Culture Discovery VacationsReviews of culturediscovery.com

I traveled to Soriano last June with CDV & absolutely LOVED my time there. I was a solo traveler & felt welcomed & included in all aspects of the trip. As a cooking instructor, I was looking forward to our cooking times & it did not disappoint! I learned some additional techniques & it was just plain fun. The Villa where we cooked was stunning & I stayed in the most amazing house, Vecchio Forno that was the Pope’s bakery in the 1400s. Each morning, I looked forward to going to the local cafe for my delicious pastry & fresh squeezed OJ & chatting with new friends that lived in Soriano. That was just the beginning of the day! After living & traveling all over the world for years, I can truly say that I have never had so many incredible meals in a row. I could tell that the food was carefully chosen at each location to give us a wide variety of the tastes of Lazio, Umbria, & Tuscany. I loved our excursions & the freedom we had to explore on our own. Our guide was Tomas, & he was engaging & open. I enjoyed asking & learning about his family, life at University, & his friends. He did an amazing job translating some challenging concepts! I was also so grateful for Carla & her team at the Villa that we got to know & enjoyed cooking with. Many people have asked about my time in Italy, & if they are the type of person that would appreciate an immersive travel experience & unbelievable food, I always recommend Culture Discovery Vacations!

Our trip with Culture Discovery Vacations (CDV) to Argentina and Uruguay, was our 4th trip with this company. After experiencing the culture immersion you get with CDV, I will never travel with another "tour" company again. It is hard to put into words just how wonderful every single excursion was. CDV is not your typical tour company, instead it is Culture Immersion. We didn't just see famous sites, we experienced living in South America. We met local residents, we went into their homes. We cooked, we ate, we sang and danced with them....we learned about the people from the regions we visited, and saw how they lived. (learned how to make the best ever Empanadas!) We took Tango lessons and went to a Milonga, where locals go to dance. We took part in a Carnaval celebration with a local Murga troop. We barbecued Carne asada over an open fire at a local ranch and spent some time horseback riding, We learned how to wash show chickens...yes, we actually washed and dried (with hair dryers) chickens! The accomodations in Buenos Aires, Montivedeo and Paysandu were fabulous. And the number of people on a trip is always small...no more than 16-18. There is so much more to tell, I could go on forever. The memories and friends I made on this trip will stay in my heart forever. If you are going to travel...immerse yourself and travel with CDV!

I’ve taken five wonderful trips with CDV since 2022, visiting Italy, Croatia, Madrid & Uruguay. Each journey has created beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. I’ve met incredible people from all over the world and enjoyed far too many unforgettable experiences to count. The hosts have been absolutely amazing - warm, attentive, and truly dedicated to making sure every guest is well cared for. The food, the wine, and the wonderful sense of family have made every trip feel so special. I am so excited for my next adventure in October!

I am heading to my 4th trip with CDV and I can honestly tell you they are the BEST! They take care of everything and they don’t nickel and dime you. I have brought numerous friends with me and they are now repeat customers. I can’t stress enough how wonderful CDV is. If you want a trip of a lifetime, they are your people!

My husband and I have taken several trips with Culture Discovery Vacations. My husband found them in 2019 after I told him my dream was to cook in Italy. Our first trip took us to Soriano. It was my dream come true. Since then we have traveled with CDV to Barolo, Amalfi (twice) and Sicily. Our experience is always beyond our expectations. The friends we have made on our trips are treasures. We are treated like family whenever we travel with them and keep in touch with so many we have met along the way. Looking forward to our next adventure this summer. If you are looking for an intimate experience, you won’t be disappointed!

I’ve completed 5 CDV trips and have another one on the books. You can’t go wrong with fabulous farm to table meals you help prepare, wonderful regional wines, meeting people who become your friends and travel companions, the hosts for the week are delightful, learning more about different cultures and SO MUCH MORE. Each region offers its own exciting adventure which makes it hard to choose just one.

If you want a true, immersive experience in Italy, this is the tour for you. Groups are small and interactions are personal. I felt sad to say goodbye to all the Italian friends who made our stay so special. I look forward to attending other CDV experiences.

Culture discovery vacations! Not a tour, not a trip but a total immersion into the lives and families you meet along this journey! I have never left a vacation feeling the way I did leaving a CDV experience. I felt like I was leaving my family behind. The people I met have remained lifelong friends and every vacation I have taken with them has left lasting memories.