Everyone told us to go to the Amalfi Coast. We skipped it for Puglia — and got 3 days in Polignano a Mare for $808 that looked better than the postcards.
This is our honest 2026 review of Puglia, Italy for couples: the same turquoise water and clifftop towns as the Amalfi Coast, with half the crowds and half the price. We based ourselves in Polignano a Mare, rented a vespa to ride the coast down to Monopoli, swam at the famous Lama Monachile cliff cove (and found out exactly how cold the Adriatic really is), stayed in a spa-bathroom hotel room for less than an Amalfi budget room, taste-tested our way through Puglia — and added it to our running Italy pizza ranking.
If you’re planning an Italy trip and the Amalfi Coast prices are scaring you off, this is the breakdown we wish someone had given us before we went.
📍 CHAPTERS
0:00 We Skipped the Amalfi Coast (here’s why)
0:50 Renting a Vespa in Polignano a Mare
2:10 Lama Monachile: the Cliff Cove
3:25 Beach Day + Is the Adriatic Freezing?
5:00 Our Hotel: Palazzo Cerere Spa Room
6:50 Eating Through Puglia
8:00 Final Verdict + What 3 Days Cost
💰 WHAT WE SPENT (couple total, 3 days, USD)
Lodging — $504.00
Food — $192.87
Beach club — $56.95
Vespa rental — $42.00
Transportation — $12.42
Total — $808.24 ($404/night · $202/person/night)
…that’s roughly $540 less than the 3 days we spent in Rome. Same country, same trip.
🏨 WHERE WE STAYED
Palazzo Cerere (Polignano a Mare) — boutique King room with a spa bathroom, ~$252/night. A 5-minute walk to the cliffs and easily the best lodging call of our whole Italy trip.
🛵 GETTING AROUND
Vespa rental (~$40/day) — the move. Puglia’s coast roads are flat, open, and built for it. We rode from Polignano a Mare down to Monopoli, pulling over at every cove that looked good.
🍝 WHERE WE ATE
Brunch in Polignano a Mare — pancakes, an eggplant sandwich, matcha lattes (~$62 for both of us). Worth it.
Local trattoria — orecchiette with cime di rapa, the meal we’d go back for.
Puglia pizza — solid, not the winner. (More on that in the pizza ranking 👇)
🍕 THE ITALY PIZZA RANKING (so far)
Venice #1 · Puglia #2 · Rome = ??? — we settled Rome in the video below 👀
🏖️ BEACHES
Lama Monachile — the free cliff cove in the heart of Polignano a Mare. The Puglia postcard shot.
Free coves vs Sabbiadoro beach club (Monopoli side) — when the $35 club is worth it, and when the free cove gives you 80% of it for nothing.
📺 WATCH OUR FULL ITALY SERIES
▶ Is Rome Worth It in 2026? We Spent $1,348 in 3 Days → [paste Rome video link] (and yes — it settles the pizza ranking)
Is Venice Worth It for Couples? (Honest 2026 Review) — coming soon. Subscribe so you don’t miss it →
🎯 ABOUT THE CHANNEL
We’re Arie and Gary, a couple who travels the world and tells you the truth about it — what’s worth the money, what’s worth the time, and what to skip. No sponsorships dressed up as reviews. Just two people who paid for it, went, and have opinions.
More miles. More memories.
📲 FOLLOW US
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