Traveler informartion » General information

Climate – when to visit
Puglia has a Mediterranean climate. Winters (Dec – Mar) are cool with some rain, spring (Apr – June) and fall (Sep – Nov) are warm and sunny with occasional showers and summers (July and August) are extremely hot and dry with temperatures often rising above 40ºC (110ºF). See our suggested packing list for what to bring.

Spring and fall are the best times for cycling in the region. Mornings can be cool but the days warm nicely by 9 or 10am. Evenings are pleasant but slightly cool. There is generally little rain, lots of sunshine and the region is quiet at this time of year. In early spring and late fall the chance of some rain increases slightly, but the days are still generally dry, just a little cooler.

Puglia’s main tourist season is July & August when Europeans come in droves for the crystal clear Adriatic waters. June to September is the best time of year for sailing as the waters are calmest and pleasant for swimming.  

Winter season is the best time to come if you like quiet tranquility and cozy fireplaces. This is a great time of year to do culinary tours as you may have the masseria or restaurant proprietors all to yourselves! However, many of the auxiliary services in the resort towns are closed at this time of year.

Food & Meals
Most meals are included on your Southern Visions vacation – check your itinerary for details. Occasional lunches and dinners will be on your own so you can have some time to explore the local towns. Food and eating are an integral part of the Italian culture – you will not find fast food outlets on your Puglia trip. Expect lunches to last from 1-2 hours in a restaurant. Our dinners are long and leisurely, usually lasting from 2-3 hours. Dinners are designed to sit back, relax, enjoy the spectacular food from the region and get to know your fellow travelers! The food in Southern Italy is some of the best in the entire country! Fresh vegetables, pasta and seafood are the staples of the Southern Mediterranean diet.

If you have specific dietary restrictions Southern Visions will do everything possible to accommodate them. However, the availability of special foods such as gluten-free, nut-free and kosher items is much more limited than in other countries. We will work with you to let you know what can be accommodated and where it would be best for you to bring some extra items with you from abroad.

Currency
Italy is part of the European Union and uses the Euro. Current exchange rates can be found using any currency exchange calculator online. It costs roughly USD$1.45 or £0.75 to purchase 1 Euro (Feb 2008).

Banks and Credit Cards
Banks are open daily from Monday to Friday mornings and late afternoons with a 4-5 hour closure in the middle of the day. ATMs are readily available throughout the region and are the easiest way to get currency while in the country. Be certain to let your home bank know that you will be going abroad before leaving, otherwise you risk having your bank and credit card accounts frozen as the bank may think your card has been stolen. Travelers Checks are not widely accepted and can be very difficult to cash in Southern Italy. Southern Visions does not suggest bringing them with you on your trip.
Credit cards are not widely used in Southern Italy, particularly in small, local shops. Only larger chain stores and hotels accept credit cards. You will need to have some cash available for small daily purchases and shopping.

Time Zone
Italy is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

Shopping & Store Hours
There are some great shopping opportunities to be had in Southern Italy, but keep in mind that many of the smaller stores do not accept credit cards so you’ll want to have some cash on hand. Specialty products from Puglia include olive oils, cosmetics and lotions made from olive oil, pasta, ceramics, jewelry, fresh cheeses, wines and other gastronomic delicacies such as jams, spreads, biscuits and cookies.

Store hours are generally from 9:00am – 1:00pm and from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Hours vary from store to store but most are closed during the middle of the day for several hours.

Cycling enthusiasts…if you are looking for a great piece of regional memorabilia check out our Puglia cycling jersey!

Communication
Southern Italy is still making its way into the cyberworld. Internet cafes are not readily available in Southern Italy. Many of the larger hotels have one computer terminal available, but the smaller, family-run hotels often do not.

Check with your Blackberry or mobile service provider at home to see whether you will get service on your mobile device in Italy. The main mobile service providers in Italy are TIM, Wind and Vodafone. SIM chips can be purchased at local convenience stores for just a few Euro but you need to have a mobile device that is unlocked and will operate on the GSM network in order for a local SIM chip to work.

Long distance phone cards are readily available at convenience stores and are the easiest way to make long distance phone calls outside of Italy.