Our delightful stay at Marenea Suite Hotel, in Puglia

The Apulia! I had been dreaming of this destination for so long! Here is why we went to the south of Italy to spend our holidays during the month of July. And needless to say, it was days and days of farniente under the sun, in a heavenly setting.

Once we had landed at the Brindisi Airport, we went to get our rental car (which is recommended, even essential if you plan on visiting the region) and drove for an hour, blasting Italian music, heading to our hotel for the next two nights: the intimate and luxurious Marenea Suite Hotel.

The setting is wonderful. Nested in an olive grove, we are immersed in the nature, and this exactly was what we had been looking for. Greenery, all around us, cicadas singing an ode to the south, dancing butterflies, and us breathing in the dolce vita already. What a great feeling. The atmosphere truly is sweet and serene.

The little villa that serves as a lobby where we were welcomed was magnificent and gives an overview of what was next! The indoor and outdoor decoration really were chosen with great taste. Every detail is carefully thought. The main theme? Blue and white.

We are warmly greeted, and the kindness of the personnel immediately made us feel at home. During the check-in, we were offered a drink at the bar placed there for the procedure, but also delicious speciality of the region: caramelised almonds that my daughter devoured!

Then, we were driven in a little electric car to our villa for the next nights.

Villa n° 8. We opened the nice turquoise-blue door to settle in our suite. It was so charming! A spacious living space with a living area and a dining corner, with traditional ceramic on the wall of the large bathroom and a window with a view on the nature. Finally, the parental bedroom boasts a canopy bed and a bed cover embroidered in an ancient fashion by local artisans. The hotel staff had, of course, prepared a bed for my firstborn daughter and a travel cot for my second daughter.

The icing on the cake was our private roof terrace with a gazebo, double sunbed and a breathtaking view on the sea. We will get back to it for the sunset, that’s for sure! Yet, the time has now come to head to the swimming pool.

The hotel provides with great intimacy, and the swimming pool is just at a few steps from our villa. And what a surprise!

We set on our sunbeds under a gazebo with white fabric curtains. My daughters had already spotted the small garden made for children right behind us, with a slide and swings. Personally, my eyes were caught by the bubble bath that overlooks the swimming pool and the sea. Clearly, this is paradise.

For lunch, we headed to the pool bar. We picked traditional pasta dishes from the region: orecchiette with tomato sauce, a delight! Then, to follow the advice of the receptionist, we went to the Acquaviva beach that is found at just a few minutes driving from the hotel. We were personally taken there on an electric car! The personnel always gives kind attentions, which makes this place really unique. The Marenea hotel also has its own private beach but we haven’t tried it.

In the evening, we dined at the restaurant of the hotel, with a spectacular sunset on the sea as a view. The dinner was as delightful as the lunch, and my daughter had the chance to have a very beautiful high chair made of wood and wicker which perfectly blended with the atmosphere.

For our second day, we had reserved a family activity within the hotel: a cooking class!

Our personal chef Patricia was waiting for us at the restaurant where we had dined the previous day. Our workshop was set facing the sea: 4 aprons, hard wheat semolina and water, we were about to learn how to make real pasta! Patricia taught us how to create the dough, then the techniques to create orecchiette pasta that are in the shape of ears. Our daughters loved the experience, much as we did my husband and I! After one hour cooking, we set the table and tried our own realisations.

We loved this hotel! There is a calm and serene atmosphere, our daughters were always welcome and the personnel has always been kind and careful towards her. For us, that was the perfect balance!

For the next part of our holidays, we went to another hotel from the hotel chain CDS, the Relais Masseria Le Cesine, also booked through Little Guest. The atmosphere had much more a “club” feeling, but this will be another story.

Thank you Little Guest for these perfect holidays!