Expertise and Specialisation
Learn to cook in Italy with our local Italian cooks and stay in our exclusive properties in some of the most stunning locations in Rome, Puglia, Ravenna, Bologna, Tuscany and Sicily. All Flavours holidays offer a real opportunity to enjoy "hands-on" cookery courses with local Italian cooks. As an ATOL bonded operator our courses also include a return scheduled flight from the UK to Italy, as well as airport transfers, accommodation, cookery lessons, all meals, visits, and a Flavours host to look after guests during their stay. The maximum group size is 8 per course.
We also offer pilates holidays, opportunities to visit local wineries, see the olive harvest - we can even tailor-make tours to ensure you get the perfect holiday itinerary!
Licences and Associations
Flavours is a fully bonded and licensed specialist Italian holiday tour operator. Like all good tour operators, Flavours of Italy Ltd are part of the ATOL system which provides protection for you against losing your money or being stranded abroad. ATOL has carried out checks on tour operators like Flavours of Italy Ltd, and we have provided a financial guarantee which is lodged with ATOL. Our ATOL number is 6528.
Flavours Holidays are also members of ABTOI (the Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy) which is supported by the Italian tourist board.ABTOI was founded in January 2005 and all members offer a range of holidays in Italy and can also offer their customers financial protection through a bond. The aim of the association is to raise the profile of Italy as a holiday destination amongst the British public.
Responsible Travel
Responsible Tourism is about minimising negative impacts and maximising positive ones. It is about increasing the well being of local people through tourism and enabling our visitors to have a better relationship with the local people, who provide them with such wonderful memories.
Responsible travel helps local people in the Italian regions to earn a fair income from our tours and ensures that any negative environmental or cultural impacts are reduced. Flavours has had a love affair with Italy and its people for a decade now, and we are proud of our efforts regarding responsible tourism.
It is hugely satisfying to all of us at Flavours to see how every trip we organise benefits local people and our guests have always been fully supportive of this, as they too recognise how a little effort can go a long way. It has been our pleasure to observe the results of our conscious effort to create a way for our tours to be as much about our hosts in Italy, as our guests in the departure lounge!
Above all, Responsible Tourism is about the simple, yet important awareness that every destination is someone else’s home and that we should always leave places as we would like to find them. This simple thought put into action has led to local communities in Italy benefiting from Flavour’s tours.
Over the years, we have developed a close working relationship with our Italian counterparts and our success has become their success too because we:
- Use local suppliers wherever possible
- Use local chefs and guides
- Encourage our guests to buy from local producers
- Promote the wine of the region
- Inform our guests of the local traditions and culture
- Employ local drivers for transport
- Use local family owned venues
- Ensure the number of people on our tours is suitable for the region
- Encourage our guests to act in a socially responsible way
- Aim to develop long-term relationships with our partners overseas so that the economic benefit is ongoing
At Flavours, we will continue working with our suppliers and partners to achieve responsible goals and practices and we are more than happy to spread the word of responsible tourism with our tour packages. Goodwill and infectious enthusiasm have always played a major role in our holidays and these same qualities are used to promote responsible tourism, so why not join us!
Food and Beverages
Accommodation is on a full-board basis with Flavours.
Accommodation
All our Italian Cookery Schools in Italy are unique in that they are private palazzos or luxury villas that we use exclusively for our cookery courses. We have specially selected them to have at least 5 en-suite-bedrooms, a large kitchen – big enough to accommodate 8 guests easily and to have plenty outside space where guests can relax with a book, or snooze in the sun!
Guests regularly comment on how "at home" they feel, and how much more relaxed the atmosphere is than say, staying in a hotel. A typical day at each of the Flavours Italian Cookery Schools will start with a delicious breakfast - usually taken outside on the terrace. Cooking begins around 10.30 and the rest of the morning is spent in the kitchen making lunch. After lunch there is time to relax before going on an arranged visit. Depending on the venue this could be a private visit to a balsamic vinegar producer, or to enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery, or just the chance to wander around the local town and people watch in the square with a glass of prosecco.
Local Guides
Our chefs are all Italian, in love with food and enthused by passing on their knowledge to our guests.
Tuscany Team:
Simone -The Flavours chef who will teach you all things Italian at our Tuscan Cookery School, which is held at the beautiful and peaceful venue, Villa Segalato is Simone. Simone learnt all his cooking skills from his grandmother and is tremendously passioned about food...both creating dishes and enjoying the result!
Livia - In Tuscany you will be looked after by your host Livia, who is also a chef and teaches in our Bologna Cooking School. Her speciality is traditional dishes of the region and she's a dab hand at making Tortellini with ragu sauce.
Bologna Team
Livia - As well as being your host during your stay in Bologna with us, Livia is also one of your chefs. Her speciality is traditional dishes of the region and she's a dab hand at making Tortellini with ragu sauce. The region is famous for it's towers with the traditional dish of Tortellini coming a close second.
Puglia Team
Antonio - Antonio runs his own restaurant in Santa Maria di Leuca, the town at the very end of the Salentine Peninsula, where he uses the best local ingredients, including locally caughter fantastic seafood. He is absolutely passionate about Italian food and delights in sharing his best recipes with guests at the cookery school. Every dish leaves his kitchen ‘con amore’’ which is why he has been described as ‘Salento’s very own Nigel Slater.’
Ida - Ida is Casino Pisanelli’s housekeeper and prepares the evening meal for guests. She is an expert master at the traditional Puglia pasta, orecchiette (little ears) and passes on the secret of her skill during classes. She wants you to enjoy your cookery holiday as much as she enjoys having you in her kitchen.
Sicily Team
Simone - Simone is passionate about food...and wants to instill that passion in others. And where better to do that than in the beautiful surroundings of a private Sicilian estate which dates back to 1848.
Age Restrictions
None.
The following terms and conditions shall apply in respect of all Italian Cooking Holiday bookings and will form the basis of your contract with "Flavours of Italy Ltd".
1. All arrangements are made subject to the following terms and conditions, and the signing of the Booking Form by you or your authorised representative shall be deemed to be acceptance of an agreement to be bound by these conditions.
2. No contract exists until we have received the Booking Form properly completed, together with the appropriate deposit, and until appropriate confirmation has been issued by us.
3. A deposit of 40% per person is payable at the time of booking which will be non-refundable except in the event of the booking not being accepted by us for any reason, or if due to unforeseen circumstances we are unable to provide the course for which you have booked.
4. The balance of the price is payable in full ten weeks before departure. If the balance remains unpaid, we reserve the right to cancel the booking and retain the deposit.
5. Cancellations must be made in writing to us and must be made by the person who signed the original Booking Form. Any notice will become effective from the date of receipt by us of the notice. The following cancellation charges will be levied, (i) up to 28 days prior to departure 30% of the price (ii) 27 days to 14 days prior to departure 60% of the price (iii) 13 days or less prior to departure, or on departure date, 100% of the price.
6. It is a requirement of the booking that you must arrange adequate holiday insurance. Such insurance should cover full medical expenses, personal baggage, personal accident, accident, loss or damage to property, cancellation or curtailment, personal liability, legal expenses and emergency.
7. We shall not accept responsibility for any cancellations or effect on your holiday due to war, threat of war, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist action, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions.
8. We reserve the right to withdraw or modify at any time the arrangements advertised where necessary to do so. In the unlikely event of the accommodation advertised not being available, we will endeavour to provide suitable alternative accommodation.
9. All reasonable and proper steps have been taken to ensure that the accommodation and services are as advertised. We will be responsible for any acts or omissions of our own employees and agents whilst acting within the scope of their employment but cannot be responsible for the acts or omissions of those providing services over which we have no direct control.
10. The accommodation advertised at I Castagni and Casino Pisanelli are private villas and fall outwith local hotel regulations.
11. In the interests of safety and hygiene, you are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear in the kitchen at all times.
12. We shall not be responsible for luggage lost in transit while the responsibility of an airline. Where possible we will provide advice and assistance in seeking to retrieve any luggage so lost.
13. We will not be responsible if you suffer illness, personal injury or death as a result of misadventure during the period of your overseas trip arising out of an activity that does not form part of the course provided by us.
