My husband and I are planning about a 10-day trip to southern Italy (mainly Puglia). We will fly into Rome and stay a few day at both ends of the trip (Rome time not counted in the 10 days). We would like to include the Gargano Penninsula, Trani, Lecce, Matera, Trulli and Spinazzola. We will be there in early May. We are just beginning to plan and are interested in itinerary ideas. We include Spinazzola because my father-in-law was stationed there during World War II. Any suggestions would be appreciated, including where you would collect a rental car. Should we drive from Rome? Fly to Foggia and collect a car there? Many thank yous.

Hi, MartaD -

I recently spent time in Trani, Lecce, Matera, and Alberobello, and loved all of them - I hope you enjoy Puglia as much as I did!

With NeoPatrick's encouragement, I also stopped in Polignano a Mare for dinner at the Grotta Palazzese - unbelievably wonderful! You might give that a thought.

Sorry I can't help with your questions about a rental car - I relied on trains.

Hope that helps!

Do you need to stay in Rome during the beginning of the trip? If not, I'd just get a connecting flight to Bari (don't think there are flights to Foggia)and pick up a car there. When we visited Puglia, we had two bases. The first was outside Monopoli where we were able to daytrip to: Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Otranto, Ostuni, Gallipoli and Alberobello. The second base was on the Gargano coast outside Mattinata and we visited Castel del Monte, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte san Angelo and Vieste. Drive back to Rome. You'll enjoy Puglia!

I have a home in Southern Italy - so we go all the time ;-)

I like to fly into Rome...I do this for a few reasons....firstly, it is easy for me to get decent priced, direct flights from NYC-Rome...I have a small child, so I REALLY prefer direct flights (and EuroFly is the only direct into Naples or Bari from NYC)...when you connect, it actually takes the very same amount of time to get to Naples (obviously, depends where in Puglia you are starting your trip - our place is on the border of Campania, Basilicata and Pulgia - so north western Puglia)by the time you get off and back on another plane, I can just be there by car...also...car rentals (I'm a big chicken and only drive an automatic!) are priced better in Rome....also I find rome an easy place to navigate OUT of (as oppossed to Naples) Bari is an easy drive...but flights are rare and more expensive...I have not found flights in/pout of Foggia...please post if you do find good options?!

I do have a lot of relevant links compiled on a website...I have no idea if it is "ok" to post it here though becasue there are strickt board rules...so...if I am out of line, plesase, moderators, feel free to delete this post? (I would really appreciate it though if you do not ban me from the board? thanks.)
Nicole
http://SouthernItaly.wordpress.com

Thank you all. One more rental car question: We are staying in cental Rome. In the past we have collected and dropped rental cars at Fiumicino and it was easy. However, we are staying a couple of days in Rome when we arrive and before we depart, so going all the way out to the airport doesn't seem to make a lot of sense particularly since it is west of Rome and our destination is east. On the other hand, we have always tried to avoid driving in any major European city and certainly the traffic we have witnessed in Rome wouldn't incline us to change our minds. AutoEurope shows many car rental locations. Have any of you had an experience with any located more or less on the eastern side of the city? Was it horrible driving out of the city from there? Should we just take the extra time and go the airport location?
Grinisa: Thank you for your input. My husband loves Rome (and I do too really) so we are going to spend a few days there at both ends of the trip. Would you share the names of the places you stayed on the Gargano Penninsula and outside of Monopoli? Do you recommend them? Thank you.

We stayed at:

http://www.hotelbaiadellezagare.it

We also spent 10 days in Puglia last May. We loved it and I have written up a detailed trip report on this board. We have visited all the places you are interested in so I suggest you read it. It is called My Party in Puglia. If you have any other specific questions afterwards I would be happy to try to help.

Flame 123, thank you. I located your report and will read it thoroughly within the next couple of days. I am sure I will have questions for you and appreciated your willingness to provide feedback.

Sure thing !!!

Can anyone recommend a good english speaking guide in Foggia?