Driving and parking in Puglia?
 

We will be in Puglia for about a week in July and will have a car. Our bases are Matera (2 nights), Lecce ( 2 nights) and Polignano (4 nights). I've managed to find what look like pretty decent maps for driving between towns, my main concern in driving into the towns. Are there TLZs like there are in other parts of Italy? How did you find the parking? When you arrive in the towns are there signs directing you to parking lots, or did you just look for on street parking?

If you used GPS did you find it accurate? If you used it on your phone did you just use google maps or did you download something else?

Anyone have any tips? Thanks

The only one of those towns we've been to is Matera. I know we parked quite close to the center of town, and to the Sassi, but I don't remember how we found the parking. The sign for parking in Italy is a rectangular blue sign with a big white "P" on it. I usually follow the signs for the center (Centro, with a sort of bull's eye on a white sign), and when I think I must be close, I stop at the nearest parking area.

Almost every town and city in Italy has a ZTL. Matera certainly has one.

I live in Italy, and I use Google Navigator as my GPS. Google Navigator uses Google Maps. It's at least as accurate as my husband's Garmin, and a lot more up-to-date, as he hasn't updated his since he got it. If your phone won't have an Italian SIM card, using the phone as a GPS system may cost you a fortune. You might want to download all the maps you need in advance, using wifi, and keep data services turned off. Of course, you need to keep the satellite connection active, but that doesn't cost anything.

This is May, not July, but I have had no issues finding parking in Matera (used an underground lot off Via Fornaci, extremely convenient) and Polignano (big lot next to the cliffs,though we parked very close to the Centro on the street--paid at the ticket machine nearby). Even found easy street parking in Alberello. Follow the P signs as bvlenci says.

We have a Garmin which has led us accurately to the specific addresses we wanted. But mostly we are navigating using the Michelin Puglia map and the very frequent signposts placed strategically in each town. No problems so far.

Thanks. We'll probably be fine with just maps but I'm thinking of getting the TIM sim card for tourists - sounds like a decent deal - I think I saw one for 20 or 20 euro for 2G of data for one month.

You may well find one way sections which can be confusing, but a good tomtom and small car should be no problem. BTW do not leave anything in your car if you leave it.

in Lecce finding parking was more difficult, though we did manage to find a spot on the street after maneuvering out of the restricted traffic zone we had managed to drive into, despite my efforts to avoid them. No harm, no foul.

Isabel--I recall that you are driving to Rome after Puglia. If so, some tips. We left the Ostuni area about 9 and got to Ciampino by 2:30. Pretty drive, easy, on the autostrada most of the way. Cost 31 euros in tolls. Car rental return is not well marked. Right after you go through the roundabout into the airport turn right at the first road--I think the sign says General Aviation. The rental car lot is down that road on the right. You can walk from there to the taxis and buses at the terminal. we hooked up with another couple and shared a taxi to Campo di Fiori, 30 euros. would have been 50 with 2 stops so we all got off together.

Be sure to check your rental car carefully before you accept it. We did a cursory look and overlooked a scratch on the back of the mirror (didn't happen while we were driving; could have been there already or happened sometime while we were parked). Hertz charged us 115 euros for the damage plus a 50 euro "administrative" fee. Rip off!

I now photograph the car in detail on pick up and return, stops most nonsense, including fuel gauge with date stamp

Thanks for the tips.

Aprillilacs - what kind of insurance did you get?

I'll definitely make note of how to find the car return (we are also returning to Ciampino)- that always seems to be the worst part of car rentals. Last year in Nice I drove around the train station about six times before finally seeing the tiny sign directing me to the 4th level of the parking garage where the car returns were located.

Were the toll booths manned? If not did you pay cash or were you able to use a credit card?

bil - thanks for the tip about date stamping the photos - otherwise I always assumed they'd just say the photo could have been taken any time. I've heard some people put a newspaper in the photo with the date but that seems like a lot of trouble.

we had the basic insurance provided by autoeurope--cdw with a deductible (excess) of 1300 euros, and tp with excess of 1800. We declined the complete coverage, which would have cost 350 euros for no deductible. So Sw came out ahead, even with the bogus scratch charges.

The toll booths were all manned. We paid cash (we rarely use our card overseas) but I recall there was a card option at at least one booth.

0ur City Bank Master Card covers rental car insurance and our State Farm policy covers the deductible, Iv used it in Europe many times but don't buy the rental car insurance or Citi won't cover you if it's something that the rental insurance doesn't cover.