Kimkim Trip Reviews

This trip was definitely an experience for sure... Sadly due to numerous factors, I cannot say that it was really the best experience or that it compared to my previous trips via KimKim. Yuliana was quick with getting our initial planning done but Im providing the lower rating I am this time for the reasons below.
As for Costa Rica itself, though still obviously quite a beautiful country, I think that it is pretty clear that large scale tourism is having some negative effects on things there somewhat. I was in Costa Rica for the first time in February 2025 for a shorter trip than this one that I also booked with KimKim and had such an incredible time then- my friend and I saw tons of animals and had a very nice balance of getting up early & going on hikes/etc. on some days as well as having some more chill days where we could get a little more sleep and relax. This year, despite being in the country for a longer time (almost twice as long) it was clearly much more expensive and crowded overall and we saw perhaps ~1/3 of the animals I did last year.
Additionally, the changes that took place regarding park entrances and needing to purchase tickets ahead of time was both something I was not aware of at all, nor told about by Yuliana, which in all honesty, was a pretty big goof/mistake for a company that I am literally paying to know such things and keep me informed of in my planning.
We started in the La Fortuna area and visited Baldi Hot Springs, Monte Verde Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna waterfall and El Silencio. I had mentioned that I went to the hot springs last year but our time there had been cut short due to the number of other passengers that needed picked up/dropped off and I made clear that this time I really wanted to spend more time there and hoped that would not happen again. I actually also added that we were wanting to get a massage at the spa potentially too but was told that we would need to book that ourselves and get our own transportation back to our hotel, which we wound up doing. Not a huge expense but, in our itinerary it stated that we had prepaid for entrance, dinner, a locker, and towels at Baldi. When we got there we had to pay for our locker and were told that this was incorrect so we essentially paid for transport we didn't use and paid twice for our locker.
We spent several days near Manuel Antonio park and were, quite sadly, unable to go into the park at all due to the entry changes since last year. Visiting the park was the entire reason for us being in that area. I had so hoped and wanted to bring my husband there, as it was my favorite park from my previous visit. This trip was to celebrate his 50th birthday and I wanted it to be special and knew he would love it (ironically we were in CR for my 43rd birthday and not on his, as we opted to travel before his birthday to avoid the rainy season). We would have much preferred skipping this area entirely had we known that we would not be able to enter the park, especially as our hotel was a 30 minute drive to the beach or any other activities in the area and we did not have our own vehicle so subsequently spent a ton of money on ubers/taxis while we were there too and all for a much more mediocre experience then last year or then we had hoped/anticipated. What's even sadder in my opinion, especially for native Costa Ricans, is that they must also purchase tickets ahead of time for park entry and, from what everyone there I spoke to was saying, it seems that the tour companies scoop up pretty much all of the tickets so that they can then books tours that cost 80-150 USD/person and prevent most people from being able to easily or successfully buy their own, much cheaper, self guided entrance tickets.
Being that we were feeling discouraged and wanted to make the best of it, we spent a while searching for and attempting to find other experiences in the area to do while there which, again, it was a holiday week and very busy so there weren't many options. If we had known ahead of time that our situation would be what it was, even if we could not have gotten in to Manuel Antonio, we could have planned much better and it would have been easier to secure tickets for something else. After many attempts, we finally did get tickets for a night jungle tour and that experience turned out to be a total nightmare (I have already addressed this with the involved companies and this was not something booked via kimkim but I am including for others to be aware of). The tour offered to pick people up at certain hotels only and ours was not one of them because we were pretty far from everything. Alternatively it said you could arrive at the meeting point for the tour if you had your own transportation. We paid for an uber to go to the meeting spot... A remote place at sunset... And NOBODY showed up. I attempted to call and then text the number on our tickets and, not until 15 minutes after me trying to reach someone, did we received a message that our tickets had been cancelled as the tour was full. At this point it was dark and we were unable to get any transportation back to our hotel. There were some sketchy dogs nearby that were clearly not happy with us being there as well as some locals that were clearly giggling at the stupid gringos being somewhere they don't belong. We proceeded to walk the 2.5 miles back to our hotel which included walking next to a highway with no sidewalk and needing to jump off the road when cars were coming. Thankfully we made it back OK but this situation could have been EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, especially if it were to happen to a young solo female traveler, older travelers, etc. We were refunded for the tour and our uber as well as offered a different tour for free by this company. I stressed how if they are unable to process online tickets correctly that they should not be selling them in the first place and pointed out the potential dangers and liability issues with this whole situation as being the most important take away as I don't want anyone getting hurt in the future... The company owner was very nice and was extremely sorry/horrifies that this had happened + vowed to no longer use the booking platform "Get Your Guide," as he stated that the tour had been full for weeks already prior to us buying our tickets and he had no clue why they allowed them to be purchased when we got them in the first place. All in all just another example of how over tourism moving too quickly can cause problems.
Moving on to our final location in our itinerary, the Oso peninsula. We knew we would be taking a boat to get there but did not realize that this would be a fairly small motor boat that we would be taking out in to an area with fairly big waves, nor did we realize that there would be no boat dock when we arrived. It was a full moon/king tide and the waves were large enough that the boat crew was quite clearly debating if passage would be safe enough or not, as they had to make several passes prior to making it over the wave breaks to get to the bay. When we were finally dropped off at pur destination I was horrified! The boat almost capsized repeatedly and at 1 point was ~80% on its nose. There were 2 people trying to stabilize the boat in the rear as the boat was backed up close to the beach and at one point a wave came and knocked one of them backwards in the water + I was truly afraid that the boat was going to crush him. Add on to all of this that I had unfortunately injured my back a month ago and was on the mend but the extreme jostling around so much in the boat resulted in my back issues flaring up again. The communication from the boat crew was very poor, basically no existent. Initially everyone thought they were getting off the boat at the same location, so all the bags were offloaded and all passengers started to get off to then have some people and their bags need to get back on the boat, the whole while with the waves making ot fairly treacherous. It was extremely chaotic and I was quite shocked to know that this is something that happens there regularly and that it had not inspired adding a dock yet
When we were greeted by the hotel staff they had 2 drinks waiting for us and proceeded to tell us that we needed to be awake and ready to go see the park/meet up the following morning (my birthday) at 540am... I was less than thrilled. We had been getting very little sleep the entire trip already and were exhausted. We got up, thinking that we were already in the park and would just be driving somewhere nearby, we found out that we had to get back on a boat again and deal with being jostled around... again (thankfully it was not quite as bad as the first trip but still was not the best way to wake up at all).
That night the hotel staff said that they had made me a birthday drink and gave me a mojito with dinner. When we checked out of the hotel the following day I was charged for 3 drinks despite me never actually ordering any of them and the staff just presenting us with them, which I thought seemed rather petty/distasteful. I will say that the hotel staff were all extremely friendly and kind and the hotel itself was at least beautiful.
We were brought to the small airport nearby that would be flying us back to San Jose when we left the hotel the following day and we were brought there 2 hours before our flight. The airport was empty/there was no security and clearly only very small planes use it, so we proceeded to just sit there wishing we could have spent a bit more time enjoying the beach before leaving instead, as arriving so early seemed very unnecessary.
As for the rest of the trip, in La Fortuna our guide for the waterfall and for the Monte Verde hanging bridges, Monica, was very personable, knowledgeable and pleasant. It was extremely busy at both locations though so we didn't see a ton of wildlife and it felt like people were being rushed through in repeat guided tour groups at the hanging bridges. It was beautiful and would have been nice to have more time to absorb it all.
In all honesty, after having a guided tour once at any of these places, it would really be better in my opinion, to just go through them on your own afterwards/for any subsequent visits. All of the parks are pretty easy to navigate and you can go at your own pace that way + avoid any large crowds/tour groups, therefore giving you a much better chance to see more things, as the animals clearly are less inclined to venture near a ton of people. That said, with the new rules on park entry Im not sure how easy this will be moving forward unfortunately.
We also went on a hike at El Silencio preserve, which I didn't realize until we got there was the same place/hike that I had already gone on last year. The tour guide (I unfortunately don't remember his name) was nice and also knowledgeable but, I probably would have skipped this and opted for a something different this trip having already done it once before, as it didn't add much more this time then it had during my initial experience.
Lastly was our hike in Corcovado, which is a very beautiful area that I wish we had spent more time in (and especially instead of being 30 minutes away from Manuel Antonio and the beach the days we were there). The guide was nice (I unfortunately don't remember his name either) and we had a good group of fellow travelers with us but my back was pretty sore from the boat ride, we were exhausted from lack of sleep and I was cranky having to meet so early in the morning, especially on my birthday, which all detracted from the experience. I don't feel personally that I gained a ton from the guided tour other than him pointing out puma tracks at one point that I probably would have overlooked. I think that this tour world have been every bit as good (better really) if it didn't require meeting at 540am and I don't see how having it so early was a benefit in any way at all.
If I ever return to Costa Rica again, which I can say is a very big if at this point, I would skip all guided tours and would probably stay only in the Corcovado area as it is the least developed and crowded and was also extremely beautiful. We didn't realize until after our guided tour that there was actually a park trail within walking distance of our hotel, which would have been nice to know. We briefly got to walk a short way on it before leaving but would have loved to spend more time exploring on our own if we had the opportunity.

Hotel Reviews

Auténtico Hotel

San José

Fairly standard hotel, clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rancho Corcovado

Drake Bay, Puntarenas

Beautiful location and extremely friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

The staff makes this place top notch, they were lovely

Location

Gorgeous views of Drake Bay

Staff

Every person I interacted with was extremely kind and personable

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Foresta Nature Resort

Quepos

The hotel itself is nice enough but the best part of the place is the nature trails. It would be nice if there was some seating outside the rooms so you could sit outside at night. The drinks were kind of pricey and the food was mediocre.

Authenticity & Character

I like the nature trails

Location

Its a bit of a trek to most things in the area from this location - 30 mins to the beach or Manuel Antonio park

Staff

Not really the friendliest

Cleanliness & Comfort

Seating outside

Hotel Magic Mountain

Fortuna

Beautiful views, clean hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Self-Guided Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica

Our plan to visit Manuel Antonio National Park didn't go as expected due to the rule changes since my last visit. I was disappointed to find out upon arrival that pre-booking tickets is now required, which wasn't communicated with me, leading us to miss out on visiting the park. Additionally, our hotel was far from amenities, causing us to spend a lot on taxis. This was quite frustrating and affected our plans significantly.

Working with Alexsandra was excellent.

My only negative was the high price charged per day given the fact that the only thing provided was lodging and a total of about $20 each for a few tickets. I probably would have saved close to $1000 booking the lodging myself. Also, on a similarly outfitted trip to Iceland, a detailed road itinerary was part of the package. Only a brief description of possible highlights was provided by Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Knockaguilla House Bed & Breakfast

Doolin

Beautiful spacious room. Breakfast OK but no eggs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Temple Gate Hotel

Ennis, Co. Clare

Excellent in all respects.

Ashfield B&B

Kenmare

Nice room, good breakfast.

The Plough B&B

Ventry

Small room and a smaller bathroom. Matress and pillow uncomfortable. Breakfast good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to little village of Ventry with its restaurant and music.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

As above.

The K Kinsale

Kinsale

Had to be a bit fit to walk the hills, but a nice room and gracious host.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Kissane Sheep Farm

Ireland

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driving the Ring Road in winter was a wild and wonderful adventure, and my KimKim local travel specialist (Gummi) was great, from planning my itinerary to helping me throughout my journey. Gummi was always available to answer questions and to address any issues that came up. I highly recommend working with Gummi if you’re planning an Icelandic adventure in any season.

Hotel Reviews

Dís Cottages

Grundarfjordur

Make sure you specify that you want to stay in one of the cottages. They apparently have a studio apartment above a garage that isn’t clearly noted when you make a reservation.

Authenticity & Character

The views are what makes this worth considering for a stay.

Location

Beautiful view across the fjord and out toward the open ocean. Nothing nearby though. So be sure to bring food and water.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Holt—The Art Hotel

Reykjavík

The hotel’s bountiful leather seating in their common areas is the highlight. The art is eclectic and bountiful, too. The hotel is a bit dated but overall comfortable for a short stay. And they have free parking for guests, which was a nice benefit.

Authenticity & Character

The artwork is indeed everywhere and the wood paneled common areas and their plentiful leather seating are great.

Location

It’s set in a residential area just outside of the downtown area. Convenient to get to all the sites with a short walk.

Staff

Gabriella who checked me in also helped me find a place for dinner the first night, which was much appreciated.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The walls are thin apparently and so sound from one’s neighbors is an issue. A white noise app on your phone should mask it though. Some of the carpeting on stairwells is worn through. Nit picking perhaps but the hotel does show its age.

Hrafnavellir Guest House

Hornafjörður (Hofn)

The individual cabins are very nice and comfortable. Great views! They have staff onsite and the small lounge area is open and serves drinks until 10 PM or so.

Authenticity & Character

The cabins are newer and very comfortable. Great views back toward the Batman Mountain, too.

Location

About 20 kilometers beyond Hofn. So either eat dinner before you arrive or be mindful that it’s about a 40 minute drive back to town. During the summer they do serve dinner at the guest house. So that would be a convenient option.

Staff

Such a wonderful hostess greeted me and prepared a delicious breakfast for me the following morning.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Black Beach Suites

Vik I Myrdal

Beautiful setting and very nice room with a view.

Authenticity & Character

Modern facilities. So not a lot of character but very nicely appointed room.

Location

The hotel is located on the west side of the mountains that sit above Vik but is close enough that driving into Vik for dinner was easy.

Staff

Staff was polite and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed and nice shower. Quite a bit of room, too. With a nice deck.

Buubble Hotel Hrosshagi

Bláskógabyggd

Had the skies been clear and the aurora visible this would’ve been a great stay. 😉 The bubble is comfortable but bare bones. The bed is comfortable and the heated blanket was nice (until it stopped working during the night). Bathroom facilities require a walk and sometimes a wait. So just be aware if this is a potential concern.

Authenticity & Character

It’s a unique concept to sleep inside an air inflated bubble!

Location

Even though the setting is in a small forest there is light pollution to the north, I take it, from the town?

Staff

No on-site staff. Not really a big issue but something to be aware of.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It’s hard to heat a bubble in winter. 😉

Activity Reviews

Breiðamerkurjökull Ice Cave Small Group Adventure

Iceland

How many groups can you fit on a glacier at one time? A lot! There were at least two dozen vehicles and a hundred plus tourists tromping around the ice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was friendly and informative

Transport

Snowshoe Trek

Lake Mývatn

I ended up being the only participant. So i appreciated that we went ahead with the trek! My guide was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Hiking up the mountain to find steaming pools amidst all the snow was very cool.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide was born in Zimbabwe and married an Icelandic woman. So we had a great conversation on geopolitics, history, and the geologic wonders of Iceland.

Transport

Pick up and drop off from the hotel was great.

ATV to Black Sand Beach and Plane Wreck

Iceland

Getting to see the black sand beach and the waves up close via an ATV is a wild and fun experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sindri was a wonderful and entertaining guide! He made sure everyone was safe and had a good time.

Planning a trip to Patagonia is no small feat, and having the right travel agent made all the difference. From the start, they were attentive to exactly what I was looking for — the hotels and tours were perfectly matched to my preferences, and every detail was thoughtfully taken care of. Whenever I had questions during the trip, they were quick to respond and easy to reach. The whole experience was seamlessly organized from start to finish. I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again — 100%

Activity Review

Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

Our guide in Buenos Aires was absolutely wonderful — his knowledge of the city's history, architecture, and political past brought everything to life in a way no guidebook ever could. From the streets of Recoleta to the stories behind the city's iconic buildings, he made every stop genuinely fascinating. We'd book with him again in a heartbeat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This trip exceeded our expectations. It was culturally immersive, family-friendly, and thoughtfully designed. We came away with a deeper appreciation for Japan — not just its landmarks, but its rhythms, values, and everyday beauty.

We would absolutely recommend KimKim to anyone planning a trip to Japan, and we would happily work with you again.

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto with Your Family

Kyoto

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Full Day Lake Kawaguchi Cruise and Shinobi no Sato Ninja Village Tour

Tokyo

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Sushi Making Tokyo Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

Tokyo

Trips were good. The jeep tour was good but missed a lot of important stops to make, just was 3 hours. Missed alot

Hotel Reviews

Manoir de la Maison Blanche

Ambosie

Most beautiful place. Location good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Le Petit Matin

Bayeux

Great location great host

Authenticity & Character

Location

Clean, helpful great location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exclusive visit and tasting at the Pavillon Fines Bulles

Amboise

Quality of Experience

F

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Loire Valley Hot-Air Balloon Flight

Amboise

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Normandy Foodie Experience by E-Bike

Bayeux

Quality of Experience

F

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private WWII Jeep Experience

Bayeux

Missed to much. Guide was great Knowledge was great jeep was fun, but we missed museum, cemetery, cliffs

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I’ve just wrapped up a 6-day trip to the Dominican Republic, and I wanted to take a moment to share my feedback.
First of all, a big thank you to Isabella and Francis Garcia for organizing and coordinating the entire tour. Everything went according to plan – and in the rare moments when it didn’t, it somehow still did. Any small hiccups were handled quickly and smoothly, almost before you had time to notice them.
A special shout-out to Francis. I’m still not entirely convinced this was a human and not some kind of AI-powered super-agent. It felt like he was available 24/7, replying within seconds at any time of day or night. I’ve never seen response times like that – honestly, even my own thoughts take longer to process.
Overall, a very well-organized experience. Thank you again for making the trip so easy and enjoyable.

From planning to ensure the perfect itinerary in Japan for our family to Japan to continued amazing assistance during our trip, we are grateful to Angel and Kimkim for a trip of a lifetime!

Activity Reviews

Ninja Training in Kyoto: Ninja Experience

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sushi Making Tokyo！Cooking class in Japan！

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spot Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Heracles, the guide for cycling and hiking based in Nafplio, showed us some very unique and off-the-beaten-track places. The Avgou monastery hike was probably the highlight of the trip, but there was some smaller old hidden monasteries that weren't on the agenda that he showed us as well.
Manos, the foodie tour guide in Chania, was entertaining and knowledgeable. He made sure we had no room in us for any more food.
The guide in Mystras was also good, although the hike did not include a lunch as indicated on our itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

SanSal Boutique Hotel

Chania

Modern. Great location. Good breakfast. A gym would have been nice

DOM Boutique Hotel

Heraklion

Nice room. Terrible wifi. No view. Good location for walking to waterfront, museum and restaurants.

A for Athens

Athens

great location and view

Mystras Grand Palace

Sparta

beautiful spacious buildings and location (near mountains and ruins). Not great if you want urban setting

Carpe Diem Boutique Hotel

Nafplio

Breakfast was quite good but this was the smallest hotel room we have ever stayed in.

Authenticity & Character

Location

in old town

Staff

The lady who seemed to run the place was great but there was seldom anyone at the desk. The young woman was sometimes at the desk in the daytime was aloof.

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean but room was tiny

Activity Reviews

Apokoronas Countryside Day Trip with Tastings & Lunch

Chania

This would have been much better as a private tour, given that we had an incredibly self centered woman in our group who wouldn't stop talking. The guide was good but the woman wore him down and he didn't get many chances to speak. Too much driving and not enough walking.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

History & Foodie Walk in Old Town

Chania

Great food and guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fun and interesting

Knossos Palace Experience

Greece

Interesting site, but it was really the museum (which wasn't on our itinerary ) that had the most interesting artifacts to see

Sacred Paths of Taygetos: The Faneromeni Hike

Greece

Nice hiking trails and location.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking Among the Olive Groves with Lunch in Monemvasia

Greece

Interesting young guide who taught us everything we wanted to know about olives. Really nice lunch too

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking to Avgou Monastery through Wildlife Refuge

Nafplio

Highlight of the trip. A nice 12km walk. Very interesting monastery and location.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

They detoured a bit to let us buy some fantastic oranges from a roadside stall

Nafplio Cycling Adventure

Nafplio

The ride was a bit short but at least we had a couple hikes to interesting locations added in.

Private transfer from {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} with stop in Corinth

Greece

Corinth museum and ruins were closed. Driver was great. Canal was interesting to see

Quality of Experience

Private Delphi Day Trip

Athens

Driver was great. Guide was pedantic and uninspiring but knowledgeable.

Ancient Athens Acropolis & Mythology Walk

Athens

very good guide. Acropolis was very busy especially considering the time of year.

The trip that Paola put together for me and my two kids (ages 16, 13) was great! The trip was exactly as promised, and yet also exceeded my expectations. Paola was easy to communicate with, efficient and responsive. She listened and we had productive exchanges during planning and in the lead up to the holiday. She even visited our hotel in Quito to introduce herself.

We spent a week in Quito, Banos and Cotopaxi. Paola arranged for Jose from Authentic Ecuador to be our guide for the week and he was fantastic! He is knowledgeable about all things Ecuador, from where to eat to how many meters tall rise each volcano (I tested him for fun at one point and he was accurate within 10m for every volcano!) and he could identify flora and fauna. He was on time, friendly and we felt completely cared for. When we had a hiccup (e.g. morning canyoning postponed from rain), Jose seamlessly helped to pivot our day. Thank you!

Our days were long, but had only a week - old town tour/chocolate tasting/cooking class in Quito, hiking/biking/canyoning in Banos, and hiking/riding horses in Cotopaxi. I will absolutely use this service again, and I will be recommending Paola and Jose to all my friends.

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Quito Airport, an IHG Hotel

Tababela

This hotel is fine. It's clean and newish, and is what I would expect from a hotel by the airport. It served its purpose well (a place to stay before catching a flight). They also had an airport shuttle, which was appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A 5-minute shuttle ride to the airport. (It's about 40 minutes from downtown Quito)

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hacienda El Porvenir

Machachi

We stayed here one night and it was not enough. Everything about this place was wonderful! Our room was cozy and well-appointed. There were fires being tended in every room, the staff was incredibly friendly and the food was delicious. I went on one of the self-guided walks and it took my breath away (I don't mean the altitude). The paths are easy to follow and the views are stunning. I absolutely loved everything about Hacienda El Porvenir.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just outside Cotopaxi National Park, which was also my favorite destination of our trip.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Samari Spa Hotel

Baños

The grounds are beautiful, and the pool was great. Our room was comfortable - it was not modern, but we weren't expecting that. But, the hotel was a 5-minute drive from downtown Banos on a busy road - next time, I would prefer lodging downtown because it's a walkable place. The restaurant was not great. The food was okay, at best. Also, the entire restaurant staff was wearing clear plastic masks - I appreciate the effort to by hygienic, but those clear masks get wet from breath/spit and it's unattractive to look at. Also, since they only cover the mouth they aren't actually preventing the spread of germs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Go Quito Hotel

Quito

Stunning hotel, very modern and clean. The restaurant has views of the city, and the breakfast spread was fantastic!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Quito Cooking Class

Ecuador

This was very fun, but it may have been a bit much for us after a very long day of sightseeing (I was with my 2 kids, ages 16, 13). But the food and conversation was nice. I could have used a glass of wine with dinner but was told I couldn't have one - otherwise, all good!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding at Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

This was amazing! They let us gallop, and lent us ponchos and chaps, which greatly improved the experience. Our photos from this activity are amazing - kids and I on horses w/ a view of Cotopaxi in the background.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cotopaxi National Park

Ecuador

The hike on the volcano was amazing. We did not make it all the way to the Refuge b/c it was a very cold and windy day and we were suffering the altitude, but it was SO BEAUTIFUL! I want to go back already. Not to miss.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Canyoning in Baños

Baños

This was very fun, for me and my two teens (16, 13). There wasn't a lot of detail provided going into it, but we felt safe and ready for what was to come. The final descent was INCREDIBLE. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Pailón del Diablo Waterfall, Explore Baños

Baños

Fantastic! This place was great. As advertised. My two teens also loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Quito City Tour - Middle of the World

Quito

Jose took us around the city and it was nonstop fun the whole day. I appreciated Jose's vast knowledge - from the town's history to which vendors we should buy from. He brought his brother to drive the car so that we didn't waste any time looking for parking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking to Pailón del Diablo

Baños

The biking was great insofar as I was sick of being in a car, but we were on the rode with the cars on a busy highway so it was a bit uncomfortable at times. My kids (16, 13) didn't love this.

It was really easy to work with Coraima in planning our trip to Spain. We worked with a team to make sure our trip went smoothly. We are really glad to have worked with KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Intelier Palacio San Martín

Madrid

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Havana

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Retiro Park Walk

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Family-Friendly Royal Palace Visit

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There is no transport. It was a walking tour.

Self-Guided Local Markets Trip

Madrid

Quality of Experience

Private Day Trip to Costa Brava's Coastal Villages

Barcelona

Our guide was excellent and knowledgeable about the location. We would have been nice to have some time at certain location play on the water and rocks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Gaudí Experience with La Sagrada Família & Park Güell

Barcelona

The app gave two different locations as a meeting spot so it was little confusing. We had to call the tour guide company to clarify the meeting spot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Self-Guided Walk in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

Barcelona

The locations on the tour are great. Since it was our first day in Barcelona, a walking map from the hotel to each locations would have been helpful.

Quality of Experience

We just got back from a trip to Andalucía and Madrid that we planned through Kimkim, and overall it was a really good experience.

Before the trip, the communication was super helpful. We had a lot of questions, and they always got back to us with clear answers, which made us feel more comfortable—especially since we’d never used a service like this before.

What stood out was how easy everything felt once we got there. Transfers, day trips, connections—it all just worked without us having to think too much about it. That alone made the trip more relaxing.

They also did a nice job balancing their suggestions with what we wanted. We had input on the itinerary, and they actually listened and adjusted things to fit our interests.

The day trips were comfortable, and the vehicles were great. Our drivers, Carlos and Joan were both friendly and easy to talk to. Joan made the drive from Seville to Granada (with a stop in Ronda) more interesting by sharing music along the way and Carlos added a special-stop in Carmona which added to our day in Cordoba..

All of our guides were great-knowledgeable but also easygoing. The food tours were a highlight. It didn’t feel overly structured, more like spending time with a group of friends and trying different foods together.

Guadalupe made the Seville Cathedral and Alcázar much more engaging, and Matias did a great job at the Alhambra, helping us appreciate the details and history without it feeling overwhelming.

Overall, Kimkim made the trip easier to plan and enjoy. It was a very positive experience, and we’d definitely consider using them again.

We had a fantastic trip to Iceland in April. The weather put a few snags in our plans, but it's part of the adventure of Iceland. The country is absolutely beautiful. We loved the Snæfellsnes Penninsula, the Hotel Budir, the Sky Lagoon and seeing the Northern Lights the best! We also enjoyed self-driving. It gave us the flexibility to stop whenever we wanted and pull over to see something we found interesting. Driving was easy, except for a couple of snow-related issues! Our travel specialist, Guðmundur Óli, did an excellent job. He assisted with the trip planning, making recommendations and adjusting the schedule to include things we wanted to see. He was responsive and helped us navigate some weather issues while in-country. The daily driving maps were amazing and made navigating very easy. All of the arrangements were perfect - no snags whatsoever. Would highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Berg

Keflavík

Hotel was in a perfect location. Our flight wasn't until 5pm and the hotel allowed a late checkout until 2pm for a small fee. This allowed us to do an activity during the day and go back to shower before leaving for the airport. It is 7 minutes from the airport and its in a little town with restaurants close by. The room had everything we needed and the lounge area is nice. The restaurant was fine. It was too rainy and cold to use the roof top hot tub, but it was a nice amenity.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Magma Hotel

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Hotel was nice. The room was great and we enjoyed the lake view. It was very windy and rainy during our stay so we didn't get to enjoy the outside. The breakfast was good. There is no hot tub and no lounge to sit in outside of the room. We didn't spend much time in it, so it was fine. Everything was clean and orderly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Grímsborgir by Keahotels

Ásborgir

I really liked this hotel. The rooms are in clusters of buildings and you can either walk or drive to the main building for the restaurant. We had 2 hot tubs for our building. They were empty upon arrival, but they quickly filled them after a call to the front desk. The breakfast was excellent. Room was one of the largest we stayed in and we appreciated the lounge area with kitchen so we didn't have to sit in the room all evening.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hótel Búðir

Búðir

This was my favorite hotel of the 5 we stayed in. It was beautifully decorated and in an absolutely stunning location. The room was perfect and we had a perfect view of the black church from our window. There's a lovely lounge with fantastic views for having a drink or playing cards at night. The restaurant was fine but we were there for 2 nights and the menu was the same both nights. The chocolates at the front desk are a nice touch!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Reykjavík Saga

Reykjavík

Hotel was great. Breakfast was lovely and it's in a great location to explore the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Faxaflói Bay Whale Watching Excursion

Reykjavík

We only saw one whale and we pretty much followed him around for 2 hours. The weather was very cold, windy and rainy, so the dry suits helped us stay warm and dry. Rough seas were expected due to the weather and the tour operator helpfully offered sea sickness pills for free. The tour did a good job - we just didn't see much and returned to the marina an hour early.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Glacier Ice Cave Experience

Iceland

The weather was very rainy and our van got stuck in the snow/slush 3 times on the way to the glacier. Other vehicles had to tow us out. The driver worked very hard and ended up shoveling tires out several times, but didn't provide us with much in the way of updates on what was going on. This turned the trip out to the ice cave into 2 1/2 hours. There was no bathroom available and the entire trip took 5 hours. By the time we got back to the parking area, it was 9pm and all of the restaurants were closed and we still had an hour drive to our hotel. Thankfully, the lovely people at Kronen (the grocery store), allowed us to dash in and quickly buy something right as they were closing. The ice cave was also very small. The guide said that it was usually longer, but the recent snow had closed part of it off. I honestly don't think it was worth it under the conditions, but the hike on the glacier and being inside the ice cave was cool and a unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Laugarás Lagoon - Lerki

Iceland

We really enjoyed the lagoon. We went to 3 different ones during our trip and this one was unique in that it's in a forest-like setting. The locker area was clean and the process was very organized. Unfortunately, lightening cut our visit short. They offered us a return visit the next day, but we were getting back on the road and could not take them up on it.

Quality of Experience

Víðgelmir Lava Cave Experience

Iceland

The tour was interesting and the guide was very knowledgeable and gave a great tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

KimKim made our trip to Chile seamless and truly unforgettable. Francisco planned everything beautifully, and it was such a relief not to worry about logistics, transportation, or what came next. The team was highly responsive throughout the trip.
In Santiago, we stayed at a beautiful hotel and enjoyed a fantastic food tour with Angel, who took us to hidden local spots we never would have found on our own. Our day trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar was also excellent. When I mentioned at the last minute that I had hoped to visit a vineyard, Francisco quickly arranged a special gin tasting for us in Puerto Natales, which was so much fun and a real highlight.
KimKim was also incredibly flexible. When I decided I did not want to spend all day on a bus for the Torres del Paine panoramic tour, they were able to switch us last minute to a private guided nature tour with Nacho, who was extremely knowledgeable about Patagonia. I also did the Mirador Base Torres hike with guides Paulo and Christian, and it was an unforgettable experience with breathtaking views.
Special thanks to Jose in Puerto Natales for handling so many details so smoothly. Overall, I highly recommend KimKim.

Stephen Long was an excellent tour advisor for our two-week trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. He put together a wonderful itinerary tailored to our preferences — food, art, history, and nature — and truly paid attention to what we wanted. When I asked him to build in a relaxation day mid-trip, he planned for us to be in beautiful Hoi An, where our hotel had a pool and the beach was just a short trip away.
Stephen did an amazing job staying in contact with us via WhatsApp throughout the entire trip. All of our transportation, hotels, inter-trip flights, and activities were booked for us, and communication about where and when we needed to be was always clear. We were also able to make slight adjustments to the itinerary as needed, which we really appreciated. The local tour guides Stephen arranged in each city were excellent as well.
We had an incredible time visiting Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap. We highly recommend Stephen for planning your next trip to Vietnam and Cambodia!

We just got back from our vacation to Morocco and we cannot be happier with our experience. Everything we asked for
From the moment we were picked up at the airport by Mohamed, to the moment we were dropped off at the airport everything was so well taken care of and organized!
We want to make sure to mention Mohamed, our driver and the main guide during the trip, he made the whole experience so stress-free and pleasant that we cannot thank him enough. If you planning a trip, request Mohamed and you will be in great hands.
All the riads that we stayed in were great, very clean, and pleasant. Each one took care of our family like we were relatives visiting and not just some tourists stopping by for a night.
Guides - all the guides we interacted with were knowledgeable and accommodating to our family needs. We might have overdone with walking tours, as by the end of the trip kids were just done with those. The other added benefit of having guides in the medians, was that they kept too pushy salespeople away from us, letting us enjoy the tour without being forced to buy anything. You will go through some merchants that show you their craft but don’t feel pressured to buy anything directly from them as those prices are very inflated.
Sahara stay was absolutely the highlight of the trip and I highly recommend staying there for at least 2 nights so soak in the experience. We did 4x4 tour and although exhausting, it was super fun and drive around the dunes and see small villages in the Sahara, our guide Ibrahim was very attentive and friendly during our tour. Thank you, Ibrahim! Horseback riding in the afternoon in Sahara was another highlight - not as much for the kids as they were slowly led by the guides across the desert and it was hot and boring for them but for adults, we got to gallop and explore the lake, highly recommend for adults who aren’t too new to horseback riding. The camp that we stayed in, Riad Madu was like something from a movie - tents are comfortable and have all the necessities, food was in abundance, late night music and dancing.
The other riad that was an absolute highlight for our family was in Marrakech - Palais Sebban. The place is like a palace (hence the name) or a museum. We enjoyed hammam and dinner right in the hotel.

Hotel Reviews

Riad Madu Desert Camps

Merzouga

Highly recommend this place - from the arrival and greeting you with hot tea, the staff was very friendly and attentive

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Settash

Fès

Beautiful place and very attentive and friendly staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dar Meziana

Chefchaouene

Place is located in a very cute alley, picture perfect and easy to find. Rooms were comfortable and breakfast was great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Dar Dar

Rabat

The place was nice to stay for one night We had issue with hot water when we checked in and there was no porter to come and pick us up, luckily our driver was able to lead us through Medina

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kasbah Isfoula

Ait Ben Haddou

Spacious and a great place to stop on the way from Sahara They hammam was a nice place to clean up and relax after all that sand.

Authenticity & Character

This is a more modern hotel we stayed in

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour in Fes

Fes

The tour was a mix Of walking tour and driving tour Fez is such an interesting place to visit and you kget the most out of it with a tour guide Great experience overall We enjoyed all the stops that we visited during the trip- learning how pottery is made, how mosaic is made, etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Guided Tour in Chefchaouen

Morocco

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide showed us places were he spend his childhood playing at, from public “swimming pool” which is natural waterfall area, to football field in one of the streets. He also showed us the best locations for Pictures The place is so beautiful

Hike to Akchour Waterfall

Chefchaouen

This was a very fun change of pace and much needed change of scenery Hike to the God’s bridge is moderately challenging but a great hike to do Akchor waterfall was good but don’t expect it to be anything earth shattering, depending on what other waterfalls you visited. It was a great adventure and I am glad we went. Some negatives - I wish areas was cleaner and more taken care of, sad to see national park and trash around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Workshop & Local Food

Morocco

We really enjoyed this experience Kids got to go to the market to purchase items for cooking, then we got back to the restaurant and started prepping food and cooking. Great change of activities for us and great learning opportunities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Meryem was so friendly and happy to share her knowledge with us and our children; she took them through the market, then explained every step of the cooking process, the kids were engaged and involved for hours.

Half-Day Horseback Ride Tour to the Lake in Merzouga

Merzouga

This is a super fun activity for adults who know how to ride horses because you get to explore and ride through the lake and even gallop if you are comfortable. For kids it was a bit boring because they were just slowly let by the guides through the desert to the lake. Obviously it’s done for safety reason and we have no complaints, just think this is more fulfilling experience for adults. Snack by the lake was a nice touch and allowed us to relax and get rested.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and attentive.

Transport

Horses were so beautiful and well cared for

Guided 4x4 Desert Adventures in Erg Chebbi

Morocco

Ibrahim was very attentive and made the adventure fun and exciting for us. We enjoyed riding dunes on our 4x4 and listening to Berber music

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fes to Merzouga Sunset Camel Ride and Overnight in the Desert via Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt & Erfoud

Morocco

This is the highlight of the trip for our family! Camel ride is what you think of when you think of Sahara. This was an adventure of a lifetime

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Aït Benhaddou to Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka Pass & the High Atlas Mountains

Morocco

Mohamed is the best and made our trip experience the most enjoyable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Fes, Volubilis & Meknes

Morocco

Mohamed is the best and made our trip experience the most enjoyable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private transfer from Casablanca Airport to Rabat via Casablanca City

Morocco

Mohamed is the best and made our trip experience the most enjoyable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Large and comfortable van, modern with AC and all other features

We had a wonderful trip to Japan. Hotel quality and locations were perfect. Our scheduled activities were very enjoyable although a few were a little touristy for our taste and didn't feel like authentic experiences (e.g. the tea ceremony in kimonos). Prebooked travel cards and Shinkansen journeys were great and Bella ensured our concerns regarding luggage were addressed with her seat choices on the Shinkansen.

Our guides were helpful and keen to meet our needs but we did feel that a lot of our activities did not particularly need a guide and could have been managed independently, offering us more flexibility. While we were grateful to have photos taken, at times early in the trip it seemed to be the primary focus of the guide, to the extent that we felt we were just being rushed from photo opp to photo opp without actually taking anything in. Perhaps for the instagram generation that is how they travel but it wasn't a priority for us and somewhat took away from our enjoyment.

In summary, we were very happy with Bella's choice of hotels, itinerary and travel arrangements but if we were doing this again we would only want a guide for a couple of days as it is always nice to meet and chat to someone local but we prefer the flexibility of independent travel, as with our previous KimKim itinerary in Norway.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Himeji: Exploring Japan’s First Famous Castle and Tranquil Gardens （by public transport）

Osaka

Spectacular castle and reading about the work done in the last century to restore and maintain it was fascinating. Make sure you visit the second part of the castle with Princess Sen's history outlined. The Samurai Garden was also a lovely place to visit. That evening we went back to Osaka Castle where for a small fee we got into the Sakura night festival, which was a really nice alternative way to experience the castle views and blossoms.

Quality of Experience

Osaka Highlights & River Cruise（Private Guide, Public Transportation）

Osaka

We really enjoyed the various castles we visited on this trip (Kyoto, Osaka and Himeji)- each with a different story but all interconnected through history as explained by our guide.

Day Trip to Miyajima Island: Floating Torii Gate & Kayaking &Hiking

Hiroshima

Probably our favourite day of the trip. The boat trip out to Miyajima was scenic, we had a wonderful guide for our kayak trip through the floating torii gate and Taki San was a good sport hiking to the top of Mount Misen with us despite being tight on time! This is a very touristy place to visit so I highly recommend taking the kayak option to get a proper feel for the ancient approach to the shrine. The shops and eateries are busy but lots of fun to wander through.

Hiroshima's Legacy: Peace Memorial & Okonomiyaki（public transport）

Hiroshima

The museum is a harrowing testament to what happened to this city but very worthwhile despite the inevitable crowds

Kurama & Kibune Forest Hike – A Journey into Kyoto’s Spiritual Mountains (Private Guide, Public Transportation)

Kyoto

Another lovely hike into beautiful Japanese mountain scenery - no rain this time!

🏯 Walk and Swing: An Active Cultural Journey in Kyoto (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Kyoto

We did this hike to the top of the mountain on our own in the rain which made it less busy than it might otherwise have been, and also quite atmospheric!

Kyoto Heritage & Tea Ceremony Experience (Private Guided Tour by Public Transportation)

Kyoto

Kyoto was a highlight and our morning wander with guide Taki San was very enjoyable. The kimono aspect of the tea ceremony didn't add much and felt a bit performative rather than authentic as we were just put into the clothes whereas I had hoped to learn a little more about this traditional way of dress.

Fuji Five Lakes Tour, Transfer to Hakone

Japan

Very rushed getting onto the boat and the health and safety standards were somewhat questionable . . . Views of Mount Fuji from the water were great but we saw even better on our subsequent day's activities. An impromptu stop at the Mount Fuji visitor centre was interesting and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

felt quite rushed at the stops, all of which were very touristy and busy

Transport

lovely comfortable car for early morning journey with stops along the way

Explore Tokyo's Rich Heritage: Tsukiji Market,Sushi-Making Class, Imperial Palace, Cherry Blossoms & Shinjuku Gourmet Walk

Tokyo

Kana, the chef who led our personal sushi making class was lovely. Personable and with excellent English. One of our activity highlights.

Quality of Experience

Tokyo’s Cultural Heritage & Modern Energy: Asakusa, Sumo Experience & Shibuya Highlights（Private Guide&Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Sumo experience was a fun and lighthearted intro to the sport of Sumo but very tourist focussed.

Food

My family of six traveled to Chilean Patagonia in early March 2026. We have four children from 14 > 24. Erin and her team at Dittmar Adventures were exceptional in planning and organizing our trip. Her communication was prompt and clear throughout the process. We were a bit challenging because my family is very active and we wanted to take advantage of every opportunity to fit in another adventure. Erin was super patient with multiple changes and variations. The trip itself was fantastic. The guides Dittmar selected were top-notch; friendly and accommodating. The activities were well chosen and met our expectations. We had a few weather complications and Dittmar was very responsive in addressing these bumps. We just wished we had more time there! Huge thanks to Erin!!

Our daily guide Hera was fantastic! She kept us on track and served as an incredible host for her country. Additionally, our travel agent Christine was so detailed and flexible. Such an incredible team!

Hotel Review

Lotte City Hotel Myeongdong

Seoul

We did not stay here

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Petite France and Nami Island Tour

Seoul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Seoul Highlights

Seoul

Hera was incredible. She had incredible insights and was a lovely host!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hera was the best!!!!

Transport

Our guide for the first excursion in Tokyo was Haiyan. She was very helpful and knowledgeable. We saw the Imperial Palace, as close as we could get, since entry was not allowed. The we went to the Senso-ji temple, very impressive. She also helped us get to a location that I wanted to see, The Samurai Store. We never would have found it if it was not for Haiyan.

The following day we took the Shinkansen to Odawara where we were met by Yasuhiro, called Moshi. He is an English professor and spoke perfect English and also Spanish, as does my wife Norma. He took us to Hakone, and unfortunately it rained all day so we did not get to see Mt. Fuji. He took us up the Hakone Ropeway to the top where we had lunch and toured the shop. When we came down we took a tour boat around the lake. He dropped us at our Honten for the evening. We really enjoyed the traditional accommodations, including the private natural hot spring onsen.

Our guide for the first excursion in Tokyo was Haiyan. She was very helpful and knowledgeable. We saw the Imperial Palace, as close as we could get, since entry was not allowed. The we went to the Senso-ji temple, very impressive. She also helped us get to a location that I wanted to see, The Samurai Store. We never would have found it if it was not for Haiyan.

The following day we took the Shinkansen to Odawara where we were met by Yasuhiro, called Moshi. He is an English professor and spoke perfect English and also Spanish, as does my wife Norma. He took us to Hakone, and unfortunately it rained all day so we did not get to see Mt. Fuji. He took us up the Hakone Ropeway to the top where we had lunch and toured the shop. When we came down we took a tour boat around the lake. He dropped us at our Honten for the evening. We really enjoyed the traditional accommodations, including the private natural hot spring onsen.

The next morning came early as we had a 7:45 Bullet traln to Nagoya. There we did a self guided tour to Nagoya Castle and then to the Tokugawa museum and gardens, which I was most interested in seeing. Also seen was a Shinto Shrine.

Next day we took the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Our first excursion was to the Tea Ceremony Experience. We dressed in Kimonos and were shown the intricacies of the tea ceremony. it was fantastic. After that we went to the Samurai and Ninja Musem. This was one of my special choices and it did not disappoint.

The next day we were met by our guide for the day, Ichiro. We went to the Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour which was fascinating. We had a very full day visiting shrines and ending up at Fushiminari. Fantastic!

On Day 7 we were met by our guide Naoko who was wonderful. We enjoyed her very much. We spent the day in Nara, so fascinating.

On our final tour day our guide once again was Ichiro. We went to Osak for another of my desired destinations, Himeji Castle with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The castle tour and gardens were amazing. We finished up with the ropeway to Mount Shosha, another of my must see destinations. It was amazing. And Ichiro was so very knowlegeable.

The next morning our driver met us for an early morning drive to Osaka airport in the rain. Goodbye Japan.

Hotel Review

Matsuzakaya Honten

Kanagawa

We loved this traditional hotel and onsen. We highly recommend it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

World Heritage Himeji Castle Visiting & Mount Shosha visit

Osaka

Our final tour was to Himeji Castle with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The castle tour and gardens were amazing. We finished up with the ropeway to Mount Shosha, another of my must see destinations. It was amazing.

Quality of Experience

We were so lucky to get to this beautiful place when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Ichiro was so knowledgeable!

Full Day Nara City Tour with Public transportation

Japan

On Day 7 we were met by our guide Naoko who was wonderful. We enjoyed her very much. We spent the day in Nara, so fascinating.

Quality of Experience

So much beauty

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved Naoko!

Transport

Kari, the driver was great.

Half Day Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour

Kyoto

We went to the Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour which was fascinating. We had a very full day visiting shrines and ending up at Fushiminari. Fascinating!

Quality of Experience

Seeing so much beauty and culture

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ichiro is so knowledgeable

Samurai Ninja Museum & Tea Ceremony Experience

Kyoto

We took the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Our first excursion was to the Tea Ceremony Experience. We dressed in Kimonos and were shown the intricacies of the tea ceremony. it was fantastic. After that we went to the Samurai and Ninja Musem. This was one of my special choices and it did not disappoint.

Quality of Experience

Private Hakone’s natural beauty Tour

Hakone

Yasuhiro, called Moshi. He is an English professor and spoke perfect English and also Spanish, as does my wife Norma. He took us to Hakone, and unfortunately it rained all day so we did not get to see Mt. Fuji. He took us up the Hakone Ropeway to the top where we had lunch and toured the shop. When we came down we took a tour boat around the lake. He dropped us at our Honten for the evening. We really enjoyed the traditional accommodations, including the private natural hot spring onsen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We arrived safe and sound

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Our guide for the first excursion in Tokyo was Haiyan. She was very helpful and knowledgeable. We saw the Imperial Palace, as close as we could get, since entry was not allowed. The we went to the Senso-ji temple, very impressive. She also helped us get to a location that I wanted to see, The Samurai Store. We never would have found it if it was not for Haiyan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and very knowledgeable

Transport