Please help me choose Puglia hotels!
 

We're going to Puglia for one week in late May/early June - flying into Bari. I think I have my itinerary down (although I keep wondering if our trip would be more relaxing if I eliminated Matera....but i can't seem to)

I now just need to bite the bullet and choose hotels. I have narrowed down my selection as follows. Please let me know if you have any preferences among these choices!

MATERA (1 night)
Locanda di San Martino

OSTUNI AREA (2 nights)
Trulli Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca
Masseria San Martino in Pezze de Greco
Il Frantoia in Ostuni
Lama di Luna
La Rascina

LECCE (2 nights)
Palazzo Personne
Roof Barocco B&B

SALENTO (2 nights)
Masseria Montelauro
Masseria Appide

Just a small note: Lama di Luna is a bit distant from Ostuni. It makes a good base for Trani, Castel del Monte, etc.

I think that with a week's time you have to choose between adding that area to the plan, or seeing the Salento. OR, you could cut the Salento masseria but add a night to Lecce and have a day to daytrip by car into the Salento. You would then have one night to stay further north, perhaps at Lama di Luna.

Of the ones you list, I've stayed at Locanda di San Martino, Lama di Luna, and Masseria Montelauro. I thought each one was excellent, but the final determination might be based on your budget. For example, you could have the experience of staying in a cave at another Matera hotel that might be less pricey than the San Martino.

Can you fly home from Brindisi? That might save on the driving.

Thanks, ek.

I think we decided we'd sacrifice the more northern area in favor of the side trip to Matera, which sounds like more of a "must."

We can't fly home from Brindisi, unfortunately. We are flying to New York and it is more than twice the cost of Bari!

But then again, I just realized that eating at Antichi Sapori would require another night further north. And I really want to eat there, so maybe worth sacrificing Matera!

I agree with you about keeping Matera in the plan. I'm surprised at the price of the flight into Brindisi, although I don't know why any airline prices surprise me these days.

Did you already buy the ticket?

Matera is only about an hour's drive from Bari airport. So keep that in mind..maybe make that the first stop.

Yes, I got the ticket. Was happy to find that prices dropped today and it's $800 - I'm flying into Verona to meet my husband because he has work there, then we're spending a few days in Verona and Venice before flying down to Bari. Yay!

I am very impressed at that price. I think you did very well.

So well, in fact, that I am embarrassed to reveal how much I paid for September!!

Well, keep in mind that the ticket was only NYC to Verona and Bari to NYC. I still had to buy a separate one-way ticket for Venice to Bari ($124). But yes, a bargain in any case!

We stayed in Matera at Locanda di San Martino last year and really loved it. It's a "cave" hotel so each room is completely different in size. Be careful, some of the rooms are really tiny. But we stayed in #14 which was quite large. If that one isn't available, it's worthwhile to ask for one of the larger rooms.

On another note, and excellent guide is Nadia Garlatti. She is very personable, speaks excellent English and really brought the area to life for us. She can be reached at [email protected].

We had room#8 at San Martino; both the room and the adjacent bathroom were spacious but in the "double" category.

Room #14 is listed as a "family suite," and indeed, looks lovely and much larger than the one we had.


http://www.locandadisanmartino.it/index.php?id=52

http://www.locandadisanmartino.it/index.php?id=39

You can see photos of the rooms and choose the one you like best. I thought it was difficult to choose based on those little photos on the website!

Hi,

I am going to Puglia May 17, depart Rome (just a day in Rome for the return due to schedule) June 5.

So far, I've only booked the first 2 nights on arrival in Polignano to relax and start out on the sea.

As to Lecce's Roof Barocco--I emailed the owner, Elisabetta, this week as I really hoped to stay there for 5+ nights in Lecce the last few days of May, first days of June, 2012. She is already full, with occasional 1 or 2 nights only still open. The "B&B" has one room, which is apparently delightful. But almost always booked. I highly recommend that you book her place asap if you do decide to stay.

Looking forward to reading your posts and learning more. I have to take some time--haven't booked anything other than Polignano: no hotels, no car, no meals. Yikes!

Buon viaggio,
Lana