One of the best tips I’ve learned over the years is that if you want to rent a home or villa in Puglia for the summer you need to do it early.
Puglia is a popular destination for both Italians and foreign visitors. And its reputation as the perfect place for a summer holiday seems to grow every year, making it even harder to find a place to stay.
A few years back, my family group of 10 waited until March to book a summer vacation rental in Puglia. It didn’t go well. We booked on Airbnb, which can often be hit or miss no matter if you book well in advance or at the last minute.
Recently, I’ve instead been checking out rental properties from Marriott. Homes and Villas by Marriott combine the personal touch of sites like Airbnb and VRBO with the quality control of Marriott. Plus, you can earn Bonvoy Points when you stay in a place you booked via Marriott Homes and Villas.
I have found several cool properties that may work for your family situation, no matter if you are a family of four taking a Puglia vacation, a large family group meeting up for a Puglia reunion, or a group of friends or couples that want a cool place to relax between trips to Puglia’s amazing beaches. This list includes a mix of trulli, those cone-topped homes typical of Puglia; lamia, low-vaulted, rustic stone structures; and modern villas.
Homes and Villas by Marriott has hundreds of properties in Puglia and even more across Italy. But searching through them can be overwhelming. The ones I list below are some of the best for families.
Tenuta Diciassetteconi
Sleeps: 10
Set on a three-hectare estate close to Cisternino, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, and Ostuni, Tenuta Diciasetteconi is a gorgeous property. It consists of four separate trulli structures, three of which have their own kitchens, and there is ample room for dining and relaxing, both inside and out. Also on site is a swimming pool, 60 olive trees, and a garden. Pet friendly.
Modern Monopoli Villa
Sleeps: 12
This villa near Monopoli and Adriatic beaches is minimalist and modern with a Puglian touch that includes vaulted stone ceilings. The unnamed property has a large outdoor pool, a shaded outdoor dining area, and. a grill. A balcony accessible from the master bedroom has great views over the vineyard and the rural Puglian landscape.
Rebea Trulli
Sleeps: 6
Rebea Trulli is a cute property that contains both a trullo (a cone-topped house) and a lamia. In addition to its large kitchen and comfy living spaces, this property has an outdoor grill, a swing, olive trees, a pool table, and, on the roof, a small hydromassage pool. Rebea is located in the countryside near the Fasano Forest, about 20 minutes from the coast. Pet-friendly.
Casa Murredda
Sleeps: 12
The estate known as Casa Murredda, located in the Valle d’Itria near Ostuni and Cisternino, consists of three white-washed trulli and a lamia with six bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. The stunning 18×6 meter pool is the highlight, and it is complemented by a shaded veranda and an outdoor cooking area with an oven.
Casa Marevino
Sleeps: 4
Should you need a place in Puglia for your family of four, I like this apartment just a three-minute walk from the historic center of Polignano a Mare. Casa Marevino has a well-equipped kitchen and a patio with views of the sea. The great thing about a place like this is that if you don’t feel like cooking, you can just walk down the street to a restaurant. And, of course, having the chance to visit Polignano a Mare’s famous city beach is reason enough to make a booking here.
Villa Albarosa
Sleeps: 14
A large extended family doing a tour of the Salento subregion would do well to book Villa Albarosa, which sleeps 14. Located in Ruffano, about halfway between the gorgeous beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, this modern villa has a saltwater pool, a covered veranda, and a huge kitchen. Pets allowed.
Rural Villa Near San Giovanni Rotondo
Sleeps: 6
If your group is looking to make pilgrimage to the shrine of Padre Pio or visit the Gargano National Park, here’s a spacious and sporty villa to consider. In addition to its vast pool, this rural villa in San Giovanni Rotondo has its own beach volleyball court and a common area equipped with a ping pong table and Fussball.
Trulli Tortorella
Sleeps: 7
An elegant villa complex consisting of trulli and a modern annex, Trulli Tortorella is located near some of the most beautiful coastal villages and UNESCO heritage site Alberobello. On the immaculate grounds are a small swimming pool, a garden, an outdoor kitchen, and a grove of olive trees.
Trulli Carole
Sleeps: 10
A six-cone trulli complex near Ostuni, Trulli Carole combines restored stonework with modern furnishings. On site is a 5×8 meter swimming pool and the kitchen and bedrooms are were designed with the sophisticated travel in mind.
Villa La Mecca
Sleeps: 6
How can you not be mesmerized by the dramatic setting of Villa La Mecca? Set on a cliff in the Leuca area at the tip of the Italian heel, this five-bedroom, two-floor villa has a pool from which you can gaze upon the vast blue of the Ionian Sea.
Villa Maria Clara
Sleeps: 14
Located in Santa Maria di Leuca, Villa Maria Clara has a huge pool and its own tennis court. Of all the villas I looked at, I would love to live here for a while. Villa Maria Clara has a mix of modern and farmhouse furnishings, a grand piano, and a dining table under a covered portico, creating the perfect indoor/outdoor gathering space.
Conclusion
These are just a selection of properties that caught my eye. Homes and Villas by Marriott has more than 150 properties in Puglia, from country homes to luxury villas.
Do I have an affiliate partnership with Marriott? You bet. But I can also tell you that one of the nicest properties I’ve ever stayed in was the J.W. Marriott in Phuket, Thailand. I was so impressed by the quality of that hotel that I became a Marriott true believer. I’m also a big fan of Marriott because they are headquartered just down the road from me in Bethesda, Maryland. Think global, shop local—right?
Last updated on May 9th, 2023Post first published on November 11, 2022
