We are a family group of 8 people for this trip from 20's to 60's. We are thinking of spending a week in early July. We are trying to decide if we should spend the week based in one location and take day trips from there or split up the trip and stay in 2 or 3 places. We would prefer only one or two bases to tour out of. We are looking for suggestions for a convenient base(s). We will not be relying on public transportation except to take the train to and from Rome to Bari.

A location near a nice but not necessarily on a beach would be delightful particularly if it was near a village or town as well

Also, if anyone has experience with any tour guides in the area that they were happy with we would like to hear them.

Thank you.

Apulia has many faces...
As a first trip to Apulia, presuming you have a 50-50% interest in culture and beaches/relaxing, I would suggest to visit some classic spots such as Martina Franca, Alberobello, Locorotondo. As to limit car travel to each of these towns between 30-45mn and to be close to the sea, I would look anywhere between Monopolì and Villanova di Ostuni to find my seaside base camp. This closeness is important to me because I like the evening atmosphere in these towns; people eating on the terraces, having their evening stroll, having an ice cream,...
If this is meant to be a leisurely holiday, I would stay there for the week and maybe visit some other places.

If you really want a second base... I would go to Santa Maria di Leuca, but this means at some point you have a car trip of about 3 hours back to Bari.

The old town of Bari is also very interesting. Medieval, interesting castle to isit, completely traffic free, lots of little restaurants, bars, terraces... You could also stay some nights in Bari to visit the city and Trani (your hotel should be able to organize a day trip to Trani). Martina Franca-Alberobello-Locorotondo for 4 nights in the beginning of your trip and Bari at the end...

Puglia (havn't seen apulia written for years but you pronounce Puglia with a g like in lasagna). Nice ideas above, I'd look on google maps and booking.com tripadvisor for Masseria. These are old fortified farms converted into hotels of all luxury levels often with restaurants on site or sometimes on the edges of towns.

Tour guides; YLTOUR DMC | Luxury Tours, DMC, Public Relations | The Puglia Specialists Ylannia is a lovely lady who knows everyone on the peninsula. Drop her an email and facetime her, her English is excellent.

I'd add Lecce to the must visit list

Baldrick's ideas are excellent, except weather advice should be added and that means HOT. Puglia in mid-summer can be pleasant for sure, but in one of the frequent hot spells the temperature can also hit 100 degrees F in the interior and not much cooler along the coast. You should keep that in mind for your lodging and itinerary plans.

I would split up the week. We stayed in the Valle d'Itria and in the Salento. Both bases (masserie) were perfect for sightseeing without having to drive too far.

July is when the Italians begin to go on holiday and they come to Sicily and Puglia enmass. So booking is wise.

I second the recommendation to visit Lecce! And considering it as a base is, IMO, not unreasonable.