Sardinia itinerary (9 days)
 

We are a family of 4 (two kids 7 and 10 years old) and will have 9 days in Sardinia on our summer trip. We will spend 3 nights in Rome and then take either a flight or ferry over to Sardinia. I would love advice on how to break up the 9 days. I had thought about 5 nights in the north (near Cannigione) so that we can do a day trip to Corsica and Maddalena Islands and then 4 nights in the east (near Santa Maria) so that we can do hiking, boat trips from Arbatax, Cala Goloritze, Su Gorroppu and Golfo di Orosei..

What I'm finding though is that a lot of rentals require 7 night minimums. The resorts when you are a family of 4 are more than double the cost as when you are just a couple. So it makes sense for us to rent (VRBO or airbnb) vs paying $500+ a night at a resort. Our budget is up to $300/night and must have a pool.

Would staying 7 nights in the North part of the island be too much? and only having 2 nights in the east too little?

Thanks!

What about Capriccioli? (I prefer it to Cannigione).
http://www.residenzacapriccioli.com/

IMO Cala Gonone would be better for hiking than Sta Maria Navarrese. Both will be crowded in high season (July 16th - August 27th).

Sta Maria can be easily reached by the Civitavecchia - Arbatax night ferry.

We have visited this area on a number of occasions, the season is very short, probably only three months at best. Villa owners want to maximise their income and so one week rentals are very usual, in many cases two weeks.

There is much to do, many day trips along with simply lazing about in the stunning coastal scenery and so 7 days is in no way too much.

I have to say, you are choosing one of the most expensive areas of Europe to rent a villa with a pool. Your budget is going to be tight for high season we normally pay e1500 week for a basic 2 bed detached villa without a pool in the area just outside the Costa Smeralda.

The best idea would be to plough through homeaway and see what is suitable.

We have used immobilsarda in Santa Teresa on a couple of occasions, they have a good range and are efficient.

We've actually stayed at http://www.residenzacapriccioli.com/ and unless it has drastically renovated in the past 3 years, it is very basic. The upside is that you are on a headland with three of, what I would regard as being, the best beaches in Europe. They are a two minute walk. The down side is that in August we have literally had to queue for a towel space in the beach.

I really don't like Cannigione, I love to sail but as a base it is simply a functional marina and little else. I seem to remember that the villas are also basic.

Day trips to Bonifacio and La Maddelena are magical.

Just wondering why you really want a pool.

We stayed in Cala Gonone for 4 nights this June. While the town in itself is nice, it isn't very practical for (half) day trips because of its remote location, and the beach in Cala Gonone isn't attractive at all.

We also spent 4 nights in the north, Arzachena and we really liked it there. It's an excellent base for La Maddalena, the Costa Smeralda and Corsica. Check out Tenuta Pilastru, an agriturismo that could very well be within your budget (children 3-10 get 50% off in all seasons). You can stay there on half board basis. The food served in their restaurant is excellent.
http://www.tenutapilastru.it

Thank you!! We will be leaving Rome on June 30th and then flying from OIbia to Paris on July 9th so hopefully the 9 days in Sardinia will be before the peak of high season.

I'm leaning towards the daytime ferry to Olbia since we can rent the car from the airport there. Has anyone taken the daytime Moby or Tirennia ferry?

We found a few options with 4-5 night minimums so we are thinking of 4 nights in the East and 5 nights in the North. I will look into the options that you listed. thank you!

Anyone care to chime in on Cala di Volpe in the north? there is a complex there with rentals available that fit our budget. Or Golfo Aranci? Porto Cervo? Palau?

For the East we found a place in Lanusei; is that a good base location?

Regarding the pool, our kids love to jump in and swim around in a pool and we've found that it's a great option to have at the end of a day of hiking/sightseeing/beach.

Lanusei is a rather big mountain village with romantic, but slow (curves!) roads in all directions.
Cala di Volpe is close to Capriccioli and to many good sandy beaches easy to reach by car.
I agree with British Caicos that the Residenza Capriccioli is not as comfortable as the (more expensive) Hotel Capriccioli nearby (with a private beach).
I was in the latter in mid July 2014; there were many people on all beaches of the area, but no crowds (chairs and umbrellas were available all the day).

Thank you neckervd!! Glad to hear that mid July wasn't overly crowded and I think we will go for the place in Cala di Volpe.