Zehra Alper

We had very good one week trip to Turkey. Our local guides were knowledgable and spoke excellent English. Polat and Gigi were excellent. Both had some good suggestions for maximizing our trip enjoyment. For the most part the trip plan was very good. We did have one very long day (Canakale to Kusadasi) that included three stops that was very long and the visits to the sites seemed a bit rushed but otherwise the itinerary was very good. The hotels were also very good. especically the hotel in Cappadocia. We especially enjoyed the balloon flight in Cappadocia. This was our fourth trip planned by Kimkim and we would use them again. Zehra was very accomodating with regards to our interests and timing.

Hotel Reviews

Yunak Cave Hotel

Ürgüp/Nevşehir

This was a fantastic hotel! As the name implies the rooms are in caves yet are very comfortable. Excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms set in caves.

Location

Nice area to walk around. Lots of nearby restaurants.

Staff

Very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Doubletree by Hilton Kusadasi

Kusadasi

Excellent hotel in a good location. Very comfortable and with a good breakfast. Nice spa area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

DoubleTree by Hilton Çanakkale

Çanakkale

Very comfortable hotel. Good location and excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Canakkale to Kusadasi via Troy & Pergamum

Turkey

This was a long day of driving and siteseeing. Troy, a legendary location, was very interesting but the ruins there are not spectacular. Pergamum is a fascinating site with an interesting history. The Pergamum Altar is an important site in Berlin but it was very interesting to see the town from where it was removed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Emre was very knowledgeable.

Transport

Very good driver.

Polat and Gigi (their preferred nicknames with us) were wonderful guides. I feel lucky to have been shepherded around by them. Both helped us avoid huge tourist mobs; big cruise liners and large travel groups. They both were extremely knowledgeable and helped us eat at superb restaurants. Maybe it’s easier to suggest restaurants for only 6 people.
Our guide for Gallipoli and Troy would clearly be an excellent guide for large groups. He insisted on not answering questions, but rather for everyone to wait until we were at a site, listening to his information. This strategy would work well for large groups. However, our group was small and wanted more in depth information and discussion. In fact, our guide, forgot to get back to us about a question regarding viaducts we saw from the road.

Hotel Reviews

Yunak Cave Hotel

Ürgüp/Nevşehir

For such a unique experience, I was happy to overlook some uncomfortable mattresses. I don’t think the scorpion that stung my roommate is something that could be avoided; just bad luck.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I’m very glad we were in the smaller town and not in the midst of a crowded intense tourist city.

Staff

Very attentive when my roommate was stung by the scorpion. Plus, the cleaning staff were just plain friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Except for the scorpion sting

Doubletree by Hilton Kusadasi

Kusadasi

Well located near the water and excellent restaurants. It was a bit generic. I prefer smaller and more character. We had to have a breakfast to go because we left for the airport before breakfast was served. There is a lot of room for improvement if they are going to give out takeout breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

DoubleTree by Hilton Çanakkale

Çanakkale

Had all the amenities but I prefer less generic, smaller places with more character and personality. The steam room was nice and the Turkish bath interesting. The buffet breakfast was very nice, except cappuccino had to be paid for. I went to the restaurant for dinner. The food was good, but it took an hour to get served. It seems that someone had to go catch the fish. Or the cook went home thinking there was no one else to serve.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit to Derinkuyu Underground City

Cappadocia

We couldn’t go, primarily due to the fact our KimKim contact didn’t get us on a direct flight to Cappadocia.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A direct flight to Cappadocia so we could go

Visit to Kaymakli Underground City & Explore area

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide knew exactly when to take us so the underground city wasn’t mobbed with large tour groups. There isn’t much space down there and it would have been difficult to navigate it it was full of people.

Transport

Explore The Landmarks of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

The experience would have been fantastic- and our guide was exceptional. But, there is no excuse for us having to get up at the crack of dawn to fly to Istanbul and then Cappadocia. The second flight was late and we were exhausted. Therefore, we couldn’t get the maximum enjoyment. Our itinerary had us going directly to Cappadocia (until the day before we were given our flights- a communication came that direct flights were only on some days and we might need to go through Istanbul). It was unbelievably insulting to say the that a direct flight to Cappadocia might not happen well before the flight due to weather. As a pilot, I can tell you that flights will not be cancelled a week before a flight because of weather. I think your local specialist didn’t book our flights until the direct flights were full. We knew the schedule well in advance. She should have booked us promptly so we could get a direct flight. If, indeed the direct flights didn’t go that day, we should have been informed well in advance so we could have choice to make itinerary changes. After all the grueling driving, having a grueling day of flights was particularly unwelcome

Enjoy a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Pamukkale & Hierapolis

Turkey

Full Day Tour of Ephesus and Region

Turkey

Tour of the frescos, living sites and tile mosaics was a highlight. We almost missed it because it wasn’t offered. The small museum was also a highlight and could have been easily missed. The drive to the hotel from which we embarked to Ephesus, was another long agonizing drive. Without knowing the degree of time spent in vans, we were robbed of choice to change the itinerary

Quality of Experience

I would have loved our guide for the entire Turkey excursion. Once he understood our groups likes and interests, he responded. But by the time he understood us, he wasn’t our guide any longer

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drivers were all skilled. But the time in vans was a definite minus.

Canakkale to Kusadasi via Troy & Pergamum

Turkey

The driving was formidable and certainly cut into a more leisurely and thorough experience. It was sad to have such a short, rushed time at the museum at Troy. A drive from the top of Gallipoli was unnecessarily, aggressive, causing much motion sickness in the van. After the driver was asked to tone it down, the next day we went very slowly, uphill being passed by all other vehicles on the road. This was either passive aggressive, or the van was underpowered – making the voyage longer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A better powered van and less aggressive, driving down the long, steep windy road from the top of the Gallipoli war site.

Our agent, Zehra, did a wonderful job helping us plan our 3 days in Istanbul. We were picked up and taken to the airport. Our hotel was charming and in a wonderful location. The staff and breakfast were great. We did two days of walking tours with a lovely guide named Eda. She was very knowledgeable and very helpful. We had such fun with her- we invited her to visit us in America.

This was my second trip with Kim Kim- and both were flawlessly executed! I plan to travel with them again in the future.

Guide and driver were excellent. Hotel in Tiiblisi (Rooms Hotel Tblisi) was also excellent

We've taken several trips with KimKim and this one had more hiccups. Dislikes:
1. Zehra's company subcontracted the work to another company and that caused too many issues. That was also not disclosed to us. That ended up being a big deal, contributing to my low star ranking
2. Guidance and the FAQs in our travel packet were all about Turkey, but our trip was to Georgia so that was a huge miss. I wanted the same guidance but for the location we were visiting...
3. The hotel in Kutaisi was TERRIBLE. there was mold in the showers, the food was sub par. Our entire group could not wait to check out of that dump.
4. While we enjoy full, busy days, it was often too rushed - too hard to get to things on time and we didn't have any space to linger longer when we wanted to.
5. No beach club was booked for us despite the back and forth with Zehra. This could have been a miscommunication but we really thought we'd asked her to book the beach club for us. This was in Batumi
6. Two of the hotels didn't have the correct bed set up for some of our party which was VERY explicitly discussed up front. While it was resolved, it was incredibly unfortunate that we had any issues at all. This was unacceptable and honestly I still don't understand how/why it happened.

Likes:
Overall, we had a great trip and I think KimKim did a much better job resolving the issues with our travelers. Unlike our Sicily trip which I'm still mad about the lack of resolution for one of our travelers.

Overall, I used to be very high on using and recommending KimKim. Now, i'm on the fence.

Our local guide company, Visit Georgia, was great and we loved our guide and driver. There seemed to be many miscommunications between KimKim and the local company which impacted overall ease throughout the trip. This was unfortunate. Areas impacted included: the itinerary on Kim Kim did not exactly match our local guide’s plans for our day. The hotel in Kutaisi was below our standards. Two out of three hotels did not have the room accommodations requested. Our local guide was not aware of our dinner reservations or the itinerary provided to us by Kim Kim. Overall, using Kim Kim felt like more of a hassle and we would have been better off just booking directly with Visit Georgia.

Our experience booking through KimKim was exceptional from start to finish. The initial planning process was highly collaborative, and our coordinator, Zehra, was incredibly experienced, providing fantastic tips and suggestions. She went above and beyond by staying in constant communication throughout our trip, even checking in at odd hours to ensure everything was seamless. Zehra knew exactly how to structure our days to avoid the heavy crowds, and she ensured our family's allergen requirements were completely taken care of at every step.

The on-the-ground execution was flawless. We were met in person by a representative right at the airport when we landed, which made our arrival stress-free. Our daily guides—Eda in Istanbul and Kezban in Cappadocia—were absolutely fantastic. They knew wonderful tricks to keep our young children engaged throughout the tours, and they generously offered to let us contact them with questions even when they were off the clock. We highly recommend this team for anyone planning a family adventure!

Zehra was amazing. Very quick to deal with our requests and answer our questions and she kept an open dialogue with us throughout the trip ensuring we had all the contact info on all our guides and drivers.
Our guide Eda in Istanbul was very good. She showed us how to you the transit system and sent us directions for our outings on our free day.
a tip for other travellers - air flights in turkey only allow 15kg checkin whereas international is 23kg. We had to pay extra on every flight.
Pera Palace Hotel was excellent. In Cappadocia, Alan and I were in a small room much Lower Than the rest of our group and little space for our luggage. The 2 at the higher level had separate rooms with fireplaces and plenty of room. We ended up upgrading 2 level and they gave us a complimentary upgrade to be at the same level as our friends. Otherwise you had to wait for golf carts to get back and forth. The room we were given was amazing. Also the pool was heated. The hot air balloon was amazing. I would recommend it to everyone!
Our guide in Antalya, Fatih Babaoglu, wasn't sure what he was supposed to show us until I showed him our writeup. It was a long day visiting the Roman ruins which made a very late lunch.
The boat from Olympos to feithye was a disappointment, partly because it was so rough and cool we weren't really able to swim. We could barely move around the boat when it was moving. We couldn't get into Blue Lagoon. Secondly the food was not great. There was very little protein in the meals so we were hungry sooner. Very basic meals, little variety and desert really only 1 night. Also no power outlets in the cabins so my husband could not use his sleep apnea machine and had to store his insulin at the bar (making it easier for him to forget it). Cabins were extremely small and not well laid out. My husband and I had a double and single in our room so had to crawl over each other to get in and out of the bed.
Bodrum was great. The Marmara Hotel was great and the views awesome. It would have been great to have had a heated pool as it was chilly. As it was up in the mountain we needed a taxi to get back up but it wasn't too expensive.
We really needed a full day in Pamukkale . It had some amazing sites but we didn't arrive til around 1pm and had to get lunch before we toured the main attractions. We ended up taking a golf cart to see the Roman ruins (which I think might be the best way as they are really spread out). We would have liked to have gone in the Cleopatra pool as it was open again but we didn't have time and we couldn't go in the limestone laden springs as it was too slippy. It was still wonderful to see. The Richmond Pamukkale Thermal Pool was not up to the standard of the rest of the hotels on our tour. It was a very worn resort hotel and catered to huge groups. Even the dinner wasn't great - too crowded too many people and buffet style!

Hotel Reviews

Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

Denizli

it was set up for large groups of tourists. Not our style. The pool wasn't heated. lightbulb needed replace and a napkin stuffed in the smoke detector. Maintenance took a photo of it but didn't remove.

Authenticity & Character

Location

isolated.

Staff

Buffet not great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Marmara Bodrum Hotel

Muğla

Beautiful hotel. Beautiful views but very isolated. Pool not heated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Isolated but taxis reasonable to get to old town.

Staff

restaurant staff slow at dinner.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ruin Adalia

Antalya

Room was adequate.

Authenticity & Character

The Roman ruins could be viewed through glass windows on the floor.

Location

very central to Old Town.

Staff

Very accommodating even with a mix up on our tour. We had messed up but they helped us get our money back.

Cleanliness & Comfort

More options on pillows would have been nice.

Argos in Cappadocia

Nevsehir

Beautiful location but isolated!

Authenticity & Character

Omg - it was as if we were staying in caves!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pera Palace

Istanbul

beautiful central hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Pamukkale

Turkey

Long drive, short time for seeing the attractions of Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

drive took too long.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very good. He suggested the golf cart so we could see it all.

Transport

didn't like limo style car!

Olympos to Fethiye Blue Cruise - Day 1

Antalya

there wasn't that much for us to see and it was too rough when we were moving and food wasn't great.

Quality of Experience

Food

No real variety. Not enough protein.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Antalya & Historical Sites

Antalya

Long walk in the hot sun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

same comment re the limo style transportation. Half the group couldn't see.

Explore The Landmarks of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Just amazing - all the rock formations, how the people carved them out and lived in them and the hot air balloon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

the limo style seating was bad as 2 of our group had very long legs.

Zehra was amazing!
Very responsive and timely!

We had a very enjoyable and a deep dive into the fascinating history of Turkey. We appreciated experiencing the iconic sites of Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace (Harem), Haghia Sophia and Hippodrome. In Cappadocia to experience the Goreme Valley Monastery, Derinkuyu Underground city and the unique geological formations and balloon ride. In the Aegean region Urlice Vineyards, Ephesus, Aphrodisiacs, Hierapolis and Pamukiale. Experiencing the port city of Fethiye and while on the boat to visit Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon), St Nicholas Island, Kas, Sunken City and Kekova. Around Antalya to visit Myra, Phaselis, Perge and the incredible theater in Aspendos. We enjoyed staying in the old town of Antalya.
Zehra, our travel consultant, was very knowledgeable and helpful in putting together the trip we wanted and getting us off the beaten path. Despite a few delays on flights the entire trip went smoothly, and we were in contact with Zehra at each phase of the trip. The trip was more costly than I anticipated but when you consider it was a private tour for 3 weeks, the vehicle travel and the days we were with guides, the cost is understandable.
All the guides were very knowledgeable and professional. I would point out that guides Uraz Nehir and Mustafa Sahun were exceptional. Good safe drivers are essential. Most of the drivers were very careful. The drivers in Istanbul were too fast for our liking and the one on arrival in Antalya was replaced after the first day because of his driving habits. Ahmed, our driver from Izmir to Fethiye, was exceptional. He was professional, very careful on the road and was very mindful of our well-being. He was also the only driver which spoke some English.
The accommodations were mostly lovely boutique hotels with hotel reception staff which were very friendly and helpful. The Richmond Pamukkale Thermal was the exception in being a massive tourist hotel that was not as pleasant as our other hotels.
The boat trip was great despite the occasionally cool and windy conditions. It was about the right number of days. The beauty and history of the coast was impressive. Something that we appreciated very much was the flexibility of the daily activities to meet our preferences. For example, Judi saw a poster with the cliff tombs of Myra. Our guide was receptive to seeing Myra and Phaselis when we disembarked from our boat trip on the way to Antalya.

Hotel Reviews

Ruin Adalia

Antalya

The location and layout in the middle of old town Antalya is impressive with the ruins under the courtyard. Rooms are large. Staff very helpful. The rooms are in need of some maintenance.

Authenticity & Character

Very impressive courtyard and ruins underneath it

Location

In the old town of Antalya

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very helpful

Marina Boutique Hotel

Mugla

An interesting but strange location in the middle of a ship yard

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff was very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Pamukkale Thermal

Denizli

Too big and impersonal

Authenticity & Character

Everything except the hot springs

Location

Next to Pamukkale

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa - Boutique Class

Kusadasi

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel was on a hill overlooking the ocean on the edge of the city.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fresco Cave Suites & Mansions - Special Class

Urgup

Very helpful staff, excellent breakfast, very interesting and unique hotel architecture.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

Istanbul

Great location, very helpful staff

Authenticity & Character

Interior and exterior of the hotel

Location

Staff

Very helpful on answering any questions

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Exploring Antalya & Historical Sites

Antalya

Sites were amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Impressive guide

Transport

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 4

Turkey

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide is very impressive, driver was not

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 2

Turkey

Cold and windy during the night

Quality of Experience

Good day visit

Food

Fethiye to Olympos Blue Cruise - Day 1

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Boat staff was great, very professional and helpful

Transport

Boat was beautiful

Explore Hierapolis & Visit Travertines in Pamukkale

Pamukkale

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Drive to Pamukkale via Aphrodisias Ancient City

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very Safe driver

Full Day Tour of Ephesus and Region

Turkey

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was good but not as experienced as other guides

Transport

Visit Urlice Vineyards at Urla including lunch

Turkey

Great to talk to the owner and experience the wines with food

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exceptional driver

Visit to Derinkuyu Underground City & Explore area

Cappadocia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore The Landmarks of Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very impressive and knowledgeable

Transport

Safe driver

Cooking Class & Dinner in Cappadocia

Cappadocia

Nice to be with a family

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Istanbul Walking Tour

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Iconic sites

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very knowledgeable