Do you want to discover the best food and travel experiences worth every penny?
Making every penny count when it comes to your travel budget is essential.
VIP treatment, exclusive access, unique experiences, and saving time all add value and memories of a lifetime.
So in this post, we’ll showcase tours worth every cent by uncovering hidden gems that offer immersive cultural experiences.
These experiences will help optimize your time and energy and give you access to things otherwise unavailable to the average traveler.
These advantages will ensure that every dollar spent on your journey is worthwhile.
Pursuing exceptional food and travel experiences is a game-changer for me. So, if you’re like me, this blog post is tailor-made for you.
*Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission when you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. I only link to products I use or really like and would personally recommend to a friend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What Are The Best Food and Travel Tours?
We searched high and low for the tours that gave us local food experts and authentic cuisine.
We favored off-the-beaten-path experiences and interaction with the local community.
VIP treatment, exclusive access, and behind-the-scenes tours topped our list.
Ultimately, we wanted stress-free itinerary creation and transportation provided whenever possible. Here’s what we found:
NYC Prohibition Style Cocktail Making Class & Vintage Car Tour
A Gastronomic Dinner with a MasterChef winner
Three Palaces Tour & Royal High Tea
Lanai Tabura’s curated Aloha Plate Food Tour from Waikiki
Private Tour: Truffle-Hunting Experience from Naples with Lunch
3-Day Small-Group Tanzania Safari Tour from Arusha
How We Picked The Best Food And Travel Experiences
When looking for a tour or activity for myself, I always heavily research before going. I read as many reviews as possible and never go with anything less than 4.5 out of 5.
To identify the top tours, we selected activities based on the following criteria:
How unique the activity is. Is there anything else comparable?
What else is available in the area. Is this the best offering around?
Can I do this in other places? Or is it specific to this destination?
Lastly, on rave reviews. How did others rate their experience? What helpful information are they sharing?
Best Food and Travel Experiences in Detail
1. NYC Prohibition Style Cocktail Making Class & Vintage Car Tour
Location: New York City / Tour Length: 1 1/2 Hours / BOOK IT!
Start your tour in style by getting picked up in a vintage 1920/30s car.
Heads will turn as you cruise through lower Manhattan. You’ll drive through SoHo, Tribeca, and Wall Street to arrive at an exclusive NYC speakeasy.
Be transported back to the Jazz Age while crafting incredible cocktails with a skilled mixologist. During the next 60 minutes, you will create 3 signature cocktails while listening to fascinating tales of the Prohibition Era.
· This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate.
· This activity ends back at the meeting point.
· You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund.
Helpful Tips:
· Eat something before the tour. No food is included. Too much alcohol on an empty is no fun!
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
The “cool factor.”
Check Prices and Availability for NYC Prohibition Style Cocktail Making Class & Vintage Car Tour
2. A Gastronomic Dinner with a MasterChef winner
Location: Paris, France / Tour Length: 2 1/2 Hours (approx) / BOOK IT!
Experience a unique and personalized dining event hosted by Chef Jean-Yves, a former winner of “MasterChef France.”
Savor a delectable 4-course meal that combines French and Asian cuisine as Chef shares the secrets and stories of each dish.
The venue is a charming wine cellar that sets the atmosphere for a romantic evening.
· Wine is included
· Get insider recommendations for Paris
· A small group of 12 diners max for a personal feel
Helpful Tips:
· Mention in advance if you have any dietary needs or preferences. Meals can be adapted.
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
The incredible food and the opportunity to interact with the chef
Check Prices and Availability for A Gastronomic Dinner with a MasterChef winner.
3. Private Dinner with a Geisha
Location: Kyoto, Japan / Tour Length: 2 to 3 Hours (approx) / BOOK IT!
Experience the true essence of Japanese culture through a private tour and dining encounter with a geisha.
Explore the historic Gion area in Kyoto, where geisha culture originated, and indulge in a multi-course meal at a Japanese restaurant or tea house.
A maiko (apprentice geisha) or geiko (fully-trained geisha) will accompany you during the meal.
· From casual to formal, you will have four levels of dining to choose from when booking.
· Private and authentic experience
Helpful Tips:
· Read Memoirs of a Geisha by Arther Golden before you go!
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
Experiencing centuries-old Japanese culture and traditions that are rarely available to the public.
Check Prices and Availability for a Private Dinner with a Geisha
4. Three Palaces Tour & Royal High Tea
Location: London, England / Tour Length: 2 Hours (approx) / BOOK IT!
Join a small group to stroll through London’s royal neighborhoods.
Marvel at the grand architecture of St. James Palace and Buckingham Palace as your guide tells you the history and stories of the British royal families that lived there.
Indulge in a traditional high tea at Kensington Palace’s stunning grounds served in Royal China with a selection of sandwiches, scones, cakes, and a cup of tea.
· Gluten-Free and Vegetarian options offered
· groups are small- no more than 15 participants
· Ends at Kensington Palace
Helpful Tips:
· This tour is not wheelchair accessible
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
You will be in a palace garden eating off the same china as members of the Royal Family!
Check Prices and Availability for Three Palaces Tour & Royal High Tea
5. Lanai Tabura’s curated Aloha Plate Food Tour from Waikiki
Location: Oahu, Hawaii / Tour Length: 3 Hours / BOOK IT!
Join Lanai Tabura, the winner of Food Network’s ‘The Great Food Truck Race,’ on a tour to discover Oahu’s best and most authentic foods.
Learn about Hawaii’s culture and cuisine from Lanai while visiting local eateries on this walking food tour.
· Visit places you might never have discovered on your own
· Taste delicious local dishes such as poke, spam musubi, opihi (a prized Hawaiian delicacy), and malasadas.
Helpful Tips:
· Wear comfortable shoes
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
Your tour guide is a local Hawaiian and a Food Network celebrity!
Check Prices and Availability for Lanai Tabura’s curated Aloha Plate Food Tour from Waikiki.
6. Private Tour: Truffle-Hunting Experience from Naples with Lunch
Location: Naples, Italy / Tour Length: 8 1/2 Hours / BOOK IT!
This full-day adventure starts with a scenic drive around Mount Vesuvius. You will journey to Campania’s Monti Picentini Park, reach the base of Mt. Terminio, and start your truffle-hunting adventure.
You will follow a professional truffle hunter and his dogs on a truffle hunt through the forest. Learn about, while participating in, the art and history of truffle hunting in Italy.
Refuel nearby after the hike with a 3-course restaurant meal. Relax and enjoy the local products, truffles, and Italian wine and coffee before the drive back to Naples.
· Approximately three hours of hiking around the forest in search of truffles
· An on-the-spot tasting of this prized treat
· The drop-off and pick-up from your hotel are included
· 7:30 am start time
Helpful Tips:
· Wear comfortable shoes for walking
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
A unique local cultural experience for your private group.
Check Prices and Availability for Private Tour: Truffle-Hunting Experience from Naples with Lunch
7. 3-Day Small-Group Tanzania Safari Tour from Arusha
Location: Arusha, Tanzania / Tour Length: 3 days / BOOK IT!
With this unforgettable 3-day small-group safari, you can visit both Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, allowing you to experience even more of Tanzania’s incredible wildlife.
During your daily game drives, you may encounter various wildlife, including big cats, elephants, giraffes, and buffalo.
Your safari team will handle your transportation, meals, and lodging. All you need to bring is your camera.
· Small groups. Maximum of 6 travelers
· includes 2 dinners, 3 lunches, 3 breakfasts
· Round-trip Arusha hotel transfers
· choice of camping or upgraded lodgings
Helpful Tips:
Request an airport pick-up for a seamless experience.
What makes this food and travel experience worth every penny?
Once-in-a-lifetime nature experience. Someone else worries about the logistics; while you enjoy it.
Check Prices and Availability for 3-Day Small-Group Tanzania Safari Tour from Arusha.
So, embark on your next adventure with confidence, knowing you will
gain access to hidden culinary gems and immersive cultural encounters.
The seamless planning and logistics will save you stress and energy, maximizing your limited travel time.
Get ready to savor unforgettable flavors and create lasting memories.
In the pursuit of the best food and travel experiences, booking one of these tours can be the trip of a lifetime.
As a foodie you might always be thinking about food on the plane. Check out these helpful tips to keep from being hungry during the journey.
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