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    • North America
      • Canada
        • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
        • Whistler, British Columbia
      • U.S.A.
        • Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Carmel
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        • Watch Hill, RI
        • Woodstock, VT
      • Mexico
        • Riviera Maya
    • Europe
      • Florence & Tuscany
      • Munich
      • Puglia
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      • Sicily: Syracuse & Taormina
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    • Middle East
      • Turkey: Istanbul & Cappadocia
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Puglia

Villas in Puglia are Serving Up the Sweet Life

drone picture of villa in puglia

Right now everyone can’t stop talking about two booming travel topics. First, destination radars have zeroed in on a seductive slice of the Italian peninsula — Puglia, Italy.

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IF YOU’RE TRAVELING TO PUGLIA FOR THE FIRST TIME IF YOU’RE TRAVELING TO PUGLIA FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE 3 TIPS 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 Even if you’ve traveled to Italy 10 times, you’ll want to keep these tips in mind. 😎 ☀️YOU WILL NEED TO RENT A CAR: While it is possible to take a train into Puglia from other regions of Italy, once you’ve arrived, it’s recommended to have your own car. Public transportation isn’t reliable in this part of Italy. But, in this case that’s a good thing, because you’ll have the flexibility to explore the beautiful beaches and storybook hilltop towns at your own leisure. ☀️TRY SLEEPING IN A MASSERIA, TRULLO, AND ON THE SEA :In Puglia, there aren’t chain hotels, and we loved that! Try staying in some of their unique accommodations. Masserias are former farmhouses, which have been converted into guest houses. Trulli are the cone shaped buildings iconic to this region. They’re cozy and cooling inside. And spending time on the sea is another way to soak in Puglia - you can rent a villa on the water and go for morning swims, watch fishermen come in with the morning’s catch, and walk into town. Recommendations: 📍L’Argentiera with @thethinkingtraveller 📍Trullo Andrea with @thethinkingtraveller 📍Masseria Palmieri with @thethinkingtraveller 📍Masseira Torre Maizza 📍Masseria Cervarolo ☀️LIDOS ARE A BIG PART OF SUMMER CULTURE- If you’re traveling to Puglia in the warmer months, you’ll be sure to run into a lido or two. Lidos are beach clubs with chairs/umbrellas, restaurants, showers, and sometimes a small playground. You can reserve your chairs ahead of time, which is quite convenient in the high season. These beach clubs are great options for families with younger kids, who may benefit from some of these added amenities. However, if you prefer to skip the lido experience, there are still plenty of stunning beaches to visit without needing a reservation. Recommendations 📍Lido Bambu 📍Le Palme. 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 #puglia #familytravel #travelplanningtips #italy #masseria #trullo #villa #lido
We’ve travelled to Italy 10 times, but this regi We’ve travelled to Italy 10 times, but this region was the most enchanting ✨ 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 Puglia is an Italian landscape that defies any preconceived visions of Italy. Tuscany may have the rolling rolls and vineyards, Rome is a historical masterpiece, and Venice a spiderweb of cute canals, but Puglia is intoxicatingly beautiful for its own version of “la dolce vita.” The countryside is filled with tens of millions of olive trees — some are 3,000 years old! The ancient groves stretch out in every direction. There are small, maze-like towns dotting the hilltops — still undiscovered by crowds of tourists and tour buses. There are beautiful green valleys of vineyards showcasing the mysterious cone shaped trulli houses, which give way to pine forests that border beaches reminiscent of the Maldives. Puglia is also refreshingly authentic. There are centuries old “masserias” — traditional farmhouses — which have been preserved and sometimes turned into beautiful guests houses and villas. The local cuisine also shows off its genuine roots — orecchiette or handmade pasta resembling “little ears” is made fresh on the streets of Bari every morning by the women who live there. It’s also where many Italians choose to vacation in the summertime too! In a few short weeks, this area completely captured our hearts — are you looking to visit too? 𝐃𝐌 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 😎 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 Locations in video: 📍Polignano a Mare 📍Monopoli 📍Ostuni 📍Locorotondo 📍Otranto 📍Lecce 📍Alberobello 📍I Faraglioni di San’t Andrea 📍Matera (not technically in Puglia, but is often included in Puglia itineraries because it’s so close!). #puglia #italy #familytravel #travelitineraries
LOOKING FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE FOOD EXPERIENCE IN IT LOOKING FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE FOOD EXPERIENCE IN ITALY? 🏰If you’re going to Italy and want an unforgettable food experience, you need to go to this cooking class IN A CASTLE in Puglia I’ve done many awesome cooking classes in Italy, but none of them compared to this magical night! ❓WHO ARRANGES THIS EXPERIENCE? The specialists @thethinkingtraveller ❓WHY IS IT SPECIAL/DIFFERENT? As you drive to this location, it’s hard to imagine something akin to a castle is waiting for you at the end. You’ll park your car in a quiet town square and follow a guide through the streets until you reach two massive doors. When you enter and look around, your jaw just may drop — in front of you lays a sprawling garden where smells of Jasmine and roses fill the air. Walking inside literally feels like walking back in time — you’ll pass under arches that nobles walked through In Renaissance times, you’ll tour the rooms filled with historical heirlooms, and then you’ll head into the rooftop kitchen where a gourmet chef leads you through a demonstration of delectable dishes. You’ll dine on the rooftop veranda under the stars and next to the castle walls where archers used to take their place. The food was incredible, and the unimaginable setting takes this experience over the top. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦HOW TO MAKE IT KID FRIENDLY? We had 7 adults and 4 small kids in our group. The moms headed over first so that we could cook together without interruption — fully taking in the experience. Two hours later the dads and the kids joined us just as dinner was served. This was a good way to make sure the kids had a great time too— they could immediately eat, and when finished they were able to explore the castle, making up games about princesses and dragons. They had a blast and didn’t want to leave at the end of dinner. My sign of a perfect family experience! 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 #luxuryfamilytravel #familytravel #bucketlistexperiences #bucketlisttravel #foodies #puglia
❌MYTH: VILLA RENTALS AREN’T AS LUXURIOUS AS 5- ❌MYTH: VILLA RENTALS AREN’T AS LUXURIOUS AS 5-STAR HOTELS Recently I was converted from “Rental Rookie” to “Villa Visionary.”  I’ll confess, before going I wasn’t sure a villa could hold up to a hotel, but I was wrong. We stayed with @thethinkingtraveller and…WOW  Here’s why... 1️⃣ FIVE STAR AMENITIES -  @thethinkingtraveller villas have private pools, al fresco patios, and lavish “extras” — like private sea access, tennis courts, gyms, saunas, and movie rooms.    2️⃣ MORE SPACE-  Luxury villas have more beds, and spacious living. You can fully unpack and enjoy your vacation! 3️⃣PERSONALIZED CONCIERGE SERVICES: The team @thethinkingtraveller will help you select a villa, provide itinerary suggestions, and reserve car rentals, restaurants, and excursions.   4️⃣ DAILY CLEANERS/COOKS - You won’t be sacrificing some of the “finer things” by staying at a villa.  Everyday a cleaning crew arrives, as well as cooks to prepare any meals you’d like to experience.  They’ll handle the grocery shopping, cooking, and cleanup.  5️⃣ CURATED EXPERIENCES-  The experiences arranged by @thethinkingtraveller are out of this world.   Try a cooking class in a 15th century castle, or sail in your private boat along the Salento coastline… 6️⃣ EXCELLENT VALUE - A luxury villa isn’t necessarily more expensive than a hotel.  You’ll be getting more for your money too — more space, more exclusivity, and more customization.   7️⃣ CONVENIENT LOCATIONS - If you’re searching for a villa that just a walk into town @thethinkingtraveller has plenty of options — and they also have rentals in Sicily, Corsica, and Greece.  8️⃣ EXCLUSIVE USE - Only 1% of the villas that apply to be in @thethinkingtraveller collection make the cut — and you won’t find these properties on another website.   9️⃣ MULTIGENERATIONAL FRIENDLY - If you’re traveling with both elderly in-laws and thunderous toddlers, everyone is going to have fun! 𝐃𝐌 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 🌍 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝟓% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 #luxuryfamilytravel #villasinitaly #puglia #vacationwithkids #travelplanningtips #thethinkingtraveller
THANK YOU FOR 10K! 💕😀💕 Taking today to s THANK YOU FOR 10K! 💕😀💕 Taking today to say a BIG THANK YOU to all the old and new faces who have joined along on our journeys, and who have reached out to connect. Here’s a quick (re)introduction of what we love to chat about on Compass Roam I’m Jillian - a former history teacher turned travel writer - and you’ll find me here along with my husband, Niall, and two small kids, Claire and Maverick. We love to share our favorite luxury hotels for families, as well as travel tips, and detailed itineraries (you get those for free by subscribing on the blog😀). We really appreciate you following along, asking questions, and for saying all the kind words along the way. Here’s a few little fun (travel) facts about us: ✈️ Knock on wood, I’ve never missed a flight. But, I have gotten left on the jetway and that was embarrassing when the plane had to turn back for me :/ 👻 I’m really freaked out by ghosts/ghost towns/ghost tours….all of that…and subsequently was quite terrified of Savannah (spoiler alert: it’s truly haunted…but also very pretty) 🌍When I was 8, my mom won a trip to @eurodisneyworld on @npr radio. We spent two weeks touring the country (after Disney of course) and I loved every second of it. It’s where I had my first omelette and first crepe. I think it was then that I caught the “travel bug” forever. 🗺️My favorite destinations so far: Puglia, Safari in Tanzania, Kauai/Maui, Crete/Santorini 🏝️Claire and Maverick’s favorite hotel so far: @bahamarresorts 🏄‍♂️Niall still insists he “invented” body surfing 🙄 🏕️Niall and I knew that we were meant to be when we realized that we both truly don’t understand the allure of camping. But, glamping on the other hand, we’re all in for that 😎 Please say hi in the comments below and introduce yourselves! 👋🏼 #familytravel #travelplanning #travelblogger #momswhoblog #luxurytravel
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