Driving from Puglia to Rome
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Location Location (San Francisco)
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, airline free agent
Posts: 729
Driving from Puglia to Rome
Hi folks -
Planning a trip to Puglia this summer in mid-late July with the family (wife + 8 yr old). We're going to spend a total of 2 weeks in Italy. Our focus in on Puglia and Rome, and we expect that we'll be back in Italy soon so we don't feel like we need to see everything. We'd like to spend at least a week in Puglia to really explore the region, and at least 5 days in Rome (these are not set in stone, just our starting points) And we're thinking that we'd take a couple of days to drive from Puglia to Rome with a quick stop around Naples (to see Pompeii and ???)
We're starting the process of building our itinerary but want to check this initial plan with folks. Does the outline of the plan make sense? Spending too much time in Puglia? Is driving to Rome with stop around Naples a time sink that could be better used flying straight to Rome? Any other ideas?
Thanks!
Planning a trip to Puglia this summer in mid-late July with the family (wife + 8 yr old). We're going to spend a total of 2 weeks in Italy. Our focus in on Puglia and Rome, and we expect that we'll be back in Italy soon so we don't feel like we need to see everything. We'd like to spend at least a week in Puglia to really explore the region, and at least 5 days in Rome (these are not set in stone, just our starting points) And we're thinking that we'd take a couple of days to drive from Puglia to Rome with a quick stop around Naples (to see Pompeii and ???)
We're starting the process of building our itinerary but want to check this initial plan with folks. Does the outline of the plan make sense? Spending too much time in Puglia? Is driving to Rome with stop around Naples a time sink that could be better used flying straight to Rome? Any other ideas?
Thanks!
#3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SFO, VCE
Programs: AA EXP >4 MM, Lifetime Plat
Posts: 2,881
Hi folks -
Planning a trip to Puglia this summer in mid-late July with the family (wife + 8 yr old). We're going to spend a total of 2 weeks in Italy. Our focus in on Puglia and Rome, and we expect that we'll be back in Italy soon so we don't feel like we need to see everything. We'd like to spend at least a week in Puglia to really explore the region, and at least 5 days in Rome (these are not set in stone, just our starting points) And we're thinking that we'd take a couple of days to drive from Puglia to Rome with a quick stop around Naples (to see Pompeii and ???)
We're starting the process of building our itinerary but want to check this initial plan with folks. Does the outline of the plan make sense? Spending too much time in Puglia? Is driving to Rome with stop around Naples a time sink that could be better used flying straight to Rome? Any other ideas?l
Thanks!
Planning a trip to Puglia this summer in mid-late July with the family (wife + 8 yr old). We're going to spend a total of 2 weeks in Italy. Our focus in on Puglia and Rome, and we expect that we'll be back in Italy soon so we don't feel like we need to see everything. We'd like to spend at least a week in Puglia to really explore the region, and at least 5 days in Rome (these are not set in stone, just our starting points) And we're thinking that we'd take a couple of days to drive from Puglia to Rome with a quick stop around Naples (to see Pompeii and ???)
We're starting the process of building our itinerary but want to check this initial plan with folks. Does the outline of the plan make sense? Spending too much time in Puglia? Is driving to Rome with stop around Naples a time sink that could be better used flying straight to Rome? Any other ideas?l
Thanks!
I hope I am not offending anyone, but I'd suggest avoiding Bari. Even in Puglia, the beaches will start getting packed in late July. Again, not to offend, just saying it's going to be like visiting Germany, because it seems like that's where they all go to the beach in July. Puglia is fantastic. The beaches are great. You will have a wonderful time, as long as you restrict yourself to a few places, and stay put, you will be fine.
Five days in Rome doesn't even get to start to knowing it, but that's how it starts for everyone, so go for it. Naples in a day, or a day and a half is cutting it pretty tight. There is too much to see. You don't want to just be able to say that you have been there, but that you have seen it. You can't see it in a day.
Last edited by Perche; Feb 27, 2018 at 10:41 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Location Location (San Francisco)
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, airline free agent
Posts: 729
Resurrecting this thread as we leave tomorrow for Otranto. We will be there a week. Would love recommendations for sights, towns, beaches, anything in the area that you'd recommend. Thanks!
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,564
On the way down, if you choose to drive straight south till Salerno and cross there to the North-east coast, remember to drive through Matera. It's not in Puglia but on the border between Puglia and Basilicata, but it's something you absolutely don't want to miss. Actually, you can "do" Matera equally well driving back on your return...
PS Otranto is nothing to write home about, in contrast Lecce, a few km north of it, is a real barock gem! Absolutely fantastic, both during the day and in the evening when most palazzi are lit-up.
PS Otranto is nothing to write home about, in contrast Lecce, a few km north of it, is a real barock gem! Absolutely fantastic, both during the day and in the evening when most palazzi are lit-up.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
Tend to disagree with fellow KLouis on Otranto; it may not be on par with many other Puglia's beauties, but definitely worth a few lines home about.
Goes without saying that a stop in Lecce, specially at night, should be on your agenda too.
Regarding beaches near Otranto you don't want to miss Torre dell'Orso e Baia dei Turchi. Just few kms apart.
Goes without saying that a stop in Lecce, specially at night, should be on your agenda too.
Regarding beaches near Otranto you don't want to miss Torre dell'Orso e Baia dei Turchi. Just few kms apart.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Location Location (San Francisco)
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, airline free agent
Posts: 729
Tend to disagree with fellow KLouis on Otranto; it may not be on par with many other Puglia's beauties, but definitely worth a few lines home about.
Goes without saying that a stop in Lecce, specially at night, should be on your agenda too.
Regarding beaches near Otranto you don't want to miss Torre dell'Orso e Baia dei Turchi. Just few kms apart.
Goes without saying that a stop in Lecce, specially at night, should be on your agenda too.
Regarding beaches near Otranto you don't want to miss Torre dell'Orso e Baia dei Turchi. Just few kms apart.