Testimonials: What Our Holiday Guests Have Said About Us

Everything was fantastic- the venue, the organisation, our hosts Claudia & Carmela, a good balance of cooking, sightseeing & relaxing.

I absolutely loved the whole experience. The week was very well planned and thought out with enough cooking lessons, trips and free time. And I can honestly say that everyone who were involved in looking after us, were excellent.

I genuinely enjoyed the whole experience and that was because of the people. It was a really great group of people on the holiday (we still keep in touch) and Simonetta and Luigi were just fantastic hosts - so warm, friendly and welcoming! Loved it!

The quiet encouragement from Hugh on drawing and painting gave me confidence to just enjoy and have fun! A great way to get back to or start the creative process. A fabulous week.

Favourite part of holiday: Meeting our tutor and other guests and painting outdoors. Another highlight was our visit to San Gimignano and the lovely restaurant with an outstanding view in the evening. Our very own Chef was a delight.

Doing Pilates outside on the terrace overlooking the gorgeous Tuscan scenery. This was amazing. Our Pilates tutor, Mandy was brilliant as both a teacher and host for the week. The itinerary was varied with time to relax on your own also.

Difficult to say what was the favourite part because it was a total experience. Being with like minded and interesting people in a unique situation made for a relaxed holiday. Our hosts and pilates coach "Mandy" especially went the extra mile.

The opportunity to learn Italian with an excellent tutor in such a fantastic location.

The excellent organisation, the high quality of the villa and a truly gifted teacher (and chef!) made this a memorable holiday. A very happy group of like-minded students thoroughly enjoyed our holiday.

Provided an interesting location with activities to re-invigorate a rusty old painter !

Carla and Antonella provided a warm relaxed atmosphere where I could enjoy the cooking and sights of Sicily, and along with the other guests they all created a beautiful holiday for me. Thanks to all Flavours people in Edinburgh and Sicily.

The villa and aspect itself was stunning. I loved the organised trips, lunches, and dinner, which were all well organised and overseen by Carla.

The cookery lessons with Alessio were wonderful. I learnt a lot and had loads of fun doing it. Simonetta's attention to detail to was outstanding and she had lots of very interesting stories about Tuscany.

The chef, Mauro, was excellent ... well prepared and very professional. He was well supported by Simonetta and the relaxed yet focused approach made for a satisfying time.

So relaxing and entertaining content. Excellent value for money

Friendly people to talk to, easy to book and chat and loved being picked up at Airport. I liked the combination of cooking, free time and excursions.

Everything was perfect! The villa was stunning, the cooking lessons and the day trips are wonderful and our hostess Isabella was amazing!

The painting tuition was great, Hugh is a very patient tutor and made me feel at ease from the first lesson, I learnt a lot during the week. It was the first time I'd been away on my own and was a bit apprehensive but having done it I would have no hesitation in doing it again, aside from the painting which was great it was also a lovely holiday and the trips to Florence and Lucca were fantastic.

Combination of venue ,villa was lovely and Hugh's painting advice and guidance .

It was an active holiday in a lovely setting.

The teaching was excellent, the hostess charming and very helpful, and the excursions very enjoyable. I enjoyed the cooking lessons and the food was delicious.

Way above all my expectations. A good balance of variety in events etc., quality of all our meals was superb and the delivery of the Pilates and mindfulness so excellent.

The Pilates lessons were excellent with one-to-one attention.

Bespoke experienced staff fabulous venues top class instructors hostesses and chefs.

The villa was spectacular, beautiful pool & staff & food excellent, Pilates teacher v good & excursions interesting. Loved the animals & the lemon groves & natural habitat with stunning & memorable views. Bellisimo.

The venue, La Limonaia, was stunning, excellent pilates lessons and wonderful food and very friendly staff.

It a Pilates holiday NOT a retreat. Wanted the interest of Pilates with the joy of food, wine and fun like minded company. This trip scored on all of the above

The whole experience generally was great. It was such a good experience to meet new people in such beautiful surroundings sharing something we all enjoyed, Pilates and cooking.

Villa Limonaia was stunning - the panoramic sea views were just amazing and the villa itself very comfortable. A particular favourite place to sit and relax was on the terraces covering in vines. It was a perfect location for Pilates - there were a number of places we could do the Pilates depending on the weather. The estate was lovely with all the animals and it was nice being able to go right down to the sea. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming and couldn't do enough for us.

The scenery was overwhelming.

Everything is so easy! Being baby sat for a week was super relaxing...but did turn my travelling smarts to mush. Got on the wrong train following my easy week.(No fault of Flavours). Enjoyed it all, spectacular scenery. Kept fit on the steps, essential given all the great food.

Suitable for single traveller . I was looking for an Italian holiday and have just started painting so this looked ideal and the comments were good

Beautiful country,lovely food. This company is unique.

The cooking definitely. The staff were simply amazing. They were very lovely and accommodating and showed us so many aspects of Italian cooking. They were superb. Such wonderful warm and friendly people. I can't possibly go without giving mention to our wonderful, wonderful host Isabella! She was outstanding with her ability to organise everything so precisely and she was self-less in ensuring that we had the best time. Unfortunately, I was rather ill on the second day and Isabella ensured I was alright, she was like a mum making sure I was okay by checking on me every hour. She was amazing and I think Flavours have themselves a real star in Isabella!

Venue and cooking lessons. Food was excellent

Good company, excellent cookery lessons and good food.

Great holidays. Never had a failure.

I know from experience, that Flavours get it right! Combination of cookery classes, comfortable accommodation, and reasonable price when you consider what is including. Their choice of accommodation is always excellent.

Appeared expensive at first but after experiencing the holiday it was almost a bargain when you consider the following were all included : Pick up and drop off at airport, 7 days full board with beautiful 3 course meals for lunch and dinner, Unlimited drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic, excursions and meals and drinks out. Other than souvenirs nobody had to spend another penny.

The staff were fantastic, friendly made you feel at home, and they couldn't do enough for you. Would thoroughly recommend the course.

The villa and its location. Even though it was just a weekend, we did so much it felt as though we had been away for a week (in a good way). The winery was lovely too.

Surpassed my expectations in every way! The chef and hostess, Fabrizio and Franca, were wonderful, professional, knowledgeable and easy to get along with.

Being on my own, I loved being away from the busy city in a villa yet with people to be with and to have the activity of cooking, one of my passions. The excursions were the perfect balance between the cooking.

The most wonderful break. Loved every minute. Franca and Fabrizio were brilliant host and chef.

The whole experience was amazing, the place was beautiful, the lessons relaxing and fun, Alessio and Simonetta were excellent. We were looked after from beginning to end and Simonetta's knowledge of the area and culture was second to none. I have been to Florence twice before but learnt much more of Simonetta.

Had a wonderful holiday, I couldn't fault it, felt very lucky to be there. Thanks for a wonderful time everything was perfect.

Loved the relaxed atmosphere, cooking and eating out doors, the beautiful food, and the fact that they was no rush to fit it all in. Perfect time in between getting up, cooking, eating, trips etc.with adequate free time.Perfect planning in my opinion.

Good value and had the dates I wanted and the activities.

“The Pilates teaching was superb. Janine was amazing, so knowledgeable and adaptable to suit everyone's needs.”

“This was for sure the best holiday I have done. The cooking was inspirational, I will be doing it for friends and family and the wine helped of course!”

“Both Luca and Carla were an absolute delight. Fun, friendly and helpful and great company too.”

“Everything promised was delivered; but we place especially high value on having a local Tuscan host and chef who were both knowledgeable and communicative and able to make the food we were cooking & eating a colourful index to a whole traditional way of life in that region.”

“Simply amazing. I felt like royalty. The instruction was meaningful and plentiful without being overwhelming. The accommodations exceeded my expectations. All the staff were so helpful and pleasant.”

“The setting was beautiful for painting, every corner held something special.”

“I enjoyed the really relaxed atmosphere and the fact that every effort was made to make the holiday a real Tuscan experience.”

Loved the combination of cookery and the Pilates Also loved the fact that everything was included in the price.

It was perfect (and I really didn't want to come home!!)

Loved the location and company. Hostess was brilliant and nothing was too much trouble.

Exceptional value for money.

Felt very well looked after, loved the all inclusive aspect.

It was so relaxing as I didn't have to worry about a thing. From being met at the airport by Carlo, to the outings and finally being dropped off again in Florence, everything went so smoothly. But I think Hugh and Stefano make a great team and I enjoyed their easy laughter and professionalism. I learnt a lot from Hugh, he is a great teacher.

Both Pilates and the local staff were amazing. Great energy and interesting people - nothing was too much trouble.

The group was lovely, good fun, and the whole week was made by Isabella and Carla, who were exceptionally hard working and always cheerful. A lot of laughter.

Sunshine and Simonetta were absolutely fabulous. They made you feel welcome and at home, gave great information on the tours to Sienna and Arezzo and made the cooking lessons so much fun.

This is the fourth time I have been on a Flavours holiday and I always enjoy them immensely.

We enjoyed this holiday tremendously. The location was beautiful and Francesca and Sunshine were wonderful . The wine and food were superb and the cooking course was all we could ask for.

Livia, our chef and host was a really genuine and special person. She managed to bond a group of strangers together, and to make us feel as if we were 'at home' in the villa. The venue particularly deserves an extra mention not least for the swimming pool and gorgeous land on the estate to walk around (and collect figs off the trees for breakfast!).

This holiday was a real tonic! The mix of cookery, food, visits and good company was fantastic ... all in the peace and tranquillity of the Tuscan hills. Particular thanks to Sunshine and Simonetta ... balance, care and passion.

A truly fabulous experience and have come home feeling both inspired and rested. The cooking lessons were very informative and well delivered in a relaxed and friendly manner and the food we were served each day was amazing and plentiful! The whole pace of the holiday was just right too. plenty of time to relax.

So many different aspects - from meeting fellow cooks, to sampling local wine, cooking, meeting new people, excursions out. It was all very relaxed and there was still time to read a book and have a short siesta if you wanted.

It was great fun. The staff made the experience relaxing and that helped the group to get on well together. I enjoyed the cooking, eating and drinking!

This was my first singles holiday and it has helped me break down the mental barriers of travelling alone. All credit to the Flavours team for making this such an easy first solo experience for me, I would definitely do it again.

The combination of Pilates, cooking, socialising and sightseeing with a knowledgeable, welcoming and passionate Italian hostess was wonderful and exactly what I was looking for in a holiday.

The location, food, wine, excursions, the Pilates were all beautiful and really what I had hoped for.

A perfect balance between cookery lessons, excursions and time to relax. It really was the best holiday I've taken in recent years.

For me this was a perfect holiday. Everything was arranged and organized professional, my compliments to the staff in Italy as well al in Scotland!

The villa was magnificent and the Pilates lessons were super - just what I was looking for.

Perfect in every way. Thank you.

Everything was excellent. Isabella and Carla were the icing on the cake though; they looked after us so well and we had so much fun.

Superb customer service before and during the holiday.

Food and wine are great and the venue just perfect.

The overall package was excellent value for money. There was just the correct amount of activity to relaxation ratio.

We had a fantastic group and excellent hostess and chef and laughed a LOT together. We could not have had a better time.

My experience was fabulous. I couldn't have been more pleased. The best part was that the 3 other women on the tour and I really clicked. I feel like I have 3 new "old” friends.

Everything was really good - enjoyed every minute of it and big thanks to all involved.

There are not enough superlatives - brilliant isn't good enough. We had a wonderful group and Simonetta and Leonardo were the icing on the cake bringing everything together. Wonderful!

Absolutely nothing to complain about at all. Exceptional staff in Sicily and really looking forward to trying Amalfi next year.

The setting and location were out of this world! I felt truly rested after my holiday.

A great combination of other guests an excellent host and chef. The lessons were great, relaxed and fun.

Everything surpassed my expectations.

Accommodation in Puglia is fantastic. Beautiful gardens and pool.

Carla & Isabella were lovely, cookery lessons & food were superb and sites visited were stunning.

Our favourite aspect was the balance of the itinerary - appropriate time was given to each activity. We seemed to do a lot but it all seemed unhurried.

Loved every minute of the cooking which is why we picked the holiday. Visit to Florence was fabulous.

Difficult to pin down one favourite aspect but I think it was the atmosphere - combination of great company and perfect hosting.

The food was amazing, the host Annachiara and chef Sunshine were both very professional, friendly and approachable and the trips to the vineyard and to Florence were really enjoyable. I came away with lots of cooking inspiration which I will try to put into practise at home.

Loved the personal service from start to finish - Flavours took care of everything which meant I could enjoy and appreciate all the beauty and experiences of my first ever trip abroad - Thank you!

The pace of the break was perfect with time to relax and unwind.

Sunshine and Anna were wonderful hosts and helped with everything we wanted.

The staff at the villa Simonetta and sunshine were a pleasure. They made me feel very well and at home. They are excellent at the jobs they do and a real asset to the whole experience.

Davide and Francesca were lovely. They were very welcoming and helpful in every respect. The area is extremely beautiful and having been there many years ago, I loved being back there.

It's my second Flavours holiday and on both occasions the bonding between the guests was magical.

The cookery classes were great fun, and I really enjoyed the company of the rest of our group. It was a relaxing, convivial and truly memorable holiday.

I loved every minute! The Pilates studio was absolutely fabulous and Diane pitched the classes perfectly... I came back refreshed and full of energy!

The venue was fantastic for Pilates as it had it's own studio. Diane is a marvellous teacher and Livia is both a wonderful host and cook.

The whole holiday was fabulous and exceeded all my expectations.

I am very impressed with the level of customer service prior to and during the trip.The staff were so friendly and helpful.

Everything was very well organised. The lessons were excellent and the excursions were a lot of fun. And we didnt have to worry about anything. Although no-one in the group knew each other, everyone got on really well and I made some great new friends. I hadn't eaten so well or laughed so hard in a long time - the holiday was definitely worth the long trip from NZ!

It was a good mixture of cooking, visits and time to relax by the pool. The food was delicious and the Tuscan scenery was wonderful.

I had a fantastic holiday - it was a beautiful venue with great company.The cooking lessons were much fun and I learned a lot! Giulia and Luca did a fabulous job making us all feel welcome and relaxed.

Luca and Carly were absolutely amazing - great humour and nothing was too much trouble. I learnt loads and at least once a day laughed until I cried.

Love their locations, villas, hostesses and chefs (and art teachers, too.) Everything is taken care of for the guests - always a delight to be on holiday with them.

It was fabulous. So lovely, from start to finish.

We loved it all, and it was the TOTAL experience that was so good.

I have learned new skills,relaxed and laughed all week!

Remains the best value for single travellers.

Brilliant! Our chef Sunshine was very passionate about his cooking and I learnt a lot. I would strongly recommend this to anybody who wants to increase their culinary skills.

This was a fabulous holiday! Beautiful venue, lovely people and fantastic food.

The whole tenor of the holiday was well balanced. With cookery, visiting local places, eating in and out, visiting the superb winery and down time to enjoy the wonderful location.

The area where the villa was situated was wonderful. I enjoyed the cooking very much.

The tour was fantastic value for money

Great lessons, food, inclusive drinks, great visits, door to door minibus, superb location. Everyone was very friendly and the chef, Alessio, was very easy on the eye!

Impossible to single out one thing! The food, the wine, the villa and surrounding scenery was all amazing but we also had a fantastic chef, host, and group, and cooking, eating and drinking with them was a truly memorable experience

One of the best weekend breaks that we have had. We learnt a lot and had great fun. It was ALL excellent, if we have to choose then the lessons probably come out top

I felt that all aspects of the holiday were done with quality in mind rather than profit

Day in Venice was fabulous - trip back on the water taxi along the Grand Canal is a memory I will always treasure

I loved everything!!!! Back to work today and everyone says I look so much better. I finally managed to rest and relax, have a good sleep and it has made a positive difference to my normally challenging life. Thank you so much!

Flavours offers exactly what I'm looking for in a holiday

The whole experience,especially how welcome we were made to feel.It felt as if we had been away at a weekend house party. We could have not been treated any better by the staff at the villa.

Very good atmosphere at villa with an excellent host and chef cookery was fun. The trip to Florence was great

I cannot speak highly enough of Flavours. The Edinburgh office staff are very approachable and efficient and the staff in Italy are exceptional. Nothing was too much trouble for Livia who made sure that we were all included and enjoying our experience. She is superbly complemented by Antonio, whose patience and clarity make him an excellent teacher. The local visits were excellent and tailored to the group. Thank you Flavours, you exceeded my expectations

The only problem was that the holiday had to come to an end! I met some wonderful and interesting people that I now consider friends. Definitely worth every penny

Everything about it was first class, staff were very attentive and real good fun which I felt added to the experience

The tours were excellent and extremely well organised and efficient. Very enjoyable. Cooking was fun.

Pilates Diane was first class so knowledgeable - and a great person - couldn't have been better!!!! - Luca was really great too - nothing too much trouble. Also really nice to meet other single people

I think that the balance between cooking, excursions and free time was perfect and couldn't really be improved. Both Luca and Carla were excellent and I've really learned a lot during the week there. I do feel that they made the holiday and so should be particularly commended

Would struggle to think of any improvement that could be made to the last week. I loved it!

Setting, company food, atmosphere all terrific

A truly lovely holiday experience

The food was exquisite and the tuition perfectly pitched to suit all in the group. The villa was beautiful and the relaxed family atmosphere made it a memorable holiday

I wanted a new experience mixed with culture, food and new friendships. Everything was incredible the staff went out of their way to make everything run smoothly

I love Italy and love cooking. This was my first solo holiday so I wanted to do something with which I felt comfortable.The cooking and camaraderie during the cooking were my favourite aspects of the cooking holiday.Feel as if I've learnt things and made friends

Needed a solo holiday because of personal circumstances and your company stood out because it picked me up from the airport, provided quality experiences and I was fully escorted the whole time until I was dropped back off at the airport. I felt safe, which was very important to me. The camaraderie, the support, the laughter, the opportunity to meet people in similar circumstances. I loved it all. The chef, Sunshine, and Simonetta, the hostess, were excellent

Friendly atmosphere as though staying in a friend's home, with lots of wine, food & chat

The staff made me feel so welcome and valued as a guest and those amazing cookery lessons were full of laughter and enjoyment. My heart is still there!

The whole holiday felt as if I was staying with a group of friends. Was one of the best holidays I've ever had and I've been on a few! Totally relaxing, fun and well organised.Villa was absolutely beautiful too

A fantastic experience. I can honestly say it was the best holiday I've had in a long time. Livia, Simoneta and Valentina were a delight to be with and are to be congratulated. They made our week

A wonderful location, lovely staff,especially Livia who made everyone welcome and our holiday a great success.

Great group of people. We had many laughs especially at the cookery lessons!

Lovely meeting people with common interest; good to get a combination of cooking, visits and history

Venue was wonderful. Cooking was very good. Good value for money

My favourite aspects were the welcoming atmosphere, good company, and terrific food.

The staff were excellent - particularly Livia. I was lucky with the other course members too and there was a warm family atmosphere - encouraged by the plentiful wine!

Fantastic caring attentive staff at the villa. Streamlined transfers no hitches. We loved every moment, especially seeing Florence for the first time.

The venue was lovely and the owner, local staff and Flavours host really made the holiday.

My favourite aspect was sharing cooking experience with like minded people, especially preparing dinner for New Years Eve celebrations and enjoying the festivities.

Venue was lovely... and great mix of cooking and excursions. Livia was fantastic, couldn't do enough to help

The villa was beautiful and Claudio and Simonetta were fabulous and looked after us very well. My favourite aspect was meeting the ladies, we got on really well together - we ate, drank, and laughed so much!

The staffs and participants were awesome. The food was always great, and I have started pilates regularly after my wonderful experience in Tuscany. I love the variety of activities provided during the holiday - Pilates, cooking, excursions. It was very nicely paced too. There was enough time to just sit by the pool and not do much. The staff were wonderful, and will bend over backwards to accomodate to our needs."

Professional, friendly and very helpful team at head office of Flavours. Very quick to response to emails and phone queries. Lovely locations and ideal for independent travellers. All the arrangements are sorted for you; it certainly takes the pain out of travelling. Excellent tuition to further your knowledge/skills of Italian cooking.

I absolutely loved this holiday, the combination of cooking, trips out and socialising with a new group of people was so enjoyable. Livia and Carla took care of our every need, I can't praise them enough.

Lovely atmosphere created by Marco and Claudio. They had an infectious enthusiasm for their ingredients, their dishes and their culture!

I think you have fantastic staff in Livia and Candice - they made the holiday. The venue was beautiful and I liked the balance of excursions and lessons.

I really enjoyed the holiday and the staff in particular were very knowledgable and helpful and made us feel most welcome. Overall a fantastic holiday.

The group dynamics were perfect, we felt like a little family and it was hard to leave.

Loved Pilates outside which was so energising and Cathryn was a fantastic teacher... it's good value with great staff and made you feel like a home.

My favourite aspect of my Flavours Holiday was the laughter - the best therapy ever! I have made friends for life.

My favourite aspects of the holiday were the people in the group, and of course Livia. Laughing a lot with like minded people. Seeing the area and some beautiful towns. Any potential difficulty was sorted by Livia in such an efficient and endearing way that life was smooth.

Every part of my Flavours Holiday ticked a box for me so it's hard to select a favourite aspect. I think the quality of the villa, idylic location and people where the biggest factors that made it.

The meals were out of this world, if there was such a thing as 10 stars I would award it to Claudio. I have eaten in a few 5 star restaurants but did not enjoy them as much as I did on my Pilates holiday... My Pilates holiday was one of the best holidays I have had and I'm hoping to do it again next year.

Cookery lessons were fun with relaxed. Working as a group towards making our meals was lovely. The location was excellent. The week was well structured and balanced with the mixture of cookery lessons and visits.

I loved the mix of cooking, excursions and free time. Simonetta and Sunshine were very helpful and accommodating and looked after me really well. I was nervous about being away on my own for the first time however I had the best time ever and laughed all week due to some of the great people I met.

This was an all-round excellent break! Claudio and Marco and all guests and villa and food were exceptional. We all felt the holiday constituted excellent value for money. It was an incredibly inspiring holiday.

It was a fantastic holiday - ideal for the single traveller. I'm looking forward to recreating the recipes at home!

It was the best holiday I had. Everything was perfect. Simonetta and Sunshine were so patient, calm pleasant and so eager to please. I enjoyed everything - the food, the excursions, choice of restaurants and of course the painting tuitions. He is very patient, friendly and ready to help at anytime.

The staff were amazing and had great knowledge of cooking. The villa location had stunning views. The group was the perfect size for the cookery lessons and size of kitchen. We could be very hands on.

Catherine, our painting teacher was marvellous. I learned so much from her. Marco and Claudio were stupendous chefs, I enjoyed the food very much.

We had a truly exceptional group of fellow travellers. The friendship was lovely and Sunshine's meals and input were first class.

I loved everything about the holiday. I learnt a lot from Antonio, which I plan to use in my everyday life. The villa was out of this world.

The holiday was wonderful - we never stopped laughing and would love to do it all again...

Enjoyed it all, new people, new tastes, amazing sights and smells at the market in Florence, very comfortable accommodation, lovely people looking after us.

Over and above good customer service, Flavours showed a level of care and attention to detail that is unusual in any profession or provider and demonstrates a real commitment to excellence from your company.

This holiday was definitely one of the best ever - so much fun and I learned so much.

I have had a really great holiday with friendly staff, beautiful location, far too much food and wine and a lasting memory of some of the real tastes of Sicily.

The tour was definitely value for money. The holidays aren’t cheap but you know you’re going to get excellent accommodation, wonderful hosting and excellent (and limitless) food and drink. Well worth the price.