Philadelphians who are heading on trips to other cities or countries as well as travelers who are planning to spend their days off in the City of Brotherly Love are more often opting for vacation rentals with good kitchens, writes Elaine Glusac for The New York Times.

Cooking on vacation provides them with several benefits, including exploring their destinations through cooking and also helping them save some money in the process.

“In Italy, you’re starting off already with great quality ingredients, which makes cooking Italian food so much easier because you don’t have to do so much to the ingredients,” said Jeff Michaud, a Philadelphia-based chef who runs Osteria restaurant.

Michaud and his wife, Claudia, also run the travel company La Via Gaia. The agency takes small groups of travelers to Italy for cooking classes.

Meanwhile, Tara Crowley, a chef based in South Lake Tahoe, opted to stay at AKA University City while in Philadelphia because its open-plan kitchen makes it possible for her to socialize with friends and family while cooking.

Read more about cooking on vacation in The New York Times.

Come for Philadelphia. Stay for the Rave Reviews.