We'll be in Puglia for three weeks in October. We know that everyone recommends renting a car, and we do plan to rent one in advance for our five days on a masseria near Fasano. But we are a little apprehensive about driving in Italy, so we are hoping to use public transportation everywhere else. If we get somewhere (I suspect it will be Trani) and find that we really do need a car, is it easy/cost-effective to rent one on the spot? We've done this in Greece ... get a car for a day for 35 euros. Do you think it would be possible in small-town Italy??
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Charlene, first of all, make sure that you have your IDP (International Drivers Permit; available at your local AAA office), and your driver's license when you attempt to rent your Italian car. Bring along your GPS from home!!! (practice using it at home) and a small fold up Michelin map of Italy. Do NOT even attempt to try to navigate into Lecce without a GPS; the ring roads are confusing. Next, when we did Puglia we did not have a GPS, and that made driving confusing, but there was no such thing as "traffic", so driving was actually easy. If you got lost or confused, there was no one behind you honking...you just drove around until you figured out where to go. I can't tell you how much we enjoyed having a car; and how much more of Puglia it allowed us to explore; to say nothing of the dining opportunities it provided. Restaurants in Trani, Giovannazzo, Poliagno a Mare, Lecce, should not be missed. We would dine in one town, and then drive back to our accommodations. The drive down the wild East coast is spectacular. Being able to drive to the small towns, any time you want, is an advantage. We have driven all over Italy/Sicily/Sardinia, and, IMO, Puglia is one of the easiest places to drive. Why not make reservations now? You can always cancel. This will ensure that you have a car available. Go to the AutoEurope.com website. They are a broker, based in Maine, which uses all of the major EU companies. Plug in different pick-up and drop-off locations (pick up in one town and drop off in another. it costs more to pick up in an airport on train station), Play with their options to see prices and availability. In the small towns of Puglia I would like to know that a car was available, and not walk in the door at the last minute to find a bad price/selection or no car at all.
Posted by
OP
Centennial, CO, US
2127 posts
Thanks, Steve. Our real dilemma is that we don't want to drive in Matera or Lecce. So I spent some time with the AutoEurope site, and we've decided to pick up a car in Barletta, to have for 3 days in Trani. We'll drop it off in Bari, then take the Pugliaire bus to Matera for 2 days. When we leave Matera, we'll pick up another car for five days, for our stay near Fasano, and will drop it in Brindisi, taking the train into Lecce. This will cost about $20 more than renting one car and just parking it in Matera, but it seems less stressful. Our GPS just died. I've been looking at the models with European maps, and also at the US models with Italy-Greece chips available. But I'd really rather not drag the GPS around with me for the whole trip (we have some time in Varenna and Senigallia as well). I was glad to hear that you managed your trip without a GPS; we are tempted to try that as well. So many decisions! The good part is that we found great hotels everywhere (including your favorite Albergo Lucy in Trani) and know this will be a fabulous trip. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Gaston, Oregon, USA
931 posts
Charlene, don't be afriad to drive in Matera; there is NO traffic,zip, zero traffic..... and you can't get lost going to see the cave houses. Lecce is not a problem to drive in either; the problem is trying to drive thru the darn ring roads to get into the city. There is no way that you can figure out where in the heck you are! (Then parking near the Old Town becomes problematic.) I would bring the GPS! Puglia is the one place in Italy that I would make sure that I brought my GPS. Anywhere else the roads are pretty well marked, but not here, When we were there, it was "pre-GPS". We brought along a compass and huge Michelin Italian road atlas; and it had every little road well marked. But we still had a heck of time figuring out where we were. That was the trip that made me realize what a great asset a GPS can be. And.....it has been a major contributing factor to marital bliss on our following road trips!
Posted by
OP
Centennial, CO, US
2127 posts
Well, I'm all for marital bliss and minimal frustration. So I guess we'll get a GPS with Italian maps and take it with us. I'm surprised to hear that Matera wasn't difficult to drive in. I've read some stories about people getting lost and frustrated. Maybe we'll have to rethink this part. Thanks again!