we could have had breakfast) then that he would be there in 5 minutes, then after I asked that they explain, the response was that one of the responses was not intended for us, and I finally messaged that we would now wait inside until he arrived. They told us to expect one vehicle and later changed to a different one. When the driver finally arrived, he said he had locked his keys in his vehicle and that was the issue. He then spent considerable time picking up 2 other couples. During the long drive, he talked and talked but it was uninteresting. He was hyper. He did finally calm down and we enjoyed him. We had a good lunch. Luckily the guide was good friends with the owner. However, we then had to be in the car while he dropped everyone else off and finally arrived near our hotel, within
a couple blocks, and an hour after the tour was supposed to end. Our driver to the airport at 3:30 am was great. He arrived on time and was quite friendly. KimKim was helpful in assuring me he would be on time so thank you. After the day before I need that assurance.

Hotel Reviews

Pátio do Tijolo

Lisbon

Excellent and the hosts were very helpful in restaurant choices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa de São Domingos

Peso da Régua

The owner was friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menina Colina Guesthouse

Porto

The garden house was incredible, and the staff was very helpful including the manager of the restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Douro Valley Hike

Portugal

See narrative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked to it

Private Highlights Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

The guide made it special

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved him

Transport

Gaia Port Tasting Walk

Portugal

Loved it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

You take an uber so nothing to review but it was fine

Private Pena Palace & Sintra Village Half-Day Trip

Lisbon

stated in my narrative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing as stated in my narrative

Transport

Private Douro & Vinho Verde Wine Tasting

Portugal

See my narrative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Braga & Guimarães

Porto

See narrative

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto Highlights Walk

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took public transport to get there which wasfin e

Evening Fado Show

Lisbon

It was interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

NA We walked there as it was very close to our accommodations which was great

Transport

Things were very well organized, and arrangements were very consistent. When we had questions, we received responses quickly. The trip was really quite seamless, no big bumps in the road. Well done

Activity Reviews

Full Day Exploration of St Remy and Arles

Avignon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Versailles in Comfort: Palace & Gardens by Golf Cart

Paris

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Paris by Metro: Landmarks & Locals

Paris

Quality of Experience

F

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Notre-Dame & Latin Quarter Walk

Paris

Quality of Experience

F

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was wonderful. As the person who is normally in charge of booking EVERYTHING for a family vacation, I was nervous trusting those details to someone else- but everything was wonderful and Amandine was extremely helpful.

The vintage car tour through Paris was so much fun- we loved riding around all of the small streets and learning about the beautiful city. We were also the subject of many vacation photos!

Sebastien, our tour guide at the Louvre was FANTASTIC. He was so good with our daughter- engaging, funny, kind and knowledgable. Even though the museum was SO busy that day, Seb navigated us through like a true pro.

We had a wonderful time with Mai at our croissant baking class. My daughter loved learning how to make all of the delicious treats, and was so excited to try them hot out of the oven when we were done.

Having cars arranged for us to travel between locations was SO helpful- as this was the part I was most worried about accomplishing with my family!

Overall, Kimkim made my first vacation to Europe with my daughter so much easier and we will definitely be back next time we're planning a big trip!

Hotel Review

Aparthotel Adagio Paris Montmartre

Paris

We loved staying here! - The rooms were clean and spacious with a nice kitchenette, close to a small grocery for essentials. - the included breakfast was brought to our room every morning and was delicious! - About a 5 minute walk from two metro lines (2 and 12) that bringing you easily to central Paris - This area of Montmartre is a at the bottom of the funicular (3 minute walk!) so it's easy to get up into the hills, but also had many shops and restaurants very close by!

Authenticity & Character

Location

About a 5 minute walk from two metro lines (2 and 12) that bringing you easily to central Paris - This area of Montmartre is a at the bottom of the funicular (3 minute walk!) so it's easy to get up into the hills, but also had many shops and restaurants very close by!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided tour of Paris and secret Montmartre in a Citroën 2CV

Paris

This was so fun!! We loved zooming around Paris is this tiny vintage car seeing the sights. A nice way to get a lay of the land and explore the nooks and crannies of Montmartre.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Louvre Treasure Hunt (kids or teens tour)

Paris

This was a great experience! The Louvre was incredibly busy on the day of our visit, so having Seb, our tour guide was invaluable. He was so knowledgeable and kept my daughter engaged and made sure she was able to see and experience things even in the crowds. She loved spending the time with him and completing her scavenger hunt activity!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastien our guide was wonderful!!

Little Bakers of Paris: Kids’ Baguette & Croissant Workshop

Paris

This workshop was so fun, hands on, and a great way to spend an afternoon. We worked together with the instructor to make croissants and dough, learned about the techniques and had lots of laughs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mai was wonderful! We loved getting to work with her and spending time getting to know her a bit!

Private Transfer from Paris hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

France

The car services that were booked for us throughout our trip were excellent, everyone was always on time, friendly, clean cars and reliable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palace of Versailles Half day trip (Skip the line, audioguided & gardens) by minivan from Paris

Paris

I wish we had more time for this! Versailles was gorgeous and the half day tour was great for my daughter, but we could have spent a ton more time exploring the gardens. The audio guide was nice and they have a kids specific option available in certain languages that my daughter really liked listening to. We spent about an hour in the gardens and about 90 minutes in the palace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Scotland, booked through kimkim and organized by Kateryna, was a delight from start to finish. We are a group of 4 friends (2 couples) with busy lives, none of whom had traveled to Scotland or even been abroad in years. Kimkim and Kateryna planned a 6-day trip for us that managed to hit all our highlights and left us all with the desire to return. Planning the trip was easy- I put our priorities and parameters into the kimkim survey, and Kate came back with a plan for our trip that included all our hotel stays, private tours, castle and historic site visits and lots of local flavor. Kate answered all of our questions quickly and efficiently, and when we decided to add a day to our trip she altered our plan, and even switched up a few of the hotels based on our preferences.
Once our flights and the trip were booked, we kept in touch through the kimkim chat and emails, downloading the kimkim app a few weeks before departure. The app had all our hotel, tour and other tickets contained right within it, usually including map and website links, so no searching through emails or looking up directions. We used the app every day during our trip!
When we arrived in Edinburgh we were met by a driver who kept in touch via text while we went through immigration and collected our bags. The driver (Nikolin with Eagle Transfer) was friendly and on the drive to the hotel gave us a lot of local tips as well as much-needed driving advice (we picked up a rental car after 2 days in Edinburgh). It was great to not have to struggle with our bags on a train, or figure out how to book our own taxi.
Two days in Edinburgh were not nearly enough, but we had other places to go! In Edinburgh we had a fantastic 2.5 hour walking tour of the city with Jack, an amazing Scottish tour guide who met us at our hotel, took us all over the city, also gave us great recommendations, and escorted us back to the hotel at the end. Definitely one of our trip highlights!
From Edinburgh we drove to Loch Lommond, then to Oban, Inverness, Stirling and finally back to Edinburgh to catch our flight home. We managed a flat tire when almost to our hotel in Loch Lommond, which threw a wrench into our plans. Reaching out to Kate via the kimkim app was easy and she helped get us connected with our tour guide in Oban. They adjusted the time of our driving tour the next day which allowed us to do a 3-hour (plus!) tour with John, another highlight. John saw that we had covered a lot of our planned tour with him on our drive to Oban, so he adjusted and gave us an entirely different tour that covered so much local history and sights- even letting us stop at a pub for a quick refresh! At the end he took us to Dunstaffnage Castle, a stunning ruin with so much history. From Oban we headed to Inverness, then the next day from Inverness to Stirling. At every stop we were able to experience the vast history of Scotland, and our own ancestral connections to it. Once we got the hang of the driving even that was a delight, with so much stunning scenery everywhere we turned. We were incredibly lucky with the weather during our trip, with only a little bit of rain (which treated us to no less than 3 rainbows) and very mild temperatures.
To anyone planning a trip to Scotland- especially if you have never been- we highly recommend the service, professionalism, expertise and guidance of Kate and the whole kimkim team. We can't wait to go back to Scotland, or to have kimkim help us plan another trip abroad!

Hotel Reviews

Apex Waterloo Place

Edinburgh

A great hotel in the heart of Edinburgh New Town. The rooms are modern and comfortable, with all the amenities you would expect from a 4-5 star hotel. The staff at the hotel could not have been more helpful and accommodating, from holding our bags when we arrived early in the morning, to the most wonderful and attentive service in the restaurant (with a truly delicious breakfast service) to helping us book a taxi to pick up our rental car on the day of checkout. Even though there was road construction going on on the street in front of the hotel, we were able to be dropped off and picked up right at the door. We would definitely book here again!

Authenticity & Character

This is a relatively modern hotel but retains a good deal of character, especially in the lovely lounge and bar area.

Location

Easy to walk to lots of places, nearby shopping, coffee shops, restaurants and local sights.

Staff

They were so attentive and helpful at every step and at every level of service, from front desk staff to housekeeping and restaurant staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable room and bed, great temperature controls, terrific shower! Gorgeous garden tub we did not take advantage of.

Cameron House

Alexandria

Cameron House is a full-on luxury resort. We stayed in the original part of the building in a lovely ground-level room that overlooked the beautiful garden. The hotel has everything, and while we didn't have time to experience all of it we were able to see the gorgeous pool/waterslide/hot tub/spa area, the stunning whiskey bar, the fun and casual lounge restaurant, and the lovely lobby bar. At dinner at their off-site restaurant as both in the hotel were fully booked. Amazing location right on the shore of Loch Lommond. The massive, stunning buffet breakfast we had the next morning was beyond compare, with the best haggis of the trip and just an amazing selection of anything you could want. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character

Hotel/resort that was obviously a grand estate in previous centuries.

Location

Right on the shore of Loch Lommond, absolutely stunning.

Staff

Above and beyond- from bringing our bags from our disabled car in the parking lot (flat tire!) to assisting us get our passports transferred to a later hotel after I brilliantly left them in the hotel safe.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stunning room with all the amenities- robes, slippers, heated towel bars, shortbread! Incredibly comfortable bed.

Victoria Square

Stirling

This hotel was just lovely and we wish we could have stayed longer. Harriet (the owner/manager) was so helpful and kind, helping us with our heavy bags (no elevators in this historic property). Great location on the edge of Stirling, private car park, very pretty restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Stunning decor, beautiful building, just gorgeous.

Location

Quiet but right on the edge of Stirling, an easy walk to lots of things. Overlooked a lovely green square/park.

Staff

Harriet accepted delivery of our passports from a taxi driver (left at a previous hotel) and held them for us to arrive. She also made dinner reservations for us at a local bistro and helped us with everything we needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Every detail here- robes, slippers, heated towel bars and tile floors in the bath, lovely complimentary sherry and shortbread in the room. Just lovely.

Dungallan Country House

Oban

Dungallan Country house is just that- a lovely country house. The rooms are stunning and have all the amenities you could ask for- including gorgeous bathrooms with heated towel bars, robes and slippers, giant shower, etc. Homemade shortbread and Scottish tablet (a treat!) in every room. The staff- lead by manager Michele- could not have been more helpful, setting us at ease immediately upon arrival when we discovered we had left our passports in the room safe at our previous hotel. The dinner we had in their restaurant was quite possibly the best dinner of our entire trip. Lovely breakfast too.

Authenticity & Character

Just like a lovely large country home, with only a few rooms that are beautifully appointed.

Location

A stunning view from the lawn and patio, although up a steep winding drive from the main road so be careful!

Staff

Michele- the manager- was absolutely amazing, as were David and the rest of the staff. We felt like honored guests!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was so clean and so comfortable- lovely bath, comfy bed. I wanted to take home all their draperies.

Bunchrew House Hotel

Bunchrew

Rated one of the most romantic hotels in Scotland- and we could see why! We stayed in the Lovat Suite- huge, truly historical feeling while still being incredibly comfortable. Our friends and traveling companions had the suite next door which had a stunning view of Beauly Firth right out their window. We arrived late and left relatively early, but enjoyed a nice breakfast and a drink in the lounge/bar the night before. Wish we had had more time to explore the history of this beautiful property.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like we were staying in an incredibly well-preserved, very historic home.

Location

Right on the shore of Beauly Firth- really beautiful and lucky if your room overlooks the water!

Staff

Our visit was brief but everyone was very kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lovely bath with heated tile floor, heated towel bars, giant comfy bed.

Activity Reviews

Edinburgh Old Town Tour

Edinburgh

This guided walking tour of Edinburgh was one of the highlights of our trip. Jack- our tour guide- met us at our hotel and brought us straight up to Calton Hill, an historic sight very close by. From there he guided us through New Town, Old Town, the Royal Mile, New College, Grassmarket and eventually back to our hotel, offering history, local lore and knowledge the entire way. So much nicer than a larger, more impersonal group. Jack even took us inside the Edinburgh Supreme Court building (two of our group were lawyers) which was a great addition/side note. We absolutely loved this part of our trip to Scotland.

Quality of Experience

We learned so much and really got a feel for the city.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jack was the absolute best- so friendly and kind, adjusted our tour to fit what we wanted, etc.

Transport

We were walking but Jack made sure we weren't exhausted- Edinburgh has a lot of stairs!

Oban Distillery Visit

Oban

Unfortunately we were unable to do the distillery visit as our earlier activity (driving tour) started late due to our later than planned arrival in Oban. I'm sure it would have been great.

Historical Tour and Seafood Experience

Oban

John adjusted the timing of our tour as we were late arriving to Oban (due to our own car trouble) and took us on a lovely 3+ hour tour of the area. The original route was one we had kind of traveled on our way from Loch Lommond, so John adjusted and took us to other places- the Bridge over the Atlantic, Dunstaffnage Castle, a lovely seaside village where they hold a rock-skipping competition and other memorable spots. Due to our delay we weren't able to take advantage of the seafood tasting experience, which was unfortunate, but now we have a reason to go back to Oban!

Quality of Experience

Got to see so much of the area around Oban, learn about the history and just soak it all in!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

John was just the best, and we so appreciated his time, local knowledge and landscape, and willingness to adapt the tour to what we wanted to see and experience.

Transport

John's tour van was clean, comfortable and he maneuvered it around the scary (to us) Scottish roads with ease!

There is so much history to learn in Italy. The arts, the beauty of the countryside, the food and the wine are all exceptional. Our tripped was well planned by KimKim! Every day I would receive a message on Whatsapp about the next day's activities. We were kept up to date and didn't have to panic. Each tour was very good. I particularly love the street food tours- they really had some good tasting bites of food. Coming from USA, I was shcoked at the amount of traffic in many places, but I always felt safe with the guides and private transfers- and even on the fast speed train. We would not have been able to manuever the roads and destination without them. I wish I could remember all the names of the people involved

Hotel Reviews

La Maison du Sage

Florence

It is close to a piazza that has a lot going on, but the rooms are still quiet when you're inside. Everything was comfortable and clean. One guy seemed new and not helpful, but everyone else was good. I loved the nice big shower!

Authenticity & Character

The buildings have history and character

Location

Somewhat close to a lot of things we wanted to do, but not too close. Uffizi gallery is about 20 minute walk.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was comfortable and the room was clean

Hotel Florida

Sorrento

The room was very nice and clean. It was roomier than others we had in Italy, so that was nice. It is right across from a school, so trying to drive around in the morning was almost impossible. It is close enough walk to lots of things, but far enough that you don't feel in the mix. The pool was nice. The breakfasts were good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's on the hill, so you can walk downhill to the center of town. It's a safe area and relatively quiet at tnight.

Staff

The staff were very kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ca' Pozzo Inn

Venice

The staff were very nice and accomadating. I like the area, but it would've been hard to find, if we didn't have a guide. The front is tucked away in an alley- but most of Venice is going through alleyways. Once you walk out of the alley, you are at the waterfront. Venice is all walk or boat- no cars or bikes. I really liked this hotel. The breakfast was very good and I liked that we could get cappuccino with breakfast. The only slight downfall would be that you shouldn't take a bath. I was sore from so much walking and the bath was perfect, but in Venice it doesn't drain well, so the water rose up from the drain in the floor of the bathroom. The staff took care of cleaning my clothes that got wet, and I'm sure they fixed the problem after we left, but because Venice is in water, I don't think it can handle tub drains.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to everything, but tucked out of the way.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Relais Le Clarisse Rome

Rome

The room was clean and the bed comfortable. It is very small, though- we both stubbed toes trying to get around the bed, but we got used to it. The shower was also very small. They have a nice garden area and you can eat your breakfast there or inside. They don't have room keys, you have to use their website to unlock the doors. (that was difficult for me, since my phone was being used for directions etc during the day and the battery was almost dead each evening). There's plenty of nice places to walk around in the area, but the collosseum is about 45 minute walk.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shared Murano and Burano Excursion

Italy

I cannot rate this activity because the arrangements were made for the wrong date, so we didn't get to go.

Chianti Full Immersive Wine & Olive Oil Experience

Florence

The drive to each place was very scenic. We got good descriptions of the areas and the wines etc. We even had some time for shopping. I think the wines were good, and the olive oils were very nice. Lots of people there purchased bottles to take home. We tasted Chianti, Chianti Classico, and Super Tuscan wines- and learned the difference between them. Fattoria di Bagnolo was the 1st stop. It is a family owned winery. We tasted their olive oil, Rose` and 2 Chiantis. It was such a beautiful place! Then we stopped to shop and walk around Greve In Chianti. We walked up a hill for a panoramic view, and it was awesome! Next stop was Luiano Winery. I like their wine the best! This is where we enjoyed a very nice lunch. Everything here was wonderful. 3rd winery was Diadema. we toured their olive oil making process and tasted their wines.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Uffizi Gallery Visit

Florence

Daniela was our guide. She was enthusiastic about showing us the progession of art from medieval times to Baroque and further. Another couple had cancelled , so we were her only people on the tour, and it was fantastic. The gallery is a very busy place, but I felt like we were able to appreciate so much from this tour. It was definitely interesting and I would not have gotten much out of it, if I were to walk around on my own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento

Italy

Rafaelo was our guide. This was a wonderful tour on the boat, and we got to go on land for a few hours. We visited the blue grotto first (before it got extremely busy). It was very busy, but they move people fairly quick for a 5 minute tour into the grotto on a small boat. The water just glows a beautiful blue. Then we went on land. We decided to go to the top panoramic view. You take a bus to the area where you can wait in a long line to go on the Seggiovia Monte Solaro chairlift. It was quite a wait, but worth it. The scenery is fantastic. But, we couldn't stay there too long, becuase we had to use the chairlift to go back and the bus, etc. The bus is not labeled for where it goes, and often the people there will tell you the wrong bus to get on (we heard from many people complaining). But, we made it back and ate a sandwich and drank a beer on the boat. We got to see the natural arches and green grotto and more. It was really very nice!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amalfi Coast Towns: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

Italy

Just gorgeous. I really can't say enough good things about this tour. The guide was great, the places we stopped were beautiful and serene and the people were lovely. Although every place is filled with shops and souveniers- which is overwhelming. We ate lunch in Ravello. A rule of thumb for Italy is: if it has a beautiful scenic view, then they don't worry as much about the food quality. That was true everywhere we went. We opted for the scenic view, because it is spectacular. (the food was not). It was a lot of walking for the day -especially Positano, which has thousands of steps. At the end of the day we were very tired and it was nice to relax in the guide's vehicle on the way "home". I would do this tour again and again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Legendary Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terraces & Doge’s Palace

Venice

There's so much to take in. There's a lot of history in this building- so many rulers have been through here and many years of change. It was a very good experience. The guide was very knowledgable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venetian Rowing Lesson

Venice

This is a great way to experience Venice. I really enjoyed the guide and a enjoyed the rowing. It is at times peaceful and at times busy. We did this on our first day in Italy and I think it set the pace for us and allowed us to appreciate Venice even more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Venice at Sunset: Cicchetti, Food & Wine Tour

Venice

We had a lot of tours in Italy and this was one of my very favorites! The guide was awesome. I think we had about 8 people total, so it was intimate and easy to walk around with such a small group. I appreciated all the food s we tasted and the drinks we had. Everyone loved the Spritz drinks- the Select Spritz is the local favorite, and it was my favorite also. It was a good amount of walking/exploring without being too much. Ending it with a gelatto, was the perfect touch! I would do this again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient Appian Way E-Bike Excursion with Catacombs

Rome

Our guide was very helpful and knowledgable. I thought I would be uneasy riding among traffic, but it is easier than it looks. Once you're out of the busy traffic, it opens up to some nice scenery. We saw the giant walls taht created the aquaducts and got lessons on how the water made it to the city from the mountains. It is just astounding the architectural geniuses that the Romans were. The guide in the catacombs was interesting, too. I had no idea this area existed. Our excursion was supposed to be in the morning, but we had thunderstorms roll through, so it was rescheduled for the afternoon- and I'm glad. It was a great afternoon. I think we did 12 miles.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Tour from Florence to Pisa - including the Leaning Tower

Florence

It was a very nice half day. Our guide on the bus was good and told us a lot of things. Bags/purses are not allowed in the tower of Pisa, so if you want to climb it, leave your purse on the bus and take your wallet with you. One lady didn't understand that , even though the guide told us on the bus, so she complained afterwards -but she was the only one who didn't get the instructions, and I felt sorry for our guide. Anyways, we decided not to go inside the tower. The outside and the buildings were enough to please us. We had a spritz at the little restaurant there and enjoyed the views. Just remember that toilets in Italy cost money, so bring coins with you at all times.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Street Food Tour

Rome

Yum! Just yum! It was a very nice walk through town to small venues with good food. I absolutely loved the Pinca Pizza . It is made with 3 different flours: wheat, soy and rice, and it is scrumptious! We went to another place for Suppli. That is very filling and delicious (so good, we went back the next day for more!!). Unfortunately, the 3rd place we went for pasta was not so good. Some people liked it, though. I didn't eat more than 2 bites. The place had no other customers, so that should tell you something. The pasta Carbonara was salty, the sauce was too thick, and the noodles were way too al dente for me (kinda crunchy). But, I was full enough from the other stuff. Then, we topped off the night with gelato, which was very good. Luca was our guide and he was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver Ilyace, made the whole trip such a dream! Everything went smoothly and he took the time to take us all kinds of amazing places that weren't on our itinerary, and that only a local would know! Also, KimKim was very easy to work with and everyone on the tram were really great communicators.

Ilyace was fantastic, a great driver and guide.

Hotel Reviews

Dar Rihana Dades

Douar Aït Ouffi

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Yakout

Chefchauen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Guided Tour of Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Marrakech to Boumalne Dades: Through Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou & Rose Valley

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dades to Merzouga via the Todra Gorge and Erfoud

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer From Merzouga to Fez

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Fez to Chefchaouen via Meknes and Volubilis

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Exploration of the "Blue City" Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

An Evening Food Walk in Marrakech

Marrakesh

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I thought the man who gave us the tour of Acropolis was really good. He was nice and fun and knowledgeable. With that being said all of our tour guides and drivers were really good.

Hotel Reviews

Ivis 4 Boutique Hotel

Athens

The room was a good size, it was clean and all the amenities you need. The staff at the hotel was friendly, helpful and fun. Breakfast had ample amount of choices and served with a smile and a conversation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sweet Home Naxos

Naxos

This was an apartment more so than a hotel. Room was spacious. Breakfast was just ok. They deliver to your room they do not have a restaurant. I think if we were on an upper level floor we would have liked it more. We were down below street level so didn't have a view. We were about a mile from the harbor area(which was a great area). It was walkable for us but with hills and rough terrain that would be hard for someone with disabilities or physically not able to do a mile walk back and forth. Does not seem easy to get a taxi/uber etc.. however, the town area was maybe 1/4 or so of a mile which had coffee shops, a couple restaurants and shops. The apartment had a little kitchen set up with a stove, dishes, utensils, glasses. There was also a small washing machine which is really nice. However, there was not a dryer. They had an outside clothes rack with clothes pins. Which was fine with us but if it rained you would not be able to dry the clothes. There was a coffee shop on the same road as the apartment and a little market too.

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Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

DOM Boutique Hotel

Heraklion

We only spent one night at this hotel and we didn't arrive until 1:30am and left for the day by 9:30am. The room was nice, and clean but small. The breakfast was really good with many choices. Hotel staff were very pleasant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Malmo Historic Hotel

Chania

The hotel was nice, the room was clean and had many amenities. We stayed in the new part which I was told was only open for about 2 months. Breakfast was great, many choices to eat and drink. Staff at this hotel were pleasant and helpful. The hotel was in the middle of many restaurants and bustling area. However, it was quiet in the area by 11:00 pm. We really liked the location it was a short walk down to the harbor where there are more restaurants/shops and beautiful views. This hotel does not have a pool nor is it by the beach. But a beach was not far.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cruise to Balos and Gramvousa Island

Chania

Staff aboard the boat was fantastic. They were so nice and service was great. They explained where we were going and what we can do on the islands. I recommend them

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Chania

We enjoyed walking g around ourselves and taking in the scenery along with the culture. It was fun to go in and out of shops or the beach or do whatever we wanted.

Quality of Experience

White Mountains Excursion with Wine & Olive Oil Tastings

Chania

Our driver was fun and knowledgeable. The olive oil tasting and wine was paired with a charcuterie and home made sourdough bread with olive oil on it. The establishment was nice with a view and staff were great. The drive to the lunch spot was beautiful and the views from there were fabulous. The amount of food they gave is was crazy and so good. The stop at the oldest olive tree and explanation of how they get oil out of the olives was interesting. A great trip to go on to see a different part of the island.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Experience

Athens

We really liked out tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and fun to be with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked so really don't have a rating for transport

Knossos Palace Experience

Greece

Our guide was very good and very sweet. She knew a lot of detail about the palace and history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Athens

We enjoyed walking around and getting lunch and dinners at different places. The rooftop bars at night were great to see the Acropolis lit up.

Quality of Experience

Self Guided Beach Time

Naxos

Beaches were nice the water was beautiful. I do prefer Agios Propopkios beach over St George beach.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Heraklion Town Walk

Greece

Because of ferry issues we really did not have much time to explore. We walked around a little bit had lunch and made our way to Chania.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Chania Old Town Walk

Chania

Great experience. Lovely area, people are so friendly. Lot of fun. Great tavernas and higher end restaurants. Great views. Great shops.

Quality of Experience

Self-Guided Local Markets Visit

Naxos

The harbor area was nice. A lot of cool ally ways with shops and restaurants.

Quality of Experience

Clemens and his team went above and beyond. When weather destroyed any hope in traveling in May, they somehow rebooked and rescheduled everything! Absolutely incredible.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Metropol

Warsaw

Perfect location and great breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near all the fun stuff to see and the train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gołębia 8 Residence

Kraków

Beware - there is no elevator and if your tool is on the 3rd floor, good luck! Also breakfast doesn’t start until 8.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moxy Warsaw Praga

I love a Moxy but def not in a part of town near the sights.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

City Sights and History Guided Walking Tour

Poland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Never Forget: A Day trip to the Concentration Camp Auschwitz & Birkenau

Krakow

We were rushed by our driver unfortunately. He also directed us to eat at the museum restaurant…it had been closed for a month.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tatra Mountains and Zakopane Full-Day Trip from Krakow

Poland

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A trip to the painted village of Zalipie

Krakow

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour to Schindler's Factory Museum

Krakow

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TRADITIONAL POLISH FOOD TOUR

Warsaw

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Krakow Old Town Town

Krakow

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Salt Mine Wieliczka

Krakow

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Athaya and Kim Kim Travel! From beginning to end, my experience in Bali was absolutely amazing, and their exceptional service made this trip truly unforgettable.

The level of attentiveness, professionalism, and care was outstanding. Every detail was thoughtfully planned and beautifully executed. Any questions, concerns, or unexpected issues were handled promptly and efficiently, allowing me to relax and enjoy every moment of my vacation.

The villa was absolutely superb! Beautiful accommodations, breathtaking surroundings, and every detail exceeded my expectations. From the stunning pool decorations to the incredible private chef experience, everything was simply perfect.

What truly set this experience apart was the personalized service. From the moment we arrived at the airport, someone was there to assist us. Whether it was transportation, excursions, special requests, or simply wanting to explore something new, the team was always available and ready to help. Every excursion was seamlessly coordinated, making the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable.

Athaya and Kim Kim Travel went above and beyond to make my birthday trip to Bali extraordinary. Their dedication to providing an exceptional experience did not go unnoticed, and I am genuinely grateful for the care and attention they put into every detail.

If you're planning a trip to Bali and want a luxurious, personalized, and worry-free experience, I highly recommend Athaya, Graciela, and Kim Kim Travel. They truly understand hospitality and how to make their guests feel special.

Thank you for making my Bali birthday celebration everything I dreamed of and more! I arrived as a guest and left with beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. ❤️🌺

10/10 – Highly recommend!

Trip was great but traveling time from place to place could have been better. Site/ tickets were booked a d could not make it due to travel time weather and road closurez.
Katie's communication and initial set up was great

Our trip to Peru was fabulous! Jimena did a wonderful job of planning activities that would be appropriate for both myself (age 65) and my son (age 35). We were able to complete separate guided hikes at Machu Picchu and then enjoy one of the circuits together. She reworked our itinerary when our flight schedule changed, and her communication both before and during our trip was excellent.
Our guides through Peruvian Soul and other tour companies/freelancers were top-notch. Nancy, who introduced us to Lima, was such a sweetheart. She was very knowledgeable about Peru’s history, and her love of and pride in Peru was evident in her enthusiasm.. the lunch spot she took us to was so cute and cultural, and we appreciated her ordering the food for us. Delicious all around!
Danny was our second guide and was with us for several days/outings. He was also very knowledgeable and answered all of the many questions we had about Peruvian culture. He was very flexible within our routine, and made time one day to visit Seminario Ceramics which I requested on a whim. Danny always explained the plan for the coming day(s) so that we were aware of places and times. He has a great sense of humor and made our time not only interesting but also fun. Danny made an extra effort.(along with Eddy ) to return my jacket which I’d accidentally left in Eddy’s backpack at Machu Picchu. I didn’t specifically request the jacket back, just mention that I’d left it behind, and somehow between the two of them, the jacket was returned to me. This was above and beyond what was necessary and I am very grateful for their efforts and thoughtfulness.
Our Machu Picchu guides (Eddy snd Wilson) we’re also terrific. Eddy provided so many details I’d not known about Machu Picchu. He kept the pace comfortable and stopped when he felt like I needed a breather and/or a moment to rest. He was very patient and attentive to my questions and picture requests. Thank you, Eddy,for a great MP tour and for getting my jacket back to me!
Miguel was with us at Rainbow Mountain and was, as the others, an exemplary guide. He was willing to let us explore a bit on our own yet kept a watchful eye on us as we climbed higher..
He stopped on our way to give a ride to a native Peruvian woman carrying a pack - a lovely gesture.
Marco was our guide on the bus trip to Puno. He gave us great service and kept Andrew and me aware of what would occur at each stop, speaking personally to us in English as we were the only native English speakers on the tour.. We appreciated the extra effort. Marco made to help us understand what he was saying and to make us feel more comfortable.
Our final guide was Aldo, who led our group tour to Lake Titicaca. He again was very knowledgeable and entertaining. He kept us traveling at a doable pace and made us aware of the altitude changes that might affect us. He also provided valuable tips about interacting with the native folks at Uros and on Taquille Island. Aldo encouraged me at lunch to try the trout.(I don’t care for Midwestern.U.S. trout), and I’m glad he did as it was delicious.
One other delicious aspect, I must mention was the market tour and cooking class we did at the Mama Seledonia restaurant. Mama.Seledonia wasn’t able to be there, but her son stood in for her and did a great job. It was such fun! I will be trying to make Pisco sours at home.
Our drivers were excellent all week - Luis, Kevin, others whose names I missed -we felt safe and in good hands. So glad we had experienced drivers to get us from one place to another, safely and on time.
All in all, our trip to Peru was truly a “once in a lifetime experience” thanks to kimkim, Peruvian Soul, and all of the above. I’m sure I missed a few names and I apologize but send a big thank you to all. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

Our guided tours were wonderful and personal. Our train transfers were seamless. We enjoyed the suggestions put forth by Rita in each location. We opted for private transfers which I highly recommend! They were prompt and professional.
Loved loved our trip to Italy! Weather was perfect! Our hotels were all different, lovely, and in great locations.
Thank you for everything! Marsha

My wife & I just returned home from a 23-night trip to Vietnam that was planned with the help of Hien of Realistic Asia & KimKim Travel. Hien was our contact person with KimKim, helping from start to finsih in designing and supporting our trip as it went; she was always easy to reach & communicate with as we traveled. With a little over three weeks in-country we spent the first two weeks in the north, then flew south to see essential highlights in central & southern Vietnam (the Citadel & mausoleum of Hue, the lanterns & river of Hoi An, & then the ChuChi tunnels, along with the enormity of Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City--as we exited from Saigon). Along the way hotels chosen were beautiful; many of them were unique.

Hien's help over the last year as we designed and arrrived at the final version of our itinerary has been fantastic. Realistic Asia's ground logistics and coordination is a combination of art & science. I have travelled in Asia before, and the ability of companies such as Realistic Asia & KimKim to plan & coordinate with such detail along with such precision astounds me. Plus, from when we arrived in Hanoi with fast-track entry to exiting at Ho Chi Minh City, our guides were uniformly excellent. They were invariably prompt, professional, knowledgeable, & well-informed about history and the economies of areas as we traveled through. More, all of them were fun, with a sense of humor, & spoke good English. This made the trip more interesting and entertaining. Invariably, they were attentive to our personal needs & comfort, frequently checking on how we were doing, and making adjustments to plans or scheduling as needed. Our drivers, similarly, would flawlessly manage traffic and coordinate with our guides as we toured.

In the north we had the delight of having Cuong as our personal guide for the entire two weeks we were there. We were floored by the "busyness" of Hanoi, the unceasing flood of motor scooters, & its size. My favorite areas--and there were many--were probably the mountainous Sapa & Cao Bang regions northwest & north of Hanoi. Sapa was surreal, unearthly in its beauty sometimes, while Cao Bang (famous for its beautiful waterfall shared with China & mountain with a hole in it) seemed in contrast more spread out & open.

In sum, I would highly recommend Realistic Asia & KimKim, for the attentiveness, care, communication, knowledge, and professionalism that they invariably exhibited. These are highly experienced companies, and know Vietnam, Asia, and the realities & adventure of travel. They showed an easy flexibility & willingness to change or alter plans as circumstances dictated. I learned a tremendous amount on this trip, had a great time, and met wonderful people. I would sign up again with both companies in a heartbeat.

I would like very much to thank sandy for a wonderful time in Japan. Her suggestions met up with what I wanted to see and suggested even some unknown to us. She was accessible and gave good restaurant suggestions. She is knowledgable is a great advisor on Japan thank you sandy for all your help.

As for the guides, they were all very good and knowledgable. We enjoyed immensely the architecture tour in Tokyo and our guide was over enthusiastic it was great. The other tours in Kyoto were equally enjoyable.