We stayed at Hotel San Giovanni from September 11th until September 14th. The location is beautiful — it’s a private villa converted into a hotel, set right on the beach in a very secluded area. To reach Polignano a Mare, you need to take a tuk‑tuk, which costs about 15 euros each way, but staying in this quiet spot is absolutely worth it. The beach area in front of the hotel is small and a bit rocky, yet still perfectly manageable for swimming. There is a local fortress nearby and four restaurants in the area, though be aware that they close from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Polignano a Mare itself is a stunning town that deserves at least a few days to explore. The room at the hotel is a good size, with a comfortable bed that’s close to a North American queen. The shower and toilet room are also spacious. Breakfast, prepared by Barbara and (I believe) her mother, is fantastic — you would need far more space on the Expedia page to describe it properly.
There is also a private sandy beach nearby, though access costs around 40–80 euros. Overall, our stay here was one of the best experiences we had while travelling in Italy.
As one of the days we stayed was my wife’s birthday, Barbara helped make it truly special by arranging flowers and providing a candle for the cake. Thank you, Barbara, for accommodating us!