Sardinia’s many charms

Sun, sea and seclusion – Sardinia has it all, and more

CHIA LAGUNA

If finding a hotel to please every member of your clan is becoming increasingly challenging, you should probably consider Chia Laguna (1). This sprawling, family-orientated resort, overlooking Chia Bay in southern Sardinia, is three hotels and a holiday village rolled into one, but it is cleverly designed to feel intimate once you are ensconced. Guests of one can enjoy the restaurants of the others so there is always something new to try. The hotels share the lovely Chia Natural Spa with its pools and terraces, and a private beach, Le Dunedi Campana, is a short shuttle away. The resort’s plushest offering is Hotel Laguna, which has sunny bedrooms and the excellent Italian La Terrazza restaurant with an open-air terrace. In the middle of it all is Piazza degli Ulivi, which springs into life at night with buzzy restaurants, bars and live music. The resort also has a kids’ club and hosts half-marathons, dance camps and, this summer, two children’s footba l l ac ademies, r un by for mer England internationals Andy Cole and Darren Anderton, among others.

VALLE DELL’ERICA RESORT THALASSO & SPA

Looking out to sea towards the Maddalena archipelago and Corsica, Valle Dell’er ica (2) feels wonderfully secluded. Stretching along a series of sandy cove son Sardinia’ s northern coast, you can choose between traditional Hotel Erica, which first opened in 1958, and the more contemporary Hotel La Licciola. Equally good for families and couples, the resort has a kids’ club, a children’s swimming pool and a huge Th alas so centre and spa with three seawater pools. There are also seven restaurants. Highlights include Il Grecale for up scale contemporary Italian food, or for something truly authentic, LiCiu so ni, a buggy ride up the hill behind there sort, is a relaxed local-feeling trattor ia where women sit rolling fresh pasta. Don’t miss the chance to spend a day island hopping in the resort’s 1927 Norwegian wooden sailing ship or one of its motorboats.

ALBERO CAPOVOLTO

This bougainvillea-smothered hilltop B&B was originally the holiday home of Alessandro Israelachv ili’s parents. He has been running it as a stylish, vintage-chic B&B since 2014, and each bedroom is named after a member of the family. There are five light, airy rooms, a suite with direct access to the gardens, multiple shady terraces and an outdoor pool. Star t the day with a breakfast of home-made pas tries, cakes, fresh ricotta, juice sand really great coffee by the lawn. Dinners– don’t miss the seafood feast – are offered three times a week, either communally or off in your own little corner. Be sure to book. There are also great restaurants a 20- minute drive away and you can reach the white sandy beaches of Costa Smerelda in about 15 minutes.

1. CHIA LAGUNA Doubles at Chia Laguna from £276, and from £512 [at Hotel Laguna specifically] (chialagunaresort.com). The resort is open until 1 October. 1 Panoramic views at Hotel Laguna

2 2. VALLE DELL’ERICA RESORT THALASSO & SPA Doubles from £258 on a half-board basis (delphinahotels.co.uk). The resort is open until 30 September.

3 3. ALBERO CAPOVOLTO Doubles from £106 (alberocapovolto.com). The B&B is open until mid-october.