Preview Puglia:
Relocation Scouting Trip, Italy

Explore what it’s really like to live in
Puglia before you move

Start planning your scouting trip

A structured, on-the-ground experience designed for those seriously considering relocating to Puglia in 6-18 months

Preview Puglia is a local
collaboration between:

A custom-designed package including:

  • A dedicated Puglia Planning Session to map your move

  • A custom-designed itinerary by Storia Travel Club based on that plan

  • On-the-ground time in Puglia with local insight and guidance

  • Introductions to relevant professionals where appropriate

About Us

Stefanie Reilly, To Italy & Back
Stefanie moved to Lecce in her 40s and alongside her citizenship lawyer, now helps others navigate what it actually takes to do the same. Through To Italy & Back, she works with people who are seriously considering moving to Italy — not just helping them understand the process, but whether it’s the right decision for them in the first place. Her approach combines practical guidance with lived experience, local insight and a trusted network on the ground.
Explore To Italy & Back

Kayla Savino, Storia Travel Club
Kayla is the founder of Storia Travel Club, a personal travel concierge creating considered, detail-driven experiences across Italy and beyond. Based in Italy, her approach focuses on pace, ease and thoughtful planning — bringing together places and experiences in a way that feels personal, well put together, and quietly elevated.
Explore Storia Travel Club

Stefanie Reilly - To Italy & Back
Kayla Savino - Storia Travel Club

If you’re thinking about moving to Italy, a holiday isn’t always enough

Most people visit beautifully. Few visit in a way that helps them decide.

This experience is designed to help you make the most of your time — combining exploration with practical insight, local access, and clear guidance on what moving here actually involves.

You’ll leave with more than just a feeling.
You’ll leave with a clear sense of whether Puglia is right for you — and what your next steps look like.

Planning a scouting trip sounds simple — until you try to do it properly

Puglia is a large and varied region.
Where you stay, how you move between towns and the order in which you see places all shape your impression of it.

Most people arrive with a loose plan — a few towns saved, a car booked, a hotel in one location — and try to piece it together as they go.

But when you don’t yet understand how the region functions, it’s difficult to know:

  • which areas are actually comparable

  • how long it realistically takes to move between them (especially without local context or planning transport properly)

  • whether you should stay in one base or reposition

  • what daily life looks like beyond a short visit

  • who to speak to (and when) if you’re considering a move

So you end up seeing a version of Puglia, but not necessarily the one that helps you decide if it’s right for you.

Preview Puglia is designed to change that. Preview Puglia is delivered in collaboration with travel specialist Kayla (Storia Travel Club), combining relocation strategy with professionally designed travel.

Custom-designed scouting experiences, from €2,500 per person, inclusive of accommodation, transfers, experiences and more.

Start planning your scouting trip

Who is Preview Puglia for?

This experience is designed for people who:

  • Are seriously considering moving to Italy within the next 6–18 months

  • Feel drawn to Puglia but aren’t yet sure where (or if) it’s right

  • Want to understand how the process actually works before committing

  • Prefer to explore and relocate to Italy with guidance, rather than trying to piece things together alone

At the core is a thoughtfully structured base experience, combining travel, local insight and relocation guidance

The pace allows you to explore different areas while having space to absorb what you’re seeing and experiencing

Designed for a minimum of 3 nights, it’s not a tour and it’s not a holiday.
It’s a way to experience Puglia with intention.

After a one or two-day trip instead? Ask us about your options.

What’s included?

Every experience is carefully designed to give you both perspective and clarity before making any decisions about your move.

Before you arrive:

You won’t be arriving and figuring things out as you go.
Your time in Puglia is structured in advance so that each day builds on the next.

  • A one-on-one planning session with Stefanie to understand your situation, timeline, and what you need to work out from this trip

  • Identification of 2–3 key areas to explore, selected based on how you want to live — not just what looks appealing on a map

A custom-designed itinerary by Kayla, built around both flow and function — ensuring your time is used well, not just filled

This includes:

  • Accommodation selection positioned to give you the most useful base (or bases), depending on how the trip is structured

  • Transport planning across the region — including routing, timing and transitions between locations where needed

  • Coordination of authentic experiences and key touchpoints ahead of arrival

  • A personalised mobile itinerary with real-time updates and adjustments if needed

  • In-travel concierge support throughout your stay

Every element is arranged in advance so that you’re not spending your time navigating logistics, second-guessing decisions, or trying to adjust plans on the ground

During your time in Puglia

This is where the experience moves from exploring to understanding, and where your initial ideas are tested against how things actually work on the ground.

You’re not simply visiting places — you’re seeing them in context, with a clearer understanding of:

  • how each area feels to live in

  • what’s practical (and what isn’t)

  • how different locations compare beyond first impressions

A dedicated in-person session with Stefanie

This is where most of the clarity comes from.

Together, you’ll:

  • sense-check the areas you’re exploring

  • refine what’s actually realistic for your move

  • talk through timing, rental approach and next steps

  • work through the questions that only come up once you’re here

Rather than leaving with a collection of impressions, you begin to form a clear direction.

Optional access to trusted local professionals

At the right point in your process, introductions can be arranged with:

  • Citizenship lawyer (Valentina)

  • Commercialista (tax and financial guidance)

  • Property consultant (for rentals or purchasing)

These are introduced selectively, not as a checklist, but where they genuinely support your next step.

Experiencing Puglia, with the right balance

Your time is supported, but not over-structured giving you space to experience the region at your own pace, while still being guided where it matters.

This may include:

  • an unhurried lunch at a local masseria, sampling local produce

  • time moving through one of Puglia’s markets, seeing how people shop and live day to day

The kind of moments where you start to picture what an ordinary week here might actually look like, not just a short stay.

A sample itinerary for your time in Puglia

Each experience is tailored, but to give you a sense of pace and structure,
here’s an example of how your time might be organised:

puglia scouting trip 2026

Click the + sign to reveal sample activities

  • Arrival in Puglia
    Private transfer to your accommodation

    Time to settle in and get your bearings
    A relaxed first evening with a local dinner recommendation

  • Morning
    Dedicated session with Stefanie (To Italy & Back), building on your prior planning and focusing on:
    – your relocation pathway (visa, citizenship, timelines)
    – how your shortlisted areas compare in practice
    – what to prioritise while you’re on the ground

    Afternoon
    Guided exploration of a selected area together with Stefanie, with context around how daily life functions and what to pay attention to when considering where to live

    Evening
    Wine tasting at a local vineyard, with regional wines and seasonal dishes

  • Morning
    Visit to a local market, followed by a hands-on cooking experience

    Afternoon
    Independent exploration of additional areas, with suggested locations and clear guidance on what to assess in each (we remain available for input as needed)

    Optional
    Property viewings or meetings with relevant local professionals depending on your stage (lawyer, commercialista)

    Evening
    Free time to explore or dine locally

  • Morning
    Visit to a local market, followed by a hands-on cooking experience

    Afternoon
    Independent exploration of additional areas, with suggested locations and clear guidance on what to assess in each (we remain available for input as needed)

    Optional
    Property viewings or meetings with relevant local professionals depending on your stage (lawyer, commercialista)

    Evening
    Free time to explore or dine locally

  • Morning
    Follow-up session with Stefanie to refine:
    – preferred locations
    – property direction
    – next steps and timeline

    Afternoon
    Time to experience Puglia at a slower pace (beach club, bike ride, or quiet exploration)

  • Departure
    Private transfer to airport or next destination

Before you leave

Before you leave Puglia, we take time to step back and make sense of
what you’ve experienced.

A final coffee or aperitivo with Stefanie

A chance to reflect on the areas you’ve explored, what felt right, and what didn’t,
while it’s still fresh.

Together, we’ll:

• talk through your impressions across different locations
• clarify what’s realistically suited to your lifestyle
• identify what your next steps could look like, depending on your timeline

Rather than leaving with a collection of thoughts, you leave with a clearer sense of direction and a more grounded understanding of how (and whether) to move forward.

Tailored experiences

Your time in Puglia can be extended or refined depending on where you are in the process.

This may include additional locations, property viewings, further consultations or more in-depth planning.

Each experience is limited in availability to ensure a high level of support and access.

Packages
Preview Puglia is a custom-designed, high-touch experience.

Pricing starts from €2,500 per person or €4,000 per couple (minimum 3 nights).

This includes end-to-end planning, accommodation, transport, curated experiences, local introductions, and in-stay support throughout your time in Puglia.

Each experience is limited in availability to ensure a high level of access and guidance.

Start planning your scouting trip
Preview Puglia, how it works

How it works

Start planning your scouting trip

Not sure where to start?

If you’re still exploring whether Preview Puglia is the right fit, you’re welcome to book a complimentary 20-minute Intro Call. This is a short conversation to answer initial questions and help you decide if this experience suits your plans or a shorter one or two-day experience is more suitable.

Choosing where to live in Italy isn’t about ticking off destinations.

It’s about understanding how a place feels, how it functions, and whether it fits your life.

By structuring your time on the ground properly, you move beyond surface impressions and begin to understand what living here might actually look like, before making any major decisions.

Start planning your scouting trip

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Not at all. Most people join at the “seriously considering it, but not yet sure” stage. The purpose of this experience is to help you understand whether Puglia — and Italy more broadly — is right for you before making any major decisions.

    And If after this trip, you’d like to try another area, we can arrange that too.

  • The base experience is designed for a minimum of 3 nights. This allows enough time to explore different areas while also having space to reflect and absorb what you’re seeing. Your stay can be extended depending on your needs. And can be completely tailored to you.

    If you want something shorter, we can share options with you in the introduction call.

  • No problem. We can add this to the beginning, end or right in the middle.

  • No. This is a personalised, private experience designed around you (or you and your partner), up to 4 people maximum. The pace, locations and structure are all tailored to your situation and what you’re hoping to understand.

    A typical trip to Puglia is designed to show you the best of the region — where to stay, what to see, where to eat. And while that can be a beautiful experience, it doesn’t always help you understand what it would actually be like to live here.

    This experience is structured differently.

    Alongside exploring the region, you’ll spend time understanding how daily life works, how different areas feel beyond first impressions, and what the practical realities of relocating might look like for you. That includes guidance on visas or citizenship pathways, introductions to trusted local professionals where relevant, and space to properly reflect on what you’re seeing.

    It’s not about seeing more.
    It’s about seeing things in a way that helps you decide.

  • The experience includes pre-arrival planning, a tailored itinerary, accommodation, on-the-ground transport, area exploration, and dedicated time with Stefanie to discuss your relocation pathway. Optional introductions to local professionals and curated experiences are also included where relevant. Want something else? Let us know.

  • Flights to and from Italy are not included in the base package, unless you want us to add them. Meals and personal expenses are also not included unless specified in your itinerary.

  • If it’s relevant to your situation, we can arrange meetings with trusted local professionals such as a citizenship lawyer, commercialista (tax advisor), or property consultant. This is always tailored to where you are in the process.

  • Yes. Ongoing support is available through To Italy & Back, including relocation guidance, coordination, and introductions to trusted local partners. Many people use this trip as a starting point for a longer-term plan.

  • We begin with a one-on-one introduction call, then we move into a relocation call to understand your situation, timeline and priorities. From there, your itinerary and areas of focus are carefully selected so your time in Puglia is structured and purposeful.

  • Yes. The base experience can be extended to include additional locations, property viewings, or more in-depth consultations depending on your needs and timeline.

  • The earlier the better. But at least 8 weeks in advance allows time for planning, availability and coordination with any local professionals you may wish to meet.

  • Payments are made in stages with the final payment due 2 weeks before. you arrive.

  • Yes — we’re always happy to spend additional time together during your stay, whether that’s a coffee, aperitivo or dinner. And our solo travellers often enjoy a companion from. time-to-time.

    These moments are treated as part of your experience, so we simply ask that any shared meals or activities are covered.

    Availability will depend on timing, but we’ll always let you know what’s possible during your trip.

Led by relocation guidance and on-the-ground local insight, designed to help you explore Puglia with clarity.

Enquiries
stefanie@italyandback.com

Follow along
@italyandback | @storiatravelclub

Partita Iva: 05455330752

Preview Puglia is a local collaboration

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