First time user, I’m planning a trip sometime mid to end of May 2018 (2 wks) to the most southern part of Italy…Leuca. I’m not sure yet if Leuca will be the first destination and make our back way north.
Any tips and or suggestions flying there, we will start our journey from DWF (Dallas-Fort Airport). Which City in Italy should fly into? What would be the next stop, would we have to take a train or maybe rent a car?
Also any suggestions for cities to visit or regions?
Start with flight searches. I flew into Bari twice from DC at a decent fare, but I was spending all 10 days in Puglia and Basilicata. Getting there (or Brindisi) from DFW may be more of an issue for you. In that case, Naples might work, or Rome, or my last choice would be to fly where ever you can hop onto a low-cost carrier to Bari or Brindisi (skyscanner might be good for sussing that out).
I happily spent 10 days in Puglia and Basilicata two years in a row, but the only person who can determine how many days you want to spend there is you. The Lonely Planet Guide to Southern Italy is good. Tell us what sounds interesting to you and then we can advise. My musts included Lecce, the Itria valley, a coastal town, and Matera.
I broke my no-car-in-Europe stretch for Puglia, and the driving was easy. The train is an option, but it is not as easy as in other places.
I have finished planning my trip to southern Italy. I will fly into Rome and take the direct train to Bari. My plane arrives early enough that I can take fast direct train 3 hour 40 minutes to Bari and arrive before dark. Have not decided if I will go to Matera but there is a train (not Trenitalia but a local line that goes there.) from Matera you have to return to Bari to pick up the train to Alerobello. Alerobello with day trips and and then Lecce with some day trips. Then fly from Brindisi airport to Pisa train to Lucca because it is one of my favorite places then another visit to Orvieto another favorite place 2 days in Rome flight home. No less than 3 days in every location except for Bari with one night.
Thank you so much for providing the information. This will help a great deal. I'll respond back when I have a better idea for the timing and locations. We will take two weeks off to embrace. I like the idea flying into Rome from DFW then catch another flight from Rome into Bari. May set up shop there for an over night stay, rent a car and head south. Any recommendations for hotels in Bari?
