Kimkim Trip Reviews for Scotland

4.7
Based on 80 ratings
Read 80 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Scotland on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Thank you for planning a wonderful trip
Scotland | May 15 - May 30, 2024

P
Pei, Jack, Nolan N.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jun 03, 2024
Hi Luigi, Thank you for planning a wonderful trip for us. Overall, working with you was great and we had a wonderful time with a couple of exceptions that I mention later. Your itinerary gave us a Scotland experience we would never have come up with on our own. Your daily updates during the trip helped set the context for the day, and our guides were knowledgeable, personable, and accommodating. We feel like we came away with wonderful memories and a more tangible feel for Scottish... Read more

Hi Luigi,

Thank you for planning a wonderful trip for us. Overall, working with you was great and we had a wonderful time with a couple of exceptions that I mention later. Your itinerary gave us a Scotland experience we would never have come up with on our own. Your daily updates during the trip helped set the context for the day, and our guides were knowledgeable, personable, and accommodating. We feel like we came away with wonderful memories and a more tangible feel for Scottish history, culture, and the landscape.

All the scheduled activities and sites were amazing, and I could write about each one. In the interest of brevity, I’ll keep it to a couple.

The Farm of Kinaldy Shetland and Valais sheep was a highlight. Julie was a wonderful host and was happy to answer any and all questions. She let us interact with the sheep, wander around her field to take as many photos as we like, and even try our hands at sheering. The sheep are very people-friendly. We also got to see two highland cows she acquired recently. I would recommend this experience to anyone interested in sheep if they don’t mind getting their shoes a bit muddy.

Cawdor Castle was another highlight. The gardens, in particular, were spectacular, bursting with spring colors. Given all the blooming flowers, we spent more time than I expected in gardens during this trip. I recommend people intentionally allocate time for gardens when touring in late May.

The main issues we had during the trip were with two hotels. The first was Inverlochy Castle. A pipe broke and flooded our room around midnight. We had to call the front desk multiple times before they sent anyone to help us because the night porter could not reach the manager. After much insistence from me, they moved us to two other rooms. This process took about an hour because we had to dress, pack, and move to rooms across the site in the main building (our original room was in the old guard house by the road). We did not sleep well that night. When we checked out the next morning, I thought they would compensate us somehow, but the manager did not even mention the incident. When I brought it up, they said they had moved us to new rooms, so they viewed that as sufficient. This was a shocking response from a supposedly 5-star hotel, given what had happened. I would not recommend this hotel.

The second hotel issue was more minor. Our breakfast was not included in the Waldorf stay, and we had to pay for it, even though the itinerary said it was included.

If there is a way for us to be compensated for either of the hotel issues, please let us know.

I hope this information is helpful. Again, thank you for helping us with a wonderful trip.

Sincerely,
Jack, Pei, and Nolan

Local specialist: Luigi Pasiani
Luigi
Luigi Pasiani
Local specialist in Edinburgh | Replied on Jun 03, 2024
Dear Jack, Pei, and Nolan, Thank you for the positive review you were kind enough to write. I am very sorry for the unfortunate event at Inverlochy Castle.
I agree with you that while an unfortunate incident can occur, the hotel's delayed reaction and lack of goodwill gesture are certainly to be condemned.
I have just written to the hotel management, although I honestly do not expect them to take any action. Such behaviour will influence my future choices. I am as surprised as you are... Read more

Dear Jack, Pei, and Nolan,

Thank you for the positive review you were kind enough to write. I am very sorry for the unfortunate event at Inverlochy Castle.
I agree with you that while an unfortunate incident can occur, the hotel's delayed reaction and lack of goodwill gesture are certainly to be condemned.

I have just written to the hotel management, although I honestly do not expect them to take any action. Such behaviour will influence my future choices.

I am as surprised as you are about the breakfast at the Waldorf, given that it is always included everywhere. I might have made a mistake, so if you could let me know how much you spent, I would be happy to reimburse you promptly.

I am glad that the other experiences were satisfactory. Thank you for the genuine review. The process of improving services must be continuous, and it is only thanks to people like you that we can improve and strive to meet our guests' expectations.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,
Luigi

Best Scotland Trip
Scotland | May 5 - May 17, 2024

T
Theresa M.
Fair Oaks, CA | Reviewed on Jun 02, 2024
This trip was truly a once in a lifetime vacation. Neil planned everything for us and we could not have asked for a better itinerary. It was everything we could have asked for and more! We loved all our castle tours and even had an extra day where we added in the Stirling Castle (which ended up being my favorite) Loved all the history of the Jacobites and the Culloden battlefield tour. Our favorite town was Portree I think I would have liked an extra day there...so much to see... Read more

This trip was truly a once in a lifetime vacation. Neil planned everything for us and we could not have asked for a better itinerary. It was everything we could have asked for and more!

We loved all our castle tours and even had an extra day where we added in the Stirling Castle (which ended up being my favorite)

Loved all the history of the Jacobites and the Culloden battlefield tour.

Our favorite town was Portree I think I would have liked an extra day there...so much to see and do. We loved the Highlands and Isle of Skye.

Hotel Reviews
The Garrison
Fort William
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Angel's Share Hotel
New Town, Edinburgh

The staff was very friendly and helpful

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Apex City of Glasgow Hotel
Glasgow
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Royal Hotel Portree
Portree
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kingsmills Hotel
Inverness

The water pressure could have been beter

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Neil West

Wonderful experience!
Scotland | May 15 - May 30, 2024

Brett
Brett T.
Orange, CA | Reviewed on May 31, 2024
We had a plan but needed some professional guidance to puzzle this trip together. Thankful that we chose the right company for the job. Neil listened to our requests and gave suggestions that we could choose or reject. The process was simple and customizable. This was an amazingly memorable trip. Thanks to Neil and Cathy for helping us Read more

We had a plan but needed some professional guidance to puzzle this trip together. Thankful that we chose the right company for the job. Neil listened to our requests and gave suggestions that we could choose or reject. The process was simple and customizable. This was an amazingly memorable trip. Thanks to Neil and Cathy for helping us

Hotel Reviews
Lodge on Loch Lomond
Luss, Argyll & Bute

Wonderful accommodations! Beautiful hotel with a very friendly staff

Authenticity & Character
Atmosphere
Location
The hotel is on the shore of Loch Lomond
Staff
Very friendly and courteous
Cleanliness & Comfort
Best night of sleep
Glenegedale House
Islay Island

Wonderful stay! Highly recommend

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful House
Location
It is in the country so you will need to get a taxi if you plan on eating or drinking away from the B&B
Staff
Our hosts were wonderful. Breakfast is a must. Don’t say no too the porridge!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Perfect
The Stirling Highland Hotel
Stirling

We were given a room that accommodated a guest that required a wheelchair. This trip was booked well in advance and should have been a regular room. The beds were uncomfortable and the shower which was open with no tray covered the bathroom floor with water due to a poor drain. Upon check in we alerted the front desk to probable room mistake but we were assured this was our room and the hotel was full

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Clydeside Distillery Visit
Clydeside Distillery Visit
Glasgow

A relatively young distillery with a lot of old history

Quality of Experience
Very informative
Guides, Drivers and Staff
friendly
Transport
We walked to the location
Oban Distillery Tour
Oban Distillery Tour
Oban

Very informative, a quality tour

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Islay Whisky Tasting Tour (Lagavulin and others included)
Islay Whisky Tasting Tour (Lagavulin and others included)
Islay

This was a cask tour which was informative and the whisky delicious. However, none of the whisky that we tried were available for purchase

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We had a wonderful driver for the day from Islay Whisky Tours which uses Bruichladdich Taxi. Sheena took us too 5 distilleries. She asked us what we were planning for dinner and made a recommendation as well as reservations for us in Port Charlotte. If that wasn’t enough she secured a taxi for us after we were finished
Visit to Urquhart Castle
Visit to Urquhart Castle
Scotland

Loved the history on this self guided tour.

Quality of Experience
Blair Atholl Castle Entrance tickets
Blair Atholl Castle Entrance tickets
Pitlochry

Modern Castle, great history

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self guided
Culloden Battlefield private tour
Culloden Battlefield private tour
Inverness

We came for the history and not the weather! This was the most informative and best tour we went on

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rhona Moir introduced herself via WhatsApp a few days before the tour. She informed us that the weather conditions for the tour would be extreme and even provided us with umbrellas. So happy we ignored the weather. A delightful history lesson
Local specialist: Neil West
Neil
Neil West
Local specialist in Glasgow & Fife | Replied on May 31, 2024

Hi Brett,

Thank you for taking the time to provide such a thorough review; it's really appreciated. The photos are fantastic & it looks like you've had some great whisky tasting experiences!

I can only apologise in regards to the hotel where you had the issue; I'll look into this & use this as learning going forward.

It was a pleasure putting this trip together for you & I hope that you'll both have the chance to come and visit Scotland again in future!

All the very best,
Neil

Great experience
Scotland | May 24 - May 29, 2024

N
Noah L.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 30, 2024

Really appreciated the thoughtful planning, flexibility and communication provided by Neil. He was great to work with and the trip was fantastic. The electronic trip plan with all necessary details and tickets embedded made it all very easy and enjoyable. Thank you!

Local specialist: Neil West
Neil
Neil West
Local specialist in Glasgow & Fife | Replied on May 30, 2024

Hi Noah,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. It was a pleasure putting this trip together for you & I am delighted that you had a great time in Scotland!

It is also wonderful to hear that the roadbook was so easy to use & that it aided in your overall enjoyment in-country!

Best wishes for the future,
Neil

Great trip to Scotland with two major glitches
Scotland | May 18 - May 26, 2024

T
Trupti P.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 28, 2024
We had never used KimKim previously and this was a test run for my husband and me. I hired KimKim because I did not have the time to devote to planning a trip. My understanding was that we were paying a premium to an agent so that they could do the hard work of planning our trip and we could rely on our agent to create an itinerary, provide vetted hotels, guides etc., answer questions and provide detailed information so that I would not have to devote too much time to the planning process.... Read more

We had never used KimKim previously and this was a test run for my husband and me. I hired KimKim because I did not have the time to devote to planning a trip. My understanding was that we were paying a premium to an agent so that they could do the hard work of planning our trip and we could rely on our agent to create an itinerary, provide vetted hotels, guides etc., answer questions and provide detailed information so that I would not have to devote too much time to the planning process. This did not work out exactly as I thought it would - details below.

Overall I thought KimKim was good, but it was too expensive for the amount of service that was provided and the ultimate result should have been great rather than just good given the price we paid. Let me start with what they did well - the web portal was easy enough to learn to use and our specialist Aleksandra was responsive to changes in our itinerary and to follow up questions. Aleksandra was also polite and professional. KimKim did a good job with providing good guides. Our guide for the City of Edinburgh and for a day trip to St. Andrews were both very good, and I would recommend them to others. The bookings for hotels and guides were organized and we had no problem with the hotels saying they didn't have our room, or guides not showing up on time, etc. The hotels where we stayed in Edinburgh, Inverlochy and on the Isle of Skye were all very good choices.

KimKim did not do a good job with some things. For instance, they were not great with booking restaurants - the places they recommended were quite touristy and we were clear that wasn't what we wanted - we ended up booking nearly all of our restaurant reservations ourselves. A much bigger issue is that they did not mention anywhere in our itinerary or in any correspondence with us that we needed to advance book the ferry from Mallaig to the Isle of Skye. This was an important detail as the ferry books up in advance during the high season, and we could not get onto the ferry and therefore ended up driving an extra 80 miles, missing the ability to sightsee on parts of the Isle of Skye that we had been planning to do that day. Needless to say, this was hugely disappointing and I think is a basic job of our booking company where they dropped the ball. This made me think that our agent was not a local and clearly did not know this and did not think to ask anyone with more local knowledge. Our expectation was that we were getting advice from a local and clearly that was not the case. The other thing that was spectacularly badly was that the last hotel we stayed in was absolutely atrocious. It clearly hadn't been renovated in a very long time and smelled musty and was just plain disgusting frankly, and the dining options were beyond awful. It was not a place where anybody would want to stay, and I have absolutely no idea why Aleksandra booked us there. Most of the trip was wonderful, but that was a terrible way to end and unfortunately it is the last thing we took away from our time in Scotland.

My recommendation is to be very hands on: (1) make sure to independently review the hotels to make sure that they meet your satisfaction, and provide detailed guidance as to what you're looking for, (2) make sure to doublecheck your itinerary and ask the questions that you would ask if you were planning the entire trip yourself. This of course means that you're putting in much more time in the planning process, which kind of defeats the purpose of hiring KimKim in the first place. I might be willing to try the service again, but in a much more active manner.

Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on May 29, 2024
Dear Trupti,
Thank you for your detailed feedback. I truly appreciate your honesty and the time you took to provide such comprehensive comments.
I’m pleased to hear that you found your trip great and that our guides in Edinburgh and St. Andrews were up to your standards. It’s also great to know that the majority of the hotel choices and the organization of bookings met your expectations. However, I am very sorry to learn about the aspects of your trip that fell short.
I regret that our...
Read more

Dear Trupti,
Thank you for your detailed feedback. I truly appreciate your honesty and the time you took to provide such comprehensive comments.

I’m pleased to hear that you found your trip great and that our guides in Edinburgh and St. Andrews were up to your standards. It’s also great to know that the majority of the hotel choices and the organization of bookings met your expectations.

However, I am very sorry to learn about the aspects of your trip that fell short.
I regret that our restaurant suggestions were not aligned with your preference to avoid touristy spots, as these were places which locals love to visit.

Regarding the ferry, I’m very sorry to hear about the inconvenience you faced.
Usually, we don’t book them in advance to allow flexibility to accommodate changing travel plans. While this approach often works, I can agree that in your case it didn’t work as you expected. I deeply regret the impact this had on your trip, and your feedback will help us improve our service for future clients.

It’s disappointing to hear that your experience at Dalhousie Castle Hotel did not meet your expectations, especially given its previously high reviews. We always strive to provide the best options based on feedback and ratings, but we understand that experiences can vary due to room allocation or personal preferences.

As a client-oriented company, we would have been more than willing to assist you with changing the hotel promptly if you had brought this to our attention during your stay. Unfortunately, now that your stay has concluded, we are unable to rectify the situation. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.

Thank you once again for your invaluable feedback.

Sincerely,
Aleksandra

We will press repeat in capital letters.
Scotland | May 13 - May 27, 2024

Donna
Donna K.
Canada | Reviewed on May 28, 2024
We will press repeat in capital letters Every guide and every place was amazing. The trip was so well organized that it felt stress free. It felt like a trip of a lifetime. We already have given several friends, family and even complete strangers your name and recommended you highly.. Read more

We will press repeat in capital letters

Every guide and every place was amazing. The trip was so well organized that it felt stress free. It felt like a trip of a lifetime. We already have given several friends, family and even complete strangers your name and recommended you highly..

Hotel Reviews
24 Royal Terrace
Edinburgh

Very clean and unique.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Stirling Highland Hotel
Stirling

Clean, comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Garrison
Fort William

Clean, with everything we needed very handy and accessible.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bluebell House B&B
Inverness

Ken was friendly, organized and a great cook. Too bad he got sick the next morning and we missed breakfast but the place was pristine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Coolin View
Portree

Loived everything.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Oban Bay Hotel
Oban

Clean, beautiful views, friendly and accommodating staff.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tigh Grianach Bed and Breakfast
Barra

This definitely earns the title of 5-star. Spotless, comfortable. Jackie is an amazing cook, gifted hostess and kind and friendly. Rob our tour guide was over the top. He was very knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. He took interest in researching information about Donna’s family even after the tour was over. When he finds info he emails me and we will keep in touch. Wow.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
One way to Mallaig on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)
One way to Mallaig on the Jacobite Train (of Harry Potter fame)
Scotland

Was extremely hot.

Quality of Experience
The tour guide was great. Told us about sites along the way in time to take pictures.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

Good- informative. But short. Didn’t take us in to anything. Was just an introduction.

Quality of Experience
Longer more detail
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Justine Stewart

Scotland
Scotland | May 15 - May 26, 2024

Caroline
Caroline S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on May 27, 2024
Scotland is stunningly beautiful. We especially loved Oban and the standing stones of Kilmartin. Neil and Emily were excellent to work with. Read more

Scotland is stunningly beautiful. We especially loved Oban and the standing stones of Kilmartin. Neil and Emily were excellent to work with.

Hotel Reviews
The g Hotel & Spa
Galway

The g Hotel & Spa in Galway was a fantastic place to stay. The rooms were great, and the staff was kind and accommodating. It had a nice boutique feel while still offering top-notch amenities. Overall, it was a very nice experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Galway.

3 Oban Self catering Apartment with seaview
Oban

Staying at the 3 Oban Self Catering Apartment was a bit different, but fun. It felt like an Airbnb and was fine for what it was. We did have to deal with a lot of steps up to the door, but it was enjoyable to be in a shared living space with the other couple we travelled with. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was comfortable and suited our needs for the stay.

Eden Locke
Edinburgh

Eden Locke in Edinburgh was the perfect place to stay. The little apartment was fantastic, and it served as a great base for exploring the city. We loved visiting the castle, walking around the Royal Mile, and even catching the marathon. There were also some sweet little spots off the beaten path that we enjoyed discovering. Overall, it was one of our better trips, largely thanks to Eden Locke.

Location
Activity Reviews
Dingle Distillery Tour
Dingle Distillery Tour
Ireland

The Dingle Distillery Tour was a fantastic experience. The distillery has been around for 50 years, and our tour guide did an excellent job explaining the history and the distillation process. I loved learning about the craft of Irish whiskey-making and even ended up buying some whiskey to take home. Highly recommended!

Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center tickets
Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher were absolutely breathtaking. The visitor center provided a lot of interesting information about the cliffs and the surrounding area. The views were stunning, and it was a must-see on our trip. I loved every moment of it and would visit again in a heartbeat.

Local specialist: Neil West
Neil
Neil West
Local specialist in Glasgow & Fife | Replied on Jun 03, 2024

Hi Caroline,

Thank you for leaving us this positive review. Emily & I really enjoyed planning this trip for all of you and we enjoyed speaking with everyone on the calls we had together!

Scotland & Ireland are fantastic places to visit and we're very glad you were able to experience both on this amazing trip!

Our very best regards,
Neil & Emily

Fantastic Trip to Scotland Thanks to Aleksandra
Scotland | May 13 - May 19, 2024

Estee
Estee L.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 21, 2024
Our trip to Scotland was fantastic! From minute one, our specialist Aleksandra was an excellent partner in planning the trip. I can't say enough about how great she was. She was so responsive before, during, and even after the trip. Any time I had a question, she was there quickly with the answer, and I had lots of questions. The other amazing thing was how fast she pulled the trip together for us because we started the planning pretty late. Nonetheless, she made sure everything was top... Read more

Our trip to Scotland was fantastic! From minute one, our specialist Aleksandra was an excellent partner in planning the trip. I can't say enough about how great she was. She was so responsive before, during, and even after the trip. Any time I had a question, she was there quickly with the answer, and I had lots of questions. The other amazing thing was how fast she pulled the trip together for us because we started the planning pretty late. Nonetheless, she made sure everything was top notch for us. Her responsiveness really lowered our stress and heightened our enjoyment of the wonderful country of Scotland. I highly recommend Aleksandra!

We loved all parts of our trip to Scotland. We had a terrific array of excellent guides (Chris in Edinburgh, John in the Highlands/Isle of Skye, Osh in Glasgow) and drivers. The guides were incredibly pleasant and knowledgeable and took us to such beautiful and interesting places. The trip was fascinating and went extremely smoothly even though we did so many fun things. Scotland is beautiful with wonderful people and kimkim helped us make the most of it.

Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh

Chris was a great guide - the tour was so interesting.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Edinburgh Castle Tour
Private Edinburgh Castle Tour
Edinburgh

We really liked touring the castle with Chris and the afternoon tea was delicious and fun!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Taxi to the Train Station
Taxi to the Train Station
Scotland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Taxi to Your Hotel
Taxi to Your Hotel
Inverness
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Taxi to the Train Station
Taxi to the Train Station
Inverness

Ilir was great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle & Much More From Inverness City
Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle & Much More From Inverness City
Inverness

Wonderful trip with John around the beautiful Highlands!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Glasgow Essentials Tour
Private Glasgow Essentials Tour
Glasgow

Osh is incredibly knowledgeable and showed us so much of the wonderful city of Glasgow in a short time. His passion for his city is inspiring.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness with Talisker Destillery Visit
The Ultimate Isle of Skye Tour from Inverness with Talisker Destillery Visit
Inverness

John was a great guide for us in this spectacularly beautiful place. We also liked the lunch.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on May 21, 2024

Dear Estelle,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
It was an absolute joy to assist you in planning your trip. Your kind words mean a lot to me, and knowing that you enjoyed your Scotland trip fills me with so much happiness!

Thank you for choosing Kimkim and for your high recommendation. Scotland is indeed a beautiful country with wonderful people, and I'm so glad we could help you make the most of it.

Sincerely,
Aleksandra

Price gouging for a vacation
Scotland | May 6 - May 15, 2024

N
Nina A.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on May 20, 2024
Although we had a great time in Scotland, I can't get over the lack of transparency of the trip cost from this company. After we booked, I noticed how high the overall price was and compared it against the hotels that were booked, car rental, and activities and the total price of those did not even come close to the total we paid Kimkim. I reached out to Stephen and he said that his manager stated they were unable to provide a breakdown of cost. A hotel and the car rental company provided us... Read more

Although we had a great time in Scotland, I can't get over the lack of transparency of the trip cost from this company. After we booked, I noticed how high the overall price was and compared it against the hotels that were booked, car rental, and activities and the total price of those did not even come close to the total we paid Kimkim. I reached out to Stephen and he said that his manager stated they were unable to provide a breakdown of cost. A hotel and the car rental company provided us with the invoices, and we were able to see the prices for each activity when we got to the location and nothing added up except that the fee to book with Kimkim was beyond astronomical and nothing short of highway robbery. Super unfortunate.

Local specialist: Stephen Molloy
Stephen
Stephen Molloy
Local specialist in Dorset and Lyon | Replied on May 24, 2024
Dear Nina & Colten, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are, actually, delighted to hear that you had a great time exploring Scotland, and thank you for saying that in your feedback review. It truly is a beautiful and captivating country, and we're glad we could be a part of your journey. Obviously, though you are disappointed about the price paid, not the experience. Scotland is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, but it is also... Read more

Dear Nina & Colten,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are, actually, delighted to hear that you had a great time exploring Scotland, and thank you for saying that in your feedback review. It truly is a beautiful and captivating country, and we're glad we could be a part of your journey.

Obviously, though you are disappointed about the price paid, not the experience. Scotland is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, but it is also recognized as one of the more expensive travel destinations on the planet. According to recent statistics, the UK was ranked sixth in the world. Your trip was to Scotland, which is known to have even higher prices.

We understand your concerns about the overall cost of the trip. We strive to provide a seamless travel experience, which includes not only accommodations, car rentals, and activities but also personalized service, expert planning, and support throughout your trip. We aim to ensure that you have a stress-free and memorable vacation, which often involves behind-the-scenes efforts and resources that may not be immediately visible.

Many of our travelers appreciate the added value and peace of mind that our services provide. While we recognize that the breakdown of costs might not have met your expectations, we assure you that our pricing reflects the comprehensive service and expertise that we offer. Most of our clients have found great value in our services and have enjoyed their trips thoroughly. The fee that Kimkim uses for marketing and support is completely normal, when compared across the whole industry.

I do think it is important to provide a breakdown of what our team in the UK & France have spent on the trip:

• Trip crafting and feedback: 1.5 days
• Payment of suppliers and booking: 0.5 days
• Confirmation & communication with suppliers: 0.5 days
• Roadbook crafting: 1.5 days
• Assistance on site 24/7 included, via our on-call staff

We regret any frustration this lack of an initial breakdown may have caused and appreciate your feedback as it helps us improve. WE REALLY DO LISTEN, AND IT PROVOKES A HEALTHY DEBATE IN OUR OFFICE ENVIRONMENT. If there’s anything further we can assist you with or if you have more specific feedback, please feel free to reach out to us directly.

Thank you once again for choosing Kimkim, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.

Best regards,
Stephen

Scotland/ Family trip
Scotland | Apr 27 - May 6, 2024

Mary Rita
Mary Rita G.
Niles, IL | Reviewed on May 19, 2024
This was a lovely trip to Scotland! Robert our tour guide in Edinburgh Old town was great! Our Outlander tour with Edinburgh Black Cab Tours and Stephen was to exciting. Then the best day on our trip was the day on Isle of Skye with Sandy. Isle of Skye was an amazing day.
Wish we had had adjusted more than 1 day at the end of the trip. Not sure I was a fan of all our accommodations. Loved our adventure to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Read more

This was a lovely trip to Scotland! Robert our tour guide in Edinburgh Old town was great! Our Outlander tour with Edinburgh Black Cab Tours and Stephen was to exciting. Then the best day on our trip was the day on Isle of Skye with Sandy. Isle of Skye was an amazing day.
Wish we had had adjusted more than 1 day at the end of the trip. Not sure I was a fan of all our accommodations. Loved our adventure to 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Hotel Reviews
Amano Covent Garden
London

Loved this area. Great place to stay in the theatre district. Staff was very accommodating!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Destiny Scotland - Distillers House
Edinburgh

This was very roomy any clean, but more like a VRBO. Not much food in the area to grab for breakfast. No time on our schedule yo find a place to pick up food yo cook and more supplies for our room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
No staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ac Marriott Inverness
Inverness

Amazing, new hotel in Inverness! The staff was friendly and very supportive! Had a blast at the bar with the friendliest bartenders! Breakfast was great!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Corran
Onich

This stay was a bit ruff! The Corran was clean and very local which I loved, but there was no food options near hotel. It was a 40.00 cab ride to Ft William. So our 1 day stay added 120.00 to go back and forth.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Amazing remote views, not close to town.
Staff
No stsff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clayton Hotel
Glasgow
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh

Robert was very informative on our walking hour. He very knowledgeable and showed us so much of the city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
None provided
Outlander Castle Tour
Outlander Castle Tour
Edinburgh

For the Outlander Fans this the day!!!!! Edinburgh Black Cab Tour and Stephen were fantastic! Even if not a fan of the show you would have enjoyed all the local stops. Again 💯% and over the top with knowledge and friendliness.

Quality of Experience
Stephen! Great stops/ great lunch/ went out of his was.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Edinburgh Black Cab Company was great
Private Edinburgh Castle Tour
Private Edinburgh Castle Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
None provided
Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise
Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise
Scotland

Fine, but a bad weather day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
None
Rosslyn Chapel & Glenkinchie Distillery Private Tour
Rosslyn Chapel & Glenkinchie Distillery Private Tour
Edinburgh
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Edinburgh Black Cab and Melvin
Transport
Isle of Skye Tour including the  Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and other attractions
Isle of Skye Tour including the Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and other attractions
Inverness

Best day of our trip!!!!! The Isle of Skye for our day trip was so captivating, beautiful, stunning, awe inspiring and to top it off a gorgeous weather day. Staring off visiting the highland coos, Loch Ness, Eileen Dune Cadtle ,5 Sisters of Kintail ,and then over to Skye. Portree, Man of Stor, Kilt Rock and Quiraing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sandy was a joy to send the day with.
Transport
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on May 22, 2024
Hi Lynn, Mary Rita and Moira, It was my absolute pleasure to tailor this trip for you! I’m so delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in Scotland and that you had such memorable experiences, especially on the Isle of Skye and with our wonderful guides like Robert and Stephen. And I am absolutely in love with your photos, they are amazing!!! Your feedback is truly priceless and will help me to tailor future trips even better. I’m grateful for your detailed reviews of the accommodations... Read more

Hi Lynn, Mary Rita and Moira,

It was my absolute pleasure to tailor this trip for you! I’m so delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time in Scotland and that you had such memorable experiences, especially on the Isle of Skye and with our wonderful guides like Robert and Stephen. And I am absolutely in love with your photos, they are amazing!!!

Your feedback is truly priceless and will help me to tailor future trips even better. I’m grateful for your detailed reviews of the accommodations and activities. I'm especially glad to hear about the highlights and the great service you experienced at places like Amano Covent Garden and AC Marriott Inverness.

I’m sorry to hear about the inconvenience you faced at The Corran. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will make sure to reconsider its inclusion in future itineraries to ensure a more seamless experience for our travelers.

Thank you again for choosing me to help plan your adventure. And I wish you plenty of exceptional trips ahead!

Best,
Kat

Great second trip with kimkim; local guides a strength
Scotland | Apr 27 - May 6, 2024

Lynn
Lynn K.
St. Petersburg, FL | Reviewed on May 13, 2024
Our second trip with kimkim was terrific. We had great local guides and our coordinator, Kateryna, booked us into wonderful hotels. We saw an overview of Scotland, with a night in London to start and a night in Dublin right before we returned home.
Our activities included tours of Edinburgh Old Town (Robert, our guide, was great), Edinburgh Castle (a second great guide), castles and countryside under the umbrella of an “Outlander” tour (lovely and fun, great guide: Stephen of Edinburgh...
Read more

Our second trip with kimkim was terrific. We had great local guides and our coordinator, Kateryna, booked us into wonderful hotels. We saw an overview of Scotland, with a night in London to start and a night in Dublin right before we returned home.
Our activities included tours of Edinburgh Old Town (Robert, our guide, was great), Edinburgh Castle (a second great guide), castles and countryside under the umbrella of an “Outlander” tour (lovely and fun, great guide: Stephen of Edinburgh Black Car Tours), a seal watching boat tour (bad weather, unfortunately), a whisky distillery tour (fun), a tour of Rosslyn Castle (beautiful—both with Edinburgh Black Cars again), and the highlight, Isle of Skye on a 75-degree, sunny day (spectacular, and a great guide: Sandy Dear Tours).
We enjoyed several fine dinners. Notably, The Witchery in Edinburgh was reserved for us by our coordinator.
We feel we got a good first introduction to Scotland. Kimkim set us up with tour guides we never would have found on our own.
After booking two trips with them (Spain and Scotland), I feel that is their strength: finding guides that really know their areas and are personable and enthusiastic. We enjoyed our trip and, should we go back, have parts of the country we would like to visit in depth.
We will use kimkim for our next trip.

Hotel Reviews
Amano Covent Garden
London

Clean, comfortable room for three travelers. Foldout bed was set up for us before we arrived, which was nice.

Authenticity & Character
Modern hotel was elegant and updated
Location
Easy to walk to sites
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Destiny Scotland - Distillers House
Edinburgh

Good location. The apartment had one bedroom with queen bed and a shower, plus an anteroom with queen bed off the living room, plus a full bath and full kitchen. Great for three of us, quite large, relatively quiet even though it’s on a busy corner. Easy to walk to a couple breakfast convenience stores and a couple pubs.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Corran
Onich

A self-check-in property. We did not receive the code before we arrived and had to contact our kimkim coordinator so waited a bit in the rain. The property is outside Fort William about a 20-minute taxi ride. Clean, a bit dated decor, not as convenient as we hoped given we did not have a car. Restaurant was closed, which we were not informed about prior to arriving, so we had to venture back and forth to the town to eat and to meet our boat tour. Overall, fine, but expensive and inconvenient.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ac Marriott Inverness
Inverness
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clayton Hotel
Glasgow
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh Old Town Tour
Edinburgh

Our guide, Robert, was terrific. Engaging, personable, he started by asking us what we were interested in: architecture, history, ??? He shared great stories, and shared insights into kilts, showed us a couple of Harry Potter sites, and recommended pubs. Great tour and guided introduction to Edinburgh. Do this first!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Edinburgh Castle Tour
Private Edinburgh Castle Tour
Edinburgh

Great guide for our smallish (15) group from several countries. On a windy, rainy, day, he added insights, humor, and moved things along but in a comfortable way for our group of diverse ages (from toddler to seniors). We loved his stories and highly recommend him.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Outlander Castle Tour
Outlander Castle Tour
Edinburgh

Our guide, Stephen, made this tour great. Engaging, funny, responsive, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. He spent a lot of time with us, showing us castles, ruins, towns (Culross was my favorite), graveyards, and the best pub for fish and chips for lunch. Highly recommend Edinburgh Black Car Tours.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Stephen was a fantastic guide.
Transport
Comfortable luxury car.
Rosslyn Chapel & Glenkinchie Distillery Private Tour
Rosslyn Chapel & Glenkinchie Distillery Private Tour
Edinburgh

The most beautiful castle we saw in Scotland. The brief lecture was interesting, too. Glenkinchie Distillery is a beautiful facility. The group we were with had a lot of fun and our guide was absolutely great. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver from Edinburgh Black Car Tours, Melvin, was such a gentleman, so kind.
Transport
Isle of Skye Tour including the  Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and other attractions
Isle of Skye Tour including the Eilean Donan Castle, Portree and other attractions
Inverness

This tour was the highlight of our entire trip! Our guide, Sandy of Sandy Dear Tours, was great. We were out for about 10 hours, and we ran into very few people the entire day. I don’t know how he managed to put us in the right spots all day without running into tour busses. We were blessed with great weather, too. Very informative and truly breathtaking scenery made this our #1 event of our trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sandy Dear was a great guide, comfortable large SUV, and responsive to our requests.
Transport
Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise
Seal Spotting Loch Linnhe Cruise
Scotland

The boat trip was interesting, with new information for us on salmon farming, Ben Nevis, and seal island. Unfortunately it was quite rainy and cold which limited how many seals happened to be out at the time. The tour commentator and crew were great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on May 14, 2024
Hi Lynn, Mary Rita, and Moira, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. It was an absolute pleasure to create your trip, and seeing your photos while you were traveling brought me so much joy. I’m delighted that you enjoyed your time in the UK and had such positive experiences with our guides. Thank you also for your high reviews of the guides! I will reconsider The Corran Hotel and will not propose it to future travelers based on your feedback. Your insights are invaluable in... Read more

Hi Lynn, Mary Rita, and Moira,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. It was an absolute pleasure to create your trip, and seeing your photos while you were traveling brought me so much joy. I’m delighted that you enjoyed your time in the UK and had such positive experiences with our guides.

Thank you also for your high reviews of the guides!

I will reconsider The Corran Hotel and will not propose it to future travelers based on your feedback. Your insights are invaluable in helping us improve our services.

Wishing you plenty of amazing adventures ahead!

My warmest wishes,
Kateryna

Overall, happy with service. Would have lik...
Scotland | May 3 - May 11, 2024

Jishnu
Jishnu G.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on May 13, 2024

Overall, happy with service.

Would have liked faster responsiveness to last minute inquiries or issue identifications.

Appreciate that response times depend on staff availability and local public holiday schedules. Suggest retaining backup coverage for these types of “real time” issues.

Best,

Local specialist: Neil West
Neil
Neil West
Local specialist in Glasgow & Fife | Replied on May 20, 2024

Hi Jishnu,

Once again, many thanks for your review. We really appreciate your feedback & will endevour to take this on board as we move forward.

It was great to meet you and Indranil in Edinburgh and I hope your trip to Scotland was everything you had hoped for. Did someone get to take home the whisky - that is the question!

All the very best,
Neil

Wonderful Experience
Scotland | Apr 26 - May 3, 2024

Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn G.
Jacksonville, FL | Reviewed on May 10, 2024
Aleksandra was extremely helpful and communicative. We had an incredible time on our trip to Scotland! I'm looking forward to using KimKim again for future travel. The process was very straightforward, and went super smoothly. Even when our hotel had an issue that made them unable to follow through on our reservation, we were set up with another very nice hotel in a great location, and didn't have to worry about it one bit. Thank you for all of your help! Read more

Aleksandra was extremely helpful and communicative. We had an incredible time on our trip to Scotland! I'm looking forward to using KimKim again for future travel. The process was very straightforward, and went super smoothly. Even when our hotel had an issue that made them unable to follow through on our reservation, we were set up with another very nice hotel in a great location, and didn't have to worry about it one bit. Thank you for all of your help!

Activity Review
Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2-Hour Cruise
Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal 2-Hour Cruise
Inverness

We had so much fun on this Loch Ness cruise! The host was very personable, the hot chocolate was immaculate and the views were incredible. I would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Aleksandra
Aleksandra Shebaltseva
Local specialist in England | Replied on May 10, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words, Kaitlyn!
I'm thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time in Scotland, and that the Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal cruise was a highlight of your trip. It was my pleasure to work with you, and I'm glad you enjoyed your romantic escape.

All the best to you both, and I hope to see you again soon!

Warmest regards,
Aleksandra

Amazing trip to England and Scotland
Scotland | Apr 14 - Apr 29, 2024

Leonard
Leonard B.
Florence-Graham, CA | Reviewed on May 07, 2024
My wife and I started planning this trip in Dec 2023. A friend told me about KimKim and I reached out and relayed where we wanted to go: England and Scotland. Within a day or so Jane reached out to us. We gave our constraints to Jane and places we wanted to visit. We let her know we were both senior citizens, we were not going to drive, and what places we definitely wanted to see. We left Los Angeles April 13 and returned May 2. Jane and her team set up hotels, train rides, tours and... Read more

My wife and I started planning this trip in Dec 2023. A friend told me about KimKim and I reached out and relayed where we wanted to go: England and Scotland. Within a day or so Jane reached out to us. We gave our constraints to Jane and places we wanted to visit. We let her know we were both senior citizens, we were not going to drive, and what places we definitely wanted to see. We left Los Angeles April 13 and returned May 2. Jane and her team set up hotels, train rides, tours and recommendations for other tours and restaurants. Jane and her team came up with a fantastic itinerary starting in London going to Bath (day trip to Oxford University) to York to Edinburg (day trip to Glasgow) to Stirling to Inverness and then back to London on the Caledonia Sleeper Coach Besides our own walking tours we visited Jane Austen Museum, Roman Baths, Stonehenge, Avebury, York Minster, North York Moors, Whitby, Edinburg Castle, Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle, The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting, in Glasgow a 2 hour day tour of street art murals , Fishing Villages of St Andrews & Fife from Edinburg, St Andrews Golf Course, Stirling Castle, The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle. Our return to London from Inverness was on the Caledonia Sleeper Train. That was a great experience. something we had never done. Our last three days in London were on our own where we did London eye, St Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, five hour on off London Tour.
This trip was phenomenal to see all the beautiful landscapes and countryside plus historical sites. This was a personalized tour for my wife and myself agreed upon by us and created expertly by Jane and her team. Jane is now our benchmark for other travel Planners.
This is our first time using a travel planner for a personalized tour in this fashion. We are glad we did this.

Hotel Reviews
Park Plaza London Riverbank
London

Park Plaza London Riverbank – This was a very nice hotel part of the Radisson chain. 1. Reception/Check in – Check in was very easy. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. Our room was available right away since we got there at about 1800. 2. Service – Was excellent service throughout hotel and very friendly. 3. Room – Was a nice room and comfortable. Lighting was a little dim. A lack of outlets on one side of the bed required me to use an extension cord that I always carry . 4. Location – Wonderful location. On Sunday we walked to the British Museum for a tour. 5. Breakfast – Had a very good buffet breakfast. 6. Local restaurants – We ate at the Hotel Restaurant Chino Latino. We enjoyed some delicious tapas. 7. Hotel Recommendation – I would stay there again happily

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
everyone was friendly and welcoming
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything in its place.
The Grand, York
North Yorkshire

Grand York Hotel - This was by far our number one hotel. It was previously headquarters for the Railway. Only been a hotel for 12-13 years. It is beautiful inside and out. We so enjoyed it. 1. Reception/Check in – What a pleasant check-in. Beth was so friendly and welcoming as was everybody we interfaced with. We saw her a couple of times and she always stopped to say hello. Room was available right away. 2. Service – Stellar service throughout the hotel 3. Room – The room was perfect. Very spacious room. Well lit. The ceilings were 5 meters high. We were on the ground floor. Could not have asked for a better room. The porter said it was previously the office of the Railway Manager. Had a beautiful large fireplace. 4. Location – Perfect. We walked with our luggage from train station to the hotel and back and were warmly greeted as we arrived. 5. Breakfast – Not only is this the number one hotel we stayed at but it is the number one breakfast. Grand York has a spectacular buffet breakfast plus you can also order specialty eggs - omlettes fried eggs etc. Service was excellent. 6. Local restaurants – 1. Cote Restaurant we happened to find after visiting York Minister. Delicious Price Fixe menu and very reasonable. We thoroughly enjoyed it. 2. Delrios Italian Restaurant was simply delicious Italian food. Concierge, Matteo, called ahead for us. They were packed and we waited about 20 minutes and had some wine at the bar while waiting. Well worth the wait. Recommend make a reservation. 7. Hotel Recommendation – I would stay there again happily

Authenticity & Character
That it was a converted Railway station office building
Location
Close to everyrhing.
Staff
Friendliness and welcoming
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was in its place
Glen Mhor Hotel
Inverness

Glen Mhor Hotel Inverness – This was a very nice hotel. 1. Reception/Check in – Check in was easy but room was not available. Hung around in the bar and had lunch and waited around until room was ready. Maria from reception was so helpful and kind and was a wonderful face for the hotel. 2. Service – Was excellent service throughout hotel and very friendly. 3. Room – Room was very nice and a good size with high ceilings. We were on ground floor thankfully because there was no lift. 4. Location – Wonderful location. River Ness directly across the street. Lots of restaurants close by. Lots of walking possibilities, We taxied to and from the railway station. Not close enough to walk from station. 5. Breakfast – Breakfast was very good buffet but could also order eggs your way along with buffet items. Was at the Wayside Restaurant 6. Local restaurants – Wayside Restaurant at the hotel was good for breakfast. Also we had a early Sunday roast dinner there and it was quite good. After tour on Saturday we walked into town and found a nice Italian Restaurant called Bella Italia that had delicious Italian food. 7. Hotel Recommendation – I would stay there again happily

Authenticity & Character
The hotel was not laid out in separate buildings. Our room was like a small apartment
Location
Excellent location close to mid town
Staff
Every one was so friendly. Maria stood out for her friendliness and helpfulness.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was in its place and property was very clean
The Stirling Highland Hotel
Stirling

The Stirling Highland Hotel – This was a very nice hotel. It was previously a high school. 1. Reception/Check in- Check in was easy but room was not available. We walked up to the castle to do our tour that was very nice. 2. Service – Was excellent service throughout hotel and very friendly. 3. Room- Room was very nice and a comfortable size. Had a nice welcome basket with some chocolate bars, crisps, two half bottles of wine plus one full bottle of wine. 4. Location – We taxied to and from the hotel to Railway station. It was a little far and uphill. Hotel was close to the castle. We were there only one nite so did not go into town. We did do some walking around the hotel. 5. Breakfast – Breakfast was good. It was a smaller buffet breakfast but adequate 6. Local Restaurants - Since we were only there for one nite we had dinner there at hotel and it was quite delicious. 7. Recommendation – I would stay there again happily

Authenticity & Character
Very quaint. It was a high school previously
Location
Good location close to castle
Staff
All the staff were friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was clean and in its place
Malmaison Edinburgh City
Edinburgh

Malmaison Hotel Edinburg – This was a nice hotel. It was previously a prison at some point. Very awkward getting to our room. Had to go up or down some stairs to get to the lift. 1. Reception/Check in – Check in was fine and reception personnel were friendly and welcoming.. Room was not ready so we went to the Castle to do the Castle tour then the Afternoon Tea then the Whiskey Tasting. All three were great. 2. Service - Was excellent service throughout hotel and very friendly. 3. Room – Room was nice but a little on the small size and dimly lit. Served its purpose though 4. Location – Very good location, We walked to and from Railway Station with luggage. 5. Breakfast –Breakfast was good. Combination buffet and could order eggs, sausage and bacon, 6. Local Restaurants – Ate at the Amarone Italian Restaurant less than a block away from the hotel and on the right. Meal was quite good. Gordon Ramsey Restaurant across from the park. Very close. Food was very good 7. Hotel Recommendation - I would stay there again

Authenticity & Character
Hotel was a prison at one time.
Location
Close to lots of restaurants, stores and walking distance to RAILWAY STATION
Staff
All the staff were friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel was clean throughout
Henrietta House, a member of Radisson Individuals
Bath

Henrietta House Bath – I give this hotel a generous 3 star because of the downstairs niceness and friendliness of staff with the exception at check in. Our room was TERRIBLE 1. Reception/Check in – The gentleman at reception upon arrival was the most unfriendly and unwelcoming individual we had met at any Hotel on this trip. He was the only one because everyone else at the hotel were very friendly and provided good service. We left our bags in the lobby area and went off to do the Jane Austen and Roman Bath tours. When we came back there was a young woman, Kosmina, who was the most friendly and welcoming at the front desk. She was simply delightful. Direct opposite of the earlier encounter with the gentleman. She gave us necessary keys for our room. 2. Service – With the exception of our first encounter at afternoon check in everyone was so friendly. 3. Room - TERRIBLE! . Very small and low ceiling. I am short but when I lifted my arm up I could touch the ceiling. There was no closet just some hooks on the wall with hangars on them. The room was at an incline. The sliding bathroom door did not shut all the way. The bathroom was the size of a postage stamp. The shower space was so tiny. Taking a shower caused such a puddle that my wife could not wash her hair for fear of flooding the bathroom. I should have asked for another room but because of the sour reception we received at check in we just lived with it for the three days. Do not know what was charged our travel company but it was not worth it because of the poor room. I am sure there must be other rooms in much better condition and bigger. 4. Location - Location was good and close to restaurants and center of town. Taxied to and from the Railway Station. 5. Breakfast – Breakfast was good and from a menu. Breakfast did not start till 8:00 am though. 6. Local restaurants – Scallop Shell was delicious and had the most delicious Fish and Chips. A Tour driver said these Scallop Shell Restaurant Fish and Chips were the very best in England. They were indeed best Fish and Chips we had on the whole trip. Clayton’s Kitchen was delicious for dinner also. 7. Hotel Recommendation – Would stay there only in a completely normal room with a larger bathroom otherwise not,

Authenticity & Character
Hotel is beautiful inside and decorated nicely
Location
Good location and close to different sights
Staff
I only give 4 stars because of the sour reception at first check i. However Kosmina took care of us in the late afternoon and she was welcoming and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
I give a generous three stars because our room was very small, bathroom was small, bathroom door did not close, teeny tiny shower, and no closet, This room should not be used until improved,
Activity Reviews
Stonehenge, Avebury and Cotswolds Villages Small Group Tour
Stonehenge, Avebury and Cotswolds Villages Small Group Tour
Bath

This was an incredible tour to see historical sites and the country side as these. Stonehenge was breathtaking as well as Avebury, and Cotswold Villages

Quality of Experience
Everything stood out. Stonehenge was the most spectacular of all.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The director/driver was wonderful. So friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable.
Transport
The smaller coach was nice and it was comfortable
Divinity School, Old Bodleian Library - 60 Minutes
Divinity School, Old Bodleian Library - 60 Minutes
Oxford

The tour of the Divinity School, Old Bodleian Library was so interesting and educational. Being at Oxford University was an exciting experience. It was simply beautiful to tour the grounds. The surrounding made you feel you were in a Harry Potter movie

Quality of Experience
This was an exciting side trip and so glad we went.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The tour guide for the library had passio, knowledge, and a love of the library.
Transport
We took a train there and back. Train was fine.
Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle
Afternoon Tea at the Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh

This was simply delightful. The tea and sweet and savory food was delicious. Our service was stellar

Quality of Experience
This was something we do not do ordinarily so the experince was nice
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The servers for the tea were exceptional and friendly
Transport
We walked to the Castle it was close to our hotel
The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting
The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour and Tasting
Edinburgh

This Whiskey Tour was fabulous. They have this down perfectly. It was so enjoyable and informative.

Quality of Experience
The presentation was spot on. The tasting was memorable. The building is set up perfectly for the Scotch Tasting Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The presenter was so knowledgable on Scotch Whiskey and the process. He was engaging and made it very interesting.
Transport
We walked to the tour from hotel
The Caledonian Sleeper (Scotland Version)
The Caledonian Sleeper (Scotland Version)
Scotland

Caledonia Sleeper - This was an interesting experience on the twelve hour overnight train ride. 1. Passenger Assistance - Passenger Assistance was great and recommend it for seniors who are taking trains.. In Inverness the individual took us to our cabin and then I went with him to drop off luggage in another coach that had lots of space for luggage. So friendly and helpful. In London we were met right at our coach by a young woman who had a motorized style golf cart where she loaded our bags and drove us out to the exit where we then saw driver from Pinkberry. Driver was very friendly and we got to the hotel fairly quick considering traffic. 2. Caledonia Lounge _ This lounge was not in railway station but just across the street. Because of luggage we did not walk over there. It was raining a little bit too. I checked it out myself though and it was small but nice with some soft drinks and snacks. 3. Sleeping Cabin – was very small. I can see why doubles sell out so fast. We were both able to sleep in the bunk beds. I am glad we had this experience though. 4. Club Car – We went to club Car immediately upon boarding because it filled up so quickly. Breakfast was just ok. My wife had a sausage sandwich and I had a bacon sandwich. Both very small. 5. Recommendation – we would do it again but really trying to have a double.

Quality of Experience
My wife and i are not used to train rides especially 12 hour ones. It was a nice experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Passenger Assistance in Inverness and London was stellar
Transport
Train ride was very smooth. Key was being able to get to sleep. Club car was nice to go and unwind for a bit however if fills up fast.
Small Group tour of Glasgow
Small Group tour of Glasgow
Glasgow

This tour was given by a graduating college student who had a lot of passion for the subject. the tour was of the street art murals both sanctioned and non sanctioned. It was a wonderful two hour tour.

Quality of Experience
The experience gave us an insight to the street mural art in downtown Glasgow. There are some beautiful murals.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The tour guide really had passion for the street art and was able to inform us about the artists.
Transport
We did the tour walking. Tour guide made sure we crossed streets in safe locations.
Private transfer to your accommodation. Then check-in or bag-drop
Private transfer to your accommodation. Then check-in or bag-drop
London

After a long trip having a driver and a car waiting for you is a good start to the vacation. Drive in to London gave us the realization of the amount of congestion and traffic in London

Quality of Experience
No
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was very friendly and knowledgeable
Transport
Car was adequate for our luggage and two people to sit comfortably
Visit to York Minster
Visit to York Minster
York

York Minster is a sight to behold. it is incredible and the history that it has. My wife and i did a self tour. We missed the last tour of the day by 20 minutes.

Quality of Experience
Walking in York Minster at your own pace was a delight. It is so impressive inside with the stain glass windows, statues, art, and ceilings.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We did a self guided tour.
Transport
We walked to the York Minster from our hotel. Walk gave us chance to see some of the town.
Fishing Villages of St Andrews & Fife from Edinburgh
Fishing Villages of St Andrews & Fife from Edinburgh
Edinburgh

This was a great tour. The highlight for me was visiting the OLD Course of St Andrews Golf Course. Walking the streets of St Andrews was quite interesting seeing the different buildings and arceitecture.

Quality of Experience
Did not know what to expect on this tour but it did not disappoint. The beauty of the countryside and beauty of the Old Course were phenomenal.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide/drive was excellent. He was funny, engaging and very knowledgeable.
Transport
Transport was fine. Coach was comfortable
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
The Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle
Inverness

This was a spectacular tour. Very disappointed we did not see Nessie though. The beauty of the countryside and mountains plus Donan Castle were wonderful.

Quality of Experience
Everything was so spectacular to view. Donan Castle was quite interesting and a very nice self guided tour.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our tour guide/driver was amazing. She was so knowledgeable and had a passion for Inverness.
Transport
Coach was larger than I thought. Back coach row could be a little more comfortable by making it only four seats across instead of crowding into five seats
Stirling Castle Tickets
Stirling Castle Tickets
Stirling

This was very nice self guided tour of the castle. We were able to take our time. The Stirling Heads were a sight to see the intricacy of the carving. We were able to walk around the castle and walk through the cemetery and look at a spectacular view

Quality of Experience
Beautiful Castle and nicely set up for tours. The Stirling Heads were amazing to look at.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We walked to the Castle from our hotel. Staff at the castle were friendly and would answer any questions.
Transport
We walked to the Castle from our hotel.
Steam Trains, Whitby, and the North York Moors Full-Day Tour from York
Steam Trains, Whitby, and the North York Moors Full-Day Tour from York
York

Wonderful Tour. Whitby was a charming port town. Had a delicious lunch there. Scenery on the tour was spectacular. The steam train was a nice addition. This has a bridge goign over the train tracks used in a Harry Potter movie as well as the 9 3/4 wall he comes through. If you want to see 9 3/4 wall go to Kings Crossing Railway Station in london

Quality of Experience
The experience was quite nice. Whitby was a wonderful place to visit and walk around plus have lunch. The Steam Train was a nice experience to do.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The tour guide/driver was very knowledgeable and engaging. He provided good commentary and information.
Transport
The coach was comfortable. Tour took off on time
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on May 13, 2024

Thank you for your wonderful resume of your trip. This sure was a delight for myself and the team to work with you both.

It is super helpful for us to receive such detailed feedback and it gives us a great sense of pride to know that you appreciated our assistance.

This is a delight to read the travel experiences you both had.

Thank you for choosing to travel with us and we wish you many more happy travels.

All the best, Jane, Sarah and the Team

Jane was incredible! Kim Kim team worked extr...
Scotland | Mar 24 - Apr 7, 2024

D
Desiree S.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2024
Jane was incredible! Kim Kim team worked extremely hard for us as we had a unforeseen issues such as canceled flights, lost luggage, etc. They were able to reschedule much of our daily activities. Also, I left my cell phone in one of the tour guides car and we were able to get that back. We appreciate your tireless efforts to see that we still were scheduled and rescheduled where needed. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime! Read more

Jane was incredible! Kim Kim team worked extremely hard for us as we had a unforeseen issues such as canceled flights, lost luggage, etc. They were able to reschedule much of our daily activities. Also, I left my cell phone in one of the tour guides car and we were able to get that back. We appreciate your tireless efforts to see that we still were scheduled and rescheduled where needed. Thank you for the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Review
Angel's Share Hotel
New Town, Edinburgh

The employees at this hotel work tirelessly to see that everyone is served first class regardless of how many people show up to work! Service was second to none. Food was great! Ambience was great! I love where the name of this hotel came from Angels share - when they were making whiskey, the evaporation went into the air and shared with the angels their spirits

Authenticity & Character
Great taste of Scotland hospitality
Location
Located very close to Great shopping and restaurants
Staff
They worked tirelessly and always with a smile!
Cleanliness & Comfort
First class!
Local specialist: Jane Davey
Jane
Jane Davey
Local specialist in United Kingdom | Replied on Apr 14, 2024

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. It was a pleasure working with you, and despite certain challenges to your schedule you were able to have an amazing time.

Hope to see you again real soon.

All the best, Jane and The Team

Great trip. A big thanks to Emily and Cathy a...
Scotland | Mar 17 - Apr 6, 2024

K
Kevin S.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 09, 2024
Great trip. A big thanks to Emily and Cathy and the High Point Holidays team for all their help planning the trip to Scotland and Ireland and for there assistance when we were there. Everything went off quite smoothly and we had a great time. I’d also like to thank Safari Steve for a great day driving around Aviemore and to Maura in Killarney for all her selfless help and guidance with our driving route along the Slea Head trail. Read more

Great trip. A big thanks to Emily and Cathy and the High Point Holidays team for all their help planning the trip to Scotland and Ireland and for there assistance when we were there. Everything went off quite smoothly and we had a great time. I’d also like to thank Safari Steve for a great day driving around Aviemore and to Maura in Killarney for all her selfless help and guidance with our driving route along the Slea Head trail.

Hotel Reviews
Mercure Edinburgh City Princes Street Hotel
Edinburgh

The room was a little outdated and cramped but the location was great. You can walk to all the main sights with ease and close to numerous restaurants and pubs. The trams, buses and trains are also directly in front of you so getting around was a breeze. Great breakfast too.

Authenticity & Character
Quaint, friendly service, good food.
Location
Close to everything you’ll need and want. Perfect location for everything.
Staff
Everyone was friendly and quite helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The hotel has everything you need but it could use a little updating. Rooms are quite small.
The Stirling Highland Hotel
Stirling

Very nice hotel. Large rooms and walking distance to the castle and town. Would recommend for a night or possibly two.

Authenticity & Character
Nice place to stay and very quiet for being close to a main street.
Location
Close to everything you’ll need in Stirling.
Staff
Staff were quite nice and helpful with directions.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Good size rooms for Europe and very clean. Well done.
Cairngorm Hotel
Aviemore

This is the place to stay in Aviemore! This hotel has character, very good food and friendly staff. The restaurant and pub are frequented by guests and locals alike so even though this is a smallish inn this is literally the centre of town. Highly recommend staying here, eating here and going to the pub for a drink and some live music. The hotel is also very close to the mountains and lots of activities so the location is right on point.This hotel was one of the highlights of the trip for sure.

Authenticity & Character
This place has authenticity and character in spades. Just spend a couple nights and you’ll see what I mean.
Location
You’re walking distance or a short drive to everything you’ll need or want to do in or around Aviemore.
Staff
Staff were very friendly and helpful with advice. These people like where they work and it shows.
Cleanliness & Comfort
View of the mountains from your room and very comfortable bed. The only thing I could complain about was the very cramped shower in our particular room but the rest of the experience more than made up for that.
Skeabost House Hotel
Portree

This hotel was a bit of a drive but well worth it. The garden room was quite large with a nice view of the water. Great vibe to this place and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
Nice rooms, cozy bar and restaurant and pretty good food.
Location
As noted this hotel is a farther drive than many others but very peaceful place to spend a couple nights.
Staff
Everyone was quite friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
This place is very comfy and well maintained. Large rooms, nice view, comfy beds, heated floor in the bathroom and huge shower and tub. Couldn’t ask for more.
Perle
Oban

Perfect location, large room and view of the town and ocean. Staff were very friendly and breakfast was top notch. Highly recommend this hotel and a visit to Oban.

Authenticity & Character
Old building but very well maintained. Place has a great vibe.
Location
Town and the ocean are right outside your front door and you can walk to everything. Location can’t be beat.
Staff
The staff were all great. Very friendly vibe and service was quite good.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Motel One Glasgow
Glasgow

The location is great, you’re walking distance to everything and the train/tram is right outside your front door if you need them. Room and bar were nothing special but the location can’t be beat.

Authenticity & Character
Not a ton of character like many other spots in Europe but a fine place to stay.
Location
Right in the centre of town close to everything.
Staff
Staff were all pretty nice and helpful with directions.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was a bit cramped and not that comfortable but it did the trick. Very busy lobby, small and hectic breakfast area and the unfriendly pub would certainly make me pause before going back.
Ashling Hotel Dublin
Dublin

Almost gets 5 stars but it’s about a 15 minute walk to the action so I’m giving it 4 for that reason alone. Rooms, staff and the hotel were great otherwise despite the renovations that were being done to the bar area.

Authenticity & Character
Friendly staff, nice rooms, cozy dining area. Very good breakfast and dinner also.
Location
A bit further walk to the Temple Bar area than some other places but close to the Jameson distillery and the Guinness plant if those two things are on your list (and they should be).
Staff
Staff were all friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was quite large with a view of the city and countryside. Huge bathroom too. Very clean and comfortable.
Clayton Hotel Cork City
cork

Nice clean modern hotel with a great location. Walking distance to everything.

Authenticity & Character
Nice place but quite modern so no big points for character.
Location
Location was perfect. Downtown is 2 blocks away and you have the river across the street.
Staff
Staff were mixed. Some were great, some weren’t. To be fair it was Easter weekend so I don’t think anyone really wanted to be be working.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was large enough and very clean. We did tell someone that the bathroom sink was plugged when we arrived and they noted it but it didn’t get fixed while we were there. Not a big deal and I chalk it up to reduced staff over the Easter weekend but would have been nice to have sink that didn’t take 30 minutes to drain. Good breakfast though.
The Victoria Hotel
Killarney

Best hotel experience in Ireland! Great staff, good food, fun pub, nice rooms and the place has character. Huge thank you to Maura for her help mapping out our driving route to the Slea Head trail and to Clifdon. Maura you are truly awesome and a wonderful person, very glad to have met you.

Authenticity & Character
Just stay here. This place and the people are pretty special.
Location
Only small negative about this hotel is that it’s a 25 minute walk to town. Many hotels are closer…but I’d still stay here again in a heartbeat.
Staff
The staff were amazing. Fun but professional. They make you feel like you’re at home.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable. Good size room and bathroom also.
Renvyle House Hotel
Renvyle

This hotel is hard to describe. Definitely more suited to families with younger children than a couple in my opinion. Lots of history to this hotel and a nice view of the ocean but I didn’t love the overall vibe of this place. Some guests were a little snooty for my liking and although the staff were helpful and professional they were very serious. You could feel the tension, almost felt like everyone was afraid they’d lose their job. I think this is a hotel you’ll either like or not like, depending on who you are.

Authenticity & Character
This place has character, just not the character for me.
Location
Nice location right on the ocean and close drive to Kylemore Abbey and National Park. Unfortunately, a half hour drive from Clifdon
Staff
Good professional service but you guys really need to lighten up a little.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were large and comfortable enough. No complaints.
King Sitric Guesthouse
Howth

Very good location. Right at the end of the main street and close to everything. Room was pretty small and nothing special but the sound of the ocean was nice. Staff at the restaurant were nice but we felt the food was highly overpriced for what we got and not that great. Expected a full crab dinner for the inflated price but received a few small leg pieces and a minced crab salad of some kind. Guesthouse is okay but wouldn’t recommend the restaurant. I’d try the busy pub next door instead.

Authenticity & Character
It has character for sure.
Location
Very good location. Close to the water and on the main street.
Staff
Staff were nice enough. The place is small though so don’t expect someone at the front desk after core working hours.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Place was clean but a little cramped.
Activity Reviews
Walk up Calton Hill
Walk up Calton Hill
Edinburgh

Definitely worth the trip and it’s only a short walk from downtown. Great view of the city and a great thing to do before everything starts opening up.

Quality of Experience
Very nice walk and great views of the city.
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh Castle Tickets
Edinburgh

It’s a pretty impressive castle. Would definitely recommend going.

Quality of Experience
Nice castle with interesting history.
Stirling Castle Tickets
Stirling Castle Tickets
Stirling

Very nice castle with interesting and important history. Nice views of the town and countryside too.

Quality of Experience
Very nice castle and interesting history.
Hill Trips Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
Hill Trips Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
Scotland

The reindeer were pretty amazing. Unfortunately, the weather was not in the last week of March. Would recommend this trip for sure but try not to go when it’s too windy. The winds were around 75 km/h which made it quite cold and hard to stand up at times. You’ll be on the mountain and will have to walk through boggy peat so make sure you are sure on your feet. All that said, I’m glad I made the trip.

Quality of Experience
Reindeer were very cool.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Couldn’t hear the staff due to the high winds. Was a little surprised they didn’t cancel the tour due to the weather conditions. You’re very exposed on the mountain so safety should be a little more of a priority I think. That said, I still went on the hike.
Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist
Cairngorms National Park Wildlife Tour with a Specialist
Scotland

Safari Steve was awesome! Just book the trip. Great guy in every way, very fun tour and you couldn’t ask for a nicer ride. If you like birds, animals, learning about just about everything by an expert guide and naturalist and you want to see four very different and very stunning ecosystems all in one day then this trip is for you. One of the highlights of our trip to Scotland for sure.

Quality of Experience
Pretty darn good day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Would give 6 stars if I could.
Transport
I want a Land Rover (and a highland coo) now.
Oban Distillery Tour
Oban Distillery Tour
Oban

Decent experience. Definitely worth a stop in Oban if you want to learn about the history of the brand and the distilling process. You get to sample 3 whiskeys too which isn’t so bad.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was just okay. Seemed a little bored but not sure I blame him if he has to repeat the same info to a new group every hour.
Boat tour from Oban - see the coast of Mull
Boat tour from Oban - see the coast of Mull
Oban

Nice comfy boat ride. Friendly staff and good views of Oban, the islands and a few castles along the way. Lots of birds and some seals too. Good way to spend 2 hours if the weather is nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly staff.
Transport
Nice boat.
Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour
Guinness & Jameson Irish Experience Tour
Dublin

Very touristy but also a very fun day. If you’re in Dublin you kinda have to visit these two places. The Jameson tour was fine, educational and the right length at 1 hour. Guinness, you just have to go and experience. Both activities are recommended and the 4 hour tour allows you to skip lines at both spots.

Quality of Experience
Just a fun day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was pretty good, no complaints. The tour guide at Jameson (forget his name) was really good - made it fun and he was a very charismatic speaker/presenter.
Transport
It’s a walking tour. My feet did a great job.
Visit Blarney castle and kiss the stone
Visit Blarney castle and kiss the stone
Scotland

Definitely worth a visit. The castle is great, and well you just gotta kiss the stone if you’re there. The grounds are quite nice for walking also.

Quality of Experience
Kylemore Abbey
Kylemore Abbey
Scotland

I thought this would be on the boring side but the Abbey and its history was quite impressive. Spent 2 1/2 hours walking the grounds and the garden also. Nice place to go just for the scenery alone. Recommended.

Quality of Experience
Very nice place to visit.
Local specialist: Emily Reilly

Our Amazing Ireland and Scotland Christmas Adventure
Scotland | Dec 17 - Dec 30, 2023

S
Stephanie M.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2024
KimKim matched us with Justine Stewart: We are a mother (62 yo) and daughter (31 yo) who contacted several Travel Services before embarking on our Christmas Adventure to Ireland and Scotland. We chose KimKim because they matched us with Justine Stewart. Justine is the only person (out of five different agencies) who read our initial email and what we envisioned for our trip and truly captured what we imagined from day one. She was a delight to work with throughout the entire planning... Read more

KimKim matched us with Justine Stewart:

We are a mother (62 yo) and daughter (31 yo) who contacted several Travel Services before embarking on our Christmas Adventure to Ireland and Scotland. We chose KimKim because they matched us with Justine Stewart. Justine is the only person (out of five different agencies) who read our initial email and what we envisioned for our trip and truly captured what we imagined from day one. She was a delight to work with throughout the entire planning phase. Justine came up with wonderful suggestions for us. She was informative, responsive, and fun to work with. I was excited every time I received a chat message from Justine. She was effusive, warm, engaging, and down to earth. Her excitement in the planning stages made the trip fun to plan and then amazing to experience. Early in the planning phase, when we realized we needed to change the airport/city we were flying into, which affected our initial itinerary, Justine handled the adjustments smoothly. She was also helpful with my questions about travel insurance and gave me good advice and tips in that area. We traveled during the weeks surrounding Christmas, and although Justine was on holiday herself for part of that time, she still took the time to check in with us to make sure all was well. We feel like we made a new friend in Justine.

Claire and Eva
We were also well taken care of by Claire and Eva at KimKim, who helped us out over the two days we needed assistance due to a snowstorm.

Hotels in Ireland:

Cashel Palace – We pulled in at night to an amazing view of this grand accommodation. We drove down a long driveway and saw the beautiful red brick lit with lights. Once we arrived, we were given a tour and were delighted and amazed at the beauty of this hotel. They have a lovely Drawing Room, a cozy bar, and several wood-burning fireplaces. We took advantage and enjoyed them all. Our room was elegant, and we even had a Christmas tree!

Adare Manor – We felt like we were walking back in time when we entered this amazing hotel. From being greeted by friendly porters in the driveway to seeing the enormous Christmas tree in the reception area to the helpful tips and tour provided by the lovely Anne – we were swept up in excitement from our first moments there. We had a delicious lunch in the gorgeous Drawing Room while sitting next to another beautiful Christmas tree. We enjoyed a fun walk from the hotel into Adare Village, visited charming little shops, and saw the amazing thatched-roof buildings. Our dinner in The Carriage House was outstanding.

Glenlo Abbey – The front desk staff was very friendly. They informed us that they had upgraded our room – and it was spacious and lovely. The grounds around this hotel afforded us a beautiful walk.

Waterloo Townhouse – We had a cute room painted in soft pink overlooking a little backyard.

Hotels in Scotland:

Ness Walk - This is a lovely hotel. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and treated well during our stay. The hotel is elegant and situated on a beautiful river walk along the Ness River. We ventured out and walked down the river and across a bridge into a delightful area of Inverness. We discovered a most incredible place – Leakey's Bookshop.

The Fife Arms is our favorite place we've ever visited. We fell in LOVE with The Fife Arms. They covered the outside of the hotel in twinkly lights, and there was a brightly lit Christmas tree across the street. Every restaurant (The Clunie Dining Room, The Flying Stag) and every room (the Drawing Room, Elsa's Bar, The Tea Room, the Reception area) was an absolute joy to experience. I wished for a wood-burning fireplace on this trip, and this hotel had three amazing fireplaces that were burning and crackling at every moment. The entire experience, the amazing hotel, the afternoon tea, the reindeer parade, the amazing meals, the Christmas stocking on our door in the morning – was all magical. We arrived to find a bottle of champagne chilling in our room and complimentary tastes of whisky and gin with drink biscuits if we desired. The Fife Arms' incredible staff made our Christmas trip truly unforgettable. We greatly appreciated Rachael Henley (General Manager) while dealing with stress and uncertainty due to our car transfer service. She gave us such reassurance that all would be well. We felt safe and taken care of as she reached out to the car transfer service on our behalf and had her team assist with information on weather conditions and snow gates. She and her team assured us we would figure it out. They were able to offer us accommodations for an extra night. All of their hospitality and kindness during our trip went above and beyond.

Hotel Du Vin & Bistro - This was an ideal location for us as we wanted to explore Old Town Edinburgh, which was mere steps away. The Night Manager, Paul, went above and beyond for us. On one occasion, a glass bottle shattered inside my nylon carry-on luggage bag. Paul cleaned and repaired it. On another, we had an airport pickup at the hotel at 5:45 am. Paul had takeaway coffees and croissants waiting for us, along with updated flight details and gate information, making our journey home smoother.

Outstanding Hotel employees:

Adare Manor - Anne
The Fife Arms - Rachael (GM), Sam, Josh, Alex
Hotel du Vin & Bistro - Paul

Great Drivers:

Dermott Coffey – to Cashel Palace – He was fantastic, warm, engaging, and fun!
Tony – to Adare Manor – Tony was great! He had quite a sense of humor.
Frank – Galway Taxis – to Dublin - Frank was professional and provided a quiet ride to Dublin.
Dave – Elite Transfers Dublin – to Dublin airport – Dave was warm, friendly, and funny!
Ahmed – Inverness Taxis - airport to Ness Walk and then to Braemar. He was professional.
David – VChauffeur.com – Braemar to Aberdeen - He was fantastic! David was professional, kind, funny, and compassionate. David's service was unparalleled.
Adrian – Edinburgh Executive Travel – to Edinburgh airport – professional, sense of humor, nice service

Wonderful Tours:

Galway Food Tours - Gina (Regina)
Gina was a delight on our Walking Food Tour in Galway. She was punctual, friendly, informative, and fun. Gina had an easy demeanor and kept the conversation flowing throughout our 2.5-hour tour. We fell in love with Galway, and Gina was a huge contributing factor as she wound us in and around Shop Street, the pedestrianized thoroughfare in Galway.
• We started our morning with a taste of delicious coffee at Little Lane Coffee Company, which showcases Irish Specialty Coffee Roasters.
• Then we stopped in at an amazing French Chocolaterie called Truffle. We enjoyed a raspberry-filled croissant and some divine chocolates. There was an actual wall of running chocolate that was amazing!
• We popped into Ean for wine and two delicious small plates.
• Next on our tour was Tigh Neachtain, a pub that opened in 1894, which we learned was the former home of Richard Martin, an animal rights activist and abolitionist. We enjoyed learning about the colorful history and sat in one of the small, cozy booths known as a "snug." We tasted oysters, mussels, meatballs, soda bread and beer.
• Next was a visit to the upstairs of a fine foods shop called McCambridge's, where we tasted three spirits – Irish Whiskey, Irish Poitin, and Irish Apple Brandy.
• We finished the tour with delicious Murphy's Irish Ice Cream.
During our tour, Gina also recommended three other locations – and we managed to make our way over to all three after the tour. We stopped in and bought some books at Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, which was enchanting. We visited the King's Head, another historical pub, for a pint of Guinness. After a lovely walk to the fishing village in Galway, where we captured wonderful photographs, we went to Gina's final recommendation, Sheridan's Wine Bar. It was cozy and charming!

Dublin Tour Guide - John Caffrey
We felt immediately at ease when John greeted us at our hotel. He was such a warm, friendly, and engaging person. His wealth of knowledge, facts, and fun stories made the day fly by much too quickly. We visited a museum, the National Art Gallery, and Dublin Castle, as well as interesting statues and monuments to Patrick Kavanagh, Oscar Wilde, and George Handel. We passed by impressive government buildings and a war memorial and walked around the Trinity College campus. John treated us to coffee, biscuits, ice cream, and an Irish coffee along the tour! We felt so comfortable with John that we ate dinner with him at a nice pub where we enjoyed Irish stew and Guinness to complete our experience. We saw so much in Dublin in one day and would have missed so much on our own. John created a truly memorable experience.

Inverness Tours – Edinburgh Tour Guide - Scott Guthrie
We originally planned to do a full-day Outlander tour with Scott Guthrie. After the delay in our trip, we decided to cancel the tour since we ended up with only one day in Edinburgh instead of three. Ian, the owner of Inverness Tours, suggested the alternate plan of a walking tour in Edinburgh with the same guide, Scott Guthrie, who could show us some Outlander locations in Edinburgh. We agreed to a 2-hour tour. Scott Guthrie arrived wearing a kilt and a smile. He made our shortened visit to Edinburgh magical, intriguing, captivating, and memorable. We were thrilled to spend this time with him. He was a gentleman and a gem. He took us on an amazing tour that included some of the history and politics of Edinburgh, intriguing sites connected to the Harry Potter books and movies, and a couple of amazing Outlander filming locations. Scott was warm, friendly, entertaining, and fun. We ended up spending almost 4 hours with him and loved every minute. We continued exploring Edinburgh on foot for the rest of the day with a greater appreciation for the city and its fascinating history. We logged 37,351 steps on our walking app!

Restaurants in Ireland:

• Mikey Ryan's Bar & Kitchen – an amazing dinner! Classy and cozy environment.
• Cashel Palace – really nice breakfast
• Adare Manor
o The Drawing Room – fabulous lunch served in a beautiful room next to a Christmas tree
o The Carriage House – elegant and delicious dinner, amazing service!!
o The Gallery – gorgeous, high-ceiling room for breakfast
• Kai – We had an outstanding meal in a cozy environment!
• Glenlo Abbey breakfast room - a beautiful room and great breakfast service
• Aniar – 23 unique tastings! We were amazed as the dishes just kept coming. The Manager and Waiter who served us were beyond attentive and fun!
• The Winding Stair – This was a cozy, warm, welcoming place for dinner. We had a window seat and enjoyed the most delectable food!

Restaurants in Scotland:
• Kitchen Brasserie – We enjoyed a window seat and a delicious meal at this delightful restaurant.
• The Fife Arms
o The Clunie Dining Room – The staff is amazing and attentive. The food is excellent.
o The Flying Stag – It has a fun and funky décor; the food was outstanding!
o Afternoon Tea – They served an amazing assortment of sandwiches and sweets with coffee, mulled wine, and juice in a lovely, multi-windowed room with comfortable chairs and a wood-burning fireplace.
• Scran & Scallie – twinkly lights outside ushering us into a festive, charming restaurant with excellent food!
• A Wee Taste – charming, met the owner, delicious meat and cheese charcuterie board, lovely wine!

We will absolutely use KimKim's services again. They matched us up with an incredible travel agent – Justine Stewart! We were assisted before, during, and after the trip with all questions and concerns. THANK YOU!

Hotel Reviews
Glenlo Abbey

The front desk staff was very friendly. They informed us that they had upgraded our room – and it was spacious and lovely. The grounds around this hotel afforded us a beautiful walk.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It is a short taxi ride away from the amazing city of Galway.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Fife Arms
Braemar

The Fife Arms is our favorite place we've ever visited. We fell in LOVE with The Fife Arms. They covered the outside of the hotel in twinkly lights, and there was a brightly lit Christmas tree across the street. Every restaurant (The Clunie Dining Room, The Flying Stag) and every room (the Drawing Room, Elsa's Bar, The Tea Room, the Reception area) was an absolute joy to experience. I wished for a wood-burning fireplace on this trip, and this hotel had three amazing fireplaces that were burning and crackling at every moment. The entire experience, the amazing hotel, the afternoon tea, the reindeer parade, the amazing meals, the Christmas stocking on our door in the morning – was all magical. We arrived to find a bottle of champagne chilling in our room and complimentary tastes of whisky and gin with drink biscuits if we desired. The Fife Arms' incredible staff made our Christmas trip truly unforgettable. We greatly appreciated Rachael Henley (General Manager) while dealing with stress and uncertainty due to our car transfer service. She gave us such reassurance that all would be well. We felt safe and taken care of as she reached out to the car transfer service on our behalf and had her team assist with information on weather conditions and snow gates. She and her team assured us we would figure it out. They were able to offer us accommodations for an extra night. All of their hospitality and kindness during our trip went above and beyond.

Authenticity & Character
Elegant and classy, combined with such amazing charm!
Location
It is situated in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. Breathtaking scenery! It is an ideal area for walks.
Staff
Sam provided fun, friendly, engaging service in the Clunie Dining Room. Josh was helpful in keeping guests and their car transfer services apprised of the snow conditions and snow gates. Alex helped us with booking an extra night when the snow conditions and our car service kept us from departing. Rachael is an amazing general manager who got personally involved in solving our travel issues.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms were clean, comfortable, and beautiful. The beds were so comfortable.
Cashel Palace Hotel

We pulled in at night to an amazing view of this grand accommodation. We drove down a long driveway and saw the beautiful red brick lit with lights. Once we arrived, we were given a tour and were delighted and amazed at the beauty of this hotel. They have a lovely Drawing Room, a cozy bar, and several wood-burning fireplaces. We took advantage and enjoyed them all. Our room was elegant, and we even had a Christmas tree!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
We were greeted by wonderful staff and given a warm welcome and a tour.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The beds were so comfortable!
Adare Manor
Adare

We felt like we were walking back in time when we entered this amazing hotel. From being greeted by friendly porters in the driveway to seeing the enormous Christmas tree in the reception area to the helpful tips and tour provided by the lovely Anne – we were swept up in excitement from our first moments there. We had a delicious lunch in the gorgeous Drawing Room while sitting next to another beautiful Christmas tree. We enjoyed a fun walk from the hotel into Adare Village, visited charming little shops, and saw the amazing thatched-roof buildings. Our dinner in The Carriage House was outstanding.

Authenticity & Character
Every room and space in the hotel was amazing - The Reception area with a fireplace and enormous Christmas tree, the Drawing Room, which serves food, has a bar and looks out over the back of the property, the amazing high-ceilinged Gallery where they serve breakfast and afternoon tea, The Tack Room - a classy bar and lounge.
Location
The hotel sits on a beautiful and spacious property. It is lovely for walks or a horse and carriage ride. It is within walking distance of Adare Village.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh
Edinburgh

This was an ideal location for us as we wanted to explore Old Town Edinburgh, which was mere steps away. The Night Manager, Paul, went above and beyond for us. On one occasion, a glass bottle shattered inside my nylon carry-on luggage bag. Paul cleaned and repaired it. On another, we had an airport pickup at the hotel at 5:45 am. Paul had takeaway coffees and croissants waiting for us, along with updated flight details and gate information, making our journey home smoother.

Authenticity & Character
Nice, casual hotel in the heart of Old Town Edinburgh. Definitely has charm and character.
Location
Steps away from the Royal Mile and Old Town Edinburgh. It was SO convenient for us.
Staff
The Night Manager, Paul, went above and beyond for us. On one occasion, a glass bottle shattered inside my nylon carry-on luggage bag. Paul cleaned and repaired it. On another, we had an airport pickup at the hotel at 5:45 am. Paul had takeaway coffees and croissants waiting for us, along with updated flight details and gate information, making our journey home smoother.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ness Walk
Inverness

This is a lovely hotel. We were greeted with a glass of champagne and treated well during our stay. The hotel is elegant and situated on a beautiful river walk along the Ness River. We ventured out and walked down the river and across a bridge into a delightful area of Inverness. We discovered a most incredible place – Leakey's Bookshop.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Galway Food Tour
Private Galway Food Tour
Galway

Gina was a delight on our Walking Food Tour in Galway. She was punctual, friendly, informative, and fun. Gina had an easy demeanor and kept the conversation flowing throughout our 2.5-hour tour. We fell in love with Galway, and Gina was a huge contributing factor as she wound us in and around Shop Street, the pedestrianized thoroughfare in Galway. • We started our morning with a taste of delicious coffee at Little Lane Coffee Company, which showcases Irish Specialty Coffee Roasters. • Then we stopped in at an amazing French Chocolaterie called Truffle. We enjoyed a raspberry-filled croissant and some divine chocolates. There was an actual wall of running chocolate that was amazing! • We popped into Ean for wine and two delicious small plates. • Next on our tour was Tigh Neachtain, a pub that opened in 1894, which we learned was the former home of Richard Martin, an animal rights activist and abolitionist. We enjoyed learning about the colorful history and sat in one of the small, cozy booths known as a “snug.” We tasted oysters, mussels, meatballs, soda bread and beer. • Next was a visit to the upstairs of a fine foods shop called McCambridge’s, where we tasted three spirits – Irish Whiskey, Irish Poitin, and Irish Apple Brandy. • We finished the tour with delicious Murphy’s Irish Ice Cream. During our tour, Gina also recommended three other locations – and we managed to make our way over to all three after the tour. We stopped in and bought some books at Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, which was enchanting. We visited the King’s Head, another historical pub, for a pint of Guinness. After a lovely walk to the fishing village in Galway, where we captured wonderful photographs, we went to Gina’s final recommendation, Sheridan’s Wine Bar. It was cozy and charming! Gina helped us to engage with the charming city of Galway. Thank you!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Ultimate Day in Dublin - Private Guided Tour
The Ultimate Day in Dublin - Private Guided Tour
Dublin

We felt immediately at ease when John greeted us at our hotel. He was such a warm, friendly, and engaging person. His wealth of knowledge, facts, and fun stories made the day fly by much too quickly. We visited a museum, the National Art Gallery, and Dublin Castle, as well as interesting statues and monuments to Patrick Kavanagh, Oscar Wilde, and George Handel. We passed by impressive government buildings and a war memorial and walked around the Trinity College campus. John treated us to coffee, biscuits, ice cream, and an Irish coffee along the tour! We felt so comfortable with John that we ate dinner with him at a nice pub where we enjoyed Irish stew and Guinness to complete our experience. We saw so much in Dublin in one day and would have missed so much on our own. John created a truly memorable experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Christmas at the Fife Arms
Christmas at the Fife Arms
Scotland

The Fife Arms is our favorite place we've ever visited. We fell in LOVE with The Fife Arms. They covered the outside of the hotel in twinkly lights, and there was a brightly lit Christmas tree across the street. We arrived to find a bottle of champagne chilling in our room and complimentary tastes of whisky and gin with drink biscuits if we desired. I wished for a wood-burning fireplace on this trip, and this hotel had three amazing fireplaces that were burning and crackling at every moment. On the first day, we enjoyed their afternoon tea, the reindeer parade, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, a drink in Elsa's bar, and a delicious dinner in The Flying Stag. On Christmas morning, we awoke to a Christmas stocking on our door. We enjoyed a lovely Christmas Brunch, which they staggered for guests at different times. We went on a couple of walks around the charming town of Braemar. Every restaurant (The Clunie Dining Room, The Flying Stag) and every room (the Drawing Room, Elsa's Bar, The Tea Room, the Reception area) was an absolute joy to experience. This trip was magical!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Outlander tour from Edinburgh
Outlander tour from Edinburgh
Edinburgh

We originally planned to do a full-day Outlander tour with Scott Guthrie. After the delay in our trip, we decided to cancel the tour since we ended up with only one day in Edinburgh instead of three. Ian, the owner of Inverness Tours, suggested the alternate plan of a walking tour in Edinburgh with the same guide, Scott Guthrie, who could show us some Outlander locations in Edinburgh. We agreed to a 2-hour tour. Scott Guthrie arrived wearing a kilt and a smile. He made our shortened visit to Edinburgh magical, intriguing, captivating, and memorable. We were thrilled to spend this time with him. He was a gentleman and a gem. He took us on an amazing tour that included some of the history and politics of Edinburgh, intriguing sites connected to the Harry Potter books and movies, and a couple of amazing Outlander filming locations. Scott was warm, friendly, entertaining, and fun. We ended up spending almost 4 hours with him and loved every minute. We continued exploring Edinburgh on foot for the rest of the day with a greater appreciation for the city and its fascinating history. We logged 37,351 steps on our walking app!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private transfer to or from the airport
Dublin

Dave with Elite Transfers Dublin picked us up early in the morning to take us to Dublin airport. We were leaving Ireland and flying to our next destination, Scotland. Dave was warm, friendly, and funny! He had some helpful tips for the next leg of our adventure, and he had us laughing on the way to the airport as well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Justine Stewart
Justine
Justine Stewart
Local specialist in England/France | Replied on Jan 09, 2024

Lovely Stephanie!

Thank you so very much for your amazing review :) I feel so lucky to have been a part of this adventure with you and Heather! Working together to plan this trip has been nothing short of wonderful. I am so thrilled to have shared some of my favourite places with you...and have you love them too! Your trust and enthusiasm in my recommendations has been next-level and added so much joy to the planning process. Getting to know you over the past few months has been an absolute delight...Safe travels until our paths cross again!

Justine & The High Point Holidays Team

Summer trip to Scotland.
Scotland | Jul 8 - Jul 16, 2023

Jay
Jay B.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Nov 19, 2023

We had a really enjoyable time. All of our expectations were exceeded, and we would be happy to use the service again. We didn't require a lot of help, but when we had a problem with a reservation, they were able to sort it out quickly and we fealt very well taken care of.

Local specialist: Neil West
Neil
Neil West
Local specialist in Glasgow & Fife | Replied on Nov 20, 2023

Hi Jay,

I really appreciate your thoughtful review & I'm thrilled to hear that you had a great time in Scotland. It's always a pleasure to be part of creating memorable experiences, and I'm glad I could contribute to yours!

Best regards,
Neil

My trip to Scotland was absolutely incredible...
Scotland | Sep 15 - Sep 22, 2023

Charlottesville
Charlottesville R.
Arvada, CO | Reviewed on Nov 16, 2023

My trip to Scotland was absolutely incredible. I just showed up, and everything was planned, including my train transportation.

Local specialist: Neil West
Neil
Neil West
Local specialist in Glasgow & Fife | Replied on Nov 17, 2023

Hello!
Thank you so much for the kind review. It was a lot of fun working on this trip & I'm so happy that you had an incredible time in Scotland.
All the very best,
Neil

A 13 day trip around Scotland means one thing...
Scotland | Oct 7 - Oct 19, 2023

David
David L.
Athens, AL | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2023

A 13 day trip around Scotland means one thing, we've got to go back for more. AMAZING. Oou guide around the Isle of Sky, Donald, was amazing, funny, and kind. I can't say enough good things about JUSTINE. She looked after us our whole trip. Checking on us, making changes due to our health problems. My only regret is not being able to give her a hug and say Thank You.

Local specialist: Justine Stewart
Justine
Justine Stewart
Local specialist in England/France | Replied on Oct 27, 2023

David & Kathy,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. It was such a treat to get to know you and help plan your trip. It was a genuine joy to work with the both of you :)
Best,
Justine