We're going to Italy in late September/early October for a friend's wedding in Positano. We're flying into and out of Naples and will tour around Italy on our own before the wedding. We have four days afterward (six, really, but I figure two of those will be taken up with travel). I want to go to Sardinia for the four days but I'm having trouble deciding where to go. We enjoy beaches, kayaking, sailing (if someone else is piloting the boat), great food, hiking, wildlife and archaeology. (I dive and would love to dive there but I don't want to devote a day of our trip to that just for me.) We're not really Costa Smeralda types, although I'm attracted to that area for the beauty and the (probably) good food, and it would be the off season so I haven't completely ruled it out. Any advice on whether to fly into Alghero, Olbia, or Cagliari and the best ways to spend our four days in one of those areas gratefully accepted. Thanks for any help.

I'd definitely stay between Santa Teresa and Olbia.

Yes, in August ....it is what it is.

Out of season, you have the best seascapes in Europe, day trips to Corsica and La Maddalenas.

Here is our trip report, based on 8 days, October 2018. Sardinia! You Gotta Go!! 8 nights. October

We focused less on beaches, but saw some good ones near Cagliari, a fairly large city with great food near the waterfront. Alghero was the more quaint town of the lot. The island is beautiful, rural and large.

If it was me, I'd stay in Santa Teresa, enjoy the small town and beach and explore Capo Testa. As well, do a day trip to Bonifacio on Corsica (France but a short ferry ride away, take passports!). We did all this a few years ago, flew in to Olbia and drove to Santa Teresa for a few days. We also stayed in Alghero and flew out of there but we had ten days. With four days, I'd stay in one place and relax.

Thanks, everyone! After posting this, I saw another post asking about Sardinia and as soon as I discovered that Santa Teresa was the place to be for making a day trip to Corsica--and looked beautiful, to boot--my decision was made. I've booked airfare, found an agriturismo, and now just need to reserve a car. Thanks for confirming my decision.

You will not go wrong with that, the beaches on Cala di Volpe are very, very busy in season, we had to queue for a space in August - outside high season they are stunning and empty. Where did you book to stay?

Santa Teresa is lovely and sleepy out of season.

Olbia airport is where I finally fell out of love with Italy after many, many trips. Italian business culture can be "different". I had a long and heated argument over car hire , 4 years ago. Haven't been back to Italy since as it was indicative of the 25 years of many petty incidents where Italian businesses tried to be sharp. Do miss Sardinia in September though. both for the peace and the sea.

It is really interesting to see the different summer culture of Italy and France. Sardinia can be quite low key and family driven, meals at the villa. I've visited Bonifacio twice, I have a house in France and know the French like to party in summer. Bonifacio can be a PARTY town , particularly down on the marina.

Try to get to Garibaldi's final house - it's in La Maddalena, interesting and he never gave up fighting and ended up having shooting matches with his neighbour over bits of land.

I booked us a room at Agriturismo La Tana di Lu Maccioni but am open to suggestions. It looked nice, though, and we've never stayed at a gite or agriturismo-type place before. I do hope to get to La Maddalena, although supposedly it's harder to get to in the off season (fewer ferries, I guess). Do you have any car rental advice? (And are you in the Turks and Caicos? I've wanted to go there for a long time but we keep going back to Cayman because we love the dive operator we go to there.)

The ferries are fine , it’s working town and needs to be serviced. Maybe twice a day rather than every hour.

We usually rented villas as we love our own pace. Car hire advice - none needed really just a small car with a reputable company. Our issue was with an individual trying to overcharge.

Provo - yes, but that was some time ago. It’s an odd place , like many places in the Caribbean. Probably more space than the Caymans, the resorts are becoming very expensive- they charge it if people will pay it. The seascapes are extraordinary, some of the best in the world. The reef has some excellent diving as do some of the more deserted spots, West Caicos is a day trip and very special. We loved paddle boarding (hate paddle boarding) but in the mangrove systems they are perfect. The mangroves are a nursery for many species, the water is very, very clear and it actually makes some of the best possible snorkelling - many juvenile nurse and lemon sharks. You don’t have to try hard - I had my best experience ever - snorkelling off the tourist beach (Grace Bay) on the tourist reef ....had a 15ft Tiger shark amble up and then amble off. Never experienced anything like it.

If you like the sea, messing about in boats, diving you’ll not better The Out Islands of the Bahamas ....very laid back and 800 islands to escape to. God I hate Covid ...we can’t even transit through The States at the moment. The only way to get out there - is the way our British pro footballers do - on a transatlantic private jet and that is out of my league!