A friend of ours has been experiencing something strange with her loaves of bread recently. She follows the recipe and everything seems fine, but when sheslices into the loaf, the middle always tears and falls apart. It’s cooked through, but the crumb is just very very loose in the center. Any thoughts?
There are 2 main tour companies in Parma – both have good points and a couple of bad ones.
Firstly, we know we have ironed out the points below, which motivated us to go independent in the first place.
As a foodie you have to love this work… the aromas and the eccentricities. Our mission:
client first for one delightful day of our lives.
As a tourist new to the region, you must check the tour will not be changed at last minute or organised badly.
The most common faults I found working and managing the Parma agencies are.
Issues with sites – some sites were too far apart causing long hauls.
Quality of sites – both companies have reasonable sites – but actually compared to what is available not that special – Italy is an amazing place! (because agencies seek wider profit and refuse to pay the fees FWT provide for quality destinations).
Staff energy – Its is so important to get staff energised and informed in the right way so that they can not only develop the tour to client needs but also have a genuine rapport with the site vendors. I trained staff for both Parma agencies and know first hand the high and low ground. One agency currently has entirely new staff who will need at least 2 years to become fully fledged.
Cultural difference – often a good thing sometimes really a bad one! One of my key roles in recent 5 years is delivering courses in cultural difference and again it is an area that is extremely important.
Client first – It is no good going high brow with a group that want to kick-back and relax. A good tour host always has the people skills and empathy first mindset, making the fit absolutely right for the client – after all, the day with us is often the highlight of the vacation and an ambition well harboured. You deserve it…and we know it well.
Pricing – the pricing isn’t too bad for the client, however the staff wages are extremely slow and staff often begrudgingly show up and serve client in lacklustre fashion. The backroom should be a positive engine room…
Over the years Caterina and I have accumulated a host of great friends and memories working on these tours. You always learn something from your clients.
Food is a passion – a place of genuine delight, family and trust.
We simply love this work.
Hoping this is useful and looking forward to sharing the joy.
Nick FWT
Interview with Nick Garrett FWT tour manager
“People don’t take trips – trips take people.” – John Steinbeck
Parma Cheese Ham ‘n Balsamico day tours
We are a fresh new Parma Food tourism group with lots of treats to offer
Food is a passion and gift – a place of genuine delight, family and fun.
We’re sure you’ll love this inspirational day…
Interview with Nick Garrett FWT tour manager
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Where we differ?
Caterina and I have taken time putting together the best quality tour in Parma simply because we have always placed you and quality destinations first.
Cate comes from 3 generations of Parmigiano and Prosciutto production… the love of quality is in her genes.
We have found the best destinations compared to other operators (we know, we’ve worked with them) and deliver all the tours personally.
FWT have breathtaking destinations waiting for you
- and we know that’s what you want, deserve and value.
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Join Us for a brethtaking day
View the Profile: The 3 Kings Tour
Nick and Caterina FWT
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… our Parma Tripadvisor link shows 20 of our tour recommendations and Caterina’s too… lots of great reviews!
join us… it’s a great day
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“Nick Garrett’s tour of Parma”
Attraction Review – Parma, Italy
by Marjorie D October 24, 2011
Nick gave us wonderfully informative food tours of the Parma region, including Parmigiano reggiano production, Prosciutto di Parma and…
Italian Garden Lasagna – this looks like a GREAT veggie lasagna recipe!
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REVIEWSby Marjorie D October 24, 2011
by ILSOGNATORE June 26, 2010
WhyGo » Italy » Planning a Trip » Italy in July
Summertime in Italy can be glorious, so it’s no wonder that in the month of July in Italy it feels like the country is absolutely overrun with every last tourist on earth – despite the higher cost and higher temperatures.
July weather in Italy is hot from the top of the boot to the toe – there’s no getting around it. Temperatures typically go up as you go south in Italy year-round, but July is a bit of an aberration in that regard – for some reason, July is often the hottest month of the year in northern Italy. Now, that’s not to say that it won’t be hotter in southern Italy in July than it is in the north, but the south still has August up its sleeve…
Beaches in Italy get more and more crowded starting in June (and sometimes May), and by July they’re packed every weekend and during many weeks with both locals and foreigners. Italians are likely to be getting out of the hot cities every chance they get, taking advantage of any long weekend (or even short weekends) to spend a few days in the mountains, the countryside, or on the coast – so you may be competing with not just foreign tourists but also Italians for hotel space and seats on trains.
With the high heat of July also comes humidity, making the heat more uncomfortable overall. Keep in mind that while many hotels these days do have air conditioning, it remains more of a luxury than a standard amenity in cheaper accommodation and especially in Italian homes. In other words, it’s a good thing to confirm whether your hotel or hostel has air conditioning for a July visit.
Temperatures in July vary depending on where you are in Italy, but as a general rule of thumb these are the ranges:
>> Be sure to check a current weather forecast for Italy before you leave home, as the weather can change. Check myItaly weather page for seasonal temperature and rainfall averages in a few Italian cities.
While there aren’t any nationwide holidays on the calendar in July, there’s a very famous local festival that occurs each July 2nd – it’s the first running of the Palio in Siena, the city’s medieval horse race.
There are other local festivals and events going on in July throughout Italy, including the Verona Opera Festival and Saint Rosalia’s feast day in Palermo. Regardless of where you’re traveling in Italy in July, check with the local tourism office to find out what’s on their calendar of events. It’s good to know whether you’ll have the opportunity to see a town honor its patron saint, or whether you’ll need to reschedule a visit to a particular cathedral because there’s a local celebration going on inside.
>> Check my holidays in Italy page to find out some of the things going on this July in Italy.
With the high cost associated with a July visit to Italy, not to mention the thicker crowds, it’s easy to see why some people avoid Italy during this month.
Anyone on a budget will see their vacation funds eaten up quickly by the cost of Italy airfare, hotels in Italy, and even the normally-cheap hostels in Italy during July. The cost of an Italian gelato may not go up in July, but you’ll have fewer euro leftover to spend on the sweet treat.
The higher number of visitors in Italy during July means longer lines to get into things like the Uffizi and the Vatican Museums, and even some less-popular sights seem overstuffed with tourists. Not only that, the higher temperatures mean waiting in those lines – always outdoors – can get quite uncomfortable.
Of course, there’s a reason why so many people head for Italy in July, and that’s the weather. What may be too hot for some tastes is ideal beach weather for others – as Italy’s packed beaches are a testament to. And since the summer is often the only time families can all take vacation time together, it’s not likely that tourism numbers for July will drop anytime soon.
Those on a budget and those who don’t deal well with heat or crowds would be smart to avoid Italy in July, but those who are making a beeline for the beach or going hiking high in the Dolomites will find July to be just about ideal.
photo by ryarwood
