Page 174 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

172  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS
WHERE TO STAY

The legendary allure of Sardinia’s beaches of reliable family-run lodgings. On the
has resulted in a boom in tourist facilities, eastern coast, comfortable and well-
especially along the coast, and visitors equipped tourist villages are easily found,
can now choose from a wide range of many offering self-catering as an option.
hotels and holiday villages. The exclusive The interior has some excellent hotels,
and world-famous hotels built on the especially in the Gennargentu and Barbagia
Costa Smeralda in the early 1960s cater areas, where travellers can also take
to the wealthy, but less expensive advantage of organized excursions.
accommodation is also available. Luxury For further information, listings and
hotels and resorts are common in the descriptions of hotels, farm holidays
south, while the western coast offers plenty and tourist villages, see pages 174–9.

Holiday Villages
bars and restaurants. Many
Sardinia’s wide variety of holiday villages also offer an
holiday villages, mostly on or excellent range of equipment
near the coast range from vast for water sports.
establishments with hundreds Renting an apartment in a
of rooms and good facilities holiday village is a worthwhile
and service, to smaller places, alternative to renting a villa,
which may be more luxurious especially if you plan to be on
and expensive. The larger holiday for less than a month.
holiday villages offer more than It allows you to be independent
one type of lodging within a while at the same time giving
single site. Guests can often you access to a range of useful
choose between a serviced services and facilities. At
apartment (residence) or a Villaggio Cugnana Verde,
normal three-or four-star hotel. for example, there are flats
Some tourist villages offer all- available for up to six people,
inclusive packages that may and a host of activities is
even include drinks at the bar. provided on site. Other holiday
The Club Hotel Torre Moresca at Cala Tourist villages often require villages include Park Hotel
Ginepro, Orosei (see p177) guests to take half- or full- & Spa Cala di Lepre, Baia di
board, as do many hotels on Conte Thomson and more.
Grades of Hotel the island. In some resorts
As in the rest of Italy, hotels guests may choose to rent a Bed and Breakfasts
in Sardinia are graded using a self-catering apartment or
star-rating system, which runs bungalow with the option of Staying in a bed and breakfast
from one star for minimum other amenities. These services is an excellent way to save
comfort to five stars for luxury usually include the use of sports money and interact with the
accommodation. The four-star facilities and entertainment, locals. Usually, about three rooms
category offers first-class such as a disco or nightclub, a are rented out per apartment
service without the very babysitter, beach facilities, or villa, with either a shared
high prices of five-star hotels. swimming pool and various or private bathroom, and
Three-star lodgings, especially
family-run establishments,
sometimes offer better value
for your money, but in Sardinia
this is generally the exception
rather than the rule.
Most Sardinian hotels
also have a restaurant that is
usually open to non-residents
as well. The majority of hotels,
whatever their category,
provide a range of facilities.
Along the coast, for example,
hotels are likely to offer beach
equipment such as umbrellas
and deckchairs. Elegant setting at Hotel Colonna San Marco, Porto Rotondo (see p179)
Beautiful terrace with outdoor seating at a restaurant in Sardinia

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