Masseria Relais Del Cardinale

La Dolce Vita … Masseria Relais Del Cardinale truly is the good life

Del Cardinale is simply one of those stand out vacation properties that really takes your breath away. Whilst at the hotel, I was reminded of one of those price comparison site adverts where they simply showed guests happy expressions when the opened the door to their holiday hotel … you never saw the hotel or the room … just the intense happiness in the couple or families faces. Del Cardinale does this …and then you get even more satisfaction when you think this amazing super 5 star property (set in an enormous plot with one of the best pools I have ever used at a hotel) costs less than a small room in London. The value is outstanding, the food is great, the staff (although English is a little hit and miss) attentive and want to make your stay a real pleasure. The hotel never feels crowded, since there are so many areas to relax and enjoy the sun, the pool and beautiful surroundings (from the furniture to the beautiful trees and grounds. The staff at reception and the management should be highlighted for their outstanding service … nothing is too much for them. You really do feel instantly relaxed and in a proper holiday mode. An added bonus is that the hotel sits within Puglia … which is Italy’s ascendant region, a place where travellers bored or worn down by the crowds of Campania and Tuscany escape for something a bit less frenetic and real. With the longest coastline of any region in mainland Italy, Puglia is larger than many people realise. It truly is god’s country. Puglia’s cucina povera is about as earthy as Italian cuisine gets without eating it straight out of the soil. h the longest coastline of any region in mainland Italy, Puglia is larger than many people realise. In the north, the spur of land sticking out into the Adriatic is occupied by the balmy microclimates of the Gargano peninsula, a kind of miniature Amalfi with fewer poseurs Federico Fellini would certainly recognise "the sweet life" or "the good life” if he stayed at the Del Cardinalle. As a postscript. I went to Puglia and Del Cardinalle for a wedding. Never having been to the area before. I am already planning my next trip to both. Now that is the best recommendation one can really give!