Join us for the most delicious
culinary retreat in Tuscany!
April 26 - May 3, 2025
*This trip is sold out. Please join our interest list for the Fall of 2025 trip to destination TBD*
Culinary Adventure in Tuscany!
April 26-May 3, 2025
Grab your partner, BFF or just come solo and let’s go! Seven nights accommodations with six full days of custom cooking and food experiences in Tuscany, Italy. Includes dining, cooking, tours and more. Space is limited so don’t miss this foodie adventure on the gorgeous region of Tuscany! They are best known for their food, beautiful landscapes, art, and wine. 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 Italian 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 completely planned for you including the best spots to visit
You love to eat and talk about food and have a chef (me) as your guide
You like to take hands on cooking classes from local Italian chefs
You like hanging out with culinary likeminded people
You want to getaway in the Spring for the trip of a lifetime
What is included
7 nights accommodations- 3 nights in Florence at a 4 star hotel and and 4 nights in a farmhouse outside of Siena
All breakfasts are included. Six lunches and two dinners are included with a complimentary glass of local wine at each meal
Two hands on cooking classes, including traditional foods from the region and pasta
UNESCO world heritage site to taste wine and cheese
Full time access to Chef Debbie and her lifetime of global food knowledge
Pre trip virtual cooking class to meet the group and learn one of Chef Debbie’s famous recipes
FUN and connection
Our Itinerary
Day 1
Make your way to the hotel at your leisure
Free afternoon and evening
Day 2
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Guided walking tour of Florence and the markets with tasting
Free afternoon to walk around and relax
Group dinner at a local restaurant
Day 3
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Trip to Fiesole just outside of Florence
Cooking class for lunch making local specialties
Lunch at cooking class
Free afternoon
Dinner on your own
Day 4
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Depart for the Farmhouse outside of Siena
Travel along the Chiantigiana road
Lunch in a farmhouse
Arrive at our accommodation at the Farmhouse
Dinner on own at the Farmhouse
Day 5
Breakfast buffet at the Farmhouse
Visit to San Gimignano
Visit to Volterra
Group lunch
Evening and dinner on your own at the Farmhouse
Day 6
Breakfast buffet at the Farmhouse
Hands on cooking class at the Farmhouse
Lunch at the cooking class
Afternoon free at the Farmhouse
Evening visit to Siena to shop and dine on own for dinner
Day 7
Breakfast buffet at the Farmhouse
Visit Val D’Orcia
Visit Montalcino and Pienza
Lunch at farmhouse or winery
Downtime before dinner
Group dinner at the Farmhouse
Day 8
Breakfast buffet at the Farmhouse
Group transport to Florence airport and Florence train station (SMN)
Parmigiano Reggiano tour in Parma, Italy- a unique experience for us
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. I seek out the best foodie hot spots and special unique experiences. My trips are not cookie-cutter tours. I work tirelessly with our local guides to build the perfect culinary trips.
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.
“The culinary retreat was wonderful! The staff at the hotel, Debbie, and my fellow travelers made for a very special and memorable experience. I felt very comfortable traveling alone as an older single woman, which is a huge thing for me. The cooking classes were amazing and fun, and the organization of the trip was perfect - Debbie is incredible and wonderfully thoughtful!”
— Deb H.
“I absolutely loved this trip! I never thought I would have a chance to visit Italy, but this trip made it possible. It is super easy for a solo traveler to go on this adventure without any hesitation! The food and accommodations were top notch. Everywhere we went, I felt like a VIP because we were taken such good care of. I know that even if I had visited Italy on my own, I would not have seen it in this way. Debbie is amazing and the cooking classes were so fun! Highly recommend, but bring your appetite and stretchy pants because you will want to eat and drink EVERYTHING!!”
— Gina A.
Pricing
$3,950 per person, double occupancy **
$950 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 $700 surcharge
It is required that all travelers purchase their own travel insurance for both medical and travel related issues
** 3.5% will be added for credit card payments (4.5% outside the US)
** If the Euro is higher than 1.16 USD to the Euro at the time of final payment, adjustments will be made to the final price
FAQs
Where are we staying?
In Florence in a 4 star hotel and in a farmhouse outside of Siena
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 we have a group transfer on May 3rd to the Florence airport and the train station. Flight times should not be booked before noon on May 3rd.
Do I have to get travel insurance?
Yes, once registered and confirmed with Chef Debbie, travel insurance is mandatory. You are required to purchase travel medical insurance as well as coverage to include cancellation, curtailment, and all other expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience during travel. There are a number of carriers that offer coverage. 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 $950 deposit per person. It is required to purchase travel insurance to cover your cost. The balance is due by February 1, 2025 and cancelation needs to be done by February 15, 2025 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?
Hoping we don’t have to deal with this again, but 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?
Some meals are not included by design . We want to give you the opportunity to explore and sample a variety of local restaurants at your leisure. All other meal times are covered. Breakfast at the hotels is buffet style with typical Italian breakfast foods such as sweets, meats, and cheese.
Do I have to participate in all group activities?
Nothing is mandatory and you are welcome to spend this trip as you wish. While we would love for everyone to do all of the group activities together, we understand. We just ask that we are notified the day of or the day before so we are aware. Also, participants who miss group activities will not be reimbursed.
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 12-16 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. Depending on the location, there will be suggestions provided for what to do during our downtime.
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 one 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. Some people like to tip our guide, Marco. He will be with us for the entire 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. Late April in Tuscany averages around 65-70F. 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. If the weather cooperates, you may want to pack a bathing suit. The Farmhouse has a pool, however, it is not heated.