The Discovery Compass
  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
Search
  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
The Discovery Compass
  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
Search
  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
Michael Kovnick
Author @TravelCDV

Michael Kovnick


Michael Kovnick is the Co-founder & CEO of Culture Discovery Vacations, the small-group cultural travel company he's run as a direct operator since 2006. An Italian-American who's spent 40+ years with one foot in The USA and the other in Italy, he built CDV around a simple, stubborn idea: keep the majority of every travel dollar in the local community, and treat guests like family instead of customers. He's a CTIE-certified travel professional, published in 2025 on the anti-extractive tourism model CDV is built on. He still writes here about the gap between how Americans and Italians see the world... and which side got it right.

Read Article
Culture
Culture

Welcome To Italy… There’s a Tax For That


I haven’t gone on an Italy rant for a while, but with healthcare and taxes filling the US airwaves, it has really made me think about taxes in Italy. I’ll not get into my opinion of these subjects in the US, since...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 23, 2010
  • 5
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

Anglitaliano: English Words in Everyday Italian


We use a ton of Italian words in English.  More than many might think.  Just walk into a Starbucks, and you will probably walk out with something called a ‘LATTE‘ (Be careful asking for it in Italy, since...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 5, 2010
  • 15
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

Man Dies: Caught Cold in Stomach


Traveling to Italy, some visitors notice various oddities about Italian culture that seem to defy explanation.  Some are rooted in the socio-political history of the country, some are rooted in religious tradition, and...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 30, 2010
  • 35
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

Who is Alfredo Sauce, and why do Americans keep asking about him?


If you go to Italy looking for Alredo Sauce, you will find yourself quite frustrated. Read on to learn why.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 24, 2010
  • 42
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

The Wine Is Always Finer On The Other Side of the Fence


I’ve been wanting to write about this for ages.  Not about wine actually being better on the other side of the fence, but the impression that it is. We take groups to wineries in Tuscany and the surrounding regions...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 7, 2010
  • 4
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

In Search of the Perfect Espresso


Like a fine wine or a great cigar, those who know their coffee are extremely discriminating.  I count myself among them.  Coffee is something I take very seriously.Technorati: VA2TJVJYZX67 Depending on the style of coffee,...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • February 28, 2010
  • 8
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

Bruschetta – The Truth and a Unique Recipe


It’s not really what you think it is… In the states, when you hear the word ‘Bruschetta’, you think about toasted Italian bread with a tomato spread. But to think that way would be like thinking the word...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • May 11, 2009
  • 0
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

Rotolo Rose Recipe


An amazing rolled pasta with cheese, Besciamelle and prosciutto dish my mother-in-law in Italy used to make on Sundays every once in a while. When we knew Rotolo Rose was for lunch, nobody was ever late… period!...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 27, 2009
  • 0
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

Tuscan Roasted Chicken & Potatoes Recipe


    Pollo Arrosto con Patate Easily one of the most popular recipes we do in our cooking classes, I thought this would be a great recipe to share on the blog. Don’t think this is like any roasted chicken you have...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 26, 2009
  • 0
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture
Culture

The FAMILY feeling of our vacations explained


Our future guests often ask me what our tours are going to be like, and I try to explain the feeling of ‘family’, and how it is so different than anything else out there. Oddly, it is a difficult thing to explain, especially...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 13, 2009
  • 0
  • Read More...
Newer Posts
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
Older Posts
  • Culinary Experiences
  • Culture
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • Destinations
  • Expectations
  • Experiential Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Personal
  • Small Group Travel
  • Tours & Vacations
  • Travel Tips
Small Groups
Culture Discovery Vacations
Leading Small-Group Culinary & Cultural Immersion Tour Operator
Authentic culinary experiences with Culture Discovery Vacations

Experience the true meaning of luxury travel with Culture Discovery Vacations - the leading small-group culinary tour operator, offering immersive experiences that go beyond traditional opulence.

  • Hands-on cooking classes with local families
  • Authentic all-inclusive pricing with no hidden costs
  • Boutique accommodations with character
  • Exclusive access to family vineyards
★★★★★
5.0/5 from 384+ reviews on TripAdvisor
"We didn't feel like tourists—we felt like family. The cooking classes changed how I think about food."
Mark S., Tuscany Tour
Discover Our Tours
Italy • Portugal • Spain • Croatia

Recent Comments


  • Carol H on You Can’t Learn to Care
  • Michael Kovnick on You Can’t Learn to Care
  • R Vickie Resor on You Can’t Learn to Care
  • Common Problems When Buying Old Houses in Lake Como and How to Spot Them - Lake Como Property Market on The Truth About Italy’s 1 Euro Homes: Why They’re Not Such a Great Deal After All
  • Discover Portugal Like a Local: A Road Trip Journey - Around Every Corner on Portugal Tours: Why 8 Days around Porto Beats 8 Cities in 8 Days (A Travel Industry Insider’s Honest Take)

Tags


america calabria cimino Coffee Cooking english family flight Food holidays how to travel italians italian village italian word italian words language locals marketing olive garden pasta pompeii porto portugal restaurants soriano spanish steps tour town tourist traditions translation travel tips Umbria vacation vacations vatican
Newer Posts
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
Older Posts

Categories


Copyright ©Culture Discovery Vacations. • All rights reserved.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest

Loading Comments...