Join us for the most delicious
culinary retreat in Barcelona!
April 14-20, 2024
Culinary Adventure in Barcelona!
April 14-20, 2024
Grab your partner, BFF or just come solo and let’s go! Six nights accommodations with five full days of custom cooking and food experiences in Barcelona, Spain. Includes dining, cooking, tours and more. Space is limited so don’t miss this foodie adventure in the gorgeous city of Barcelona! They are best known for tapas, paella, and architecture. It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime. Let’s make memories!
This unique culinary experience is for you if:
You are a foodie and want to experience the most delicious Spanish food you have ever tasted
You love local wine
You love to eat and experience a region through their food
You like to have a trip planned to include the best spots to visit
You love to eat and talk about food and have a chef as your guide
You like to take hands on cooking classes
You like hanging out with culinary likeminded people
You want to getaway in the Spring for the trip of a lifetime
What is included
6 nights accommodations- 4 nights at a 4 star hotel in the city center of Barcelona and 2 nights outside the city center in Penedes
All breakfasts and all but one lunch are included. Three dinners are included with flexibility to explore local restaurants for dinner while in Barcelona (see itinerary below)
Three cooking classes, including paella, tapas, and traditional foods from the region
Full day walking tour of Barcelona including the famous Sagrada Famiglia
Full time access to Chef Debbie and all of her food knowledge
Pre trip virtual cooking class to meet the group and learn one of Chef Debbie’s famous recipes
FUN and connection
La Sagrada Famiglia
Our Itinerary
Day 1
Make your way to the hotel at your leisure
Meet at the hotel bar in Barcelona in the evening
Walk to a local restaurant for a group “no host” dinner
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning cooking class- paella
Lunch at the cooking class
Free afternoon to shop and relax
Dinner on your own
Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel
Full day walking tour of the city
La Sagrada Famiglia
Gothic quarter
Food market visit and food tasting
Tapas lunch
Dinner on your own
Day 4
Breakfast at the hotel
Free morning and afternoon to explore the city
Evening tapas cooking class
Dinner at cooking class
Day 5
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Penedes
Cooking class to learn local specialties
Lunch at the cooking class
Walking tour of beach town, Sitges
Dinner at the hotel
Day 6
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit to Montserrat
Visit a local winery with tasting
Local lunch at another winery
Relax for the afternoon
Farewell dinner at the hotel
Day 7
Breakfast at the hotel
Group transport to Barcelona city center train station
Seafood lunch in Vasto, Italy from my last trip
Why travel with Chef Debbie?
I live to and love to travel and started going on family trips at a young age which laid the groundwork for a lot of International travel as a young adult. I was always fascinated by the tastes and smells of the places we visited and as someone obsessed with food, I wanted to try it all. Early on, I realized the best way for me to explore a new region is through their food and food culture and my mission now is to share that with others through these culinary retreats. Traveling with me is like having your very own food guide.
Don’t take my word for it. See what past culinary retreat participants have said:
“I am willing to go anywhere with Chef Debbie. It is nice having someone in charge of the group to facilitate the agenda. Debbie your travel experience is a bonus to us new travelers.”
— Diane D.
“Just back from a cooking retreat with Debbie.…Wow, where to start?! This trip was fun from beginning to end. Starting with a group cooking zoom pre-trip to our gnocchi making class, there were so many fun parts, it's impossible to pick just a couple. If you love great food and fun people, this is the trip for you!”
— Dawn McGee
“Although I have been to cooking classes in Italy in the past, this recent retreat to Abruzzo surpassed them all. Debbie’s leadership and involvement with every detail made the trip run flawlessly. The palazzo offered views of the snow capped mountains while getting aromas of the most delicious foods being prepared in our classes. The chef was great with his step by step instructions presented in a very entertaining way. This trip was not just enjoyable but will bring my cooking and way of eating to a new level. Brava Debbie- all your hard work paid off for a once in a lifetime experience!!”
— Susan Basta
Pricing
$3,500 per person, double occupancy
$500 deposit required upon registration and balance due by February 1st
Rooms can accommodate two travelers in two single beds or one large bed
All rooms have en suite bathrooms
Single room upgrade available for the solo traveler for $850 surcharge
FAQs
Where are we staying?
Two 4 star hotels, one in the city center of Barcelona and one in the countryside of Penedes.
Is the flight included?
No, flights are not included. Please do not book any flights until you confirm your spot on the trip with Chef Debbie. Please note that you will make your way to the hotel in Barcelona on your own and will just need to be there by the evening meet up time for our group dinner on April 14th. For the return transport on April 20th, we will be dropped off at the train station in the city center of Barcelona by 10am so please plan your flight time accordingly or request assistance booking a hotel for another night.
Can I get travel insurance?
Yes, once registered and confirmed with Chef Debbie, travel insurance is highly recommended. The best kind to get is the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance purchased through an independent carrier (so bypass the insurance on the airline website if you are going for CFAR). CFAR must be purchased before any deposits are paid or flights are booked for the trip. If you prefer to instead purchase insurance for the trip based upon a dollar amount or other coverage, there are a number of carriers that can help. I used Allianz for mine and purchased for my household for a full year since I travel often.
What is the cancellation policy?
After booking, any cancellation forfeits the $500 deposit per person. It is recommended to purchase travel insurance (CFAR) to cover the bulk of your cost. The balance is due by February 1, 2024 and cancelation needs to be done by February 28, 2024 to recover the balance less the deposit.
What is the refund policy?
If the trip is cancelled by The Effortless Kitchen after payment is received, you will receive a full refund..
What are the Covid restrictions?
We will follow the local government guidelines. If at the time of travel, there are Covid testing requirements, any costs associated are the responsibility of the individual traveler.
Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Each situation is unique and we will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs. Please indicate on the allergy section of the retreat agreement your preferences and indicate whether it’s an anaphylaxis allergy. It is very helpful to know foods, especially vegetables, you don’t enjoy eating as well.
Are all meals included?
The dinners for 3 of the 4 nights in Barcelona are not included by design. We want to give you the opportunity to explore the city at night and sample a variety of local restaurants at your leisure. All other meal times are covered with the exception of lunch on the free day in Barcelona.
What is a no host dinner?
A no host dinner is where everyone pays for their own meal. The reason this meal is not set and paid for is that it would be considered a group dinner by the restaurant and we would have a limited menu of options to choose from. Please make sure you have enough euros at the beginning of the trip for this dinner as the restaurant does not typically split checks.
How many people are going on this trip? I have not done a group trip before.
This is going to be a small group and the plan is to have a maximum of 12-14 people to keep it intimate. Chef Debbie will reach out to each participant prior to registering to ensure they are a good fit for the group experience. There is also free time built into parts of the itinerary to allow for down time or independent exploring.
Are there additional expenses I should know about that are not indicated on the itinerary?
Besides the obvious expense for shopping and souvenirs, alcohol is extra with the exception of a glass of wine at group meals that are included in the itinerary. Tipping is optional but should also be a consideration when thinking about how much euros you will need for the trip.
What should I pack?
No need for dressy clothes or shoes. Outfits can be casual and comfortable. Some people may choose to dress up a bit for dinner but it is not mandatory. Layers are helpful as nights can be cooler. Comfortable shoes are the most important in Europe as the streets tend to be cobblestone. It’s helpful to wear long pants and closed toed shoes for the cooking classes.