rgreen

Hello, fellow New Yorker!
I have been reading your posts on Pulia for hours now. Thank you for the wealth of information that you have imparted to so many.

My husband and I take a 2 1/2 week trip every summer, previously to places like Sicily, Sardenia, Corsica, Argentina, Italy, France and Spain, usually concentrating our time in specific areas of the country.
I am now planning a trip to Pulia, leaving the last week in June. I like to combine beach time with city/town visits.

Would you be so kind to give me your thoughts on the itinerary I'm working on: Fly into Bari, 2/3 nights in Peschici, 2 nights in Trani, 3 nights in Marina Franca or Ostuni or Polignano (I need help with this decision), 2 nights in Lecce, 2 nights in or near Otranto or Capo Santa Maria di Leuca (??), 2 nights in Maratea, 2/3 nights in Matera, and 2 nights in Tropea or Maratea (??).

Thank you!! Thank you!!

ekscrunchy

HI!

I will return to this as soon as I have a bit more time, but at first glance, I like it, except for a few routing questions.

I've never been to Gargano because it requires a fairly long drive from the other locations in Puglia; I am saving it for a time when I drive along the Adriatic south from LeMarche or Abruzzo, to Puglia. Just consider that you will have to backtrack. I am not sure if Peschichi alone merits the hours of driving, since you will be visiting other glorious coastal towns, and beach areas.

You could cut Gargano and include two nights in Polignano, AND two in Ostuni. Just a thought.

If you want to really get a feel for Salento, you might want to add to your time at a base there, which could be either Otranto, Leuca, Gallipoli, or even one of the masserie that are a bit away from the coast. Depending on how important being on the sea is to you. I think I would do a total of 4 nights in Salento, as there are many small inland towns and beaches to explore. You do not want to miss tiny Specchia, for example. I did not write about this in a report, but it was one of the prettiest towns in southern Puglia; we visited on this last trip, last September (2012).


http://www.specchia.puglia.it/





We visited it while based for 3 nights in a masseria outside Ugento, Don Cirillo, which I recommend if you decide to base on that side of the peninsula:


http://www.kalekora.it/index.php?lang=2

I wrote a review on TA:



http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ECK_RATES_CONT


Tropea AND Maratea on the same trip present a logistic problem. You first have to decide where you will fly home from...can you fly home from Lamezia (closer to Tropea), or Naples (best airport for Maratea). If you choose Naples, do you want to spend time there? If you cannot do the open jaw ticket, I would drop both of these. Both are primarily beach towns although Maratea itself is not on the beach (confusing when you read about hotels in the town, as the name Maratea can refer to any coastal location within 10 miles or so of the actual Maratea hill town. With a car, you can stay in Maratea town and drive to the beach every day. If you are NOT beach fans, you may want to rethink the inclusion of either Tropea or Maratea. I have not been to Tropea so cannot comment on the town. Proximity to Sicily means that it can easily fit into a visit to that island, on another vacation.



Let me know your thoughts on what I wrote, and I will get back to you asap!

Sounds like a fantastic trip. What month will this take place? I would try to avoid August.

kawh

rgreen--- we were in peschici and absolutely loved it. however, we commented several times that we may not have enjoyed it so much in the summer. (we were there in may... many businesses weren't open yet for the summer.)
it seemed like the place would be way, way too crowded and parking anywhere near the water impossible. i know we can't always time things as we'd like... but it's pretty far out there, with one main road around the gargano and could be some slow and dense touring. if you do decide to go to the area, we have some strong food recommendations in our trip report.