Craft Travel

It’s been a while since these two have been together, so what better way to reunite than with an Italian summer?

Julia and Andrea are spending several weeks in their beloved Puglia scouting hotels, villas, experiences and restaurants.

While we can no longer say that Puglia is “untapped”, the authenticity largely remains. Even proper five-star properties here feel unassuming and guests are not coming to be seen. When you take your evening stroll through the whitewashed villages of the Valle d’Itria, you’ll hear far more Italian than English; it’s the preferred spot for second homes of many wealthy (and beautiful) Milanese.

Puglia is what summers in Europe used to feel like and it’s utterly refreshing. Of course, now that the cat is out of the bag, major growth is coming, with big-brand luxury hotels descending upon Italy’s heel to market the “next Amalfi Coast”. And no doubt they will be wonderful, and good things may come of them. But our recommendation to you is to come now, as soon as you can. Consider a Masseria (farmhouse) or one of the hidden villas we love most. Because the magic of authentic Puglia is palpable.

Our favorite thing to hear

Thoughtful feedback from our recent summer travelers has kept us smiling. We want to know everything our clients have to say, but the four simple words “you just get it” is exactly what we to aim to hear. It’s how we know we’ve succeeded in our role.

If we are doing our job properly:

1. You don’t need to explain to us what is needed. We just get it. Not because we are geniuses, but there are two things we do know well: our clients and our destinations. Excellence in travel planning cannot be achieved without these two components working in tandem.

2. We have asked the right questions, but even more importantly have listened to you. We’ve inferred and picked up on nuances. We’ve drawn upon our extensive experience both as advisors and lifetime travelers to truly discern what will make you return home feeling as if there would not be a single moment you would change.

3. You feel appreciated at every moment. You are made to feel like a true VIP, and not just because of some generic welcome amenity or free breakfast at your hotel. But rather because we are surprising you along the way with tokens of our appreciation for you.

4. Logistics are an afterthought because every detail has already been considered and handled. Any problem that arises will never be your problem to deal with. We are at least two steps ahead, something we can achieve because we’ve been there and done it ourselves.

5. We have gained your trust, because we have shown you what a meaningful collaboration looks like when planning high-touch travel. You can say with confidence as you sit down on that long flight home that the ladies of Craft “just get it”.