Vacations

The beauty of a guided culinary vacation is having all the details of your trip taken care of—including knowing the perfect places to satiate your hunger for new Epicurean experiences. With that stress removed, the hardest part is simply settling on the right one. When picking the perfect guided vacation for your culinary adventures, you should always consider two main components: the destination and the itinerary.

 

Selecting the right destination is often the first step in planning your culinary vacation. Luckily, most tour operators that specialize in guided culinary vacations can transport you almost anywhere in the world. And each of the vacations offered in those locations are often tailored to reflect the local culture, history, traditions, and adventures to be found. Whatever destination you pick, however, you must take into consideration any dietary restrictions that you or your fellow travelers may have.

 

The way in which an itinerary is set up also impacts your culinary vacation experience. Are you an early riser who like to always be on the go and have plenty of activities in store? Or are you more laid-back, preferring to travel at a more leisurely pace? Do you mind moving from hotel to hotel daily or prefer more 2- and 3-night stopovers? Do you have to eat your meals at a set time each day? Asking yourself questions like these will help you figure out what type of guided itinerary is right for you.

 

By extension, you don’t have to assume that you are bound to a rigid, inflexible schedule. While many itineraries are established well in advance, many culinary itineraries leave free time for travelers to explore the culinary scene of a destination on their own. It’s also possible to work one-on-one with your personal travel advisor to arrange private dining or cooking experiences in addition to the already set itinerary. All you need to do is ask.