The Discovery CompassThe Discovery Compass

  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
Search
  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture

The Discovery CompassThe Discovery Compass

  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
Search
  • Home
  • Small Group Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Experiential Travel
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • More
    • Personal
    • Destinations
    • Travel Tips
    • Tours & Vacations
    • Culinary Experiences
    • Culture
Culinary Experiences

Where Hearts Find Home: The Story of Soriano nel Cimino


Why our first location remains the soul of Culture Discovery Vacations Nearly twenty years ago, in a medieval hilltop village that most travelers have never heard of, a dream was born. While everyone else flocked to the famous piazzas of Florence and the dramatic coastlines of Cinque Terre, we discovered something...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 13, 2025
  • 0
Experiential Travel

Small Group Travel Myths Debunked: The Truth About Authentic Cultural Tours


Discover why small group travel myths are wrong! Learn how authentic cultural tours with 14-18 guests offer better value, flexibility, and access than large group tourism. Expert insights from 20+ years in travel.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 4, 2025
  • 0
Culture & Lifestyle

Portugal Tours: Why 8 Days around Porto Beats 8 Cities in 8 Days (A Travel Industry Insider’s Honest Take)


Tired of Portugal tours that leave you empty? An industry insider reveals why 8 days immersed in Northern Portugal offers true cultural connection and lasting transformation, far beyond rushing through 8 cities.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • June 24, 2025
  • 1
Culture & Lifestyle

Unveiling the World of Luxury Experiential Travel


Luxury experiential travel focuses on providing unique and immersive experiences for travelers, allowing them to engage with local cultures and environments in a more meaningful way (National Geographic). And so… it’s time to totally redefine what luxury travel means in travel, moving beyond traditional opulence to...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 26, 2025
  • 1
Luxury Travel

Why Small-Group Travel is the Ultimate Luxury Experience


What is “Luxury of Experience” in Small-Group Travel? Luxury of experience is a travel approach that prioritizes authentic connections, unhurried time, and exclusive access through personal relationships rather than traditional luxury amenities. Unlike conventional luxury focused on material comforts, this...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 12, 2025
  • 2
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 13: “Two Guys and a TuTu”


As with every post in this series, if you are jumping in here, it is like jumping into the middle of a movie. Please start with Part 1, or this will make absolutely no sense. It’s been a while since I posted an article in this series!  Sorry about that! But to get you in the mood of 1984 and where my...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 21, 2023
  • 9
Read Article
Culinary Experiences
Culinary Experiences

Where Hearts Find Home: The Story of Soriano nel Cimino


Why our first location remains the soul of Culture Discovery Vacations Nearly twenty years ago, in a medieval hilltop village that most travelers have never heard of, a dream was born. While everyone else flocked to the famous...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 13, 2025
  • 0
  • Read More...
Read Article
Experiential Travel
Experiential Travel

Small Group Travel Myths Debunked: The Truth About Authentic Cultural Tours


Discover why small group travel myths are wrong! Learn how authentic cultural tours with 14-18 guests offer better value, flexibility, and access than large group tourism. Expert insights from 20+ years in travel.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 4, 2025
  • 0
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture & Lifestyle
Culture & Lifestyle

Portugal Tours: Why 8 Days around Porto Beats 8 Cities in 8 Days (A Travel Industry Insider’s Honest Take)


Tired of Portugal tours that leave you empty? An industry insider reveals why 8 days immersed in Northern Portugal offers true cultural connection and lasting transformation, far beyond rushing through 8 cities.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • June 24, 2025
  • 1
  • Read More...
Read Article
Culture & Lifestyle
Culture & Lifestyle

Unveiling the World of Luxury Experiential Travel


Luxury experiential travel focuses on providing unique and immersive experiences for travelers, allowing them to engage with local cultures and environments in a more meaningful way (National Geographic). And so… it’s time to...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 26, 2025
  • 1
  • Read More...
Read Article
Luxury Travel
Luxury Travel

Why Small-Group Travel is the Ultimate Luxury Experience


What is “Luxury of Experience” in Small-Group Travel? Luxury of experience is a travel approach that prioritizes authentic connections, unhurried time, and exclusive access through personal relationships rather than...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • March 12, 2025
  • 2
  • Read More...
Read Article
Personal
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 13: “Two Guys and a TuTu”


As with every post in this series, if you are jumping in here, it is like jumping into the middle of a movie. Please start with Part 1, or this will make absolutely no sense. It’s been a while since I posted an article...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 21, 2023
  • 9
  • Read More...
Read Article
Personal
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 12: “Bury The Mice In The Ground… Slowly.”


12th part in a series of the story of an American moving to small town Italy in the 1980's, learning the culture and finding a lifetime love.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 5, 2020
  • 9
  • Read More...
Read Article
Personal
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 11: “Winter is Coming”


If you are just jumping in here, please start with Part 1. It is January 1985 now, and the weather has been in the mid 70’s in L.A. Now I know many people reading this think OMG! Mid 70’s in January, but I am an L.A....

  • Michael Kovnick
  • July 17, 2020
  • 16
  • Read More...
Read Article
Personal
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 10: “Paola Meets The Megalopolis”


In Part 10 of the My Life in City series, we are back in Los Angeles. But this time, it is Paola's first time in the United States, and me showing her MY world.

  • Michael Kovnick
  • June 30, 2020
  • 3
  • Read More...
Read Article
Personal
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 9: “An Italian Love Story”


If you are just jumping in here, please start with Part 1, otherwise, this will just make no sense at all! I mean, seriously… You can’t just jump into part 9 of a series, right? September 19, 1984 I’m...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • April 27, 2020
  • 6
  • Read More...
  • Culinary Experiences
  • Culture
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • Destinations
  • Experiential Travel
  • Luxury Travel
  • Personal
  • Small Group Travel
  • Tours & Vacations
  • Travel Tips
Small Groups
Culture Discovery Vacations
Leading Luxury Food & Wine Tour Operator
Authentic culinary experiences with Culture Discovery Vacations

Experience the true meaning of luxury travel with Culture Discovery Vacations - the leading small-group culinary tour operator, offering immersive experiences that go beyond traditional opulence.

  • Hands-on cooking classes with local families
  • Authentic all-inclusive pricing with no hidden costs
  • Boutique accommodations with character
  • Exclusive access to family vineyards
★★★★★
5.0/5 from 384+ reviews on TripAdvisor
"We didn't feel like tourists—we felt like family. The cooking classes changed how I think about food."
— Mark S., Tuscany Tour
Discover Our Tours
Italy • Portugal • Spain • Croatia

Recent Comments


  • Discover Portugal Like a Local: A Road Trip Journey – Everything Inc. on Portugal Tours: Why 8 Days around Porto Beats 8 Cities in 8 Days (A Travel Industry Insider’s Honest Take)
  • Drd on Bella vs. Brutta Figura: How Italians Judge You
  • abdessamed gtumsila on My Life in Italy, Part 13: “Two Guys and a TuTu”
  • abdessamed gtumsila on My Life in Italy, Part 13: “Two Guys and a TuTu”
  • abdessamed gtumsila on Unveiling the World of Luxury Experiential Travel

Tags


america calabria cimino Coffee Cooking english family flight Food holidays how to travel italians italian village italian word italian words language locals marketing olive garden pasta pompeii porto portugal restaurants soriano spanish steps tour town tourist traditions translation travel tips Umbria vacation vacations vatican
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 11
Older Posts

Categories


Copyright ©Culture Discovery Vacations. • All rights reserved.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
 

Loading Comments...