One of the most delicious ways to explore a destination is through its markets—and even better, when that market experience ends with a luxe dining twist. From food tours to fine dining, here are some ideas to really eat like a local on your next trip.

Portugal is by far one of our most popular destinations and there’s so many reasons our clients are flocking to this country. It’s one of the closest parts of Europe to the US making it an easy to reach destination. It's known for an incredible food and wine scene in its major cities of Porto and Lisbon. And it’s relatively easy to navigate due to its small size.  

And while Portugal has a lot to offer besides food and wine, those are the two primary reasons our clients want to go there. So what can you expect on a culinary and cultural trip to Portugal’s gems: Lisbon, Porto, and the Douro Valley?

As we kick off the beginning of 2025, there are a lot of exciting things happening in the travel world for this year, including for cruises. Some of our favorite cruise partners are launching new ships with new itineraries, while others are launching totally new cruise itineraries focused on specific interests that go beyond the Christmas markets and wine cruises you may be familiar with. 

I work with many clients who love traveling for food and wine (as do I!) and there is one small, but important culinary destination that comes up over and over again with clients - San Sebastian. This city on the northern coast of Spain is a food (and wine) lover’s dream - it has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world (11 in a city of less than 200,000 people). Have I piqued your interest now in this tiny corner of the world, straddling Spain and France? 

If you’ve had Malbec from Argentina, it was likely from Mendoza. While there are other wine-producing regions in Argentina, Mendoza is the largest and most well-known. And it’s become a very popular destination for tourists to visit for wine-tasting and a bit of relaxation. 

One of the many benefits of working with a travel advisor is our global partner connections. This isn’t just about exclusive amenities, VIP perks, or early access for hotel or cruise bookings. Our partner connections are critical to ensuring that each of our clients has an incredible experience throughout the time they are working with us - from booking your trip until you return home.

We love traveling to eat - here is a roundup of our favorite ways to experience culture through food when we travel.