Review By Heather D. - Los Angeles, CA - US (June 2019)
My AMAZING experience under the Umbrian Sun with Culture Discovery.....
A trip that will exceed all your expectations and create memories and friends to last a lifetime!!!!
Written By: | Heather D. |
Rating: | |
Location: | Los Angeles - CA - US |
Review Source: | Website |
Type of Traveler: | Solo Traveler |
Itinerary: | Soriano - Tuscan & Umbrian Sun |
Full Review
This was a bucket list trip for me so I researched extensively Culinary Tours before deciding on Culture Discovery. For those of you that don't take time to read full reviews; most important take away from my review: EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS on every level!! (But you'll want to keep reading for the deets)
My experience right from the initial inquiry on the site (Rocky who was so patient with my many e-mails and questions in the process of my research) to the full week of cooking (including market visits to buy supplies) to the outings created beautiful memories that I brought back home with me and will last a life time. The story they tell on the site about "making guests feel like family" I can assure you after being there is not just hype - these people walk the walk; that is exactly what It feels like. I could go on and on about the great cooking experiences, recipes, amazing private lunch at a vineyard, sooooo interesting tour and lunch at the Olive Mill, all the great visits to small towns rich with history (and shopping : ) and of course I have spread the word about all of that wide and far since I've been back, but for me what makes me decide to return to a vacation spot, experience or destination (or recommend it to others) is centred around my guest experience, the people/hosts that I interacted with, and how I felt during the week....
Travelling solo has it's rewards and downsides, but as I said to someone upon my return - "I never felt alone during that week" I felt I was with good friends and family. Another comment I have made in singing CDV praises "picture being in a great kitchen/home cooking with good friends, drinking wine while you cook, laughing and having fun. It was like that EVERY SINGLE NIGHT (whether we cooked or ate out)" What other vacation can you go on where you're hanging out in the kitchen cooking and the owner (Michael) starts spontaneously playing guitar and (Rocky) starts singing. What a great video I have of that.....Linda who was our Culture Discovery companion for the week (met us at the airport and spent every day with us) was like being with a fun girlfriend. She was AMAZING!!!!
In closing - two things - GIANT THANK YOU to all at CDV - Michael, Paola, Linda, Rocky, Carla, Katia and Sergio, and to those of you who are contemplating taking a culinary trip to Italy and are starting to research - save your time - I did it all for you - just go on the Culture Discovery site and book your week. You'll love it and remember it always : )
Heather David, Montreal, Canada
Sample Photo from this Itinerary |