Nice weather (like 70's to low 80's days, into 50's, 60's evenings) to stroll villages, drive, explore a town for horus walking. Have dinner at a seaside cafe. I can't bake on the beach anymore, so sea temperature ian't relevant. Will walk along the sea in more clothes than a swimsuit probably.

I want to avoid any time that school is out of session. 

Grazie, Lana

I'll be jet-lagged on arrival at noon, so I'd prefer to take a train straight to a sweet village, hopefully with a sea view, rather than stay in a busier city. I plan to rent a car when I'm well rested and have had at least a couple of nights to chill and walk around.

Question: Maybe I'll only start with an initial 3 night reservation and see how it goes, deciding where to go as I go, which usually works well for me, with just an occasional snafu. The other idea is to book 1st night (Friday) hotel, then confirm an apartment for one week, Saturday to Saturday, to base out of, rent a car and check out villages within an hour or so radius. Is there relatively easy hotel availability in Puglia in May? I'm considering taking my netbook (assuming there are plenty of wifi cafes these days) and a little Italian cell for calls in country so I can book as I go.

Ideas, please? I love outdoor dining; lots of walking, exploring a village; interesting artsy shops; outdoor food market and cooking; a cooking class; some other people around with at least minimal English; not much of a rural person, especially when I'm traveling alone, as I will be this trip.

Ostuni looks lovely. Lecce also. Alberobello sounds incredibly touristy, but it also seems like I could find pockets that are really cool with those adortable trulli and away from the tour bus hordes (possible, or is it totally Disney?); I'd like to stay in a cave a couple of nights. Locorotondo? Martina Franca? Monopoli?

I have 18 nights on the ground, including first day jet lagged.

It doesn't sound like budget is such a concern in Puglia as it in in Rome. What a pleasant surprise seeing rooms from 50-100 euros nightly in Italy.

I found a fantastic special airfare Bari to Rome 3 June, but I don't want to book yet--perhaps I'll love Puglia and stay til the last moment, or I'll wish I were in another area and like the flexibility to hop on a train to another area after a week or 10 days, so I'll figure out how/when to get to Rome later.

Lana