Soaking Up Sun & Sea in Sardinia

Sardinia is a surprise. Everything about it is just a little bit larger than life. It’s somehow more Italian than Italy, its food is more delicious and healthy than most other cuisines in Southern Europe and, talking about being larger than life, it is much bigger than you’d think… 

It is the second biggest island in the Mediterranean and has a lengthy 1,150 miles of beautiful coastline. It’s land mass covers a scenic and mountainous 9,301 square miles.

And yet it is by no means the tourist trap it could be. I spent a long night out in the capital, Cagliari, recently and not an English, German or American voice did I hear. 

Having said that, I was on my way to a very special cluster of coastal hotels located in the south west corner of the island and was later told by the owners, the Italian Hospitality Collection, that their British visitor numbers had increased by ten per cent last year. Which isn’t surprising because the group is in the process of spending more than 50 million euros upgrading the four hotels located right next to a shoreline that has recently been voted Best Beach in Italy.  

The collection of hotels owned and run by the Italian Hospitality Collection is situated just 50 minutes from Cagliari International Airport which, in itself, is an easy 2.5 hour flight from the UK.

I stayed in the five star Chia Laguna, a lovely hotel which is set on a hillside above a blue lagoon dotted with flamingos, beyond which lies and endless expanse of golden dunes.
One hot autumn day recently I took a wonderful four mile stroll around this little lot - and hugely enjoyed climbing the old watchtower hill so that I could see the lagoon and the dunes from another angle.  I then walked up the coast along sandy shores, around rocky sea-cliffs and between the dunes full of green Mediterranean shrubs to the beautiful Dune di Campana beach, to which guests staying at the Chia Laguna have exclusive access. 

It was all very lovely and relaxing indeed. Hotel staff sorted me out with a big comfy recliner and umbrella and brought me ice cold beers while I contemplated a crystal clear sea. A wonderfully warm sea, I have to add. In late September the water was so warm I could have snorkelled and generally splashed about for hours. 

On another afternoon, the Chia Laguna’s beach staff took us by speedboat, west along the dramatic coastline so that we could moor in a secluded cove above which herds of semi wild goats were nibbling herbs on the mountainsides, and where vast shoals of fish were nibbling our toes as we dangled them into the unbelievably clear sea. 
The water was so clear, you could see a full 40 feet down into the pink granite lined depths of the bay. Diving in from the deck of the speedboat almost took nerve because the sea was so clear it looked as though your were plummeting head first into a 40 foot abyss.

Then it was back at high speed past the dramatic looking Capo Spartivento lighthouse and past the great white dunes of the Chia beaches so that we could take a rest and dress for dinner at the classy La Terrazza fine-dining restaurant exclusive to guests of Hotel Laguna. The à la carte menu features delicious Italian specialties that take more than just a bow to the culinary traditions of Sardinia.

The outdoor terrace offers a fabulous view of the lagoon and the bay - quite unlike the nearby Whiteluna Restaurant which is also part of the complex and where we also enjoyed dinner one night. And what a memorable meal that was - one of the best I’ve had in any resort hotel in the Mediterranean. I picked a mix of a Japanese starter and traditional Sardinian suckling pig as a main - and went back up to my luxurious suit across the road a happy and contented man. 

If the speedboat trip was one of the most pleasant things I’ve done in 2018, then its white-knuckle ride and all the diving and snorkelling did leave me feeling a little weary the next morning - so what better than to experience a pampering spa treatment at the Chia Natural Spa? I had a basic massage - which was excellent - but there were a choice of treatments to be enjoyed before a lengthy relaxation session at the spa where I zoned out in the sauna, Turkish bath and hammam before luxuriating in the outdoor whirlpools. 

After that, the now chilled out Hesp body had built up quite an appetite - one which was well catered for at the resort’s Le Dune Restaurant down by the beach.  My seafood pasta was superb - the open air restaurant specialises in grilled fish, together with pasta and rice dishes with fresh-made sauces, as well as wood-fired pizza.

As you may gather, the whole Chia experience is very much a resort-led experience. You don’t need to go anywhere or plan anything - everything you need for an enjoyable holiday is right there on the doorstep, with multiple large swimming pools located across the four hotels along with spas, shops, restaurants, bars… Everything you need, indeed, for a wonderful rejuvenating vacation. 

Which, I noted, seems to be an especially good offer for families with children. I saw a lot of mums and dads at the resort and also grannies and granddads - there are certainly a great many things for the kids to do.

My own take on such a holiday (as a person whose kids have grown up and who hasn’t yet stepped in to grandparenthood) is that I’d definitely book in for a few days total relaxation either before, or after, exploring more of what the remarkable island of Sardinia has to offer. 

If relaxation in a beautifully located and tastefully designed seaside resort is what you’re after (and who isn’t?) - I’d certainly recommend the Italian Hospitality Collection’s Chia Laguna.

FACT FILE

Nightly rates at Hotel Laguna start from €308 (£274 at the time of going to print) per person based on two adults sharing on a half-board basis. Nightly rates at Hotel Baia start from €149 (£133*) per person based on two adults sharing on a half-board basis. Nightly rates at Chia Laguna start from €166 (£148*) per person based on two adults sharing on a half-board basis. In all the above children under 12 stay free. Rates also include wi-fi, access to fitness facilities and beach service. 

For further information email info@chialagunaresort.com, call +39 070 932393431. Or take a look at the website on https://en.chialagunaresort.com/en/resort-sardinia/1-0.html