--- title: Reviews|Food N' Wine Vacations description: "Read Reviews about Food N wine vacations food n wine vacations reviews" image: https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/hubfs/Awards%20-Food%20N%20wine%20vacations.jpg --- - [Why us](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/why-us) - [Blog](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/blog) 1-877-457-3177 [![Food N' Wine Vacations, Inc®](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/FoodNWineVacations_July2020/images/logo-fooadneinevacations.svg "Food N' Wine Vacations, Inc®")](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/) **Menu** - Tours - [Italy](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/culinary-tours-italy) - [Secrets of Tuscany](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/tuscany-tours) - [Tuscany wine Tour](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/tuscany-wine-tours-italy) - [The Best of Sicily](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/the-best-of-sicily-tour) - [Dreamin’ Amalfi Coast](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/amalfi-coast-tours) - [Discover Piemonte](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/italy-piedmont-wine-tours) - [Colors of Puglia](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/puglia-tours) - [Veneto Food & wine Tour](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/veneto-wine-and-food-tour) - [Culinary Paradise](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/umbria-italy-tours) - [Lake Como](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/italian-lakes-lake-como-italy) - [France](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/best-wine-tours-france) - [Best of Provence Tour](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/provence-tours-france) - [Bordeaux Classique](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/bordeaux-wine-tours-france) - [Taste Burgundy Like A Local](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/taste-burgundy-like-a-local) - [Enchanting Dordogne](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/enchanted-dordogne-tour) - [Champagne Tour](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/champagne-france-wine-tours) - [Greece](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/greek-island-tours) - [Greek Islands Fantasy](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/greek-islands-fantasy) - [Portugal](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/small-group-tours-of-portugal) - [Heart of Portugal Tour](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/portugal-tours-heart-of-portugal-tour) - [Spain](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/best-tours-of-spain) - [The Splendor of Andalucia](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/tour-andalucia-southern-spain) - [Rioja Wine Tour](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/rioja-spain-wine-tour) - [Croatia, Slovenia](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/croatiatours) - [Picture-Perfect Croatia](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/picture-perfect-croatia-trip) - [Discover Slovenia ](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/discover-slovenia) - [South America](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/southamericanwineadventure) - [South American Wine Adventure](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/southamericanwineadventure) - [About Us](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/about-us/) - [Reviews](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/review-food-and-wine-vacations-2) - [Private Groups](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/private-tours) - [Calendar](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/tour-calendar-food-n-wine-vacations) - [Contact](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/contact-us) [ ADD YOUR REVIEW ](https://www.foodnwinevacations.com/review-food-and-wine-vacations-2#reviewinsert) ### Veneto Food and wine tour 17 May 2026 Just returned from our third Food n’ Wine Vacation tour. Spent a week touring beautiful Veneto region with 10 other people. Virginia was our guide and she did an outstanding job. In addition to her delightful personality, she had a broad depth of knowledge of all aspects of Veneto including wine and food. We nicknamed her “Wikipedia” because she seemed to know everything! Truly sorry to say goodbye to this fabulous gal! She became like family. ❤️So many fabulous experiences that we will remember for a lifetime curated by Sam. Bravo Sam and Food ‘n Wine Vacations. You always exceed expectations. 🇮🇹 Whitney Almquist ### Best of Sicily 3 May 2026 Hi Sam,I’d like to take a minute to give many thanks to you and your staff Giovanna and Corrado for giving me the opportunity to discover Sicily in such a special way. Love your business model, your attention to detail from hotels to unique experiences with people we met along the way that contributed to this well run wonderful experience. Your company far exceeded my expectations and I sincerely thank you for that.Hopefully next time my husband will join me in the experience.Many thanks again Luisa Conte ### Best of Sicily 3 May 2026 I am an experienced cruise traveler and really was not sure what to expect from this different type of travel experience. Our group was very small. My wife and I were traveling alone. There were two other couples and a single on this tour. My fellow travelers were all terrific. We all got along extremely well. The trip was highly organized, yet you did not feel constrained. I feel as if all the places and activities had to be really well vetted. There was not one mis-step the entire week. Where does Sam find all these incredible people? Our main tour guide, Giovanna, was simply amazing. Our driver was excellent. He had some challenging roads to navigate. The local guides were also wonderful. My favorite experiences were the lunches we shared with locals. These were very special. Oh, did I mention the wine? LOL, lots of great wine, food and laughs. All in all a great trip! I am looking at the South American trip now. I think that Food N Wine will become part of my routine traveling. Mark ### Best of Provence 9 May 2026 Sam and Food N' Wine Vacations designed a perfect trip to Provence for my clients. I escorted 14 women and it was FABULOUS! The itinerary was meticulously put together with every detail well thought out. We all loved that we stayed out 1 villa the entire time and took day trips. Our guide, Marlene, was exceptional...so experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and kind with us all. Plus she was fun! The owner was so friendly and accommodating to everyone, and we appreciated his efforts to have gluten free options for breakfast. The cooking classes were wonderful and both chefs were entertaining while teaching us. We loved the light show and all the extra outings planned for us. I look forward to booking more clients with Food N' Wine Vacations:) Lisa ( A travel advisor) ### Greek Islands Fantasy 17 May 2026 We had such an amazing time in Greece, thanks in large part to the program and guides you coordinated. Also, very impressed that you made the effort to join us in person. Both my wife and I got a little emotional when we had to say goodbye to Lida. She’s phenomenal and so fun. Luke ### Secrets of Tuscany revealed! 17 May 2026 We could not have asked for a more enjoyable vacation in Chianti hosted by Giada and Paolo! My husband purchased the trip for my 70th birthday and it was wonderful. Giada is an amazing cook and so warm and caring! Her husband Paolo is a great tour guide and host and as a native knew all the secrets to the places we visited. The historic villa was beautiful as was the property with scenic views of vineyards and olive groves. With only 12 guests everyone received all the attention we could hope for. Highly recommend this tour! Stuart and Domenick ### Dreamin' Amalfi 18 May 2026 Thank you for an amazing trip - highlights for us was your very thoughtful itinerary giving us a beautiful group experience with extremely knowledgeable guides, the excellent accommodation with vincent and his family- the farm dinner with the local family. Debbie ### Secrets of Tuscany 17 May 2026 We are home safely and trying to adjust to life without hosts to take care of us. Our time with Giada and Paolo was so wonderful. They each have such giving spirits and amazing talents. Every day was a joy! Your care in creating the trip is evident. We are also grateful to you for arranging the transport to the airport for our trip home. We got a chance to walk some of the vineyard and soak in the beauty of the countryside and the sunshine, ending our visit on a peaceful note. We hope to cross paths with you again! Susan and Tom ### Amalfi - Incredible tour! You can’t miss this one!!! 10 May 2026 We had the best 5 nights/6 day experience…exceeded my expectations!!! The accommodations in Amalfi town were excellent! Transportation flawless! Mena was the best tour guide bar none! The company’s attention to detail was perfection. We laughed, learned, experienced and ate every day! Smadar made our experiences at each location not the typical touristy stuff…each place was unique!I highly recommend this tour company…you won’t be disappointed!!! Ann ### Dreaming Amalfi 10 May 2026 Hi SamJust want to let you know how much I enjoyed the tour. It was the type of tour I was looking for.I met some great people and we sad to say goodbye.I hope all your future tours work out as good as this one. Kindest regards Dianne Dando ### South America Wine Adventure 31 October 2025 I’m home now after my 17 day South America Wine Adventure trip. The extension to Iguazu went well; all the transfers worked fine. It was a delight to spend two days with local guide Ana Kluck (who also is a guide in Europe). And the falls were magnificent!I am writing to thank you for putting together a fun trip with great food and wine, knowledgeable guides, good small hotels, and interesting fellow travelers. I have great appreciation for all the details you had to string together to pull off this trip. Gordon G. ### South America Wine Adventure 31 October 2025 Jenny and I enjoyed the fantastic group of new friends we made on this tour. Each of the three cities we visited were enjoyable and jam packed with both great food and wine. The sites were also very enjoyable. Some of our favorites were the Asada cookout in Mendoza and the final meal in Beunos Ares that was absolutely wonderful. Steve M. ### Best of Provence 4 October 2025 “We loved the villa and Pascal. It was nice to stay in a place with so much history. Pascal did a good job of making sure that our needs were met and our room was lovely. We felt that there was a nice balance of sightseeing in the hill towns, wine tastings and cooking classes. I appreciated the different styles of the chefs. Our favorite part of the trip was our visit to the very beautiful Calanques. We both felt that it was more than worth the time it took to get there and back The scenery was so stark and beautiful. I really wanted to jump into the absolutely gorgeous water! We own a 23 foot boat. My husband showed our captain some pictures and he then let Paul drive the boat for awhile-he was in heaven. The captain even extended our trip a bit so that was really appreciated. Marlene was a top notch guide. Her love and passion for the area was quite evident. She set clear timelines for us regarding when we needed to be ready to leave and how much time we had in each location. Her knowledge of the history of the area really enhanced the trip. The van was very comfortable. We also were lucky enough to have a compatible group of fellow travelers. We all got along really well. We feel very fortunate that we were able to take this tour. We enjoyed every bit of it. Thank you for readily answering my questions. “ Linda B. ### Colors of Puglia 3 October 2025 Lucy and I had an absolutely wonderful time on the trip! We enjoyed the food and wine, all the scheduled activities and tours of so many interesting and beautiful places. The Masseria was a great place to stay. They had a very friendly, helpful staffs, and the breakfasts they provided were wonderful. Giorg is an exceptional guide, with his superb command of English, extensive knowledge of the history and culture of Puglia, and his ability to present that information in an interesting and engaging way. He has a great sense of humor and was always patient with our group and ready to answer questions. He allowed for the group's needs and often anticipated them. Our bus driver, Michele, was very friendly and always greeted us with a smile. We were impressed with how he maneuvered the bus through the narrow confines of the Puglian streets! Brent B. ### Discover Slovenia 7 September 2025 I traveled to Slovenia this September on my 4th Food N Wine Vacation tour (previous trips: Portugal, Greece and Tuscany), and it certainly did not disappoint! The scenery in Slovenia is amazing (mountains, caves, vineyards, coastline, and of course the incomparable Lake Bled), and the tour provided many special experiences (visiting a beekeeper, an in home cooking lesson, wine tasting at an amazing vineyard, and a visit to a farm to churn butter and taste cheese). Eva, our tour guide extraordinaire, made sure we experienced the beauty of Slovenia, and exposed us to the history and culture of her country. The cooking experience with Eva and her mother will not soon be forgotten!Food N Wine Vacations under Sam’s (Smadar’s) direction offers small group tours that help the visitor delve into a region, explore the scenery, taste the cuisine, sample the wine, and meet local people in unique settings. Slovenia was amazing, and I can’t wait for my next adventure with Food N Wine Vacations! Kathy H. ### Discover Slovenia 7 September 2025 This was my 4th tour with Food and Wine Vacations and owner Smadar Palace. WOW! It was not a disappointment and left me with a memory and experience I will not forget. Not only did I get to explore the food and wine of Slovenia, but, true to form, the tour connected me to the people, places and history. Our guide and driver, Eva, was very knowledgeable as well as warm and expert in her ability to lead us all week. We visited a small sustainable cheese farm and even met some of the beautiful cows in the meadow. The Bee Keeper farm with the education about bees and tasting were exceptional. Each place we visited and learned about gave me an opportunity to explore and talk to local Slovenian people and experience this amazing country.Our group (6 people for the tour) stayed in a hotel in Ljubljana with breakfast provided. Most lunches were together while out touring for the day with most evenings free. These tours always include a cooking class and mostly in someones home. This is another opportunity to experience a close interaction with local folks. . . .Eva’s mother was our teacher. She had made each of us an apron and expertly taught us how to cook specialities of Slovenia - a beautiful dessert Dumpling, was the highlight.I would highly recommend traveling with Food and Wine Vacations. It is an exceptional value and unbeatable experiences with expert friendly guides and organization. Slovenia is a gem - add this to your list! Susan M. ### Tuscany and Amalfi 31 August 2025 This is an easy review for me. When something works wonderfully, there’s no need to consider a change. Having been on FoodnWine vacation tours in the last couple/three years and enjoying our experiences in Portugal, Greece and now back to back tours in Tuscany and Amalfi, we have cone to know Smadar, …“Sam”. She is the owner operator of this terrific company who goes out of her way to consistently provide her clients with amazing experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Sam has put together thoughtful specialized tours of groups of twelve people or less who are treated to personal boutique hotels, villas, etc. and who will enjoy wine/port tastings, cheese farms, cooking classes etc. often on farms or in the homes of a family in the country you are visiting who will lovingly teach you passed down family recipes where you will enjoy a dinner among your group within their homes. On this trip to Tuscany and then Amalfi, we travelled the first leg with my brother Tom and sister in law Cheryl, my son Lukas and his newly announced fiancé along with two lovely other ladies who we arranged to be with again who we met on a past tour. We also met some new folks who we enjoyed traveling with. So here’s the thing. The people who are choosing Foodnwine Vacations are so nice that often, people remain in contact with one another even months or years after having had met and shared such great experiences together. In closing I will tell you that I believe wholeheartedly that if you give FoodnWine Vacations a try just once, you will never be satisfied doing the big “Globus” or other mainstream tours again nor will you want to try to exhaust yourself trying to plan or coordinate a vacation approximating this experience yourself! Cheers! Elias and Denise ### Tuscany and Lake Como 14 September 2025 Rod & I got home last night and even though we were a little tired from the long journey back, we were all smiles when our nephew picked us up at the airport. Rod & I both were thrilled with this trip! The weather was perfect, the tours were so enjoyable, the views spectacular, the food delicious and our guides & hosts extraordinary! Oscar was a wonderful guide for Lake Como. He added special touch being local and living there his entire life. We so enjoyed Paolo & Giada. We can’t say enough good things about them. They are so warm and welcoming and make you feel like a member of their family We truly felt connected to them Those two are very special! Thank you for putting together such unique trips and experiences Rod Bev ### Greek Islands Fantasy 11 May 2025 Athens:Loved the hotel, great staff, very comfortable beds and the breakfast was so delicious! The Acropolis tour was fabulous, our guide was so knowledgeable, friendly and made the tour top notch. Loved the walking food tour. It had a lot of variety and our guide was wonderful.Naxos:Our transfer from Athens to Naxos was very easy and ran smoothly. The restaurant we went to for dinner was wonderful. The service was amazing and the food was incredible, loved it.Our hotel was great, attentive staff, delicious breakfast. Also the location was great.Highlights on Naxos:Cheese making outing with lunch - so fun and the lunch was fabulousCooking class - a mom and daughter duo were our teachers in their home. So want and charming, very fun to cook togetherLunch in Koronos I this was so amazing, the food was to die for and our hostess was lovely a picturesque settingWe had a pivot day because the high winds won’t allow us to go to Mykonos for the day so we had a morning tour of Naxos town where we saw the ancient castle and Apollos Gate, then some fabulous shopping on our own time.The happy hour with Sophia was the best, this should be added to the tour permanently. Was so much fun!The dinner in Paros was magical, the port where we dined was postcard perfect and the food was delicious.Santorini:The hotel was great, attentive staff, also a great breakfast, loved the pool. Also a great location.I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, it was wonderfully balanced with food, history, culture and free time to explore in your own. Having the small group of twelve was just the right size. We met some wonderful people. Sam is a great owner of these tours and definitely makes sure everyone is happy. The tour guides are all one of a kind, professional, knowledgeable and fun without being hokey. Planning on trying the Sicily tour next year! Jen ### Secrets of Tuscany 7 September 2025 With thanks to Smadar, this was a great trip. Fresh and tasty food, smooth wine, colorful Negronis and spritzes. Interesting history, amazing scenery, friendly people. Fantastic hosts - Giada is the best cook I’ve ever watched closely and she produces masterpieces. The villa was amazing. The history and the beauty and the facilities! And Giada’s staff and service were excellent.Paolo is so knowledgeable and friendly and helpful - the best guide you could ask for - lots of walking, but it was worth it. I would recommend these experiences to anyone. Mille grazie. Dave Boyd ### Sicily & Puglia 27 April 2025 The tours of Sicily & Puglia were our 3rd & 4th with Sam’s Food N’ Wine Vacations. Doing the 2 tours one after another provided us with exactly what we were looking for. The locations were close enough together to allow us to begin the Puglia tour the same day the Sicily tour ended, and yet the regions were different enough to make each tour a unique experience. The sites we visited included popular tourist spots like Sicily’s Valley of Temples & Taormina, along with the old city of Matera & the Trulli houses of Alberobello in Puglia, all of which were well worth visiting. But better yet were the “off the beaten path” places. To mention a few, in Sicily we stopped at a small self-sufficient village where we visited several local businesses & had lunch at the home of a local farmer, and then in Ragusa we visited a property with a fascinating restored old water mill where we made bread using flour ground there. As for Puglia, we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of crowds in early May, even in Matera, Alberobello & Lecce (the Florence of the south). Many times it seemed as though the 6 of us were the only tourists, allowing for some very enjoyable interaction with locals. Our 2 tours included a number of hands-on experiences like cooking classes, baking & cheese making that were educational & a lot of fun. The end products made for good eating, too. No review would be complete without mention of our excellent tour guides, Giovanna in Sicily & Giorgio in Puglia. They both made our various stops interesting & enjoyable, and they added some stops that were not on the expected itinerary. For example, in Sicily our Giovanna took us to her family’s private olive oil museum to see how olive oil was made before governmental regulations required big changes, and in Puglia we stopped with Giorgio at several out-of-the-way places to sample food and/or wine where we were clearly the only non-locals. Another item not to be overlooked is our accommodations. All of the properties were clean, well maintained & comfortable, with very good breakfasts. We particularly enjoyed our seaside hotel in Cefalu, Sicily. It was everything we could ask for in a small hotel and we were able to enjoy some free time wandering the picturesque surrounding area. We also ate some of the best pizza we’ve ever had at a family-run restaurant a short walk from the hotel. In Puglia, the Masseria where we stayed for the whole week provided a unique blend of history & modern comfort. Like other Masserias in the area, which is near the Adriatic Sea, it was a large compound with thick limestone walls, courtyards & whitewashed exteriors. Originally built hundreds of years ago as part of a large family farming operation to provide fortified protection against raiders from the sea, it was recently converted to a luxurious boutique accommodation. Finally, a word about our drivers who provided great service during our touring and transfers, often navigating roads that looked like they should be part of a maze. To summarize, the 2 tours provided us with 2 weeks of a thoroughly enjoyable & memorable southern Italy experience. reflective of the region. It added so much to the overall experience. I also want to mention how well the wine tours were done. Each one was informative and enjoyable, and the wines we tasted afterward were really good. Chris Lynch ### Dreamin' Amalfi 18 May 2025 Dear Sam, Hugh and I had a wonderful time in the Amalfi Coast on our tour. We loved having our mornings so well planned and executed. All of our drivers, guides and hosts were exceptionally helpful and personable. One of our favorite adventures was with Marcio, who took us to see his neighbors secret garden. Everything was in bloom and the 92 year old owner talked to us about all the plants and the history of the garden as we followed him down each terrace. He spoke no English, but we knew what he was saying. Just seeing his passion for the garden was so sweet.We bought an oil painting in Capri that we will cherish forever and some great pottery where we met the potter himself and saw how the painting of the pottery is done. We especially liked the interaction with the local people. It makes the trip so special.The hotel was perfect. Loved the wonderful breakfast! They were helpful making dinner reservations. Even there, we interacted with members of this family owned business.Hugh and I didn’t mind the extreme numbers of steps you need to be able to climb when visiting Amalfi but some visitors might find it daunting. We walked an approximate five miles each day. But we like to walk!We hope to take another trip with you soon. Thanks for a great adventure! Blanch ### Best of Provence 17 May 2025 This was our 3rd trip with Food and Wine Vacations, and it did not disappoint. The Villa was amazing, and our tour guide Marlene was just lovely. Just like the other 2 tours we took, the food and wine were top notch, and the cooking classes were fantastic. We would highly recommend travelling with Food and Wine Vacations, Sam (the owner) picks the best guides, locations, and tastings. We can't wait to book our next vacation with her! Darrin & Danielle ### Greek islands Fantasy 11 May 2025 This was our second Food N Wine Vacations tour with Sam Palace and it was very enjoyable.she even spent time with us in Naxos We got to experience places that were extremely interesting and we would never have seen had it not been for Sam and her team of guides. Everything was included such as transportation between Islands, hotels, most exquisite meals and amazing destinations off the beaten path. It was a true food and wine experience. The guides were extremely knowledgeable. This is a private tour with only 12 people. A must if you want to experience the inside track and have an adventure beyond your expectations. Nate & Cheryl ### Greek islands Fantasy 11 May 2025 I LOVED our Greek Fantasy Island tour! Perfect size group (12), perfect balance between "light" history/art/museums and local cuisine/culinary experiences and culture. All our guides were local and very knowledgeable. Food was phenomenal and there is a nice balance between "planned" tour time and "free" time. I am definitely going to look into more tours with Food and Wine! Highly recommend! Sandy Cimmerer ### Tuscany Wine Tour 9 September 2024 Paulo, Giada and Sam,Thank you Paulo and Giada for a most enjoyable and memorable experience at your beautiful Villa. You made us feel so welcome and at home. Your passion and commitment was warmly felt and admired by all of us. Your photo below says it all....a true love story! Pat and I actually came away feeling so much more knowledgeable and a part of the history, the land, the people, the food and of course the wine. We will be talking about our “Food and Wine Vacation” for years to come. Sam, you did an amazing job scouting out the attractions and putting the tour together. You make an awesome team. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts❤️The wine shipment arrived on my birthday, October 4th, imagine!! We made a wonderful selection that will definitely keep the memory alive🍷I hope you enjoy Pat’s attempt at taking a panoramic shot of the property and the fresco on the wall😊Wishing you all the best, may our paths cross again one day.Cheers, Pat and Shirley ### Tuscany Wine Tour - Bucket List - Staying in a Tuscan Villa 9 September 2024 As a single traveler, I could have not been more welcomed by Food N' Wine Vacation, their Villa hosts and tour guide. I spent a week in a historical Villa exploring Tuscany and her vineyards. Alex, our tour guide was knowledgeable and made sure that each tour members expectations were met;Thanks to Sam and her team for making sure that a bucket list trip experience was exceeded! Rick Munisteri ### Croatia and Slovenia 7 October 2024 1) Montenegro Excursion: Our driver had interesting stories of life in that area as we drove down. Our guide for the tour was very knowledgeable and interesting as we walked around Kotor. It was a very good way to spend the day before starting the Croatia tour. 2) Croatia Tour: First I have to say Ante was a wonderful guide during our tour around Croatia. Very knowledgeable and organized. All our transports, events and local guide connections worked extremely well. He made traveling with the 16 of us run very smoothly. His tour of the old city of Dubrovnik was fun and very educational. His tour of the palace in Split was the same. The winery visits, oyster farm, cooking class and private lunch on Hvar were great fun. I really liked how our group and the people running these events interacted. And that’s with 16 of us! Everyone did a great job. I had many comments from the group members what a great time they had on the Croatia tour. Oh, I would keep the visit to Mostar in your tour. Our visit there was a bit sobering given its history in the civil war there. But we learned a lot of what is still part of life there.We are so glad we did the trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Our guide there was great. What a beautiful place. And kudos to our driver who did a great job of getting us everywhere we needed to be. 3) Slovenia: The eight of us were surprised by how much we enjoyed this part of our trip. Our guide Tine was the reason for much of our enjoyment. His knowledge of the country and its culture was extensive. And his way of communicating kept everything interesting and enjoyable. He’s definitely a keeper on this tour. The tour of Ljubljana old city, Lake Bled, Castles, Bee Keeping and Postonja Cave were all great things for us to experience. Highlights were the two lunches we had after Lake Bled and Postonja Cave. Great fun! Again Tine was a big part of making this tour great. Mark P. ### Croatia & Slovenia Private group 7 October 2024 Group member comments: Tina: Great guides, patience, and intimate fantastic experiences. More time in Mostar. Janice: Best part was experiencing Plitvice. Least part was amount of bus time. Jim: Our guide Ante was fantastic. He provided good, interesting information and was attentive to our needs. Linda: Highlight was Plitvice. Spectacular. Breathtaking views. Wished we had more time in Mostar. Dave: I will trust Smadar’s judgement without a doubt for all future trips with her. Both Portugal and Croatia trips were perfect both where we went and stayed but also how long we spent in each area. I was puzzled why she insisted we add Slovenia, and it was the gem of our trip. Mark P. ### A Fantastic Trip to Tuscany 17 September 2024 My wife and I were looking for a trip to see and taste the real Tuscany;this was everything that was advertised and more! Before our trip, Sam walked us through everything and made our trip smooth sailing. Staying at the 1,000-year-old Villa in Chianti run by family-owned Giada and her husband, Paolo was a dream come true.The tours to Greve, Siena, Cinque Terre, Volterra and Florence were phenomenal. Our tour director, Ben, was the best tour director we've ever experienced. He is well-educated, knowledgeable about the history of Tuscany and all of the towns we visited. His expertise goes far beyond just Tuscany, but the history of Italy itself. He made our trip most enjoyable. Staying at the villa where Giada did all the cooking was beyond our expectations;not to mention the free-flowing wine. Overall, a great trip and worth every penny. If all tours could be like this, everyone would be running to book! Nick Kobbs ### An Experience of a Lifetime - Greece 22 September 2024 This was a special experience, sharing the beauty, culture and the history of this amazing place with my daughter! The food was delicious to say the least! We had amazing guides who introduced us to so many opportunities that would not have possible otherwise! I think one of my most favorite things was going to a private home where we were welcomed and made to feel like part of a family! We participated in preparing a “greek” dinner and enjoying that delicious dinner as a family! Truly an experience to remember! Chriss ### Heart of Portugal 22 September 2024 Oh Sam, it was unbelievable. Wonderful itinerary, great hotels and an outstanding guide - LUIS! We all got along so well. The meals were terrific, wines with every meal (ok, not breakfast). I've already suggested to friends to travel with you. The convent in Fundao was amazing! What a great find. As you saw, the hills and cobblestones were a real challenge for me, and from my posts on FB, I've had feedback from other friends who have traveled there that it was a real challenge to them as well. In all of my travels around Europe, this country was the most difficult, with very few patches of level ground. I was overly careful, because a friend of mine had fallen over there and broke her hip and warned me to be super slow and careful. Fortunately I came home without any issues. I hope to travel with you again. Thank you for your care and skill in providing a terrific trip for all. Joan Kistler ### Greek Islands Fantasy 19 May 2024 After now having come home last month from our wonderful trip with FoodnWines vacations to Greece, we were reflecting once again on what a nice time we had. We had already taken a “Food and Wine Vacation”, our fist, last year to Portugal ( you may want read my review which I left back then. We enjoyed it so much that we immediately decided to do it again. This time we went to Greece. Once again, an “off the charts” experience! As I tell all my friends when they ask about our trip, why we went with the same touring company again, we tell them that there is no one better than Smadar, “Sam” The company owner, who we now consider a friend. She is warm, extremely professional, and is amazing when correspondence is needed, and any questions need to be addressed in a timely manner. Sam has connections with small families and businesses which make our stops in the custom designed itinerary an experience not to be missed. We have made cheese, we had tasted wines, we were invited into a country home where made mosaka with a mom and daughter . We ate fresh seafood, and enjoyed amazing Greek salads everywhere we went. My favorite meals involved octopus, calamari and seabass fried Greek potatoes & olives. Mmmmmm!! I made friends with two separate donkeys on two separate islands 🤣 We visited a seafood market. We walked through beautiful flower filled streets and alleys in small towns and villages. Never had to worry about where we were staying. Just as was the case in Portugal, I could not have asked for anything nicer. Always were top-notch 5 star and or boutique style as could be arranged. We are not the only repeat customers. A funny thing happened. Upon meeting in the lobby of the hotel on our first day in Athens awaiting to be met, two smiling women walked in and our eyes met.” Hey, I know you! ” ….” Hey, we know you”! They were two women who we met on our first trip to Portugal. Sue and Kathy just happen to have chose this trip on this same date as well. It was understood that Food and Wines Vacations was so enjoyable the first time around that they had to do it again! Here was our Island itinerary” @ Athens, @ Naxos @ Paros @ Mykonos @ San Torini ….. Oh, one thing I almost forgot we went to and participated a Greek wedding show! How cool is that you may ask? If you are from the north east, think Tony and Tina‘s wedding. It’s a show where are you are part of a wedding reception with food and drink and amazing entertainment. I will leave you with this, Food n Wine Vacations is not a “run-of-the-mill” tour operation where you will feel like just a numbered tourist. You will feel like you are very special which of course you are! 🥰 hope you give them a try! Elias Van Schaik ### Our Adventure in Portugal 12 May 2024 My wife and I recently got back from Portugal. We had a fabulous time and enjoyed ourselves so much. We had a group of 13 that were all wonderful and friendly people from all around the country, and we had a great tour guide, Joao, that we all got close with. Sam Palace, the owner, put together a wonderful and diverse trip, and she met us in Portugal for a day. She is the best! . Our hotels were all unique, interesting and modern. The food and wine were delicious everywhere we went. Especially the NATA! LOL We saw many areas of the country and went to very unique places. I definitely will go on another Food N' Wine Vacation without question! Cheers!!!! Steve and Sandy G. ### Veneto Food & Wine Tour 15 October 2024 Diane and I had a wonderful tour of the Veneto region. The plans were well thought out and the guide and driver were excellent. They communicated frequently about scheduled activities and were quite flexible in adjusting to the group's wishes. We also appreciated the extra stops that you engineered while you were with us. I spent 35 years focused on planning and customer delight always looking for people who had the skills and competencies that Virginia demonstrated. She is the type I would have tried to hire away from whoever she was working for. Ed and Diana ### Portugal - More than just great food and wine 12 May 2024 The "Heart of Portugal" tour was incredible, and we had a great experience. Not only was the food and wine very good, but we also enjoyed the beautiful country, the nature, the people, and the culture and history. We saw a lot of art and amazing architecture as we visited cities, small towns, churches, forts, and a palace. We especially enjoyed visiting town of Monsanto, the Douro Valley, where we had a port tasting, and the City of Porto. And, we loved the cooking class with Sofia in Evora. All accommodations were top notch. Our guide Joao was friendly and did a great job. He was patient in keeping track of all of us and answering our many questions. Ron and Elena Reese ### Best of Sicily 19 May 2024 Oh my - I had high expectations before our tour, but I must admit, they weren’t high enough! We were a group of eight who joined four new friends for a fabulous week in Sicily. Our guide, Giovanna, and driver, Corrado, were outstanding. They took special care to tend to our every need and gave us a glimpse into Sicilian life that we couldn’t have found anywhere else. Full disclosure, my husband and I usually travel on our own, we aren’t “tour” people. But this is no ordinary tour. Though we saw some of the most-see sights in Sicily - the Valley of the Temples, Mt. Etna, Taormina, etc. the high points of the trip were in areas that we were literally the only tourists. A meal prepared by a local family in a beautiful village. Wine tastings in the midst of the mountains and at the foot of Mt. Etna. A cooking class on a hilltop overlooking Cefalu. These are just a few of the special memories. All three of the hotels were spectacular - yet very different. I couldn’t begin to pick a favorite. By the end of the week, all 12 of us had become fast friends. And some of us are already planning our next Foodnwine vacation. Stephanie Miller ### Secrets of Tuscany.... the kind of trip you dream about 26 May 2024 First let me begin by praising the Food and Wine Vacation company and the owner Smadar (Sam) Palace. As a travel advisor I was so impressed on every aspect of this trip. Sam has done all of the research and vetting to make sure that the experiences, guides, activities, etc. are all top of the line. I cannot speak highly enough of the planning and execution of these small group tours.From booking, to the actual trip, everything was done with perfection and ease.As for the trip itself - it really was a dream come true. Waking every day in the Tuscan countryside in a beautiful villa with incredible meals served daily by Giada (the owner and chef of the villa) made us feel like royalty. The daily adventures to the various villages were filled with fun, laughter, great meals and shopping. Paolo was our host/guide for the week, and he was so good at his job. He was knowledgeable, patient, fun, and kept everything on schedule.Our cooking classes were great fun, and we learned some true Italian cooking secrets that will come in very handy for future meals at home.The wine tastings, visit to a goat farm, walking through small non- touristy villages were the things that we will always remember.If you are wondering if these trips are worth the price I wholeheartedly say yes! You don't have to put together an itinerary or fret about where or what you will eat or how to get from point A to point B - that in itself is worth thousands of dollars. And FYI- the wine is always flowing in the evenings.Thank you Sam, Giada, Paolo and the entire team for making this trip a dream come true. Julia Wilson ### I love the Secrets of Tuscany 26 May 2024 I just got home from my Secrets of Tuscany trip a few days ago. I miss life at the villa! Giada is a treasure! An elegant lady of the manor. generous hostess, and incredible chef. Paolo, also a wonderful host, and an even better tour guide, and day planner. He put so much effort into making our outings perfectly timed, and planned to make the most of our day, and have the best experience. He has a lifetime of knowledge about the region, and great love for his home town. We looked forward to returning home to Giada for dinner each night. The cooking lessons were fun and informative. We had a really fun group, and may end up traveling together again, because we all want to do more Food n Wine tours! This was better than I expected, and definitely worth the price. I can't think of anything that could be improved on, except to make it one day longer! We would love a free day with no activities so that we could hang around the villa, and pool, and walk to the nearby village. But we wouldn't trade any of the trips we took. Gracie mille per tutto! Bess ### Sicily, Amalfi, Tuscany 3 September 2023 Where do I begin? My friends and I decided to travel together this year, 6 of us the first week and 8 the following 2 weeks. Since we were going to travel such a long distance, we decided to make the best of it and ended up booking 3 back to back tours. We started with Best of Sicily, then Dreamin' Amalfi and finished off our 3.5 week journey with Secrets Of Tuscany. Every tour was PACKED with adventures and the most delicious food, wine and excellent accommodations. Our guides could not have been any better than the ones we had. They even accommodated our large group and took us to some areas we wanted to explore that were outside of the "scheduled" tours. Sam the owner made it a point to meet up with us on each tour to make sure we were all happy and having a great time. I can't wait until we're able to book another trip through Food n' Wine Vacations! Don't hesitate to book your tour, you won't regret it I promise you! Josi Siefker ### Greek Islands Fantasy 17 September 2023 My husband and I just returned from Greece with Food 'n' Wine Vacations. We had a fabulous time! Sam made sure we experienced the culture, food, and wine of the country. We explored Athens, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, and Santorini. Sam made sure we had experiences that were out of the ordinary and some ordinary experiences, too. We were able to do things that many tourists do not get to see and do. Our group was small - eight people and we became fast friends.I wonder where Food 'n' Wine Vacations will take me next? Thank you Sam! Laura B. ### Secrets of Tuscany 17 September 2023 This vacation was the best ever. Our accommodation at the villa was superb, original frescos, beautiful surroundings, fun daily trips to beautiful mountain towns, exceptional food and wine. Giada made us feel so welcome and part of the family plus their Limoncello is the best I have tasted. Also came away with some great cooking tips. Alex our guide was superb, so knowledgeable and fun. He always made that extra effort to take care of anything we wanted. I would recommend this tour to everyone. Looking into the Provence Tour for a future trip. Lesley M. ### Seville & Andalucia, October 2022 16 October 2022 This was an excellent overall tour. Everything about it was great. This first two days were spent in Seville on walking tours of tapa bars, monuments & historic sites. A nice mix of interesting history & delicious tapas. The remaining time was spent on day trips from Seville. Some of the highlights of the day trips include the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, the sherry bodega in Jerez & three of the white-washed villages. The meals at each of these locations was superb. And speaking of food, everything about cooking class in the mountains was terrific. Jeannie & Sam welcomed our group into their home, where we had a great time preparing a complete meal under Jeannie’s careful & amusing guidance. Very delicious. The lodging in Seville was excellent & located near numerous tapa bars & many of the interesting locations in the old part of town. Javier (he likes to go by Javi) was our primary tour leader & he was just simply outstanding. Mercedes was our group’s guide for the tours of the Royal Alcazar & Seville Cathedral. She had an incredible amount of knowledge regarding both of these important historical sites. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to visit a unique part of Spain. Charles H. ### Greece 30 May 2023 What an amazing experience! From beginning in Athens to Naxos with side-trips to Mykonos and Paros and wrapping up in Santorini, this tour did not disappoint. The local guides with their knowledge of the the history and customs of the islands we visited, along with recommendations for shopping and eating, were so integral to the success of the tour. Shout outs to Alex, George, Gibson, and Yannis!!!!! The trip to the farm and the opportunity to participate in the cheese-making process, along with the hands on culinary class were once in a lifetime experiences for me. The joy with which these people shared of themselves during these experiences was so welcoming, making these two adventures so amazing. I really appreciated that the balance between group time and on-our-own time was point on. I definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for an authentic Greek experience. Cathy R. ### Heart of Portugal 30 May 2023 Having vacationed independently and having toured many times over the years with tour companies, I like to think I am well versed in travel. Our most recent trip to Portugal was well researched and having settled on Food and Wine Vacations for what appeared to be so personalized, our small group of 12 were positively "over the moon" with our trip just weeks ago. Smadar, "Sam" was brilliant in her organizational skills, pricing, and tenacity in making sure everything we saw, did, and ate was perfect! Our venues were intimate, highly rated and just, ...well, so special, whether it were the boutique hotels, restaurants, wineries, religious and architectural sights and shopping. She actually traveled with us much of the time and just took a little needed time away to join another small group in another country before returning to us. Actually, She really spoiled us to the point that we will no longer be able to return even the upper tier tour companies we had enjoyed previously. It's my understanding that " Food and Wine Vacations now have 17 itineraries now throughout Europe. Sam, please look forward to seeing us again hopefully next year. Great memories to be cherished forever. Elias VS. ### Heart of Portugal 30 May 2023 Food n wine showed us what a more intimate tour is like. We were thrilled with walking and exploring some of the quaint towns of Portugal as well as the major cities. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the country, we never felt rushed, stayed in some beautiful hotels, including a Convent, and ate in incredible restaurants experiencing local flavor. I would absolutely book another trip with this tour company, we experienced so much....something we could never do on our own. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.! Denise F. ### Heart of Portugal 30 May 2023 What an amazing trip to Portugal I had with Food and Wine Vacations. The first day to the very last day were packed with fun, adventures, and the best wine and food you could ask for. From the tour guide who was phenomenal and knew and shared his knowledge of Portugal along the way to the bus driver who did an excellent job getting our tour around very narrow hard to negative streets. Did a cooking class in the home of a Portugal Chef who opened her home and heart to our group, to the sheep farmer, and bakery staff everyone was very gracious to share their individual home/place of business with tour group and you could tell they truly enjoyed hosting us. I will be booking another tour with Food and Wine Vacations for September 2024 great time at a great vault. Bonnie Boesen ### Greek Islands Fantasy 28 May 2023 We LOVED our Greek experience! It was the perfect taste of Greece! We got to visit several different islands with expert guides, we ate wonderful food trying all of the local specialties, and we really got to experience the culture. We loved Naxos and it acted as a perfect hub for island hopping. All of the accommodations were comfortable, and we really felt like welcome guests. The local guides were friendly, very knowledgeable and passionate! Our Main F&W guides were wonderful! They were also very knowledgeable and extremely helpful for any special situations. The tour was well planned, well organized with a good balance of time. We really felt like it was a good value. The views in Santorini were incredible. Sam's attention to detail and experience really comes across. Highly recommend F&W Vacations. We will be back! Thank you Sam for such an incredible trip to Greece and lots of laughs and special memories. Kevin and Beth ### Heart of Portugal 1 June 2023 I loved my visit to Portugal with FoodNWine Vacations! The Heart of Portugal tour offered many unique opportunities to discover the beauty, history and culinary delights of several regions throughout the country. Our guide was fantastic, the itinerary was thoughtfully planned, and our accommodations were wonderful! I highly recommend this trip. Kathy H ### Dreamin Amalfi Coast 28 May 2023 Jason and I wanted to take a moment to say thank you so very much for a wonderful and memorable trip. It was truly a dream experience! Not only did the activities make it great, but so did the beautiful people you’re connected with who helped and interacted with us along the way. We are so happy and grateful and hope to join another one of your trips in the future. Grazie Mille! Rebecca and Jason Like ### Secrets of Tuscany 28 May 2023 Such a deliciously cultivated tour. The charm is in the details. Food N Wine Vacations doesn't miss a beat; from the meticulous pre-trip planning, to the spectacular tour guides and intimate sites. I chose Secrets of Tuscany because of the dates, but the adventure was more than I anticipated. Traveling solo can be challenging. I never felt alone and made connections that I will keep for years. Thank you Smadar Palace for putting together such a special tour. I look forward to my next adventure. Cydney B. ### Dreamin Amalfi Coast 28 May 2023 There is nothing better than when you can combine education, scenery, exercise, friendship, food and wine. The trip was organized in a fashion where you experience the best of the local culture and culinary expertise. The size of our group was perfect. The fact that we choose to socialize on our “free time” speaks volumes! Our driver, Salvatore, was personable, entertaining and competent. When a scheduled event was canceled due to personal issues…Salvatore took us to his home and served us cappuccino. Our hosts at the lemon farm and winery could not have been more gracious and proud! In Capri, Christina was awesome… again, personable, fun and informative… ditto for Marianna in Ravello!! The accommodations were wonderful! Again, the staff could not be more accommodating and proud. The rooms were comfortable and the fact my balcony had a partial water-view was a bonus! I’m writing this as I sit on a bus on the way home from a winery tour in Tuscany that was disappointing! The old adage comes to mind… “you get what you pay for”. Thanks for a memorable experience! Grazie mille!!! Lew F. ### Secrets of Tuscany 28 May 2023 We’ve just returned from Food ‘n’ Wine Vacations’ Secrets of Tuscany tour (mid-May 2023.) Our expectations were high but, on every measure, they were exceeded. The Villa was a perfect home base to explore Tuscany, and our host Giada’s hospitality was outstanding. Our guides, Alessandro and Ben, were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and—bonus round—fun! Our “Secrets” adventures felt unique, privileged, and supportive of the passionate locals who welcomed us warmly and inspired us with their stories. The wine, the food, the cooking classes—we loved ALL of it. And the small group format, which we’d not tried before, was an unexpected delight. We were a convivial group—not a stinker in the bunch. In fact, we were so pleased with our Tuscan experience that we’re signing up for Provence next year. Brava, Smadar, for your wonderful travel concept and excellent, detailed execution! Susan & Joanne ### Greece 25 May 2023 Dear Sam,Alicia and Yolanda just returned from their trip to Greece. They agree that you delivered a wonderful experience. They had only positive comments about the guides, the hotels, and the itineraries. The food was delicious and they both agreed that you are an excellent planner. They even liked the long walks they took.I only have to add my thanks for being such a great person to deal with, and for making an entire group happy. You made three good friends in Ocala, FL. Acosta ### Portugal 24 May 2023 I wanted to email you and tell you what a fabulous time we had on our trip. Everything was wonderful ,the hotels the food ,and the experiences were great. Luis was a wonderful guide and handled everything smoothly. He made the trip, pleasurable and easy for us all! And we learned a lot about Portugal.We also enjoyed having you join us for dinner that first night.We really enjoyed it. Thank you so much for a memorable experience for our family. Caro W ### Amalfi and Portugal - A song for Sam 5 May 2023 I am Sam Sam I am. I am Sam, Sam I am, biggest wanderlust in all the land. I've traveled here i've traveled there my greatest loves with you i'll share. The world is ours please share it with friends your family first memories never end. Let's go to places those little gems, i'll take you there my sweet dear friends. The world is our treasure. we'll all go there, with all of my passion with gentle care. i'll travel high i'll travel low and share with you all that i know. And in the end and when we're through there is only one thing i'll promise you. You'll be much smarter then before, and will definitely have learned so much more. Your life will change, your face will smile because we've gone this extra mile. And every morning and when we rest we'll surely know that we are blessed. I promise you a difference, each place we go an experience. I am Sam and i Sam i am I hope to see you once again. Mark Baker ### Piedmont 24 October 2022 The Piedmont tour was also of high quality. The winery tours were interesting & we enjoyed the excellent tastings to the fullest. The dinners were all very nice, with enjoyable food & wine choices. The rustic but satisfying meal in the glass enclosure at the small family-owned, hilltop winery was made even more memorable by the sun setting over the rolling hills of the vineyard to the west & the full moon rising over the neighboring vineyards to the east. We enjoyed the walking tours of Asti & Turin, where we also had time to shop & sample some local beers & food. The cooking class, cheese tour/tasting & truffle hunting were unique activities that we thoroughly enjoyed. The chef was very well organized and, unlike many of these cooking class tours, there was plenty of opportunity for us to actively participate in the preparation of each course. We took advantage of that & didn’t mess up too badly, which is a credit to her excellent instructions & her wise decision not to offer wine too early. None of us had ever heard of a cheese refiner before, so his tour was a real eye-opener into the business of creating artisanal cheeses. He clearly loves his work & the tasting of 10 very different cheeses was the perfect complement to his tour. Not many people can say they have gone along on a truffle hunt. We all had fun & were fascinated by the importance of the relationship between the truffle hunter & his dog. We were not disappointed by any of the activities. Luigi & Sasha were courteous, professional & made sure we enjoyed our tours. Sashsa’s driving skills were often put to the test, but she responded to the challenge with ease. Luigi may have had a relaxed, easy-going demeanor, but that did not keep him from being attentive to both our needs and the day’s schedule. He kept us informed about when & where we were going and what we would do & see. He also offered commentary when appropriate & answered our question. Luigi & Sasha were all we could ask for in guide & driver. The one disappointment was our accommodations. The hotel was clean & modern, the public spaces were very nice, the breakfast was good and the hotel staff were pleasant & very helpful. But, with a 5-day stay, we were hoping to be able to unpack & store many of the things we would need & not have to live out of our suitcases. Although the rooms we had were spacious enough, they were sparsely furnished; 2 small bedside tables with no storage, a small desk with a mini fridge but no storage, a medium size armoire with some hangers & 2 shelves - one of which was taken by the safe & extra blanket. There was also a built-in luggage rack big enough for one open medium size suitcase. This was a relatively minor inconvenience, but given the high quality of the rest of the tour we all thought you should hear our concern, especially since the rooms are spacious enough to easily accommodate something with drawer and/or shelf storage. Again, this glitch did not affect our overall enjoyment of the excellent tour activities & would not keep us from using your services again, but others might not be so forgiving. P&C Lnch ### Portugal 22 October 2022 My husband and I just got back from Portugal with Food N' Wine Vacations. We had an amazing time! Our group was small - only 9 people in the group which I prefer. Our guide, Luis, was wonderful. Smadar Palace put together a wonderful trip. Our accommodations were great, food was was wonderful, and the wine was delicious. We saw so much of the country and things that make Portugal proud. We even had the fortunate experience of watching a lamb being born at the farm we visited where we made cheese. I definitely will go on another Food N' Wine Vacation without question! Laura Bolt ### Best of Sicily 19 October 2022 This was our second trip with Food and Wine Vacations as a group of 8. We started with a pick up in Palermo and drove to our first hotel with Carmalina our guide for the week. The hotel stays were exceptional with the best on the island of Ortiga We had fabulous food each day with the best being with chef Antonio where we made stuffed zucchini, pasta and pork rolls. Making the pasta was so fun but eating the pasta with the homemade sauce prepared by Antonio was superb We visited ancient towns with exceptional guides especially in Sant'Angelo where we were had the opportunity to listen to a beautiful solo. We came home with full stomachs and memories to last a lifetime. Thanks Sam for a fantastic trip. Karen, Cherie, Delores, Mary, Susan, Leslie, Debbie, and Carol ### Amalfi Tour 14 October 2022 Highlights: • Service and Tour Components: Service everywhere - hotel, guides, driver, meeting us – all was outstanding.• Personalized/Private Driver: Excellent – we felt extremely safe, well taken care of, and were so happy we didn’t have to navigate ourselves around the coast!• Guides: All of our guides were very knowledgeable, personable and fun. • Accommodations: We LOVED the hotel. Super location. The breakfasts were exceptional, best we experienced throughout everyone’s entire time in Italy. And the service was top-notch.• Lemon farm tour & cooking class: Everyone loved it! And the ride in the little ‘lemon wagon’ to the farm was a total treat!• Mozzarella making: LOVED it – great hosts and educational experience. Only thing is that it was such a deliciously huge spread, we all wished we hadn’t had any breakfast (so may want to warn future guests!)• Overall, the tour was very well organized, we were WELL taken care of and everyone absolutely loved and enjoyed our time on the Amalfi. Melinda, Jerusha, Stacey, Fiona, Rachel, Jennifer ### A dream trip in Provence 13 October 2022 It was a dream trip for us. 2nd trip with Food and Wine. Itinerary was so well thought through. From the 14th century B&B we stayed at to the villages we visited, to the wine we enjoyed and the amazing food and cooking classes. And we really appreciated out tour guide--being a local and so relationally oriented. We had a picnic in an olive grove. Walked through beautiful villages and markets. Took in awesome scenery. Great wine tasting in Chateauneuf du Pape. Best croissants ever for breakfast, and the wine flowing at the daily aperitif at 7pm. Thanks Sam for such a memorable week! Steve A ### Greece was wonderful, Slovenia is a Hidden Gem 2 October 2022 Our first FoodNWine Vacation was in Greece. I was really impressed with the guides and Sam when one of our group fell. They were able to make appointments and show us what to do. The guides were the greatest. One was with us throughout Athens and the other was with us on the islands. The tours and food were fantastic showing us parts of Greece that we never would have seen on other tours. I enjoy seeing what Greece is really like and not just the commercial parts of it. I would recommend this tour to everyone that wants to see Greece. We came to Slovenia after our FoodNWine vacation in Greece. It was wonderful. Our guide was the best and accommodated all of our food issues that we have. The scenery was fantastic and the small group tour was what we loved best. The trips to the river gorge and the one to lake Bled were our favorites of the whole trip. We also enjoyed walking around the square in downtown Ljubljana. Sam did a wonderful job on all of the details. This was our first trip to Europe and we were a little hesitant as we did not speak the languages, but our guides did a great job. I would recommend FoodNWine vacations to anyone going to Europe that wants to see what the countries are really like. Dean and Deb ### Amalfi 2 October 2022 Our trip to the Amalfi Coast through Food & Wine was terrific! I would start by saying we had beautiful weather, an effortless 5 nights/6 days, and we were the only ones on the tour so everything was private. Our driver, Salvatore, was fantastic! He met us at the train station in Naples with a very nice car. He was an excellent driver and was very warm and welcoming. However, his English good was not strong enough to give us certain tours. So, the first day was a nice easy lunch/shopping in Positano and then went to our hotel. The little boutique hotel was so warm and lovely. The owner and mostly, family staff were eager to please and each morning was an amazing breakfast on the rooftop terrace. The next day we had a tour guide, Mr. Raeph, give us a history tour of three coastal towns which was great. The following day, Salvatore brought us to a small mozzarella “factory” and then a family-owned winery for cooking our lunch together and learning about their wines. We would suggest you don’t eat a large breakfast that day – lots of yummy food and wine! We took the ferry to Capri the following day and had a very nice tour guide for the day. The next day was supposed to be a Limoncello farm but needed to be cancelled by the farm. They more than made it up to us by offering a really nice lunch at a local restaurant in Amalfi. The last day, Salvatore, brought us to Pompeii and we met another very knowledgeable tour guide. We then left the tour via the fast train to Rome. We would highly recommend this tour! Arlene and Bob ### Best of Provence 1 October 2022 I recently took the “Best of Provence” tour and it was the best vacation I have ever been on! I found Sam’s trip to be the perfect combination of really diving into the culture and people of France while also having it planned out to keep our vacation stress free and fun! In my opinion it’s very rare to be able to find planned tours that aren’t touristy with large groups and busses. With Sam’s trips you have none of that. You have tour guides and hosts that really make you feel part of the family and free time to experience things on your own. I especially liked that Sam took time out of her very busy schedule to come have dinner with us. It was very nice to have a face to face conversation with the person I will be booking future trips through. If I had one request it would be to add more countries on your list of tours because of only wanting to book through you from now on! Thank you so much for all you do and thank you for providing memories that will last me a lifetime! Emily ### Best of Provence 20 September 2022 Dear Sam,Just a note to let you know our trip was fabulous from start to finish. I had never heard of your company, it just came up on my FACEBOOK feed; thus I was a bit weary. My worries ended given your prompt and helpful responses to all of my emails. I knew immediately you were legit. Then my experience with Food and Wine became incredibly superior when I met your local tour guide. You are very fortunate to have her as the face of your company in Provence. I have have many different tour guides and she is by far the very best.I found her to be a person of great intelligence, extremely helpful and always happy and positive. She could not have been more accommodating and she always went “the extra mile” to make sure we saw the very best of Provence.I have already recommended your company to my many friends. I hope to be back with you soon. Wishing you all the very best.Thank you! Jamie ### More tours that i can remember... 1 October 2022 Our wine club has been going on Sam's trips more than i can remember. Every time we ask her the same question: How do you find these places? There is no value for the attention to details, to the genuine care and to the patience and willingness to help and answer all my questions. I'm so happy that travel is back! Sofia Gutierrez ### Tuscany and Amalfi 22 July 2022 Turning 50 and traveling solo and abroad for the first time took some research and planning. My love for food and wine guided my search and I was blessed to come upon Food N Wine Vacations. I spent a couple of months prior to my 3-week long trip planning my vacation and with the help of Sam was able to come up with an itinerary of a lifetime! I joined two of her tours, Secrets of Tuscany & Dreaming Amalfi and in-between she guided me through different regions that I was able to explore on my own. Secrets of Tuscany – what a gem! From the moment we were greeted by the lovely Giada, given a tour of her Villa & welcomed as if it was our own home, to the tour guide Alessandro whom has so much history and knowledge of the region I couldn’t be more impressed, but I was! Not only did we visit all the places listed in the itinerary but we were treated to “special” off the beaten path locations where we embraced locals, ate amazing food and drank “homemade wines”! The cooking classes were fun and I definitely learned some new tricks that I’ve already tried back home. A perfect balance between free time and tour time. Dreaming Amalfi – My goal was to turn 50 on the Amalfi Coast and I’m so glad I decided to do so! The family run hotel that the group stayed at was exquisite and although a hotel, it didn’t seem it since the entire staff embraced you as if you were part of their family! The tours, the wineries, the cooking classes and the overall ambiance of this entire region and tour was top notch. Food N Wine did their job above and beyond any expectation I had. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier traveling alone as I was during this trip. Overall as a first time solo traveler I couldn’t have chosen a better company to tour with. Sam made sure I felt and was safe, had all my needs met and completed my “to-do’s on my wish list”! Thank you for making my trip of a lifetime the best. Food N Wine has set the bar high! I can’t wait to book my next trip with Sam again! Roxanne Hernandez ### Heart of Portugal 5 July 2022 I just recently came back from the “Heart of Portugal” private tour and it was incredible. Sam has curated a very unique experience. One isn’t being shuttled and herded with 50 others and only seeing the touristy side of Portugal. We spent time in Lisbon and Porto, which were both fantastic but we also spent time in charming smaller cities. Some of my favorite moments included visiting a goat farm, learning how to make bread from 80+ year old Portuguese women, cooking and drinking wine in Evora and staying in a convent that was converted into a hotel. All accommodations were top notch and the wine was divine. The trip was great mix of food, wine and culture. Our tour guide Luis (who quickly became a friend) was so knowledgeable and accommodating. The trip would not have been the same without him. This was my second trip through Food and Wine Vacations. The first was “Secrets of Tuscany” and this fall will be my third, “Bordeaux Classique.” I highly recommend you book your trip through Food and Wine. They are worth every penny. Yasmin Rodriguez ### A Terrific Experience - Bordeaux & Provence 7 May 2022 Sam prepared for us, a group of ten, a beautifully balanced food & wine tour. Beginning with an orientation walking tour of Old Bordeaux, the local guide familiarized us with not only the general layout of the city but with its history. We were then assigned an internationally recognized sommelier as a guide to wineries in AOCs along the Left and Right Banks of the Garonne and the Gironde after an introductory tasting in Bordeaux. A renowned wine writer then took us on tastings in the Grave to complete our stay in Bordeaux in a lovely, well located hotel.Transferring to Avignon we were picked up by a well-informed, enthusiastic new guide, who, along with Sam, escorted us to lovely medieval hilltop villages and filled us in on local customs and culture and introduced us to the marvelous wines of Provence.The entire trip was well planned, the logistics were terrific, and the hotels were excellent - and the wines? Words fail. Can’t wait to go back. Van Perdue ### Tuscany 22 June 2022 We’ve been back home in Dallas a few days now and over the jet lag !! Sue and I were reflecting over dinner tonight our beautiful trip to Tuscany. We both agree it was the perfect week in our lives. We both had very high expectations but OMG we didn’t expect this level of hospitality and greatness. You and I spoke one evening personally and I expressed that I was unprepared for the emotion and excellence of this experience. To be honest you undersold the whole package. I was expecting excellence but in reality I was blown away by everything from the villa, Giada, the food, the personal attention to every guest and so on. I really don’t have words for my gratitude. I said, and I mean it, I would have paid double if II had known what we were going to experience. In closing , you are so special to us. And of course, Alessandro who was simply amazing and perfect for the tours. Again, Sue and I want to THANK YOU SO MUCH. ❤️❤️ We would love to take another trip next year with you for sure. We love you very much. Many thanks again. Graham Smith ### Portugal 28 June 2022 Clearly, every aspect of this tour was carefully selected to ensure an experience that is diverse, cultural, beautiful, fun, highly engaging, comfortable, and oriented to the best food and wine Portugal has to offer. This is easily one of the very best tours I've been on, and it created wonderful memories. Neil ### The 4th Trip with Food N' Wine Vacations 31 May 2022 Jon & I are in the little, cute bar in Hotel de Univers in Tours Loire & enjoying our cocktail reminiscing about our beautiful 3 weeks in France. Our last day is tomorrow & we don’t want to go home!Want to say thank you so much for all the work & expertise you put into our itinerary. We had a wonderful time. Seamless & carefree travel, good, clean hotels in the BEST locations, and always great itineraries with knowledgeable & friendly guides. I know what it takes to put together a solid itinerary… all the background work, phone calls, emails & customer service! So thank you so much! My 4th trip with you was excellent!! Where shall our 5th trip be?! 🤔Wanted to especially point out Sarissa & Christophe in Sarlat. THE most professional, passionate & ultimate service those two provide!!! Over & beyond excellence. Truly. Always early, exceptional explanations, always offering water, opening doors, lending helping hands, even helped us in train station when we all got so confused LOL twice no less 🤪& gave us a sweet parting gift of their walnut oil from their own trees!Thank you again for a memorable vacation in beautiful France!! 🇫🇷 Tami ### Attention to details 3 May 2022 We are a group of friends, Who have been traveling with Sam for the past few years.We can't say enough about the experiences that we could not have found on our own.The pre tour assistance is really helpful.Go, Go, Go. Marta ### Secrets of Tuscany - Please keep it a secret! 3 March 2020 We had the most wonderful time in Tuscany. When we first arrived to the villa i thought that we have entered a movie set. if the walls could talk…. so much history. The family members put their heart and souls following the family tradition and take care of the villa. They make you feel sowelcomed. Breakfast is tempting with so many goodies and dinners are delicious. Cooking classes were amazing! The itinerary is well planned and well balanced. You get to see a lot but in a very easy going way. We are already looking forward for our next tour with Sam. Sandra ### Trip to the south of Spain 28 February 2020 We have traveled with a group of friends to Andalucia. We fell in love with the music, the people and the amazing city of seville. The food of course, how can we forget, so many different kinds of Tapas. So good! Only a local guide knows where to take you. There are specific places thatspecialize in certain dishes. This is only a small part of the tour. The itinerary was well planned. The cooking class was one of the highlights of the tour. I’m so glad we found Food N’ Wine vacations. If you look for something different then travel with this company. Sherry and Joe ### Fun trips with Food N Wine! 9 February 2020 Congratulations on your new website. We travel with Food N Wine every other year and it has been fabulous. They pay attention to details and really care about each participant. We love that the groups are small and that the itineraries are well planned and well balanced. We also love the fact that they alwayswilling to help with the trip planing. Thank you! Sandra ### Great service and advice from Sam! 6 February 2020 Sam was so very helpful on booking and giving us amazing tips on travel and staying within our budget. We are excited to be traveling to Slovinia for our 30th Anniversary in May. Without her help it wouldn’t have become a reality! Vicki Carroll ### Piedmont needs to be discovered 6 January 2020 After a successful wine tour in Tuscany with Sam we wanted to visit Piedmont. We love the idea of staying in one place and taking day trips. Piedmont does not get enough attention. it’s not as touristy as other parts of Italy, which makes you feel part of the daily life in northern Italy. Turinis a city but cozy and feels like a village. If you love red wines then Piedmont has good wines and beautiful views of hills and vineyards. i highly recommend this tour! Jay Perez ### Greek Islands fantasy came true 4 January 2020 Greece was always on my bucket list. I’m not big on cruises and was looking for a unique experience. I am so glad that my friend suggested to contact Sam. Naxos is such a gem. I wish i could keep it a secret. Beautiful hidden alleys with small shops and everything is within walking distancewhich makes it great. The cooking class was spectacular. The villages we toured were non-touristy. The suites were clean and spacious. I had a great time and great experience. Thank you so much! Deidra schocken ### Provence oh Provence 1 January 2020 We have traveled with Sam to Tuscany, which was wonderful, so we booked a tour to Provence. Second time around was as good. The villa is beautiful, the rooms are spacious, and Pascal is a great host. Almost every evening we had dinner in a different restaurant. One evening we had the most entertaining cookingclass. I won’t tell. just go! The markets in Provence are beautiful to walk around, or to shop. Our tour guide was fabulous. The quaint villages. we loved everything about Provence Mike and Lilian ### Tuscany wine tour 1 January 2020 Where do i start? The villa is out of a movie. You have to see it to believe it. It is such a great experience showing up every morning and not having to worry about anything. I loved that the group was small. We had so much fun. The attention to details made it atrip of a lifetime. Dinners at the villa, the cooking classes, the wineries, the pace, and the balance between everything. Thank you Sam! Donna ### Back to my roots in Sicily 1 January 2020 My father’s family came from a small town in Sicily so it was a dream come true joining this tour. It was all i imagined and more. Marian is fabulous. She is very knowledgeable and thankfully, has a lot of patient. You have to have someone local in order to visit the places we visitedand doing all these activities. i don’t know how Sam does that, but she did a great job. The cooking class is fantastic, staying at the Olive farm is nice, we loved the visit to the flour mill. So cool. Thank you for a memorable trip! Andrea Di salvo ### Bella Umbria 12 October 2019 My daughter and i signed up for this tour as an extension after the Secrets of Tuscany tour. I am so happy for we did that. Umbria is so beautiful, less crowded and touristy. The food was great. The hotel was beautiful. Our tour guide was amazing. She took us to her hometown, Orvieto toan underground private cave which was very interesting. The truffle hunting followed by lunch at the family farm was a memorable experience. Thank you Sam for all your advice and help! Mindy ### Great time in Amalfi 12 October 2019 We had the absolute best time in the Amalfi. Salvatore is such a good driver, and a singer! We loved the visit to the lemon farm and making pasta with the family. The visit to the small family vineyard was unforgettable. They food kept coming and coming.. The day of shopping with Salvatore and cookingat his house was the cherry on the top. We highly recommend this tour. Carrie ### Burgundy was the highlight of our trip 11 October 2019 We are so happy that we decided to book this tour. It was the highlight of a honeymoon trip to France. The house is located up the hill overlooking vineyards. They have a beautiful underground cave with a jacuzzi where you can sit and sip. The tour guide was wonderful. We learned about the winesof the region while visiting small wineries. The whole approach is so personal. Sam suggested that we plan the trip around a Saturday in order to see the market in Beaune. This certainly added to the French country wine experience. we highly recommend Food N wine and the Burgundy tour. Sally H. ### The best trip in the south of Spain 11 October 2019 The tour guides were awesome. seville is amazing. The hotel location was so central that Seville is literally at your door step. The cooking class was so much fun. We also loved the tapas bar hopping in the evening with David. Every day was exciting and interesting. We have already booked again for next year. Sheila M. ### A true gem - go! 11 October 2019 This little country caught me by surprise. So beautiful. Picture perfect. We stayed at a central hotel few steps from the center which was great to walk around Ljubljana. I Would not change anything in the itinerary. It was so much more than i imagined. Thank you so much. Ann E. ### Culinary paradise in Umbria 11 October 2019 Don’t know where to start: Amazing!! I traveled with friends. A group of 8 women. Sam suggested going to Umbria and it was on point. Away from the crowds. What an amazing region. The scenery, the small towns, the family farm and the cooking class. We had the best time. The hotel is beautiful. Thetour guide was so wonderful and knowledgeable. We are looking forward to the next trip. Pam ### Anniversary trip to Sicily 11 October 2019 When I imagined the tour to Sicily I thought well, looks like a great group tour, but it exceeded our expectations. We visited to places that we would have never find on our own. The visit to the flour mill was so special, the dinners at the olive farm, The quaint hotel on the island. Sam puts her heart into the tours, and it shows: The quick response, the offer to help, the tour book. Thank you for creating wonderful memories. George ### Adventure in Portugal 11 October 2019 We traveled with a group of friends. The tour guide was wonderful and so accommodating. The cooking class was a highlight. I never thought that I would like Port but after learning about port and tasting it – I like it. Portugal is a very interesting country. So many unique places: The palace outside Lisbon, Obidos, the university of Coimbra, Porto, the Douro, the villages, the food. This was an adventure. Thank you. Frank and Moreen ### Bordeaux Classique 11 October 2019 Our time in Bordeaux was precious. Francoise is truly an expert in all things wine, and I cannot think of a better way to discover Bordeaux with a true bordelaise. The wineries were superb, the lunches, the picnics, oh, the oysters were to die for. The accommodations are so cozy and chic at the sametime. We loved it. Thank you, Sam. For putting this together. We love you too! Sue R. 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