Kimkim Trip Reviews

This was our second trip to Italy with kimkim. Our local specialist Leslie took our requests and planned our accommodations, tours, and transfers to suit us perfectly. Our tours of the Duomo and the Last Supper with local guides from Liv Tours were wonderful. Our group tour of the villa on Isola del Garda was a nice way to spend a day on the lake. We loved exploring the sights and streets of Verona. Our last stop in Trieste was memorable as it is an Italian city like no other. We were impressed with the architecture, sea views, restaurants and the vibe of the city. Lastly, our tour with a winemaker in Colli Orientali del Friuli was the perfect way to end our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Boutique Hotel Albero Nascosto

Trieste

Loved location, comfort of the room and the friendly, helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Milu Milano

Milano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to subway and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Europa

Desenzano del Garda

Great location and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, but mattress is thin. Hallways are not air conditioned.

Hotel Indigo Verona - Grand Hotel Des Arts

Verona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just outside of historic centre.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mattress was very comfortable. Shower stall is a little tight.

Activity Reviews

Express Milan Duomo Tour with Terrace Access

Italy

Great guide and perfect length.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A Guided Visit to the Isola del Garda (Garda Island

Sirmione

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting - A Taste of Friuli’s Hill Country

Trieste

An in depth tour with the winemaker. Great wine and food.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Express Milan Last Supper Tour

Milan

Perfect length to learn about the painting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The railroad from Flam was one of my favorites! Nice surprise to have Nora come out of the waterfall singing. The transportation and hotel arrangements were well organized.

The trip was well planned from beginning to end. Leslie did an amazing job with selecting hotels that were novel and also in walking distance to the town centers.

We were concerned because of the record heat wave but we should have trusted in the team all the hotels had a good temperature. They either had AC or they were high in altitude and it was cooler or, in one case, the hotel was specifically designed to maintain a low room temperature despite lacking an AC.

Drivers came on time, hotels were unique, the tours were educational. The whole trip just worked like a well oiled machine.

Highly recommend this company, especially if you want to design your own trip.

We just returned from our 10 day trip to Spain and could not be happier with our experience. The Kim Kim team made planning our trip easy. We worked with Coraima and Summer but members of the team jumped in when needed. The response time to questions/concerns was always quick. When our train was going to be cancelled I sent a message and options for new transportation were offered immediately.

Our group loved the tours that were suggested. The tour guides and private chef experiences were some of our best memories. If we had planned on our own this is something we would have missed out on.

We are very happy we chose to work with your team.

Mil gracias!!!

Stephen was very easy to work with. He was so responsive and followed up on all the details. The activities chosen were well picked. We particularly appreciated the KimKim team and Stephen accommodating our multigenerational needs. There was only one hotel in Galway the Ardilaun that we would not necessarily recommend to future guests. The rooms were rather run down and not well kept. Otherwise, both hotels the Grafton and Brehon were fantastic. We would have appreciated tickets being purchased for the Book of Kells/Trinity College Library in advance because we were under the impression that was part of the walking tour. The Irish House Dancing was great and such fun. Our driver Mr. Gerard and our vehicle were five star and we so appreciated all his guidance. Mr. Gerard was wonderful!! The carriage ride in Killarney was great for grandparents and kids. The Cliffs of Moher boat ride though scenic and incredible I would warn people about the choppy waves and sea sickness. Aran Islands was such a highlight! We truly thank the KimKim team, Stephen and Mr. Gerard our driver for creating a memorable trip for our whole family.

Hotel Reviews

The Grafton Hotel

Dublin 2

Great location. Spacious rooms.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Brehon

Killarney

Great location. Nice breakfast. Great restaurant and bar. Lovely lobby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ardilaun Hotel

Galway

The rooms were small, dated and not clean. The old carpet in the hallways and tight elevator.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Dublin Wheelchair rental - with hotel or airport dropoff/pickup

Dublin

The Fantastic Walking Tour of Dublin - Private Guided Tour

Dublin

It was a bit dull. Wish we could have stopped to see street performers. Wish they had booked tickets in advance to see inside Trinity College.

Killarney National Park Jaunt - From Park to Castle

Ireland

Wonderful. Great for grandparents and kids.

Falconry Adventures

Ireland

Wonderful experience. The birds were incredible.

Private 4X4 Tour of Inis Mór

Ireland

The driver was excellent. The vehicles were well maintained. We were happy to be dropped off, get a chance to experience restaurants in town and hike up to the cliffs.

Irish Dancing - The Irish House Party SHOW ONLY

Dublin

Incredibly fun for all ages!

Sandy put together an absolutely amazing first trip to Japan! Sandy really listened to what my husband and I were looking to do and see. Our tour guide Kyoko for Tokyo was also fantastic! The private tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto were personable and knowledgeable for every site/temple/shrine we visited. They also explained Japanese customs so we didn't feel awkward. I have used KimKim a few times for overseas trips. The travel agent for Spain (first time using KimKim) and Sandy gave us the best itinerary. The hotel accommodations and locations (near train stations as requested) were perfect. I felt we experienced Japanese culture while still having some US amenities that made us feel comfortable. The onsen at the end of the trip was a perfect way to end our trip and absolutely felt immersed by then. Japanese onsen was incredible and very relaxing. The bathhouse was different than the "Japanese bathhouse" Ive experienced in the US and different from US hot spring resorts. My husband and I already want to plan another trip to Japan. Sandy will without a doubt be our official Japan travel agent. I live in Houston, TX and when they say Tokyo& Kyoto are hot and humid- they are not joking. The weather was very similar to Houston every day we were there in August. Houston just a lil more humid but no one is climbing Fushimi shrine in Houston. lol We spent 8-9 days (last day was mainly traveling from kyoto to narita airport 4hrs plus arriving 2.5hrs before flight). We split our time evenly in Tokyo and Kyoto. We had a day trip to DisneySea/Disney Tokyo and a day trip to Nara. Tokyo was like NYC for me. Everyone rushed but I did not have any negative experiences on the trains even when we were crammed like sardines. However my husband was with me. Very exciting city and loved the Nakano Broadway mall for anime which seemed to have more locals (and lower prices). We enjoyed Kyoto the most and want to go back to explore the city more along with stopping at some of the towns along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Marunouchi Hotel

Great local next to Tokyo station. The shower and bathtub combo is amazing and perfect at the end of long sight seeing days. The amenities (bath salts, moisture rescue facial cleanser along with fresh PJs) they supply every day was a luxury bonus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across the street from Tokyo station and can be accessed underground straight from hotel

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Love the iPad to control everything from lights, temperature and curtains along with room service, cleaning, extra amenities etc. Bathroom shower and tub combo separate from vanity and bidet is excellent. 4.75 stars because they did not give any amenities unless requested to be more environmentally friendly which they did explain on check in. We came from a hotel which stocked bath salts daily along with other luxury touches. The superior king room was large and the bed was the biggest my husband and I have ever slept in. We have a split california king at home. Daily fresh PJs was great touch. The hotel is beautiful and tranquil. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Shower pressure was amazing and water temperature very hot which I love

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

daily amenities not included was only downside but very clean and comfortable otherwise.

Kadensho, Arashiyama Onsen, Kyoto - Kyoritsu Resort

Felt authentic and loved the individual bathhouses! Esp the outdoor ones. Very relaxing. The 30min limit per session was a downside but can always come back or use another one that wasn't in use. We loved that no shoes were allowed anywhere inside besides the reception desk to check in obviously. It set the pace and mood for relaxation. We loved the area of Kyoto it was in. We watched the sunset on the famous bridge and early mornings which was less than a 5min walk away. It only had a shower in the room but it was a bathhouse so not exactly necessary. The least room amenities for our trip but the atmosphere more than made up for it

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Dinner with a Geisha /Maiko Ozashiki Experience

Kyoto

This was hands down my favorite activity of our trip! We were fortunate enough have a geiko as our Geisha. Her dancing was beautiful to watch and loved that we were able to have conversations before and after her dancing. She loved having sake with us! The teahouse was super authentic and just loved loved loved the experience from start to finish. The meal was great and staff very attentive. The alcohol was included and as much as we wanted which in hindsight could have been our hint to offer sake to the Geisha and our interpreter. Our interpreter actually knew the Geisha since she first became a Maiko 6yrs prior and has seen her grow into a full fledge Geiko. Very special experience. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Kyoko was an excellent tour guide. She explained each temple and shrine thoroughly and loved the areas she took us. She was like an aunt to us by the end of the day. Best tour guide experience I have had.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Janelle was truly outstanding, helping us to put together a trip to Northern Spain with a lot of moving pieces. None of the 5 us had been to that part of the world before, and she made it easy to hit a lot of wonderful highlights. The guides selected were excellent, and each of the hotels and restaurants the team reserved for us was GREAT.

Both our tour guides, Yumi and Yuki, were fantastic. Yumi in particular went above and beyond and really tailored our tours to our interests, she even helped us reserve a taxi when we got to Hakone. Overall we had a wonderful time!

Activity Reviews

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Yuki was a fantastic tour guide, we learned a lot and loved our tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Akihabara district

Tokyo

Yumi was an awesome tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oshino Hakkai

Japan

Due to the heat, our tour guide Yumi suggested some different locations that fit with our interests. We had a lot of fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Did 8 day London to Paris trip with family of 4. Agency had arranged pick up from airport to hotel, which was nice that I did not have to worry about taxis scams. Hotels chosen were the Cumberland in London and Paris art hotel in Paris. Both were in the busy parts of town, which was what we asked for. Our activities were tailored to what we wanted. We did Tea bus tour, London eye, Tower London, Webmeister Abby and Madame Tussauds wax museum. It was nice to not to worry about getting ticket, making sure they are not sold out, how to buy, etc, as this was all taken care of for us.
Eurostar train to Paris was great and highly recommend, easier than plane.
In Paris we did Disneyland, Eiffel Tower, Cruise on Seine river, Louvre, and Notre dame. Had Sebastian as a tour guide for family friendly guided tour of Louvre was great, highly recommended if bringing young children. Again, didn't stress over tickets or times as Caroline, our travel agent, took care of this for us.

Hotel Reviews

The Cumberland

London

Great location in the City, amazing breakfast which was included, and staff very friendly. Food choices were wonderful in the hotel, and atmosphere was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Paris Art Hotel Quartier Latin

Paris

This is smaller hotel, more private and intimate. In a wonderful location in Latin Quarter, easy to find food and shopping. Staff was wonderful and friendly, but also helpful with anything we needed. Had a hair drier that failed and immediately replaced. Room cleaned in timely fashion. Did not have rooms that connected and had only 1 bed rooms but they accommodated us well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The London Eye

London

Must do in London activity. Very straight forward. Beautiful views.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Louvre Museum Treasure Hunt

Paris

One of my favorite Family actives. Our Tour Guide Sebastian was wonderful, can tell he is very experienced. Kids were engaged the whole time. Highly recommend if wanting to do the Lourve with kids. Otherwise it is a mess of a place to go through without help.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tower of London (skip-the-line tickets)

London

Tower of London and the Royal Family Jewels. So much history, it was fascinating to see it all. Lines were not a problem.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Entrance Tickets: Disneyland Paris (1 day/2 parks)

France

Have been to all the Disneyland parks in America, so wanted to try this out. It is Magic Kingdom parks but Paris style. So much fun as always with Disney. Food was amazing, having French food. Rides are similar but unique in their own ways. Lines are similar to any Disney park. Stayed for fireworks show at night and had a blast

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family cruise on the Seine

Paris

The main river cruise that is next to Eiffel Tower. Ride when you want, runs every hour to half hour. It is 1 hour long but goes quick, nice view of city from the cruise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Westminster Abbey: entrance tickets

London

Fascinating place with so much history. Has free audio tour. Pack and tickets were sold out the day we went, so get them early.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pure Chocolate tour!

Paris

Walking tour of Paris with chocolate tasting stops. Must do for chocolate lovers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Photo Shoot in Paris

Paris

1 hour photo session but went by really quick. Photos turned out great,.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Skip-the-Line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets

Paris

Tickets that get you to all the levels of the Eiffel Tower. Waiting was very minimal with these tickets.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour 🐷

London

Fun bus tour with Peppa pig video at table with tea, snacks. Got to see many places in London.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana was phenomenal! Anna-marie did a great job assisting us every step of the way, answering our myriad questions throughout the planning process and while on the ground. Everything worked seamlessly. All the drivers and guides showed up when and where they were supposed to. We enjoyed each location we stayed in from the perfectly located Victoria and Alfred hotel in Cape Town to the Moremi Crossing camp in the middle of the Ocavango Delta. We couldn't be more pleased!

Hotel Reviews

The Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Cape Town

Very conveniently located at the V&A waterfront. Very spacious and comfortable rooms and helpful staff. Good breakfast options as part of the stay. While we really enjoyed the V&A waterfront, it has a touristy feel, even with plenty of locals walking around. You have easy access to the Robben Island ferry, the Watershed market full of local crafts and the fabulous Oranjezicht City Farmers Market filled with great food and local shops. Perfect place for breakfast and lunch overlooking the Atlantic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Umkumbe Bush Lodge

While we really liked this lodge itself and the staff, we didn't like that you had to pay extra for several things that the other lodges we stayed in included as part of the overall cost. More specifically, you had to pay $80 per person for a 90 minute bush walk which I think was extremely over priced for what you got (we did it) and I would not recommend doing it (especially if you were going elsewhere where it is provided for free), for individual drinks (sodas and alcohol), and for laundry (which was very pricey). Having been to two other lodges that covered these items, I would definitely pick a lodge in the future that covered these costs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We liked the staff and found them very helpful. Interestingly the guides seemed on the less experienced/younger side compared to the guides we had later in our trip in Botswana. They were good but lacked some inter-personal maturity that comes with experience.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ilala Lodge

Victoria Falls

This hotel exceeded our expectations! Centrally located and a wonderful chill vibe with great indoor and outdoor space. Wish we had had a few more hours to enjoy it more. Easy walk to Victoria Falls and a great craft market next door to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Muchenje Safari Lodge

Kasane, Chobe

We loved this lodge! The central meeting/gathering space was warm and cozy and helped facilitate interactions among the guests. Eating was family style, but you sat where ever you wanted at the available tables so you weren't limited to the folks you may be traveling with in your land cruiser. You could also opt for a meal outdoors on your own if you wanted to - overlooking the river. Room was very comfortable and spacious. The drive into the park was about 15 minutes but you often passed wildlife along the way.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Phenomenal location overlooking the Chobe River valley.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Moremi Crossing

We LOVED Moremi Crossing and the Okavango Delta! The trip to the camp from the air strip wasn't bad, about 15 minutes via Land Cruiser and boat. Loved having our tent cabin right on the water and watching the elephants wander by. The central meeting area was lovely though large and had great small sitting areas for looking out over the water but the size also meant it wasn't as conducive to meeting folks. It was family style eating but you sat with your land cruiser team and your guide. Really enjoyed the bonfire and drinks before dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No heat or AC here but no complaint! Plus an outdoor shower. It felt more authentic this way and the blankets provided kept us plenty warm during the night.

Activity Reviews

Cape Peninsula & Penguins

South Africa

Loved traveling down the Cape Peninsula and seeing the Boulder penguins and the other cute seaside towns along the way. Views of the Cape of Good Hope were fabulous. Enjoyed seeing the wildlife in the park along the way, including our first baboons and ostriches.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Appreciated our guides insights and willingness to adjust the itinerary to meet our needs. He also insisted we see the penguins from the beach, not just on the path with all the other tourists, which was very cool.

Transport

Robben Island

Cape Town

While we were really glad to go to Robben Island and learn about it's history, we were disappointed that our time there was very structured by the official guide and didn't leave much time to wander or contemplate in our own way all that happened there. Hearing from a former prisoner was fascinating though while listening to him talk for at least 45 minutes, you are sitting on hard benches in one room and there wasn't, I don't think, the opportunity to ask questions. After listening to him, we were rushed through the area where Mandela was housed with barely a moment to look in. Now, what I don't know is whether we were being rushed because of the worsening seas outside and they wanted us off the island or if this is the regular schedule.

Quality of Experience

See thoughts above.

Transport

See thoughts above.

Sunrise Classic River Safari

Victoria Falls

We loved the sunrise safari! We were the only two passengers aboard and rather than going downriver toward the falls we opted to go upriver to see more wildlife and birds. Tons of hippos. Beautiful kingfishers and other African birds. Plus a bunch of elephants too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Okavango Delta by Mokoro

Botswana

We finished our last hours in the Delta by going on a Mokoro ride followed by a bush walk. We loved it! The mokoro ride was a unique experience. So peaceful and interesting to see the delta from low on the water. I liked that it was combined with a bush walk too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing experience with the whole entire trip/tour. The experience from the driver, the places and things we have done. The elephant sanctuary was something I truly enjoyed, feeding & bathing this huge gently giants. We truly were amazed on how huge the Buddhist temples and their status. The one in Bangkok (WOW!!!)
The foods were all so delicious. My daughter got hooked with the Mango sticky rice while my Son enjoyed all of the food. I loved my Iced Tai Tea - refreshing
Bella was amazing to work with she heard all of our questions & feedback.
Thank you very much!!!

Excellent service throughout the entire process. From the planning stages to the final day of the trip, the team was attentive and helpful. When I missed the pickup time for a scheduled tour, my advisor was quick to help me catch up with it. Every driver was polite and took the extra time to not only get me to my destination but also guide me through an unfamiliar country. I could not have hoped for better help.

Hotel Review

Lemong Hotel

Very helpful staff and I placed perfectly in Seoul. You are only ever a few minutes walk from any convenience you could need, and a great market Street only a few blocks to the north.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to anything you might need.

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Gyeongju UNESCO Highlights Tour with Local Ryan

Gyeongju

Very helpful guide with an intimate knowledge of gyeongju and its history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Gyeongju National Museum and Tumuli Park Tour with Night View

Gyeongju

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seoul Highlights: Gyeongbok Palace, Insadong & N Seoul Tower

Seoul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taylor was awesome. When we’re planning the trip at one point we lost a hotel room for a night she sent us from Flåm to Balestrand and it was one of the best nights we had on the whole trip. Short stay but one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. In addition, she was so attentive to our needs and the hotels were in the perfect location that adventures and tours were set up perfectly. I will definitely definitely use this group again because they know what they’re doing.

My visit to Argentina went very smoothly thanks to excellent guides Emilia, Eugenia, and driver Sergio, I was taken all over Buenos Aires and El Tigre and to a barbecue and horse training exhibition at a ranch in the pampas.

The boat ride through the delta in El Tigre was very interesting and Eugenia found me the small gifts i was looking for at a chocolate shop and a small curio shop there. She seemed to know everybody. Also visited a silversmith studio where they treated her like family.

In Uruguay my guide and driver Fabian and Javier showed me around Colonia where I had arrived by ferry from BA, then drove me to Montevideo where guide Carolina showed me the city and a cafe where the waiter demonstrated how to drink mate and how to drink it from a mate bowl.

Carolina realized at one point that July 31st is the traditional graduation day for medical students in Uruguay. Montevideo throws a huge party for them in a park downtown. So we headed off there, just to see the happy students and their families arriving. It was an unplanned experience and a lot of fun.

Guides were always willing to change things around depending on what i wanted to see at a given moment. Since my interest is photographing people, they made a point of finding places with a lot of activity.

It all went like clockwork. And it only rained for a half hour right at the end of my trip.

Hotel Reviews

Mio Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Great room and staff but hard to find someplace close to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Montevideo

Montevideo

Huge suite with balconies on three sides. Great staff, very clean. Nice location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tour of Tigre

Buenos Aires

Tour of Montevideo city

Montevideo

A Day in the Countryside in San Antonio de Areco

Argentina

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour of Buenos Aires city

Buenos Aires

Colonia del Sacramento Tour & Transfer to Montevideo

Argentina

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Natalie was a wonderful trip coordinator! Had a wonderful time in Switzerland!

Our trip to Zurich, Interlaken and Lucerne was amazing!! Our specialist, Caroline, was outstanding from the first time we made contact with her, to staying in touch with us during the planning of the trip, to being there for us during the trip and folllowing up with us after we returned home. Her suggestions helped us tremendously while planning and while we were traveling. Caroline was there for us any time we needed her.

We especially loved our time in Interlaken. The views, beautiful little towns and awesome hikes we our favorites!!

Thank you Caroline and thank you KimKim! We will definitely be using your agency again!

Marc and Nicki Brustman

Overall, the trip was truly amazing, and we really appreciated all the thoughtful details and extra touches along the way. The fast-track airport service was fantastic, and we were very impressed with the quality of the hotels throughout the trip. It was clear that a lot of care went into the planning, and our family came home with so many wonderful memories.

A few suggestions for future trips: the Bangkok food tour was a little challenging with such a large group. We would have enjoyed smaller, more local venues rather than Chinatown, which was difficult to navigate with a group of our size.

The Shangri-La Chiang Mai was a wonderful choice for families, and the kids really enjoyed the hotel. However, I would probably recommend dining outside the hotel, as some of the best food we had on the entire trip was at the local restaurants in Chiang Mai. Exploring the local dining scene was definitely one of our highlights. We loved the Melia Koh Samui and the highlight was the speed boat tour and lunch on the beach.

Since we booked so far in advance, we had also hoped our rooms could have been located closer together. With a large family group, having rooms near one another would have made things a little easier.

These are relatively small suggestions in the context of what was truly a fantastic trip. We are so grateful for all the planning, attention to detail, and special touches that went into it. It was an incredibly memorable experience for our entire family, and we really appreciate everything you did to make it so special.

Hotel Reviews

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok

Bangkok

Great rooms and breakfast included. Safe location near walkable stores and eateries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riva Vista Riverfront Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

Design was outstanding. Pre-fix meal was a bit challenging and would have preferred the a la carte service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shangri-La Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Stay was nice, great location, pool and spa. Buffet dinner was not good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Koh Samui

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full day Kayaking & Snorkeling at Angthong by Premium Speedboat (Private Tour)

Ko Samui

Best overall and guide was crew were great.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unique Railway market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with Local Food Tasting

Bangkok

Floating market was not great, never actually purchased food as we floated. Lunch place was not ideal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bangkok Symbolic Temples

Bangkok

Was a bit too long.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Elephant Eco Valley: Elephant Trail & Bamboo Rafting in Mae Tang (Private)

Chiang Mai

Bam was amazing as were the guides at the Eco Valley.

Quality of Experience

Food

plated lunch was beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Street Food Tour After Dark by Tuk Tuk

Bangkok

Pad thai location was amazing, the crowds and china town were not ideal.

Quality of Experience

Food

better food quality at local places

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chiang Mai by tuk tuk

Chiang Mai

Bam was an amazing guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Rai Iconic Temples

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim allowed us to design a trip that fit our personalities and needs - guidance on what to see as well as reservations for key museums and bike rentals. It felt like a trip that we designed rather than a large group tour, but was much better than I could have done on my own without some knowledge of the country. During the planning phase, Bas was great at responding to our requested changes and questions.

We had a few glitches as we arrived, but the team (either Bas or Meike) responded very promptly and helped us to get back on track.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel de Hallen

Amsterdam

Rooms were very nice, and since it's August, we appreciated the air-conditioning. Staff were helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location was central enough to be within walking distance of museums and restaurants by foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

B&B Hotel Malts

Haarlem

Henk and Anne-Marie are amazing hosts. They helped orient us to the city, find some places to eat, and shared information about events taking place. The breakfasts were simple and delicious. We were traveling as a family, and we were able to have a space in our room to play boardgames and wind down for the evening.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Heerlijkheid Bergen

Bergen

The location was great in the city, but our room was very small and musty with little air circulation. We were there during some hot days in August and there didn't seem to be any fans or solutions available even when we asked. Luckily, our party had two rooms, and the other room had a fan that they shared with us. The staff were kind, but didn't have the English skills needed to assist our basic knowledge of Dutch; this led to a few instances of miscommunication that left us all frustrated.

Authenticity & Character

The building is very quirky with doors that you have to open and close to move between sections of the building and shut off access (momentarily) to others moving through the building. There was a sign that actually said Heerlijkheid Bergen, so we had some questions if we were in the right place. .

Location

Close to public transportation, shops and local attractions.

Staff

We had a hard time communicating with some of the staff and felt scolded when we had questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room just smelled moldy, and didn't have any way to move air through to make it better. There was a nice sitting area where we could hang out, but it was small and not always available.

Activity Reviews

Amsterdam - Private Grand Dutch Food & History Tour

The Netherlands

The Private Grand Dutch Food and History Tour in Amsterdam was fabulous. It was such a great way to arrive in the city, combining a tour with some delicious food. It was very convenient as we didn't have to find a place for dinner that first night. I would highly recommend this activity to anyone visiting Amsterdam.

Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands

The museums we visited, including the Rijksmuseum, were fabulous. We really enjoyed the cultural experience and the art collections.

Amsterdam - Canal cruise (join-in)

The Netherlands

The canal cruise in Amsterdam was fun and enjoyable. It was a nice way to see the city from a different perspective and relax after walking tours.

Marisa did a great job tailoring the trip to want my partner and I wanted. The tour guides were all very friendly and knowledgeable. As well as I all our drivers. All the transportation planning was smooth and the group communicated with us throughout the trip to make sure everything was going accordingly to plan. The hotel stay in Lisbon was perfect for walking to restaurants, shops, train stations, and to learn about the city. Algarve was beautiful and we really enjoyed the bike tour and our guide Fefe. The food was excellent and endless wine selection. The only part of the trip that was a little unexpected was the many children at the resort in Algarve (summer= lots of families) so at times it was a little hectic and no place that didn’t allow kids (bar or spa) but having the beach and towns nearby to escape made it enjoyable nonetheless. I would likely use kimkim again to book future travels.

Julia planned an amazing two days in Madrid for us. Everything was great starting on day one with our airport pick up, followed by a self- guided and self-paced walking tour of La Latina , and ending the day with the super fun Tapas and Tavernas history food tour with Daniel from Devour Tours. On day two we were so fortunate to have the amazing Maria guide us at both The Prado Museum and the Royal Palace . She really made the art come alive for us. It was an amazing experience. We learned so much and really were able to make the most of our visit. We also had plenty of time for needed siestas and a long visit with friends. We loved staying at the Pestana Collection Plaza Mayor — a cool hotel with a perfect central location. We will definitely return to Madrid!

Hotel Review

Pestana Collection Plaza Mayor

Madrid

Great central location. We were a 20-minute walk or less from everywhere we wanted to go. The staff was wonderful. The room was cool. Delicious breakfast. A lovely calm oasis in the city.

Authenticity & Character

Near rooms, lovely decor, great staff, nice breakfast

Location

Central to everywhere we wanted to visit. Very walkable

Staff

Couldn’t be nicer or more helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daily run cleaning and turn down service with a chocolate treat included!

Activity Reviews

Short Prado Museum Visit with Skip-the-Line Ticket

Madrid

The guided tour was amazing. Maria knew so much and we experienced the art in ways I never have. I would do this again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided El Centro Walk

Madrid

This was a great activity for our first day. It got us into diverse neighborhoods of the city, with special stops alongtheu way. We loved Churreria Santa Ana. We enjoyed popping into Ramirez and also found it worthwhile to lok around in Parroquia de San Millan y San Cayetano. We enjoyed all of the amazing street art, particularly in La Latina. And the Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande was a highlight. We made it as far as the really cool Viaducto de Segovia, but at that point headed back to our hotel for a rest.

Quality of Experience

Self-paced exploration with guidance.

Royal Palace Visit

Madrid

We were thrilled to find we had the same amazing guide, Maria, from our Prado tour. She is so knowledgeable and personable. It made for a delightful tour. The palace is beautiful and fascinating to tour. I am d=so glad we did this.

Quality of Experience

The palace is opulent and enormous. Definitely happy to have had an interpretive guide.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maria is the best!

Evening Tapas, Taverns & History Walk

Madrid

Wow! What a fantastic experience. Daniel was so fun and informative and entertaining. I learned a lot, ate wonderful food, and throughly enjoyed every minute of this experience.

Quality of Experience

The walking, the food, the stories, the company. It was a terrific evening!

Food

Loved the cod, the cheese, the vermouth, the Spanish omelet, the shishito peppers....

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Daniel was a 5-star guide!