Cooking Vacations Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Welcome to Authentic Food Quest. We are delighted to host you on one of our small group immersive cooking vacations rooted in local food, culture, and genuine connection.

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before booking. By paying a deposit, completing payment through a Stripe payment link, checking the I agree box at checkout, signing a Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement, or otherwise confirming your participation, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

These Terms and Conditions form a legally binding agreement between you, the guest, and Authentic Food Quest LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company. Each trip is also governed by a separate Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement, which outlines trip specific details such as exact dates, deposit amount, payment deadlines, cancellation dates, inclusions, and itinerary.

If there is any conflict between these general Terms and Conditions and the trip specific dates or details in your signed Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement, the Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement controls for those trip specific items only. All other general terms remain fully binding.

1. The Agreement

In these Terms and Conditions, Authentic Food Quest, AFQ, Organizer, we, us, or our refers to Authentic Food Quest LLC. Guest, participant, traveler, you, or your refers to the person booking, paying for, or participating in a Cooking Vacation. Cooking Vacation refers to any immersive culinary travel experience organized, sold, or operated by Authentic Food Quest LLC.

Your booking is accepted on the basis of these Terms. By clicking Book or Pay, checking the I agree box at Stripe checkout, providing payment via a Stripe payment link, or otherwise confirming your participation, you acknowledge that you are entering a legally binding agreement. This agreement applies whether your purchase is made directly on our website or via a Stripe payment link sent by us.

2. Booking and Acceptance

To reserve a place on a Cooking Vacation, a deposit is required. Payment is typically made through a secure Stripe payment link provided by Authentic Food Quest LLC.

By paying your deposit, you acknowledge and agree that:

You have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions.

You understand and accept the cancellation and refund policy.

You understand that a 5% non refundable administrative and merchant processing fee applies to eligible refunds when you cancel.

You understand that comprehensive travel insurance is required.

You understand that each participant must sign the Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement and the required Liability Waiver before the trip departs.

One purchaser may pay for more than one guest. Each participant must still review, complete, and sign the required trip documents.

Your reservation is not fully complete until the deposit has been received and all required documents have been signed and returned.

3. Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement

Within two business days of paying your deposit, you will receive a Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement for your selected trip. This document outlines your trip name, destination, dates, accommodation, total price, deposit amount, final balance deadline, exact cancellation dates, inclusions, and trip specific logistics.

The Specific Agreement must be signed and returned within seven days of receipt, unless another deadline is stated in writing.

For bookings made within 30 days of departure, the Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement and Liability Waiver must be signed within 48 hours of booking.

If a signed Specific Agreement is not returned within the required timeframe, Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to release the reservation. In such cases, the booking will be treated as a guest cancellation and the standard cancellation terms in Section 7 will apply.

4. Trip Confirmation and Minimum Enrollment

Our Cooking Vacations are small group experiences and require a minimum number of guests to operate.

Authentic Food Quest LLC will confirm the trip once minimum enrollment is reached, and no later than 45 days before departure, unless otherwise stated in the Specific Agreement.

We strongly recommend that you do not book non refundable airfare, hotels, or other outside travel arrangements until you receive written confirmation that the trip is guaranteed to depart.

If Authentic Food Quest LLC cancels a Cooking Vacation for commercial reasons or low enrollment, you will receive a full refund of all monies paid to Authentic Food Quest LLC. We are not responsible for any third party costs you may have incurred, including airfare, hotels, pre or post trip accommodations, transportation outside the itinerary, travel insurance, visas, passports, or other personal expenses.

5. Payment Terms

A deposit is required to reserve your place. The deposit amount and final balance deadline will be stated in your Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement.

Unless otherwise stated in the Specific Agreement:

The deposit is due at the time of booking.

The deposit becomes non-refundable beginning 120 days before departure.

The final balance is due no later than 90 days before departure.

Beginning 90 days before departure, all payments made become non-refundable.

If the final balance is not received by the deadline stated in your Specific Agreement, Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to cancel your reservation. Any refund will be subject to the cancellation terms in Section 7.

All payments are made in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated in writing. Payments are processed securely through Stripe unless another method is approved in writing.

6. Pricing, Currency Fluctuations, and Supplier Cost Changes

Trip prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and are based on currency exchange rates, supplier costs, taxes, and local operating costs in effect at the time of publication. Because our trips operate internationally and are booked far in advance, costs are paid to local suppliers in foreign currencies and may shift between the time of booking and the time of departure.

Until your trip is paid in full, Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to adjust the final balance if any of the following occur:

• Unfavorable currency exchange rate movements affecting the cost of operating the trip.

• Significant increases in supplier costs, including accommodation, transportation, or activity providers.

• New or increased taxes, tariffs, port fees, or government imposed charges.

• Fuel surcharges or unforeseen operational cost increases.

Minor fluctuations in the U.S. dollars and the local operating currency will be absorbed by Authentic Food Quest LLC. Significant movements may be reflected in the final balance.

Any price adjustment will be communicated in writing no later than 120 days before departure. Once your trip is paid in full, the price is locked and will not be increased due to later currency fluctuations or supplier cost changes.

7. Cancellation and Refund Policy

7.1 Cancellation by Guest

We understand that unexpected events can happen. Because our Cooking Vacations are small group experiences and we commit funds to local partners well in advance, our cancellation policy is designed to protect both our guests and the people who help us create these experiences.

All guest cancellations must be submitted in writing by email to [email protected]. A cancellation is effective on the date Authentic Food Quest LLC receives the written notice.

Unless otherwise stated in your Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement:

More than 120 days before departure: your deposit is refundable, less a 5% non refundable administrative and merchant processing fee.

Beginning 120 days before departure: your deposit becomes fully non refundable.

Beginning 90 days before departure: all payments made, including the final balance, become fully non refundable.

If there is any difference between the general timeline above and the exact calendar dates in your signed Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement, the dates in your Specific Agreement control.

Authentic Food Quest LLC is unable to make exceptions to this policy for any reason, including medical emergencies, family illness, personal emergencies, weather, delayed flights, missed flights, fear of travel, or changes in personal circumstances. This is why comprehensive travel insurance is required.

7.2 Cancellation by Authentic Food Quest LLC

Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to cancel a Cooking Vacation for commercial reasons, low enrollment, safety concerns, supplier issues, force majeure events, or other circumstances that make the trip impractical, unsafe, or commercially unviable to operate.

If we cancel a Cooking Vacation for commercial reasons, low enrollment, or reasons unrelated to an individual guest, you will receive a refund of all monies paid to Authentic Food Quest LLC. We are not responsible for third-party or personal costs incurred in anticipation of the trip.

8. Force Majeure

Authentic Food Quest LLC is not responsible for failure or delay in performing its obligations where such failure is caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control. Force Majeure events include but are not limited to natural disasters, extreme weather, fire, flood, earthquake, strikes, labor disputes, war, terrorism, civil unrest, government actions, border closures, pandemics, epidemics, illness outbreaks, quarantine, transportation disruptions, supplier failures, political instability, or other unforeseeable circumstances.

If a Force Majeure event affects a Cooking Vacation, Authentic Food Quest LLC may modify, postpone, reschedule, or cancel the trip or any part of the itinerary.

Where a trip cannot proceed due to a Force Majeure event, we will use reasonable efforts to provide a fair solution, which may include rescheduling the trip, offering a credit toward a future trip, or refunding recoverable amounts. Any refund will be reduced by non recoverable costs already paid to third party suppliers. We are not responsible for guest expenses such as airfare, hotels, or travel insurance unless applicable law requires otherwise.

9. Travel Insurance Requirement

Comprehensive travel insurance is required for every guest.

Your insurance must cover, at minimum:

Trip cancellation and trip interruption.

Medical emergencies, including injury and illness.

Emergency evacuation and repatriation.

Travel delays.

Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage.

Personal liability.

All activities included in your itinerary.

You must purchase travel insurance at the time of deposit and provide proof of coverage no later than 60 days before departure, or by the date stated in your Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement.

Failure to provide proof of travel insurance may result in cancellation of your reservation, with any refund subject to the cancellation terms in Section 7.

Authentic Food Quest LLC does not provide travel insurance and is not responsible for any uninsured costs, including those arising from illness, injury, or pandemic.

10. Travel Documents and Entry Requirements

You are solely responsible for maintaining valid travel documents, including passports, visas, entry authorizations, vaccination records, and any other documentation required for the destination or any country through which you travel.

For travel to Europe, this may include ETIAS or any similar entry authorization in effect at the time of travel.

Authentic Food Quest LLC may provide general travel information as a courtesy, but we are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of such information. Entry requirements can change, and it is your responsibility to verify them with official government sources.

Authentic Food Quest LLC is not responsible and will not provide refunds if you are denied boarding, entry, exit, or participation because of missing, invalid, expired, or insufficient travel documentation.

11. Health, Fitness, and Participation

Our Cooking Vacations are active experiences. Depending on the destination and itinerary, activities may include walking on uneven streets, cobblestones, and stairs, standing for several hours during cooking classes, market visits, farm visits, boat rides, swimming, and other physical activities.

By booking, you confirm that:

You are physically and mentally able to participate in the Cooking Vacation.

You do not have any condition that would create a hazard for yourself, other guests, local partners, or the group.

You will notify Authentic Food Quest LLC of any dietary, medical, mobility, or allergy needs before booking or as soon as they arise.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate dietary restrictions, allergies, and other needs, but cannot guarantee every request can be met, especially where local kitchens, set menus, historic buildings, or third party vendors are involved.

Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to decline, cancel, or discontinue a guest’s participation if we reasonably determine that the guest’s health, fitness, conduct, or other needs cannot be safely or appropriately accommodated. Any refund will be subject to the cancellation terms in Section 7.

12. Guest Conduct and Group Experience

Our trips are built around curiosity, respect, participation, and cultural openness.

By joining a Cooking Vacation, you agree to:

Treat fellow guests, hosts, chefs, guides, drivers, producers, and local partners with respect.

Follow reasonable instructions from Authentic Food Quest LLC, local guides, hosts, chefs, and activity leaders regarding safety, logistics, and timing.

Respect local customs, laws, and cultural norms.

Refrain from behavior that is abusive, threatening, discriminatory, disruptive, or harmful.

Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right, in our sole discretion, to refuse, cancel, or terminate the participation of any guest whose conduct is disruptive, disrespectful, unsafe, or in violation of local laws.

If a guest is removed from a Cooking Vacation for conduct related reasons, no refund will be provided, and the guest will be responsible for any additional costs related to their departure, accommodations, transportation, or onward travel.

13. Itinerary Changes

Authentic Food Quest LLC carefully designs each Cooking Vacation, but travel is not fully predictable. Weather, seasonal availability, supplier changes, transportation issues, local events, illness, closures, or other circumstances may require changes to the itinerary.

We reserve the right to adjust the itinerary, order of activities, vendors, meals, accommodations, transportation, guides, or experiences when necessary or appropriate. When changes are needed, we will use reasonable efforts to provide alternatives of similar quality, spirit, and value.

Minor changes, such as restaurant substitutions, activity timing, or sequencing, do not entitle guests to a refund. No refunds will be provided for reasonable itinerary adjustments made in good faith due to circumstances outside our control.

14. Accommodation

Accommodation details vary by destination and will be outlined in your Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement.

Trip prices are based on the room category stated in the Specific Agreement. Private room supplements, shared room arrangements, or other rooming details will be specified for each trip.

Historic properties, villas, palazzos, B&Bs, châteaux, and other locally rooted accommodations may vary in room size, layout, amenities, stairs, views, bathroom configuration, air conditioning, and elevator access.

Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to make reasonable accommodation changes or substitutions when necessary due to availability, safety, supplier issues, or circumstances outside our control. We will endeavor to provide alternatives of comparable standards.

15. What Is Included and Not Included

The inclusions and exclusions for each Cooking Vacation are listed in the Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement.

Unless expressly stated as included, the following are not included:

International airfare and transportation outside the scheduled itinerary.

Passport, visa, ETIAS, or entry authorization fees.

Travel insurance.

Meals, snacks, drinks, or activities not listed in the itinerary.

Personal purchases, laundry, minibar, and telephone charges.

Tips or gratuities unless specifically stated.

Pre or post trip accommodations.

Medical care, medications, evacuation, or repatriation.

Costs related to delayed, missed, or canceled flights.

16. Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk

International travel and participation in a Cooking Vacation involve inherent risks, including but not limited to illness, injury, accidents, property loss, travel delays, food related risks, weather, transportation risks, uneven terrain, stairs, water activities, cultural differences, limited medical access, and the acts or omissions of third party suppliers.

By booking and participating, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume all risks associated with the Cooking Vacation.

Each guest is required to sign a separate Waiver of Liability, Release of Liability, and Assumption of Risk Agreement before departure. Failure to sign the required waiver will result in cancellation of participation, with any refund subject to the cancellation terms in Section 7.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to release and hold harmless Authentic Food Quest LLC, its owners, employees, contractors, representatives, partners, and affiliates from claims, damages, losses, expenses, injuries, delays, or liabilities arising from your participation in the Cooking Vacation, except where such release is prohibited by applicable law.

17. Third Party Suppliers

Authentic Food Quest LLC works with independent local partners, including accommodations, chefs, guides, drivers, wineries, farms, producers, restaurants, boat operators, cultural sites, and activity providers.

We make reasonable efforts to work with trusted and reputable partners. However, these third parties are independent providers and are not employees of Authentic Food Quest LLC.

Authentic Food Quest LLC is not responsible for the acts, omissions, negligence, delays, cancellations, overbooking, closures, financial default, or failures of third party suppliers, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

18. Media Release

By participating in a Cooking Vacation, you acknowledge that photographs, videos, audio recordings, or other media may be captured before, during, or after the trip.

You grant Authentic Food Quest LLC a worldwide, royalty free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, publish, display, edit, distribute, and share your name, image, likeness, voice, comments, and media captured during the Cooking Vacation for marketing, promotional, educational, editorial, social media, website, commercial, or storytelling purposes.

Guests who do not wish to be photographed or featured in promotional materials must notify Authentic Food Quest LLC in writing prior to the trip start date.

Authentic Food Quest LLC will not publish your personal contact information, such as email address, phone number, or home address.

19. Privacy and Personal Information

Authentic Food Quest LLC collects personal information necessary to organize and operate your Cooking Vacation, including contact details, travel details, dietary needs, medical or mobility information you choose to provide, emergency contacts, and payment information processed through Stripe.

Your personal information will be used to manage your booking, coordinate trip logistics, support safety and dietary planning, and operate the Cooking Vacation. By booking, you consent to Authentic Food Quest LLC sharing necessary information with local partners, accommodations, chefs, guides, transportation providers, and other suppliers when required to deliver the trip.

20. Complaints

If you experience an issue during your trip, please notify your host immediately so we can attempt to resolve it on the spot.

If the issue cannot be resolved during the trip, please submit a written complaint to [email protected] within 30 days of the trip’s end date. Complaints submitted after this period will not be considered.

We review all complaints in good faith. No refunds will be provided for unused services, itinerary adjustments, personal dissatisfaction, weather, supplier issues, or circumstances outside our control, unless required by law or caused by a failure by Authentic Food Quest LLC to provide a contracted service.

21. Intellectual Property

All Authentic Food Quest names, logos, website content, trip materials, photographs, videos, recipes, itineraries, and other intellectual property are owned by Authentic Food Quest LLC or used with permission. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, sell, publish, or use Authentic Food Quest materials for commercial purposes without prior written permission.

22. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming, without regard to conflict of law principles.

In the event of any dispute, the parties agree to first attempt to resolve the matter personally and in good faith. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, the parties agree that the dispute will be submitted to binding individual arbitration in Sheridan County, Wyoming, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

The arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator. The arbitrator will have no authority to certify a class action, add parties, or award punitive damages unless required by law.

You and Authentic Food Quest LLC waive the right to a jury trial and the right to participate in a class action to the fullest extent permitted by law.

23. Severability and Entire Agreement

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

These Terms and Conditions, together with your Specific Cooking Vacation Agreement, signed Liability Waiver, and any written trip documents provided by Authentic Food Quest LLC, constitute the entire agreement between you and Authentic Food Quest LLC regarding your Cooking Vacation. They supersede all prior oral or written communications, representations, or agreements.

24. Changes to These Terms

Authentic Food Quest LLC reserves the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. The version that applies to your booking is the one in effect on the date you paid your deposit. Any updates will be posted to our website with the Last Updated date revised accordingly.

25. Contact

For questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact:

Authentic Food Quest LLC

30 N Gould St Ste R

Sheridan, WY 82801

United States

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://authenticfoodquest.com