Coastal Towns & Villages Self-Guided

Accommodation

The standard accommodations for the self-guided itineraries are family run hotels, agriturismos, and bed and breakfasts. Generally, these have around 10 to 20 guest rooms and the owners live on the premises. Italian hotel are classified by a star rating system – from one to five stars – standards for each category may vary a little from region to region. Most of the hotels that we use fall into the three star category – though we occasionally use two and four star hotels when circumstances or availability dictate. In almost all cases the bathroom facilities are ensuite (self-contained within the room). Some of the smaller hotels do not have a restaurant, but there will always be several options close by, within easy walking distance.

The Italian breakfast is light – a cappuccino and a brioche (pastry). Most hotels serve a continental breakfast of orange juice, coffee, tea or hot chocolate, bread rolls and jam. There may also be yogurt, cheeses, cured meats, pastries and cakes.

When you book a tour, your pre-trip planner will have more details about the specific facilities and services provided by the accommodations.

Examples of our Puglia hotels include;

• The 7 Arches
• Casa degli Artisiti
• Hotel l'Approdo

Getting there

Monopoli is the arrival town for the Coastal Towns and Villages Tour. Ostuni is the departure town for the Coastal Towns and Villages tour and the arrival town for the White City to the Heel tour. Lecce is the departure town for the White City to the Heel tour. The three towns are best accessed by rail from Bari – there are frequent trains from Bari to Lecce – they all call at Monopoli and at Ostuni.

Air

There are two airports in the region; Bari and Brindisi. There are regular flights to both airports from Rome, as well as from several other Italian and European hubs.

Train

The fastest journey time from Rome to Bari by direct train is around 4 hours.

Links

• Bari Airport
• Brindisi Airport
• Trenitalia

Climate

Puglia has a perpetually sunny climate with coastal temperatures rarely dipping below 15C. Beaches and off-shore islands warm up around mid-April and stay hot well into October.

The best times for bicycle touring in Puglia are April, May, June, September and October. In these months the weather is usually good, prices are lower, and there are fewer tourists. July and august can become very hot at times.

975 Euro is the cost per person sharing. The cost includes the following

• 7 nights' accommodation with breakfast
• Pre-trip planner
• Routes in the form of highlighted maps and cue sheets
• Regional Handbook
• Telephone support
• Meet and greet (if you are renting bicycles)

• Luggage transfer charges are calculated as follows:
  
  

  The standard charge is based on one or two riders. A couple would therefore share the luggage transfer costs. There is then a small additional fee for the third and each additional person.
  For example:

  1. Total cost for one or two riders = 450 Euro (225 per person based on two people sharing)
  2. Total cost for three riders = 450 + 20= 470 (157 per person)
  3. Total cost for four riders = 450 + 20 + 20 = 490 (122 per person)

Note that the more riders in the group, the less expensive are the luggage transfers per rider.

Please note that we will endeavor to provide you with the bike listed below. On occasion, due to availability and size requirements, you may receive a different bike. All our bikes will be of a similar style, quality and specification to those listed

Bianchi Camaleonte 4 (Hybrid)

• 5 frame sizes
• Alloy Frame
  
• Bianchi Alloy fork
• 27 speed

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip).

Fitted with: Rear rack; platform pedals, bottle cage, fenders (mudguards)

Equipment provided: Handlebar bag; map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool.

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit

Bianchi Via Nerone Road Bike

• 8 frame sizes
• Lightweight alloy frame
• Carbon fork

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip)

Fitted with: Platform pedals, bottle cage,

Equipment provided: map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool, frame bag

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit

Atala 4 e-Bike

• 4 frame sizes
• Suspension fork
• Long range battery life

Bring your own saddle and/or pedals if you wish and we will fit them to the bike. (You must be able to remove them yourself at the end of your trip).

Fitted with: Rear rack; platform pedals, bottle cage, fenders (mudguards)

Equipment provided: Handlebar bag; map case; spare tube; puncture repair kit; lock; mini pump; multitool.

Available on request: Panniers, helmet, odomoter, gps unit