Kimkim Trip Reviews for the Azores

4.7
Based on 26 ratings
Read 26 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to the Azores on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Family Trip to Azores outstanding!
the Azores | Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2024

Amy
Amy P.
Panama | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2024
Rita collaborated with me and my family every step of the way and was very flexible. She found a trip itinerary that was pleasing to multiple age levels ranging from age 83 to age 11. Our time in the Azores was fabulous. It is heaven on earth. She arranged guided tours for two days, a beach tour, a sunset boat cruise, and a walking food and wine tour. She also helped with other suggestions throughout our time there and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. I found the process to be... Read more

Rita collaborated with me and my family every step of the way and was very flexible. She found a trip itinerary that was pleasing to multiple age levels ranging from age 83 to age 11. Our time in the Azores was fabulous. It is heaven on earth. She arranged guided tours for two days, a beach tour, a sunset boat cruise, and a walking food and wine tour. She also helped with other suggestions throughout our time there and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. I found the process to be very smooth.

Activity Reviews
Sunset Boat Experience
Sunset Boat Experience
São Miguel Island

Great! They provided good food and wine, and the guides even let our kids try out their fishing poles for a while. We brought our own music. If I could do it again, I may have wanted to do this on our second night since we were tired from traveling but we all loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
São Miguel Island

Natasha and Jose our drivers were very knowledgeable. The sights were out of this world. I think that it might have been nice to give the young people in our group the option to do the hiking portion (boca do inferno) while the older group members just do the lookout point but we were not aware that this was an option. If I were doing it again, I would have asked to have us split up possibly for that portion. Also, our description from Kim Kim that day did not say anything about going swimming at termas de Ferraria. So on the day of our tour, Natasha had us go grab our things for swimming. It wasn’t a big deal, but I felt like the Kim Kim description and the detailed itinerary from our in country guide didn’t quite match. Better communication advised for this in the future for this excursion and for all of the excursions.

Quality of Experience
Good drivers with good knowledge and great English speaking
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We could maybe have used two larger vehicles for more leg room, or perhaps three smaller?
Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience
Furnas & Lagoa do Fogo Full Day Experience
São Miguel Island

Loved seeing the fumaroles in furnas. Guides were excellent again, Natasha and Jose. We were supposed to go to a thermal baths but these were closed due to a bacteria. Lagoa do fogo was breathtaking. Lunch at alabote was delicious in ribiera grande, on the coast delicious seafood.

Quality of Experience
Just dissapointed about the baths but that was not in our control.
Food
Alabote.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience & Get to Know Ponta Delgada with a Local
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience & Get to Know Ponta Delgada with a Local
São Miguel Island

Hungry whales, Fred was our guide and we loved him! He was fun with the kids!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Na
Volcano Cooking Experience
Volcano Cooking Experience
the Azores

The Kim Kim description of this tour was not accurate. Was described as a hands on cooking class, going to market for ingredients, chopping and cooking etc. Luckily we asked for a specific detailed itinerary from the guide as it turns out it was a demonstration and presentation instead. It was also a total repeat of our full day furnas experience. Kim Kim gave us a partial refund and did not charge us for making last minute change. Ended up have the same drivers take us to a beach and some other stops.

Quality of Experience
Better understanding of what the guides are offering
Food
Best food at Bar Caloura which was picked by us.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Manuel was our driver, and valdamar. Neither spoke great English. Lovely people, they were passionate about their culture and wanted to show us a good time. Unfortunately, we kept saying we wanted to explore beaches and instead he took us to one beach and then drove us to see multiple beaches but never stopped at any. He also took us to the tea plantation even though we said we weren’t sure we wanted to go there. He was LOVELY, but he kind of had a plan of his own.
Transport
Cars were perfect
Adventure in Gruta do Carvão
Adventure in Gruta do Carvão
São Miguel Island

We did not end up going here this was a free day

Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Aug 26, 2024

Hi Amy, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed your trip to the Azores. Your feedback means a lot to us, and I will make sure to forward it to our local guides! It was a pleasure for me to work with you and your family. Hopefully, we will keep in touch for your future family adventures. All my best, Rita 🥰

We overall had a very positive experience in ...the Azores in May
the Azores | May 18 - May 30, 2024

R
Robert C.
Portland, OR | Reviewed on May 31, 2024

We overall had a very positive experience in the Azores. If you goto the Azores Pico Island and the Lava Homes are a must. Climbing Mount Pico is a challenging but very worthwhile trek. Furnas on Sao Miguel was also a very interesting place to visit with its hot springs. Be ready for very dynamic weather if you go in May but don’t let the weather slow you down — just keep hiking and exploring. The coastlines are beautiful and the towns very picturesque. Joao was very helpful and reliable, with the few hiccups we encountered with some car rental hiccups.

Local specialist: João Daniel
João
João Daniel
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on May 31, 2024

Thanks Robert and Nicola :)
Glad you liked the Azores.
Next time come to the mainland so we can meet in person!

Raquel was amazing, helpful planned a wonderf...
the Azores | Mar 30 - Apr 6, 2024

C
Chris R.
Ilion, NY | Reviewed on Apr 07, 2024
Raquel was amazing, helpful planned a wonderful vacation for my children. She made sure everything was very well planned out and completely taken care of for them. Read more

Raquel was amazing, helpful planned a wonderful vacation for my children. She made sure everything was very well planned out and completely taken care of for them.

Hotel Review
Vila Nova Hotel
Ponta Delgada

The breakfast is really really good! The rooms were a little stuffy at night, but other than that it was a good stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sete Ciudades Jeep & Hike Adventure Full Day
Sete Ciudades Jeep & Hike Adventure Full Day
São Miguel Island

The view were amazing! And our tour guide, Natasha was the best!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Volcanic Experience: Furnas Lake Full Day Adventure
Volcanic Experience: Furnas Lake Full Day Adventure
São Miguel Island

Natasha, our guide, was great! We loved the different actives and the hike was gorgeous!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Epic Canyoning Adventure
Epic Canyoning Adventure
São Miguel Island

Super fun! The guides were awesome and fun to chat with. The waterfalls and rivers were a lot of fun to canyon in.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience & Get to Know Ponta Delgada with a Local
Azorean Culinary & Wine Experience & Get to Know Ponta Delgada with a Local
São Miguel Island

It was cool to see the different restaurants and learn about the wines and cheese.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hiking Experience in Lagoa do Fogo
Hiking Experience in Lagoa do Fogo
São Miguel Island

This was a lot of fun, we loved the different places we got to see and our guide Natasha was wonderful, she was very charming and knowledgeable. 10/10!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Raquel Aceituno
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Apr 08, 2024

Hi Chris! Thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share the highlights of your kid´s trip to the Azores. I'm so pleased that they had a wonderful trip (even if the weather was not the best )! I will pass your words on to Natacha, who will love to hear that she has contributed to a memorable trip. I wish you and your family all the best and hopefully, we can plan another adventure together in the future 😉x Raquel

Fantastic experience traveling with Kim Kim
the Azores | Dec 20 - Dec 28, 2023

Rafael
Rafael M.
Japan | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2024
Just finished a trip to Terceira and Sāo Miguel, organized by Tiago from Kim Kim and I highly recommend it to anybody interested in doing a self-guided experience. Tiago's expertise was critical to help us make the best of our trip. he was patient, knowledgeable and very accommodating to our group's needs (which were a lot since we had 5 people). He even created a WhatsApp group so we could stay connected and checked up on us often to make sure that we provided all the information we... Read more

Just finished a trip to Terceira and Sāo Miguel, organized by Tiago from Kim Kim and I highly recommend it to anybody interested in doing a self-guided experience.

Tiago's expertise was critical to help us make the best of our trip. he was patient, knowledgeable and very accommodating to our group's needs (which were a lot since we had 5 people). He even created a WhatsApp group so we could stay connected and checked up on us often to make sure that we provided all the information we needed and that everything was going well during our trip.

Both islands were amazing and the hikes suggested by Tiago were unbelievable. We were lucky in that the weather cooperated a lot and we were able to do almost everything int he agenda that Tiago prepared. Some of the places we went to (like the volcanic rock pools in Terceira) we wouldn't have known about if it wasn't for Tiago's recommendations.

Our group traveled to the Azores in December (low season), which was great weather wise (not too cold), but I definitely want to go back in May (high season) to fully appreciate the beauty of the natural flowers that were not in bloom during our trip.

Hotel Review
Senhora da Rosa Tradition & Nature Hotel
Ponta Delgada

Great experience staying at Senhora da Rosa Tradition & Nature Hotel. The building is beautiful and the rooms were gorgeous. Everything was very unique and it felt very special. We ate at both restaurants within the hotel on different days and the food was fantastic. They also have a bar which made great cocktails. We all wanted to try some of the amazing treatments offered at their SPA, but because it was low season (we were there during Christmas) there wasn't a lot of availability when we arrived. Also, we had a pretty tight schedule so our options were limited.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The hotel is not located in the center of town, so a car is definitely needed, but it was less than a 10 minute drive to get to any place within the town of Ponta Delgada. I also liked that it was sort of removed from the main streets, which made the hotel and the vibe very peaceful.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Canyoning in the Azores
Canyoning in the Azores
the Azores

I loved this canyoning experience at Azores. Because of the time of the year when went, they only had the short time options, but I definitely would have done the longer one if it was offered. Our guides, Pauhlo and Carolina were amazing. They were very patient with the group and made sure that everybody felt safe and comfortable. The location was incredible, with amazing vegetation. m.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Tiago Filipe
Tiago
Tiago Filipe
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Jan 04, 2024
Dear Rafael, Thank you so much for your feedback! It was a pleasure having you although we didn't get to meet face to face, and I must say I'm very sorry for that because I immediately realized that you were a great team!! I was actually in the Azores a few days after your departure for the New Year's! I truly love that place and although I've been there many times I just don't seem to get enough of it!! I thought about sending you a picture just like the one you sent me the 5 of you in... Read more

Dear Rafael,

Thank you so much for your feedback! It was a pleasure having you although we didn't get to meet face to face, and I must say I'm very sorry for that because I immediately realized that you were a great team!!

I was actually in the Azores a few days after your departure for the New Year's! I truly love that place and although I've been there many times I just don't seem to get enough of it!!

I thought about sending you a picture just like the one you sent me the 5 of you in the pool at the Terra Nostra central pool, but unfortunately it was drizzling a bit so I couldn't take pictures! But I really thought about it!!

I wish you a great 2024 and please extend these greetings to the rest of the group!

Best,

Tiago

Unforgettable trip tailor-made by an attentive and knowledgeable local specialist
the Azores | Dec 20 - Dec 28, 2023

Isabela
Isabela V.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Dec 29, 2023
We couldn’t be more pleased with our trip to the Azores, we had never been and had little knowledge of the islands so we were very grateful to have a local assist us in the planning. Tiago was attentive and scheduled the trip according to our wants and wishes, he provided an itinerary and also suggested other things we could do if we had extra time or were interested. During our time in the Azores he circled back and checked in to see if everything was going well and if we needed anything... Read more

We couldn’t be more pleased with our trip to the Azores, we had never been and had little knowledge of the islands so we were very grateful to have a local assist us in the planning. Tiago was attentive and scheduled the trip according to our wants and wishes, he provided an itinerary and also suggested other things we could do if we had extra time or were interested. During our time in the Azores he circled back and checked in to see if everything was going well and if we needed anything else. Would absolutely recommend to anyone, because I do believe that working with a local provided us with a better insight of the place and we were given name of restaurants and/ or trails and sights worth visiting.

Activity Review
Canyoning in the Azores
Canyoning in the Azores
the Azores

Absolutelly recommend the canyoning activity with Active Blueberry! We had 2 instructors with us, they were sure everyone was safe and felt secure to make the jumps, they accommodated to people who didn’t want to jump or were a little hesitant. Furthermore they were knowledgeable and very professional and we were very pleased and would do this activity again because of the lush and beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Tiago Filipe
Tiago
Tiago Filipe
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Dec 30, 2023

Dear Isabela and family!

You're just too sweet. I do believe that I worked to meet your expectations, but the fact that you're so nice and easy going people made everything much simpler!!

Thank you for being kind, interested and for your constant feedback!!

I only wish we had spent some time together in the Azores!!

Please send my regards to Paulina, Cristina, Rafael and Eugenia. You are a great family!!

A happy 2024 to you all!

Best,

Tiago

A relaxing time in Sao Miguel
the Azores | Oct 8 - Oct 12, 2023

Noelle
Noelle F.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Oct 15, 2023
We had a very relaxing time in Sao Miguel. The weather cooperated (sort of) for most of our time here. Highlights for us were the hotel (Terra Nostra) in Furnas, and our private tour of Set Ciudades with Natacha. We had 24 hour access to the thermal pool and Botanical garden, which was wonderful. The restaurant was also top notch. Read more

We had a very relaxing time in Sao Miguel. The weather cooperated (sort of) for most of our time here. Highlights for us were the hotel (Terra Nostra) in Furnas, and our private tour of Set Ciudades with Natacha. We had 24 hour access to the thermal pool and Botanical garden, which was wonderful. The restaurant was also top notch.

Hotel Review
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel
Furnas

This hotel is solely focused on relaxation and high quality service. We loved having 24 hr access to the thermal pool and botanical garden, which allowed us to use both without the crowds. The restaurant was also excellent - we at there for almost every meal and were never disappointed.

Authenticity & Character
The grounds and the restaurant are wonderful. The rooms are clean.
Location
Access to the botanical gardens is wonderful.
Staff
Service is clearly a focus for this hotel - it shows in all of the interactions we had.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sete Ciudades Jeep & Hike Adventure Full Day
Sete Ciudades Jeep & Hike Adventure Full Day
São Miguel Island

Natacha was just amazing. She took the time up front to understand what we were looking for and then modified the tour as appropriate. Given the unpredictable nature of the weather on Sao Miguel, she maximized our day to take advantage of the "breaks" in our overcast day, and we really got to know a lot about the culture of the Azores as well as the physical beauty.

Quality of Experience
The whole day was great
Food
We had lunch in a local restuarant in Sete Ciudades - all traditional Azorean food that was great.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We really hit it off with Natacha - she clearly loves Sao Miguel and showed us so many things.
Transport
Whale Watching in the Azores
Whale Watching in the Azores
Lisbon Int. Airport (LIS)

Caveat for this review - our tour was eventually cancelled (hence the 3 stars). That said, I will definitely try a whale watching tour with this company if I return to Sao Miguel. The staff is very professional, clearly focused on conservation and learning about the animals. The briefing was very thorough and the focus on safety is also very clear. We suited up and actually went out of the marina into choppy water (we were told that up front). The swells were bigger than anticipated (8-10 ft - my estimate), and the captain very quickly turned us around for safety reasons.

Quality of Experience
Nothing in the companies control - the weather wasn't great on the day I went
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Clearly very knowledgeable and committed.
Transport
Local specialist: Marina Courtaut
Marina
Marina Courtaut
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 17, 2023

Hi Noelle,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write your trip to the Azores review! I am glad you enjoyed your stay at Terra Nostra Garden Hotel, I am sure it was nice to relax after your trip to Spain :)I will pass on your kind words to Natacha. I am sorry you could not see the whales due to the weather and I hope you can come back to the Azores to see these magnificent animals. My warmest regards, Marina from the Espiritu Travel family :)

Great recommendations and communication
the Azores | Sep 20 - Sep 27, 2023

T
Tracey S.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2023

I usually do all my travel planning using a variety of websites but stumbled upon KimKim as I was planning a trip to the Azores. Our contact, Tiago, was very helpful and quicl to respond to questions. Every hotel we stayed at was incredible. The recommendations of things to do closely aligned with our interests. I will definitely use KimKim again.

Local specialist: Tiago Filipe
Tiago
Tiago Filipe
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Sep 28, 2023

Dear Tracey,

Many, many thanks for your words!

Truly happy that you enjoyed your stay in the Azores!

Hope you brought good memories back home!!

All the best,

Tiago

Really great trip!
the Azores | Sep 11 - Sep 25, 2023

Kimberly
Kimberly H.
Boulder, CO | Reviewed on Sep 27, 2023
Beatriz put together a wonderful trip for us, including the hotels and the activities. It was a nice mix of planned activities and days to ourselves just to explore. She was very responsive to in communication as we were planning the trip, and worked with us on glitches without any problem. I will definitely have Kim Kim put together other trips for us. Read more

Beatriz put together a wonderful trip for us, including the hotels and the activities. It was a nice mix of planned activities and days to ourselves just to explore. She was very responsive to in communication as we were planning the trip, and worked with us on glitches without any problem. I will definitely have Kim Kim put together other trips for us.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Do Colégio
Ponta Delgada

I enjoyed my stay at the Hotel Do Colégio in São Miguel Island. The location was excellent, situated right in the center of Ponta Delgada, making it easy to walk around town and visit the local Botanical Garden. The hotel was comfortable and met my expectations.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Terra Nostra Garden Hotel
Furnas

The Terra Nostra Garden Hotel was a highlight of my trip. I insisted on making a reservation here due to my daughter's recommendation, and I'm glad I did. The gardens were fantastic, and the ambiance was truly unique. I felt this was worth the extra cost.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Terceira Mar Hotel
Angra do Heroismo

The Terceira Mar Hotel was a bit more of a resort-style accommodation, but it provided the relaxing vacation I was seeking. I loved being right by the water, being able to walk into town, and enjoying the feeling of having the beach all to ourselves.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 28, 2023

Hi Kim! Thank you so much for your kind words! It was super easy and truly a pleasure to work with you to create this itinerary. I hope you enjoyed the dreamy location that the Azores islands are, and hope you created lovely memories discovering them :) Sending you my best regards, Bea.

Family trip to the Azores
the Azores | Aug 20 - Sep 3, 2023

Miriam
Miriam G.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 04, 2023
Marta was an excellent travel agent. She helped us a lot with planning our family trip to the Azores. She was also helpful with information during our tripbas well.
Our Kayaking tour in Sao Miguel was excellent. The 2 guides were awesome.
In Terceira we did an ebiking tour. The guide was very patient with my teens.
In Flores our favorite tour was canyoning. The guide was so very helpful with my daughter who was quite scared at times.
Read more

Marta was an excellent travel agent. She helped us a lot with planning our family trip to the Azores. She was also helpful with information during our tripbas well.
Our Kayaking tour in Sao Miguel was excellent. The 2 guides were awesome.
In Terceira we did an ebiking tour. The guide was very patient with my teens.
In Flores our favorite tour was canyoning. The guide was so very helpful with my daughter who was quite scared at times.

Hotel Reviews
Senhora da Rosa Tradition & Nature Hotel
Ponta Delgada

Beautiful resort! Good restaurants. Be sure to make a reservation for the rooftop restaurant!

Authenticity & Character
Location
A bit far from Ponta Delgada
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Atlantida Mar Hotel
Praia da Vitoria

Nice views. Great pool and jacuzzi.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Marina Atlântico
Ponta Delgada, São Miguel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Right downtown.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
INATEL Flores
Santa Cruz das Flores

We stayed in a nice little house. Was great to have our own place with a kitchen and washing machine. Just would have loved some AC since it was so hot there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
Sete Ciudades Jeep Adventure
São Miguel Island

Guide super nice. Weather unfortunately didn't cooperate so we couldn't see much.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Kayak Tour – Vila Franca Islet
Half Day Kayak Tour – Vila Franca Islet
São Miguel Island

Super fun. Guides were fantastic

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
City Food Tour
City Food Tour
Terceira Island

Guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Enjoyed visiting the coffee plantation and talking to the farmer. I thought we would visit more places within the city to sample food, but it was mainly dinner and then a small walking tour.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Terceira Electric Bike Tour
Terceira Electric Bike Tour
Terceira Island

Lots of fun. Beautiful views. A bit scary coming down the mountain bit we did it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Corvo Island – Full day
Discover Corvo Island – Full day
Flores Island

Boat ride over was quite choppy. Got a bit sea sick but did see dolphins. We thought we would be getting a tour of corvo Island but we were kind of just dropped off and left to fend for ourselves for the day. We were told not to bother bringing swim stuff but it was so hot and no shade, it would have been great to swim. Also didn't know we would be dropped off by taxi at a giant crater to hike for a couple of hours. Didn't come prepared with proper hiking shoes. Boat ride home was much easier and saw beautiful waterfalls and caves and lots of dolphins. Boat driver was amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boat driver Marcus very nice
Transport
Taxi on corvo initially charged us 40 euros but we got it back from boat driver after he said it was already included
Buggy Adventure in Terceira
Buggy Adventure in Terceira
Terceira Island

I was hoping we would drive around and stop a few times to hear about the places we were seeing and also get a chance to take photos of the gorgeous views. We only stopped once to go to the washroom at the halfway point. No explanations of anything we saw. Guide didn't even learn our names.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Canyoning & Half Day Hiking
Half Day Canyoning & Half Day Hiking
Flores Island

Super challenging day but really great overall. I think canyoning alone or the hiking alone would have been enough. Was a lot for us to do in just one day.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Super patient with my kids. Made the afternoon hike a bit shorter for us because we were so tired.
Transport
Local specialist: Marta Trzeciakowska
Marta
Marta Trzeciakowska
Local specialist in Madrid, Spain | Replied on Sep 04, 2023

Hi Miriam, thank you so much for taking the time to write a thorough review! The Azores are a booming destination where tourism is still growing and adapting to bigger amounts of visitors which makes it a changing environment for us each year. We do wish to keep our best guides in time so we can offer only the best experiences and hope you can refer to us when traveling through Portugal, Spain, Morocco, or Italy in the future! Wish you and your lovely family all the best - Marta

Our trip to the AZores was everything that we...
the Azores | Apr 22 - Apr 30, 2023

Rachel
Rachel G.
Middletown, RI | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
Our trip to the AZores was everything that we had hoped for. What a truly beautiful part of the world. Beatriz was wonderful and responsive as we tweaked the itinerary together. She found us lovely hotels and had great suggestions for the things we should see.
Once again, Kimkim took very good care of us and made planning this trip easy and seamless!
Read more

Our trip to the AZores was everything that we had hoped for. What a truly beautiful part of the world. Beatriz was wonderful and responsive as we tweaked the itinerary together. She found us lovely hotels and had great suggestions for the things we should see.
Once again, Kimkim took very good care of us and made planning this trip easy and seamless!

Hotel Review
Terceira Mar Hotel
Angra do Heroismo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Wine and Food Evening Walking Tour in Ponta Delgada
Wine and Food Evening Walking Tour in Ponta Delgada
the Azores

What a wonderful way to experience some of the AZores delicious food and wine. We had a terrific guide who had some good stories to tell as we strolled through Punta Delgada.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on May 08, 2023

Hi Rachel, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so happy to know that you enjoyed the paradise that the Azores Islands are, hopefully, next time you come to visit us the weather will be nicer!!! Sending you my best regards, Bea.

Sao Miguel and Lisbon
the Azores | Sep 1 - Sep 12, 2022

P
Patricia M.
Altoona, IA | Reviewed on Sep 13, 2022
Our trip was very well planned and Sao Miguel Island is much more beautiful than expected. The hotel view was so calming and delightful and the staff was eager to please. However, by the third day, we escaped the breakfast buffet as it was too crowded and the food became boring a repetitious. I may never eat scrambled eggs again. Our first tour guide was Natasha who took us off-road to see the blue and green lakes at the top of the crater. She was very informative, but we later learned,... Read more

Our trip was very well planned and Sao Miguel Island is much more beautiful than expected. The hotel view was so calming and delightful and the staff was eager to please. However, by the third day, we escaped the breakfast buffet as it was too crowded and the food became boring a repetitious. I may never eat scrambled eggs again.

Our first tour guide was Natasha who took us off-road to see the blue and green lakes at the top of the crater. She was very informative, but we later learned, through our other guides, that some of her information was inaccurate.

Our second guide, Paulo, was very kind while we hiked to the top of the caldera to see Fire Lake. What was not part of the description of this hike is that there are NO restroom facilities and the hike, although labeled "medium" difficulty, was probably only medium for mountain goats. The hike took us approximately 8 hours and covered over 22,000 steps, up a very high mountain (hill) and down the other side. It was worth the hike because the scenery was breathtaking, but became increasingly more uncomfortable because of the lack of facilities. I've never learned to "go in the woods" so that wasn't really an option, and because there were so many other hikers, privacy would have been difficult to find.

Our third guide, Gary, did a really masterful job of driving us into a caldera and hiking us around the lake at the bottom. This hike was the day after we summited our equivalent of Mt Everest, so by the end, we were done and asked Gary to bring the car and pick us up, which he happily agreed to do. We got a very good history of the island and more accurate information. All the cows are not milked by hand but rather with moveable milking machines. I do not recommend booking two hikes back to back as we did, and therefore had little time to recover.

My horseback ride was primarily through residential neighborhoods and the forest was really just overgrown, abandoned land, so not like the forests we saw in the other places we went. Also, the path we took was very littered, which was disappointing, as most of the island we saw was really clean.

The blooming hydrangeas and yellow ginger lilies all over the island were so unexpected.

Our trouble began when we left the Azores and went to Lisbon. The hotel we were booked into, Hotel Mundial, is surrounded by homeless people and the air smelled like urine. My view was of a very old building that looked like a crack house. We found a much better hotel, closer to the water, and moved, which was a pain, but totally worth relocating to a much lovelier and safer part of town where the air smelled sweet. We had to do this on our own because we were told that other hotels were $700 euro per night; we paid $200 euro at the Pastano CR7, which we found while waiting on our tuk-tuk tour, guided by Dominic. I would skip this if I go back. The streets are exceedingly bumpy and the ride uncomfortable. We got only a small bit of history.

Our very best tour was with a different Paulo who took us to Sintra and Cascais. He was so knowledgeable about the country, history, and political changes and made the whole day so worthwhile. He was our very best guide for the entire trip, and he should be requested as a guide if possible.

The rest of our trip was uneventful and restful and we were picked up timely for our trips to our next destinations. I felt that we received a very good value and overall, we had a wonderful trip and learned many things that we will take with us as we plan our next excursion.

Thank you, Bea, and the rest of the KimKim team for making this a vacation we'll remember and talk about for years to come.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Marina Atlântico
Ponta Delgada, São Miguel

The view of the harbor each evening was so relaxing. This is a well-located hotel and very busy.

Authenticity & Character
It is really a tourist hotel with many busloads of people arriving daily.
Location
the view
Staff
Very accommodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
My room was both clean and comfortable.
Hotel Mundial
Lisboa

We changed hotels because this one was impossible to stay in. The neighborhood is surrounded by homeless people who must use the gutters as their toilets, because the air around the hotel smell like urine, and worse. Also, the neighborhood it is in seems to be very shabby and run down. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone who has had experience with better equipped and more modern facilities. I think the in-room hair dryer was an original model from last century, probably from the 1970's.

Authenticity & Character
Not sure what authenticity it's striving for but it only succeeds as a run-down has been. If that's the goal then it wins.
Location
It isn't close to shopping or the water.
Staff
The only people who seemed interested in us were the managers when we checked out and couldn't understand why. They should stay at probably any other hotel of equal ranking and then they'd know why we left.
Cleanliness & Comfort
I don't know how Lisbon is addressing their homeless problem so can't comment on how that could be improved, but the hotel could start with a total remodel, including the hair dryers. Really? It looked like a vacuum cleaner.
Activity Reviews
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
the Azores

This was my favorite part of the trip; the guide was amazing in his knowledge of the country and was very friendly.

Quality of Experience
For the most part, very well planned.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrived exactly on time, every time.
Guided Excursion to The Furnas Valley
Guided Excursion to The Furnas Valley
São Miguel Island

This area was so unexpected in its beauty. We could have been in Colorado.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hiking Experience in Lagoa do Fogo
Hiking Experience in Lagoa do Fogo
São Miguel Island

This hike is rated medium on the difficulty scale, but it isn't or wasn't for me. It was very difficult and parts of the hike are straight up which means other parts are straight down. This is not a hike for people who are not in good shape and have little hiking experience. Sticks would have made this much better, but they weren't suggested. Our guide, who does the hike, probably weekly, didn't break a sweat, but we were exhausted and exhilarated when we finished. The views from the top were worth the trouble. He explained that the government determines the difficulty scale, and I know I would never do a hike they deem difficult. I can't even imagine what that would be like.

Quality of Experience
Food
Our guide was nice to bring us lunches and water and we had a nice picnic near the lake.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Beatriz
Beatriz De Pablo Rocha
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Sep 19, 2022
Hi Pat! Thank you so much for your detailed feedback about your trip regarding your guides and hotels, all the information will definitely help us to keep improving each day as it is what we always strive for. As you mentioned, the Azores is a beautiful place mostly because the islands keep their natural environment almost untouched and that's the reason why you won't find any facilities in the mountains, as that would damage the protected areas. About Lisbon, thank you again for all the... Read more

Hi Pat! Thank you so much for your detailed feedback about your trip regarding your guides and hotels, all the information will definitely help us to keep improving each day as it is what we always strive for. As you mentioned, the Azores is a beautiful place mostly because the islands keep their natural environment almost untouched and that's the reason why you won't find any facilities in the mountains, as that would damage the protected areas. About Lisbon, thank you again for all the information and I'm glad you enjoyed the recommended hotel that was still available for your last-minute change (the price I gave you was total per room, not per night). I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and thank you so much again for letting us help you to organize it. Best regards! Bea

Everything went well the canyoning was a very...
the Azores | Aug 1 - Aug 5, 2022

M
Majid A.
the United Arab Emirates | Reviewed on Aug 06, 2022
Everything went well the canyoning was a very good and the best experience , the whale watching was not so good as the boat got broken in middle of ocean and needed to wait for 40 min for someone to tow the boat back which took more than an hour , the boat was basic and old compared to the other boat you see in the marina doing the same service I hope this helps thanks a lot Read more

Everything went well the canyoning was a very good and the best experience , the whale watching was not so good as the boat got broken in middle of ocean and needed to wait for 40 min for someone to tow the boat back which took more than an hour , the boat was basic and old compared to the other boat you see in the marina doing the same service

I hope this helps thanks a lot

Hotel Review
Octant Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Epic Canyoning Adventure
Epic Canyoning Adventure
São Miguel Island

The staff was amazing they really were great and was the best we had in Azores

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Marina Courtaut
Marina
Marina Courtaut
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Aug 08, 2022

Thank you very much Majid for taking the time to do the review! I will pass your words on to all the team as your feedback will help us to continue improving in the future. I am sorry to hear the boat broke while doing the whale-watching excursion. It has been a true pleasure helping you plan your trip to Portugal! Warmest regards, Marina.

Trip to the Azores
the Azores | Sep 9 - Sep 15, 2018

Justin
Justin S.
Bloomfield Hills, MI | Reviewed on Sep 21, 2018
Very happy with all activities booked by the specialist (note they work for one specific company, and all activities are booked through them). Had a great time, all guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. However logistical aspect could be improved. Prior to arriving on the island the only information received about timing and where to meet was that someone from the company would pick us up from the airport. He then told us what time to be ready the next day, only to find out our... Read more

Very happy with all activities booked by the specialist (note they work for one specific company, and all activities are booked through them). Had a great time, all guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. However logistical aspect could be improved.

Prior to arriving on the island the only information received about timing and where to meet was that someone from the company would pick us up from the airport. He then told us what time to be ready the next day, only to find out our guide assumed we were meeting in a different location. No one called or reached out to us until I called them 30 min after our original meeting time, which resulted in them sending the guide to a hotel we were not at. Two more calls later, we were finally on our way an hour later.

So overall very happy with our trip, but would recommend future travelers ensure you push to receive an a detailed itinerary from the guide service before arriving that includes the departure time each day, and where to meet. Additionally, make sure you have access to a phone that works in case something goes wrong, and they have your number.

Local specialist: Picos de Aventura
P
Picos de Aventura
Local specialist in São Miguel Island -Azores | Replied on Oct 01, 2018

Hi Justin,
I am happy to realize that you had a nice time with us in São Miguel. I want to apologize for not sending you your day by day program with the final schedules before your arrival and the troubles it may have caused you.

Thank you for your feedback!

June Azores trip with 2 college kids
the Azores | Jun 1 - Jun 11, 2018

S
Scott R.
Tampa, FL | Reviewed on Jun 13, 2018

Great trip and experience. Loved it. Highly recommend. Azores offers a lot of cultural dynamics and activities, very accessible from Boston and at a very reasonable price. Great value. Also, close enough to consider long weekend excursions: Thursday night to Monday.

Local specialist: Leandro Silva

Adventure Holiday
the Azores | Mar 8 - Mar 15, 2018

Frederick
Frederick W.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2018

Everything about my KimKim experience was flawless, our planner Catia understood exactly the type of trip we were looking for, and booked us with guides that provided a unique experience in the Azores. When problems arose due to inclement weather, plans had to be canceled, bookings refunded, and other arrangements made, on the spot. This was all done seamlessly.

Local specialist: Picos de Aventura
P
Picos de Aventura
Local specialist in São Miguel Island -Azores | Replied on May 23, 2018

Hi Frederick.
Thank you for your message. I am so glad to know you had a fantastic time at our piece of paradise! :)

cycling in the azores
the Azores | Dec 27 - Jan 5, 2020

Jonathan
Jonathan B.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 11, 2017

I really can't say enough about how much we enjoyed ourselves in the Azores. The islands are amazing and the tour took full advantage of their natural beauty. The agent who arranged the trip (Catia) did an excellent job and all the guides and activities were great. I would happily refer Kim Kim and Picos de Aventura to anyone who asks!

Catia was always friendly and prompt and answered all our questions with the right amount of detail. The trip she arranged was excellent from accommodations to activities.

Local specialist: Picos de Aventura
P
Picos de Aventura
Local specialist in São Miguel Island -Azores | Replied on May 10, 2018

Hi Jon.
Thank you for your kind words. I am really happy to know that you had a wonderful time here! :)

San Miguel - one week - mainly hiking
the Azores | Aug 15 - Aug 22, 2017

R
Richard M.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2017

The choice of itinerary was good. The guides were excellent. Communications could be improved.

Tiago chose the hikes and other activities very well. The flight information had not be requested from us and we were not met at the airport. The wrong date for the departing transfer was given in the written documentation we were given on arrival. I provided a phone number for contact but we were never called when morning pickups were delayed.

Local specialist: Tiago Botelho
Tiago
Tiago Botelho
Local specialist in São Miguel island | Replied on May 10, 2018

Richard,

Thank you very much for your feedback. It´s great to know you enjoyed the hikes and the itinerary we prepared for you.

As for the communication issues, I´m really sorry that they happened. I already took measures to change our procedures and make sure they won´t happen again.

It was a pleasure to have you and Joanne in our paradise!

Thank you,
Tiago

Active Azores Experience
the Azores | Aug 7 - Aug 13, 2017

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Mikki F.
Virginia Beach, VA | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2017
The tours and hotels that the travel partner arranged for were excellent. I was very pleased with the individual tour operators. There was a massive breakdown in communication between the tour company that I was communicating with and the tour provider due to the fact that there were two or three companies in between them. The meeting times on our trip vouchers did not always match the meeting times on our overall itinerary. The tour operators called us the "ghost clients" because they... Read more

The tours and hotels that the travel partner arranged for were excellent. I was very pleased with the individual tour operators. There was a massive breakdown in communication between the tour company that I was communicating with and the tour provider due to the fact that there were two or three companies in between them. The meeting times on our trip vouchers did not always match the meeting times on our overall itinerary. The tour operators called us the "ghost clients" because they didn't have any information about us and didn't even know if we were real clients.

This was most problematic on the mountain climbing tour because the tour operator provides a document to participants instructing them on equipment and supplies that they are supposed to bring. We were lucky to have the operator for a different tour so she was able to send us the document the night before our climb. We were told that lunches would be provided on full-day tours, but this was not the case for the mountain climb. We had gone to a market earlier and just brought whatever food we had. We brought hiking equipment that was sufficient for the climb, but that was purely by chance. The tour company also needed our passport numbers to register us with the government as climbers and to get us insurance for the climb. Nobody told us about this and i happened to have a copy of our passports. If not, we wouldn't have been able to climb.
Had we not met with the tour guide the day before, we would have been unable to complete the climb (other people were not permitted to climb if they were not properly outfitted).

Another tour only had the name of the third party travel agency and not our names, ages, or nationality. After the other tour issues, we went to the tour provider the evening before our tour and they were ecstatic because this allowed them to put us in the correct group with other people who spoke english.

On another day, our transfer from the port to our hotel was not there when our ferry arrived so we walked to the hotel.

The next day, our guide for the full-day tour was not at the hotel at either of the times we were provided (tour voucher and itinerary had different times). We tried calling the number listed on the voucher, but it was the number for another travel company who the kimkim travel partner had booked through. We found a poster for the tour provider and managed to get in touch with her. The third party tour company had told her that we would be arriving that day and she should pick us up at the port, not our hotel.

Overall, i used kimkim because i wanted the tour planning and booking process to go more smoothly. Due to the multiple layers of tour companies between us and the eventual tour operators, there was a tremendous lack of communication. I imagine the multiple layers also added cost. Were it not for proactive steps that we took during the trip, this could have spiraled into a complete disaster.

There were small errors that i picked up on during the planning process. There were the mismatched tour times. It's hard to say whether some of the other issues were her fault or whether it was further down the chain. If she had directly booked things for me, the way i thought this would work, it would be easier to determine where the breakdown occurred.

Local specialist: Picos de Aventura
P
Picos de Aventura
Local specialist in São Miguel Island -Azores | Replied on May 10, 2018
Dear Mikki.
I am sorry to hear that your experience was not the best during your holidays!
Since the plan included more than one island, I had to book the tours through other provider which we've worked before and is of trust.
In this case, and I hope you understand it, I gave them all the info they asked for and also asked for any special requirements which they did not informed me about. I already sent the provider an email in order to check what created this lack of information and...
Read more

Dear Mikki.
I am sorry to hear that your experience was not the best during your holidays!
Since the plan included more than one island, I had to book the tours through other provider which we've worked before and is of trust.
In this case, and I hope you understand it, I gave them all the info they asked for and also asked for any special requirements which they did not informed me about. I already sent the provider an email in order to check what created this lack of information and created all this unnecessary confusion with the activities. Once again, I am really sorry for all the trouble that it caused you.

Aug 2017
the Azores | Aug 5 - Aug 12, 2017

S
Steven H.
San Antonio, TX | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2017

The schedule of activities felt oddly organized as our rest day was early in the week and prior to the more physical activities. The packed lunches with repetitive and monotonous. The trip was good but essentially we were paired with an agent from pico adventures so we were limited to activities only from their group even when we suggested an alternative it was dismissed. So essentially kimkim provided us with someone who made a hotel reservation for us and connected us to pico adventures.

See prior notes.

Local specialist: Picos de Aventura
P
Picos de Aventura
Local specialist in São Miguel Island -Azores | Replied on May 10, 2018

Hello Steven, than you for your feedback.
May I ask which activities would you have liked to change? Please notice that August is the peak of the high season and sometimes it gets really difficult to find availabilities on short notice and I believe that was the case.

Hiking Azores
the Azores | Jul 2 - Jul 8, 2017

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Catherine C.
Boulder, CO | Reviewed on Jul 13, 2017

Thanks KimKim! This was an excellent trip and having KimKim back-up was comforting. You connected me with Picos de Adventura, a superb tour company and their "adventures" could not have been more fun or beautiful.

Catia was great -- I also worked with Tiago and they were both tremendously helpful with getting my trip organized and with any questions I had along the way. This is a great company clearly focusing on the best possible customer service.

Local specialist: Picos de Aventura
P
Picos de Aventura
Local specialist in São Miguel Island -Azores | Replied on Jul 26, 2017

Dear Catherine. I am really glad we could help you building your holidays plan.
Thank you for your kind words!