Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Do you take the time for luxurious spa treatments when you travel? Now enjoy the ultimate in Italy!

When you travel is it a mad dash to see as much as possible on the short time you have to "vacation"?
As a traveler you may have more time to experience a location, culture or country but do you take the time to relax while on the mission to experience everything?  
Yle introduces us to a extreme spa, where all your wishes can be granted while you are pampered in the Italian countryside.     What a great way to spend your first day in Italy while battling jet lag, the time change and trying to "do nothing"!   
What spa towns in Italy have you visited?
cremea di caffe
Let's join Yle at an Italian spa........  and dream of your customized holiday in Puglia.
continued from the earlier post:
Drinking a “caffè” (in whatever way you like) in a central bar in Lecce is often a way to meet some friends and talk to them, even if you have not planned that and that was the case. I had just asked for my lovely coffee cream when I noticed the wonderful look of a lady who was actually very close to me.                 I immediately realized I knew her and told her: “Marisa how nice to meet you here (that in Italian would be translated like “Che piacere vederti qui”). This lovely friend and her family owns in Salento some very nice resorts by the ocean and are just unique in their style. The last born is a dream place in Lecce where you truly experience a relax atmosphere while enjoying the sun.

We decided  to have coffee together and at the end of the meeting she pronounced the magical formula: “Yle come and visit me tomorrow at Masseria Luciagiovanni”, we will have a brunch together by the swimming pool” (a 1600 sqm swimming pool with Jacuzzi) followed by a spa treatment (I could choose among: sauna, steam bath, hammam, body treatments, massages, indoor/outdoor Thalassic Therapy path and Jetstream, whirlpool). 

Inspiration for the PERFECT travel experience.


YOU deserve a perfect getaway (even if it is for one day)

"Something magical happens"
Yle creates unique travel experiences for each guest who visits Puglia.   She shares her philosophy on finding inspiration and the goal of the perfect experience.  

There are days when something suddenly rings your bell,  I don’t know about you, but often,  for my my job,  I look for something special to suggest to my friends all the time, find the right place for the perfect holiday (easier said than done) and when it happens it is so nice.

When I started writing on this blog, it was a way to share with you information on how to experience this area (Puglia) in a special way, if only for a short amount of time and how your Sunday could  become a fantastic day if you look for a gem around you, I am sure you can find it.
Working on “unique” holidays and planning days for guests visiting Puglia, puts me in the position of ongoing research and selection.

When I choose one place instead of another, it is always for a particular reason:   something magical has to happen in my body/soul, otherwise I should select somewhere else and do not suggest it to people asking  for the very best.        Finding something that suits my guests needs and matches their standards, will make their holiday a lot easier and give them the perfect results they have been seeking for months in planning their vacation.

An example of where inspiration can come from:

It was a late spring day, very hot and sunny and I was planning a day tour for some American ladies.   On my list were many fun things, scheduling all the activities in the afternoon.
Actually these lovely ladies would have met me in the morning and after a long flight they would have been tired and in search of relaxation.

Drinking a “caffè” (in whatever way you like) in a central bar in Lecce is often a way to meet some friends and talk to them, even when a meeting is unplanned.  
I had just asked for my lovely coffee cream when I noticed the wonderful look of a lady who was actually very close to me. My eyes were attracted by the design of little symbols on her dress and the softness of the textile turned my imagination on and made me wish to fly somewhere under the sun.
I immediately realized I knew her and told her: “Marisa how nice to meet you here (that in Italian would be translated like “Che piacere vederti qui”).   This lovely friend and her family owns in Salento some very nice resorts by the ocean that are just unique in their style.    One in particular is a dream place in Lecce where you truly experience a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying the sun.


We decided  to have coffee together and at the end of the meeting she pronounced the magical formula: “Yle come and visit me tomorrow at Masseria Luciagiovanni”, we will have a brunch together by the swimming pool” (a 1600 sqm swimming pool with Jacuzzi) followed by a spa treatment (I could choose amongsauna, steam bath, hammam, body treatments, massages, indoor/outdoor Thalassic Therapy path and Jetstream, whirlpool).  



Yle gives us more details of her day at the ultimate spa on the next post, please click the next entry.







Sunday, March 18, 2012

Cook with the Mammas of Puglia!

Yle is giving us a wonderful look inside the kitchens of some of the best Italian cooks in Puglia, a mamma!     Yle offers amazing holidays that can include hands on cooking with an expert.
I can vouch for an incredible experience when Yle introduced me to my new "nonna" (grandmother) Mamma Vita. She spent hours teaching me to make pasta!    Not only did I learn to make 6 types of pasta but I believe I found a new nonna.........

COOKING CLASS IN PUGLIA 

Life as a local
Guests often write to me via email or social networks  and ask for some very unique treats to experience in Puglia.     What they read about from other travel planners is just "touristy"   and they know that one of the things I avoid in my tours is doing what hundreds of other people do.   I create a unique travel experience specifically for you.          
A  cooking class with one of our amazing  MAMME is a must do experience. When I gave rise to this food and culinary program called “Mamme in Cucina” a couple of years ago, I thought of a unique day that I would have liked to live if myself I had been a visitor. A day to be spent with locals like a local. A unique staff that would have given guests the impression of living in the area and perfectly mingle with people and their habits.
Mamma Consiglia
I never call participants “students”, “customers" or clients”:    they  are friends and guests for me and for the mums they have the pleasure to cook with.  From the beginning of our day,  the atmosphere is casual and friendly and every part of the program is as if you are visiting friends.