Readers recommend

France: Cooking school

Les Liaisons Delicieuses, 4710 30th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20008; (877) 966-1810, www.cookfrance.com. “Spent a delightful week at a cooking school in Brittany, where we stayed in a private 18th century chateau and received instruction from local chefs in their own restaurant kitchens. We visited markets, restaurant herb gardens, toured private chateaux and manors. Lots of good conversation and camaraderie.” Weeklong tours available to other French cities, also Morocco and Quebec, from $2,690.

Lynne Barry Roe

San Juan Capistrano

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Italy: Tips and tours

ETRome Tours, Via Quattro Novembre 99 (Piazza Venezia), 00187 Rome; 011-39-06-454- 38795, www.etrome.com. “Time is money on vacation, and we found we could save time and avoid lines with ET Tours. We visited the Vatican museums and basilica with no waiting, while others spent two to three hours in line. Our guided tour included headphones and a scarf for $30. The next day we went on a trip to the Colosseum -- once again no waiting -- on a tour that cost $8.65.”

Renee Stark

Glendale