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The Discovery CompassThe Discovery Compass

  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
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    • Culture
Search
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Expectations

Tomorrow, We Lose Money. Here’s Why I Sleep Perfectly Fine About It


What happens when 2 guests show up for a tour that needs 8 to profit – and what it reveals about an industry that’s forgotten its purpose I was scrolling through TripAdvisor reviews this morning (don’t ask me why I torture myself like this), when I stumbled across something that made me sick to my...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 29, 2025
  • 1
Culture & Lifestyle

The Crisis That Revealed Our True Identity – And Changed Everything


How choosing family over profit during COVID confirmed for us that we were still the company we were always meant to be In March 2020, the entire world seemed to stop, and we were just about to start our season. The entire world stopped traveling, and we faced an impossible choice that would define not just our...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 19, 2025
  • 3
Expectations

The Truth About Italy’s 1 Euro Homes: Why They’re Not Such a Great Deal After All


The headlines are irresistible: “Buy a House in Italy for Just 1 Euro!” Social media feeds overflow with dreamy photos of ancient stone cottages nestled in picturesque Italian villages, all yours for the price of a morning espresso. With over 50 municipalities across Italy participating in these schemes as...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 2, 2025
  • 0
Culinary Experiences

Where Hearts Find Home: The Story of Soriano nel Cimino


Why our first location remains the soul of Culture Discovery Vacations Nearly twenty years ago, in a medieval hilltop village that most travelers have never heard of, a dream was born. While everyone else flocked to the famous piazzas of Florence and the dramatic coastlines of Cinque Terre, we discovered something...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 13, 2025
  • 4
Experiential Travel

Small Group Travel Myths Debunked: The Truth About Authentic Cultural Tours


Discover why small group travel myths are wrong! Learn how authentic cultural tours with 14-18 guests offer better value, flexibility, and access than large group tourism. Expert insights from 20+ years in travel.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 4, 2025
  • 0
Culture & Lifestyle

Portugal Tours: Why 8 Days around Porto Beats 8 Cities in 8 Days (A Travel Industry Insider’s Honest Take)


Tired of Portugal tours that leave you empty? An industry insider reveals why 8 days immersed in Northern Portugal offers true cultural connection and lasting transformation, far beyond rushing through 8 cities.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • June 24, 2025
  • 1
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Culture
Culture

How To Do Rome in 2 Days


So you don’t have tons of time in Rome, that’s okay! You definitely can’t see Rome in a day, but you can get a good amount of Rome checked off your list in two. -Day One- First things first, you can’t...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • June 2, 2016
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Culture
Culture

The Medieval Chestnut Festival of Soriano nel Cimino


Each year, the town of Soriano nel Cimino holds a huge festival called “Sagra Delle Castagne” or the Chestnut Festival. The town is well known for its top of the line Chestnuts and there is no shortage of them....

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • February 19, 2016
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Culture
Culture

25 Tips For Traveling In Italy


With all the experience the CDV staff has collected from living and working in Italy, we thought it would be nice to share some of the things we have learned that make visiting Italy, that much easier on you. Most of these...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • January 11, 2016
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Culture
Culture

Tuscan Pumpkin Soup


  Pumpkin everything isn’t only a big deal in the United States of Starbucks, Italy loves their fair share of pumpkin recipes as well, here is Carla’s delicious pumpkin soup that she makes during our fall Soriano...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • December 8, 2015
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Culture
Culture

Italy: Where Even The Graffiti Is Romantic


If you’ve been to Italy, you may or may not have realized the very real graffiti problem. Such a beautiful country, with historic and significant buildings, covered in graffiti. It drives me insane, you can find some form...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • October 27, 2015
  • 1
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Culture
Culture

The Best Tuscan Bean Recipe Ever


On Thursdays in Soriano we go to a winery and olive mill and learn how their exceptional extra virgin olive oil is made. After a tour of their olive mill, Serena (the owner) treats us to some home made food out on the terrace,...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • October 12, 2015
  • 1
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Culture
Culture

10 Movies To See Before Going To Italy


I cant tell you how many times I have been watching a movie, or TV or even a [Super Bowl] commercial and started pointing at the TV and screaming “LOOK LOOK IT’S [insert Italian town here]!!” (Pitigliano, for that...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • October 2, 2015
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Culture
Culture

4 Restaurants Locals Love in Rome


There is no shortage of restaurants in Rome, but the truth is, most of the ones you see when you are touring around the city, are catering to tourists and a local would never be caught eating there. Rome is a huge city, and it...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • September 12, 2015
  • 1
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Culture
Culture

Dark Chocolate Gelato with Peperoncino and Cinnamon


It’s the middle of August, its hot, the AC is working overtime, you’re daydreaming of gelato, but alas, Italy is so far away! Here is a simple recipe for some gelato that will satisfy your sweet tooth, as well as your...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • August 20, 2015
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Culture
Culture

The Best Time To Buy Airline Tickets


We have all faced this struggle of looking for a flight, finding the perfect one at the perfect price, just for the price to go up 5 minutes later… ARRRGH! Here are some of our favorite tips to try and beat the system and get the...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • August 3, 2015
  • 0
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Small Groups
Culture Discovery Vacations
Leading Luxury Food & Wine 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

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  • Michael Kovnick on The Crisis That Revealed Our True Identity – And Changed Everything
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  • Michael Kovnick on Where Hearts Find Home: The Story of Soriano nel Cimino

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