FAQs

Our difference is baked right into our name: We focus on authentic, traditional, delicious food, and the stories of the people behind it, while we actively travel the most exquisite parts of the Mediterranean either by bicycle or on foot and by van. Cristiano’s heart has been in food since he was a boy watching his grandmother in the kitchen. Through Food.Stories.Travel., he wanted to create experiences that his grandmother would recognize and see as reflecting how she thought about and prepared food for her family. Our tour “ingredients” may be found here.

Because we are…

●      Tailors – We are high-touch and dedicated to designing your dream vacation        

●      Hosts – We don’t merely guide, we curate

●      Taste-testers – Our guides visit all the places, meet all the people, taste all the food, and often come from the region they are leading

●      Conduits – We are committed to your fun and substantive cultural education

●      Stewards – We are a certified B Corp committed to good stewardship

Feel free to peruse our testimonials, organized by region so you can read about a particular trip.

We can run some of our published tours on foot for just two people and our cycling tours only for four participants (an additional supplement may be required and it depends on the destination). For private tours you can decide what group size you prefer. Please give us a call to discuss if you are looking to book as a solo traveler or a couple.

You may start by filling out the Booking Form/Booking Form for Cyclists under “Travel” at the top of our home page. Or feel free to send us an email or give us a call!

Tips to your guides are greatly appreciated. A rule of thumb is 8-15% of trip price per participant, per guide-team, which the guides split evenly. Typically, tips are given in euro cash and received at the end of the tour. Gratuities paid via Paypal are also appreciated (Venmo and Zelle for American guides).

In many cases, we are able to accommodate partial participation on a tour, at a revised cost. Please call us to discuss.

We tend to feature 4-star elegant hotels with the occasional 5-star luxury or 3-star cozy accommodation, depending on what is available in the destination we visit. Whenever possible, we also love to include agriturismi and alberghi diffusi, which are great expressions of local culture and tradition. In any case, we share hotel websites so that you may peruse the properties on your own, in advance.

We can meet your dietary needs. Please let us know in advance to ensure a good fit and an exceptional culinary experience.

You’ll want pocket money for coffee and snacks. Most restaurants for lunches and dinners on your own will accept credit cards. Depending on your style of travel, you may expect to spend somewhere around €15-30 cash per day. Cash is also appreciated for tipping. You will find ATMs in all the major cities and towns you visit. Please consult your guides as to where best to locate ATMs on your tour.

Most smartphones work overseas. (There may be a temporary premium for international service. Check with your provider.) Please note that in rural areas, service may be spotty. Most hotels will offer wifi service, although speeds vary.

After your booking, we are happy to provide a Suggested Packing List to you for your tour.

It’s really about how much you desire to be riding versus doing other things. On all our tours where there may be some riders who want more and some riders who want less, we can adjust routes to accommodate everyone. Details may be found here. Please ask us if you have further questions.

If you prefer to skip a ride, or part of one, no problem! Just hop in the van and enjoy the view and the company of your guide who is driving. Each morning, guides review the day’s route. At any point, you can speak with them about your preferences or concerns before, during and after a ride.

You can read about our bicycles and gear here. Of course please feel free to be in touch if you have questions beyond what is shared here.

Yes, you can, although please consider that we offer high-quality bike rentals. In any case if you prefer to ride your own bike please contact us to know about tour price reduction

Please review our cycling tour levels and contact us via email or phone to be best assisted around this important question.