Not In The Guidebooks Avis 161

Great Tuscan cooking holiday with Rita, easy to book and such fun to experience. Rita is the most easy going host and so very hospitable. Cooking level as stated from beginners through to experienced, everyone learnt something, also the history of Barga and surrounding villages. Great wine on tap too!

Absolutely amazing trip to Pompeii. Wonderful guide who was very knowledgeable. Would recommend this trip to anyone.

Pompeii half day tour from Sorrento. The tour was excellent in every way, the guide, Elurna knew her history, knew her info so well and knew how to keep her audience engaged all the time. It wasn’t too long or too short , just the right time and we had the option of swing more of this impressively huge city on our own after the tour guid had finished. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in doing Pompeii, definitely a must see !!! 👍🏻👍🏻Thank you so much to our Directors Debbie and Tracy for arranging it all, I really appreciate it.

I really loved my painting holiday, and Jo was great and so passionate about what she does and a brilliant artist! I loved all of her animals too with beautiful doves giving an impressive fly by display. Visiting the Châteaux for the wine tasting and lunch was spectacular. I would definitely recommend! Karen

Booking my holiday was a simple process via their website and communication from them regarding the details was good.
I had an issue at my end when it came to paying the balance and the customer service team was helpful and accommodating.
I would use definitely use them again.

The painting holiday was really well organised and the activities took us all over the mountains of Spain. Our hosts Vicky and Paul were extremely helpful and very knowledgeable regarding the local area. Food and accommodation were of the highest standard. I would highly recommend this wonderful experience.

It was very easy to book this holiday, especially for someone who has not done this online before. The hosts are lovely people, very welcoming but also allowing guests space and time to do their own thing. Food and wine were excellent too!

Vicky and Hannah are absolutely amazing!! I must have gone back and forth with them with a hundred questions. They were so patient and helpful throughout the entire booking process, and I cannot recommend them enough!

Excellent Tuscan cookery holiday with the family and their boyfriends near Barga. Mixed levels of cooking skills from 18-year old beginners about to head off to university, to experienced cooks, but we all learnt something. And all the recipes are things that we will do at home (this is often not true of cookery courses with fiddly techniques).

Our 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert tour in May 2024 was an unforgettable mother-daughter adventure, perfectly extended with a stay in Marrakech. From the moment our driver picked us up at our Riad, we knew we were in for something special.
The beauty of having a private tour was the flexibility - we could linger at breathtaking sights without feeling rushed. The Atlas Mountains left us in awe, while the incredible scenery of Dades Valley and the dramatic Todra Gorge had us constantly reaching for our cameras. The Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou was like stepping into another world entirely.
But the crown jewel of our trip was undoubtedly the traditional luxury Berber camp in the Sahara. Riding camels into the desert at sunset, then waking to witness the most spectacular sunrise over the dunes - it was truly magical.
Our guides were exceptional, making the entire experience not just memorable, but deeply enriching. This tour offered by Not in the Guidebooks was everything we hoped for and more - a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and unforgettable moments shared between mother and daughter

First Lapland booking made with NITGB. Excellent service. Great service and support with lots of patience from Vicky and Hannah. Thanks for your help and I hope I can book many more customers trips with you. I am sure this trip will be amazing and cannot wait to hear all about it.

Booked a last minute trip in the Secret Water houseboat at Hippersons boat yard in Beccles for myself and my son and we loved it!
We will definitely book again for next year.
Not in the guidebooks were great at answering my questions and were happy to help with amendments, so I would highly recommend. Thank you!

Vicky was absolutely brilliant. She helped every step of the way and linked in with their host in Norway to tweak the package to make it happen. I will definitely be booking again and highly recommend

The Frog House is a unique place. The house is set amongst the old town of St Jeanett with majestic mountains behind and the Mediterranean Sea glinting in the distance. The Yoga, led by Benoit and other yoga teachers is excellent and is great for all levels. The yoga is a culmination of meditation, breathing, stretches, movement and chanting. There is never any pressure to participate or any judgement on capabilities. The food provided ranged from great to average however, on the week that I stayed, there were a number of dietary requirements that may have made menus more challenging than simply vegan or vegetarian. The cooking with a chef/cook is more an organisation of cooking one's own supper, rather than a learning experience of gastronomy. The accommodation is small, simple and rustic. I would advise to take a minimal amount of clothing as storage is scarce. The balconies offer wonderful views, but for me, not a place to sit as the chairs offered on them, are very small and uncomfortable.
The Frog House is located in the centre of the village. In front of the entrance there is a small seating area and a table where meals are taken. There is no other outside seating area. There are two narrow roads either side of The Frog House, that have cars going up and down, albeit not many, but for me they were noticeable. There is also a public passageway that goes through the Frog House, this is in regular use - and again for me, this did become a distraction.
The Non Violent Communication workshop, led by Helen Petry is excellent, thought provoking and possibly life changing.
On an emotional level, this retreat is outstanding. The group which I shared my week with was a privilege to be a part of. On a material level, if you are looking for luxury, this is not the place for you. And maybe the simplicity on offer is the charm of The Frog House. The place is so full of kindness, love, understanding, non-judgement, that materialistic stuff fades into insignificance.

The setting is stunning and has the wow factor as soon as you enter the drive. The rooms have all the character of a Country Home from latch key lifts on doors to slate window ledges. Our host Laura was so knowledgeable, hospitable and attentive she really put every element in place for a superb stay, making it calming in yoga and good fun with Michaela during our spectacular wild swims. Aimee our chef ensured mealtimes were a culinary adventure and served mouth watering beautiful dishes. I arrived burnt out feeling emotionally and physically exhausted and left feeling like a different person with clear eyes, a clear head and feeling so much stronger than before. I loved it so much I have just rebooked to go again next year!

This experience was so special and great value for money. When initially booking this trip, the staff were so helpful with answering any questions we had and helped us to experience a smooth booking process. Our driver/tour guide collected us promptly from the pick up spot and explained how the trip would work. The first stop on the trip was stunning, like something you would see in a movie, simply breathtaking. We wandered round taking in the beautiful sights then moved on to the second stop - the main event - the wine tasting. What a fantastic way to start the week. Our tour guide and the vineyard owner were so knowledgeable on their subjects and made this a delightful experience and one to remember.

First time stayed there in the butterfly lodge with my husband & my toddler. Really nice place! Quiet and peaceful. Would love to come back here again.

Recommendation to owners: would love to have some place for kids to drive their scootys

I would like to give a shout out to Vicky at Not inThe GuideBooks with huge thanks for the amount of time and dedication she gave to ensure my clients received their transfer requirements to the middle of the Tuscan Hills for their cookery course. Vicky made numerous calls to the host for many requests for clients who are currently enjoying every minute of their culinary adventure as i type.

Just got back from an amazing break at Wall Eden Farm booked through Not in the Guide Books. Smooth booking and a wonderful destination. We enjoyed every minute as a family - thank you

Rita was a brilliant host and had put together a wonderful programme of fun and informative cookery lessons, wine tastings and some sightseeing. A great week of good food, good company and good fun (even if it was a little hot!).