Considering a road trip to Puglia next year - anyone done it?

[sionie1]

As per the title, we are considering a trip to Puglia next year, maybe driving. 2 weeks there and back in July/August. We'd be staying around Lecce probably, so the big question is how quickly can I get down there, no answers on it depends on how heavy the right foot is please!. It needs to be safely done as I'll be doing most of the driving and we will have a 7 year old in the back, so stops required, but no more than necessary as I'd rather maximise the time in Italy - or is this the wrong way to do it? Should we be tootling down and only spend a week in Puglia?

 

[jayblue]

We did a similar journey last August. We came from the Midlands and drove down to Colmat for our first overnight stop.

From there we drove through Switzerland on the second day and spent an afternoon and evening on Lake Como, staying at a B&B overnight.

Then onward on the third day down to near Arezzo in Tuscany. We spent a week in Italy.

Similarly on the way back we drove from Tuscany to Austria via the Stelvio pass, then stopped again in northern France before journeying back home.

The first day driving down to Colmar was a long drive and you'll need to be up for it to get it done. All the other days pretty fine if your used to longer journeys.

I would not want to try getting to northern Italy in a day. It is possible but definitely not pleasant!

Enjoy the journey down and make it part of the holiday.

 

[allandwf]

When I drove to Italy and back, just short of 3000 miles, we aimed to drive no more than 5 to 6 hours each day, and worked out roughly where we would end up. Booked each stop a day or two in advance, ( just used booking.co,) it worked very well. Came back via Lake Garda, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and Bruges. Doing it like that may take a while to get to Puglia though.

 

[sionie1]

When I drove to Italy and back, just short of 3000 miles, we aimed to drive no more than 5 to 6 hours each day, and worked out roughly where we would end up. Booked each stop a day or two in advance, ( just used booking.co,) it worked very well. Came back via Lake Garda, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and Bruges. Doing it like that may take a while to get to Puglia though.

This is the debate in the house. Do we stop at Tuscany and just save Puglia for when we have more time

We did a similar journey last August. We came from the Midlands and drove down to Colmat for our first overnight stop.

From there we drove through Switzerland on the second day and spent an afternoon and evening on Lake Como, staying at a B&B overnight.

Then onward on the third day down to near Arezzo in Tuscany. We spent a week in Italy.

Similarly on the way back we drove from Tuscany to Austria via the Stelvio pass, then stopped again in northern France before journeying back home.

The first day driving down to Colmar was a long drive and you'll need to be up for it to get it done. All the other days pretty fine if your used to longer journeys.

I would not want to try getting to northern Italy in a day. It is possible but definitely not pleasant!

Enjoy the journey down and make it part of the holiday.

I’d read your itinerary in a previous post I think, which did get me wondering if I was attempting too much in the time given.

 

[Oneball]

From where I am in the UK id say 2 nights/3 days with a 7 year old.

Puglia I’d fly, Aosta I’d drive.

 

[c4sman]

Depending on time of year, be prepared for a few jams in France at least. I’d go conservative on daily mileage (as per earlier post) as you want to enjoy the journey without feeling under pressure and knackered during each stint. It’s a holiday after all!

 

[sionie1]

From where I am in the UK id say 2 nights/3 days with a 7 year old.

Puglia I’d fly, Aosta I’d drive.

We are up North , so useful to know.

 

[Kiwibrit]

Back in the late 80’s I used to shoot down from Milton Keynes to Switzerland every winter weekend for a bit (fnaar), always got there same day. That was in the days of chalet girls if they still exist, though. Couldn’t do it anymore (nothing to do with marriage, of course). Personally, I would limit myself to max 500km/day and actually enjoy the ride (which I used to but that’s another story)

 

[Devonboy]

We did it during the Covid years and took in the Maserati Factory. Personally I would make the journey part of the holiday and shoot for Tuscany. We came through Germany and Switzerland (France Closed) and stopped at Mannheim/Lake Maggiore and Florence on a the way down and in the Black Forest and Aachen in Germany on the way back…..

This Year its Santander in Spain via the Ferry, down to the Cote Vermeille for some sun then a long drive up through Claret country then oysters then Roscoff and home

 

[RoaryRati]

A week today we'll be starting an Alpine adventure and consider the 6hour/300m motorway blast we'll do at the beginning a long day - the rest are more like 3hour/150mile drives but with a 7 year old in tow I'd keep the distance as short as possible - especially in the busy/hot summer season - and decent accommodation with parking etc at a reasonable price gets booked up early (some of what we wanted were fully booked as early as March)

 

[P R]

I do NE (MIddlesbrough) to just noth of Naples most years. Last time (last year) took the Hull - Rotterdam ferry, then from there we got to mid Switzerland, just before the Gottard. This was deliberate to ensure we hit the Gottard early on (can get bad in summer months). From mid Switz we went to just past Bologna (though that was fairly easy, couldve gone further). Then down the last day to the house.
Some things to be wary of, I wouldnt recommend travelling down Italy anywhere near the first weekend of Aug, or back up on the last weekend as this is when all the Italians do it.
If you get the Hull ferry pay a bit extra for priority loading (I didnt), as when you get off you have to clear EU passport control and it took us nearly an hour which was v frustrating.

 

[sionie1]

Back in the late 80’s I used to shoot down from Milton Keynes to Switzerland every winter weekend for a bit (fnaar), always got there same day. That was in the days of chalet girls if they still exist, though. Couldn’t do it anymore (nothing to do with marriage, of course). Personally, I would limit myself to max 500km/day and actually enjoy the ride (which I used to but that’s another story)

The Mrs and the 7 year old might cramp my style lol...... and I worked with a chalet girl not long back. I'd need crampons and ropes - she was built like the Eiger...

 

[sionie1]

A week today we'll be starting an Alpine adventure and consider the 6hour/300m motorway blast we'll do at the beginning a long day - the rest are more like 3hour/150mile drives but with a 7 year old in tow I'd keep the distance as short as possible - especially in the busy/hot summer season - and decent accommodation with parking etc at a reasonable price gets booked up early (some of what we wanted were fully booked as early as March)

That's a fair point we'd not considered.

 

[sionie1]

I do NE (MIddlesbrough) to just noth of Naples most years. Last time (last year) took the Hull - Rotterdam ferry, then from there we got to mid Switzerland, just before the Gottard. This was deliberate to ensure we hit the Gottard early on (can get bad in summer months). From mid Switz we went to just past Bologna (though that was fairly easy, couldve gone further). Then down the last day to the house.
Some things to be wary of, I wouldnt recommend travelling down Italy anywhere near the first weekend of Aug, or back up on the last weekend as this is when all the Italians do it.
If you get the Hull ferry pay a bit extra for priority loading (I didnt), as when you get off you have to clear EU passport control and it took us nearly an hour which was v frustrating.

useful to know about the Italian travel plans, that does put a spin on Puglia as it's well know that it's where a lot of the Italians go ( before the Times and Telegraph keep featuring it in their 'Places to go'.!)