Gourmand Breaks

28/06/2024

It is always so rewarding to hear our beloved guests enjoy the experiences we crafted for them so fondly & send us photos, along with wonderful feedback.

Here we have two fellow wine lovers, feasting on beautiful Quinta da Raza wines, from a citrusy Azal to a crisp Padeiro, accompanied by our trusted sommelier guide Miguel. We couldn’t be happier with the exceptional service provided by our amazing partners in this breathtaking region - muito obrigado!

Are you a Portuguese, Spanish or French wine buff and undecided which country to explore? Why not visit all three!
Our Wine Lovers Tour of Portugal, Spain & France will have you covered for Porto, Douro Valley, Ribera de Duero, La Rioja and Bordeaux - and if you wish to throw in Champagne and Burgundy, just say the word!

21/02/2024

A perfect day for a visit to the Museu do Vinho. We are loving our days here at in Portugal, great flavours, big ideas, and fantastic adventures all in the making.

17/02/2024

Quaint Puglia is one of THE Italian destinations for those nostalgic travelers seeking a glimpse of old fashioned authentic Italy…

This southeastern Italian region is known for its vast coastline, peaceful countryside, olive trees, and a gentler pace of life. Add the amazing Primitivo red wines, delicious burrata and caciocavallo cheeses and the iconic orechiette pasta still made by local mammas on the streets of Bari, and you have a perfect place to savour Italy, old style! Architecture lovers will feast on the Baroque Lecce and cute Alberobello trulli houses, while history buffs are guaranteed to get their share of beautiful castles and Unesco Heritage sites.

So get in touch and we will be thrilled to create a unique Puglia vacation for you!

16/02/2024

Quaint Puglia is one of THE Italian destinations for those nostalgic travelers seeking a glimpse of old fashioned authentic Italy.

This southeastern Italian region is known for its vast coastline, peaceful countryside, olive trees and a gentler pace of life. Add the amazing Primitivo red wines, delicious burrata and caciocavallo cheeses and the iconic orechiette pasta still made by local mammas on the streets of Bari, and you have a perfect place to savour Italy, old style! Architecture lovers will feast on the Baroque Lecce and cute Alberobello trulli houses, while history buffs are guaranteed to get their share of beautiful castles and Unesco Heritage sites.

So get in touch and we will be thrilled to create a unique Puglia vacation for you!

13/02/2024

Sicily is a perfect destination for a spring European getaway and a favorite of many of our guests! After a full day of exploring Etna scenery and wineries, or maybe marveling at the ancient Greek-Roman ruins or the Sicilian Baroque, how about a fun ride in Ape Calessino?

Did you know that these endearing 3 wheel buggies were another idea of the inventor of Vespa? The simple and affordable Apes (bees in Italian) were a post war hit and became an icon of Italian perseverance and charming design. Nowadays the bees together with their sister Vespa (wasp in Italian) provide a refreshing way to explore the narrow winding streets of Sicilian towns off season.

Sicily is trending again this season so if you are interested in a unique vacation on the island, with a mixture of must sees ad some spectacular off the beaten path places, drop us a line and we can start preparing a custom itinerary for you!

13/02/2024

Sicily is a perfect destination for a spring European getaway and a favorite of many of our guests! After a full day of exploring Etna scenery and wineries, or maybe marveling at the ancient Greek-Roman ruins or the Sicilian Baroque, how about a fun ride in Ape Calessino?
Did you know that these endearing 3 wheel buggies were another idea of the inventor of Vespa? The simple and affordable Apes (bees in Italian) were a post war hit and became an icon of Italian perseverance and charming design. Nowadays the bees together with their sister Vespa (wasp in Italian) provide a refreshing way to explore the narrow winding streets of Sicilian towns off season.
Sicily is trending again this season so if you are interested in a unique vacation on the island, with a mixture of must sees ad some spectacular off the beaten path places, drop us a line and we can start preparing a custom itinerary for you!

20/12/2023

As 2023 comes to close, we feel so grateful for all the wonderful people we had the honor to host on our tours this past year! Thank you so much for all your amazing feedback too, notes like the one below make us so happy!

“We enjoyed an incredible 3 week vacation in France, Portugal and Spain all planned with Gourmand Breaks. Ursula and Caterina, who own this travel agency, planned an amazing experience for us in every city and village that we had the pleasure to visit.

Their knowledge of the incredible historical sites, delicious foods and wines and best hotels in every area we travelled to is exceptional. Every hotel they chose was perfectly located, every meal scrumptious and every transfer from city to city was perfectly planned.

Both Ursula and Caterina were available to us throughout our trip and were always in touch checking on us. Their active support throughout our trip was very important and appreciated throughout our time overseas.

We highly, highly recommend traveling with Gourmand Breaks. Their attention to every detail and ongoing follow up during our trip was invaluable. We felt absolutely supported and knew that Ursula and Caterina were supporting our travel experience every step of the way.

We will absolutely choose to travel with Gourmand Breaks when we visit Europe again.

Thank you so much Ursula and Caterina for an amazing travel experience.

We wish you both ongoing success with your incredible travel agency.”

Cheryl and Brad

20/12/2023

As 2023 comes to close, we feel so grateful for all the wonderful people we had the honor to host on our tours this past year! Thank you so much for all your amazing feedback too, notes like the one below make us so happy!

“We enjoyed an incredible 3 week vacation in France, Portugal and Spain all planned with Gourmand Breaks. Ursula and Caterina, who own this travel agency, planned an amazing experience for us in every city and village that we had the pleasure to visit.

Their knowledge of the incredible historical sites, delicious foods and wines and best hotels in every area we travelled to is exceptional. Every hotel they chose was perfectly located, every meal scrumptious and every transfer from city to city was perfectly planned.

Both Ursula and Caterina were available to us throughout our trip and were always in touch checking on us. Their active support throughout our trip was very important and appreciated throughout our time overseas.

We highly, highly recommend traveling with Gourmand Breaks. Their attention to every detail and ongoing follow up during our trip was invaluable. We felt absolutely supported and knew that Ursula and Caterina were supporting our travel experience every step of the way.

We will absolutely choose to travel with Gourmand Breaks when we visit Europe again.

Thank you so much Ursula and Caterina for an amazing travel experience.

We wish you both ongoing success with your incredible travel agency."

Cheryl & Brad

❤️

24/09/2023

Grape harvest in Spain is still in full swing! The whole Rioja & Ribera del Duero regions seem to smell fresh with the aroma of wine! 🍷 🍷Especially last weekend with the San Mateo Grape Harvest festival in Logroño in Rioja and this weekend with the Grand Wine Harvest Festival in Aranda de Duero in Ribera…
These jolly popular events are a great spot to enjoy wine and regional food tastings and get immersed into local traditions and culture, in company of our charming local guides, with all the insider tips for you!

20/09/2023

How about delicious Dordogne & balanced Bordeaux wines for your next French getaway? Medieval Sarlat and the enchanting region of the Dordogne have been a magnet for foodies since the middle ages and favorite of many of our guests! Come to enjoy stunning chateaux overlooking the river, charming villages and delicious local duck, geese and truffle specialties to experience the French Joie de Vivre first hand!

Add some of the legendary wines from the nearby Saint Emilion and Bordeaux region and you have a perfect French Gourmet Adventure!

Drop us a line and we will be delighted to arrange a complimentary zoom consultation to start planning your trip!

08/09/2023

We just love, love, love creating wine itineraries for our discerning guests! Here a charming father and son team of wine connoisseurs testing and tasting some amazing wines at one of our favorite up and coming Douro DOC producers! Cheers!🍷🍷

If you would like to experience Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian wines at source and meet the passionate people behind them, please TAP LINK IN BIO for more info

16/08/2023

We always respect our guests privacy and feel especially grateful when our amazing visitors share with us photos of their vacation, with permission to publish! Thank you so much Leah and John for your generosity! We are so happy your Italian trip with us, with the cooking classes, the truffle hunting, the hand picked accommodations, our top guides and chauffeurs, etc., was a great experience for you and the girls! We still remember your first vacation with us and look forward to organizing a third one!

13/08/2023

How about authentic medieval accommodations for your next European vacation? Here our charming guests are enjoying their romantic medieval Catalan window seats, called “festejadors” or “wooers” and used by suitors courting their loved ones. Such a romantic tradition to be revived by our lovely visitors!

If you would like to enjoy a longer stay in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, with insider’s access to hidden local gems and savor your destinations at a slower and more relaxed pace, then our handpicked unique historic apartments and houses are the perfect choice! We have just the right guides and the best guide drivers everywhere for you and will carefully craft unique experiences for you at every destination!

Gourmand Breaks, est. 1996, provides custom luxury tours in Spain, Portugal, France & Italy for disc

13/08/2023

Cabo da Roca in Portugal is the most westerly point in mainland Europe and a charming place for a stroll after visiting Sintra and its palaces. Our guests always love it, together with the cute unassuming fish and seafood restaurant nearby, serving delicious goose barnacles, or Lucifer’s fingers, as the local fishermen call them….
Our handcrafted trips including romantic Lisbon, Sintra, the stunning coast and the picturesque Douro Valley and trendy Porto, focused on authentic local experiences are always an unforgettable experience – contact us if you would like to chat about a possible itinerary for you!

03/08/2023

This year more and more of our cherished guests choose to indulge in a long European vacation with us, covering Spain, Portugal, France and/or Italy in one trip. We just love putting our local expertise in practice and craft unforgettable and well balanced journeys for them! We could not do that without our engaging guides, the best of the best in each area.

Rome can crowded and scorching hot now in summer, but Anna Livia will always find some charming quiet corners, cozy restaurants and fascinating stories to share with our lovely guests!

03/07/2023

How about a Venice to Nice food and wine route this fall? Did you know that these amazing destinations are only 6 h drive apart?
Our guests’ just love their Northern Italy and Southern France trips, covering romantic Venice, velvety Amarone wines, scenic Italian lakes, foodie rural Piedmont and its exquisite Barolo and Barbaresco wines, finalizing on the French Riviera, and maybe even spending a few days in charming Provence.

Drop us a line and we will be delighted to arrange a complimentary zoom consultation to start planning your trip!

21/06/2023

Many of our lovely guests choose to visit the Dordogne, especially the picturesque Perigord Noir area, with its magnificent chateaux and stunning little market towns.

Dordogne is known as land of 1001 castles, but in reality there are more than 1500 castles, mansions, and fortresses from different time periods and in different architectural styles.

Fall is the perfect time to visit, with summer crowds gone. Drop us a line and our expert team will be delighted to craft a custom itinerary for you – we know the best places and have the best guides!

For a more complete French experience, how about an itinerary encompassing Paris, Champagne, Dordogne and Bordeaux? Or maybe even crossing the border to the Basque Country and la Rioja in Spain?

31/05/2023

The one and only Alhambra in Granada is the most visited monument in Spain, but our incredible guides time our guests’ visits flawlessly, to enjoy its Moorish architecture and gardens at peaceful pace.

If you are coming now in early June, the Granada Corpus Christi Fair will be on, with traditional solemn religious processions, bullfighting festival and flamenco performances in the city and at the fairground on the outskirts. It will be packed, but the atmosphere is amazing and it’s such an authentic local experience...

If you have Granada and Spain on your bucket list, contact us for your complimentary tailor-made private itinerary, maybe even adding some places in Portugal and/or France! Our expert team is at your disposal, so drop us a line today via our web (link in bio).

As Hemingway said “If you were to visit just one city in Spain, it should be Granada”

Gourmand Breaks, est. 1996, provides custom luxury tours in Spain, Portugal, France & Italy for disc

11/05/2023

Looking for a more authentic & relaxing travel experience? Why not travel off season to Europe to avoid the summer crowds & heat? Now is the perfect time to start planning your fall & spring travel to lock in the best prices at our carefully chosen hand picked venues. Mild weather, beautiful landscapes and colorful vineyards await you!

Drop us a line and we will be more than happy to send you a personalized proposal!

Discover the hidden gems of Spain, Portugal, France & Italy with us on your private custom tour! Whether you’re a wine connoisseur, an avid foodie, a curious culture buff or an art lover…. we can help create the perfect European trip for you!

05/05/2023

Spring is just a perfect time for a rejuvenating wine getaway to the Douro Valley! Enjoy the dramatic scenery, with terraced vineyards on steep slopes going all the way down to the river, the idyllic quintas (winery estates) and of course the amazing Port and DOC Douro wines. Here we are at Quinta do Ventozelo, one of the oldest estates, renovated by Gran Cruz, with a fantastic winery, restaurant and gorgeous rural accommodations.

21/03/2023

This evening we’ve had the pleasure to assist to a fantastic event organized by Atout France and Grands Magasins Paris for tour operators specialized in this amazing country. Great atmosphere and a wonderful opportunity to see again colleagues from around the world and share our latest discoveries and insider tips, always on the lookout for the most authentic and exquisite experiences for our guests.

10/03/2023

Oh, la Joie de Vivre of the French Riviera! This hedonistic Azur Mediterranean destination is reopening for the new season and spring is just the perfect time to visit! The scenic hilltop village of Eze, with its exotic garden is so alluring.... Did you know that the iconic women statues represent Earth Goddesses?

Another hilltop village favorite of our guests is Saint Paul de Vence, a paradise for art lovers, with over 50 art galleries and the amazing Fondation Maeght Art Museum.

Classic cinema lovers always enjoy a drive in a blue convertible along the famous Cornice, legendary film location from To Catch a Thief with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant.

Gourmands and wine lovers are in for a treat too, with our private culinary tours around Vieux Nice and delicious rose wine tastings at charming chateaux.

So if you are considering this area for your next European vacation, contact us and we will craft the perfect itinerary for you!

05/03/2023

Italy has always been such a fabulous destination for food, wine and cultural tours! Undiscovered and very authentic Puglia is our next destination there and last week we had the pleasure to explore the region in depth with the BuyPUGLIA Routes & Experiences.

Exquisite rural masserias, beautifully preserved trulli conical houses, historic palaces in medieval and seaside towns, art and history tours, nonna cooking classes and of course, the wonderful Primitivo and Negroamaro wines…. we are so excited to share the best of the best with our guests!
Puglia is a truly amazing (and less crowded), option for an authentic Italian vacation and can be nicely combined with a stay in Rome, the Amalfi coast and Naples – we are here to assist you with the best custom itinerary of this wonderful Italian gem!

02/03/2023

Exploring charming Ostuni, Puglia in Ape Calesino little car

01/03/2023

Flamenco in Spain can be an incredibly vibrant and emotional experience if you come to a right place. We always considered Flamenco Festival in Jerez, now at it's 27 Edition, a fantastic opportunity to inmerse in its passion, while exploring the local cellars, sipping Fino and munching on seafood tapas. Ole!

09/02/2023

Venice Carnival this year is more splendid than ever! Masquerade balls at decadent palazzos, impressive gondola parades and many carnival parties around town make the Carnival a once in a life-time experience for our lucky February guests!
So dress up but dress warm and come to Venice until February 21 to live the Carnival!

13/01/2023

Our lovely guests enjoying a private visit of the Eternal City, as part of their amazing and nearly two months long honeymoon tour of France, Spain, Portugal and Italy with us.
Seeing our clients so happy is so incredibly motivating and rewarding! We just love our job!

30/12/2022

Wishing all our dear guests, colleagues and partners all the best for 2023! May the New Year bring you lots of love, joy and wonderful travel experiences!

21/12/2022

Did you know that medieval Laguardia, the wine capital of La Rioja, has over 300 15th and 16th century underground cellars below its houses? Here we are on a short break, stocking up on the best Rioja for Xmas. Cheers!🍷🎄

20/12/2022

Bologna La Grassa (The Fat One) is a perfect Christmas getaway destination for food lovers! Join our pasta making class, prepare from scratch the best tortellini you have ever eaten and indulge in the delicate taste of fresh ricotta, so simple but so heavenly!