Our latest sun-filled trip – Polignano a Mare in Puglia, southern Italy, was beyond delightful. We drove into the hills to see trulli – the pretty conical houses that are native to the area (the town of Alberobello has 1,500+ of the teeny-tiny houses); we dined until midnight in the old town of Polignano a Mare and swam and sunbathed on the local pocket-sized beach. Our hotels were two-fold – and both special in their own ways. The first: Borgobianco (www.borgobianco.it), an exclusive, out-of-town resort that’s a sea of white and has a fabulous spa and pool. The second: Hotel Grotta Palazzese (www.grottapalazzese.it) is best enjoyed next summer, when a whole new block has been built. In the meantime, book in for a spectacular in-cave culinary experience.