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You can always call or email us and we’d be happy to make suggestions.

The minimum is usually 2 (sometimes even 1) – our trips are small and intimate! The maximum depends on the size of the kitchen. A large, specially designed teaching kitchen might be able to handle 12-14 people, but not more (unless we’ve arranged a special itinerary for a self-formed group). If you know you want to be part of a larger group, give us a call and we’ll point you in the right direction. Want something for just the two of you? We can cover that too.

We prefer you submit the booking online. If you have trouble, though, give us a call and we’ll talk you through it. For custom itineraries we’ll send you the link for the form to fill out.

For almost all of our tours, a 30% deposit at the time of booking; the charge will be authorized when you check out and processed when we have confirmation of the services for your trip (usually within 24-48 hours). Final payment is usually due 60 days prior to the trip start date, although there are a few itineraries that require payment earlier (please see the Trip Pricing for your itinerary for details).

Our prices are based on 2 people sharing a room, so most of our itineraries do require a surcharge for you to have your own room. If you want your own room and are traveling on a budget, we can point you to itineraries with low (or no) surcharge.

As a rule, we do not pair up our travelers, so if you are traveling alone you should expect to have your own room (and pay the single occupancy rate). We have some itineraries that are more suitable for solos, and some that do not charge extra for single occupancy – just give us a call and we’ll steer you toward the right trips for you.

We can usually accommodate restrictions if we know about them well in advance. This is true for vegetarians, vegans, people who are gluten-free, and for people with food allergies and intolerances. Please send us an email at info@theinternationalkitchen.com to inquire if you have specific restrictions, we will likely steer you toward the trip or trips most able to suit your needs. We do not recommend people with life-threatening food allergies take our trips, as even with our best efforts, we cannot guarantee you will not come into contact with certain allergens.

We can sometimes design private tours for travelers with disabilities. If you have a physical disability and require the use of a cane, wheelchair, or scooter, some of our destinations can be challenging, and the excursions may need to be modified. We do work with some hotels that have accessible rooms and elevators, and we can request vehicles that can accommodate a wheelchair or scooter. Please contact us if you are interested in finding out more about a private, customized tour.

We encourage everyone to sign up as a cook – it’s fun even for those who don’t normally like to cook! But some of our itineraries do offer a “non cook” option, which means you and your companion(s) would partake in everything (meals, excursions, etc.) except the actual cooking classes. Inquire for which trips have this option.

Some of our travelers book over a year in advance. Some booking only a week or so in advance! If you have definitely decided on your dates and your trip, you should confirm as soon as you know. Some of our itineraries sell out well in advance.

In almost all cases, we can offer customized versions of our itineraries. We can also combine itineraries, or design one from scratch just for you! Give us a call or send us an email to get started.

Yes, we would be most happy to plan your whole trip. We work with many hotels, guides, transportation providers, and more. We can sometimes even help with the airfare. Again, contact us to get started.

All deposit payments are non-refundable. We offer top quality programs for as few as two (2) people and our partners do need to pay deposits to secure accommodations and services.

In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For more information on the available plans contact Travelex Insurance 800-228-9792 and reference location number 13-5015 (Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC #22276. V94).

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Please note that travel protection plans may include exceptions as to what is covered under the plan, including exceptions where a force majeure event is involved. You should review carefully any travel protection plan prior to purchase and contact the travel insurance provider with questions. We make no representation as to what may or may not be covered by a particular plan.

For your convenience, we offer travel protection through Travelex Insurance Services. However, any reputable travel insurance company can help you protect your investment as well as protect you during your trip.