Not In The Guidebooks Omdömen 

My granddaughter, sister-in-law, and I took the fjord trip from Bergen, Norway, to Balestrand in early June 2025. I had never done a trip quite like this and did not know what to expect. I must say, though, that I would do it again. All the accommodations were top notch and the experiences were both educational and fun. What could be improved are the directions and maps. While directions were provided for every day and activity, they were not always clear. They need to be rewritten in more understandable terms with greater detail. The maps that were provided were not always correct and led us astray a couple of times in places totally unfamiliar to us. With that said, I really did like this concept of having a trip planned and yet having the freedom and flexibility to do our own thing. Kudos!!

Both of the hosts, Mirella and Francesco made the trip for me. They were both extremely hospitable and made me feel very welcome. I also learnt a lot which I’m grateful for!

Mirella and Francesco are amazing, they truly made us feel at home. Definitely recommend this experience!

I went on the 3 day authentic Italian cooking experience in Tuscany and was hosted by the lovely Mirella & Francesco.

I don’t even know where to begin… It was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Not only was the villa an absolute gem, but the little town surrounding the villa was beautiful. I loved the swimming pool and the real, authentic Italian vibe of it all. BUT, the main stars of the show were 100% the hosts. Mirella is an outstanding cook, the food she made for us (and taught us how to cook) was amazing - there wasn’t one single thing left on anyone’s plate! And Francesco was so knowledgeable about wine, he makes his own wine and gave us a little masterclass of how he makes it, and how to taste it properly (once you try this wine, you will NEVER drink a sip of the rubbish we have in England ever again…)

I honestly can’t express to everyone just how amazing this experience really was. I am SO glad I went on this trip. I learned so much, I had such an authentic experience and I urge anyone who is thinking about it to BOOK NOW! It’s so affordable and well worth the money.

Not in the Guidebooks are also such a great platform. They’re very professional, helpful, and provide you with all the information you need for the trip. I also love how they offer experiences that normal tour providers don’t offer - it’s such a great site and I will definitely be using it again.

Amazing hosts, amazing food, amazing villa. Absolutely superb trip couldn’t fault it. Will 100% be back

I had a fascinating and very engaging short painting holiday in Florence. I learned a lot, stayed in a monastery, which is a very interesting experience, and had a wonderful time. There were some minor administrative details that I had to check up a couple of times, but the agency was very responsive.

We had the most amazing experience in Tuscany with Not In The Guidebooks. Our hosts Francesco and Mirella were so passionate about the food and wine which made the whole experience so lovely. The food was amazing and so was the wine, but also the palazzo where we stayed was stunning! There was plenty of time to relax by the pool and in the beautiful garden. I would highly recommend this trip and Not In The Guidebooks.

Hannha is amazing,
I have been dealing with Hannah, putting together trips and tours she has been totally amazing answered every qustion and change any part to make sure all is right and correct, I can wholeheartedly recommend using Not in The Guidebook, because they offer so much and with impeccable service you can not go wrong,

Very helpful team, answered my questions promptly

We had a fantastic 3 night stay at Palazzo del Duca in Tavernelle, hosted by Mirella & Francesco. The cooking sessions were a perfectly pitched introduction to Italian cooking for our mixed experience group; we all left feeling more able to produce a delicious meal, and having had a really personalised insight into ingredients and their provenance. Wine tasting with the enthusiastic expert Francesco was something very special, too. Comfortable (huge!) apartment to stay in was perfect for our grown-up family group. Only one of us was brave enough to venture into the pool in May, but it looked great and I enjoyed sitting around it to read.

Our guide Barbara explained the different foods and some of the history of Catania. The group was less than 10 people. We had samples of many types of food at different food outlets. All delicious. Barbara spoke excellent English. The meeting place is very large and crowded and it was not easy to find the guide. I suggest that you ask for a photo of the place/ shop that the group meets at.

Recently returned from a week cooking and wine tasting in Tuscany. It was a fantastic experience. The host Rita, supported by Alex, Ricardo, Tania and Sandra, went above and beyond to make the 6 guests feel comfortable. A lot of useful cooking hints and tips were shared and the food was delicious and plentiful.
I've knocked off 1 star as the description on the NITGB website doesn't realistically cover the difficulties that could be experienced by guests with mobility issues. Cobbled streets in Barga are mentioned but there is no mention of the very, very steep hills. Cobbles would have been fine for me but I struggled with the inclines. Luckily the fellow guests were very understanding and ensured that I could get around safely.

I've just returned from a 7 night cooking and wine tasting holiday in Tuscany. It was my first holiday on my own and it was fabulous. Rita, the host, was very warm and welcoming and had a great sense of humour. She showed us how to cook the Italian way, took us sightseeing and to wine tastings. It was very easy to get to know the others in the group as there were only 6 of us and working together soon bonded us. I would highly recommend this holiday.

Just returned from a wonderful week of Tuscan cooking and wine tasting at Rita's cooking classes at 'La MessaLuna' in Bagra, Italy. Worth every €. Can't praise Rita enough for her warm humerous welcome and generosity throughout the week.

Team member Hannah was excellent in her service today. Very kind and informative meeting all my needs in a timely manner

We’ve now been back for a few weeks from our epic trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, which was brilliantly organised by Not In The Guidebooks.

21 days, 8 flights, 10 hotels, 2 overnight sleeper train trips, an army jeep journey and a six-hour journey on a local bus – all expertly arranged by NITGB and aided on the ground so ably by their host in Vietnam - gives a feel of how busy most of the holiday was, until a final restful three days at Green Bay resort on the island of Phu Quoc.

Not one thing went wrong which, considering how much we did and how much we travelled from north to south Vietnam via Cambodia, was no mean feat for NITGB. But they didn't let us down.

The staff at NITGB are so helpful and work so hard to ensure that you have the most memorable experience on your trip. Nothing is too much trouble for them. We have used NITGB over the last few years not just for our adventures abroad, but also here in the UK and they have never let us down.

We can't wait to organise our next adventure with them but where will it be?!

Great communication.
As a travel agent I highlight recommend their itineraries. Vicky at Not In The Guidebooks has always been very helpful answering any questions related to any of the itineraries. I have a client going into a wellness and detox retreat in Spain soon and I know she will be well looked after by the team. Thank you.

Great company. Had a fabulous holiday which was just as described. They were helpful and available when needed.
Brilliant

It was a wonderful wine tasting and Italian cookery holiday . Rita was a wonderful host, she went over and beyond to make sure her guests were happy and enjoying their experience . Her recipes were clearly explained and delicious.

As a travel agent I speak to operators day in, day out. Vicky at Not In The Guidebooks has helped me to secure a high value Lapland booking for an overseas client. Super helpful throughout and went above and beyond - brilliant service. Enormous Thanks