What do I do? Do a take a tour of Puglia or try to go it alone
Aug 19th, 2013, 08:00 AM
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What do I do? Do a take a tour of Puglia or try to go it alone
Hi
I really need help and advice on this. I have been wanting to visit the Puglia area in Italy for a few years. I travel to Paris and Nice each Spring and aways add 1 or 2 other destinations.
Problem is I will not drive in Europe and always travel solo. Not even sure if at my age 84 they would allow me to rent a car in Europe., I have never taken a guided tour so I am somewhat dubious as if this is the right way for me.
My husband who was always my travel companion until he passed away 8 years ago always made fun of these tours with what he called "the brother in law Stops" You know gift stores, glass blowing factories etc.
I have done much research and it almost seems impossible to try to see much of the Puglia area by public transportation.
There is a tour company called ExperiencePuglia that has greaat reviews, however it looks as if 1/2 of the time is these brother in law stops,
Does any one have any suggestions for me.
If i can not go to Puglia , I may go to Naples for a few days. i have been there several times but only passing through on the way to Amalfi, Calabria and Sicily.
Thanks for your help.
I really need help and advice on this. I have been wanting to visit the Puglia area in Italy for a few years. I travel to Paris and Nice each Spring and aways add 1 or 2 other destinations.
Problem is I will not drive in Europe and always travel solo. Not even sure if at my age 84 they would allow me to rent a car in Europe., I have never taken a guided tour so I am somewhat dubious as if this is the right way for me.
My husband who was always my travel companion until he passed away 8 years ago always made fun of these tours with what he called "the brother in law Stops" You know gift stores, glass blowing factories etc.
I have done much research and it almost seems impossible to try to see much of the Puglia area by public transportation.
There is a tour company called ExperiencePuglia that has greaat reviews, however it looks as if 1/2 of the time is these brother in law stops,
Does any one have any suggestions for me.
If i can not go to Puglia , I may go to Naples for a few days. i have been there several times but only passing through on the way to Amalfi, Calabria and Sicily.
Thanks for your help.
Aug 19th, 2013, 08:44 AM
#2
Well I would look at the train system, there are two train companies in the region for historical reasons. Some of these are almost narrow track type trains while either are big modern things and you move town to town. My SIL is using the trains to get from England to Puglia in September as she does not like aircraft, but you can also catch cheap flights into Brindisi and Bari from Rome.
Aug 19th, 2013, 08:44 AM
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On a google search about Puglia and public transportation I found this other thread.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...basilicata.cfm
And here is a thread on Lonely Planet too:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2158439
If you don't find "touring" by public transport easy enought, any reason you wouldn't want to base yourself in a lovely Puglia town and then use the bus or a private driver to get around to other places nearby for daytrips? See this great article about Lecce from NYT that I "clipped" not long ago: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/08/11...pagewanted=all
Experience Puglia seems to get rave reviews on Trip Advisor but I am sure that it isn't the only tour company in the area.
Intrepid is small group tour company which offers this: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/ita...r-puglia-43619
Or a take a private tour like this: http://www.artisansofleisure.com/tou...l_8Puglia.html
If you think you might want to do a tour I think if you ask the hard questions about driving time, shopping stops, what you actually visit and for how long and what you just drive by, where you actually stay and eat etc. that you can find a tour that suits you.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...basilicata.cfm
And here is a thread on Lonely Planet too:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2158439
If you don't find "touring" by public transport easy enought, any reason you wouldn't want to base yourself in a lovely Puglia town and then use the bus or a private driver to get around to other places nearby for daytrips? See this great article about Lecce from NYT that I "clipped" not long ago: http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/08/11...pagewanted=all
Experience Puglia seems to get rave reviews on Trip Advisor but I am sure that it isn't the only tour company in the area.
Intrepid is small group tour company which offers this: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/ita...r-puglia-43619
Or a take a private tour like this: http://www.artisansofleisure.com/tou...l_8Puglia.html
If you think you might want to do a tour I think if you ask the hard questions about driving time, shopping stops, what you actually visit and for how long and what you just drive by, where you actually stay and eat etc. that you can find a tour that suits you.
Aug 19th, 2013, 08:46 AM
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I have not heard of the tour company that you mentioned. I have traveled with this tour company four times and highly recommend it: www.ricksteves.com. LOVED them. Let me know if you have specific questions.
I have "heard" really good things about Road Scholar, which I hear attracts an older crowd. To me, it is rather expensive.
I have "heard" really good things about Road Scholar, which I hear attracts an older crowd. To me, it is rather expensive.
Aug 19th, 2013, 09:25 AM
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I had a solo week in Puglia a couple of years ago. It was great and very easy to organise.
I based myself in Lecce and every day I took the train. There is a little train called ( I think) FSE which has a network of lines throughout Puglia. I went to Gallipoli, Otranto, Martina Franca, Alberobella, Polignano, several other little places. I got to Puglia by ferry from Patras in Greece to Bari then by train to Lecce. On the way out I flew from Brindisi to Stockholm on the dreaded Ryanair without mishap
Ask me questions if I can help.
I based myself in Lecce and every day I took the train. There is a little train called ( I think) FSE which has a network of lines throughout Puglia. I went to Gallipoli, Otranto, Martina Franca, Alberobella, Polignano, several other little places. I got to Puglia by ferry from Patras in Greece to Bari then by train to Lecce. On the way out I flew from Brindisi to Stockholm on the dreaded Ryanair without mishap
Ask me questions if I can help.
Aug 19th, 2013, 01:15 PM
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Hi Gertie3751
Thanks for your encouragement. I am now going to give this some very serious thought.
I am using mileage so i have to check if I can get to Brindisi
and then train to Lecce.
I will definitely appreciate any suggestions from you as to hotels etc
I usually like to rent an apartment, however for this trip i will stay in a hotel. My requirements are a safe location, convenient to public transportation and restaurants and moderate prices under 150 euros and hopefully much under.
Thanks for your encouragement. I am now going to give this some very serious thought.
I am using mileage so i have to check if I can get to Brindisi
and then train to Lecce.
I will definitely appreciate any suggestions from you as to hotels etc
I usually like to rent an apartment, however for this trip i will stay in a hotel. My requirements are a safe location, convenient to public transportation and restaurants and moderate prices under 150 euros and hopefully much under.
Aug 19th, 2013, 01:15 PM
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Hi Gertie3751
Thanks for your encouragement. I am now going to give this some very serious thought.
I am using mileage so i have to check if I can get to Brindisi
and then train to Lecce.
I will definitely appreciate any suggestions from you as to hotels etc
I usually like to rent an apartment, however for this trip i will stay in a hotel. My requirements are a safe location, convenient to public transportation and restaurants and moderate prices under 150 euros and hopefully much under.
Thanks for your encouragement. I am now going to give this some very serious thought.
I am using mileage so i have to check if I can get to Brindisi
and then train to Lecce.
I will definitely appreciate any suggestions from you as to hotels etc
I usually like to rent an apartment, however for this trip i will stay in a hotel. My requirements are a safe location, convenient to public transportation and restaurants and moderate prices under 150 euros and hopefully much under.
Aug 19th, 2013, 06:18 PM
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I visited a part of Puglia solo some years ago and did it with public transportation. There may be places that would be difficult to see, but you can certainly visit many of the key destinations there without a car. No reason to take a tour unless you want to!
Aug 19th, 2013, 06:24 PM
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Tdk320n
If you fly into Brindisi there is an airport bus direct to Lecce. If you fly into Bari or Naples, use the FS regular Italian train service. There is a train about every hour. Re hotels, I can't remember where I stayed but it was very central, about 2 minutes from the main square, in a pedestrian area in the old town. Very convenient. I'm a budget traveller and I paid about 50 euros a night. About a 10 minute walk to the train station. If you look on Tripadvisor or Booking.com you will find a lot of suggestions. Lecce is small and easy to get about on foot. There is quite a lot to see in the town itself and plenty of restaurants and shops.
If you fly into Brindisi there is an airport bus direct to Lecce. If you fly into Bari or Naples, use the FS regular Italian train service. There is a train about every hour. Re hotels, I can't remember where I stayed but it was very central, about 2 minutes from the main square, in a pedestrian area in the old town. Very convenient. I'm a budget traveller and I paid about 50 euros a night. About a 10 minute walk to the train station. If you look on Tripadvisor or Booking.com you will find a lot of suggestions. Lecce is small and easy to get about on foot. There is quite a lot to see in the town itself and plenty of restaurants and shops.
Mar 9th, 2016, 01:56 PM
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Check out Road Scholar. I am thinking of their tour to Puglia, myself. The website is easy to use and you can get
a lot of information about the trip from the Itinerary,
discussion and review sections.
Pat
a lot of information about the trip from the Itinerary,
discussion and review sections.
Pat
Mar 9th, 2016, 03:00 PM
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We are doing a three week trip to puglia and though we have never done tours we have chosen to do one for the middle week because Italy with Pleasure offers such compelling ones and their reviews are fabulous.
They base in Martina Franca in a diffuse hotel, that is, apartments which are connected by a central reception. The tours are limited to 15 and the owners of the company, she from Puglia and he from NZ run the tour personally.
Italywitpleasure.com
They also do other parts of Italy but puglia is their main focus.
They base in Martina Franca in a diffuse hotel, that is, apartments which are connected by a central reception. The tours are limited to 15 and the owners of the company, she from Puglia and he from NZ run the tour personally.
Italywitpleasure.com
They also do other parts of Italy but puglia is their main focus.
