mytripology

Our guide, Astina was very good and very knowledgeable of the local customs and culture. Our driver, Merta, was incredible at navigating the crowded local roads.
By all means take in the Telaga Waka white water rafting…great wet fun and plenty of action.
While we really like the grounds, location and ambience of the Bliss Spa in Ubud, the facilities and hot water could use some attention. Overall great trip

Hotel Review

Bliss Ubud Spa and Resort

Read overall review

Authenticity & Character

Location

Built right on a rice paddy

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hot water!! Room fixtures

Activity Reviews

Visit Tirta Empul

Indonesia

Experience Rural Farming and Balinese Life

Indonesia

Telaga Waja Rafting

Indonesia

Visit Gunung Kawi

Ubud, Bali

Guests should be made fully aware of the many steep steps that must be navigated.

Farm to Table Cooking Class

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time with our Yogyakarta guide and driver, Dilla &Parlan. Seeing Borobudur and Prambanan was a highlight of our trip and they made getting to both fun and easy to see.

The travel from Yogyakarta to Bromo and Ijen could have been overwhelming given the distance but our guide/driver Aldo was the best. His excellent English, sense of humor and being an all around fun person made the time go quickly. The hotels and regions we stayed at for the hikes were beautiful. Our Bromo guide Teguh was the best guide we had during the trip. We’d heard about the possible crowds at Bromo but with his guidance felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. And he always knew how to get the best photo to capture the beauty. The region around Ijen is stunning filled with terraced rice fields and coffee plantations.

Snorkeling in northern Bali at Menjangan Island was spectacular- incredible corals, endless fish and sea turtles. The drive from north Bali to south was fascinating and possibly some of the steepest roads I’ve ever seen. Pecatu (Uluwatu) is beautiful being high up on the cliffs with amazing views. Really enjoyed relaxing and recharging here.

Hotel Reviews

VANARA Resort & Spa

Pecatu

Incredible buildings with beautiful designed rooms/ villas and the view is spectacular. The restaurant and breakfasts were some of the best food we had in Indonesia- I’m still thinking of the lovely breakfasts. Staff were incredibly kind and thoughtful- always helpful and anticipating your needs. We had an early checkout and they offered breakfast to go which was so perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Villas are designed to capture the views and with great attention to detail. The afternoon snacks in the room are also lovely.

Location

The view over the cliff to the ocean was incredible during the day but even better at sunset. Don’t be surprised by the drive in- it is a bit out of the way but completely worth it.

Staff

The staff were always kind, attentive and helpful. The resort uses texting rather than landline phones - which I didn’t know how I’d feel about but it works great and isn’t at all obtrusive. Also, because the restaurant is so highly regarded and the location so amazing people come to have drinks and dinner but the staff quietly gives preference to those staying at the hotel- which is lovely.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Menjangan Dynasty Resort

Lovely beach setting with great snorkeling access. Buildings are beautiful and the layout of the space is great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Front desk staff were lovely and helpful. The food service staff were a bit forgetful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Teras Hotel Ijen Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi

Beautifully designed building in a lovely setting.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The terraced rice fields surrounding the hotel are beautiful.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jiwa Jawa Bromo

Beautiful location and grounds. The gallery was also lovely.

Authenticity & Character

The grounds are very well maintained and nice to wander in.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

Great location, well appointed with a lovely pool and helpful friendly staff. Breakfast was great and one of the most extensive we’ve very seen. Our room overlooking the pool was perfect.

Authenticity & Character

Historic character

Location

Near Malioboro Street and great coffee options in walking distance.

Staff

Very nice and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Royal Evening at Prambanan : Visit Prambanan & Watch Ramayana

Yogyakarta

Cliffs of Majesty : Visit Uluwatu Temple & Watch Kecak Dance

Indonesia

Visit Borobudur Temple

Indonesia

Snorkeling in Menjangan

Indonesia

Incredible snorkeling environment- so much wildlife, including sea turtles!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Witness the Blue Flame of Ijen Crater

Indonesia

No blue flames for us but fun to hike into a caldera. We hiked in quickly without much of a crowd but the single path into the caldera was hard to navigate with so many people going both directions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Go on a Sunrise Hike to Mount Bromo

Indonesia

Such an amazing morning- to be able to watch the sunrise over volcanoes then hike and look into the caldera was truly incredible. Cannot say enough good things about our guide, Teguh, who knew just where to we should be for the best views and how to miss the traffic. Incredible!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Taman Sari Water Palace

Yogyakarta

Interesting to see but small and not much information. Did also enjoy the shadow puppet makers stall outside the exit- truly incredible to see the process.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dilla explained the space well but there isn’t much left to the building.

Transport

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Athaya and Kim Kim Travel! From beginning to end, my experience in Bali was absolutely amazing, and their exceptional service made this trip truly unforgettable.

The level of attentiveness, professionalism, and care was outstanding. Every detail was thoughtfully planned and beautifully executed. Any questions, concerns, or unexpected issues were handled promptly and efficiently, allowing me to relax and enjoy every moment of my vacation.

The villa was absolutely superb! Beautiful accommodations, breathtaking surroundings, and every detail exceeded my expectations. From the stunning pool decorations to the incredible private chef experience, everything was simply perfect.

What truly set this experience apart was the personalized service. From the moment we arrived at the airport, someone was there to assist us. Whether it was transportation, excursions, special requests, or simply wanting to explore something new, the team was always available and ready to help. Every excursion was seamlessly coordinated, making the entire experience stress-free and enjoyable.

Athaya and Kim Kim Travel went above and beyond to make my birthday trip to Bali extraordinary. Their dedication to providing an exceptional experience did not go unnoticed, and I am genuinely grateful for the care and attention they put into every detail.

If you're planning a trip to Bali and want a luxurious, personalized, and worry-free experience, I highly recommend Athaya, Graciela, and Kim Kim Travel. They truly understand hospitality and how to make their guests feel special.

Thank you for making my Bali birthday celebration everything I dreamed of and more! I arrived as a guest and left with beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. ❤️🌺

10/10 – Highly recommend!

Thank you so much Athaya and kimkim for being with us every step of the way for our trip. It definitely was a stress free trip you were amazing with communication and getting this done. I really appreciate you. The overall experience was a 10.!!

Hotel Review

Villa Andrea by Balisuperhost

Very nice and luxury.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The road to get to the villa was scary. Very small roads.

Staff

Very nice and polite

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were nice and clean. There was lots of tiny ants especially in the restrooms and kitchen. And after turning off the air a while I noticed something coming through on the walls not sure what it was. Put you in the mind of mold maybe.

Activity Reviews

Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

It was HOT wish we would have remembered our fans and umbrellas. Other than that so beautiful out there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver and tour guide was amazing

Transport

Farm to Table Cooking Class

Indonesia

Nice learned a few different things.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from a 10-day trip to Java and Bali. We had a wonderful trip and thoroughly enjoyed Indonesia's beautiful places, cuisine, and culture. Jessica planned an amazing vacation for us. The hotels we stayed at were unique and comfortable. Our trip coordinator, Graciella, stayed in touch to make sure we were well taken care of. When we wanted to cut down on a few places to make our itinerary less hectic, we could do that easily. The drivers and guides they provided us were courteous and knowledgeable. We highly recommend Jessica and her team if you are planning a trip to Indonesia.

Right after immigration Deta make sure my driver is visible to me while I browse through the signage. The driver is helpful and drives us to the hotel.
Both our driver and tour guides did very good job and make sure that we enjoy the tours during our stay. I would recommend KimKim to anyone would like to have your vacation arranged for you without hassle.

We had a wonderful trip! The kimkim team created an excellent itinerary for us based upon our stated interests that allowed us to really explore and learn about Indonesia . We loved the range of activities in which we engaged, knowledgeable guides (especially Eko), and accommodations (especially ThecPhiiji. The itinerary was full but had flexibility that was much appreciated. There were no inconveniences- all went smoothly. There was excellent communication throughout planning and during trip. . I would consider working with kimkim again for future travel.

We loved our trip to Indonesia! We especially appreciated having a local agent to interact with on WhatsApp while we were in country. Ciella's check-ins and help were invaluable, especially when an earthquake occurred and our plans had to be adjusted. She and the guides/drivers took care of us, made sure we were safe, and rescheduled our plans to make it possible for us to do as many activities as we could after the event. We appreciated our guides--Arif, Edi, and Ibnu--and their knowledge. They were patient and understanding of our family's needs, and they made sure we ate well, even with some who are more picky, and saw all we wanted to see. It was so nice to be able to go where we wanted (with a family of six!) and not worry about logistics, fees, and parking! In addition, our hotel accommodations were amazing! We were very impressed.

One of our favorite parts of the trip was the day of island hopping on Komodo Island and Padar Island. All of the stops were incredible, and even though we couldn't do any scuba diving, we enjoyed the sights and snorkeling. Arif was very patient with us in our snorkeling and helped the kids enjoy it. Another favorite part was the stop at the Jatiluwih rice terraces. We would have liked to spend more time there, though the 2-3 hours at sunset we had was magical. We appreciate that Edi and Parlan were willing to stay late with us and let us enjoy it even after dark. The monkey forest was better than anticipated, as was our visit to Borobudur.

If we were to do this trip again, we would choose not to go to Nusa Penida (this is something we arranged on our own on a free day), or we would snorkel and see the island from the sea instead of from land. We would also tour more around Nusa Dua, as Jessica suggested. If we had more time (perhaps 14 days instead of 12), we would include the sunrise volcano visit and Java cave rappelling that Jessica recommended, or add another day in Labuan Bajo to do more snorkeling/diving/exploring.

Hotel Reviews

Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo

Beautiful resort with a great pool, beach, and restaurant. Rooms were separate villas. The private outdoor showers and toilets were a surprise, but not a bad one. The spa was great, as was the food on site. We enjoyed the resort's Indonesian buffet night. We especially loved the beautifully landscaped garden grounds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sea Sand & Sun Villa

We loved this fantastic villa! It was so beautiful and comfortable--perfect for a family of six. The pool and patio were gorgeous, and the rooms very comfortable. Our agent arranged for a chef to come each morning and provide breakfast, which was so nice! The only thing to know ahead of time is that the villa isn't near any businesses or restaurants. So you'll need to book rides or order delivery from Gojek for meals. If a clothes washing machine were also available on the property, that would be ideal. But the overall experience was top notch.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It would be helpful if there were restaurants closer to the villa, but the privacy tradeoff is worth it.

Staff

Pande communicated well with us and made sure we had all we needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

Yogyakarta

Great location near Malioboro Street, with wonderful character and decor. The pool was beautiful, and the breakfast buffet was amazing. Rooms were comfortable and worked well for our family.

Authenticity & Character

The artistic details throughout are one-of-a-kind.

Location

Walking distance to Malioboro Street, right near the Tugu Jogja monument.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Island Hopping in Komodo Island

Indonesia

The Padar Island views were incredible and very worth the climb. Komodo Island was incredible. We saw half a dozen komodo dragons up close. We enjoyed the beauty of Pink Beach and all the snorkeling stops. Some of us were lucky enough to see sharks, mantas, and turtles, though the reefs and fish were incredible on their own. Even though an earthquake meant we had to reschedule our initial plans (and skip scuba diving), this was the best day of our trip to Indonesia and satisfied all ages in our family of six (teens, young adults, adults).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Borobudur Temple

Indonesia

The way this site is organized to manage the flow of many visitors was impressive. We thoroughly enjoyed the temple, learned a lot from our guide, and felt we were able to get great photos despite the crowds--especially toward the end of our allotted hour. It's an impressive site!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Tanah Lot

Indonesia

A beautiful site on the sea! Very picturesque.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Campuhan Ridge Walk

Indonesia

Not as picturesque as expected, but still nice. It's a short walk, and it was neat to see the temple at the start. You can get glimpses of the ravines on each side, but jungle growth makes vista photos difficult. Overall, this isn't a must see, but it's nice if you have a little time or are staying nearby.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Banyumala Twin Waterfall

Indonesia

Beautiful waterfalls and a wonderful area. The hike down and back is steep, but doable. Most people only get in the water long enough to take a photo, and the site is wonderful even if you don't get wet. An excellent activity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Klipoh Village Cycling Tour

Indonesia

For personal reasons, we didn't have time to do as much as we would have liked. We only stopped at one place: pottery. We enjoyed it and the bike riding. My husband and I actually enjoyed it most, and we were surprised that our teens and young adults weren't as engaged with the hands-on activity. We might have been better off choosing something more adventurous with them.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Indonesia

Better than anticipated. A very fun activity, and great with kids.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Mirror Stone Cave

Indonesia

Not as large as expected, though not bad. If you've visited cave systems in the United States or parts of Europe, you've probably seen much more impressive caves. Don't go out of your way to visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Ubud Palace

Indonesia

Public areas are smaller than expected, though elaborate and amazing. It's certainly worth a visit, but this site won't take a long time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Goa Gajah

Indonesia

Very cool temple complex! There's more than just the elephant cave entrance. The ravine cascade was very nice. This won't be a long visit, but it's a nice one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Indonesia

The grounds and gardens are much larger and more elaborate than expected. It makes for a longer, beautiful experience. There are a few smaller attractions within the grounds as well. The animals were a big hit with our young teens. It's best to visit on a day that's not cloudy, so you can see the mountains behind the lake.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Prambanan Temple

Indonesia

Cool temple! This is large and ancient and a must see. Our guide gave us plenty of great information, which was helpful because there isn't any explanatory info otherwise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Watch Ramayana Dance Show

Yogyakarta

The show is interesting, but very long. There are two 90-minute parts, with an intermission. It was too much for our teens and young adults, so we stayed only for the first half. Unless you pay for cushioned seating, you'll be sitting on the side on rough stone benches, which gets uncomfortable fast. That said, the artistry was nice, and there were some fun acrobatics and fireworks. The second half probably had more of this, but we did get a good amount in just the first half. We didn't regret leaving early.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Amelia Sea View

Indonesia

Great views!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Ubud Art Market

Indonesia

A nice souvenir shopping experience. I expected more unique offerings, but you can find mostly the same items store to store (and in other locations in Bali).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace

Indonesia

This is one of the best things you can do in Bali. It's much larger than you might expect. Plan to spend plenty of time. We were there for three hours at sunset and wished we had more time to explore farther. It's simply breathtaking.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Bali trip was absolutely incredible, and so much of that was due to the thoughtful planning and exceptional service of our travel agent, Athaya. She created an itinerary that gave us a wonderful mix of adventure, excitement, relaxation, culture, and luxury, while also allowing us to experience the dramatically different regions and topography of Bali. Every part of the trip felt intentional, and we came away feeling like we had truly experienced the island rather than simply visited it.

One of the absolute highlights was the team Athaya arranged for us. Our driver, Sang, was amazing. Anyone who has experienced Bali traffic knows that getting around the island is an adventure in itself, but Sang maneuvered through it like an expert! We always felt completely safe and comfortable with him, and his skill behind the wheel was truly impressive.

And then there was our wonderful guide, Mr. Oki. I cannot say enough good things about him. He was incredibly kind, patient, attentive, and genuinely cared about making sure we had the best possible experience. He taught us about Balinese customs, traditions, and culture in a way that made everything we were seeing so much more meaningful. He stood in lines to get our admission tickets, handled all the little details so we didn’t have to think about them, and was always looking for ways to make our day easier. He even made sure to take pictures of us throughout our adventures, which means we now have wonderful photographs of our amazing trip.

What impressed me most about the entire trip was the balance. We had exciting adventures, peaceful moments, beautiful accommodations, cultural experiences, and opportunities to see completely different sides of Bali. Each region felt like a new experience, and the itinerary flowed beautifully without ever feeling repetitive.

But perhaps the best example of Athaya’s level of service came when something happened that wasn’t even part of the trip she had planned. Our onward travel arrangements unexpectedly fell through, leaving us in Bali with nowhere to stay and no transportation arranged. Athaya immediately came to our rescue. Within minutes, she had found us a driver and secured a hotel so that we weren’t stranded. There was no hesitation—she simply stepped in and took care of us when we needed help. That kind of responsiveness and genuine concern for her clients is something you don’t forget.

This was the kind of trip that makes you realize how much difference an exceptional travel planner can make. Athaya didn’t simply arrange hotels, transportation, and activities—she created an experience, surrounded us with wonderful people, and made us feel cared for from beginning to end. And when the unexpected happened, she was there for us then, too.

We left Bali with incredible memories, a much deeper appreciation for the island and its culture, and enormous gratitude for Athaya, Sang, and Mr. Oki. They each played a special part in making this an unforgettable experience.

I would recommend Athaya without hesitation to anyone planning a trip to Bali. She is the person you want planning your vacation—and, perhaps even more importantly, the person you want in your corner when your plans don’t go according to plan.

Activity Reviews

Visit Ubud Art Market

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bali Swing at Tegallalang Rice Terrace

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Balinese Massage

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cliffs of Majesty : Visit Uluwatu Temple & Watch Kecak Dance

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gitgit Waterfall Canyoning Adventure

Indonesia

Canyoning was hands-down one of the most exciting and memorable experiences of our entire trip to Bali! The guides were absolutely fantastic. They were knowledgeable, professional, and extremely safety-conscious, which made us feel completely comfortable even when we were doing something that pushed us outside our comfort zones. They explained everything clearly, told us exactly what to expect, and made sure we knew what to do before every jump, rappel, and challenging section of the canyon. We always felt like we were in very capable hands, which allowed us to relax and actually enjoy the adventure. And then there was one particular guide who was absolutely hilarious. He honestly made the experience! He kept us laughing throughout the entire excursion and somehow managed to make even the more intimidating moments fun. His personality, humor, and enthusiasm turned what was already an incredible adventure into one of those experiences we’ll be talking about for years. The scenery was spectacular, the adventure was exhilarating, and the guides were exceptional. It was the perfect combination of adrenaline, natural beauty, and just plain fun. If you’re considering canyoning in Bali, DO IT! It was one of our favorite experiences of the entire trip, and we would recommend it without hesitation.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Penglipuran Village

Indonesia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bathe the Elephants

Ubud, Bali

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was amazing(
Our Yogya Karta guide, Bien was amazing. His level of knowledge of the history of Indonesia from early days to today was great. He was thoughtful, patient and his years of experiences came to life in the way he understood and explained everything. I am sure you use him in your tours as his English language is also very good....

In Bromo, Teguh was an amazing guide and loves Indonesia! My son, Sunny and I enjoyed the time with him and the visit to Bromo and surroundings.

Today our guide Yanto at blue flame was also amazing. He stayed with us the whole hike up and down and was a delight to be with. Would recommend him as a permanent guide for anyone speaks English or needing English speaking guides - would recommend same with Teguh as well - both of them were great for us.

And our drivers ebot and Pedro were great as well.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Majapahit Surabaya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Teras Hotel Ijen Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Manis ae Hotel, Cabin, & Resto Bromo

Bromo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta - MGallery Collection

YOGYAKARTA

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Royal Evening at Prambanan : Visit Prambanan & Watch Ramayana

Yogyakarta

Kota Gede Walking Tour

Yogyakarta

Go on a Sunrise Hike to Mount Bromo

Indonesia

Witness the Blue Flame of Ijen Crater

Indonesia

The Refined Java Experience : Visit Borobudur & Visit Klipoh Village by Andong

Yogyakarta

Visit Taman Sari Water Palace

Yogyakarta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport