Kimkim Trip Reviews for Norway

Our family trip to Norway was unforgettable and seamlessly arranged by the KimKim team, most notably Julia, with help from Meree. We had some challenges scheduling the trip due to COVID and a personal emergency. Julia was able to navigate these changes coming up with a wonderful itinerary. Our goal was to spend family time amid the snow and Northern Lights at Christmas. We started in Oslo, where a lovely boutique hotel was booked for us. It was in the middle of the city with easy access... read more

Our family trip to Norway was unforgettable and seamlessly arranged by the KimKim team, most notably Julia, with help from Meree. We had some challenges scheduling the trip due to COVID and a personal emergency. Julia was able to navigate these changes coming up with a wonderful itinerary. Our goal was to spend family time amid the snow and Northern Lights at Christmas. We started in Oslo, where a lovely boutique hotel was booked for us. It was in the middle of the city with easy access to museums and restaurants. We loved walking through the Vigeland sculpture museum and enjoying Gustav Vigeland's works. Also, the harbor and its excellent restaurants were enjoyable.
We then traveled to Tromso. Julia arranged an unforgettable tour of the Tromso Ice Domes and a snowmobile trip exploring the Northern Tip of Norway, which borders Sweden and Finland, the Three-Country Cairn. We then traveled by minibus to a location outside Tromso for a spectacular Northern Lights display. Our travels then took us to Alta, where we went on a dogsledding trek with a guide who has successfully competed with her dogs in many dogsledding races, including the famed Iditarod. We dined in the restaurant where her husband, the former chef for the King of Norway, prepared an exquisite 5-course meal with local ingredients.
It was a magical time that will stay with us forever. I am grateful to Julia and the team for making it possible.

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

The hotel location in the center of Oslo within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, and museums. The rooms are comfortable and immaculate. The hotel staff is friendly and very helpful. There is a lovely smorgasbord breakfast included in the room price. The restaurant also serves dinner. The decor is modern and tasteful while respecting the historic building. I enjoyed breakfasting at the bar overlooking the street at 7 am and watching Oslo come to life.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central - close to restaurants, museums, and public transportation

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Malangen Resort

Skutvik, Meistervik

This hotel comprises apartments and separate cottages, all overlooking the Fjord. The unit I had was owned by a Tromso family who invited guests to write in their guestbook telling a little about themselves and where they were from. There was a basket of flannel slippers near the door, so we could remove our snowy boots in the mudroom. The decor was simple and tasteful. Like much of Scandinavia, the unit was immaculate. The room charge included an excellent smorgasbord for breakfast. Dinner was available at an extra charge. The first night we ordered off of the menu. On the second night, we had the Christmas buffet. Both were excellent. The dining room was decorated for Christmas in a very tasteful way. The furnishings were comfortable and modern.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit remote but lovely

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora

Tromsø

The Hotel Aurora was located in central Tromso. It was more reminiscent of a chain hotel than the other more boutique-like hotels we stayed at. The decor was modern, and the facilities and rooms were immaculate. The biggest advantage was the location which gave easy access to the many tours available in Tromso. All meals were included. They were buffet-style and simple, but the food was very good.

Authenticity & Character

It felt more chain-like but was very comfortable

Location

Close to tour pickup sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bjørnfjell Mountain Lodge

Alta

This beautiful mountain lodge is located a few kilometers outside of Alta. It is rustic but modern and very cozy and inviting. The rooms were lovely. I had a beautiful view of one of the ski slopes and the bison shed! The staff was particularly friendly and warm. They went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable. I loved chatting about local traditions and the way of life in Northern Norway. The room price included a delicious smorgasbord breakfast, and dinner was also available. There was a set menu for each evening. The facility offered several winter activities, including snowshoeing, skiing, tubing, and watching the Northern Lights from the mountaintop warmed by a campfire.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Ice domes tour and reindeers

Tromsø

This was a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas Eve with my family. Our guide was a young Swedish man who was knowledgeable and also very engaging! The structure itself is amazing. It was fascinating to learn about how the domes are constructed. There are gorgeous ice carvings of Norwegian explorers and arctic animals inside each room. It is possible to book an overnight stay in one of the rooms though the shower and bathroom facilities are shared and a bit rustic. The ice beds are topped with a mattress and reindeer skins for warmth. We enjoyed a shot at the bar in glasses made of ice. We also had a simple stew for lunch in the dining room. There was a herd of reindeer that we were able to observe. After the tour, we walked up a path to a dog sledding kennel where there was no other than Santa! I wonder if he made his journey that evening by dogsled or with reindeer pulling his sleigh!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lapland Snowmobile Adventure

Tromsø

This was an all-day event in a very remote and beautiful place. The guides were knowledgeable, and I learned much about this area. We traveled to a manmade island that marks the borders of Sweden, Norway, and Finland . It is the northernmost international tripoint in the world. We traveled here on Christmas Day in the depth of the polar nights. The sky was clear, and during the 3 hours of dusk, the sky was blue with the gorgeous color of a sunset (though the sun never appears) reflected on the snowy terrain. Truly an unforgettable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

There was a lovely warming stew served outside

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Chase

Tromsø

This was a trip by minibus with a group of 15 people originating in Tromso. The guide is familiar with the local microclimate and can find a spot where the Northern Lights are likely to be seen, even if it is cloudy in Tromso. We were lucky, needing to travel only about 45 minutes outside of Tromso. The guide set up a campfire and had warm drinks for us. He had an undergraduate degree in physics and was a graduate student at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromso, studying clean energy and its integration into the grid. Not only was he able to explain the science behind the northern lights, he also provided insight into the vibrant scientific and cultural landscape of Northern Norway. Hearing fellow travelers' stories about the campfire was also interesting. We were richly rewarded for our patience with a spectacular show of the lights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dog Sledding & Northern Lights

Alta

If I could give this experience 10 stars, I would. It was a fabulous from start to finish, particularly since Tine and Hanna, our guides, are the real deal. They have both successfully raced their dogs internationally, notably in the Iditarod. The dogs that pulled the sleds were wonderfully socialized, and it was obvious that they loved their work. We learned how to harness the dogs and drive the sleds. We then took off on a lively trip through woods and fields in the beautiful Norwegian countryside under the Northern Lights. The evening ended around a campfire with a mug of warm cocoa or tea. The venue is also an Inn and has a world-class restaurant. The chef, Trasti, is phenomenal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full activity day

Alta

The lodge is an all-inclusive winter activity destination place. While we could not participate in scheduled activities on the mountain due to severe weather (several roads were closed), we could go out on our own by snowshoe. The staff was wonderful and treated us like family.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The kimkim platform was user friendly and easy to navigate. The service allowed me to interact with the travel specialist directly and in real time. I was very pleased with the service. My children and I enjoyed the Northern Lights and tour of Oslo the most. The whale watching consumed the entire day after a long travel day. We returned from the whale watching at 1700 and were expected to go on a reindeer feeding and sledding event at 1800. It was too much, too fast and we cancelled it.... read more

The kimkim platform was user friendly and easy to navigate. The service allowed me to interact with the travel specialist directly and in real time. I was very pleased with the service. My children and I enjoyed the Northern Lights and tour of Oslo the most. The whale watching consumed the entire day after a long travel day. We returned from the whale watching at 1700 and were expected to go on a reindeer feeding and sledding event at 1800. It was too much, too fast and we cancelled it. Unfortunately I was not offered any refund due to kimkim cancellation policy. I also did not expect to have so much additional travel expense once I arrived. The trip cost per person seems very high considering it was me and 2 children sleeping in one hotel room and the only travel cost covered was by train (where kids travel free or discounted). In addition to paying for international flight I was also responsible for all in-country air travel and local transportation. Although the kimkim service was great it was quite expensive.

Hotel Reviews

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Oslo

Excellent hotel with great amenities and breakfast

Bergstaden Hotel

Røros

Nice staff but hotel needs significant improvements. Breakfast was ok

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon hotel Polar

Tromsø

Dated hotel but nice enough. We were too busy for breakfast at this location.

Activity Reviews

Northern Lights Adventure in Tromsø

Tromsø

Great experience. Kids favorite! Guides were friendly and knowledgeable. They did not show up until a few minutes after meeting time which caused some stress

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Silent Whale Watching

Tromsø

Neat to see humpback whales but did not know we would be on boat for 9 hours. Would have used that time differently Not able to go on next excursion that evening because we arrived back too late.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A lot of guests were sea sick. My daughter got queezy and slept most of the time

Reindeer Feeding & Northern Lights Experience

Tromsø

Not able to participate. Scheduled to begin 1 hour after our return from whale watching. This is after a long day of travel and la night of Nothern Lights. Kim Kim could have done a better job of scheduling to accommodate. The following day was just a travel day back to Oslo. Could we have done something then instead of trying to cram three excursions into 24 hour period?

Quality of Experience

Explore Oslo's Hidden Gems with a Local Expert

Oslo

Mari was great and we enjoyed our day with her

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time cramming a lot of activities in multiple cities into a 12 day period. I am a stickler for excellent communication. Tricia lived up to my expectations. She consistently followed up and did a good job making adjustments to unexpected difficulties.

I apologize for the late review for this trip to Norway. We enjoyed every minute of the trip and we were able to rely on the help of our guide and communication with Kim Kim along the way. We had one issue with our hotel in Oslo but KimKim went above and beyond in helping to find a better room which suited our needs as two independent women travelers.

Both Oslo and Bergen were memorable and of course the beautiful boat ride we took from Flam to Bergen through the Fjord country. I... read more

I apologize for the late review for this trip to Norway. We enjoyed every minute of the trip and we were able to rely on the help of our guide and communication with Kim Kim along the way. We had one issue with our hotel in Oslo but KimKim went above and beyond in helping to find a better room which suited our needs as two independent women travelers.

Both Oslo and Bergen were memorable and of course the beautiful boat ride we took from Flam to Bergen through the Fjord country. I cannot wait to go back and see more of Norway. Thank you for making this part of our travels go smoothly and finding us such outstanding accommodations along the way. Traveling in off season (October) was a little rainy but mostly just perfect for seeing many things without crowds. We even had 3 perfect sunny days in Bergen!
Warmly,
Gerri Sweeney

Thank You Meree for planning our Norway trip. Apart from the fact that we fell ill largely due to the harsh cold winter, we had great fun and enjoyed our vacation. Very happy that we managed to catch the highlight of our trip which was the northern lights.

Thank you once again and looking forward to engaging your services again in the near future. read more

Thank You Meree for planning our Norway trip. Apart from the fact that we fell ill largely due to the harsh cold winter, we had great fun and enjoyed our vacation. Very happy that we managed to catch the highlight of our trip which was the northern lights.

Thank you once again and looking forward to engaging your services again in the near future.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Cecil

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clarion Hotel The Hub

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Transfer to the Ice domes

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Spend the morning in the ice domes and transfer back to the city

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Chase

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Bergen to Oslo scenic train route - Bergensbanen

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mostraumen Cruise

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luggage Transfer Service

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had just completed a 15 days trip to northern Norway (Bodø, Reine, Svolvær and Tromsø) with kimkim. It was the first time we engaged kimkim's services. We wanted a seamless experience in planning a 2 weeks long vacation trip without too much effort. In the past, we did all the research, planning, and booking and it took a lot of effort and time. Our primary objective for this northern Norway trip was to catch the northern lights, as we did not manage to catch it the last time we went to... read more

We had just completed a 15 days trip to northern Norway (Bodø, Reine, Svolvær and Tromsø) with kimkim. It was the first time we engaged kimkim's services. We wanted a seamless experience in planning a 2 weeks long vacation trip without too much effort. In the past, we did all the research, planning, and booking and it took a lot of effort and time. Our primary objective for this northern Norway trip was to catch the northern lights, as we did not manage to catch it the last time we went to Iceland! The other secondary objectives was to tour the beautiful scenic country along with other winter activities. This trip certainly did not disappoint!

We read about the reviews of other customers who engaged kimkim's services in planning and booking for their trip and decided to try it out too. Merée, our assigned specialist did not disappointed! She tailored the itinerary to our requirements, going back and forth countless times with the places, timeline, activities and accommodations. It is due to Merée's recommendation and patience with us that we decided to commit to booking the trip via kimkim.

A trip this long is bound to run into some hiccups. The crucial difference is that kimkim also provided emergency contact during the trip to help address any issues. And indeed we did needed that service! Merée went above and beyond in supporting us with last minute on the fly suggestions and recommendations (places to go, restaurants, sauna!), management of planned activities (postponement / cancellation due to weather) and other minor stuff (hotels check in/out, parking).

We not only met our primary objective where we caught the spectacular northern lights a couple of times, but also met and interacted with wonderful people, from friendly locals to fellow travelers from around the world with the same objective (northern lights!). A worthy mention is Odd, the northern light chase activity guide in Svolvær who was supposed to bring us out but due to the unfortunate timing of the weather (snow storm!), first recommended we postpone if possible to the next night, and then further came down to explain and recommend that we cancel (and refunded us) the next night as the odds of catching the northern lights will be very low. He further advised us that the weather will be cleared up the next day and we should be able to catch the northern lights from where we will be going!

We are really glad that we went with kimkim and thoroughly enjoyed the full northern Norway winter experience! It was a very memorable trip from the northern light chases, the scenic and breath taking drive from Tromsø to the Lofoten islands, to the other activities: Icelandic horse riding in Lofoten, traveling via Hurtigruten cruise along the coast, reindeer sledding & overnight in a Lavvu tent, dog sledding with huskies and whale watching!

It's the people that make the biggest difference in everything we do and we are glad we worked with Merée, and met all the wonderful people along the trip!

Meree was absolutely incredible and helped us out while we were traveling. Will definitely recommend KimKim to others and specifically to our friends wishing to travel to Norway. read more

Meree was absolutely incredible and helped us out while we were traveling. Will definitely recommend KimKim to others and specifically to our friends wishing to travel to Norway.

Meree was great at listening to what I wanted to see and do and updating the itinerary accordingly. Julia was helpful while traveling as well. read more

Meree was great at listening to what I wanted to see and do and updating the itinerary accordingly. Julia was helpful while traveling as well.

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Augustin Hotel

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ullensvang

Lofthus Hardanger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Fjordcruise in the Nærøyfjord

Flåm

It's extra cold with the wind, so need to factor that in. It was a great experience. It's helpful to follow audio guide to know what's coming up because it goes pretty fast. I missed a waterfall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christina was very accommodating from the start. Despite time constraints and limited period to prepare, she crafted an amazing itinerary for me and my husband. She replied to our queries, she was available when we needed help and offered alternatives when activities were cancelled due to lack of snow. We were blessed to see the Aurora Borealis twice in a row, and the fjords left me crying in awe. Christina went the extra mile to make our Norway experience an amazing one. We cannot thank her... read more

Christina was very accommodating from the start. Despite time constraints and limited period to prepare, she crafted an amazing itinerary for me and my husband. She replied to our queries, she was available when we needed help and offered alternatives when activities were cancelled due to lack of snow. We were blessed to see the Aurora Borealis twice in a row, and the fjords left me crying in awe. Christina went the extra mile to make our Norway experience an amazing one. We cannot thank her enough. Thank you, Christina! Thank you, KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

Good breakfast spread. First time was in a small room and they agreed to give us a bigger room when we returned. Thank you.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

No leeway for late checkout

Cleanliness & Comfort

A little more cleaning and fresh odor for towels please

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Very quaint hotel with good breakfast spread.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A little more cleaning

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Good room, good breakfast selection. Classy hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Gave wrong directions to Torget

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfort Hotel Bergen Terminal

Bergen

A little hard to walk since it is outdoors and very cold. Good food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon hotel Polar

Tromsø

Good food, central location. I just wish their pillows are not so soft, had a hard time sleeping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Wish the staff could be more accomodating. When the taxi was not sending a message, staff said it was her first time to encounter that. Did not help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wish the towels could have fresher odor.

Radisson Blu Airport Hotel, Oslo Gardemoen

Gardemoen

Classy hotel, good location for airport access. Good food, wish there could be more selection, though.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Train from Oslo to Flam

Norway

I think it would have been better in spring or fall when the trees had brighter colors.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

John had a good grasp of Bergen and was eager to show us more, but we got tired.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided walk in Tromsø

Tromsø

Guide was accomodating and fetched us when we got lost. She was very informative. She gave us wrong directions, though, as to where to alight going to the cable car.😀

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Husky Dog Sledding

Tromsø

Was happy but pitied the dogs too. I will not do it again because I feel for the dogs. The staff were very kind, helped me get into the suit and understood me when I was slow in walking. The guy even offered a tissue paper because my nose got runny. Staff took pictures of us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Reindeer Feeding & Northern Lights Experience

Tromsø

Wish the guide was more interesting and also offered to take our pics when Aurora appeared. Sebastian was especially accommodating and helped us take pics and talked to us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sebastian was an exception

Transport

Oslo City Walk with a Local

Oslo

He was late so we cancelled. We refused a resched. It's fine as long as we are refunded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christina helped us with planning our trip every step of the way. She was fantastic!! I told her when we would be there and what we wanted to do (in general) and she planned out every day perfectly. Every day was full of all the activities that would have taken me forever to get arranged. We arrived in Oslo, then took the train to Bergen/Flan and flew to Tromso. Tromso was the highlight of the tour - we saw the most amazing Northern Light show that we could have ever imagined, even our... read more

Christina helped us with planning our trip every step of the way. She was fantastic!! I told her when we would be there and what we wanted to do (in general) and she planned out every day perfectly. Every day was full of all the activities that would have taken me forever to get arranged. We arrived in Oslo, then took the train to Bergen/Flan and flew to Tromso. Tromso was the highlight of the tour - we saw the most amazing Northern Light show that we could have ever imagined, even our guide said it was one of the best he had ever seen. We could not have been happier. Thanks you so much for the trip of a lifetime!

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

This hotel was close to the train station and and very convenient. The front desk was quite helpful and even arranged for us to have an extra room on the last night because we mixed up our dates.

Authenticity & Character

Very Norwegian

Location

Only 4 minutes from train station.

Staff

Quite friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and exceptional breakfast

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

This hotel was nice but we were not there very long. The balcony seemed nice but we did not get to use it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel Tromsø

Tromsø

This hotel was very nice and very convenient to several tour buses that picked us up right in from of the hotel. We walked all around Tromso and saw everyday life - walked along the pier and even caught a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Authenticity & Character

Very norwegian & contemporary

Location

Very nice location and beautiful hotel.

Staff

Exceptional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Reviews

Sommarøy Arctic Day Trip

Norway

Nice drive and lunch at the island.

Quality of Experience

Food

Exceptional

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver & guide were both very personable and kept us well informed.

Transport

Buses were great

Aurora Husky Visit

Tromsø

This was just ok, we didn't really care for the Husky visit then on to eating? I smelled like a dog all thru diner - yuk. The lights were not a good this night, so we had been spoiled the night before.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Norway, and appreciated all the work and responsiveness of the entire KimKim staff that was involved with our vacation including Ezdi, Julia, and Merée. So many great memories, and will try to highlight a few. We loved staying at Anker Brygge, and spending time in Svolvær. The cabins on the water are great, and the tour of the Lofoten Islands with Maurizio and Lofoten Lights was excellent. So glad the cruise up to Tromsø with Hurtigruten was included, a unique and... read more

We had an amazing trip to Norway, and appreciated all the work and responsiveness of the entire KimKim staff that was involved with our vacation including Ezdi, Julia, and Merée. So many great memories, and will try to highlight a few. We loved staying at Anker Brygge, and spending time in Svolvær. The cabins on the water are great, and the tour of the Lofoten Islands with Maurizio and Lofoten Lights was excellent. So glad the cruise up to Tromsø with Hurtigruten was included, a unique and beautiful trip through the Fjords, and saw Northern Lights over Lofoten Islands on our departure. Without a doubt the biggest highlight of the trip overall was staying in the glass igloo at Lyngen North. Incredible place, wonderful dinner, and we were lucky to have a very active aurora evening - stayed up late into the night watching the lights dance across the mountains. Back in Tromsø, enjoyed walking and exploring the town, shopping and hiking, and the cable car is definitely a can not miss experience. What a view. The dinner cruise was nice even with no Northern Lights to view. The only disappointment was that the Whale Watching Tour was not canceled/refunded. Easy to get overbooked, especially with a night activity followed by an early morning.

I was extremely satisfied with the booking process and communication as we changed itineraries and had questions leading up to departure. The KimKim team was great to work with.

Hotel Reviews

Anker Brygge

svolvær

The cabin on the water was wonderful. Spacious and peaceful, with incredible views across the water. Our experience was quiet, liked being away from, but able to easily walk to the restaurants and shops. Would definitely recommend and return.

Authenticity & Character

Unique cabin design.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Oslo Airport

Gardermoen

Good location near airport, with smaller rooms and above average restaurant. Can catch shuttle from Airport (S55) or right out front of hotel to/from airport. Had trouble communicating with hotel before trip trying to arrange transportation. Was not easy getting a cab to hotel since it is relatively close (but not walkable). Once we learned about shuttle, it was easy getting back and forth.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Radisson Blu Hotel Tromsø

Tromsø

Great location near water and easy to walk a lot of places within the city including across the bridge. Had a great corner room on 7th floor with wrap-around windows, overlooking water and town. Breakfast is very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Glass Igloo

Tromsø

100% highlight and a must do. We were blessed and lucky to have a night filled with Northern Light activity. I would have loved the stay regardless - what a setting. The three-course dinner was our best meal of our vacation and the staff is terrific. The travel up to the igloo was simple, and bus ride went by quick due to views and two ferry boat rides that break up the 3-4 hours.

Quality of Experience

One of the most unique stays you'll have.

Food

The best dinner we had our 9 day trip.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was fantastic.

Transport

Bus was comfortable and easy to figure out.

Tromsø Cable Car

Tromsø

A must do when in Tromsø. Incredible views from top.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Lofoten Winter tour

Svolvær

Nice half day trip exploring all sides of the islands. Loved our guide Maurizio, who was personable, knowledgeable, and made the day fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maurizio was fantastic driver and guide.

Transport

Nice comfortable van. Easy to get in and out at the various stops.

Aurora Dinner Cruise

Tromsø

Beautiful cruise around Tromsø. Had a beautiful clear evening, however no lights. Enjoyed being on the water and a different perspective of the city. Food was average, staff above and beyond excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Main course was not very good. First course was fun sample of regional food and dessert was great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whale Watching Safari in Tromsø

Tromsø

Did not go. Despite trying to cancel 46 hours before trip, did not get refunded due to 48 hour cancelation rule. Not sure what they need two full days to prepare for.

Just finished the fourth trip planned by Kimkim , and the first time working with Merée in Norway. Excellent planning, great selection of hotels and activities. Due to a death in the family one week before our original date we needed to shift the trip out by two weeks. Not a problem for Merée and Sonia, many thanks.
My brother and I loved the Polar Fjord Sea eagle tour from Bodo. Primary focus of the trip was to photograph Northern Lights and we succeeded very well especially in Tromsa... read more

Just finished the fourth trip planned by Kimkim , and the first time working with Merée in Norway. Excellent planning, great selection of hotels and activities. Due to a death in the family one week before our original date we needed to shift the trip out by two weeks. Not a problem for Merée and Sonia, many thanks.
My brother and I loved the Polar Fjord Sea eagle tour from Bodo. Primary focus of the trip was to photograph Northern Lights and we succeeded very well especially in Tromsa with Trini. However the weather is obviously integral to chasing the Northern Lights and I would recommend getting in touch with the tour providers before hand to exchange contact information in case they need to be in touch.

Overall, our whole trip was an unforgettable experience and we can’t thank Tom enough for all his hard work in planning it down to the tiniest detail. Every connection and transfer was smooth and easy, with absolutely no stress at all, which made it all the more enjoyable!
Oslo and Bergen are beautiful cities and we learned so much about the hidden gems of both from our amazing guides on our private tours.
By far our most memorable experience though was the fjord cruise! I’ve never seen a... read more

Overall, our whole trip was an unforgettable experience and we can’t thank Tom enough for all his hard work in planning it down to the tiniest detail. Every connection and transfer was smooth and easy, with absolutely no stress at all, which made it all the more enjoyable!
Oslo and Bergen are beautiful cities and we learned so much about the hidden gems of both from our amazing guides on our private tours.
By far our most memorable experience though was the fjord cruise! I’ve never seen a more beautiful place than the mountains, waterfalls and villages alongside the fjords.
We’re so glad we chose to visit Norway and it was a pleasure working with Tom and Kimkim travel!

Christina was fantastic! She put together an itinerary that was a great fit for my family, as we have two children ages 5 and 7 years old. The hotels were in great location, convenient for traveling, and the views were great. Her recommendations for restaurants, bakeries, and sits to visit were also spot on. More importantly, she has been very responsive throughout the planning and booking process. Even during the trip, she was able to help with some issues and well as answering my... read more

Christina was fantastic! She put together an itinerary that was a great fit for my family, as we have two children ages 5 and 7 years old. The hotels were in great location, convenient for traveling, and the views were great. Her recommendations for restaurants, bakeries, and sits to visit were also spot on. More importantly, she has been very responsive throughout the planning and booking process. Even during the trip, she was able to help with some issues and well as answering my questions very promptly. I highly recommend Christina and the Kimkim travel team for trips to Norway. I certainly will for my next trip to Norway!

Hotel Reviews

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Very conveniently located. Close enough to the famous Reinebringen trail head to walk to (for adults), which is important due to lack of parking spaces at the trailhead area. Spacious with 2 bedrooms (one with bunkbed for the children) and a large great room (kitchen, dining room and family room all in one) with fantastic view of the harbor/bay. We parked our car right in front of our cabin, which is convenient. The restaurant on site is very good, and breakfast is included with the stay. There are convenience store (Circle K) and cafe all within a few minutes of walking from our cabin.

Authenticity & Character

Built in the style of traditional Norwegian fishing cabin. The decoration inside also reflected the area.

Location

Fantastic waterfront view

Staff

Friendly and responsive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byporten

Oslo

Located the the same building complex as the Oslo Central station. We literally walked from the train station to our hotel in 5 min without having to step outside into the streets. The train will take you to and from the airport in 20min (the Express train only has 1 stop before reaching the hotel or the airport, depending on the direction of your travel). Many restaurant, sites (including the art district, the Opera House, Munch Museum) , shopping, are all within walking distance. The tram and buses right in front of the hotel can easily extend the travel distance conveniently. Buffet style breakfast is included with the stay, and has a very nice selection of items. Staff is very friendly and responsive. Rooms are modern, clean, and very well maintained. Definitely would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Modern European design.

Location

Easy short walk to many attractions/sights. Buses and Trams stop right in the front of the hotel. Many restaurants and shopping close by, all with short walks.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Our very first experience with traditional fishing cabin style hotel. Simple design and amenities but has enough space for our family of 4. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, and family room and a good size kitchen with eating area. 7 min driving from the airport which is very nice. Connect to E10 (major route connecting the island chain) via a bridge. Secluded and quiet. Nice view of the bay from our cabin. Hotel has the best restaurant on the island.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Svolvær

Svolvær

Great for outdoor activities. Short drive to trailheads. We went during the rainy season but was still able to get in some hiking. The recommended bakery was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Somewhat limited by rain. Would've like to get in some casual walks and run.

Transport

Car rental was a easy. Just a 15-20 meters outside as you walk out of the airport luggage claim.

Explore Reine and the Surroundings

Reine

The location and view from our hotel helped set the tone. Reine is easily one of the most beautiful places we have visited. Hiking up the Reinebringen trail is a must. Bonus with included buffet style breakfast.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hotel staff is friendly and helpful.

Transport

We rented a car and drove. One of the most scenic drives anywhere in the world.

Oslo City Walk with a Local

Oslo

The tour is tailored to our family since we have 2 young children ages 5 and 7 years old. Both me and my wife, as well as our kids, enjoyed the tour. Our guide Stig was fantastic. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and has a great sense of humor. He also recommended things to see/do after the tour, as well as instructions on the transportation to make it very easy for us. Highly recommend him.

Quality of Experience

See above

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We learned so much more about the rich history of Oslo than we would've had we done this on our own. I am so glad we booked this tour.

Transport

Utilizing the public transportation was a breeze.

My husband and I had an excellent experience planning and booking our recent trip to Norway (including the Lofoten islands, Vesteralen and Oslo) with kimkim. From the start, we felt that Christina, our local specialist, was not only knowledgeable, but was listening to us regarding what we were hoping to get out of our trip. When she first sent our itinerary to us, it was awesome to see that she had included the balance of time outdoors and experiencing Norwegian people, food and culture that... read more

My husband and I had an excellent experience planning and booking our recent trip to Norway (including the Lofoten islands, Vesteralen and Oslo) with kimkim. From the start, we felt that Christina, our local specialist, was not only knowledgeable, but was listening to us regarding what we were hoping to get out of our trip. When she first sent our itinerary to us, it was awesome to see that she had included the balance of time outdoors and experiencing Norwegian people, food and culture that we were hoping for. The locations that Christina recommended within Lofoten were absolutely stunning, and we felt that the pacing was a perfect - we were able to see a lot of different towns and parts of the region, but still have time to enjoy ourselves at each unique stay. Especially memorable was our stay with Lone at her family-owned guesthouse, Skagakaia, where we sat outside, staying warm next to a beautiful fire, watching the Northern Lights, full from her delicious home cooking. We also very much enjoyed our tour of Oslo with Stig, who described for us the past, present and future of Oslo as we walked around and learned even more about the people, culture and history. Since we had time left in Oslo after our tour with him, we were able to take him up on several of his wonderful recommendations for food and drinks. We appreciate all Christina and her colleagues and partners did to make this such a seamless and memorable vacation and trip for us. We wouldn't change a thing, and we highly recommend kimkim and plan to use the service again in the future. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Henningsvær Bryggehotell

Vagan

Beautiful hotel right on the water within walking distance to just about everything. Wonderful breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just a warning that parking can be tight and guests may need to pay for parking if the hotel lot is full.

Staff

The staff were very accommodating to us in helping us do some laundry on site - thank you!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

Wonderful location and friendly staff. Great hotel breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Svinøya Rorbuer

Svolvær

Beautiful place to stay, loved listening to the water at night. Very cozy and charming. Great restaurant with delicious food and friendly staff. Terrific location - easy to get to and easy parking!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Skagakaia

Bø

Beautiful place to stay. Lone is an amazing host and we felt so welcome in her guesthouse. Very cozy and charming. Lone is an amazing cook and we enjoyed every meal with her. Terrific location right on the water with some wonderful views and a sculpture park within walking distance - easy to get to and easy parking!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Lone is so sweet and a wonderful host. We enjoyed talking to her and learning from her about the area.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sakrisøy Rorbuer

Reine

Beautiful location and place to stay, loved listening to the water at night. Very cozy and charming. Kitchen is well equipped. Love having a fireplace and logs provided for a fire. Convenient location close to Anita's market and restaurant. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. It was wonderful.

Authenticity & Character

Pure coziness. Loved the personal touches, fireplace and well-equipped kitchen.

Location

Convenient location, yet right on the water. Couldn't ask for better.

Staff

Really appreciated the communication and help with our laundry - thank you!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean place!

Activity Reviews

Silent Trollfjord Cruise

Svolvær

This was great way to explore the fjords. Appreciate that the company is eco-conscious. We learned so much from expert guide, Julia, about the sensitive ecosystem in and around the fjords. Thank you!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase the Northern Lights in Svolvær

Svolvær

Geir went out of his way to find conditions that could help us see Northern Lights - and we did! His enthusiasm for the Northern Lights is wonderful and contagious. It was endearing seeing him help budding photographers get the best shots of the Northern Lights that he could. This was the experience of a lifetime.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Oslo's hidden gems with a local expert

Oslo

Stig loves Oslo and offered a fun and informative tour of Oslo that allowed us to explore its past, present and future. We learned about the culture, history and people, but also received personal suggestions from Stig regarding his favorite places to frequent throughout the city - without and pressure. Stig is a wonderful and enthusiastic tour guide! So glad we got to see the city he loves through his eyes!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I wasn't sure how trip would unfold as I haven't used KimKim before however, all turned out aces! Tricia was extremely helpful in putting it all together. Norway is an extremely beautiful country (even in the rain!) and if you are an outdoor person you will appreciate the amazing countryside. Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger are great very manageable cities with a lot to see. All said, a wounderful experience.

Kimkim was fabulous to work with. They gave us a stress free, personalized trip. Our favorite part of the trip was our stay at an amazing hotel in Flåm with unparalleled Fjord views and floating sauna experience. This trip was everything we hoped for. We also had a big last minute travel change request and Kimkim made it happen with zero stress. They even worked with a hotel to find a necklace that I carelessly left behind! read more

Kimkim was fabulous to work with. They gave us a stress free, personalized trip. Our favorite part of the trip was our stay at an amazing hotel in Flåm with unparalleled Fjord views and floating sauna experience. This trip was everything we hoped for. We also had a big last minute travel change request and Kimkim made it happen with zero stress. They even worked with a hotel to find a necklace that I carelessly left behind!

Would like to thank Julia and her team for making our trip a memorable one. They helped us curate the best itinerary possible based on our travel dates. The hotels booked for us were at the perfect locations keeping our comfort in mind and all the activities booked and things to do suggested by them ensured we have a good time. We interacted with a number of guides for this trip on KimKim but want to have special mention to Julia & Meree as they helped us out with some last minute changes... read more

Would like to thank Julia and her team for making our trip a memorable one. They helped us curate the best itinerary possible based on our travel dates. The hotels booked for us were at the perfect locations keeping our comfort in mind and all the activities booked and things to do suggested by them ensured we have a good time. We interacted with a number of guides for this trip on KimKim but want to have special mention to Julia & Meree as they helped us out with some last minute changes with our bookings and reverted to our queries promptly.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Astoria

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Flåmsbrygga Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Byparken

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ms Nordlys

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Ishavshotel

Tromsø

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore Oslo - Sights & Museums

Oslo

Free Day in Bergen - Board Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten

Ride the Ulriken Cable Car

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tromsø: Aurora Borealis Tour

Tromsø

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was exactly what we wanted. Tricia was very helpful in providing information and making adjustments where needed. She also went out of her way to keep in touch while we were on our trip to try to ensure we saw the northern lights (which we did!). The staff at Mefjord Brygge were helpful. Sebastian was knowledgeable and kind and made several suggestions regarding the best way to experience this beautiful country. We thoroughly enjoyed our time!

Our trip to Norway was planned very well by Julia. Her selection of hotels are excellent with respect to location, quality and food. Also, she was flexible with making changes to the initial plan so that our expectations are met. The tour chosen by Julia to see Northern Lights was excellent - Chasing Lights. Overall, I highly recommend Kim Kim if you are looking for a trip to Norway. read more

Our trip to Norway was planned very well by Julia. Her selection of hotels are excellent with respect to location, quality and food. Also, she was flexible with making changes to the initial plan so that our expectations are met. The tour chosen by Julia to see Northern Lights was excellent - Chasing Lights. Overall, I highly recommend Kim Kim if you are looking for a trip to Norway.

Hotel Reviews

Hotell Bondeheimen

Oslo

Excellent location, cozy & beautiful room. Very high quality food at their restaurant. Highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Tromsø

Tromsø

Very comfortable and spacious room. Excellent location and very good quality food. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Copenhagen

København

Very good location, spacious room and good breakfast. Highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Torget

Bergen

Excellent location to get the best view of Bergen. But the room was very tiny. Breakfast was good. Recommend it if you are particular with location and room view. Else, it could be quite expensive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean but the room was tiny and hence reduced one star for less comfort.

Activity Reviews

Oslofjord Sightseeing Cruise

Oslo

A perfect tour and a must do if you are in Oslo!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Chase

Tromsø

Couldn't ask for more! Excellent team with knowledge and communication skills. The team made sure we get as much as possible from the tour. Loved Meda and Julia! Highly recommend if you are in Tromso for Northern Lights!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip plan that Christina at KimKim.com put together was perfect for us. I stressed that we enjoy all kinds of local interaction and don't mind figuring our way around. We look forward to figuring out new countries on our own, it really gets you immersed in your destination. Then all I did was pick 1 city as the starting point and explained that we like to do one thing each day. She recommended a few places and away we went on trains and ferries!

The local guide John in Bergen, Norway... read more

The trip plan that Christina at KimKim.com put together was perfect for us. I stressed that we enjoy all kinds of local interaction and don't mind figuring our way around. We look forward to figuring out new countries on our own, it really gets you immersed in your destination. Then all I did was pick 1 city as the starting point and explained that we like to do one thing each day. She recommended a few places and away we went on trains and ferries!

The local guide John in Bergen, Norway was very knowledgeable and eager to engage, as was Luis in Aurland, Norway. He took us hiking/climbing - lucky for us he was very accommodating as we wore ourselves out the day before our hike, and wished to take it a little easier. He was very friendly and knowledgeable of all the history in that area of the fjords.

Christina was responsive throughout planning and travel, whenever we had a question she got back to us quickly which puts your mind at ease. We would not hesitate to use her services for traveling in Norway again.

We will happily book future jaunts with Kimkim.com!

This was a great trip. We were able to do everything we wanted to do. Our guides lead great hikes. Our hotels were lovely. Nearly all of our plans went seamlessly and we only had to reach out to our local contact once. I highly recommend KimKim and will definitely book again for the next country. read more

This was a great trip. We were able to do everything we wanted to do. Our guides lead great hikes. Our hotels were lovely. Nearly all of our plans went seamlessly and we only had to reach out to our local contact once. I highly recommend KimKim and will definitely book again for the next country.

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike to Kjerag

Stavanger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to Pulpit Rock Preikestolen

Stavanger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing guide! We loved her!

Transport

Blue Ice Hike

Norway

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Standard Extra Fjord Tour from Bergen

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ended up being a really big list of activities for our last day.

Tom helped us fulfill our dream of visiting the Fjords and spending a fantastic week in Norway. With lots of advance planning, every transfer and connection went off smoothly! We skirted rain at every turn and enjoyed beautiful scenery on the Flam Railway from Oslo to Myrdal, on a RIB boat adventure in Flam, from our hotel in lovely Aurland, and on an excellent ferry trip from Aurland to Bergen. The fjords were even more spectacular than I imagined! Tom also set up personalized tours in... read more

Tom helped us fulfill our dream of visiting the Fjords and spending a fantastic week in Norway. With lots of advance planning, every transfer and connection went off smoothly! We skirted rain at every turn and enjoyed beautiful scenery on the Flam Railway from Oslo to Myrdal, on a RIB boat adventure in Flam, from our hotel in lovely Aurland, and on an excellent ferry trip from Aurland to Bergen. The fjords were even more spectacular than I imagined! Tom also set up personalized tours in Oslo and Bergen and we especially enjoyed walking all around Bergen with John! All the extra information Tom provided came in handy when we were planning our days or looking for a nice restaurant.

Norway is such a magical place, and this trip allowed us to burrow in further than our previous trip. Our trip had a nice flow, and our accommodations were excellent. We stayed in both an incredible boutique style hotel suite, and a fishing cabin in the Lofotens. Our overnight on the Hurtigruten Ferry gave us a taste of cruising and allowed us to take a RIB trip to the Saltstraumen Strait. We liked having 2 nights at our hotels so we could get there, explore and relax. Linda was attentive to... read more

Norway is such a magical place, and this trip allowed us to burrow in further than our previous trip. Our trip had a nice flow, and our accommodations were excellent. We stayed in both an incredible boutique style hotel suite, and a fishing cabin in the Lofotens. Our overnight on the Hurtigruten Ferry gave us a taste of cruising and allowed us to take a RIB trip to the Saltstraumen Strait. We liked having 2 nights at our hotels so we could get there, explore and relax. Linda was attentive to our needs with many great suggestions. Thank you for your organization and ease of planning.

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Nidelven

Trondheim

Central location by the flower bridge with easy access to outside terrace restaurants and bars. This hotel had the best breakfast buffet ever!!!! It's hard to call it a buffet as there were stations set up with personal service for everything. The room was comfortable. The hotel staff was extremely helpful. We had an issue with our power cords and they were able to advise us on how to fix our access.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location and breakfast

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hustadvika Havhotell

Fraena

I wish I had read the driving instructions to this hotel that you provided more thoroughly before I panicked. Turns out we were only 3 minutes away when we started asking directions. The room was comfortable and cozy. The staff was very pleasant. It was a bit isolated if you didn't want to eat at the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

MS Kong Harald

Tromsø

This ferry ride was great exposure to what cruising must be like. Our room was small but had everything we needed. We were only onboard 1 night. If we had gone further it would have been nice to have a room with a larger window. We sat on the observation deck most of the time. It was amazing how closely we navigated through the islands. We signed up to take the RIB Saltstraumen excursion. This may have been the highlight of our trip. For some reason we thought we had our room until we reached Svolvaer. But when we were paged we found out we should have checked out by 11. We were hoping to come back from the RIB adventure, take a warm shower and gather up our belongings for our departure. That was our mistake. The scenery along the passage was incredible!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nordis Hotel & Suites

svolvær

Wow!! What a great little boutique hotel!!! We loved our corner suite with a lovely view of the harbor and mountains. Our bedroom was spacious, and we appreciated having the sitting area and outside balcony as well. We would definitely stay here again. Thank you for getting us such a lovely space.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Corner suite with balcony on the harbor

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Reine Rorbuer

Reine

Quaint fishing cabin right on the harbor. Lovely space with lots of character.

Authenticity & Character

A true fishing cabin outfitted as you would hope, but with modern amenities

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Silent Trollfjord Cruise

Svolvær

Amazing time on the water. The guides were informative. The scenery was stunning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and friendly. Enjoyed the underwater drone images.

Transport

Diverse scenery

Amazing! It was our first time going with kimkim… was a little nervous, having never used a travel consultant online to do our bookings before. But every little detail was well thought out and paced out. We had a great balance of activity and relaxation. Norway is spectacular… Flam is a must see.
I would totally recommend KimKim… thanks so much Julia for planning the perfect holiday.

I substitute the word "Excellent" for your term "Amazing".
All things considered and relatively, our trip to Norway went extremely well. The logistics worked according to plan. The weather was very good. It was great fun. Julia was a big help with the hotels and area attractions. The few glitches we had were attended to and resolved quickly. I appreciate Julia's attentive and prompt responses to our requests. Good job!
As kimkim's role here was to find us hotels along the itinerary we... read more

I substitute the word "Excellent" for your term "Amazing".
All things considered and relatively, our trip to Norway went extremely well. The logistics worked according to plan. The weather was very good. It was great fun. Julia was a big help with the hotels and area attractions. The few glitches we had were attended to and resolved quickly. I appreciate Julia's attentive and prompt responses to our requests. Good job!
As kimkim's role here was to find us hotels along the itinerary we designed, I am providing our comments on your recommendations which might help with other clients
Excellent (5 Stars!!): (1) The Rosvang Gaard. Otto and Albert provided a memorable experience. The lodging, the food, the hospitality and the conversation were the best of the trip. (2) Juvet Landscape Hotel: unique, rustic, great views, excellent food and accommodations.
Very Good (4 stars and in this order): (3) Hotel Christiania Oslo: Central location, large ,quiet, cool room, good breakfast and an excellent pizza restaurant on property, (4) Det Hanseatiske Hotel: Older historic building with character helped with a very accommodating staff. Our room was recently renovated being very well done and was quiet and cool. Central location was a big plus. (5) Scandic Ishavshotel is the best combination of location and facilities in Tromso. The service staff went out of their way to help us with logistics and accommodate us with our room preference. Breakfast was very good. The hotel is big and busy. Lot's of dogs (and big ones) were guests too! (6) Hamn i Senja: Location, facilities, dinner and breakfast were very good. I recommend a second floor room as other guests are constantly walking by and near to one's first floor room window. (7) DragsvikFjordhotel is 200 meters up from the ferry crossing but was very good for out in the country. We had a 2 room suite and a very good dinners on site. (8) Grand Hotel in Oslo was just that: Grand! Unfortunately, the day & night we were there the weather was hot and with little air conditioning , our street side room limited a good night's sleep. (I should have changed rooms...) Very good breakfast and location.
Not Recommended: (9) Hardanger Fjordtun. The owner/operator is a nice guy but his cabin facility was not up to our expectations. (Maybe if we were in our 30's or 40's). This is a much diminished version of the Juvet Landscape Hotel. The cabin was too small all around. For a shower, one stood in was a dish pan! The 'view' was of trees directly to the cabin's front. There is no place to eat in the area so a picnic dinner is required. He and his partner went out of their way to make us a very good breakfast.
Question: What more information could we have provided to you regarding our preferences understanding that you must balance the product with the price?....For example, what description could we have given you to have put us in the old section of the Kviknes Hotel in Balestrand?
Thanks for the help. The trip was great
Regards,
Bayard and Susan Tracy

Activity Reviews

Tromsø Cable Car

Tromsø

This was a good idea. It's close to the city and gives very good views of the fjord and surrounding mountains. You can watch the paragliders takeoff beside you!

Finnabotn Tour

Balestrand

This was great fun even on a rainy day. It's just amazing to see the clouds off the mountains and the farms along the shoreline.

Drive to Kristiansund over Molde (Atlantic Ocean Road)

Åndalsnes

It was a beautiful day. I think this road is better seen in a storm with the surf coming over the road. But no one is complaining about a beautiful day at the ocean.

Norway is a beautiful, clean, safe, amazing country. The natural beauty took my breath away time after time. The glaciers, fjords, Art, sculpture, gardens, waterfalls, ferries, trains, food, hotels, and people surpassed my expectations. The kayaking in the fjord in Eidfjord was my favorite day. The walking tour with Marianne in Oslo was terrific and professional. We were in Oslo Bergen Eidfjord Stavanger and Skei. All were different and exceptional.

The trip was great. The walking guide was fantastic, very informative. The parts I didnt like was that it was a lot of driving. And after seeing everything we did, the Norway in a nutshell was repetitive.
The hotels were really very well located in Oslo & Bergen.

This was not only my first time using kimkim but my first time using a travel agency in general. It was an incredible experience! It was exactly what we wanted and could not have been better read more

This was not only my first time using kimkim but my first time using a travel agency in general. It was an incredible experience! It was exactly what we wanted and could not have been better

Great job. We had a blast Julia did a super job arranging everything and was extremely accommodating

As in all trips there were a few bumps along the way. Our first hiccup was the lodging at Svolvaer. Apparently there was a mix up in the confirmation and billing process and we were required to pay for the room. We got in touch with KimKim and Julia responded promptly and efficiently and the problem was resolved. We would rate the accommodation (Scandic Svolvaer) as over priced and mediocre. The room was so small that my husband could almost touch opposite walls in both directions with... read more

As in all trips there were a few bumps along the way. Our first hiccup was the lodging at Svolvaer. Apparently there was a mix up in the confirmation and billing process and we were required to pay for the room. We got in touch with KimKim and Julia responded promptly and efficiently and the problem was resolved. We would rate the accommodation (Scandic Svolvaer) as over priced and mediocre. The room was so small that my husband could almost touch opposite walls in both directions with arms outstretched. Certainly would not recommend it to anyone.

In Geringer we were scheduled for a RIB boat. We had the tickets but unfortunately our itinerary didn't indicate which company it was with. Karolina had indicated to us that the tours are all day and you just show up for one any hour starting at 10. Once we found the correct company we were told that our slot was 10 only. Thankfully they had an opening at 4:00 and we were able to go.

In Faerland we were scheduled for a mountain hike. Our "guide" was a 19 year old who knew very little about the area and said almost nothing the entire hike. He seemed more interested in getting it over so he could home and play video games. We are in very good shape but felt that he had no clue that people 3 1/2 times his age might want to stop once in a while just to enjoy the scenery and rest. The highlight of the hike was when his cousin appeared at the summit and we had a chance to talk with him. He was foraging for mushrooms and told us a lot about the forest in the area and what to look for.

In Aurland our lodging (Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri) was disappointing.
Our room was large and clean but was on a busy corner with a lot of traffic and had very thin shades that did not block out the glaring streetlight. We asked for another room but were told that they were all like that. We were confirmed for three days in Aurland which was a huge mistake. We departed the second day and booked a room at Fossli Hotel which was absolutely wonderful! It was not busy, served excellent food and the service and staff were very welcoming. The room was recently remodeled and was immaculate and comfortable. All of the windows and and balcony door in our room had blackout shades. It was a lovely stay with a beautiful view and great history. When we looking we were given some options in Eidfjord by Meree and we appreciated that. However once we got to Eidfjord and saw the cruise ships we were relieved that we found Fossli Hotel rather than one in a very touristy town.

The Naerøyfjord boat tour was ok. After our road trip viewing some of the most beautiful scenery of fjords and mountains and small farms dotting the countryside it was a let down. Too many tourists and certainly not the most beautiful scenery in Norway.

Looking at the plan now, we would have avoided Flam...cruise ships and wandering tourists everywhere. The train ride to the top was ok. We did the bike ride down however and that was great!
Three days in Aurland was a mistake as well.
Bergen was ok but also very touristy.

In reviewing our trip we feel that we did most of the work. We planned the route, secured our rental cars, booked all of our flights and found most of the lodging. In our initial conversation with Karolina we emphasized that we don't like "touristy" places and we are always searching for unique lodging when we travel. She gave us a few good suggestions but attention to detail and understanding our kind of travel was lacking. Many of the details were not tended to and our last few messages with questions and requests were not answered.

We have traveled extensively and are always looking for out of the way spots, unique lodging and a chance to get to know the culture and people of each country that we visit. "Canned" travel on cruise ships, "nutshell itineraries" and whirlwind travel to see everything is not what we want.
We had a great trip despite the bumps but will most likely opt to plan our own adventures in the future.

We had an absolutely amazing time in Norway thanks to our trip planner Linda. Every place we visited was more magical than the last, and the lesser known towns she sent us to were our favorites. We never could have had this trip without her. My only regret is that we didn't have more time to explore these magical places.

We only had to reach out to KimKim once while we were away to get some advice on timing with the ferries. Linda was off that day, but her team member figured out... read more

We had an absolutely amazing time in Norway thanks to our trip planner Linda. Every place we visited was more magical than the last, and the lesser known towns she sent us to were our favorites. We never could have had this trip without her. My only regret is that we didn't have more time to explore these magical places.

We only had to reach out to KimKim once while we were away to get some advice on timing with the ferries. Linda was off that day, but her team member figured out exactly where we were based on our shaky directions from inside a tunnel, as was able to calculate our travel times and and give us advice on our next move. I was shocked at the level of customer service.

The tour guides Linda matched us up with here so kind and knowledgeable, it felt like walking around with our new Norwegian friends rather than being on a tour. Special shoutout to our inn keeper in Værlandet, who gave us food out of her own freezer when we arrived after the grocery store had closed. Above and beyond!

I had a spectacular trip through the country of Norway. Tusen Takk Tricia!!! You made my first international (solo) trip everything it could be and more! The route worked out perfectly and the activities were spot on for what I was looking to see and do. The trip plan went so well and removed much of the stress that may happen, for me at least, with planning everything myself. Tricia's knowledge of Norway and recommendations all came together to make for a smooth, easy to navigate... read more

I had a spectacular trip through the country of Norway. Tusen Takk Tricia!!! You made my first international (solo) trip everything it could be and more! The route worked out perfectly and the activities were spot on for what I was looking to see and do. The trip plan went so well and removed much of the stress that may happen, for me at least, with planning everything myself. Tricia's knowledge of Norway and recommendations all came together to make for a smooth, easy to navigate itinerary. I couldn't have asked for more. She checked in to make sure I was well on my way and was super supportive and responsive if/when I did call for help. I can't recommend using kimkim, and Tricia enough and will tell everyone and anyone the same.

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Terminus

Oslo

Great location, enormous breakfast buffet, comfortable bed. A little noisy into the night but not too bad. Jet lag had me up anyway. I did change my room to the 2nd floor with a window which happen to be on a bus route. The 1st room on the 6th floor would've been much quieter but the view was non-existent.

Authenticity & Character

It was a typical hotel which was all I needed here.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

Quaint, unbelievably quiet, comfortable bed, nice breakfast and functional room with an unchanged classic charming style. Cool place to stay in this old sleepy town. Close to trails and good access to Flam. Good restaurant on the grounds too and the view of the fjord was awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bergen Børs Hotel

Bergen

Upscale, busy popular hotel. The location doesn't get much better than this. Beds were comfortable and the room was quiet from all sides. This is classic Bergen in all it's history.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

I so very much enjoyed this walking tour with John. I think we covered the whole city in a matter of 2-3 hours! He imparted his vast knowledge of his hometown everywhere we went with great suggestions to take in all of Bergen following the tour. I love Bergen, Norway!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oslo Food Trail With a Local Guide

Oslo

I enjoyed this tour around the city eating some local foods Oslo is known for. Walking and talking with Stig through his favorite parts of his hometown, eating the local treats along the way was truly a good time. Go Liverpool! :)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Heritage Taste Fjordsafari

Norway

This unique experience was fun. Our guide, Erick (apologize for any misspelling here) was awesome on this tour. Zooming around the fjords, learning interesting, sometimes fascinating things about the history of the people who settled in and around the area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you Kim Kim for planning our wondeful 8 days trip to Norway.
The orgainzatin could not be better.
Communicating with Meree was quick, easy and professional.
Meree responded to all our needs and she was ready to make all possible changes that we suggested.
Activities great. The kayaking in Flam was really good. The person responsible excellent. (I think her name was Rea). The RIP boat person was also excellent.
The only thing is that the hotel booking in Oslo was not good. I know I have... read more

Thank you Kim Kim for planning our wondeful 8 days trip to Norway.
The orgainzatin could not be better.
Communicating with Meree was quick, easy and professional.
Meree responded to all our needs and she was ready to make all possible changes that we suggested.
Activities great. The kayaking in Flam was really good. The person responsible excellent. (I think her name was Rea). The RIP boat person was also excellent.
The only thing is that the hotel booking in Oslo was not good. I know I have asked Meree for a hotel in Oslo in a reasonable price, but this was very different from all the hotels we stayed.
We went our for a brekfast since the breakfast hall was so poor and smelly.
But overall it was a wondeful week million thanks to Meree and Kim Kim.
Lena and Filippos

Hotel Reviews

Thon Hotel Astoria

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Ålesund

Ålesund

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Terminus

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fretheim Hotel

Flåm

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Union Geiranger Bad & Spa

Geiranger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjord Kayaking

Flåm

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

RIB Boat tour Geiranger

Geiranger

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tom was infinitely helpful in planning our trekking trip in Norway! All of our hytte & hotel bookings went perfectly when we arrived, and everything was well organized for us before our trip. Tom even went the extra mile and helped us find a laundromat for after our trek. We never would've been able to do all of these bookings with confidence ourselves from the US, we are beyond grateful that Kimkim made this trip possible for us. Thank you for organizing the trip of a lifetime! read more

Tom was infinitely helpful in planning our trekking trip in Norway! All of our hytte & hotel bookings went perfectly when we arrived, and everything was well organized for us before our trip. Tom even went the extra mile and helped us find a laundromat for after our trek. We never would've been able to do all of these bookings with confidence ourselves from the US, we are beyond grateful that Kimkim made this trip possible for us. Thank you for organizing the trip of a lifetime!

Flawless execution of every step of the trip. Everything just worked. I showed up where the itinerary said to at the time and everything worked great. Recommendations for self exploration days were great. Hotels were located in the exact right location. 5/5 trip, would absolutely use KimKim again.

Thanks for an amazing trip

Really good suggestions and organisation. Picked venues I would never have chosen and activities that were all top rate. Would definitely recommend.

Julia planned my 14 day trip to fjords in Norway. She did a superb job and my trip was amazing. I visited Flam, Balestrand, Bergen, Geiranger, Alesund, and Oslo. Every place was charming with a beauty of its own. As I was a solo traveller Julia had planned most of my excursions and given me enough options for my free time. It was indeed travel made easy and enjoyable! Thanks Julia and KimKim!