Adult only hotels
Puglia

The Valle d’Itria feels calm, with olive groves, white towns and countryside pools. Salento is flatter and warmer, with good beaches and baroque Lecce nearby. The coast near Polignano a Mare is dramatic but can feel busy in summer. If you want a balance of culture and sea, the area around Ostuni and Martina Franca works well.

For most trips, yes. Towns such as Alberobello, Ostuni and Otranto are far apart, and country hotels often sit outside the villages. Trains link Bari, Lecce and the main coastal towns, which works for a city-focused break. A car gives you freedom for beaches and the Valle d’Itria. Park outside old town centres, because many have limited traffic zones.

The Ionian coast near Gallipoli and Porto Cesareo has softer sand and shallow water. The Adriatic side offers cliffs and pebble coves around Polignano a Mare. Near Otranto, the water is clear and calm early in the day. Beach clubs offer loungers and shade, so you can stay comfortable. Weekends and school holidays are busier, so go early.

May, June and September combine warm days with fewer crowds. The sea is swimmable from about June, and countryside walks are pleasant in spring and autumn. July and August are hot and busy, especially at the coast, so plan sightseeing for the morning. Winter is quiet and mild, but many beach places close and days are shorter.

Bari and Brindisi are the two main airports. Bari suits the Valle d’Itria, Polignano a Mare and the north, while Brindisi is closer to Ostuni, Lecce and Salento. Both have car hire, and trains and buses run to nearby towns. Check the distance from your hotel to the airport, because some country stays are an hour or more away.

Orecchiette with cime di rapa is the classic pasta dish, and fresh burrata is a regional favourite. Grilled fish and seafood are common along the coast, while focaccia barese makes a simple lunch. Try local wines such as Primitivo and Negroamaro too. Small trattorie in towns like Martina Franca and Lecce often serve the most honest cooking.

It is worth seeing, because the trulli are unusual and well preserved. Alberobello is busy in the middle of the day, so go early in the morning or in the evening when it is calm. Locorotondo and Cisternino nearby are quieter, with pretty lanes and good food. A couple of hours is enough for most visitors.

Yes, if you plan a week or so and choose a central base. Ostuni sits roughly midway between Bari and Lecce, so day trips in both directions are manageable. Polignano a Mare lies north, while Lecce lies south. Allow time for the drive, because roads in towns are slow, and keep one day free for the beach.

A week lets you enjoy the countryside, a couple of towns and some beach days without rushing. Four or five nights works if you stay in one area, such as the Valle d’Itria, and do short day trips. Puglia is spread out, so fewer nights means fewer places. Most couples prefer one base rather than moving often.

For June to September, booking several months ahead is sensible, because countryside stays and small boutique places have few rooms. Spring and early autumn are easier, but weekends still fill. Booking early gives you the pick of rooms with pool or garden views. If you plan to travel in May or October, a few weeks ahead often works.