Tripping, Part II

Picking up where I left off in Part I, it’s now time to start filling in some more details.

One thing I’ve learned with experience is that it’s worth taking the time to do a bit of research before committing to specific dates and destinations. For instance, while it may make the most sense in your mind to travel between locations in a simple loop, that might not actually be the most efficient means of moving between stops if you’re dependent upon public transportation. Case in point – how I determined the order and how to divide the 12 nights we’ll be in Puglia.

Obviously, you’ll want to start with a map to better understand the geography of where you’re going to be. As I looked at the area we wanted to explore, I initially planned to travel from the most northern point we were hoping to stay (Polignano) to the most central area (Lecce), followed by our time at the very bottom of the “heel,” Santa Maria di Lueca. However, once I began cross referencing that itinerary with RometoRio and the Italian train sites, I determined that the journey from Leuca to our fourth destination, Matera, which is outside of Puglia but on the way towards Naples, would be particularly grueling consisting of multiple transfers and many hours.

No, thank you.

So, instead, we’ll pass through Lecce on our way to Leuca, where we’ll enjoy 3 days of lazing on the beach, and then return north to spend 4 nights in Lecce, effectively breaking up the trip into more appealing chunks of time. Traveling to Matera from Lecce is a much less arduous journey than in the order of destinations which I had originally imagined. 

Now that the general outline of the trip has been decided it was time to reserve our accommodations, right? 

Actually, not quite yet. 

One final consideration was directly related to the calendar – I wanted to confirm that there weren’t special events or obscure holidays which might conflict with the dates I’d selected for each of my destinations. In the smaller towns and cities which we’ll be visiting, an unexpected (to us) holiday can impact train and bus schedules as well as opening hours of any historic sights we might want to check out. When I visited Lucca last July, I arrived towards the tail end of the annual musical festival hosted there. I got lucky and avoided most of the crowds, but that experience was an important lesson to me – take a moment to see if there are special events in the area you’ll be visiting. Maybe there’s something you might even want to get tickets for, like that John Prine tribute show we caught last spring in Dublin. Be aware of what’s on so you can either avoid or embrace the activity.

At last, you can now start exploring options for specific places to reserve. If you’re dependent upon public transit, you’ll probably want to book accommodations which provide easy access to trains and buses and are pedestrian friendly. Renting a car? Be certain that you’re aware of parking regulations and availability.  For us, it’s all about gaining a sense that we’re living like locals – we want to feel immersed in a location. If there’s an old part of town, that’s where we want to be.

As you consider where to hang your (beach)hat, create digital lists for each of your individual stays on the platform of your choice. Despite my misgivings about Airbnb, that’s the site where I always begin. Choose your dates and add some filters to get results that will meet your needs. If you travel light, like us, accessibility to laundry facilities is critical, at least every few days. Having a washer in your vacation property is the easiest way to stay looking fresh, but a nearby laundromat can also serve the purpose of keeping you in clean clothes over the length of your vacation. Traveling in the heat of summer? Properties with ac are probably going to be the most comfortable option for you.

Now start making reservations.

One of my favorite things about Airbnb is the option to pay 1/2 of the rental cost at booking, and the remainder within a short time prior to stay. Spending some money, in the form of reservations and/or tickets, just makes the whole trip seem more real, at least to me. As I was scouring the listings on Airbnb and booking.com, I used a few filters we find important when we’re traveling.

Beyond the standard needs such as clean and well maintained, we’re looking for walkability, access to transportation, privacy (Guesthouse? 👍🏼 Shared bath? 👎🏼), a washing machine, appropriate climate control and outdoor hang space. It’s a lot.

That’s why I start early when it comes to making reservations. I want to have as many options as possible and the further away your travel dates are, the greater the selection, in my experience. I’ve been an Airbnb user for more than a decade and have 29 reviews, without exception 5 star. One of my hosts last summer in Liguria, remarked that I had been a lot of places.

#truth

In all of that history, I’ve only been disappointed, mostly mildly, with my accommodations a couple of times. Generally speaking, each of my stays has been with an individual (or family) in a property they personally manage and take pride in. – at an average cost of $100 per night. The apartments for next year’s Puglia adventure each meet all that same criteria.

Twelve nights, laid out and booked, and half paid for, three seasons away.

I can barely wait.

What can you tell me about Puglia?