Christina Wang

KimKim turned out to be a great asset to me. Where other travel companies had set itineraries, KimKim let me tailor my trip to exactly what I wanted. My agent, Christina, was wonderful. She worked with me to create a great itinerary, was always available (even when she wasn't on the clock) to answer any of my questions or address my concerns. She patiently offered different trip plans until I found the one that suited my interests. Her assistance did not end with the accepted trip plan,... read more

KimKim turned out to be a great asset to me. Where other travel companies had set itineraries, KimKim let me tailor my trip to exactly what I wanted. My agent, Christina, was wonderful. She worked with me to create a great itinerary, was always available (even when she wasn't on the clock) to answer any of my questions or address my concerns. She patiently offered different trip plans until I found the one that suited my interests. Her assistance did not end with the accepted trip plan, Christina continued to be in contact throughout our trip and even afterward. Christina also incorporated the travel I was doing on my own into our travel plan making for a concise plan. We did 12 days of public transportation and everything was worked out to a t. I highly recommend Christina and KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Kviknes Hotel

Balestrand

Location, location, location! This couldn't have been a more beautiful location in a historic building. The hotel and room were charming. That being said, it did have its drawbacks. There is no elevator in the historic building and going up and down the stairs got old quickly. The walls are paper thin, we heard EVERYTHING from the couple nextdoor. The rooms are pleasantly attractive but could use an update. Beware of the hot water, it is scalding. The staff at the front desk were pleasant and helpful. The breakfast buffet was very good, the dinner buffet was a bit disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The view is incredible.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were very comfortable

Hotel Brosundet

Ålesund

Very cool hotel, comfortable bed, great breakfast buffer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Opera

Oslo

Clean, comfortable with great breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fjordcruise on UNESCO Nærøyfjord

Norway

Beautiful trip, spectacular scenery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Geiranger Fjord Cruise

Ålesund

The trip is three hours out, two hours at Geiranger and three hours back. The only interesting scenery was within the last hour near Geiranger. Geiranger is very touristy and other than a beautiful little walk to a spectacular waterfall, had nothing to offer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our first time booking a trip and we decided to give KimKim team a shot. Christina was awesome and helped us every step of the way. She made edits to make sure we went on adventures we wanted and put together activities that were so much fun! Our trip to Norway would not have been as fun nor as easy without her and the team. They were patient and were always available for assistance. Christina was an awesome guide putting our honeymoon itinerary together. I’d definitely book with KimKim team again for our next adventure

This trip was so much better than I ever expected it could be, and I have to send massive kudos to our trip planner Christina. We told her what we wanted to see and do, she over-delivered. There’s a restaurant in Oslo I wanted to experience, but was told by friends “there’s no way you’ll ever get a res there”. They were wrong. Christina took care of it. I wanted luxury accommodations. Christina delivered. How about seeing the fjords, too? Of course. She set us up at 29/2 Aurland. I NEVER... read more

This trip was so much better than I ever expected it could be, and I have to send massive kudos to our trip planner Christina. We told her what we wanted to see and do, she over-delivered. There’s a restaurant in Oslo I wanted to experience, but was told by friends “there’s no way you’ll ever get a res there”. They were wrong. Christina took care of it. I wanted luxury accommodations. Christina delivered. How about seeing the fjords, too? Of course. She set us up at 29/2 Aurland. I NEVER would’ve found this on my own. Never. Our guide there, Anders, was an absolute gem. He anticipated our needs without us even having to ask. Truly an amazing person. And the property was just beyond. We’d travel back to Norway just for 29/2 and Anders! Christina, you truly went over and above for us and the result was the trip of a lifetime. Can’t wait to use kimkim again, hopefully our next planner will be just as wonderful as Christina. Btw, I didn’t even mention her lightning fast responses to my every inquiry during the trip planning process. Christina definitely the gold standard.

Hotel Reviews

Amerikalinjen

Oslo

Perfect location. Great breakfast. Rooms sumptuous. No complaints at all. Once the renovations are complete I’d be sure to ask for a loft room!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across from the train station. Convenient to everything.

Staff

They made you feel like you were the only guest they were accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

29|2 Aurland

Aurland

I can’t recommend this destination enough. Easy transport from the train, and hugely authentic accommodations. The real deal, not faux. Amazing dinners in a beautiful setting. If there’s a candle shortage in Aurland it’s because of them. Be sure to ask for the wood fired hot tub. The experience of a lifetime. But, moreover, be sure to ask for Anders as your guide. He’ll customize an itinerary for you and treat you like his best friends. We’d go back just for Anders!

Authenticity & Character

This property has been in the owner’s family for generations. It doesn’t get any more authentic.

Location

You’re on the fjord. The best views. The best hikes.

Staff

There wasn’t a person on staff who didn’t go out of their way for us. Not one.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Oslo Dinner Cruise

Oslo

We did a dinner cruise on our first night in Oslo which was suggested by Christina. It was a good way to see the city while we were tired from traveling. The cruise was fine, but not the greatest.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Norwegian Cuisine and Guided Waterfall Hike

Norway

We had a private group waterfall hike with our guide Anders. He was super cooperative and adjusted the hike to our capabilities since we were in our 60s and 70s. It was a great experience, especially because he was more than willing to customize the hike for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pasture farm and Local handcrafters

Aurland

The farm tour was amazing. The woman who owns the farm took us on a hike on her property and showed us a summer cabin where she made us Norwegian pancakes. We learned about her family's life there and how she is trying to preserve it for generations. It was a unique and special experience that we wouldn't have had as average tourists.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My family and I absolutely loved our trip to Norway! A few major highlights and thoughts:
1. Our walking tour guide, John, walked us through Bergen and it was absolutely amazing. He gave us some really great suggestions of where to spend our free time in the city and an overall history of the city. We walked over 30k steps that day which was a record for many of us!
2. Our day full days in Aurland were the absolute best. Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri had the most amazing views over the water and... read more

My family and I absolutely loved our trip to Norway! A few major highlights and thoughts:
1. Our walking tour guide, John, walked us through Bergen and it was absolutely amazing. He gave us some really great suggestions of where to spend our free time in the city and an overall history of the city. We walked over 30k steps that day which was a record for many of us!
2. Our day full days in Aurland were the absolute best. Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri had the most amazing views over the water and was a dream come true for us, and their Gastro Pub was some of the best food we had on the trip. While we were in Aurland, we taxi'd where we needed to but if we could back and do the trip over, I think we would have added a day to the this portion of the trip and we would have rented a car in Bergen to get us there and give us more exploration freedom while in that region. The kayak and boat tour in the fjords were the absolute highlights of our trip!
3. Constitution day in Bergen was absolutely insane, I thought Americans partied hard so that was really fun to see and celebrate with them on that day. We were staying in the city center so we got a great view of all the festivities.

Overall, everyone was super welcoming and helpful when we needed it and it was an amazing trip. I'll definitely be using KimKim again in the future for more international trips! Christina was so amazing with answering all of my questions and keeping us in the loop while we were on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Ole Bull Hotel & Apartment

Bergen

This hotel was currently under a remodel when we stayed and wasn't in the best condition in terms of the rooms and their cleanliness, but the staff was more than accommodating and it was a great location for what we were looking for.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right in the city center and it's easy to get anywhere you'd like to go in the city from here!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vangsgaarden Gjestgiveri

Aurland

This Inn was a 5 star review all around! We had rented two of the cabins right on the water and it was literally a dream. Everyone at the inn was so nice and welcoming, and the food at the Gastro Pub was some of the best we had on the trip!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

John gave us our walking tour and he was so friendly and insightful! He gave us some great recommendations of where to spend our free time the next couple of days and it was just such a great start to our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Kayaking in Flåm

Norway

This experience was amazing! While our crew struggled with comfort due to the wetsuits, the experience was still so amazing and the guides were so insightful and fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stegastein and Borgund Stave Church

Norway

While these were great to see, I think if we could do it over again we would rent a car instead of having a taxi driver give us the tour. These two places were amazing to see though, I definitely wish we would have had more time to see the Stave church.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fjordsafari

Norway

This was by far our favorite experience of our trip!! The guides were amazing and so fun, and the experience being on the water and getting to go further into the fjords was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norwegian Constitution Day

Norway

Experiencing Constitution Day in the city center was amazing, but definitely a lot rowdier than I expected! We were able to see everything and participate when we wanted to, and retired to our apartment throughout the day for naps and some peace and quiet among the busy day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cristina was the best, always attentive to our needs.

It was such a pleasure to work with Christina to plan a winter wonderland trip to Norway. We had one rainy day and one gloriously sunny day in Oslo, but loved walking all over the city. Our trip then took us to Sommarøy - I had never heard of it, but Christina put it on our itinerary and it was awesome. Our room had a balcony with an amazing view and we could see the Northern Lights from there. We also went to a Northern Lights Park where we watched the Northern Lights for hours - a true once... read more

It was such a pleasure to work with Christina to plan a winter wonderland trip to Norway. We had one rainy day and one gloriously sunny day in Oslo, but loved walking all over the city. Our trip then took us to Sommarøy - I had never heard of it, but Christina put it on our itinerary and it was awesome. Our room had a balcony with an amazing view and we could see the Northern Lights from there. We also went to a Northern Lights Park where we watched the Northern Lights for hours - a true once in a lifetime experience. We then continued on to Svolvær (after a lovely day in Tromsø) where the snow interrupted our plans, but we still had a good time walking around in the snow and enjoying the beauty there. Thank you for the trip!

Christina did an absolute job planning our trip in Norway. It was absolutely perfect from beginning to end. She answered every question I had no matter how crazy. I’m so so glad we went with Kimkim, and we will be using kimkim again. Thank you so much for all your help! read more

Christina did an absolute job planning our trip in Norway. It was absolutely perfect from beginning to end. She answered every question I had no matter how crazy. I’m so so glad we went with Kimkim, and we will be using kimkim again. Thank you so much for all your help!

Hotel Reviews

Trasti & Trine´s Lodge

Alta

Everything about Trasti & Trine was amazing. The food was the most incredible food we have eaten and the breakfast incredible. We were lucky to see the northern lights on 2 nights! We also did the dog sledding which was wonderful. An amazing relaxing and peaceful 2 nights.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GLØD Aurora canvas dome

Alta

Glød was fantastic. The tents were very warm during the winter and the staff were lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Whale safari

Alta

The suits were not quite week enough for the weather and unfortunately we saw no whales.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trasti og Trine Dog Sledding

Alta

The only thing I have to say is I wish I booked the longer tour! What an incredible experience and so much fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Northern Lights mystery With Reindeer

Alta

Our time spent learning about the Samii community was incredible. We were so lucky to be the only ones with an incredible guide. And being on the reindeer sled was awesome!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Northern Lights Hunt

Alta

Seeing the northern lights can never be guaranteed. Our guide tried his absolute best and did all the necessary research and that’s all we can ask 😊

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was an amazing trip! Christina was there for me the whole way making lasting minute adjustments for me as life happened with delayed or missed flights. She lined up transportation and moved hotel reservations with detailed instructions how to get where I needed to be. She is nothing short of awesome.
Alta, Sorrisniva Wilderness Lodge was a perfect setting. Quiet, immaculate and friendly. The Sami Culture/Reindeer Sledding was a must. Our guide was great (I think his name was Malika),... read more

This was an amazing trip! Christina was there for me the whole way making lasting minute adjustments for me as life happened with delayed or missed flights. She lined up transportation and moved hotel reservations with detailed instructions how to get where I needed to be. She is nothing short of awesome.
Alta, Sorrisniva Wilderness Lodge was a perfect setting. Quiet, immaculate and friendly. The Sami Culture/Reindeer Sledding was a must. Our guide was great (I think his name was Malika), very informative and interesting. From there we traveled to Lyngen North Glass Igloo. This place is a must with a perfect view to look for the Northern Lights. Our last night the conditions aligned and the lights put on a show from around 9 pm until 4 am. The lights streamed across the sky over our igloo. It was simply amazing. Norway is probably the cleanest country I have ever seen. The people are extremely polite and helpful. With English being their second language (thankfully), it wasn’t confusing or stressful to obtain information to navigate around.
I will absolutely use KimKim again to my next destination. No hesitation!

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

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

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

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!

I started to plan this trip before contacting Kimkim. So we already had our flights and the first night in Oslo booked. Then I came in contact with Christina, and everything started to flow magically. I had an idea of combining city and nature impressions on the journey including some physical activity as well. Christina was able to come up with this perfectly. So in the end of the day we had our city walks as well as fjords tours - hiking, on boats, on trains and on kayaks, all of which... read more

I started to plan this trip before contacting Kimkim. So we already had our flights and the first night in Oslo booked. Then I came in contact with Christina, and everything started to flow magically. I had an idea of combining city and nature impressions on the journey including some physical activity as well. Christina was able to come up with this perfectly. So in the end of the day we had our city walks as well as fjords tours - hiking, on boats, on trains and on kayaks, all of which orchestrated skillfully together with transfers and hotel bookings. We only had to adjust the alarm clock and follow the detailed instructions in the itinerary.
We visited four different destinations - Oslo, Aurland/Flåm, Bergen and Ålesund - each of the with their own special flair. In Bergen and Oslo we had a 3 hour informal walk with a local guide, both of them really charming, professionally skilled and in love with their respective cities.
The hotels were up to our expectations and very well located. We haven't missed a chance to relax in the Spa! And after the rainy and chilly day in Bergen the sauna was quite what we needed.
These were very memorable 9 days which we enjoyed so much thanks to Chritina and team!
I'm pretty sure this will not be our last trip with them ;)
Leon & Laura

Christina really helped me come up with an amazing itinerary for my summer trip to Norway. She was completely upfront with me from the start about where to put my focus on, and what I would need to leave for another trip. She helped me narrow down all of the places that I would be able to see on an 8 full day trip plan which included Bodø, Hamnøy, Reine, Svolvær, Festvågtind/ Henningsvær, and Tromso. It was jam packed, but I was able to see quite a bit. I also had amazing views on the hikes... read more

Christina really helped me come up with an amazing itinerary for my summer trip to Norway. She was completely upfront with me from the start about where to put my focus on, and what I would need to leave for another trip. She helped me narrow down all of the places that I would be able to see on an 8 full day trip plan which included Bodø, Hamnøy, Reine, Svolvær, Festvågtind/ Henningsvær, and Tromso. It was jam packed, but I was able to see quite a bit. I also had amazing views on the hikes that were recommended of northern Norway. I also had a few guided tours and hikes, and even the guides commented that Christina did a great job in recommending some activities that many tourists don't know about. I would certainly utilize Kim Kim again on another trip.

Hotel Reviews

Eliassen Rorbuer

Moskenes

A great placed to stay if you are in Hamnøy. Beautiful scenery, clean cabin, and peaceful environment.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Comfy, cozy room. Incredible views of mountains, fjords, the different colored cabins. Proximity to other nearby towns like Reine.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon hotel Polar

Tromsø

Room seems a bit dated. Also found 2 2 liter Coca Cola bottles not left by me underneath the bed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central location.

Staff

Friendly staff at the front desk.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They need to thoroughly clean. As I mentioned above, there were 2 empty bottles of Coca Cola seen underneath the bed from guests previously in the room. Just make sure to not forget to check for garbage underneath the bed.

Thon Hotel Nordlys

Bodø

The room was nice and tidy. Hotel breakfast also amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next the the ships and water. Nice scenery.

Staff

Cindy at the front desk was very nice and courteous, and answered a lot of my questions promptly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and tidy. Probably the best Thon hotel I stayed at during my time in the arctic.

Thon Hotel Svolvær

Svolvær

Great location. It's next to public transit, the ferry, the Hurigruten cruise line, supermarkets, and great restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location is everything here. Very central.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean rooms.

Activity Review

Explore Reine and the Surroundings

Reine

The hike to Reinebringen is incredible. A must do if you are physically capable. The stone steps that were installed in recent years made this hike a real pleasure to do. I didn't summit Reinebringen, but got up to 1,542 ft vistapoint that most people see those incredible views from. Festvågtind in the Henningsvær region of the islands probably had the best views of some of the Lofoten islands, even though that hike wasn't as pleasant to do. It sure was memorable and goes down as the most difficult hike I've completed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I used public transportation. While it is a significant saving as opposed to renting a car in Norway, you are at the mercy of when the last bus leaves. You could be in an area for hours since buses can be infrequent. If you don't want that over your head, then rent a car. I got around just fine, but also remember that you might not see as much. So plan accordingly.

From experience planning family vacations to different countries comes with the usual stresses - much about the destination is unknown, weather, activites, places of interest, hotels! Typically, Costco Travel is our first choice. Norway is a destination that is not served by Costco, which led me to KimKim. The name was weird to take it seriously initially. However, recommendations from the New York Times, BBC, The National Geographic, etc. sealed the deal.

The KimKim portal is very easy to... read more

From experience planning family vacations to different countries comes with the usual stresses - much about the destination is unknown, weather, activites, places of interest, hotels! Typically, Costco Travel is our first choice. Norway is a destination that is not served by Costco, which led me to KimKim. The name was weird to take it seriously initially. However, recommendations from the New York Times, BBC, The National Geographic, etc. sealed the deal.

The KimKim portal is very easy to use and has a lot of features that makes exploring and research easy. The chat, call, and collaboration features make it easy for all family members to be view, contribute and be informed about the planning.

Christina, our travel planner was top notch. She was experienced, patient and was ever willing to adjust and refine the trip plan, which we developed over 2 months. She was readily available for phone calls during US daytime, and made recommendations based on our preferences. She planned the entire trip for us, start to finish, and added relevant activities through the entire vacation. Most importantly, she responded very fast and thoroughly, explaining exactly what our different options were throughout our trip. KimKim and Christina made this vacation planning easy and were key to making this as stress free as possible. Based on this experience, I have no doubts that I will be using KimKim for all our future family vacations.

Why Norway? It's not a popular destination like Italy or France! After our visit to Switzerland in 2016, we started researching if there were any countries that matched it's beauty. Started reading about the fjords and the pictures seemed to indicate that Norway would be gorgeous. Subsequent trips to Italy, London, Scottland and Ireland seemed to confirm my family's bias towards Switzerland. We felt that no place could be more beautiful than Switzerland. How wrong were we? Every single part of Norway was absolutely breathtaking, and our entire family was in awe the entire time.

We started our vacation in Bergen, a cute and beautiful, tourist-filled city with amazing food. Christina arranged a 3-hour walking tour with John, who was very pleasant, patient and extremely helpful. He extended the tour to accomodate a brief visit to the musuem, a short coffee break and a visit to the electronics store to buy adapters. John gave us many insights about Bergen and its history that we would have missed if we were on our own.

The ferry ride to Gudvangen via the Sognefjord was absolutely breathtaking. My teenager sons were intially reluctant to ride in a ferry for 5 1/2 hours! By the end of the ride, the family didn't realize how time went by.

Gudvangen: Gudvangen was an amazing place to visit. It almost felt like it was out of a movie. As soon as we got there, we realized we were surrounded by a circular wall of waterfalls, with a singular opening to the Sognefjord. My sons especially loved this place since they got to zipline off a mountain and then subsequently got on mountain bikes and biked down the Nordic mountains. They both said that it was the best experience of their lives. Also make sure you check out the Flam Railway, branded as one of the most beautiful railways in the world. Christina was kind enough to include a visit to the viking village based on my son's request.

Stryn: Stryn was the highlight of our trip. We had a wonderful view of a river flowing to Lake Lovatnet from our hotel room and we even rode on the steepest cable car in the world in Loen!

Christana added a break from activities in Geiranger that the family appreciated. It was easy going and the family had to opportunity to go kayaking in the fjords.

The hotels were all clean and upscale, though the rooms were small by American standards.

Thank you, Christina, and KimKim for helping us make this a memorable vacation. Norway is now our family's favorite place, edging out Switzerland :).

Hotel Reviews

Zander K Hotel

Bergen

Very good lobby, and great/modern rooms, located in central Bergen so you're a walking distance from most attractions and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Good lobby

Location

Very close to the port

Staff

They were nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice and modern rooms

Hotel Utsikten

Geiranger

Was a historic hotel and therefore the kids thought it was dated. The garden view was so-so. The fjord view was great, but with the sun up past midnight, the room was hot. The restaurant was upscale, and the staff were friendly and helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Historic

Location

Great view of the fjord

Staff

Friendly, accommodating and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gudvangen Fjordtell & Apartments

Gudvangen

Easily the best hotel in our trip. We had a 2-bedroom cottage that was clean, modern and had amazing views.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nestled between the mountains - our room's door opened to the view of waterfalls in the mountains!

Staff

Very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were updated and very clean.

Stryn Hotell

Stryn, Sogn og Fjordane

Very modern hotel with beautiful rooms. Balconies overlooking the river was awesome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scandic Voss

Voss

Conveniently located near the station and modern. Single room for the family was cramped - especially the second bed!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Conveniently located overlooking the lake and mountains

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

John was very pleasant, patient and extremely helpful. He extended the tour to accommodate a brief visit to the musuem, a short coffee break and a visit to the electronics store to buy adapters. John gave us many insights about Bergen and its history that we would have missed if we were on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Round Trip on the Flåm Railway: Flåm - Myrdal

Norway

We have had our share of scenic train rides in Switzerland and didn't have much expectations from this ride. Boy, how wrong were we! Breathtaking scenery! The Flam train ride is a must when visiting Norway.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Geirangerfjord Sightseeing Boat Cruise & Independent Fjord Farm Hike

Geiranger

It rained the day of our trip. We had seen much of the fjords when we took the ferry to get to Geiranger. Therefore, this seemed a little redundant, though I understand why people take this ride. We chose to exclude the Fjord Farm Hike because of the rain.

Quality of Experience

Transport

After three years of KimKim correspondence, two false starts due to Covid, it finally happened, and it was more than worth waiting for! Beginning with a challenging but spectacular hike to Trolltunga led by our excellent guide Linda, this set the tone for more spectacular experiences to come including an amazing camping and kayaking and camping experience with Much Better Adventures along the Naerfjord and Aurlandsfjord before returning to Bergen via the majestic Flam Railway. The next part... read more

After three years of KimKim correspondence, two false starts due to Covid, it finally happened, and it was more than worth waiting for! Beginning with a challenging but spectacular hike to Trolltunga led by our excellent guide Linda, this set the tone for more spectacular experiences to come including an amazing camping and kayaking and camping experience with Much Better Adventures along the Naerfjord and Aurlandsfjord before returning to Bergen via the majestic Flam Railway. The next part of the adventure saw me experience perhaps the jewel in the crown of Norway's majestic fjords, Geiranger, which I also got to experience via a kayak. If all this wasn't enough, before returning home I experienced a walk on the Folgefonna Glacier, which was beautiful.

All transport and accommodation arranged by KimKim as well as the information provided about local public transport was so helpful, enabling me to get out and about where I went including finding some good places to eat and local museums to visit and was always useful to be in contact with KimKim local specialist Christina when unsure about something. What made the whole experience worth waiting for for three years though was that it felt like more than simply a visit to Norway, but I actually go to experience it up close and personal. Seeing the fjords from a kayak, as well as enabling you to see just how steep-sided they are, also put you in touch with the movements and texture of the fjord water, both its calmness and occasional ripples, while the camping gives one an idea as to how the Vikings may have experienced them, as well as inspired them to explore through the curiosity it maybe aroused in them wanting to know where the fjords led, or what was behind the mists that often shroud them. Similarly, the Folgefonna Glacier walk enabled me to experience it's texture as well as take me back to the planet's geological past to the ice age, getting a feel for how the fjords where formed.

As well as getting an up and close personal experience of Norway through a series of different activities, hiking, kayaking and camping, I also feel visiting Norway (was my third time in Norway), I get a sense of who I am, much of which was enabled by Christina and KimKim, who never forgot about despite the longer than anticipated wait and so many false starts. A huge thanks to Christine and to KimKim for ensuring I had the best experience I could possibly have had.

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike to Trolltunga

Norway

Was great fun to do it with a good guide, Linda, who made it fun as well as helping you get the best pictures of you standing on the Troll's Tongue.

Quality of Experience

Linda was excellent, really entertaining which helped make it a great day! She really makes the effort to get to know her travellers!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bus that goes up hairpin bend to start of hike really helps!

Transport

Just have to be aware that certain buses to the start of Trolltunga from Brucehagen/Odda don't run at certain times of the year.

Guided Kayaking to Seven Sisters Waterfall in Geirangerfjord

Geiranger

Can see and access places from a kayak that can't otherwise be accessed, as well as get up close and personal with the majestic Seven Sisters waterfall

Quality of Experience

The experience on the water

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide made sure of quality and safety as well as help with rowing techniques.

Transport

Public transport is limited in Geiranger, kayak base is a fair walk from hotel.

Glacier hiking at Folgefonna

Bergen

An excellent experience to round off my trip, guide was excellent and gave good tips about where and where not to set foot which made it a comfortable experience.

Quality of Experience

Gaining a feel of the texture of the glacier

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Clear instructions to help give a good experience

Transport

Public transport via bus-ferry-bus was excellent

We had an amazing Time in Norway .
We had used Kim Kim previously when planning a trip to Chile , which worked out great .
Since this was a last minute decision on our part , decided to turn to them again .
Christina was very accommodating and knowledgeable in the planning process . She was attentive and provided many suggestions based on our requests , including experiencing Constitutuon Day in Oslo (which was truly an experience to witness and be a part of) . It was a indeed a... read more

We had an amazing Time in Norway .
We had used Kim Kim previously when planning a trip to Chile , which worked out great .
Since this was a last minute decision on our part , decided to turn to them again .
Christina was very accommodating and knowledgeable in the planning process . She was attentive and provided many suggestions based on our requests , including experiencing Constitutuon Day in Oslo (which was truly an experience to witness and be a part of) . It was a indeed a pleasure working with her .
Norway is a beautiful country , from the breathtaking surroundings , the friendly people we met throughout the journey , the culinary experience , the ease of getting around and so much more …. You truly are forced to “stop and smell the roses . “
Thank you Kim Kim . Thank you Christina . Thank you Norway .

Hotel Reviews

Scandic Bergen city

Bergen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Midtnes Hotel

Balestrand

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Leikanger Fjord Hotel

Leikanger

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bristol

Oslo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Thon Hotel Tønsberg Brygge (Tidl. Brygga)

Tonsberg

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Bergen Walking Tour With a Local Guide

Bergen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

RIB Fjord Sightseeing Tour in Balestrand

Balestrand

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Norwegian Constitution Day

Norway

Quality of Experience

Free day in Leikanger

Leikanger

Quality of Experience

Thanks to Christina for helping me plan my 3 week, self drive trip in Norway. Stunningly beautiful country and friendly and helpful Norwegians.

Christina was impressively responsive to questions, suggestions, bookings and follow up. Thank you very much for your help! read more

Thanks to Christina for helping me plan my 3 week, self drive trip in Norway. Stunningly beautiful country and friendly and helpful Norwegians.

Christina was impressively responsive to questions, suggestions, bookings and follow up. Thank you very much for your help!

Hotel Review

Eliassen Rorbuer

Moskenes

Beautiful location, wonderful accommodation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Free day in Trondheim

Trondheim

One of my favorite cities in Norway...really enjoyed the old town section.

Quality of Experience

Free day in Bø

Bø

Beautiful. Would highly recommend people to visit this beautiful area.

Drive to Aurland

Norway

Loved the fjord and town...charming, beautiful location.

Quality of Experience

Explore Balestrand

Balestrand

Although it was a rainy day, I took the opportunity to drive along the spectacular & beautiful fjords.

Free day in Bodø

Bodø

It was okay....not much to do. I would not recommend a visit unless one had a car to explore out side of the city.

Quality of Experience