Why a no-hire-car route made sense

Elaine, Stephen and Matthew had 22 nights to explore a series of places across Southern Italy, from Gargano’s orchid habitats to the islands of the Bay of Naples. Several of their destinations were far from mainline railway stations, so an entirely public-transport itinerary would have taken time away from the places they wanted to enjoy.

ExpertoItaly arranged private transfers between the mainland stays, with ferries for Procida and Ischia. The family never needed to drive, park or manage luggage through repeated changes of local transport.

Here is how the journey was put together. Elaine’s wild orchid story explains the personal interest behind it, with separate articles on the regions and specialist guides.

The route, accommodation and rhythm

9–13 May · Mattinata, four nights. La Vie en Rose was the first base, near the limestone slopes where Elaine hoped to find wild orchids. The stay allowed time for an outing with Angela Rossini and Giovanni Quitadamo on 12 May, as well as the village and surrounding countryside.

13–15 May: Vieste, two nights. A short private transfer took the family to Tra il Cielo e il Mare in Vieste. The balcony overlooking the harbour gave the stay a maritime focus after the orchid walks inland. Vieste and Mattinata are on the same peninsula, but the places offer contrasting experiences.

15–18 May · Matera, three nights. The family crossed into Basilicata for a stay at Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa. Its stone-vaulted rooms offered a memorable way to experience Matera’s historic Sassi.

18–21 May · Morano Calabro, three nights. At Villa San Domenico, beneath the old hill town, the family had a base for exploring the Pollino mountains. Local guide Alex accompanied them on a countryside outing.

21–24 May: Pisciotta, three nights. Casa Bougainville at Hotel Marulivo provided sea-facing accommodation on the Cilento coast. The three-night stop gave the family time in the village, with a separate inland excursion to the Valle delle Orchidee at Sassano on 23 May, accompanied by Riccardo Di Novella.

24–27 May · Procida, three nights. A transfer from Pisciotta to Naples brought the family to the ferry. Procida’s harbour, steep lanes and colourful houses made a welcome change after the longer mainland journeys.

27–30 May · Ischia, three nights. An apartment at Ischia Blu Resort near the port gave the family more space, a sea-facing terrace and the flexibility to spend the final days at their own pace.

30–31 May · Pozzuoli, one night. Palazzo Donna Iulia was the last stop before the airport. Pozzuoli also introduced the family to the Roman port of Puteoli and the volcanic Campi Flegrei.

Why the private drivers mattered

The mainland route ran from Bari to Mattinata and Vieste, then inland to Matera and Morano Calabro before turning west to Pisciotta. Most of these connections would be cumbersome by public transport, especially with luggage.

Direct transfers took the strain out of moving between hotels. They also left room for a lunch stop on longer journeys, with each arrival followed by several days to explore.

Specialist guides made the countryside visits possible: Angela Rossini and Giovanni Quitadamo in Gargano, Alex in Pollino and Riccardo Di Novella at Sassano. Each brought knowledge of a different landscape.

For the experiences behind the itinerary, read about Gargano and Vieste, Matera and Pollino or Pisciotta and Sassano.

Ferries, islands and the Pozzuoli finale

From Naples, the family sailed to Procida for three nights, then continued to Ischia and finally Pozzuoli for their last night before flying home. The ferries replaced long road transfers with short journeys across the bay.

Ferry routes and departure ports vary by season. Procida is compact enough for much of the visit to be enjoyed on foot; Ischia is larger, with buses, taxis and boats connecting its different towns.

Read the island finale for Elaine’s photographs and the story of the last week.

A long journey designed around individual interests

Twenty-two nights gave the family room to appreciate several regions without rushing. Most stays lasted three or four nights, with two in Vieste and a final overnight in Pozzuoli.

With seven nights, one base is usually a better choice; with 10–14 nights, two bases can give a satisfying balance. A shorter holiday inspired by Elaine’s interests could pair Gargano with Matera, or Cilento with Ischia.

ExpertoItaly arranges land-only Italy holidays, bringing together accommodation, private transfers, specialist guides, rail and ferries as appropriate. Explore multi-centre holidays or plan a journey with us.