Valentine is the girl from the French Alps!
She grew up between the French & Swiss Alps, worked as a tailor-made trip planner in Sri Lanka & Maldives, and was an event organizer for extreme sports competition in Switzerland. She finally settled down in the Beaujolais wine region two years ago, to share her expertise about France & Switzerland.
She has good taste especially when it comes to accommodation:
she loves charming boutique hotels and gives attention to the greatest details. In her free time, she loves searching for new gems to visit.
Si prefieres, yo hablo tambien español :)
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Everywhere in France: Paris, French Riviera, wine regions (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Sancerre...), French Alps, Loire Valley, Normandy, Alsace, and other hidden treasures.
Switzerland : Obernese Alps, Ticino, Bern, Interlaken, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Montreux, Gruyères. You will fall in love with Switzerland!
I specialize in honeymoons, family trips, celebration trips (wedding anniversaries, birthdays), epicurian getaways, and so on!
"
How did you get involved in travel?
"Travelling opens your mind. I always loved to offer memorable experiences to my travelers. They become even more knowledgeable when they come back home! "
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"On the way to Brittany on a family trip, I crossed the doors of Villandry Castle. I will never forget its magical gardens made of flowers and vegetables! I felt like Alice in the Wonderland trying to escape from the maze!
(Trust me, the experience is even better if you fly over the Loire Valley Castles in a hot air balloon)."
Valentine's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Road trip itineraries
Spend the day gliding through the countryside, starting with a guided bike tour on the Loire à Velo paths in the beautiful country. You'll continue riding along the Loire River, then explore the area around Chenonceau Castle, built on a bridge over the Cher River.Also known as the "Ladies...
The southeastern French region of Provence is one of the most scenic in the country. It's the land of the Riveria, medieval villages, lavender fields, and endless olive groves and vineyards. But Provence is as much a way of life as it is a point on a map. Today you'll experience Provence's...
The Louvre in Paris may seem like just a tourist's obligation, just as much as the Eiffel Tower, yet this palace of 35,000 pieces of art is certainly worth a visit! Henri Loyrette, former director of the Louvre, said that 80 percent of visitors see the Mona Lisa and then simply leave. In his...
Normandy is well-known for its important war sites from WWII. Spend an emotional day touring some of the most important areas, discovering the powerful legacy of D-Day on Normandy's landscape, as well as its effect on the world. A local specialist will lead you across Normandy's coast, and as an...
No visit to the French Riviera is complete without a legendary sunset, so why not take a cruise along the Mediterranean coast to make it even more special? Nice and its coastal neighbors offer beautiful postcard landscapes, enhanced by the unique colors of sunset. Combine the experience with a...
Enjoy a day spent savoring the famed countryside of Aix-en-Provence, starting with views of the Sainte-Victoire Mountains, a source of inspiration for the famous painter Cézanne. Your first destination is the Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire vineyards, set just east of the city of...
Recent trip reviews for Valentine
Germany Family Trip
Germany
|
Aug 2 - Aug 10, 2024
Ellen L.
Chicago, IL
| Reviewed on Aug 11, 2024
Valentine put together a great 9 day trip for an extended family of 17 tour of Germany. I knew what cities but needed help with transportation, activities and lodging. Valentine did an excellent job with pricing, location of hotels and quick communication back and forth. The platform to communicate is very helpful especially due to the time differences with USA and Europe.
Read more
Valentine put together a great 9 day trip for an extended family of 17 tour of Germany. I knew what cities but needed help with transportation, activities and lodging. Valentine did an excellent job with pricing, location of hotels and quick communication back and forth. The platform to communicate is very helpful especially due to the time differences with USA and Europe.
Hotel Reviews
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Berlin
Good location. Nice staff. Weather was warm and rooms were VERY HOT. Asked the front desk and they instructed us to turn to level 3 air conditioning- still not effective. Maintenance came and said it was on. Still VERY hot and uncomfortable to sleep at night. They had NO floor fans to borrow which would’ve helped. Finally third night we opened the windows. Woke up with big bites all over. We had a total of 7 rooms for our extended family and all had similar issues. Cannot recommend this hotel for summer weather.
Authenticity & Character
Felt like I was on a cruise ship.
Location
Easy to walk to sites,
Shopping and cafes.
Staff
Nice and attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Warm rooms with no fans to move air.
Karl August - a Neighborhood Hotel
Nürnberg
Authenticity & Character
Architecture was stunning. Each room unique set up. Beautiful materials. Very high end. Reminds me of four seasons and ritz Carlton hotels. Lobby was so cool. Breakfast over the top with service and food. So special and memorable.
Location
Right off the main square. Charming town very safe.
Staff
Receptive and professional.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds, linens, furniture amazing!
Sofitel Munich Bayerpost
Munich
A very high end hotel. Beautiful design and decorations! Comfortable sleeping arrangements. Much like a four seasons or Ritz Carlton. Staff was super friendly and helpful.
Pool was under construction which we didn’t know about, could use hotel pool across the street instead. Would have chosen another hotel had we known this was the case.
I didn’t love the location because the train station was right next door thus there were a lot of homeless and begging people. Good security at hotel. Felt very safe.
Breakfast was unbelievable- so many options. Beautiful spread of anything you wanted - fresh juices, bakery etc.
Authenticity & Character
Modern and high end.
Location
Near train station which is convenient. However also comes with transient people right outside your doorstep. Also there is major construction going on so the main road outside is hard to walk to on one side.
Staff
Professional and attentive.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beautiful modern rooms. Loved the fresh flowers and decorations throughout.
Activity Reviews
Berlin Dinner Cruise - 4-course menu & window-seat guaranteed (2,5 hours)
Berlin
Great to see Berlin from the water. The narration was hard to hear with the guests talking. All the guests were German. Narration was in German and English. Perhaps an English only coat cruise would have been better? Food was just ok. No one really liked the type of food.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Berlin Highlights Bike Tour
Berlin
The BEST way to see Berlin. All 17 of us loved the bikes, guide and tour. Even the 82 and 84 year old grandparents were able to participate in a rickshaw. Guides were knowledgeable, interesting , funny and relatable.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guides - Sasha and Anna were what made the trip so great. Loved every minute.
Transport
Thanks for bringing the bikes to our hotel. Super easy to walk outside and be ready for the tour.
Berlin Story Museum Entry Ticket with audioguide
Berlin
Exceeded our expectations. Super interesting- spent 2 hours and could’ve spent more time. Very well done.
Quality of Experience
Good photos and narration. Learned so much.
Transport
East to get to by train.
Kaleidoscopic Kreuzberg : Immigrants, Artists & Hipsters (Small Group/Possible in private/3hours)
Berlin
Not a good tour. Only thing interesting was the wall and paintings on it. Our guide Klaus was not good. Was boring. Marched us through neighborhood streets that weren’t appealing. Kept waiting for it to get better. Never did. Finally we asked to stop for a drink as teenagers and older parents were tiered and bored. Stopped at a very small coffee shop with 3 seats outside (17 in our group). We ended the tour and called taxis back to our hotels. We still don’t know what the point of this tour. We didn’t see, eat or talk about anything other than the neighborhood being run down and dangerous. Wasted our time. Never had such a poor tour in my life! Guess only good was laughing about it afterwards.
Quality of Experience
Everything. Boring tour. Wasted our morning. Even the coffee shop we asked to stop at was run down and small.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Klaus wasn’t very good. Didn’t offer a lot of interesting information. Told us it was his neighborhood and how dangerous it was with drug deals etc. Never saw anything in the neighborhood worth repeating
Transport
So tiered and annoyed we called taxis to leave early.
Former Nazi Rally Ground Tour (Private/3Hours)
Nuremberg
We ended up switching the tour to the Neuremburg courthouse and mini tour of the city. Thanks to our tour guide for offering this idea. He could tell that our group was tiered from the early train ride. He was knowledgeable and easy going. Loved seeing the courthouse. Very well done and interesting
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Thanks for meeting us as at our hotel. Took us on the trains to the Nuremberg courthouse.
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial (Private/5 hours)
Munich
Very interesting tour of Dachue. Everyone had read so much about this but to see it in person is sobering. Well done how they’ve made it informative yet memorable for those that lost their lives.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Heis, our guide, wasn’t very personable. Very knowledgeable about the history. He talked very fast and would dismiss our questions a lot of the time.
Transport
Train and bus easy to navigate with the help of our guide.
Group Dinner at a Traditional Bavarian Restaurant
Munich
Loved the dinner place - location below the old town hall was so special. We really liked our private room. Restaurant was authentic and fancy. I’m glad it wasn’t just another beer hall. Great way to end our trip together. Food was also excellent!
Quality of Experience
Nice fancy restaurant
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great service - friendly and hard working.
24/7 assistance in case of emergency
Germany
Had some issues with 2 members leaving late due to illness. Wish we could’ve gotten refund for some of the activities- not sure effort was made to cancel them?
Did call and utilize emergency line one evening for flight delay. Sometimes hard because they weren’t in same city (we were in Germany, they were in France). After a few calls back and forth she was able to fix a few of the issues. She made a new train reservation and hotel reservation because location of flight arrival changed.
Private Day Tour to Eagle’s Nest and Salzburg (Private Tour/10 hours)
Munich
Best tour of our trip by far. Our guide Elizabeth was the best. She was so personable, knowledgeable and helpful. Any questions she was happy to answer. Very generous with her time. A true professional. She explained the day in detail and offered suggestions since it was so long. She adapted things based on our group - ages 14 to 84!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Elizabeth was a 10/10.
Transport
Private bus was so helpful
Private Day Tour on the Romantic Road: Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Private/8Hours)
Germany
Due to our amazing guide Elizabeth, we were able to tailor the day exactly how we wanted. We spent most of the day in charming Rothenburg. Just what you picture of Germany. Elizabeth explained our options in the town. There was something for everyone. Many said this was the best day of the week in Germany.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Elizabeth our guide was a 10/10. True professional. So nice and personable-
Loved how she answered any questions we had.
Transport
So convenient to have our own bus and do the route we wanted to. At one point we asked to stop and not a problem. Another time we asked to go on freeway instead again, not a problem! So customizable.
What a perfect way to see a city - not on foot or in a car but on a bike. Great to have a private tour. Everyone ages 14-84 loved the tour of Munich. The rickshaw for the older adults worked perfectly. So much history and architecture. The stop at the beer garden for lunch was outstanding. Robert was sure to explain the food and drink options etc.
Quality of Experience
Loved the narration and humor of the monuments we saw.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Robert was awesome. Kids and adults loved him. Super interesting way of presenting history and culture. Storm was coming in and he was very thoughtful in asking us how to proceed.
Transport
A little hard to find. We even saw others looking for the bike shop. It’s a bit hidden.
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Aug 12, 2024
Good morning Ellen,
Thank you very much for your review! It was a pleasure to organize your family trip. We hope you cameback home with a lot of souvenirs in mind.
Your feedbacks are very helpful to us in order to maintain quality services. We take all your comments about the guides and hotels and will do what is necessary internally.
Regarding the late arrival of two travelers of your party, as it was such last minute, we couldn't get any refund for them unfortunately.
I wish you a very nice Summer!
Valentine
Wonderful France Trip to France 🇫🇷 for my husband and I
France
|
Jun 10 - Jun 22, 2024
Lynn M.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on Jun 26, 2024
I really appreciated the assistance KimKim and our specialist Valentine provided me while planning our trip. Because of busy work/class schedules, it was too overwhelming to do on my own. Valentine had great recommendations for activities and accommodations based on how my husband and I like to travel. She got back to me in a timely matter with answers to my questions before and during the trip. I especially liked how the hotels she chose were located near the activities we participated in....
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I really appreciated the assistance KimKim and our specialist Valentine provided me while planning our trip. Because of busy work/class schedules, it was too overwhelming to do on my own. Valentine had great recommendations for activities and accommodations based on how my husband and I like to travel. She got back to me in a timely matter with answers to my questions before and during the trip. I especially liked how the hotels she chose were located near the activities we participated in. The hotels were also the boutique hotels we prefer. She also got us from point A to B with good timing and clear instructions. Thank you Valentine!
We enjoyed the many tours we had in France. Our tour guides were all great! Celine’s tour of Montmarte was one of our 1st tours. Her knowledge of the area is impressive. She was very patient with us as we navigated some traffic and weather issues. We especially enjoyed our Versailles bike tour with Michael ( his passion for history shows , we learned a lot) , recommend this full day tour! A great way to see most of Versailles. A special shout out to Sebastian on our Gourmet stopovers tour in Marseille. We had so much fun learning about the food, wine, chocolates, soaps, olive oils there. We did not want the tour to end. We also enjoyed our cooking class in Nice. We have new techniques and recipes to take home with us.
Hotel Reviews
4* Hilton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Tremblay-en-France
A very nice airport hotel, good breakfast
Location
Great location. Recommend to give clients notice it is a bit of a walk from terminal 2 to 3 with heavy bags.. , doable but a little far. once to terminal 3, Hôtel directly outside, 3 min walk.
Les Terrasses d'Eze 4*
Eze
Gorgeous view! Accommodating staff, amazing restaurant
Location
Good location to drive to Nice, Monaco
Staff
All very attentive .
Hotel Particulier Le 28
Aix en Provence
Beautiful hotel, great customer service.
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful art, has a cool vibe combined with a classic mansion. Charming courtyard for breakfast
Staff
Lovely breakfast, wonderful servers. Helpful at check-in , accomadated laundry request.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mattress ( a bit worn) towels ( dingy ,thin) can use improvement
Les Ormes (Bed & Breakfast)
Saint Rémy de Provence
Authenticity & Character
Upstairs over a bakery/restaurant, very clean, newly remodeled room, large bathroom.
Location
Central St Remy location, parking a little tricky but manageable
Staff
Not really a breakfast- one day so busy, we ended up somewhere else. Another day just bread, service lacking
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean . Double vanity in room
Hôtel Des Grands Hommes
Paris
Beautiful room, clean. Nice breakfast area downstairs. Nice location in the Latin Quarter. Good service!
Authenticity & Character
Beautiful decoration
Staff
Someone at the desk 24/7 , friendly, helpful
Activity Reviews
Half-day Calanques tour from Marseille
France
Beautiful area , we had a VERY windy day. Water is cold, but there are wetsuits available
Choppy boat ride . Our boat captain, Mike was great. He did have necessary rain jackets to provide us from the spray of the waves.
Lavender afternoon tour
Aix-en-Provence
Gourmet stopovers in Marseille
France
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries of Lights (Combined ticket)
France
Versailles Bike Tour
France
Latin Quarter Gourmet Tour
Paris
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Paris
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Paris
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jul 02, 2024
Hello Lynn,
Thank you so much for your detailed review! Your feedbacks are very important to us in order to improve our services.
We hope you had a great time and cameback home with a lot of souvenirs in mind!
It was very exciting to organize your beautiful anniversary trip,
See you soon in Europe,
Valentine
Highlights of our trip
Germany
|
Jun 10 - Jun 24, 2024
Joseph S.
Flagami, FL
| Reviewed on Jun 25, 2024
Our favorite guide was set up for us in Vienna. We had him for 2 days and he was an incredible wealth of knowledge re; the city and its history. Also since he’s. Art history major, the knowledge at Schönbrunne palace was extensive.
Valentine was also very accommodating with regards to rescheduling one of our tours very last minute. We needed to push a bike tour in Munich by one day and she was on top of it.
Overall another great experience using Kimkim and its network of guides.
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jul 02, 2024
Hello Joseph,
Thank you very much for your review!
It was a pleasure to organize your excursions during your Europe trip.
Your feedbacks are important to us in order to improve our services.
We hope you got back home with a lot of souvenirs in mind.
Have a lovely Summer,
Valentine
Valentine curated the most amazing experience!
France
|
Jun 4 - Jun 17, 2024
Mike R.
Newark, NJ
| Reviewed on Jun 20, 2024
Valentine curated the most amazing experience! Best of all, she and the KimKim team were available throughout the trip to address any issues we had. I will definitely be booking another KimKim experience!
Read more
Valentine curated the most amazing experience! Best of all, she and the KimKim team were available throughout the trip to address any issues we had. I will definitely be booking another KimKim experience!
Activity Review
Treasure Hunt at the Louvre
Paris
Alexandra was awesome. She was the perfect tour guide for our family and so wonderful with the kids. The amount of info was perfect to keep their attention and the game she created kept them engaged.
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jun 28, 2024
Bonjour Mike,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
It was a pleasure to organize your trip to France for your lovely family.
I hope you cameback home with a lot of memories in mind,
See you soon in Europe & have a great Summer,
Valentine
Very enjoyable week in Provence!
France
|
May 24 - May 30, 2024
David S.
San Jose, CA
| Reviewed on Jun 06, 2024
Valentine did a great job in planning our visit. The two hotels she found for us were superb as was our tour guide in Marseille (Sebastian), and the cooking class with Yvan and Edward. We would say that the work done by Valentine exceeded our expectations. In addition, we really enjoyed Baux en Provence and especially St. Remy en Provence. Both towns were both scenic as well as culturally interesting. Due to an illness we were not able to do the bicycle tour in the Luberon, but I’m sure...
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Valentine did a great job in planning our visit. The two hotels she found for us were superb as was our tour guide in Marseille (Sebastian), and the cooking class with Yvan and Edward. We would say that the work done by Valentine exceeded our expectations. In addition, we really enjoyed Baux en Provence and especially St. Remy en Provence. Both towns were both scenic as well as culturally interesting. Due to an illness we were not able to do the bicycle tour in the Luberon, but I’m sure that would have been great fun. Valentine also helped us in both recommending restaurants as well as booking tables for us. This too made our trip more enjoyable and reduce any angst about restaurants. During our trip Valentine was mostly available and when she wasn’t able to respond quickly, her backup Mathilde was always there to answer questions and help with our visit. We would definitely use KimKim in the future. Thanks Valentine for a great time!
Hotel Reviews
Le Saint Remy 5*
St.-Remy-de-Provence
Right in the heart of St. Remy. The location couldn’t have been better. Everyone at the hotel were extremely friendly, professional and helpful. Our room was fantastic as well.
Location
Everything to see and experience in St. Remy is within 10 minute walk of the hotel. Great location to do the Van Gogh walk to St. Paul’s Hospital.
Staff
Staff genuinely makes you feel welcome and went out of their way to ensure we had a very pleasant stay
Villa Saint Ange
Aix-en-Provence
This hotel was perfect in terms of location, facilities, room, etc. Couldn’t have been more enjoyable and comfortable. The staff were extremely professional and helpful. Great hotel!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Book this hotel without hesitation. Only mistake we made was not booking a table at the hotel’s restaurant
Activity Reviews
24/7 assistance in case of emergency
France
Fortunately there were no emergencies, but we did have contact with Valentine and Mathilda during our visit. They always responded quickly and were helpful.
Cooking Class & more in St Remy de Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Fantastic experience with Edward and Yvan. The visits to the olive oil producer, goat farm, butcher and vegetable shops were all informative and most enjoyable. Yvan is a terrific cook and very good teacher. Learned a lot and ate well!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries of Lights (Combined ticket)
France
We had lunch and an enjoyable experience in Baux de Provence. Unfortunately I became ill and we never got to the Quarries of Lights but everyone at the hotel and in Baux told us that it was a great experience. Next time….
Gourmet stopovers in Marseille
France
Sebastian is the best! He clearly knew Marseille, its history and culture, and especially the wine and food tour we took with him. Great stops and met fabulous people along the way. Highly recommend touring with Sebastian
Quality of Experience
The shops he took us to were first rate and the merchants most welcoming.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jun 08, 2024
Bonjour David,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
It was a real pleasure to organize your relaxing getaway to Provence and select great charming hotels & activities that will live long in your memory.
Have a lovely Summer and see you soon in Europe,
"à bientôt"
Valentine
Switzerland Trip
Switzerland
|
May 2 - May 10, 2024
Brenda B.
Abilene, TX
| Reviewed on May 27, 2024
Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets...
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Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets per person and the operator was getting a little flustered with us. We had a great time once we were able to get on the Matterhorn Railway. Grindelwald was beautiful and amazing. We loved, loved the Schilthorn-Piz Gloria. So beautiful! We loved riding the cable cars. The little village of Thun was okay but we could have skipped this visit. It would have been nice to visit Jungfraujoch as well, now that I know more about this area. Also, we missed seeing the Trummelbach Falls because of all the excitement of Schilthorn. Maybe the Falls could have been part of the trip details when going to/from Schilthorn. Luzern was nice but we were there less than 18 hours. Our tour guide (Adrian) was very enjoyable, likable, and knew the city. He was an okay guide. Lugano was beautiful and our tour guide (Patricia) was amazing and incredible. She recommended a small village, Ascona, for us to visit on the second day and it was perfect! We loved Patricia! Zurich was nice but we were there less than 14 hours. It would have been nice to spend an extra night there. Our tour guide was nice and had interesting facts about the city. Also, Valentine put together a nice trip for our family. She was very responsive on all our questions. If she was not available someone else assisted us.
Hotel Reviews
Did not care for this hotel. It was confusing to find the room, the room felt dark and victorian, and had to use an actual key to lock and unlock the door.
Very nice, but the rooms were just a little too small.
Authenticity & Character
Felt like a hotel in America.
Location
Location was good; 5 or so minutes from the train and close to cute stores and shops.
Hotel Hirschen - Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Beautiful, quaint hotel. Loved our room! Beautiful view of the mountains from our balcony.
Location
Wonderful location. Beautiful view of the mountains.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean.
Quaint hotel with a view of the Matterhorn.
Location
Great view of the Matterhorn.
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich
Zürich
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)
Lugano
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking
Lugano
Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise
Lucerne
Schilthorn - Piz Gloria
Switzerland
Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket)
Switzerland
Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on May 29, 2024
Hello Brenda,
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed review about your trip!
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland, I really wish you had more time to visit each area, it is true that it was a rapid pace in order to fit all the places :)
Well-noted for all your feedbacks on each activity, it is very important for us to improve our services and offer quality experiences.
Have a great Summer,
Valentine
Switzerland & Italy- Valentine
Switzerland
|
May 10 - May 26, 2024
Eric T.
Singapore
| Reviewed on May 27, 2024
Valentine did the planning of my trip and everything goes well. Top of Europe, Mt Rigi, Oeschinensee lake, Lavaux vineyard, burano island are excellent recommendations to visit /hike. Valentine and her team also track and follow through my journey. Very responsible team.
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Valentine did the planning of my trip and everything goes well. Top of Europe, Mt Rigi, Oeschinensee lake, Lavaux vineyard, burano island are excellent recommendations to visit /hike. Valentine and her team also track and follow through my journey. Very responsible team.
Hotel Reviews
Marcella Royal Hotel
Rome
Relais Sul Mare Boutique Hotel
Naples
Hotel La Rouvenaz
Montreux
Metropole Hotel Interlaken
Interlaken
Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann
Lucerne
Activity Reviews
The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access | Semi-Private Tour
Rome
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Early Morning Access Vatican Tour (small group tour/3,5 hours)
Rome
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Doge's Palace & St Marks Basilica Tour at Night (Small Group/3,5hours)
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Pop
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)
Switzerland
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Switzerland
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains
Switzerland
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Sep 01, 2024
Hello Eric,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We hope you enjoyed the mix of breathtaking sceneries and beautiful Italian Architecture.
Your feedbacks are every important to us, in order to improve our services.
Have a nice Summer and see you soon in Europe,
Valentine
Switzerland was fantastic. Thanks KimKim and Valentine!
Switzerland
|
May 5 - May 13, 2024
Bo K.
Wade Hampton, SC
| Reviewed on May 22, 2024
We loved our trip to Switzerland and Valentine did a fantastic job planning the trip and supporting us.
Our favorite was a six hour e-bike trip from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Effortless pedaling and non stop beautiful scenery.
Also Grindelwald was amazingly beautiful. The country is so clean and the engineering is incredible. Swiss buildings actually enhance not detract from the natural beauty of the country.
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We loved our trip to Switzerland and Valentine did a fantastic job planning the trip and supporting us.
Our favorite was a six hour e-bike trip from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Effortless pedaling and non stop beautiful scenery.
Also Grindelwald was amazingly beautiful. The country is so clean and the engineering is incredible. Swiss buildings actually enhance not detract from the natural beauty of the country.
Activity Review
E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls (small group/6 hours)
Switzerland
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on May 23, 2024
Hello Bo,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback,
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland and make you discover our beautiful mountains and Swiss culture :)
I am glad you liked the e-bike, this is definitely one of our favorite activity 😍
See you soon,
Valentine
Switzerland is Amazing!
Switzerland
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Mar 26 - Apr 9, 2024
Glen P.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
My wife and I had round trip plane tickets to Geneva with no particular plans. KimKim put us in touch with Valentine who knows all about Switzerland first hand. She asked us a few questions about our budget and what we liked to do and see. Valentine put together an incredible itinerary covering Geneva, Zermatt, Interlaken, Lugano, Luzern, Bern, and Montreux. All hotels were within walking distance of train stations, and getting around with the handy Swiss Travel Pass was no...
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My wife and I had round trip plane tickets to Geneva with no particular plans. KimKim put us in touch with Valentine who knows all about Switzerland first hand. She asked us a few questions about our budget and what we liked to do and see. Valentine put together an incredible itinerary covering Geneva, Zermatt, Interlaken, Lugano, Luzern, Bern, and Montreux. All hotels were within walking distance of train stations, and getting around with the handy Swiss Travel Pass was no problem.
Switzerland is such a diverse and beautiful country. The Swiss Alps are breathtaking. Especially memorable was our view of the Matterhorn in Zermatt. Valentine set us up with a private guide, Patricia, in Lugano. Patricia put together a food tour highlighting the local Italian cuisine. The next day, she took us on a hike along the shore of Lake Lugano to Gandria, a charming little village, followed by lunch at one of the grottoes across the lake (Grotto Descanso) where we had an amazing meal with a stunning view.
All of these cities were wonderful in their own unique ways. This trip far exceeded our expectations. Thank you, Valentine!
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Apr 23, 2024
Hello Glen,
Thank you very much for your kind review!
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland, we hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind.
See you soon in Europe,
Best,
Valentine
Our trip to Paris
France
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Apr 4 - Apr 12, 2024
Tammy S.
Atlanta, GA
| Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
We were extremely impressed how everything went so smoothly. Valentine was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the process. The only complaint was not getting our final itinerary with the final times so close to our departure was concerning since this was the first time we used Kimkim. I like to know everything is set a lot earlier to our trips and this made me uncomfortable, but everything went as planned, so very happy with the service.
All the people to pick us up or tours...
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We were extremely impressed how everything went so smoothly. Valentine was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the process. The only complaint was not getting our final itinerary with the final times so close to our departure was concerning since this was the first time we used Kimkim. I like to know everything is set a lot earlier to our trips and this made me uncomfortable, but everything went as planned, so very happy with the service.
All the people to pick us up or tours were on time. It was nice to receive messages from the drivers the night before letting us know they would be picking us up and where to meet them. Our drivers Michael and Thomas in Paris were exceptional.
Our guide Celine, for the Louvre and walking tour of Montmarte was excellent. We wished we had her for all our tours, She provided so much details about the paintings, sculptures, and history at both the Louvre and as we walked through the Montmarte area.
Our guide Alex with Alla la France tours in Amboise and Loire Valley was very informative and we really enjoyed the tours of all of the Chateau ‘s.
The Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes in Amboise was a beautiful hotel and located close to all the restaurants and shops in Amboise. The woman in the morning at the reception desk, we forgot to get new name, was extremely helpful and made our stay exceptional. We would definitely recommend this hotel.
We would definitely use Kimkim again for other travels.
Hotel Review
Manoir Les Minimes
Amboise
This hotel was perfect. Located closed to restaurants and shops. The woman at the hotel desk was extremely helpful and made our stay exceptional. Breakfast was great. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this hotel.
Activity Reviews
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris
This tour we were on our own, but the instructions and skip the line was fantastic and everything went smoothly. Definitely recommend the summit to the top and skip the line!!
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Paris
Excellent guide, Celine. Highly recommend her for tours. She provides such insight on the history and art. She was good about making sure we did not over do with the hills, so it was a nice and slow walk through the district to the top to see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. We really enjoyed the walk with Celine!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Celine was awesome!!
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris
A little disappointing, not really impressed. We did not get to see all the river scenes due to the river high. Also the dress attire. Everything stated formal attire, not jeans, tennis shoes, base caps, but that was not the case. We were over dressed. Majority of people were wearing tennis shoes, jeans, and baseball caps. It was a very casual dining and not formal.
The food was ok, we did not receive what we actually ordered. The music was great. The singer was excellent.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff did not check with us that we got what we ordered, just drop it off and then gone.
Transport
Taxis are charged $10 to get in the gate to drop you off and then you have to pay that, which is ridiculous! Should be a place for taxis to drop off or pick up without this additional charge to the people. Our charges with taxi when leaving.
Villandry Castle, Azay-le-Rideau and Vouvray Vineyards
France
This tour was ok, probably not the best of all our tours. Kimmy, our guide was good. We were with a small group, all french speaking people, except us, so felt a little left out in conversations. There was a lot of driving, but our guide did not provide information about the towns we were driving through. A lot of quiet time in the van.
These chateau’s are beautiful, both Azay-de-Rideau and Villandry Castle.
We would have liked to been able to actually toured the inside of the Villandry Castle, not just the gardens. Maybe three hours at this location, since we must do lunch on your own or given the option. The gardens were spectacular and you definitely can spend a hour in the gardens.
The Vouvray Vineyards tour was good, we enjoyed the detailed about the winery and how they make their wine. Wine was excellent. We enjoyed this tour except we think driving out to see the grape vines could be skipped.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the château
France
Our guide, Alex was excellent. She was very informative and it was nice the tour was a small group. The lunch at the private Chateau was nice and helped to understand what owners have to go through to live in one. We enjoyed all the chateau’s and all are different. Only complaint was the meeting point information on the vouchers was a little confusing, because it showed two different meeting points on it, because they picked up people at two different locations. I should have confirmed earlier with our agent. Suggestion for Kimkim if the meeting point on the itinerary or vouchers actually said meeting point at the Office of Tourism with the address, instead just a street name.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alex was awesome!
Private Guided tour of Mont-Saint-Michel and entrance tickets to the Abbey
France
This was a great tour. We took a train from Paris to Mont Saint Michel and our driver, Samuel was our guide as well. He communicated with use the night before to let us know where to meet him at the train station and confirmed the time. He was great. He provided information about the towns as we drove through them. Provided great details about the people, island and Abbey. We would not have gotten the same experience from an audio guide. This was probably our favorite place. Wish we could have stayed to see the tide come in. Maybe next time!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private tour of the Louvre
Paris
Our guide Celine was amazing and provided such great details that we have never experienced on a museum tour before. She provided so much details about the history and things about the paintings or sculptures that we would have never heard from an audio guide. Highly recommend Celine!! We wished we had her on our tour for Versailles.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Exceptional guide!!
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Apr 23, 2024
Hello Tammy,
Thank you very much for your detailed review.
We noted all your feedbacks on the tours. It will help us to improve our services and refine our selection of activities.
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to France, we hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind.
See you soon in Europe,
Best,
Valentine
