Group 4 in early 30s planning a trip to Sardinia in late September and need help with places to stay. Was thinking the following:

5 days in Olbia/Costa Smeralda. From here take a day trip to Bonifacio (Corsica) and a day trip to Alghero (2hr drive)
after that drive south for 2-3 days in Cagliari

thoughts? is Olbia the best place to stay in Costa Smeralda? Do we need more than 2 days in Cagliari?

thanks for the help

Sergey

Olbia is a TERRIBLE place to stay. It's an extremely ugly town. Furthermore, it's not in the Costa Smeralda, it's south of the Costa. The place to stay in the Costa Smeralda proper, would be Porto Cervo, but it's out of sight with rates. Port Rotundo is almost as nice, and less expensive. I spend lots of time in Golfo Aranci, which is an ideal place, but it's a bit farther away from the Costa Smeralda, although not too far. Golfo Aranci has two or three great hotels, and the rates are fairly moderate for the area. They are: The Gabbiano Azzuro, The Margherita, and I forget the name of the third one. If I remember it, I will pass it along. However, on the road from the Olbia airport to Golfo Aranci, there are quite a few of really attractive resorts, which I haven't researched. The best place in the Olbia-Golfo Aranci area, also seen from the road is the village of Baia Marinella, which is really lovely. It's probably worth a look.

is it warm enough to swim sept 18-23?

You bet! It will still be HOT!

sweet
i was told to stay in santa teresa gallura on the north coast. Good idea?

Good idea

Sorry to be negative but wouldn't recommend the Costa Smeralda unless you want what one of the judges of National Geographic's Traveler magazine called "more like a shopping mall/retirement community/country club in Arizona than an authentic Sardinian village" when talking about Porto Cervo. They were pretty negative about the whole Costa Smeralda http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...balance/italy/ "the Costa Smeralda coast is primarily "a playground for tourists" that isolates them from local Sardinian culture. There is also "far too much car traffic for it to maintain any degree of environmental quality."

The best things to see in Sardinia aren't the towns but the mountain villages and traditional culture, as well as the spectacular scenery and coastline. See the Regional Tourism web site http://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/index.html or buy The Lonely Planet guide.

ciao Peter

I STRONGLY disagree with Peter. The Costa Smeralda (The Emerald Coast) is not named that for naught. The scenery is out of this world, and nowhere on earth can you see such beautiful coast lines and absolutely pure water. It's true that many people go there, including many movie stars, etc., but they go there because of all the wonderful sights and atmosphere. If you want absolutely peace and quiet, go to a convent.

Anyway at the end of September the Costa Smeralda will be closing down. I agree with Peter, it is certainly not the place I'd chose for a holiday. Have a look at Palau or Santa Teresa de Gallura if you plan to take a ferry to Corsica or a boat ride around the Maddalena islands. If you go to Alghero, take the coastal road via Castelsardo.
One day is enough in Cagliari itself but you'll miss a lot as
there is much to see in the area. If you are not afraid of winding roads, take the Orientale Sarda from Dorgali to Tortoli or Bari Sardo.

I too totally agree with Waldo.

We are staying in Conca Verde (just outside Santa Teresa) again this July (about our 6th visit).

The coast between Santa Teresa and Olbia is quite simply the best in Europe. That is simply why the billionaires have taken over large parts of it. However, in all areas the development is low key and many areas the income levels of most visitors are much lower.

Santa Teresa is a lovely, lovely plave it is pretty lain back and has the best beaches in Europe within 20 miles. The are good seafood restaurants and reasonable hotels/house rentals.

It is possibe to rent boats or take the ferry out to the Maddalena islands.

National Geographic is simply not the right context to review Sardinia. Visitors simply do not go for a National Geogrphic experience and it is akin to National Geographic reviewing The Turks and Caicos. Both areas are beautiful, low key developed playgrounds.

If you (like us) love seascapes, seafood and lazing around on boats Northern Sardinia is the best destination in Europe.

.....I also totally agree with Waldo regarding Olbia. It is a "local" industrial town with little to offer. The cruise ships stop off here as do the ferries.

Here's the view from our villa in Conca Verde.

You be the judge!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/...875821598d.jpg

I was remeniscing about Sardinia (I will be going to Golfo Aranci in June), and I recall a "wish I had done it" incident. At the risk of disclosing my age, I have been going to Golfo Aranci for 40 years now. During one of my first visits, a combine founded by Ali Khan, the super rich guy from India, and the then sole owner of Meridiana Airlines, which had the only landing rights at the Olbia airport,was looking for investors in the venture of the development of the Costa Smeralda. The combine was looking for investments in the amount of $5000 per unit. I should have bought one at 5 grand. That five thousand dollar (US) investment is worth TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS today!

"nowhere on earth can you see such beautiful coast lines and absolutely pure water" The coastline is nice on the Costa Smeralda, I agres, as Nat Geog (not me) said the way the coast has been developed isn't to everyone's taste . Anyway this thread makes clear that opinions differ on the Costa Smeralda, so you can choose. Have a nice time, ciao Peter

Waldo loves CS, I love CS but I think "nowhere on earth can you see such beautiful coast lines and absolutely pure water" goes a little far.

26°32′22″N 76°57′32″W

is good

20°03′37″S 148°52′27

is the best!

In a way Olbia can be pretty charming and there are some great beaches right which can be reached by bus or taxi. The greatest beach from experience is at Santa Teresa di Gallura. There are some great, more wild places on that South West coastline.
Btw here is a Northern Sardinia itinerary:
http://www.howdyfrom.com/viewitinera...-northern-part

hi,i'm from sardinia and i think that you've a wrong idea of sardinia : the Emerald Coast is not the real Sardinia: beautiful, beautiful but built to attract tourists from luxury (yacht, golf and exclusive evenings for millionaires),but the real Sardinia, the one described as wild and genuine, is also far from the sea,especially from those coasts.
Your choice depends on what you're trying to correct: discos, parties and noise between haughty millionaires or hidden corner of paradise where you can meet nature (sea, but also mountain, forests, parks), jobs and ancient traditions, archeology (nuraghes of about 3000-4000 years or mines that were active until the last century), unique foods and a lot of hospitality by the common people, the Sardinians, who certainly do not live near the Emerald Coast .........

We are keen to stay between Alghero and Cagliari at a great beach . It will be in July any suggestions appreciated

I suggest you have a look around Bosa - it's a charming town with a nearby beach that is evidently very clear and sheltered.

It always depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. NIP interested in VIP choose Costa Smeralda, NIP fine with their being NIP choose to have an amzing holidays for the sea and they drive far from there. If you are looking for clear waters and white sand you have to stay in Villasimius. On the Villasimius Tourism Association Official Website www.villasimius.org/en you will find all info to arrange a travel, maps, itineraries and accommodation.

Wombat: It might be better to start your own thread rather than tacking on to this two year old one . . .

I think Sardinia is big enough to host people interested in the Emerald Coast and people interested in tradition and culture ...if I were the tourism Minister of Sardinia, I'd promote a variety of events all year round ... in the north and in the south, in the east or in the west in order to discover Sardinia during the winter...that should be the greatest challenge for Sardinia