White sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and lush trees swaying in the breeze. This may sound like a description of the Maldives – but it was actually what I experienced on a recent trip to Italy.
Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, is sometimes called the “Maldives of Europe” for its beautiful beaches – two of which appear in50 best beaches in the world” The 2024 list was selected by more than 1,000 travel professionals.
Like the Maldives, parts of Sardinia are known for being expensive. Those with deep pockets go to emerald coast — or Emerald Coast — is known for its yacht-loving jet-setters, upscale golf resorts and designer shops.
Porto Cervo, part of the Costa Smeralda region of Sardinia. The area was founded by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV in the 1960s and now attracts many wealthy individuals. Today it is owned by the Qatar Investment Authority.
Emanuele Perrone | Getty Images
Luxury hotel company Belmond opened the renovated Romazzino hotel in Porto Cervo in August with other hotel partners. LVMH The Cheval Blanc brand plans to open a hotel in 2026. Rocco Ford Group and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel will also open in the same year.
But as I discovered on a recent vacation, you don’t have to spend a fortune to experience Sardinia’s beautiful coastline. Airfare obviously affects the cost of travel, but my week on the island cost me $1,500, including flights from London.
First, I’m excited to travel in the fall when prices are cheaper. Schools in the UK start in early September, and I infer that the weather should still be sunny.
I was also happy with mid-range accommodations and wanted to stay somewhere that included some meals to make budgeting easier. I would also love to live near local restaurants as they are usually cheaper than restaurants in tourist spots.
Guests can “adventure” to neighboring beaches by kayak or paddleboard.
Source: Nielsen
After checking on the Internet, the resort company Neilson has a resort on the northeast coast of Sardinia, not Very far from the Emerald Coast. I visited a hotel run by Nelson in Greece a few years ago and was impressed with the service and food, as well as the activities such as kayaking and yoga.
Nelson Moree Bay Beach Club The hotel is a 40-minute drive from Olbia Airport and next to the dunes of a beautiful beach. I found a deal for £849 ($1,102) per person for a week, based on two people sharing a room and traveling in late September.
Prices include return flights from London Stansted Airport, transfers, daily breakfast and lunch, as well as four dinners and on-site activities such as tennis coaching, guided cycling, yoga lessons and windsurfing. The hotel’s website shows a pale sandy beach lined with pine trees and rooms in the single-story building set among simple gardens.
I was sold and I booked to go with my friend Sinead.
Lucy Handley’s holiday to Sardinia included a guided bike ride.
Source: Nielsen
The first morning I headed to a yoga class on a wooden fitness platform near the beach. Then I sunbathed for a few hours and took a water aerobics class in the hotel pool.
In the afternoon Sinead and I went on a guided mountain bike ride, opting for the “green” beginner level, which took us on a 9km (5.6 mile) loop. Keen cyclists can venture out on intermediate or advanced routes along the mountain’s winding roads. We stopped for a lemon granita Sardana The restaurant is nestled among trees, overlooking the white Baia Sant’Anna beach.
Our days are still a mix of activity and relaxation, usually starting with yoga, followed by an afternoon weights class or bike ride.
Author Lucy Handley and her traveling companion Sinead before riding their bikes.
Source: Lucy Handley
One of the highlights was a stand-up paddleboard “safari”, during which I paddled with other guests around a peninsula to the 4km long white sand beach of Budoni Bay, with views of Isola Tavolara Breathtaking views of the mountains. The resort also hosts sailing lessons for all levels and holds competitions on the weekends.
In the evening, if food is not served, we walk into the village of Tanaunera for dinner. exist Hotel PedrañedaI like the malloreddus alla Campidanese, a Sardinian pasta with sausage sauce for €12 ($13), while the family-run Pizzeria da Paolo has a variety of pizzas for under €10. exist La Volpe RestaurantsI had a tuna steak with anchovy mayonnaise for 25 euros.
The rest of our budget was spent on alcoholic drinks and coffee at local bars and one day we rented a car (about 120 euros including delivery, transfer and petrol) and headed south to the Gulf of Orose and the country of Gennargentu Park, a national park with dramatic landscapes.
Cala Fuili is a white pebbly bay on Sardinia’s east coast popular with climbers.
Enrico Spanu | Rida&co | Universal Image Group | Getty Images
From the coastal town of Cala Gonone you can take a boat to the Grotte del Bue Marino cave, which I imagine is very popular in the summer. Instead we drove along the coast to the bay of Cala Fuili, a small white pebble beach flanked by cliffs popular with climbers. There we walked down the steep steps and found a spot among the sunbathers.
Like many destinations, Sardinia is keen to reduce overtourism and have introduce restrictions Number of people who can visit certain beaches during high season. exist La Pelosa On beaches on the Northeast Coast, people are required to put mats under their towels to prevent sand from sticking to the mats and being carried off the beach.
My hotel was a low-rise resort set back from the coast with marked paths through the dunes to prevent damage, and the beach never felt crowded.
This is an ideal off-season resort.
