Flavoursholidays.co.uk Bewertungen 

This was my first Flavours holiday. Throughout the booking process I felt well-informed and the Zoom meeting prior to departure was helpful. I attended a cookery holiday in Sicily. From a travel point of view the transfers went smoothly and continued to do so throughout the week when we went on excursions. The villa was in a beautiful setting and I relaxed from the outset. Our host, Valeria, was delightful and very quickly adapted to the group (which was extrovert and full of fun). Our chef, Carla, was an amazing character and we all appreciated her sense of humour. Her English language was charmingly limited and Valeria met the shortfall in excellent fashion. There was so much laughter. I appreciated the "no single room supplement" and enjoyed time at the stunning pool and privacy in my comfortable room. I am planning where to go next with Flavours - this certainly won't be my only holiday with this amazing company.

I put pen to paper after a disappointing holiday with Flavours as the holiday was not as I booked it which was a cooking holiday in Sicily with a group of fellow cooks. I had experienced two earlier cooking holidays with Flavours and had enjoyed the fun and cameraderie that arises when people cook and learn together.

I booked early as I wanted particularly wanted to go to Sicily and had missed out on the year before. All was well until two weeks prior to the departure date I was informed I was the only person who had booked to cook! They blamed some “late cancellations” I assumed they would cancel my holiday as their terms and condition clearly state “All courses are subject to a minimum number of bookings and we therefore reserve the right to cancel and in this event we will return all monies which you have paid. Clearly one person cannot be a minimum number so I expected my refund.I could then claim my flight on holiday insurance.

However they instead informed me that I could:

1) Join another group in a different part of Italy on the same dates and they would pay the airline amendment fee. Fine except I had been there before and there was no flight from my airport to the new site on the day specified, So I would need to book a whole new flight with a different airline at £400. No offer was made to meet that cost!

2) Join a painting group and although I would still be given cooking lessons it would just be me and the chef who would be cooking for the whole group. More kitchen assistant than holiday!

3) Join a Pilates group where again I and the chef would be cooking for the whole group. However at least when I joined them on the outings they would be at leisure and not painting. They also had two days cooking in their itinerary so more of the convivial sharing the cooking experience would be possible.

I emailed back and said I was unhappy about the choices being offered but option 3 was my least disliked if they would not give me a refund. I also pointed out that if they had really had late cancellations, then under their booking terms, the money paid by the people who cancelled was not refundable so they could easily afford to refund me and still be in pocket. I heard nothing! I emailed again 3 days later, again nothing ,then 2 days later same result. I tried to phone, gave my name and the line went dead…..

I then received an email saying that another person had joined to cook and that the two of as had been added to the painting group! We would still cook but again for the whole group. I later found the other cook had not been told when she booked that there were only two people as she would not have booked if she had known.

So the holiday went ahead but the cooking experience was nothing like the fun of previous holidays. We did much pasta making and rolling for such a big group but little cooking in the kitchen as the chef had a lot to do in limited time. In one session we had to get a member of the painting group to help out as we were falling so far behind behind!

Whilst the painting group were lovely they were a painting group and built experiences with each other and there was not the same sense of engagement and enjoyment as previously. It was money wasted.

However my real complaint is the total lack of response and engagement by the office in Glasgow when my holiday was falling apart. No one picked up the phone or answered my emails. I would have accepted a refund and booked again next year or even a credit against a future holiday but the lack of contact and the feeling that once they have your money they are not giving it back, even if they cannot give you the holiday the brochure sold you. I noted after the fact that in another part of their terms they say “We reserve the right to withdraw or modify at any time the arrangements advertised where necessary. In the unlikely event of the accommodation advertised, proposed itinerary, or group holiday leader etc being unavailable, we will endeavour to provide a suitable alternative." There is nothing about it being a mutually agreed suitable alternative. They can impose a “suitable alternative” even if you disagree as outlined above. For this reason I will not book again as the same situation could arise. I did have a discussion about this with their new General manager who joined us for a day of the holiday and he said he would look into the lack of communication with me on his return. Again I heard nothing. It is a shame as had they handled the situation better this review might not have been necessary.

The holiday was great from start to finish. To start the staff at Flavours were super helpful when I needed to make a change to my original booking at short notice .
Then when it came to the holiday we were looked after very well starting with the arrival at Brindisi where meeting up and getting to know my very friendly fellow guests and pilates teacher was a perfect start to a perfect week .
The villa was just stunning overlooking the sea and situated in very well kept gardens, it was a remote location but that didn’t seem to matter .
We did 10 pilates classes over the week with our teacher Helen which were superb and Helen was a great pilates teacher as well as a genuinely lovely person.
In between we had some time at leisure at the villa and also had a couple of cooking lessons, as well trips out to local villages and also to Lecce which was a highlight including a lovely dinner with the group who were on a painting holiday that week .
Accommodation was individual and lovely, mine being a 2 bed apartment in a separate building built in “Trulli”
Style not the same type you see in Alberobello but ones more typical to this southern tip of Puglia.
The food was delicious and the cook Mena whilst speaking no English seemed genuinely delighted when we told her how much we enjoyed her food , translated by our great host Sara who was new to this role, a little shy with us to start with but really did want to please our group and was definitely coming out of her shell a bit as the week progressed.

This was my second flavours holiday. My first was a cooking holiday to Sicily which I also thoroughly enjoyed and I will definitely be back for another Flavours holiday before too long.
I definitely recommend Flavours and their holidays.

I was really looking forward to the cooking holiday in Tuscany although bit anxious as travelling solo. I was concerned that there seemed to be lots of free time but was assured by Flavours that after cooking everyone was glad to be able to relax by the swimming pool. On the way to the villa, we received a message that the pool would not be available to us due to work carried out and we were given a bottle of olive oil as an apology. The villa was quite remote, and I did not feel safe to walk around the country lanes by myself. The other ladies on the course were friends, but I was able to join them once for a walk. There was a photography group staying at the same villa and they were unhappy with the location of the villa as there was nothing much for them to take pictures of, just greenery and no contrast.

The accommodation at the villa varied substantially but my room downstairs in the main building was dreadful and considerably inferior to the outside apartments. Flavours were aware that I had a serious back problem which means I always need special assistance at airports. However, there was no chair for me to sit in my bedroom, and I had to sit on my bed which resulted in back pain and spasms during my stay, I never sit on my bed at home, but here I had no option. There was one other lady in the room next to me, in the dungeon as she called it and she was also very unhappy with her room, although better than mine. The toilet in my bathroom was so close to the shower that I had to hold onto the shower to be able to sit sideways on the toilet, the toilet seat wasn’t fixed correctly, it was skew-whiff which made it even more difficult. The other guests could not believe it until they came to see and all agreed that the room should not have been allocated but was especially unsuitable for me with my medical condition which was made worse having no chair to sit on. They were all disgusted with the bathroom and the fact that I did not have a comfy chair.

The others stayed in 2 or 3 bedroom apartments, each with their own bathroom but also had a large lounge with sofa and comfortable chairs and a kitchen for their private use. When I complained to Flavours about my inferior room, they merely said that the ‘rooms vary in size and layout, but it is uncomparable - I had just a bedroom and bathroom, whereas the apartments included a kitchen and lounge with sofa and comfortable chairs in addition to a bedroom and bathroom - and I paid the same price for substantial inferior accommodation. Flavours said I should have complained to the Host but if they had only bothered to check, I had complained to the Host, and she only offered me a hard chair from the dining room table. It was not a comfortable chair, and it was needed for breakfast, lounge and dinner, so I was not going to carry the chair up and down the stairs to my room in between meals!

The chef was very talented but spoke no English. The Host tried her best, but her English was rather limited, and she used her phone often to translate. The chef spoke to us sometimes at great length in Italian and then the Host repeated in English with just a few words, obviously a lot was lost in translation. The Host wasn’t with us all the time for the cookery sessions as she said that she had other duties, namely cleaning and it was frustrating that the chef was trying to explain to us in Italian and some in the group guessing what she said. This was the Host’s first week working for Flavours and she was lovely, however if Flavours cannot find a chef that speaks English, then the Host should be capable of speaking English to a good enough standard to translate cooking terminology. We all made pasta twice, but I was disappointed with the lack of hands-on experience, we mostly just watched the chef or one or two being asked to separate eggs or use a mixer for instance.

I complained to Flavours whilst in Tuscany and after I arrived back home and I cannot believe their response, 'Your feedback has been shared internally and will form part of our ongoing review process'. Due to their unbelievable response and lack of understanding, I will not trust them again and will look for a better company that provide cookery holidays with English speaking chefs and not waste my money on Flavours again

My learning Italian in Sicily holiday was fantastic.
Alessia, our teacher, was excellent. I learned so much from her.
The lessons were well planned, informative and fun!
Our food at the villa was great, Jean Luca our chef went out of his way to cater for the various needs of the group. The food was fresh, seasonal, and above all very tasty.
I enjoyed the excursions and I really liked that Alessia prepared classes covering the necessary vocabulary to enrich the experience.
I would recommend this holiday, it was both educational and relaxing.
The holiday was well-paced, allowing the right balance of activity and down time.

I had always wanted to learn to paint with watercolours, and several years ago, not knowing how to hold a pencil, what type of watercolour paper or brushes I needed, I booked my first painting holiday with Flavours. I learnt so much, and it inspired me to continue with my painting. The joy with using Flavours is that everything is done for you, you don't have to think about anything, just sit back and enjoy your holiday. I have recently returned from Sicily, and again had such a good time. The tutor is always enthusiastic about his art and will help support you with producing your artwork. The villa we stayed in was typically Sicilian and very comfortable. We had a local chef producing amazing authentic food, and plenty of it. There was always wine on tap, and all our catering needs were met. The host was very friendly, and always made sure we had everything we needed. I can honestly say I enjoy myself on these holidays, so much so I have already booked another one for next year.

Cooking in Venice Italy
Lovely few days cooking in a beautiful villa with Chef Vanessa and Laura our host
Vanessa was a brilliant chef so creative, excellent food.
Laura was a lovely person very attentive couldn’t do enough for us. Fabulous trip to Venice loved it. Also Processco tasting so enjoyable.

I am about to take my fifth holiday with Flavours having been to language and cooking holidays. Booking is simple and Flavours helpful if you have a query. A zoom call before the holiday is a super idea so you meet everyone. Accommodation is always great, you are catered for with delicious food and wine, excursions and meals out always carefully chosen and excellent. Flavours always listen carefully if you have any requests and are very accommodating. If you are on your own and hesitant about a solo holiday there is absolutely no need, everyone is friendly and you can suit yourself if you need quiet time. I have made two good friends on these holidays, in fact this year I went with one to Italy with Flavours of course. I would highly recommend them

My husband and I booked this painting holiday in Sicily to celebrate our 10th anniversary and we were not disappointed. We stayed in Valata Minusa, a beautiful rustic villa in the countryside close to Modica, alongside other guests who were painting or cooking. We had wonderful food and shared mealtimes together, casually getting to know one another. I am by no means an experienced painter, more of a hobby dabbler and the tutor explained many techniques to help me achieve my best work. I needn’t have worried about feeling self conscious as the other painters were so absorbed with their own work there was no feeling of competition, only people enjoying their own development. The meals were fabulous and very generous, and the wine flowed (if you wanted it). Although I was on the painting holiday I have come away with so many new cooking ideas and have been making changes to the way we eat to be healthier and fresh. Caponata is my new go to with fish or chicken!! Overall this was a great holiday with lovely interesting like minded people, full of joy and laughter. So good, we’ve made a photo book to enjoy and share our memories. Well done Flavours.

I had the most amazing cooking trip in Tuscany and loved every second.
This was my 1st trip in doing this and certainly won’t be my last.
A truly great experience.

I’ve just returned from my first Flavours holiday in Andalucia and what a fabulous experience it was. Beautiful venue, amazing food cooked in the villa and the restaurants we were taken to on the trips were great. The hostess Carmen looked after us so well. Gillian our teacher was great and we had such fun painting and socialising with the group. Everyone on the flavours team in the office is so helpful and friendly. My friend and I are going again next year to Tuscany.

Third time I have travelled with Flavours; each time on a Cookery holiday - this was extremely well organised from beginning through to our return to UK. organisation from the flavours office was as usual efficient and clear. I’ve enjoyed these holidays so much, that two of the people attending this one were actually doing so on a recommendation for myself. The Villa, Casino Pisanelli,was extremely comfortable and stylish with attractive grounds, the cooking experiences each day with Antonio was very much hands-on with all of us taking part in all stages of preparation. cooking and then enjoying afterwards. evening meals on this Holiday were provided by a private chef brought in by flavours - his cooking was excellent and all of us enjoyed and looked forward to the evening meal experience; the qualty of accompanying wine was high. Three short outings were included on the Holiday and these were appropriate to our interests and my case to my capacities walking. the only issue that I did have was that access to the swimming pool was extremely difficult given my mobility issues. I did swim once but found the process of getting out of the pool far too difficult. I would’ve enjoyed being able to do this more easily. All in all this was very much a five star Holiday and five star review.

We spent 4 nights in a Villa in Tuscany on a cookery course. The villa was immaculate, spacious and in a wonderful setting. The host and chef (Carlo) were both exceptional making the whole experience a real pleasure.

Another delightful holiday with Flavours, this time a Taster Holiday in Marrakech which I can highly recommend. There were yoga lessons, cooking local Moroccan dishes and plenty of interesting sights to explore in and around this fascinating City.
The food was delicious, the accommodation very comfortable and the charming staff could not have done more for us.

Having recently lost my husband I was rather nervous of going on holiday alone. I need not have worried. I had a fabulous time. We were met at the airport and transferred to a beautiful villa in Tuscany. We were greeted by our lovely host Sara for the week, followed by a lovely meal cooked by our villa chef- Barbara.
We were a small group of seven, all like minded people with an interest in cuisine. The surrounding countryside was breath taking. It was all very relaxed. Cooking instruction mostly mainly in the mornings with Barbara, followed by a delicious 3 course meal. The afternoons were for relaxing or visiting local villages and towns. I had such a good time. My only complaint is I wish I could have stayed longer!
I went during the last week of April. The weather was ideal for me, averaging abt 72 degrees. It did get chilly in the evening, so take a warm jumper or cardigan.
The booking process was easy, any concerns were dealt with promptly and I must say the after care since returning has been exceptional. Flavours are a travel company who genuinely care about their clients. I shall definetly be going again- no question. 😎

Recently back from my seventh Flavours Holiday in Scicily. As always the venue, fellow guests, training (this time Yoga), food, excursions and free time were all great. Flavours have found the formula to make this work even if it is the first singles trip you try. You are sure to be back!

I have taken 2 holidays with Flavours and can't wait to do my 3rd. Everything from the accommodations, tudors, food, and relaxation. I can't say enough about how special a week with Flavours is. The freedom to paint with no distractions is wonderful and fun.

I had the most wonderful week in Venice, particularly in the magnificent manner House belonging to Vanessa. She’s an amazing cook and a wonderful hostess and sharing her home was magnificent .

I have had 4 fabulous painting holidays with Flavours. The first was in Tuscany, then Andalucia, Dumfries and Galloway. More recently to the beautiful island of Siscily. Every trip is extremely well organized from the first contact with Flavours staff arranging booking, to the actual holiday experience. It doesn't matter if you have never painted before, you may want to discover what you can achieve in a relaxed, no pressure situation with like minded individuals. The accommodation is always excellent and single occupancy. Each holiday includes a dedicated chef and host throughout your stay. I'm coeliac and my dietary needs have been catered for with no concerns. I have 2 more holidays booked already. Morocco in November and Venice in May next year. Highly recommend Flavours. Also available, pilates, language, cooking, photography......
Something for everyone. Enjoy!

This was my second Flavours holiday - going with new friends met on first Flavours holiday in Sicily! It was even better. This one was to Morocco, nr Marakesh. It was the most wonderful holiday I have been on. The main theme was pilates and we had an absolutely wonderful teacher (Diane) and wonderful host (Sara) - the villa was great despite one or two hiccups (inevitable in a grand villa) - all dealt with speedily by Sara. The group of people were friendly, considerate and great fun. The trips out were well planned, well organised and not over long . Marrakesh was worth visiting - we all felt completely safe and well looked after. Enjoyed the holiday so much many of us booked for the next one with Diane in Seville, September. Sadly Sara will not be hosting this one. Looking forward to it already.