Christos Mylonas

This was altogether an extraordinary one month-long trip planned with great detail by our local specialist, Cristos, and his amazing, caring, and flexible Team 12! Cristos worked tirelessly until every detail was worked out to meet our needs for hotels and tours. All of our transfers were preplanned; at no time did we have to wait for guides or drivers to provide needed transfers. We had ample down time when we reached each destination with suggestions for self-guided tours before beginning... read more

This was altogether an extraordinary one month-long trip planned with great detail by our local specialist, Cristos, and his amazing, caring, and flexible Team 12! Cristos worked tirelessly until every detail was worked out to meet our needs for hotels and tours. All of our transfers were preplanned; at no time did we have to wait for guides or drivers to provide needed transfers. We had ample down time when we reached each destination with suggestions for self-guided tours before beginning with private tours. Our trip began in Thessaloniki (4 nights) where we stayed at the Electra Palace, a gem of a hotel centrally located. Our guide and driver were ready with suggestions for restaurants, points of interest, and were flexible when the focus of our tour required a change to cover the Jewish monuments and history of Thessaloniki. Our tour of this area of Macedonia included Pella and Vergina, ancient historical sites most worthwhile to visit. I am looking forward to exploring more of Macedonia on my next trip.

From Thessaloniki, we continued our trip on the mainland of Greece to Athens where we stayed in a large 3-bedroom suite apartment, Four Streets Athens (5 nights), centrally located in the Plaka district with a view of the Acropolis. Again we had time to wander about the Plaka and Kolonaki areas before beginning our private tours on the succeeding days: the Acropolis and museum, a food tour, and trips away from Athens (Epidaurus, Nafplio, Mycenae, Corinth Canal). Other very worthwhile tours included the Cycladic Museum and the Benake Museum.

From Athens, we flew to Mykonos to begin our trip to three of the Cycladic Islands plus Crete. Unfortunately, as May turned out to be a rather unseasonably cool month, we were unable to enjoy beach/swimming opportunities; however, we happily exchanged this weather for fewer crowds, especially appreciated when we got to Santorini!! Mykonos with its iconic windmills was lovely and quiet for this time of the year. We checked into the Mykonos Theoxenia Boutique, an elegant setting on the water, a few steps from town, with staff who couldn't do enough for their guests. From Mykonos we took a boat tour to Delos, an archeological site not to be missed. Our only disappointment was that we were included in a large group tour which made it difficult to understand the narrative.
On to Naxos, quite a contrast to Mykonos and then Santorini. The island's lush vegetation creates a rich farming and culinary tradition with some of the best produce in Greece, particularly famed for potatoes, cheeses, and olive oils. We stayed at the Montana Villa Naxos (4 nights), some distance from the town; however, having a driver and an excellent restaurant in walking distance (Kavos), this proved to be no problem. In in exchange, we had a beautiful view over the Aegean Sea. The grounds and pool of the villa were amazing but the weather was too cool to take a dip! The house lends itself well to a family; however, we three women experienced disappointing showering facilities (no shower curtain, high bath tubs to negotiate), but I would welcome a summer stay in spite of this detail. Our stay in Naxos included a private food and culture tour (olive oil, Greek liquor, cheeses, and lunch) as well as a private hike through the mountains with many varied sites and villages. Both opportunities not to be missed!! As our weather did not allow for beach time, we explored the many interesting shops and ruins of Naxos Hora and enjoyed a beach walk with lunch.
From Naxos, we continued on to the famed island of Santorini, much enjoyed because of the lesser crowds. Can't imagine what it must be like in summer: crowds plus the heat!! We stayed at the Volcano View Hotel (3 nights) with gorgeous pool areas and views of the caldera, just far away enough from the very busy center of Santorini. Interesting tours were arranged for us which included walks through Fira and quieter Oia. We also visited a lovely situated winery (Santorini is famous for its white wines). We had a great sail on a catamaran in the caldera from where we could get amazing views of the caldera's varied volcanic layers. The crew was professional and had a great sense of humor, hospitality and cooking skills. Great experience not to be missed. Before we left Santorini, we treated ourselves to a multi-coursed dinner at the famous restaurant, Solene. Fabulous experience, food, and service.
And so onto our last island, Crete, a famous culinary experience according to many a waiter and guide we encountered on our trip. We arrived first in Heraklion, site of Palace of Knossos. After a detailed tour of that site, we were ready to move on to Chania at the other end of the island. The old town of Heraklion has some interesting, upcoming restaurants; one day/evening is enough for this city. (We stayed at the Aquila Atlantis Hotel (2 nights), adequate for a short stay.) Chania is most charming by comparison. Our hotel, the 1400's Scala de Faro (4 nights), was right on the water (some rooms have beautiful views). The staff was most amazing and could fix any problem a guest might face. The town behind the hotel is great for wandering and shopping. As with the other islands, the Venetian influence is everywhere. So here is where our trip got 'interesting.' We were supposed to travel from Greece to Israel, but given the political situation, we were forced to look at options. Cristos sprung into action, and in no time had an itinerary for us to return to the mainland and further explore areas we had not seen (eg Hydra) or wanted to revisit (Nafplio). Furthermore, I had a bad fall on one of the beaches; our driver sensed the emergency and in no time drove me to a private clinic in Chania. All went well, transportation was provided to and from the clinic for two days. I received excellent medical care. Here is where being under the care of a caring responsible travel company and personnel was so very important!! The rest of the trip went without a hitch with Cristos finding us a charming hotel in Nafplio, Residenza di Fedralia, for four days until we were transported to Athens for our trip home.

So all in all, I can't say enough about Kimkim. Cristos planned a wonderful trip for us with a perfect balance of guided and self-guided tours. Suggestions were made for restaurants, but we enjoyed doing our own research in this category. We had very responsive support from his Team 12 &MAMAKITA) whenever needed, every question or request answered immediately. Looking forward to my next trip with Kimkim!!

Cannot say enough about the entire experience. Enjoyed every aspect of our amazing adventure in Greece. Christos, is a wonderful person and experienced which really helped us on our travels. His team is top notch. He connected us with so many delightful people to numerous for me to mention today. Everyday was well planned for me and of particular note the Argolis day trip, catamaran cruise on the Caldera Lagoon, lovely Naxos it truly was all wonderful. It was also a delight to meet... read more

Cannot say enough about the entire experience. Enjoyed every aspect of our amazing adventure in Greece. Christos, is a wonderful person and experienced which really helped us on our travels. His team is top notch. He connected us with so many delightful people to numerous for me to mention today. Everyday was well planned for me and of particular note the Argolis day trip, catamaran cruise on the Caldera Lagoon, lovely Naxos it truly was all wonderful. It was also a delight to meet Christos in person. Thank you all once again!!Sincerely, Dorothy

Hotel Reviews

Four Streets Athens

Athens

Very clean, centrally located, safe. Near all things you might want in Athens. The Placa, restaurants, groceries, Acropolis, shopping, kitchen well equipment. Very nice experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The owner met us and helped us with whatever was needed.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mykonos Theoxenia Boutique Hotel

Mykonos

Location

Staff

All the staff were outstanding!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Scala de Faro

Chania

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Christina went above and beyond! They are very lucky to have her!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Delphi Day-trip

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Ok, stopped for pit stop.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Athens Food Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Very nice woman who led the tour. Helpful and knowledgeable.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Olive Farm Visit and Traditional Greek Lunch at Archanes

Heraklion

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

A lot of fun, we’ll worth it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rave reviews for Christos and the Travel 12 team. They were there any and every moment of the way during the 30 days in Greece. Every detail went as planned… well, almost. One private tour had a misunderstanding with the guide which was resolved quickly. We also had to extend our trip by 5 nights and they came through within 48 hours, booking everything from accommodations to cooking class and drivers. I can’t thank you enough for the professionalism from you and your entire team. read more

Rave reviews for Christos and the Travel 12 team. They were there any and every moment of the way during the 30 days in Greece. Every detail went as planned… well, almost. One private tour had a misunderstanding with the guide which was resolved quickly. We also had to extend our trip by 5 nights and they came through within 48 hours, booking everything from accommodations to cooking class and drivers. I can’t thank you enough for the professionalism from you and your entire team.

Hotel Reviews

Electra Palace Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

Great location, nice hotel. Good value for the money.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Four Streets Athens

Athens

Wow, love this apartment! Direct view of the Acropolis out the beautiful living room windows. Clean, newly and beautifully remodeled. Owner/manager was available anytime. Bedding and bed was great. Kitchen well appointed. Location wonderful, in the heart of the Plaka district.

Authenticity & Character

Old building totally remodeled in a modern way, but still authentic.

Location

In the heart of Plaka district.

Staff

Available anytime!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great bedding, and very comfortable beds. The entire apartment was clean as a whistle.

Mykonos Theoxenia Boutique Hotel

Mykonos

Great location, right next to the windmills. Old hotel that’s been renovated. It was very luxurious yet not stuffy. Beautiful pool area with views of the sea.

Authenticity & Character

Modernized but with character in the choice of materials.

Location

Just on the edge of town, so very quiet yet a short walk into the cute town.

Staff

Over the top hospitality! Aimed to please at every turn.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great bedding, great mattress, clean as a whistle.

MONTANA VILLA NAXOS

Naxos

Did NOT like this ‘Villa.’ The word villa is an overstatement. Odd layout of the house for bedrooms. Leaking living room roof and bathroom floor. The owner was defensive over issues when we had to call him to fix the electricity that went out in the living room (probably due to water in the ceiling). He suggested we overloaded the system. Really????? We were out the entire day!!! It was not very clean in the cabinets and too much evidence of someone living there. Yuck. The oven was not set up so no way to use it. No toaster… when we asked about it 2 days later, the comment back was “you can’t expect me to make sure everything is working.” Really??? Beds were not comfortable, bedding in downstairs bedroom didn’t fit, exposing the mattress, yuck. I slept on the blanket. Downstairs tub was so high it was dangerous to get in/out. Towel bar was rehung at about 6’, impossible to reach. The holes were remaining from being moved up. The best thing about the property was the pool and view. That’s it!

Authenticity & Character

A remodeled mess.

Location

Very far from town. A 20 minute walk to a small beach restaurant area down the hill.

Staff

Explained in description

Cleanliness & Comfort

Explained in description

Volcano View Hotel

Santorini

Great view of the sea. Nice and friendly staff. Quiet location 10 minutes ride into Fira. Beautiful breakfast and restaurant services. Room was clean and well appointed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

10 minutes outside of Fira. Made for a more private and quieter place. Amazing views of the caldera.

Staff

Very nice and friendly. Made last minute spa reservations for 2 of us at their sister hotel across the street. GREAT hot stone massage!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great bedding, great bed, small room but had a lovely balcony overlooking the caldera and sea.

Aquila Atlantis Hotel

Heraklion – Crete

Just okay. Adequate. Good location to walk to the square and close to the port.

Authenticity & Character

Just okay.

Location

Close to the port from the ferry. Quick walk to the square for restaurants and shops.

Staff

Just okay.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean. Just okay on comfort.

Scala de Faro

Chania

LOVED this cute boutique 9 room hotel. Staff was GREAT, location was GREAT, the rooms were all unique in a historic 16th century building. Beautifully done!

Authenticity & Character

Totally remodeled 16th century building. So authentic in the choices of materials and design. No elevator from 1st to 2nd floor. Cars cannot drive up to the front door, but drivers figure out how to help.

Location

Right in old town!

Staff

Thank you thank you for all your help with everything from airline issues to restaurants, to early breakfast box!

Cleanliness & Comfort

FABULOUS! Great bedding and beds. I had the jacuzzi room and used it one day… perfect! Everything clean, very clean!

Activity Reviews

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Be prepared to be among 1000 people touring at the same time. It was like Disneyland. BUT, it was the amazing Acropolis! The tour guide was professional and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Professional and knowledgeable.

Transport

We walked.

Jewish Monuments of Thessaloniki Walking Tour

Thessaloniki

Well, we realized 1/2 way into the tour that it was NOT a Jewish tour but a Classic Tour. They did their best to make up for it and added extra time. We let the Travel 12 know….handled very well. Next day on the way to Pella, the driver took us to an amazing old Synagogue to make up for the goof.

Quality of Experience

Make sure and confirm the tour you’re on before starting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Make sure you’re on the right tour and going to the right place.

Transport

Comfortable Mercedes car, friendly and accommodating driver and guides, even with the initial tour issue.

Private Naxos Food & Culture Tour

Naxos

Loved this tour with our local guide. We had an authentic Naxos meal at a family restaurant in her village. Food was lovely.

Quality of Experience

Friendly and knowledgeable guide, as local as you can get.

Food

Local wonderful lunch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was great!

Transport

Comfortable car.

Hiking Naxos Paths

Naxos

One of my favorite experiences of the 30 days through Greece. Walking through 4 villages was a special experience. I highly recommend doing this! It’s not difficult, but it is 4 hours (or a bit more).

Quality of Experience

Local knowledgeable guide…friendly and personable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

GREAT!

Transport

All on foot.

I have absolutely no complaints. Everything was so well planned. The hotels were outstanding. Except the Amalia. It was a bit cramped for 3 people but we managed. My hat off to Christos and all his tour guides and drivers. They were outstanding 👏 👌 read more

I have absolutely no complaints. Everything was so well planned. The hotels were outstanding. Except the Amalia. It was a bit cramped for 3 people but we managed. My hat off to Christos and all his tour guides and drivers. They were outstanding 👏 👌

Hotel Reviews

Belvedere Hotel Mykonos

Mýkonos City

Breath taking. Fabulous view, room service was excellent 👌

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom

De Sol Hotel & Spa

Thera

Love the view and the breakfast. Outstanding. Room was very comfortable with 3 people.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

A little cramped for 3 people and the bathtub was a bit high for elderly people. We had to be very cautious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness of the bathroom. Lots of hair on the floor behind door.

Activity Reviews

Acropolis & Flavors of Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Guided Mykonos Island Driving Tour

Mykonos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Santorini Wine Tour

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Santorini Driving Panorama

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christos and his team were the most professional, efficient and highly experienced travel and trusted people I have had the pleasure to work with from the very first contact I made with him.
The itinerary was very well planned and detailed. We had the friendliest and most knowledgeable guides, who allowed us to create wonderful memories. The islands were breathtaking, relaxing and picturesque and our catamaran cruise was the high point of our leisure time, and a must do. The city was a... read more

Christos and his team were the most professional, efficient and highly experienced travel and trusted people I have had the pleasure to work with from the very first contact I made with him.
The itinerary was very well planned and detailed. We had the friendliest and most knowledgeable guides, who allowed us to create wonderful memories. The islands were breathtaking, relaxing and picturesque and our catamaran cruise was the high point of our leisure time, and a must do. The city was a captivating blend of ancient and metropolitan environs. We experienced history we learned and read about. Food and wine tasting were enticing and enjoyable as we dined in luxurious ambiences with the backdrop of the Acropolis. The visits through the marketplace, the churches and orthodox Easter celebration were unforgettable experiences. Overall Santorini won us over. Thanks to all, Mary Helen (please correct if wrong) in Mykonos; Konstantinos and Iakovos in Santorini and Apollon in Athens for the warm welcome to Greece 🇬🇷. YAMAS!!! EFCHARISTO!!!

Hotel Reviews

Belvedere Hotel Mykonos

Mýkonos City

Very friendly and accommodating staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

De Sol Hotel & Spa

Thera

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amalia Hotel Athens

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Guided Mykonos Island Driving Tour

Mykonos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Santorini Wine Tour

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Konstantinos, our driver

Transport

Private Santorini Driving Panorama

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis & Flavors of Athens

Athens

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christos was amazing to work with. He provided direct communication with his assistant on days he was out to ensure we had continuous communication with someone. He is so professional and attentive to detail. He provided his great suggestions and gives his advice as you plan your trip. He truly seeks out activities so you have a true view of all aspects of Greece and the Greek islands. He is a great planner and I highly recommend him. read more

Christos was amazing to work with. He provided direct communication with his assistant on days he was out to ensure we had continuous communication with someone. He is so professional and attentive to detail. He provided his great suggestions and gives his advice as you plan your trip. He truly seeks out activities so you have a true view of all aspects of Greece and the Greek islands. He is a great planner and I highly recommend him.

I was in charge of planning a trip to Greece with/for my family, including grandparents. I was overwhelmed about where to visit with just 10 days while being careful to not overwhelm the grandparents. I signed up for KimKim just to see what it was and suddenly we (Christos and I) were off planning a 10 day trip to Greece.

I found the budgeting and pricing to be uncomfortably unclear. I set a budget and the initial cost came in 3K over what I wanted. We continuously replanned the itinerary... read more

I was in charge of planning a trip to Greece with/for my family, including grandparents. I was overwhelmed about where to visit with just 10 days while being careful to not overwhelm the grandparents. I signed up for KimKim just to see what it was and suddenly we (Christos and I) were off planning a 10 day trip to Greece.

I found the budgeting and pricing to be uncomfortably unclear. I set a budget and the initial cost came in 3K over what I wanted. We continuously replanned the itinerary and cut out activities in order to come back down to my (high end) of the budget. This took a lot of time and communication. When you google the prices for the hotels and tours, you realize you are paying way more than what you could have planned yourself. Of course, we need to pay the cost of the travel advisor, the private drivers and (what I later learned) is a 24/7 travel assistance service on the ground in Greece that you may or may not need assistance from. I think an itemized invoice would help deliver customers more peace of mind in how they are spending their money.

Overall I am extremely pleased by the destinations, hotels and tours recommended by Christos. I feel like we saw most of the important places in Greece with our 10 days. The pace was relaxing but full of interesting things to do.

I was disappointed with the driving services but only because it was described as "your private driver will happily provide details of the area while you're on your scenic route" over and over again. We ended up laughing at this extravagant and false description of services every time we got into a new driver's car because they hardly spoke any English at all. The scenic routes were also along the highway, unless you count the time the car got a flat tire at a toll booth or we got lost in an orange grove and had to turn around. I also had no idea if we would have to pay extra for quick stops at the grocery store, or staying longer somewhere because it was virtually impossible to communicate with the drivers because of this language barrier. Don't get me wrong, I don't travel to foreign countries and expect everyone to speak English. However, when it was clearly stated over and over again in our itinerary that we're getting a mini tour guide in transit, and we can't even communicate with the driver about what we're doing next, I find that a bit ridiculous. Also, because the financing was not clear, I had no idea what this driver had been paid to do. Was he available for us for the day? For four hours? Only from here to there? Did gas for extra stops come out of his pocket? We wanted to be mindful of his time and expectations as well as not racking up extra costs for ourselves.

Overall, and most importantly, we found the drivers to be always on time and very professional.

The tour guides Christos booked for us were fantastic! They were extremely passionate about what they were showing/telling us and really made the trip. We could also tell they weren't just tour guides with a memorized spiel - they were anthropologists with lots of experience working in the field. We learned so much and have so much respect for the Greek culture, history, and people. They were also extremely flexible and accommodating.

The bike tour said it was starting at 6 years old - this is absolutely not possible. The bikes were mountain bikes with huge tires. Despite sending our measurements 2 days prior, neither of my kids, nor my mother (grandma) could touch the ground with even their toes. They felt extremely uncomfortable and my 10 year old got on the bike and immediately crashed and scraped up her knee. My mother and youngest daughter ended up skipping all the biking because they could not provide suitable bikes for their size/comfort. This said, the tour guide went above and beyond making sure he could include them in as much of the itinerary as possible, as well as organized a taxi (which his company paid for) to take them back at the half way point. He was sooooo thoughtful, friendly, and full of interesting information. My mom and youngest daughter were happy to go back early and shop, and the rest of us finished off the tour. Everyone was happy and the day was a success! But also, please don't send any small kids on this tour unless they have mountain biking experience.

The acropolis tour was AMAZING. Our tour guide just captured our attention and hearts. She even gave us a little gift at the end. She was extremely considerate of my mom the entire tour. 4 hours was long for the kids but they were well behaved and made it through just fine.

The tour at Epidauraus was also amazing! Wonderful tour and guide and the perfect length.

Aegina Island was a bit of a disappointment. Our driver, who was supposed to give us a "2 hour guided tour" again, hardly spoke English. He did manage to brokenly explain the myth of the Temple of Aphaia, but he got the facts wrong, or maybe it was the language barrier. We ended up googling everything we needed to know. We also felt is was WAY to long to be on the island, but because we didn't book the tickets ourselves, we were stuck waiting two hours for the boat to come and take us home. Also, it would have been great to know you needed a mask to go on the boat. We didn't have masks and we ended up paying a guy selling masks near the waiting line money for masks.

Overall it was a fantastic trip. We loved Athens and all the shopping a food options. We found the hotels to be very nice. The country, food and people are amazing! We're so glad we went.

Hotel Reviews

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athina

This was very nice. We liked it a lot. Breakfast was amazing! - Jacuzzi was closed for the season - It was very hot at night and the air conditioning didn't cool the room. The street was too loud to leave the windows open.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Impero Nafplio Hotel & Suites

Very nice hotel and nice staff in a great location. - the breakfast was a bit disappointing. There was no fresh fruit or vegetables. On our last day they kindly put out some pineapple, which we thought was considerate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Epidaurus Theater and Sanctuary Guided Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Bike Tour with Swimming & Picnic in Nafplio

Nafplio

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Acropolis Hill & Museum Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fantastic, personalized 11 day trip to Greece.
My wife and I took an 11 day trip to Greece, visiting Athens, Crete and Santorini and had a fantastic trip!. This was our 2nd trip booking thru Kimkim and we came away once again very happy and satisfied. Christos and his team did a great job creating a custom trip to our specific requests and making all arrangements for us both before and during our trip. Their support was invaluable. Though not everything went off exactly as planned, they... read more

Fantastic, personalized 11 day trip to Greece.
My wife and I took an 11 day trip to Greece, visiting Athens, Crete and Santorini and had a fantastic trip!. This was our 2nd trip booking thru Kimkim and we came away once again very happy and satisfied. Christos and his team did a great job creating a custom trip to our specific requests and making all arrangements for us both before and during our trip. Their support was invaluable. Though not everything went off exactly as planned, they were always available to make adjustments as necessary and never left us hanging. We would arrive into a new city or village and ask for recommendations for restaurants and they would respond in minutes with suggestions and would even make reservations for us.
Each day was a perfect balance of planned events and free time to experience the local atmosphere. The hotels were each outstanding in their own way. A number of the activities had local, personal guides who added so much to the experience with their knowledge and helped orient us to each area so we could enjoy it so much more on our own.
We highly recommend Kimkim to everyone we meet during our travels and anyone reading this review.

Wow!! Our trip to Greece was AMAZING! Everything that was prepared in advance was perfect. Every hotel, all transfers and pickups, etc all exceeded our expectations by a lot. We couldn't have had a better trip! There were a couple mishaps of our own fault not being where we needed to be for the start of a couple private tours.(We got turned around and lost.) Not a problem. Within minutes someone from KimKim called and got us where we needed to be. We are very grateful to KimKim for a truly wonderful experience!

Wow...it is hard to write about all the amazing experiences we had without writing a novel. From the beginning Christos was curious and interested in knowing about us so he could really personalize the trip. He gave options, asked questions, got on the phone so we could work out some of the intricacies... attentive and genuinely curious...he wanted this trip to be magical. And it was! Other notes about Christos and travel12 (the on the ground support) were little touches like having our... read more

Wow...it is hard to write about all the amazing experiences we had without writing a novel. From the beginning Christos was curious and interested in knowing about us so he could really personalize the trip. He gave options, asked questions, got on the phone so we could work out some of the intricacies... attentive and genuinely curious...he wanted this trip to be magical. And it was! Other notes about Christos and travel12 (the on the ground support) were little touches like having our boarding passes for the following day printed at our hotels when we arrive, checking in to ask how the trip is going, and fast responses when we did have questions.

The first week of the trip was self planned. Christos coordinated a rental car and Kyros at Kosmos rental car was so easy to work with. He called me when we landed and told me exactly how to find him. It was a smooth and caring transition after a 19 hour flight. This week included Monemvasia, a full tour of the Mani peninsula, sea kayaking in Kardimyli, Mycenae, Nafplio, and so many wonderful beaches, tavernas, and new friends.

The Athens/parthenon day of the trip was interesting (hot and tiring as well but it was also August). We did the mythology tour with Eleni as a host and learned a lot, had fun seeing the sites while also learning. Christos booked us a wine tasting dinner that evening at Cinque wine bar. The wines were wonderful, the food was delicious, the parings were unique and the education about Greek wine making was fantastic. The staff were all so friendly and it was proper greek dinner (3 hours of leisurely enjoying and being with family and friends).

On to Meteora! Words lack for the absolute wonder that is Meteora. Our guide... the only one whose name I don't remember but her style and knowledge were off the charts! She was really wonderful, answered questions, gave us time where we were curious and made sure to get us to a sunset view (even skipped the crowded one and took us to a better spot). We were super hungry as the tour wrapped up so she drove us to her favorite local taverna and made sure we knew how to get to our hotel after dinner. Our hotel was sweet and a lovely picturesque spot. We were comfortable and slept so well!

Delphi...my body still feels the energy there. The tour was an evening tour which was perfect! there weren't many people, it was cooler and we had time to really take it in. We started at the museum and Marillia walked us through giving us a history lesson and answering our many questions. She was mindful to move through the museum in a way where we weren't with multiple other tours. We appreciated this for multiple reasons (covid, over stimulation, and we could actually see the pieces we were talking about). As we walked to the oracle we were really able to feel and be with the energy of the space. Marillia was also interested in the ways that energy transmits and talked about her experience of Delphi as someone who doesn't live there but goes there to work 1-2x/week. It is a place where you feel shifts in you. I had a calm and curious energy and my partner has an active/excited energy. It was really unique. The temples/ruins are stunning and the views are breathtaking. The federales hotel was a sweet little spot. The room was small but perfect for one night. the view from the balcony was amazing!

Xania was a different world. We stayed in an Airbnb in the old town center and the streets were packed with people! It was an amazing experience to walk through the town and see ruins and new buildings intermixed. The botanical gardens were absolutely amazing! We had so much fun walking through and experiencing the many plants and then a truly delicious meal. The beaches of Crete are truly unique and beautiful.

The drive from Xania to Iraklio was beautiful. We made a stop in Rythemno and then decided to keep going and find a little taverna where we could swim and get fresh fish. We were not disappointed in our stop. In Iraklio we spent a day at the castle of Knossos. Lina was a delight. She knew the rhythm of the crowds at Knossos and she moved us around the ruins so that we could really see and enjoy it fully. It was one of the most spectacular of the many ruins. I only wish we had the time to go to the other castles on Crete.

Thera...you really don't get it until you get here. Constantinos was our driver from the boat to the hotel and into Oia. He was so lovely. He told us about the geography of the area and what he fell in love with and brought him to the island. He was sweet and worked with us as we got to the hotel and had a little timing conundrum. Oia was beautiful and interesting. We were admittedly done with tourist spots at this point so we took the time to focus on gifts we wanted to get for people and enjoyed a few hours of shopping and cafes/tavernas. We watched the sunset from our hotel, Kasimatis suites. Christos did us right on this one. We were in Imerovigli, highest point, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. The waterless farming tour with Ana was an absolute highlight of the trip. She was so sweet and dedicated to what she loves. Her family, her land, and her food. She taught us about the way they do anhydrous farming. How it changes the flavors and textures of the food. And the cooking/sharing a meal portion of the day really brought the group together. Ana was really good at asking the group questions that sparked deeper conversation and created a sense of family for a day. the wineries were really interesting and the tastings were enjoyable. What I took from this day is the absolute loveliness that was Ana's love and passion.

Greetings, Christos. The trip you arranged for us through the Peloponnese was wonderful. I gave the trip 5 stars even though two nights' accommodations were less than we would have expected. The other reviewers have commented on the Bacchus and the apartment in Monemvasia. The excursions were good and the restaurant choices were all great. You all did a great job of anticipating the types of places we would like. Kostas did a fantastic job for us - both professional and fun to travel with. Thank you for great service and a fantastic trip. Julie

Christi’s-Wonderful trip-very well planned for our style of travel. Our guides and villa host were all fabulous. Mareo took such good care of us at the Kastro SuitesAll activities-sailing cruise,wine tasting with Bellos(couldn’t pronounce his real name)food tasting tour with Alex in Naxos.Everything went beautifully and we were always informed and had number to contact if we had questions or any issues.
Thanks for the great trip and we’ll use KimKim again read more

Christi’s-Wonderful trip-very well planned for our style of travel. Our guides and villa host were all fabulous. Mareo took such good care of us at the Kastro SuitesAll activities-sailing cruise,wine tasting with Bellos(couldn’t pronounce his real name)food tasting tour with Alex in Naxos.Everything went beautifully and we were always informed and had number to contact if we had questions or any issues.
Thanks for the great trip and we’ll use KimKim again

Hotel Reviews

Kastro Suites

Santorini

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get anywhere

Staff

Amazing-friendly and helpful

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

The location is great!!! Able to walk to everything-or just go to beach across street!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sweet Home Boutique Hotel

Athens

Great location and delicious breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Caldera Sailing Cruise

Drama

Quality of Experience

Look

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Transfer in Naxos

Naxos

This was an amazing intimate food tour Alex was great and the locations and shops he took us were so informative and pleasant

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food tour in Naxos town

Naxos

Alex was amazing…So friendly and informative..This was a very intimate experience-gave us great respect for the culture and their wonderful foods

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Acropolis & Ancient Athens Mythology Tour

Athens

No one’s fault but very crowded and hot-our guide was great and very informative!

Quality of Experience

More shade 🤣

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to the Peloponnese area was fantastic!! The nights staying in the castle of Monemvasia were monumental~ Thank you Cristos for setting up the lovely and interesting wine tasting at Byrons. the sea-kyacking trip was a pure delight and George and Roque were informed and skillful guides- swimming in the caves was real delight. We really enjoyed the boat and walking tour of the caves of Diros.
Each of the historical sites, restaurants and recommendations that Cristos and the KimKim... read more

Our trip to the Peloponnese area was fantastic!! The nights staying in the castle of Monemvasia were monumental~ Thank you Cristos for setting up the lovely and interesting wine tasting at Byrons. the sea-kyacking trip was a pure delight and George and Roque were informed and skillful guides- swimming in the caves was real delight. We really enjoyed the boat and walking tour of the caves of Diros.
Each of the historical sites, restaurants and recommendations that Cristos and the KimKim team made were spot on and truly enjoyed.
The personal attention to all of the details were expertly handled in swift and easy communications with KimKim and Cristos~~ I can't wait to go back to Greece~~

My dream place was always to go to Greece! I didn’t know how to go about planning it and it was overwhelming. I did my research and came across KimKim in November of 2021. I inquired and was talking to someone previously before I started talking to Christos. Christos was so helpful in planning my itinerary and fitting to my budget I had. When I was on the trip they made sure to communicate EVERYTHING to me. I had a mishap when I got off before my ferry they checked on me. Also communicated... read more

My dream place was always to go to Greece! I didn’t know how to go about planning it and it was overwhelming. I did my research and came across KimKim in November of 2021. I inquired and was talking to someone previously before I started talking to Christos. Christos was so helpful in planning my itinerary and fitting to my budget I had. When I was on the trip they made sure to communicate EVERYTHING to me. I had a mishap when I got off before my ferry they checked on me. Also communicated when my ferry got delay or anything I needed. I am so happy my dream trip was everything I could imagine. I can’t wait to do another planned trip with KimKim and if you are ever going to Greece go through Christos.

Hotel Reviews

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Upon arrival room wasn’t ready which is understanding. The hotel receptionist told us to come back and when we did she told me it still wasn’t ready and kind of had an attitude. They weren’t really welcoming and when questions were asked it seem to be a bothered to them. Other than that the hotel was nice and was by everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient

Staff

Welcoming to guests

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and spacious.

Acrogiali Beach Hotel

Mykonos

We got off on the wrong ferry and they were helpful in getting us to the hotel. Staff was so nice to my fiancé and I. They answer every question and schedule transfers for us with no hesitation. I love the hotel and access to the beach with sea view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Makris Beach Hotel

Kamari

One of our days got cut short in Santorini. The receptionist was waiting for us and gave us tips on the food and everything. I love how the room was close to the beach and had so many food options and stores to access.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Afternoon Tour

Athens

Tour guide was AMAZING! She was very clear in explaining everything and making sure to take pictures of us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Horseback Riding to Fokos Beach

Mykonos

Love the horse riding to the beach. I was nervous on how to ride the horse but a tutorial was given. She kept checking on us making sure we were okay and even took pictures and videos on my GoPro.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting

Greece

I thought we were just going on a wine tour but I was shocked to know we had a whole guided tour of everything. I was so excited while he explain everything and took us to different locations. I love the tour guide, gelato, sunset, and wine. Also met another amazing couple there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was, without a doubt, the trip of a lifetime, and it was all made possible by the fine work of Christos and the rest of the kimkim staff. We started planning this trip pre-Covid in 2020 and delayed it twice due to the pandemic. When we finally decided the time was right to travel in September 2022, we were amazed daily at the first-class experience that Christos had planned for us for our 12 days in Greece. From the accommodations at Home & Poetry, The New Hotel, and Zillers in... read more

This was, without a doubt, the trip of a lifetime, and it was all made possible by the fine work of Christos and the rest of the kimkim staff. We started planning this trip pre-Covid in 2020 and delayed it twice due to the pandemic. When we finally decided the time was right to travel in September 2022, we were amazed daily at the first-class experience that Christos had planned for us for our 12 days in Greece. From the accommodations at Home & Poetry, The New Hotel, and Zillers in Athens, to the Hotel Douplani House overlooking the rock formations in Meteora, to the amazing Villa Marandi Luxury Suites (which really lives up to its name) in Naxos, everything was perfect. All of the guides and drivers (especially Dennis of Lampros Tours) were friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable beyond belief. Everything went exactly as planned, and there was not a single glitch in anything about the trip from start to finish. Thank you, Christos and kimkim!

Very good hotels particularly in Santorini. Transfers were excellent as well as your options. read more

Very good hotels particularly in Santorini. Transfers were excellent as well as your options.

Hotel Reviews

Manos Small World

Santorini island

Amazing views, staff and location!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Olive Green

Heraklion

Only one night- in the heart of the action! Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kriti Hotel

Chania, Crete

Great hotel but needed towels for our beach day and they could not provide us any unlike the other hotels we stayed in. However still enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right by the water

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Acropolis Hill Hotel

Athens

Great location. Good breakfast great staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Far from shops but awesome view of the acropolis.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting

Greece

Excellent guide!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Palace of Knossos Private Tour

Heraklion

Quality of Experience

I’m

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Christos planned a fantastic trip for us. The hotels, tours, and activities were all excellent. We had a particularly memorable tour of the Acropolis, led by an archeologist who brought ancient Greek history to life! An incredible hike in Naxos and tour of Santorini are other highlights that were no less memorable. When we got to Greece we were connected with a local kimkim team who expertly helped us navigate the few snags, such as travel delays, we encountered on our trip. read more

Christos planned a fantastic trip for us. The hotels, tours, and activities were all excellent. We had a particularly memorable tour of the Acropolis, led by an archeologist who brought ancient Greek history to life! An incredible hike in Naxos and tour of Santorini are other highlights that were no less memorable. When we got to Greece we were connected with a local kimkim team who expertly helped us navigate the few snags, such as travel delays, we encountered on our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Sweet Home Boutique Hotel

Athens

Lovely boutique hotel in the Plaka neighborhood of Athens. Spotlessly clean with comfortable pillows and mattresses. Walking distance to many shops and restaurants. Absolutely phenomenal breakfast with hot items such as omelets and sausage, as well as, Greek fruit, yogurt, pastries, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfectly happy with the location. Only docking it a star, because it didn't include good views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antony Suites & Residences

Naxos

Good location close to the beach and walking distance to lots of shops and restaurants. The breakfast made with local ingredients was delicious. We looked forward to it every morning! It was clean and comfortable and the staff was really friendly and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Perfectly happy with the location. Only docking it a star, because it didn't include good views.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat

Santorini

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. It was a good location, within walking distance from restaurants and shops. The staff was friendly and accommodating and the breakfast was great! There was a lovely view of the sunset and caldera from the front porch. Mysteriously, they didn't have washcloths, so if that's important to you, you'll have to bring your own. :-)

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Afternoon Tour

Athens

Phenomenal tour, led by an archeologist who brought ancient Greek history to life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hiking Naxos Paths

Naxos

Fun and scenic hike with a local guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We really enjoyed getting to know our guide.

Transport

The driver who took us to the hike scared us with his aggressive driving and I got a little motion sickness.

Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting

Greece

Excellent guide and delicious wine tasting!

Christos was a superb specialist and everything we did went off with very few changes. He did a fantastic job and I would highly recommend his services to anyone wishing to go to the Greek Islands. Highlights were The Acropolis in Athens, our cooking class and island tour on Naxos, and the Santorini sunsets!! The only thing I would add to the tour descriptions is that you should bring shoes with good grippy soles as some of the marble and stone cobbles on the streets can be slippery even... read more

Christos was a superb specialist and everything we did went off with very few changes. He did a fantastic job and I would highly recommend his services to anyone wishing to go to the Greek Islands. Highlights were The Acropolis in Athens, our cooking class and island tour on Naxos, and the Santorini sunsets!! The only thing I would add to the tour descriptions is that you should bring shoes with good grippy soles as some of the marble and stone cobbles on the streets can be slippery even when dry, and are a bit uneven. But it was a spectacular trip, and Christos kept a close eye on us to make sure we were well-taken care of!

Hotel Reviews

Adriani Hotel

Naxos Town

The family which ran the hotel were lovely, incredibly accommodating, and the breakfasts were terrific!! The room was lovely and walking-distance from the town, and beautifully maintained and very clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Volcano View Hotel

Santorini

Absolutely stunning views at this hotel!! Lots of steps, but that is Santorini! Very friendly staff, incredibly helpful, would definitely stay there again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Acropolis Afternoon Tour

Athens

I waited 40 years to see this incredible place and was NOT disappointed. Our guide was fantastic, the views were beautiful, and the site itself was magnificent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking Class in a Traditional Village

Naxos

This was a highlight of our entire trip! Maria and Ioannis, our hostess and host, were friendly and very welcoming, our guide Lida was fantastic, would definitely love to do this again!

Quality of Experience

Food

What can I say, the food was delicious!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lida stayed with us the entire day, was a font of knowledge, and a charming person and guide!

Transport

Christos did an AMAZING job planning our honeymoon! It was so easy, and we just showed up and everything was already set up. Private transfers, ferries, tours, they were all ready to go from the moment we arrived without hiccups. Either he or the travel agency he contracts with were able to answer any questions we had in real time during the trip at all hours. The drivers were all so friendly and timely, the accomodations were all lovely, and the ferries were all quick and smooth. The... read more

Christos did an AMAZING job planning our honeymoon! It was so easy, and we just showed up and everything was already set up. Private transfers, ferries, tours, they were all ready to go from the moment we arrived without hiccups. Either he or the travel agency he contracts with were able to answer any questions we had in real time during the trip at all hours. The drivers were all so friendly and timely, the accomodations were all lovely, and the ferries were all quick and smooth. The recommendations were all spectacular as well. Couldn't recommend Christos more highly! He will plan you the dream vacation. Thanks so much!!!

Hotel Reviews

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL FACILITY! All the staff worked so hard to make sure we had the best time possible.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Abelonas Retreat

Santorini

Great location, beautiful area, however the room had a bright orange exit light that could not be turned off right by the exit to the room and made it hard to sleep. They also gave us the wrong breakfast one day, which caused a delay in our plans for the day, unfortunately. Otherwise they were extremely helpful, even finding me an ENT on the island to see in an emergency. The staff were extremely friendly, the facility was very clean, and the location couldn't be beat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

remove the bright orange exit light next to the door, it was extremely obnoxious

NLH Monastiraki

Athens

Beautiful facility, clean, and with a great location in central athens. They even let us check in early.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Naxos Food & Culture Tour

Naxos

This was maybe our favorite part of the whole trip. Our tour guide was so cool, took us on a wonderful trip to several amazing locations. highly highly recommend. also got to eat some amazing local cheeses and olive oils which was my personal favorite part of the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting

Greece

loved our tour guide, the locations visited, and the amazing wine

Caldera Cruise & Volcano Visit

Santorini

Beautiful ride, but kind of a packed 'sailboat' which was actually running on a motor. There were ~50 people on the boat and not many places to sit. Honestly, not sure I would recommend this. The sights were nice, and the dinner was good, but it was just so crowded on the boat and I felt like we were just being herded around.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip was wonderful. Christos picked great hotels with perfect locations. Drivers waiting for us made things so easy! Bike trip in Athens was very fun and we got to see so much!

read more

Trip was wonderful. Christos picked great hotels with perfect locations. Drivers waiting for us made things so easy! Bike trip in Athens was very fun and we got to see so much!

Hotel Reviews

Sweet Home Boutique Hotel

Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ippokampos Beachfront Hotel

Naxos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Avra Hotel Rafina

Rafina, Athens

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Athens Sunset Electric Bike Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport