Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Padua

Smooth

Had a really good experience with this tour agency overall. The itinerary was well planned and covered all the key attractions at a comfortable pace. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the journey more enjoyable with helpful information throughout. Transportation was smooth and comfortable, with everything well organized. There were minor delays at a couple of points, but nothing that affected the trip much.

via Tripadvisor

Poorly described activity 😞

Well, I hate to write a negative review but our experience was disappointing. I have booked many activities (and cooking classes) through Trip Advisor/Viator and have always been pleased with the experience. Not this time. First, the meeting place was very confusing , we went to the address in the instructions, but our host/instructor was late and the phone number to reach him was not working. We also messaged him through our app to no avail. We called Viator and they had the same non working phone number. This is unacceptable. When our host finally found us it was a very long 40 min walk to his apartment. We were already delayed because of the confusion . I feel like the cooking class was not properly explained in the description. But the most frustrating part is that our host did not speak English and we had to use Google translate! Our host was very kind but I think the experience was very challenging for him as well! He was gracious host but his tiny kitchen would only accommodate 3 of us cooking and the other 3 in our group sat in the living room It was unlike any other cooking class that we’ve done previously. I think Viator/ Trip Advisor needs to fully explain this activity so folks can know in advance what they are actually booking!

Response from the operator: Dear Sir or Madam, thanks for your feedback and we are sorry you were not happy with the experience you booked with us. Please note that all our experiences are held in private homes, so for privacy reasons, we can't disclose the address before booking, and the correct address is not the one shown on the Viator app. I genuinely regret any frustration this may have caused but this important information is clearly stated also in the Viator's Voucher that each client receives after placing the reservation. Should you have any further questions or require additional assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thank you for your understanding. Best regards,

via Tripadvisor

Very disappointing experience.

Coordination to and from this event was terrible. Meet up point was misidentified which left us standing for 25 minutes. It was very difficult to contact host. Then “five minute walk to host home” turned out to be 40 minutes. We told host we were really fatigued after full day of walking and he intimated his home was nearby. Host said we were going to market first but with delayed meetup the market was closing. Host spoke little to no English. We communicated only through translation phone app which was not good. When we finally arrived at his apartment we were reluctant to enter because it looked sketchy. Apartment was surprisingly nice but the Kitchen was small enough to hold only 3 of our 6 attendees. Apartment was very warm! Host invited brother and mother to dinner who also spoke very little English creating uncomfortable silences. The meal prep took a really long time and only included one dish (homemade pasta) with sauce host had premade. We also made dessert. Host had prepped a couple appetizers in advance. Host, David, was kind and had a lovely space to dine. After dinner we had trouble getting taxi to return us to hotel which ended up taking 30 minutes because of remote location. Bottom line, one of our all-time worst Viator experiences.

Response from the operator: Dear Alan, thank you for your feedback. It is always important to listen to our customers. We are very sorry to read these lines since we always try to do our best in order to provide the greatest experience possible for our guests. Please note that all our experiences are held in private homes, so for privacy reasons, we can't disclose the address before booking. The address shown on the VIATOR platform is a generic one. I genuinely regret any frustration this may have caused, but his important information is clearly stated also in the Viator's Voucher that each client receives after placing the reservation. We are happy you appreciated your time with David and we will take into account your feedback about his usage of English. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts,

via Viator

The host was 25 minutes...

The host was 25 minutes late and we had to walk 45 minutes to his apartment. We missed the market because the meetup time was so late. Our host did not speak much English and had to keep talking into the phone and letting the phone translate. And we could not talk with him. The kitchen was so small, only half of our six person party could cook. The rest sat in the dining room the whole time. The appetizers were delicious. The dinner was very disappointing, just spaghetti with olives and anchovies with tomatoes, not even fresh Parmesan on the spaghetti. The tiramisu was delicious. Our host was kind. We’ve done cooking classes in many Italian cities and they have been so much fun in beautiful places with unforgettable food. This experience was unforgettable for the wrong reasons.

Response from the operator: Dear Tammy, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re really sorry the experience didn’t meet your expectations and that the logistics and space made it frustrating. We’re glad you enjoyed the appetizers, tiramisu, and found our host kind. Your comments are very helpful, and we’ll take them into account to improve the experience for future guests. Best regards,

via Viator

Cooking Experience with Catia

It was my first time to Padua, and I was looking for an authentic experience where I could learn about the city and the cuisine that makes it special. I was so lucky to have found this tour with Catia, who went out of her way to provide a wonderful experience that I will cherish forever! She was so hospitable, from a detailed tour of Padua that included all the best attractions, to opening up her home to me where I learned how to make Bigoli and Tiramasu. She showed me the proper techniques of making and kneading dough, and taught me how to make and serve a plate of appetizers that was made using the freshest flavors of the Summer. Her home, her family, her garden, and knowledge of cooking and the city’s history - is truly a gift every visitor of Padua should experience.

via Viator