As Michelle Shappirio rightly said, ‘To Travel is to Eat’. Culinary travel is gaining rapid popularity. We travel to experience the local culture and eating traditional food is largely connected with this experience. There is no better way to understand the culture of a country than to dig your hands and enjoy the culinary delights of a foreign place. So, get ready to indulge in some traditional cuisines that will satiate your food cravings!

RCI India has assembled the most extravagant, most essential and the most sensual reasons to stamp your passport with culinary travel.

1. Switzerland 

Travel from the 800-year-old lakeside town of Lucerne to the ski resort of Zermatt for an immersion in Alpine culture and cuisine, including a visit to Maison Cailler, the home of Switzerland’s oldest milk chocolate brand; a tour of the walled medieval cheese village of Gruyeres; and a raclette tasting at the 16th-century Chateau de Villa. Additionally, take a ride on the Chocolate Train (Glazier Express) that allows you to visit a cheese factory, a castle and a chocolate factory in Broc. What’s better than snow and chocolates? During your trip in Switzerland choose to stay with an amazing offering by RCI, Aparthotel Helvetia Intergolf. It is in an exclusive setting amongst shops and international boutiques, as well as the famous ski slopes.

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2. Paris

Picnicking and looking out onto the world’s most recognized landmark is a great feeling, but go one step further and book a table inside the Eiffel Tower at the one Michelin-starred fine diner, Le Jules Verne. Additionally, wander the streets of Paris with a baguette in hand. There’s nothing better than crunching on a baguette fresh out of the oven! Enjoy your breakfast with a chocolate croissant. Any patisserie in town will have “pain au chocolat,” which is a must eat for everyone traveling to Paris. Complete this perfect trip with RCI and choose your stay at Appart’City Paris La Villette that sits on the Ourcq Canal in Paris, offering a number of patisseries and cafes to choose from.

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3. Beijing

While Xiao long bao can be found at fine dining restaurants in India, Beijing, the delicacy’s hometown, does it infinitely better. Peer through the streets of Chinatown to see expert hands folding perfect pleats and steamer baskets flying out to tables, where they land, every dumpling intact, bursting with flavourful juice. Some might call these the best in China, but trying a variety and arguing about it is half the fun. With RCI, you can complete your trip by staying at the Artyzen Habitat Dongzhimen Beijing, which is situated in the middle of Beijing and offers an on-site restaurant and café to beat the midnight hunger. The good news is, If Beijing is too far for you, you can try Gangtok, which offers unbelievable delicious dumplings as well. Famously known as ‘momos’ in the city. Choose Club Mahindra Gangtok, for your stay. This property is a Himalayan paradise and will offer you a blend of comfort, serenity and modern amenities. At the end of the day, you can relax with a pre-dinner cocktail at the Alpine Bar before dining at the Orchid Restaurant offering delicious Indian, Oriental and Continental dishes.

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4. Mumbai

In Mumbai, start with the chaat, a collection of snacks that marries the crunchy and soft textures of puffed rice and crackers with the sweet, tart flavors of chutneys. Then there’s the pav bhaji, a spiced mixed vegetable concoction, slathered with butter and drizzled with lemon juice that you’ve got to grab with the toasted buns served on the side. When you travel to Mumbai, eat what the local folk love, that means hitting the streets. A stroll through this large city will reveal colorful, vibrant food stalls and carts. While in Mumbai, book your stay with RCI at VITS Mumbai. The hotel is situated in the heart of the city, which allows exploring the Mumbai food life easily. The poolside restaurant is a favorite of locals and tourists as it offers a variety of Mumbai food specialties.

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5. London

If your idea of a scone is that graceless dough ball in the Starbucks, get yourself to London town. High tea can be pricey, but it’s worth doing, even just once, to experience what flour and butter can be when baked to their highest expression and topped with a dollop of the richest, sweetest cream and fresh berry jam. London’s hotels, restaurants, and cafés have the world’s best spread when it comes to high tea. It’s all here: from classic tea, scones, and finger sandwiches, to lager-braised bacon jam, cannabis choccies, and Manolo Blahnik gingersnap stilettos. While in London, enjoy your stay with RCI at Odessa Rental that also serves several options for high tea!

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So, pack your bags and a set of stretchy PJs and take your palate on an international tour for your next holiday.

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