FAQs

We can run some of our published tours on foot for just four people and our cycling tours only for six participants (an additional supplement may be required and it depends on the destination). For private tours you can decide what group size you prefer. Please give us a call to discuss if you are looking to book as a solo traveler or a couple.

You may start by filling out the Booking Form for Walking or Cycling Tour under “Travel” at the top of our home page. Or feel free to send us an email or give us a call!

Tips to your Tour Leaders are greatly appreciated. A rule of thumb is 8-15% of trip price per participant, per guide-team, which the guides split evenly. Typically, tips are given in Euros, in cash, at the end of the tour. Gratuities paid via Paypal are also appreciated (Venmo and Zelle for American guides). If interested in another source, see this article from Outside online magazine

In many cases, we are able to accommodate partial participation on a tour, at a revised cost. Please call us to discuss.

We tend to feature 4-star elegant hotels with the occasional 5-star luxury or 3-star cozy accommodation, depending on what is available in the destination we visit. Whenever possible, we also love to include agriturismi and alberghi diffusi, which are great expressions of local culture and tradition. In any case, we share hotel websites so that you may peruse the properties on your own, in advance.

We can meet your dietary needs. Please let us know in advance to ensure a good fit and an exceptional culinary experience.

You’ll want pocket money for coffee and snacks. Most restaurants for lunches and dinners on your own will accept credit cards. Depending on your style of travel, you may expect to spend somewhere around €15-30 cash per day. Cash is also appreciated for tipping. You will find ATMs in all the major cities and towns you visit. Please consult your guides as to where best to locate ATMs on your tour.

Most smartphones work overseas. (There may be a temporary premium for international service. Check with your provider.) Please note that in rural areas, service may be spotty. Most hotels will offer wifi service, although speeds vary.

After your booking, we are happy to provide a Suggested Packing List to you for your tour.

We strongly recommend practicing on your own bike before the tour. Ideally, this means riding a type of bike similar to the one you plan to rent, and spending 2-5+ hours in the saddle at a time as we do on tour (we usually take also a break every ~15 miles at a bar/café, for lunch and cultural activities).

We also strongly encourage riding outdoors before coming on tour. Indoor riding is great for training, but our tours will take you on roads and sometimes bike paths, and it is important for you to get used to the environment---from wind, to changing temperatures, to sharing the road with other cyclists, vehicles, and people. 

We strongly discourage experimenting with any new components just before the tour such as brand-new clipless pedals or a never-before-tried type of handlebars. This is for your own safety, which is our Number 1 priority. As this is your vacation, we also want to help you enjoy it at the fullest!

Please review our cycling tour levels and contact us via email or phone to be best assisted around this important question.

We recommend e-bikes to those who prefer a "little help." At the same time, it is important to understand that an e-bike is 10-15 pounds heavier than a regular bicycle. Additionally, e-bikes in Europe have a speed limit by law of 15.5mph, which means that, automatically, when you go above 15mph, your battery will disengage.

As we recommend on all cycling tours, we encourage you to practice at home on the same type of e-bike you will use on tour. This is for your safety and comfort on vacation

It’s really about how much you desire to be riding versus doing other things. On all our tours where there may be some riders who want more and some riders who want less, we can adjust routes to accommodate everyone. Details may be found here. Please ask us if you have further questions.

If you prefer to skip a ride, or part of one, no problem! Just hop in the van and enjoy the view and the company of your guide who is driving. Each morning, guides review the day’s route. At any point, you can speak with them about your preferences or concerns before, during and after a ride.

You can read about our bicycles and gear here. Of course please feel free to be in touch if you have questions beyond what is shared here.

Yes, you can, although please consider that we offer high-quality bike rentals. In any case if you prefer to ride your own bike please contact us to know about tour price reduction

See this link with info on what comes and does not come with your bicycle.

Yes, of course! Actually, we will contact you before the tour asking you about 4 simple measurements to make sure we can properly fit you on your bike rental. See our bike measurement chart here

Our difference is baked right into our name: We focus on authentic, traditional, delicious food, and the stories of the people behind it, while we actively travel the most exquisite parts of the Mediterranean either by bicycle or on foot and by van. Cristiano’s heart has been in food since he was a boy watching his grandmother in the kitchen. Through Food.Stories.Travel., he wanted to create experiences that his grandmother would recognize and see as reflecting how she thought about and prepared food for her family. Our tour “ingredients” may be found here.

Because we are…

●      Tailors – We are high-touch and dedicated to designing your dream vacation        

●      Hosts – We don’t merely guide, we curate

●      Taste-testers – Our guides visit all the places, meet all the people, taste all the food, and often come from the region they are leading

●      Conduits – We are committed to your fun and substantive cultural education

●      Stewards – We are a certified B Corp committed to good stewardship

Feel free to peruse our testimonials, organized by region so you can read about a particular trip.