Planning a trip to Puglia? I’d love to help!

Ciao ragazzi, I’m Paolo and I’m your local expert here in Puglia

Puglia travel expert and trip planner Paolo points at a statue of skulls in the center of Lecce in Puglia, Italy.

Let me start off by congratulating you on making the wonderful decision to visit Puglia, my home region!

Here, we have exquisite Baroque and Rococo towns, a pristine coastline, a cuisine unlike anywhere else in Italy, and untouched countryside that makes scenic road trips an absolute delight.

Puglia was almost entirely ignored by foreign visitors up until about 10 years ago, when it was suddenly “discovered”. While Puglia is no longer exactly “off the map”, a visit here still offers you a chance to experience authentic Italy.

So book your tickets and get here before the masses do!

Ok Paolo, but how can you help me?!

Good question! Let me explain:

I offer personalized 1-hour travel consultations held over Zoom. During a call, I’ll work with you on every aspect of your trip, and we’ll cover things like:

Your itinerary
Where to base yourself
How to get around
Which towns and sites to visit
Uncrowded beaches
Authentic and unique experiences
Local restaurants and traditional foods to try
And lots more!

Book a consultation ($150 USD)

Here’s what to expect from a call

1-hour travel planning session

We'll meet on Zoom

Advice that's tailor-made for you

Pro tips and hidden gems

100% satisfaction guarantee*

5.0 rating from 100+ Reviews

Sit down with me for a one-hour planning session and let’s work out the details of your trip together! During the call, I’ll give you my expert advice on anything and everything you want to know, and will of course share all my local tips and recommendations.

My travel consultations are designed for do-it-yourself travelers who want to plan on their own, but who value local expertise and want to plan trips that go far beyond the highlights and tourist hotspots. Each consultation is completely personalized, and I’ll focus the session on only you, your trip, and your interests.

From working on your itinerary and advising on routes and transportation, to ideas for off the beaten path destinations and truly authentic experiences, I’ve got you covered!

Frequently Asked Questions

Consultations cost $150 USD.
Consultations are held over Zoom. Once you’ve scheduled your call, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing the link for our meeting.
On the scheduled day and time, just click that link to join the session and I'll be there waiting to chat with you.
Each consultation is different, of course, but here are some of the most common things that I help with:
- Itinerary planning
- Transportation, driving routes, and tips for how to get around
- Practical travel information; culture, safety, weather, language, money/tipping, etc.
- Suggested hotels/accommodations and advice on where to base yourself
- Local recommendations for restaurants, activities, and unique experiences
- Advice on reputable tour guides, tour operators, and excursions
- Pro tips on how to best visit popular sights and attractions
- Ways to avoid overcrowded destinations and tourist traps
- Insider ideas on off the beaten path places, authentic experiences, and ways to connect with locals
What we can get done in an hour depends on your goals for the call and how organized you are coming into it.
In most cases, an hour is ample time for us to create a solid itinerary, answer your major travel questions, get practical advice on how to travel in Puglia, and discuss lots of my local tips and recommendations.
To ensure that the hour is used efficiently, when you schedule your call, I'll ask you to fill out a detailed pre-consultation questionnaire which will ask around 30 questions to dig into your trip, your current plan, your travel style, and your main questions and goals for the session.

I'll review all of that before the call so that I can come into it already prepared with personalized information and recommendations.
No, I'm not a travel agent and making bookings and reservations is not something that I offer. My travel consultations are geared toward independent, do-it-yourself travelers who want local advice, but prefer to finalize their plans and make their bookings on their own.
Basically, my goal is not to plan your trip for you, but rather to help you plan a better trip independently. To that end, I'll give you all of the information that you need to confidently finish putting your trip together yourself.

I know what I’m talking about, I promise!

I’ve done hundreds of travel consultations with people from all over the world who are coming to visit Puglia. Thankfully, they don’t all hate me! But I’m just a guy on the internet and obviously I think I’m great, so check out their reviews below for some outside validation.

Not quite convinced yet? Let me tell you a bit more about myself

I'm Paolo and I'm a lifelong Pugliese.

I was born in Lecce and lived almost all my life there. Now, I’m based out of Matera, in the neighboring Basilicata region, but I’m still in Puglia on a daily basis. From April through November I’m out guiding tours every day all over Puglia and Basilicata, while in the off-season (December through March) my girlfriend and I run a small B&B in Matera.

After more than 20 years of guiding I know my region inside and out and I would be delighted to help you experience it. Aside from being a guide, I am an addicted traveler myself; and no matter where I am, my aim is to explore deeply, and so that is the way I live my life. Even here at home, I am always out trying to discover new places and try new things. My current project is to go swimming at every one of Puglia’s beaches!

Prior to becoming a guide, I worked as an actor for many years and am a huge theater fan. In retrospect, it was good training for being a guide. I’m also an avid cyclist and really like taking visitors outside of the cities to explore our small towns and beautiful nature.

Puglia has so many incredible places to visit and I think you should really take a week or two to savor it. We have beautiful towns and cities, some of Italy’s best beaches, quiet country lanes perfect for walkers and cyclists, and terrific food distinct from the rest of Italy.

I’m glad you're coming to my wonderful region and it would be my pleasure to help you plan your trip.

A presto!