Not In The Guidebooks Avaliações 

We went to Palazzo Del Duca in Tuscany for s residential cookery course run by Mirella and Francesco. It was excellent.

I am going to recommend itt to my mother-in-law, who loves cooking. We picked up some tricks for preparing traditional Italian food, including making pasta from scratch.

Bellissima!

Had a great experience with Francesco and Mirella at Palazzo del Duca. Wonderful hosts and lovely accommodation. Cooking experience with Mirella was amazing and Francesco's wine tour, knowledge and tasting were exceptional. Highly recommend it. Would definitely go back.

What a wonderful 4 nights in the company of Mirella and Francesco.
In the hidden gem of Northern Tuscany.
2 afternoons of cooking with Mirella, who mixes local and seasonal produce into sublime dishes.
Francesco gave us a lesson and education in wine tasting with his own Chanti Classico wines, with his passion and skills his wines deserve great credit.
Their Palazzo is beautiful, in the village of Tavernelle. Full of medieval charm, rustic and maybe not polished, but that’s what makes it so good. You can get polished marble perfectly tiled bathrooms in hotels, but this place has character, love and authenticity.
Francesco took us on a tour to the Cinque Terre coast, visiting a winery, seeing the winery in action then tasting their produce, you can’t help but fall in love with the wines with Francesco’s enthusiasm.
We then visited the village of Manarola, enjoying a meal overlooking the sea, again he chose local wines and the food was amazing.
I can’t thank them enough, making us feel like we were cooking, eating and drinking with friends, not as paying customers.

The four day Tuscan food and wine break with Francesco and Mirella was a wonderful experience. Their Pallazo and gardens are beautiful and peaceful, well off the Tuscan beaten track. Cooking, wine tasting and touring wine makers were all so enjoyable. Merilla and Francesco are both experts and yet make you feel relaxed and at home, they are perfect hosts. Claire at Not in the Guidebooks did a great job of helping me make the choice, the whole trip exceeded my expecations. Thank you all.

Great experience in Palazzo del Duca by Francesco

Wow — what a place, what fantastic hosts, and what incredible food and wine!

This was our first yoga holiday in Tuscany with Not In The Guide Books, and it was an amazing experience from beginning to end. From being collected at Pisa airport, through the beautiful journey to the Palazzo Del Duca , to being warmly welcomed by Francesca and Mirella, we felt cared for, looked after and completely at home.

The Palazzo itself is something else. Set in a remarkable 14th-century village, it is full of character, history and unique rooms, with so many wonderful features to discover. It is the kind of place that makes you slow down, look around and appreciate where you are.

Our hosts were exceptional, and the cookery classes were a real highlight. Their knowledge, warmth and passion for the region, food and wine brought everything to life. We learnt to make gnocchi, panzanella, chestnut pancakes, tortellini, panna cotta and other traditional dishes — and, of course, enjoyed eating them too! The food was delicious, generous and deeply connected to the place.

And the wine tour to Cinque Terre and Francisco’s wine tasting was quite possibly the best day out ever. Beautiful scenery, wonderful wine and an experience we will be talking about for a very long time.

This is such a special place. We almost don’t want to share it, but equally, we cannot recommend it highly enough. Thank you to our wonderful hosts for making our first Tuscan yoga holiday so memorable. We hope to return very soon.

I've just returned from Not In The Guidebooks' Tuscan 4-night Cooking Experience with Wine Tour and it was a total dream trip - such a change of pace from home and ideal for anyone looking for an authentic taste of Italy.

Not In The Guidebooks was great from start to finish. We arrived at a beautiful historic palazzo in a small village in Tuscany, where the owners Francesco and Mirella were waiting to show us round. Each room has its own character and I loved the breakfast and freshly baked bread delivered each day. My room had a terrace with gorgeous sunshine each morning so having breakfast outside, overlooking the pool in the sun, was incredible.

We had cooking classes with Mirella learning to make pasta from scratch, with ricotta ravioli, panzanella salad, fresh tomato soup and delicious tiramisu in the original kitchens. It was such a treat - very relaxed and we could just enjoy at our own pace. All the ingredients are sourced locally and you can tell how fresh and full of flavour they are.

Francesco's wine tasting was just as inspiring - he gave enough detail that we could really appreciate the wine but without having to be an expert - I think you could enjoy this whatever your level of wine knowledge, and he is clearly so passionate and so enthusiastic. He led a tour to a winery in the Cinque Terre as well - gorgeous scenery and interesting to try the white wine that the area is known for.

All in all, it was one of those trips that I think will stay with me because the people were so welcoming and wonderful - I just wish I could go back!

I had a fabulous time on the painting holiday in SW France. Lovely people, amazing food; Claire is such a good cook, washed down with some very good local wines. Martin is also the perfect host with a great sense of humour. The accommodation was very comfortable, not luxurious as such and I was sharing a huge bathroom but more than adequate for the very reasonable price and all the other benefits. I slept better than I have in years. The location was just amazing and a huge swimming pool which was very welcome at the end of a busy hot day.

The weather was perfect which made painting outside a pleasure. Caroline and Anthony the professional artist tutors were very knowledgeable and so helpful and I have my painting mojo back.

I will be dreaming of dinner under the quince tree and painting in gorgeous surroundings for many months to come.

I have just been on NITGB's Tuscan 4-Night Cooking and Wine Tour trip and have had an amazing time.

I stayed at the 17th century Palazzo del Duca an amazing, historical and unique Tuscan palace - very comfortable apartments with everything you need for your stay including Mokka pots and all the coffee you can drink!

Great fresh local produce provided to make your own breakfast and a lovely shared pool which was great in the heat!

As for the extra experiences all included- hosts Francesco & Mirella were wonderful and would do anything for you if needed but also kept there distance if you just wanted some peace and quiet.

Mirella's cooking classes were amazing - definitely an authentic Italian experience, her skills & passion for food shown in everything we made. Every ingredient is sourced locally & fresh were possible - including local meat, cheese and eggs.

Francesco's wine tasting in his from his own ownsite winery was fantastic. The Cinque Terre wine tour and tasting was equally spectacular - he has a real passion and appreciation for wine & his knowledge is just first class.

I would throughly recommend this experience for everyone. It really is amazing value for money.

NITGB staff, especially Vicky were also great before the experience.

I had the pleasure to visit Italy for Not In The Guidebooks’ itinerary titled “Tuscan 4 Night Cooking Experience with Wine Tour” - and what an incredible experience it was!

The highlight for me were the cooking classes with Mirella (and then eating what we had made afterwards!). She showed us a variety of recipes, including some dishes quite local to Tuscany. My favourite part was the pasta making when we made fresh ravioli from scratch.

I’m not a massive wine drinker but I actually really enjoyed the sessions with Fransesco where he taught us how to properly taste a wine (including what difference food makes to the taste of wine). We also learnt about the production of wine - both from Francesco’s own experience as a small batch wine producer, and from a larger winery in Cinque Terre on the included day trip. I’ve now come home with a new found appreciation for wine!

The accommodation itself was great as we had access to a full kitchen which was stocked with ingredients we needed to make our own breakfasts - with fresh bread delivered every morning! There was also a delightful pool to cool off in and relax by during the day - perfect for enjoying a glass of Francesco’s wine and reading a book.

Finally, what I enjoyed most was about this trip was the authenticity. We were made to feel very welcome by our hosts Mirella & Francesco, who are both very kind, knowledgeable and generous. They buy meat from the village butcher, source honey from a neighbour, and get other fresh ingredients from local farmers/pickers/producers. The location in a historic palazzo in the Tuscan countryside also made us slow down, relax and appreciate the small things.

Overall a wonderful trip - highly recommended for anyone with an interest in food or wine!

I spent 4 nights in Tuscany with Not in the Guidebooks, staying with Mirella and Francesco for their Tuscan cooking and wine experience, and it's genuinely one of the best trips I've had.

Not in the Guidebooks were fantastic from start to finish and put together a wonderful few days,

Home for the week was a beautifully restored 400-year-old palazzo in rural Tuscany. The village had a single street of 15th-century buildings, a fortified tower house, and a real sense of local life.

Our apartment had its own kitchen and ensuite rooms, and there was a pool and garden with mountain views to enjoy in the downtime.

Mirella's cooking classes were the highlight. Over two sessions we made ravioli with ricotta, a proper tiramisu, panzanella, tomato soup, a rich pasta sauce and frittole, all using local, seasonal ingredients, and everything we cooked became that night's dinner.

Francesco, a qualified sommelier who makes his own wine, paired each meal perfectly and gave us a tasting and cellar tour of his own reds.

Beyond the kitchen, Francesco gave us a personal tour of the village, we met lots of friendly and welcoming local characters. The bar and restaurant in the village was wonderful - fantastic food, local beers and a very warm welcome.

We also had a day trip to Cinque Terre, with a winery visit and tasting and time in Manarola where we enjoyed a beautiful meal with views to die for.

This is proper, immersive Italy - warm hosts, real food, and an authentic insight into Italian village life.

I'd recommend this trip and Not in the Guidebooks wholeheartedly.

I've just returned from NITGB's Tuscan 4-Night Cooking Experience with Wine Tour and have had the most incredible time!
From start to finish NITGB's looked after me & were on hand if I had any questions.
As for the experience - hosts Francesco & Mirella were wonderful & incredibly hospitable.
Mirella's cooking class was fantastic - definitely an authentic Tuscan experience, you can feel her knowledge & passion for food in every dish. Every ingredient is sourced locally & fresh - we even had the shepherd's wife bring us fresh ricotta for our ravioli.
Francesco's wine tasting & tour - his passion for wine gives you a new perspective & appreciation for wine & his knowledge is just incredible - an incredible sommelier.
Palazzo del Duca is a wonderful, authentic Tuscan palace - very comfortable with everything you need for your stay.
I definitely recommend this tour/experience with Not in the Guidebooks.
Thank you for a wonderful & very memorable stay x

Just on the last night of the Italian Cooking & Wine 4 night trip in Tuscany and it’s just been brilliant . Both hosts are so warm and friendly. Marella taught us how to make tasty Tuscan dishes , I can now make pasta from scratch and all the ingredients came from local suppliers. We even got to meet the local butcher who provided the meat. Francesco is so full of knowledge on wine as he is a qualified sommelier and makes his own wine too which he fully explained to us , he is so passionate about wine being made well. I recommend anybody to do this trip , I can’t wait to try the recipes at home and will never look at a bottle of wine the same again .

We’ve just returned from what can only be described as the trip of a lifetime to Sri Lanka.
Travelling as a family of four with two teenagers can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to finding a holiday that genuinely appeals to everyone, but this exceeded all of our expectations.
What really made the trip special was our guide, who was with us from start to finish. He was incredibly knowledgeable and taught us so much about the country, its culture and wildlife, but always in a natural way. He struck the perfect balance of being there when we needed him whilst giving us the space to enjoy time together as a family.
We visited some amazing national parks, away from the more commercial tourist crowds, and were lucky enough to see elephants, leopards and so much other wildlife. We ticked off some of the iconic experiences too, including the stunning train journey through tea country, but what made the trip stand out was being taken beyond the usual tourist trail.
Some of our favourite memories came from the unexpected moments - meeting local people, visiting places we would never have found on our own and getting a real insight into everyday life in Sri Lanka. Those authentic experiences are what transformed this from a great holiday into something truly unforgettable.
Sri Lanka completely captured our hearts and has given our family memories we'll be talking about for many years to come.

Just returned from 2 weeks in Costa Rica with Not in the Guidebooks. The whole experience from start to finish was second to none.

Costa Rica has so much to offer, I had a tailor made itinerary made and we visited lots of great destinations.

All of our accommodations were of a high standard and there was nothing to fault with any of them. From the location, to the staff to the food and the way the accommodations looked- they were exactly what Not in the Guidebooks say they are about.

We took part in plenty of activities, which were all sustainable experiences, many of which were locally owned and we were able to meet the owners of these amazing experiences. We did a range of activities such as white water rafting, snorkelling, hiking, spotting wildlife and plenty of birds species, learning with locals how sugar cane is processed, making corn tortillas at a local family home and a tour of a locally owned cheese farm. Most of our activities were private, with the exception of a few tours where we were part of a small group of no more than 10 people- it was great to meet new people and bond over the experiences. The small and private groups created a really personal experience and allowed us to really immerse our selves into the amazing country.

All of the guides, from the airport pick up to the airport drop off were professional, friendly and punctual. The guides for the tours had were incredibly knowledgeable about the local areas and the wildlife, spotting animals most people would walk straight past.

Thank you for such an amazing experience- a trip of a lifetime! If you are thinking of booking with Not in the Guidebooks, go for it, you will not be disappointed!

An Incredible Sri Lanka Experience with Not In The Guidebooks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’ve just returned from an unforgettable trip to Sri Lanka with Not In The Guidebooks, and the whole experience exceeded every expectation.

What really sets them apart is the focus on authentic, meaningful travel experiences that genuinely connect you with the destination and local communities. From visiting local schools and family homes to learning traditional coconut tapping, cooking authentic Sri Lankan dishes, and exploring ancient cultural sites, every part of the itinerary felt immersive and thoughtfully designed.

The accommodation throughout was fantastic, ranging from beautiful boutique stays to eco-conscious luxury resorts and safari camps. Highlights included incredible wildlife experiences in Wilpattu National Park, wellness retreats on the east coast, and unique cultural moments you simply wouldn’t find on a standard package holiday.

Everything was extremely well organised, with a great balance of adventure, relaxation, culture, and luxury. The local guides and hosts were warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about showcasing the real Sri Lanka.

A special mention also goes to our driver, Himli, and the team, who made the trip run so smoothly from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a holiday that goes beyond the typical tourist experience and want something authentic, sustainable, and unforgettable, I couldn’t recommend Not In The Guidebooks highly enough.

Figs on the Funcho was one of the most enjoyable holidays I’ve ever had. Great hospitality from Cheryl and Graham. A lovely place to visit. Wonderful communal cooking experiences and fabulous food as the result. A fun and relaxing break!

Fantastic and unique experience that was good value for money. The food and the cooking experience was great and there was a nice mixture of activities and leisure time. The hosts were great and ensured I had a great experience

We went to Vietnam in October for a trip of a lifetime to celebrate my husbands 50th and boy, was it that! Incredible from start to finish and memories made to last. I’m a bit of a control freak and so felt a little uncomfortable leaving such important trip arrangements to someone else, but everything was perfect. A whattsapp chat was started so straight away we could be in contact with our guides and as we moved through Vietnam, we always had someone to message for any enquiries. Every morning or evening before, we’d have a message to say what time and what car registration would be collecting us with the drivers name. The experience and knowledge the guides had in each place was amazing and they were absolutely brilliant- cannot rate them high enough. We also went to places that weren’t used by the tourists, so we went swimming in a waterfall which was incredible, had tea and local food at a lovely ladies house which was lovely, stopping off on the Mekong River, we ended up at a wedding where they took photos of us haha! So many wonderful experiences including spa retreat stay, Vietnamese cooking class, food tasting tour, riding bikes, the most incredible cruise to Ha Long Bay..Another note also, the hotels were always exceptional- clean, really comfortable and to a high standard - with great food. Would thoroughly and highly recommend Not in the Guide Books and wish we could do it all over again - not one thing would I change and definitely recommend the Vietnam 2 week trip from top to bottom of the country. Thank you ☺️

My first trip with Not In The Guidebooks was truly the trip of a lifetime!

The itinerary was perfectly thought out, we saw all the highlights of Sri Lanka, but still had the flexibility to adapt our plans along the way, which made the experience feel incredibly personal and relaxed.

Our private driver‑guide absolutely made the trip. His knowledge, passion, and genuine care turned every day into something special. From sharing local stories to helping us discover hidden gems, he brought the country to life in a way we’ll never forget.

I couldn’t recommend Not In The Guidebooks more highly. It was authentic and unforgettable! Cant wait for my next one!