What do you think about Puglia?

[adifferentwoman]

Am hankering after an Italy holiday for ages and like the idea of Puglia (the food, mostly!) but don't know much about it. If we did go, we'd be 4 adults, 2 x 9 year old boys and 3 x 6 year old girls. Comments and tips much appreciated. Looking at early July btw!

It's stunning. An UNESCO heritage site actually.

Look on Owners direct and rent a Trulli with private pool and garden. They are very reasonably priced.

Thanks Jolly. Any particular areas you'd recommend?

No idea, but when I read the title I thought it would be a baby names thread :D

It's absolutely stunning, and yes, a UNESCO site. We recently stayed in Molfetta for a week which is a lovely, old harbour town with superb resturants etc. the trullis are definitely the best option for SC accommodation. If you are going with children though remember that a lot of restaurants and shops close throughout the afternoon (we got caught out on the first day with no food! Stupid Brit alert) and while aperitif is served from about 6pm, it isn't 'normal' to eat until much, much later - think 10pm!

I loved Puglia. Those trulli are delightful. We are culture vultures and the church romanesque architecture in puglia is superb. Saw a glorious castle as well and had some lovely swims at various beaches. Food also delicious.
Some of the towns have beautiful historical centres but really grotty suburbs - so when you drive into a town you think it's a dump until you reach the lovely old town area.
And I must admit that outside some towns we saw rather too many black prostitutes standing in fields at laybys. (The obvious racial element of the sex trade was rather awful. )
So I've told you the only bad things I saw in an otherwise glorious holiday.

Oh and lovely wine too.

Poly they are everywhere in Italy, it is really noticeable.

DH was approached quite aggressively while parking the car at our hotel in Pisa airport.

And I thought I was being flashed by cameras on the way from Pisa to Lucca until I realised it was men in cars behind me flashing to women in the bushes on the roadside.

Sorry off topic there!

I would have a look on the website and decide on the property first if it was me. It depends on whether you will want a car, and to do some driving, be in a town or in total isolation, be near the beach etc.

Bari probably as the biggest number of rentals, is close to the airport, coastal and not far from Lecce where the kids might want to visit the waterpark.

Thanks for your replies. Having looked at the usual independent sites such as holiday lettings, we're getting rather overwhelmed by the geographical range. Ostuni looks nice -anyone been there. Would quite fancy being near the coast but can't find much info on beaches. Would anyone recommend any particular villa rental companies?

Try 'Owners Direct'……..t'was recommended to us 2 weeks ago and we've just booked for one of the lovelies in Puglia in early July….we may meet you there!! x

we had a holiday from hell in Puglia.

flew into Bari and stayed on a vineyard about 20 minutes away.

whilst the villa was gorgeous, the surrounding area was not. the whole area around us was very run down and as Jolly says, prostitutes on the side of all the A roads. We had a drive down the coast to a couple of towns, nothing special. There don't seem to be many beaches, mainly rocky coastline.

Also, EVERYTHING SHUTS FOR EASTER. We also got caught without food. There were no lovely markets like I had imagined, just crappy co-op type places.

Whilst I guess we just chose badly, I'd never go back to what is now referred to as Bastard Puglia. I even struggle to by Puglian wine or olive oil, the association is that bad!

Mmm, not liking the idea of having to explain to the kids what the ladies by the side if the road are doing! Was this in any particular area? Another question - what are the beaches like?