Puglia, Italy = pretty rough

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m not denying southern Italy has some poor parts but no one visiting towns on the tourist itinerary in Puglia, at least in warm months, is going to be dealing with uncomfortable poverty.

I mean Matera was basically the shame of Italy 50 years ago and now it’s a tourist hot spot with a James Bond movie (not technically in Puglia of course).


OP here. Right, Matera is in neighboring Basilicata, but basically the same vibe. Anyway, I have no doubt a summer experience at the coast might be better then what we experienced in winter, but then again it would be very crowded in summer (not necessarily with Americans, but Europeans from literally every corner of the continent fly budget airlines to Bari and Brindisi in the summer). We have been to many Balkan countries (Albania, Croatia, Bosnia, Greece), North Africa, Central America, etc, and never have encountered the negative combination we found in Puglia and Basilicata. The trash, the unkempt towns, the massive potholes, the unfriendly people looking to steal from you, it all just made it not worth it. Prior to visiting Puglia, we spent several weeks in rural France, and were in rural Eastern Europe before that. Nothing compares with the hassles we experienced in southern Italy. I think even the locals admit that the corruption there is so rampant and endemic that it infects the entire society, and that certainly was our experience. I doubt Puglia will be a major destination for Americans anytime soon, but just thought I would mention as I have seen it discussed in these boards recently.




Where would you suggest in Italy or France? We like not crowded places. For e.g. we loved Tavira in Portugal


OP here. For France, the options are endless. The Dordogne and Bordeaux are nice. Burgundy (Dijon, Beaune) is another option. Of course there’s Provence and Côte d’Azur. Brittany up north is very nice (Dinan, Vannes, St Malo). Normandy and Rouen closer to Paris, as well as Reims in the Champagne region. Strasbourg in Alsace and Metz in Lorraine are great. It’s a fantastic country.

I am much less helpful on Italy, obviously. I went to Puglia and Basilicata hoping to find an off the beaten path region, and look what happened. I did enjoy Trieste on one occasion, and it sounds like Abruzzo is worth checking out. As I mentioned, San Marino is lovely (although another country). After this debacle, I don’t see myself making it to Calabria .


^^PS, if you want Spain recommendations, I can help with that too. Thankfully Spain is not Italy (friendly people, terrific roads, clean towns and cities).


Spaniards are definitely not friendly.


OP here. That has never been my experience in Spain, where the people have always been wonderful all over the country. Like many Europeans, they are more reserved and have to get to know you, but I prefer that to the fake smiles and patronizing welcomes of the Italians, as a PP noted. And the fact that Spain does not suffer from the same endemic corruption as Italy means that Spaniards do not feel entitled to rip you off.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:How are Naples and the area around Pompeii?


Horrible

Hang out in ischia for a few days but then bounce. Campania is full of scammers and questionable people
Anonymous
This makes me want to visit Puglia just to see what OP is talking about.
Anonymous
OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:This makes me want to visit Puglia just to see what OP is talking about.


I appreciate the warning. I loathe that feeling of being a target (of scamming and contempt) just for visiting and wanting to spend dollars.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).


Stick to Mykonos, snob! Apuglia is beautiful and draws visitors from all over Italy, Europe, etc. Maybe OB is just a rude bigot.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).


OP, if Puglia was the first time you encountered scammers in a restaurant, you just proved my point. Truly, you aren’t as well-traveled as you believe yourself to be. It’s fine not to have that depth, but maybe don’t paint an entire area so grossly when you have clearly sampled only a small part of the world.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).


OP, if Puglia was the first time you encountered scammers in a restaurant, you just proved my point. Truly, you aren’t as well-traveled as you believe yourself to be. It’s fine not to have that depth, but maybe don’t paint an entire area so grossly when you have clearly sampled only a small part of the world.


Ha ha, so 110 countries visited isn’t that much? OK dear….
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).


OP, if Puglia was the first time you encountered scammers in a restaurant, you just proved my point. Truly, you aren’t as well-traveled as you believe yourself to be. It’s fine not to have that depth, but maybe don’t paint an entire area so grossly when you have clearly sampled only a small part of the world.


Ha ha, so 110 countries visited isn’t that much? OK dear….


Ah, a passport stamp collector…
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I honestly felt that way about Rome and I've given it 2 chances. Scammers everywhere, people peeing all over the public side walk

s, trash piled up, it smells putrid.


That's me. Been multiple times over the last 30 yrs. Will only go at this point for business if I have to. No thanks. La Dolce Vita my a**
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).


OP, if Puglia was the first time you encountered scammers in a restaurant, you just proved my point. Truly, you aren’t as well-traveled as you believe yourself to be. It’s fine not to have that depth, but maybe don’t paint an entire area so grossly when you have clearly sampled only a small part of the world.


Ha ha, so 110 countries visited isn’t that much? OK dear….


Ah, a passport stamp collector…


Not really. We go the places that interest us, and have been to most of those countries multiple times. Now in Spain for at least the tenth time. We are no Italy experts, but Puglia was our fifth time in the country, and by far the worst. As I had seen it mentioned on this board, I thought it was worth a discussion. It’s not a contest.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:How are Naples and the area around Pompeii?


Horrible. Horrible in the 90s, horrible in the teens, still horrible. Dirty, nasty, crime riddled, nothing works, everyone is trying to cheat you. Shall I continue?


(Pompeii is amazing, but don't linger around Naples.)
Anonymous
Italy is so overcrowded. Every time someone posts a complaint and says they don’t want to go back, I get excited! Please keep telling people to stay away!! Makes it better for the rest of us!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be.


OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in).


OP, if Puglia was the first time you encountered scammers in a restaurant, you just proved my point. Truly, you aren’t as well-traveled as you believe yourself to be. It’s fine not to have that depth, but maybe don’t paint an entire area so grossly when you have clearly sampled only a small part of the world.


Ha ha, so 110 countries visited isn’t that much? OK dear….


Ah, a passport stamp collector…


Not really. We go the places that interest us, and have been to most of those countries multiple times. Now in Spain for at least the tenth time. We are no Italy experts, but Puglia was our fifth time in the country, and by far the worst. As I had seen it mentioned on this board, I thought it was worth a discussion. It’s not a contest.


I have a hard time believing you’ve been to 110 countries. Even if you have, you sound like a superficial tourist. Epcot was made for people like you.
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