Attractions in Italy

Did you know that you can have your own brand of handbags made in Italy by the same manufacturers of the biggest brands but at a fraction of the cost? Quality made in Italy handbags are a very profitable trend. In fact handbags are an immediately recognizable sign of distinction, taste, wealth. A beautiful handbag is a fashion and a personality statement which is a must for each contemporary, successful woman.

Selling handbags is quite profitable also as, as opposed to apparel, there are no sizes to stock and therefore very little inventory is left unsold while very few items are returned. However getting the big name handbags to resell is difficult, expensive and the price competition cutthroat, leaving uninteresting profit margins.Luckily a new trend is emerging with vast profit opportunities associated with it. The trend is for unbranded or private branded handbags. In fact, in the more advanced markets worldwide, conspicuous brand names are quickly becoming "out". Showing a famous brand name is more and more considered ostentatious, obvious, not in good taste and associated with "new money".

The trend for the unbranded is so strong that even the biggest names are quickly producing some of their new collections with discretely placed brand names and logoes or without them alltogether.A corresponing fast-growing trend is thus that of private brand, private label, OEM handbags. In this case the handbags are sold with the logo of a trendy boutique or of a small but high quality importer (yourself).

Private branding is used also to quickly add a line of accessories to a brand which concerns itself mostly with apparel or something else and who does not want to invest in designing and manufacturing handbags but nonetheless desires a product of matching quality.How can one profit from this fast-growing trend? It is quite simple and quick, provided that you know where to source your handbags.

Italy is home to the best manufacturers of handbags and to the best leather tanneries in the world. Quite often the biggest brand names spread their manufacture among many smaller handbags makers within Italy. These manufacturers are chosen for their ability, attention to detail, reliability.Besides producing for the top brands, typically each of these Italian manufacturers design and manufacture several lines of their own, with the same quality, materials and skill employed for the top names but they sell these at a fraction of the price.

In fact you can purchase for $70 the same handbag quality that retails for $900 when branded by the top names. This is because there are no middlemen and no monster organizations on payroll nor expensive advertising campaigns to finance. You just pay materials, workmanship and an honest profit to the manufacturer.Of course when selling under your own brand, or unbranded, you are unlikely to be able to charge as much as the top names; however the profit margin is still 3-4-5 fold! And your lower prices, being more affordable, attract more customers and translate into a higher volume of sales.

Let's be clear about one thing: when we talk about private label/private brand handbags made by the top Italian manufacturers who work for the big names, we are talking about original designs of the manufacturers and NOT of copies or so called "replicas" (which are also illegal copies).These original designs however are always very successful because they follow each season's trend in terms of style, materials and accessories.

In fact they are often even MORE successful than the big names because the often "hostile" or difficult to wear "cutting edge" of the big names is "smoothed out" in the private brand designs which are thus more wearable, comfortable, saleable.Many Italian manufacturers will of course produce your own designs, this however requires considerable skill in preparing the designs, investments for setup costs, large minimum orders, travels to the premises to define details etc. Manufacturing your own designs, therefore, while a very profitable option, is a medium term project and worth it if you have already established good revenues in the field of handbag retail.

Instead, choosing existing designs and have them branded with your own logo is very quick and minimum quantities are as low as one dozen! This is also a safe choice unless you are an experienced designer and marketer.In fact the Italian manufacturers, being very experienced with worldwide trends and sales, know exactly which designs are hot in each country, which colours sell best in each country, which features are necessary to succeed in each country; from the lenght of handles to zippers to inside pockets. This type of knowledge is worth thousands of dollars in marketing consultancy otherwise!

If you can, it is best to travel to Italy, (to Tuscany in particular, which has an excellent handbag manufacturing district) and go visit the factories and warehouses yourself. Here you can select styles, materials and colours and get valuable imput from the manufacturers about the best choices for your own particular target market.After having chosen styles and colours, you provide the artwork for your logo to the manufacturer which will be used to produce custom items to brand your handbags.

Typically your brand logo can be: 

a) embossed on a leather patch inside the handbag, 

b) etched in a metal plate to be also applied inside the handbag 

c) etched in a metal plate or pendant which is fastened to the handbag handles 

d) printed on the fabric dustbag which is used to protect and store the handbag. 

The dustbag is a much appreciated accessory by customers and associated with the idea of quality.The extra expense to brand the handbags is negligible, $2-3 each plus one-time setup fees of around $100 to make the necessary metal stamps and moulds. Typically you are required to order a minimum of only ten handbags per style per colour. For a comparison, consider that when making your own designs the figure can be ten times as much.

Your order will be typically ready within three-four weeks, including all setups and private branding! The manufacturer will also arrange a freight and paperwork for the shipment to you. In order to source the best manufacturer for you and to have smooth and timely transactions, we recommend to use a local fashion broker for the purpose.In fact, a good broker will save you lots of time and money by imediately pointing you in the right direction and by following all details and communication until the delivery of goods is completed. The broker's fees are typically paid by the manufacturer on a yearly basis and therefore all the valuable services provided will be at no direct cost to you.

So to summarize: selling private branded handbags Made in Italy is an excellent opportunity to expand your business or create a new one. It is quick and inexpensive, you can start small and place larger orders as you grow, quality Made in Italy handbags are always in demand, profit margins are fat.

What are the favorite honeymoon destinations worldwide? When one of the biggest bride magazines published the results of its travel agent poll, these were the places agents named as best for honeymoon couples. They appear in order of popularity. Search any of the names belong and you'll be able to find information on tourism, hotels, and more about perfect places for a romantic getaway. And don't forget that the best way to start your honeymoon trip is to reserve a limo or luxury sedan for your ride to the airport and back.

Here's some quick web bites about the first five on the list:

Hawaii:

Lush greenery, sparkling ocean, and spectacular sunsets...say "Aloha" to the honeymoon of your dreams in Hawaii. Oahu is all of Hawaii on one island. It's a place to spark your passion with romantic activities and create your own special Hawaiian memories.

Italy:

Your honeymoon in Italy can be the trip of a lifetime. What better spot than Italy, with its romance, magnificent scenery, cities filled with history and charm to make memories last forever. The rolling Tuscan hills, a gondola in Venice, a Renaissance villa in Florence. Stunning historic properties, the finest foods and wines make it the best. Panoramic lake-side settings, stunning vistas on the Italian Riviera or the enchanting Tuscan countryside are just some of the possibilities.

Tahiti:

The center of the universe for romance. There is no better place to celebrate your new life together or to celebrate a milestone of your relationship. Each of the many islands of Tahiti is a tiny paradise. Some isles are crowned with jagged peaks soaring magically out of the ocean in an explosion of green velvet while others appear as if gracefully tossed upon the ocean - barely floating above the breaking waves. Intimate resorts, small peaceful villages, and miles of quiet pristine beaches explain why Tahiti is ranked #1 in the world for "alone time."

Anguilla:

Come to Anguilla and experience "tranquility wrapped in blue." Anguilla's honeymooners and couples seeking a special, romantic getaway find a small island, gifted with 33 of the best beaches in the Caribbean -- some say the world. Stunningly white, powder soft sands meet gentle seas of pristine water colored in vibrant and varied hues of turquoise. Captivating sunsets, gentle breezes, friendly smiles, gracious hospitality, casual elegance and relaxed informality are just some of the reasons visitors named Anguilla one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world.

Fiji:

Pristine white sand between your toes; warm ocean breezes rustling palm tree fronds overhead; sweet aromas of tropical flowers wafting through the air; distant sounds of drums and harmonious singing; stunning sunsets reflecting off turquoise water. Yes, Fiji is romance. With hundreds of Fiji Islands to visit, there is plenty to see and do on your Fiji honeymoon. Snorkel and Scuba dive in some of the world's most beautiful tropical reefs, kayak along the coast line, or hike through one of the many tropical rain forests, the Fiji Islands have it all!

The top 50 destinations are as follows: Hawaii, Italy, Tahiti, Anguilla, Fiji, St Lucia, Mexico, St Bart's, Jamaica, France, Bali, Bermuda, South Africa, Costa Rica, Greece, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Nevis, Australia, Aruba,New Zealand, Antigua, Barbados, Cook Islands, England, Thailand, Florida, California,Ireland,Kenya, Las Vegas, St Maarten/St Martin, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Cayman Islands, Monaco,Turkey, New York,Spain, Alaska, Chile, India, New England, Portugal, Scotland, Austria.

Model cars have been around for quite some time. Even I have to admit going through the phase of putting them together. Even as I write this, I can think of a few of the boxed sets that I would love to pick up from the shelves at the local store and piece together bit by bit. I also have to admit that my patience was never good. But, as with any other thing I have ever collected, there was one thing I always did. I always sought to learn the origin of that item. What's its history? When did people start collecting them? Maybe I wanted to see if my elders were collecting some of the same things, or sometimes I might just have been looking to see how old a hobby mine was. Never the less, everything has a history and the model cars and the collection of them is no different. So where did it begin? Keep reading!

Birth of Model Cars

In the early 1900s not so long after the first real car was introduced, Germany started producing what would become noted as the first model car. Back then, since it was around the time of war, the only people who could really afford these toys were the sons of rich businessmen. These cars were called tin plate models. The first Die cast ones though, did not come about until the late 1920s or the early 1930s. By 1950 toy companies in Japan were producing these goods.

Model Cars Go Mainstream

The model car making companies went through a dry spell in the 1960s as it cost too much to produce these things. It wasn't the products that were costing so much; it was the cost of employment that brought the slow down of producing these models. Today everyone loves to collect these old models more than when they first came out. Many companies closed down, while some switched to newer products that were either made of plastic or they later switched to the newer radio controlled cars. By the end of the craze, there were only four countries still producing the kits. They were United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. As time went on, each company added more and more details to their models.

Transitioning to the Modern Era

Then in 1970, Italy burst onto the model scene with a bang. They lowered their prices, but still produced luxurious cars. They added more detail. Everyone was flocking to this brand. This brought more adults into the scene as it became more complicated to put the models together. By the 1980's and the 1990s, these manufacturers went out west where it was cheaper to produce. More markets were set up. And now, with the progression of the World Wide Web, you can even buy these babies online!

The model car has come a long way. It has helped some kids bond with fathers as the boom of adding more detail to each models was implemented. Cars can be painted any color you want them to be. And recently, the United States created companies to produce these collectable toys as well. Making them a great trademark that continues to be some people's favorite past times. Young and old and male and female are taking pride in the time and dedication it takes to put them together.

Sometimes traveling isn't just about going to a destination; it's a state of mind. Physically, I've been trapped in South Carolina for seven months now while mentally I try and put myself back in my favorite European places. One of my very favorites is the Tuscany region of Italy. While the city in South Carolina is a blistering desert of concrete, Tuscany radiates a rejuvenating warmth that washes over you like the rolling green of the hills.

Since I'm currently unable to experience the area in person, I can only do what I can to substitute the experience. CDs full of pictures taken during my travels bring back stifled laughs and fond memories. The coffee table books I've collected over the years are so full of intense color and vivid landscape scenes that it makes my ache even worse. I even read "Under the Tuscan Sun" this week (which isn't done justice by the movie). Mayes is such a descriptive writer. She does such a perfect job bringing the area to life and I believe, deserves much credit for putting Cortona on the map. Her book stirs memories of my one day in this little town “hot chocolate and pastries at a little cafe in the morning, gelato under a patio umbrella in the pouring rain, and linen shopping after the sun triumphed over the stubborn clouds. It almost makes me forget that my 'gelato' is now Eddy's or something from Dairy Queen.

I also try to substitute with cooking “of course, I'm far from the authentic cuisine I once savored in the local family-owned restaurants. Tortellini al forno, penne al'arabiatta, even plain old spaghetti marinara is a work of art in Tuscany. I throw basil around like it's going out of style, get all giddy when I find a sweet gorgonzola or pecorino cheese at the grocery store, and keep Verdi on full volume while I create my own personal Italy in the kitchen. Fortunately, I've been able to bring back the very best extra virgin olive oil in the entire country  La Macchia.

The green, aromatic oil tastes so fresh and so light that you taste what you are meant to taste the fruit of the olive tree and not something reminiscent to wheel bearing grease. So even if my bruschetta is made from imported North Carolina tomatoes, South Carolina french bread, parmesan from Kraft, and dried basil from a lousy little plastic jar (out of fresh basil again), I still have my beautiful drizzling Tuscan olive oil.

Italians also understand and appreciate the concept of 'breaks' (and not the 15 minute kind). Time doesn't rule a Tuscan's day, rather it revolves around life at the moment. I rush from one end of my current hometown to the other, running errands and trying to make it to appointments on time in Italy, being late is 'normale.' And when it gets to lunchtime, there's no rushing through the meal and then jumping back into a schedule. Between the shining sun at its zenith and a full stomach that's pulling you into a food coma, the day calls for a siesta. This ingenious concept not only refreshes the body but it literally pulls your mind into another world. Why fret about the next two hours when everyone else's life has also come to a relaxing standstill?

Daydream, watch the tall grasses blow in the wind, or drink a cappuccino among friends with a vineyard as a backdrop. Until the notion of a daily siesta takes hold in America, I attempt to create my own with plastic patio furniture and a Coca-Cola that is, until the phone starts to ring with endless telemarketers anxious to sell me siding or refinance my mortgage.There are just some places that feed your soul and remain in your heart no matter where you go. The rise and fall of the graceful hills, the glittery silver-green leaves of the olive trees, the way the aged bricks glow in the last rays of the evening sun all call me back for more. In the meantime, though, I'll remain in a Tuscan state of mind.

There are many reasons that tourists travel in their droves to visit the beautiful region of Tuscany in Italy – but while there, its no surprise that many of them ‘lean’ towards the gorgeous city of Pisa. And not just for the tower! Yes, the famous leaning structure is the immediate iconic image that springs to mind when the city of Pisa is mentioned – but there is so much beauty and class in this city that to reduce it to just one of its spectacular sights is unfair.

With the city’s Galileo Galilei Airport served by many low cost budget airlines running cheap flights in and out of the city, it is little wonder that Pisa is a massively popular city break destination – perfect for thrifty trips and budget breaks.

Things to see/do in Pisa:

Right then, first thing’s first – get your sightseeing tour of the Leaning Tower of Pisa out of the way. The famous tower can be found, along with two more architectural marvels – the Baptistry and the Duomo – in the northwestern part of Pisa city. They all grace a square that is eloquently named the ‘Ciampo dei Miracoli’ (Field of Miracles), and with a name like that, who could resist a visit. The square and its surrounding architecture is exquisitely beautiful and extraordinarily famous, and as such the area is invariably heaving with camera-carrying tourists and opportunistic souvenir salespeople. We recommend a visit at dusk or early morning – not only is it quieter than during the day, but a glowing sunrise or sunset will add greatly to the already humbling beauty.

Entering the buildings during the day is quite cheap, and to keep a day’s sightseeing even more low cost invest in a combination ticket which offers a special discount rate into a few of the attractions. The tower is not included in this ticket, and will cost €15 to climb.

Beyond the field of miracles there is plenty to see in the city, most of it cheap enough for a thrifty day of sightseeing to help you stay within your budget. Wandering around Pisa is likely to result in symptoms similar to New York Neck – as you amble around the city you wont be able to help craning your neck to look up at the many gorgeous buildings. A boat trip along the Arno River offers a different and very pleasant perspective on Pisa’s architecture, one-hour tours are not too expensive.

Eating out/Nightlife in Pisa:

There is a large student presence in the city of Pisa, which means a proliferation of good, cheap restaurants catering to the rumbling tummies and tight budgets of the students. The Italian staples of pizza, pasta and polenta are widespread as is good quality seafood, and the best value can be found in the student areas of Piazza Dante and Piazza dei Cavalieri.

Pisa’s status as a university city means it has a vibrant nightlife with a superb selection of pubs and clubs, bars and restaurants, discos and live music venues. Check out the establishments along the banks of the Arno and near the Piazza Garibaldi – busy bars are full of Italians and tourists enjoying la dolce vita. The Verdi Theatre is a wonderful venue with 900 seats, and regularly hosts top quality theatre, opera, ballet and concerts.

Day Trips/Events in Pisa:

On the 17th of June every year Pisa celebrates the feast day of it’s patron saint with the San Ranieri Historical Regatta. The boat race draws a great many spectators watching oarsmen represent the four different areas of the city. It is the night before the event that is really worth being in Pisa for, however, with the famous ‘Luminara’ occurring. Thousands upon thousands of candles hung from buildings all over the city illuminate Pisa in a scene of uncommon beauty. Firework at midnight add spark to the affair, and the whole event is wonderfully atmospheric. Visiting the city at this time can be done just as cheaply as any other time – budgets wont suffer at all, but budget travelers will definitely prosper from the extra buzz around Pisa.

What about the Chinese-Made Italian Charms?

Yes, a lot of people ask that question. Very few merchants admit it but, nearly all Italian charms sold on the Internet are manufactured in China.Now, what about charms that say "imported from Italy?" Well, that's nice, but did you know that many of these places simply buy Chinese-made Italian charms through an import company in Italy. So, yes, they're "imported from Italy" but if you think you're getting a handcrafted Italian product think again! They're still manufactured in one of the three main factories in China.

Which Charms are Great For Gifts?

Well really, all of them! Charms that are especially popular are, in no particular order: 

1) Heart charms, 

2) Ribbon (esp. pink ribbon) charms;

3) American flag, 

4) Flowers, 

5) Family and I love my kids-type charms, 

6) Birthstones, 

7) Various words and phrases like "DREAM", "Family of 5", "Child of GOD", etc. 

8) Religious charms, like crosses, etc.

As you can see, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

If you enjoy collecting jewelry with personal significance or giving it as gifts, consider Italian charms! They are the most affordable way to create a personalized bracelets with unique meaning. And, there is an amazing variety to choose from.Whether you love dogs, cats, or want something signifying your family or hobby, it's all there! And, unlike their classic dangling counterparts, Italian charms link together to form a flat bracelet; for a more sophisticated look enjoyed by women of all ages.

It's no surprise, then, that tens of thousands of women each year collect Italian charms and give them as gifts. How to get started?Easy! Whenever buying for yourself or as a gift, the first thing you need to do is get a "starter bracelet" containing blank links. Then, get an additional 4-5 charms to start the bracelet. The recipient can easily replace blank links on the starter bracelets with the charms you give them -- and any others they get in the future -- to develop a unique bracelet over time.

The Secret to Selecting Quality Italian Charms

When looking to buy Italian charms, it's important to consider quality. Indeed, there are so many places selling these things that sometimes it's difficult to separate the good from the bad.

Second, his five star concert wowed us: his singing, dancing, all female orchestra and dance troup, special guests and the creative yet elegantly simple stage sets.Just before intermission he introduced a 12 year old boy, a champion tap dancer, who astonished me with his fast steps, physical agility and artistic style. Later Massimo and the boy danced a long duet where Massimo followed the boy's every dance move exactly! A jaw dropping performance. Easy to forget he's 57.

Massimo has performed the same concert about 200 times throughout Italy in the last 18 months. Why this exhausting schedule away from home so much, performing the same songs ad nauseum?My answer came at the end during thunderous applause with people yelling, "Sei grande Massimo! You're great Massimo." He stood still at the front of the right side of the stage with his eyes closed, facing the audience with his arms wrapped across his chest like he was hugging himself. He was taking in all the applause!

After all these years, he still craves applause, like most of us do. As Mother Teresa said, "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."Massimo makes his fans feel a big affection for him and dazzles them with a first class performance so they heap their appreciation on him. An appreciation that's fed his energy and his heart for 40 years. Plus clearly he's doing what he loves and radiates his passion through his high energy.

I asked myself, "How could I do that in my business that I love?"

Now I'm personally visiting with more of our clients, telling more of my stories to our clients, am working on wowing our clients more, and making sure I reach every tour client by phone after they experience our services. I'm seeing more clients enjoying our services and hearing their appreciation more which feeds my energy. Why have I kept on my own business heart path all these years? Because I don't know how to sing!

"I sing because I don't know how to swim," says Massimo Ranieri, one of Italy's most popular romantic pop singers in the title of his newest CD. My singing resembles a crow squawking, so I swim because I don't know how to sing! I first heard Massimo sing when I lived in Italy in 1978 and now play his CDs often at home in Vancouver. Last May in Bologna on one of my bi-annual trips to Italy, I sat in the third row at his sold out concert. His absolutely top notch performance blew me away, inspired me and gave me some big ah-has.

Are you doing work you like and want to keep doing it with tons of energy and heart for years to come? Just follow Massimo's example.To start the concert, he burst on stage, belting out a song of a long lost love, "If the city were burning, I'd run to you. If the city were burning, I know you'd look for me even after our goodbye."

At that moment, I thought, "Who would I look for?" Right away the face of one of my long lost loves popped into my mind. Oh my! Who would you look for?Massimo's been singing "Se Bruciasse La Citta, If The City Were Burning" for 40 years. But that night he sang it and all his songs and moved and danced with 100% of his energy and heart as if he were singing them for the first time. How did he do it?

First, he really made us in the audience feel a personal connection with him. I felt a lot of affection and high energy filling that big theatre. He told us stories from his life that made me feel I was getting to know him as a person. Stories about growing up in a poor part of Naples as the 5th of 8 kids who were expected from about age 7 to bring home money every day to help feed the family.

He comes across as a down to earth, authentic, very likeable guy so you almost feel he's a friend sharing his stories with you over coffee. He paints clear pictures and uses every day words. You can see him, about age 8, singing to diners at a Neapolitan restaurant by the sea who threw coins in the water. Little boys dove for the coins and teased him, "If you don't sing, we'll throw you in the water." Terrifying for a kid who couldn't swim, so he sang and sang.

With one of his long time hits, he joked with us, "We're not 35 any more, are we?" and we all nodded and smiled. Then he held his mike out toward us and the whole audience sang the chorus of a song from 20 years ago together with our hero.

Cooking school tours in Italy and around the world have multiplied like zucchinis in a summer garden. This article tells you how to sift through the overwhelming choice of Italian cooking tours and find the right one for you, so you experience a feast for your senses, heart, mind and soul, a trip of a lifetime and avoid disappointments. A cooking holidays in Italy can add up to a big investment of time and money.

Maybe you've been dreaming for years about a cooking school tour in Italy. Maybe it's a special trip to celebrate a 40th, 50, 60th birthday or a big anniversary with family and friends you love. How to choose an Italian cooking school tour that gives you the joy and value you expect? How to protect your investment in your trip?

Ask yourself these 10 questions.

1. What is important to me in my Italian cooking tour?

List what's important to you in your cooking tour. Read tour itineraries critically with the mind of a detective. If an itinerary seems vague, ask the tour operator detailed questions.

Here are some examples of what may be important to you and what to look for in tour itineraries.

A. Lots of cooking lessons? How many lessons are in the itinerary?

B. Lots of wine visits? How many winery visits and wine tastings are in the itinerary? Where do they take place? In wineries with the producer? In wine shops with a knowledgeable staff member?

C. Lots of stimulating food visits? What kind? Cheese and olive oil producers? Truffle hunting? Make sure the itinerary has visits that make YOUR mouth water.

D. Immersing yourself in Italian life? How many different local people do you meet and how many different towns or locations do you visit?

What kind of Italian cultural experiences delight you? Meeting an artist in his ceramic studio? Cooking in a family's home and dining with the family? Are these events in your tour?

2. What is my budget?

Prices for a six day Italian cooking tour package vary from about $2000 to 5100 Cdn or $1900 to $4800 U.S. Four day tours go from about $1200 to 3400 Cdn or $1100 to $3200 U.S. at current exchange rates.

3. What kind of accommodation is best for me?

Some people are happy in simple, clean rooms in B & Bs with minimal decor because they're hardly ever in the room. They prefer to put their money towards special food and wine experiences. Is this you? Others want beautiful, four star hotels or country properties with magnificent views and rooms oozing with historical charm and designer decor. Is this you?

4. What kind of excursions do I want?

Is this your first time in this particular region so you prefer sightseeing? Are you a foodie hungering for gastronomic adventures or a wine lover thirsting for winery tours? If you'd like a bit of it all, how much sightseeing and how many food and wine visits do you want? Often cheaper tours offer mostly sightseeing where you explore and shop in medieval towns and admire beautiful country panoramas.

More expensive tours give you exclusive gastronomic visits where you watch artisan producers making cheese or tour wineries with owners who tell you all you ever wanted to know about their wines and give you special tastings.

5. When do I want to travel in Italy?

Are you keen on the wine harvest? Food lovers swarm to Italy for the wine harvest in September and October when you have a large number of cooking tour choices so reserve early. Is warm weather important? Generally in most parts of Italy, mid May to mid October are warm to hot. July and August in some parts of Italy may be too hot for you. Would you like a quieter time when chefs and winery owners can give you more personal attention? You'll find a good choice of cooking tours in May and June.

In steaming mid August most Italian businesses shut for annual summer holidays. Cities empty out. Masses flock to the mountains or beaches, leaving cities like Florence to the tourists. You'll find less cooking school choice in August.

6. How many people in my cooking class?

Six or eight? You'll get to prepare the whole lunch or dinner menu. Ten or more? You'll join the "eggplant" or "tiramisu" team and not learn how to make the other dishes. But the more the merrier! A larger class also may give you demonstration style, not hands-on lessons. Which do you prefer?

7. What level of cooking teacher and class do I need?

You can savour once in a lifetime experiences with great home cooks on their farms. If you're a gourmet cook, you may prefer more professional level cooking lessons with restaurant chefs. Check cooking teachers' qualifications. Ask about class level. Most classes are geared to food loving tourists, ranging from gourmet cooks to rank beginners. If the thought of cooking with people who can't separate eggs gives you nightmares, gather your own group of good cooks together for a private cooking tour or classes.

8. What kind of cooking lessons do I like?

Hands-on lessons where you put your hands in the flour, or demonstration style classes where you watch the chef's expert moves and ask lots of questions? Many demonstration classes tend to be large from 10 to even 20 people. Julia Childs reportedly had 40 disciples watching her in classes at the five star Hotel Cipriani in Venice and following her in a long line through the Rialto market.

9. Where do I eat on my cooking tour?

Do you want to eat in a variety of local restaurants, so you get a real flavour of different cooking styles and towns and countryside in Italy? Or do you prefer quieter meals at your country villa or estate, where the chef feels like an Italian family member? Less expensive cooking tours feature most meals at home, while more expensive ones take you to more restaurants.

10. What is included and not included in the price of my cooking tour?

Some tour itineraries don't make it crystal clear what's included. Some say "optional" excursions or lunch "on your own" which mean you pay extra. Some say "evening at leisure" which means free time and dining on your own.

11. Ask for references

If you want to feel reassured you've chosen the right Italian cooking tour, ask the tour operator for names of past tour clients and their e-mails. Contact them to find out first hand if the itinerary delivers on what you want to experience. For many food and wine lovers, taking a cooking tour in Italy means a long time dream is coming true and represents a big investment of time and money. Make sure your dream becomes a fabulous real experience. When you have a short list of tours that appeal to you, read the itineraries critically and ask yourself these 10 questions.

Buon viaggio! Buon appetito!