Susan_Muglich

I'm planning a visit to Sardinia for mid-Sept. 2016. It's part of 6 mo. in Europe, so think I need a head start to figure this all out. Initially I've been thinking about flying from Milan to Cagliari and staying there for a week. Then moving onto Axtara for another week and then Olbia or Castelsardo for another week. We will be flying to Naples from either Olbia or Alghero at the end. One thing I'm concerned about is if we don't arrive until mid-Sept., our last week would take us thru Oct. 7. Will we encounter too many closed restaurants, sites, etc.? We love good food but need not be fancy or expensive, though that would be ok too, so hoping to be near a few decent restaurants.

Secondly, would these 3 locations allow us to see most of what one would want to see of this island? On some other msg I read about day trips to adjacent islands, etc. Just hoping to base ourselves in potentially 3 different spots that would afford us the best opportunities to visit nearby towns, etc. Open to suggestions. Thanks!

Susan

Pvoyageuse

I have been twice in October and never had problems finding restaurants open. I suppose you mean Arbatax? it is the only place which was a disappointment for me ! The site of the famous pink cliffs was dirty and desolated. I would chose another place on the coast (Olbia does not have much going for it) either Cala Gonone, or further up Santa Theresa di Galllura if you want to see the Maddalena archipelago. In which case I would drop Castelsardo and would spend my third week in Alghero. This way you would be able to visit the North-West and the West coast.

BritishCaicos

I agree totally.

No problem with restaurants and Santa Teresa is a good base, particularly as you can take the ferry from here to Corisca for the day and it's also fairly close to Palau for the ferry to La Maddalena.

Castelsardo isn't my favourite place in Sardinia.

The islands is quite large and three bases makes much sense. Cagliari, Santa Teresa and Alghero works really well.

Susan_Muglich

Thanks so much for your input. I've revised our itinerary: Cagliari, Alghero and then Santa Theresa so that we can fly back out of Olbia at the end.

We'll be celebrating my husband's birthday while in Cagliari. Any thoughts as to what might be the best restaurant to try? He likes Italian best.

Lastly, any small towns and/or sites we should be sure not to miss near these 3 locations? We will have a car. Or any places you've stayed you especially liked? We would generally prefer an apt. to a hotel.

Again, thanks!!

Susan

BritishCaicos

Yes, we have been 6 times but time for bed.

Will post tomorrow!

Dai

Hi Susan

"Lastly, any small towns and/or sites we should be sure not to miss near these 3 locations? We will have a car."

YES! We stayed in Stintino (uppermost northwest) and loved it! The waters there are crystal clear and are viewed in every shade of green and blue imaginable. I thought I'd mention that we LOVED Castelsardo. (To each his own) We stayed at the Hotel Riviera three nights and enjoyed use of the mini bay across the street. Walking to the centro storico was an easy walk, and the people are so very sweet. We had one of our best pizza's there too.

Agree that Olbia doesn't offer much, I would not stay there, except we did for only one night before our departing flight.

Sardinia is wonderful!

BritishCaicos

Yes!

I forgot about Stintino, incredible seas.

Well worth a visit.

sandralist

Regarding Castelsardo, a friend just e-mailed me a list he found in the Huffington Post naming the 25 most beautiful places in Italy, and Castelsardo was on it. It also named some towns I would not include on such a list, but other towns were ones I might recommend to another. Never having been to Castelsardo I have no opinion one way or the other, but plainly many people do count Castelsardo as a personal favorite, and for reasons that might be closer to your travel tastes than those who reject it.

BritishCaicos

Yes Sandra you have a growing reputation for reviewing places and restaurants that you have been no where near.

Dai

One thing I'd like to add is that if I were you, I would <i>not</i> reserve any hotels/B&B's in advance. You will not have <i>any</i> problem finding a place to sleep at that time of year...although we did spend a <i>little</i> more time in La Maddalena trying to find a place.

Bring a list of several potential places to stay in each of the towns you think you want to visit. When we got to Castelsardo, we told the guy we'd stay one or two nights but by the time we saw the room and view, we went downstairs and said we would stay for three. That kind of freedom to leave early or stay longer is so nice and completely doable in Sardinia at the end of Sept and beginning of Oct.

sandralist

British Caicos,

I have not done that at all, as everyone can see who reads what I wrote.
I was passing along to someone else more information about where they are going, and I have been totally honest.

When the OP's questions first appeared, I considered sending a friend of mine who is planning a trip to Sardinia a suggestion to follow the thread -- but then when I saw you had jumped as a major contributor, I changed my mind. Your advice is not advice I would recommend anyone follow, although I would not ordinarily say that in a thread someone else started.

Anyway, I am glad the OP is getting a wider range of opinions, and glad to have gotten the Huffington Post article last night to pass along. I am sorry you feel a need to try to put blinders on someone planning a trip who might have tastes more adventurous or interesting -- and less narrow minded - than yours generally are. I am sure the OP is grateful all the information they get, so why you want to try to discredit any views that don't parrot your own is odd.