Join us for the most delicious culinary retreat in Northern Spain
October 15 - 22, 2027
Culinary Adventure in Northern Spain
October 15 - 22, 2027
Grab your partner, BFF or just come solo and let’s go! Seven nights accommodations with six full days of custom cooking and food experiences in San Sebastian and Rioja. Includes dining, cooking, tours and more. Space is limited so don’t miss this foodie adventure in the gorgeous region of the north of Spain! The area is best known for it’s food (and pintxos), sea views, and wine. It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime. Let’s make memories!
This unique culinary experience is for you if:
You are a foodie and want to experience the most delicious Spanish food you have ever tasted
You love local wine
You love to eat and experience a region through their food
You like to have a trip completely planned for you including the best spots to visit
You love to eat and talk about food and have a chef (me) as your guide
You like to take hands on cooking classes from local Spanish chefs
You like hanging out with culinary likeminded people
You want to getaway in the Fall for the trip of a lifetime
What is included
7 nights accommodations- 4 nights in Laguardia in Rioja and 3 nights in San Sebastian in Basque Country at 4 star hotels
All breakfasts are included. Six lunches and three dinners are included with complimentary local wine at each meal
One hands on cooking class, including traditional foods from the region
Lunch at an exclusive gastronomic society
Full time access to Chef Debbie and her lifetime of global food knowledge
Pre trip virtual cooking class to meet the group
FUN and connection
Our Itinerary
Day 1
Group transfer from the Bilbao Guggenheim museum to Laguardia in Rioja
Check into the hotel
Welcome glass of wine with canapes in the hotel caves
Dinner at our hotel with a special local menu
Day 2
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Visit to a winery with premium lunch and wine pairing
Free late afternoon
Guided tapas tour for dinner in the famous street in Logrono
Day 3
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Olive oil experience with visit to the mill and tasting
Tour of exclusive Gastronomy Society with lunch prepared by some of the members
Late afternoon free
Dinner on own
Day 4
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Guided visit to a winery awarded best winery in the world 2025
Gourmet traditional lunch in a local restaurant
Late afternoon free
Dinner on own
Day 5
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Transfer to San Sebastian with a few stops along the way
Guided visit to medieval village- Rioja Alta
Lunch in a private house in Rioja Baja
Check into our hotel in San Sebastian
Dinner on own
Day 6
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Guided walking tour of San Sebastian
Pintxo guided tour in the old quarter for lunch
Free afternoon and dinner on own
Day 7
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Guided food market tour
Cooking class based on Basque recipes
Lunch at the cooking class
Free afternoon
Farewell group dinner
Day 8
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Group transfer available upon request (not included) to the Bilbao airport
Cannoli making class in Sicily- a unique experience for us
Why travel with Chef Debbie?
I live to and love to travel and started going on family trips at a young age which laid the groundwork for a lot of International travel as a young adult. I was always fascinated by the tastes and smells of the places we visited and as someone obsessed with food, I wanted to try it all. Early on, I realized the best way for me to explore a new region is through their food and food culture and my mission now is to share that with others through these culinary retreats. Traveling with me is like having your very own food guide. I seek out the best foodie hot spots and special unique experiences. My trips are not cookie-cutter tours. I work tirelessly with our local guides to build the perfect culinary trips.
Don’t take my word for it. See what past culinary retreat participants have said:
“I am willing to go anywhere with Chef Debbie. It is nice having someone in charge of the group to facilitate the agenda. Debbie your travel experience is a bonus to us new travelers.”
— Diane D.
“My wife and I recently went on a trip to Italy with Debbie Brosnan of the Effortless Kitchen. It was our first trip to Italy and our first experience travelling with a group. Debbie arranged cooking classes, restaurant meals, trips to vineyards/farms and sightseeing at several historic locations. While there were several amazing group excursions, there was also time allowed to individually explore in the areas we visited - actually a perfect balance.
With this being our first trip of this type we didn't know what to expect. The group was not large and Debbie was an amazing host. We learned and experienced so much that we would have to say this was a trip to remember for a lifetime! We can't wait to go on another trip with the Effortless Kitchen! A trip with the Effortless Kitchen is an experience a Foodie, or anyone for that matter, will thoroughly enjoy!”
— David T.
“I absolutely loved this trip! I never thought I would have a chance to visit Italy, but this trip made it possible. It is super easy for a solo traveler to go on this adventure without any hesitation! The food and accommodations were top notch. Everywhere we went, I felt like a VIP because we were taken such good care of. I know that even if I had visited Italy on my own, I would not have seen it in this way. Debbie is amazing and the cooking classes were so fun! Highly recommend, but bring your appetite and stretchy pants because you will want to eat and drink EVERYTHING!!”
— Gina A.
Pricing
$4,400 per person, double occupancy **
$1,000 deposit required upon registration and balance due by August 1st
Rooms can accommodate two travelers in two single beds or two single beds together as one bed
All rooms have en suite bathrooms
Single room upgrade available for the solo traveler for $1,050 surcharge
It is required that all travelers purchase their own travel insurance for both medical and travel related issues
** 3.5% will be added for credit card payments (4.5% outside the US)
** If the Euro is higher than 1.22 USD to the Euro at the time of final payment, adjustments will be made to the final price
FAQs
Where are we staying?
In Laguardia in the Rioja region and in San Sebastian in the Basque region in 4 star hotels.
Is the flight included?
No, flights are not included. Please do not book any flights until you confirm your spot on the trip with Chef Debbie.
Do I have to get travel insurance?
Yes, once registered and confirmed with Chef Debbie, travel insurance is mandatory. You are required to purchase travel medical insurance as well as coverage to include cancellation, curtailment, and all other expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience during travel. There are a number of carriers that offer coverage. I used Allianz for mine and purchased for my household for a full year since I travel often. If you have pre-existing conditions, please ensure that you have proper coverage or consider purchasing Cancel For Any Reason insurance before you register for the trip or book flights.
What is the cancellation policy?
After booking, any cancellation forfeits the $1,000 deposit per person. It is required to purchase travel insurance to cover your cost. The balance is due by August 1, 2027 and cancelation needs to be done by August 10, 2027 to recover the balance less the deposit.
What is the refund policy?
If the trip is cancelled by The Effortless Kitchen after payment is received, you will receive a full refund..
Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Each situation is unique and we will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs. Please indicate on the allergy section of the retreat agreement your preferences and indicate whether it’s an anaphylaxis allergy. It is very helpful to know foods, especially vegetables, you don’t enjoy eating as well.
Are all meals included?
Some meals are not included by design. We want to give you the opportunity to explore and sample a variety of local restaurants at your leisure. All other meal times are covered. Breakfast at the hotels is buffet style with typical Spanish breakfast foods such as sweets, meats, and cheese.
Do I have to participate in all group activities?
Nothing is mandatory and you are welcome to spend this trip as you wish. While we would love for everyone to do all of the group activities together, we understand. We just ask that we are notified the day of or the day before so we are aware. Also, participants who miss group activities will not be reimbursed.
How many people are going on this trip? I have not done a group trip before.
This is going to be a small group and the plan is to have a maximum of 18-20 people to keep it intimate. Chef Debbie will reach out to each participant prior to registering to ensure they are a good fit for the group experience. There is also free time built into parts of the itinerary to allow for down time or independent exploring. Depending on the location, there will be suggestions provided for what to do during our downtime.
Are there additional expenses I should know about that are not indicated on the itinerary?
Besides the obvious expense for shopping and souvenirs, alcohol is extra with the exception of wine at group meals that are included in the itinerary. Tipping is optional but should also be a consideration when thinking about how many euros you will need for the trip. Some people like to tip our tour guides.
What should I pack?
No need for dressy clothes or shoes. Outfits can be casual and comfortable. Some people may choose to dress up a bit for dinner but it is not mandatory. Layers are helpful as nights can be cooler. Mid October in Northern Spain averages around 65-68F for daytime temperatures. Comfortable shoes are the most important in Europe as the streets tend to be cobblestone. It’s helpful to wear long pants and closed toed shoes for the cooking class.
Why only one cooking class on this trip?
We decided to give the best local experience on this particular trip, the visit to the Gastronomic Society as well as the lunch in the private house will give us access to chefs and home cooks who can demonstrate and share the local cuisine better than we can find in a cooking class. The class we chose in San Sebastian is the top cooking class we could find in the region.