Conde Nast Traveller: April 2007

THE EXPERTS

“My daughter finishes her A-levels in June, and I want to book a week-long trip as a treat for both of us. We’d like sunshine, a little gentle activity and a spa to relax in. What would you recommend?”

James Lohan, Mr & Mrs Smith: I’d suggest going to Italy, which is at its best in June; and there’s nowhere better than the Masseria Torre Coccaro in Puglia. It’s a stylish fortified farmhouse exquisitely furnished with fine linens, silky sofas, large baroque mirrors and antique furniture, so it should appeal to feminine sensibilities! Its Aveda spa has a small indoor pool, Turkish baths and gym, and shiatsu, Ayurvedic and reflexology massages are all available. There is an outdoor pool with a cabana for lunch, and the hotel’s beach club – with a restaurant and a 12-metre yacht for guests’ use – is five minutes’ walk away. The hotel runs a cookery school, or you can go to nearby Lecce for some culture and a chance to admire the fashion-mad Italian teenagers. The region’s flat terrain is ideal for cycling, and the gentle coastal route from Bari to Monopoli offers a taste of Puglia’s varied scenery. Stop for an ice cream at Il Super Mago del Gelo in the cliff-top town of Polignano a Mare. The hotel is listed at www.mrandmrssmith.com; a double room for a week costs about £1,500.