Day 1 - Arrival in Sardinia
Our trip started with an early morning flight from Gatwick to Sardinia. A short flight of 2.5 hours to Cagliari. We were met at the airport by our transfers who whisked us off to our resort of Forte Village which was about 40 minutes away. Once at the resort we were taken to the Hotel Castello by golf buggy. We relaxed in the lounge area with prosecco and nibbles whilst waiting to be shown to our rooms. From the minute we arrived the level of service was exceptional. We were all staying in the same area of the hotel overlooking the sea. Our Executive rooms were well appointed and spacious with a beautiful bathroom. Each room had a spacious balcony which overlooked the sea.
After a quick freshen up we headed off on our tour of the resort where we visited many of the properties and saw different room types, bungalows and villas. There is accommodation to meet everyone’s needs from more family friendly properties to those wanting total privacy in their own villa.
During the tour we saw many facilities that the resort had to offer. From sport activities with rugby pitches, football pitches, tennis courts and swimming pools. For children there is whole wonderland such as the Barbie House, Mario Village, children’s theatre, swimming pools and much more. Around the resort there are activities for the whole family to enjoy such as go-karting, ten pin bowling. For adults, you can visit the Thalasso spa and wellness area. The spa has so many treatments to choose from.
I was very impressed with the number of bars and restaurants around the resort. So much choice. In the evening, we had our meal at Le Dune restaurant which overlooks the sea. It is fish speciality restaurant. The service was excellent, and the food was presented beautifully. Everything looked beautiful and tasted divine.
Day 2 - At the spa and Go-Karting
I was really looking forward to today as we were visiting the Aquaforte Thalasso and spa. On our arrival we were shown around the many treatment areas, seating areas, saunas and gym. This really differed from any other spa I had previously visited as it was surrounded by nature which made it all that more relaxing.
We were able to experience the different temperature and saline density pools during our 90 minutes. All pools are set within beautiful gardens. The six pools were seawater pools, and each pool had a different feel to the last. The first few were warm and contained a lot of salt. This led to a few funny moments where we suddenly started to float due to the salt content. The next set of pools were cooler and refreshing. Some of the pools had Jacuzzi style jets that massaged your feet, back and neck.
I think my favourite was pool three. This had an unusual floor; it was covered in salt. It had buckets of salt that you could rub on your skin, a very different experience. Everyone said that after the 90 minutes, they felt so relaxed and rejuvenated. Anyone visiting the Forte Village must visit the spa, it was one of the highlights of my stay.
After feeling totally chilled and calm, we went for lunch in the pizzeria where we were able to choose from the A La Carte menu. Beautiful food in stunning surroundings overlooking the sea. The salad bar there was like nothing I had experienced before. There was so much choice and the bowls that were filled with your choices were huge! The selection of deserts and ice-cream were stunning. What more could you want?
The afternoon had a totally different feel to the morning. We were picked up by the golf buggies and headed off towards the go-karting track. On the way we stopped at one of the many villas in the resort. Villa Mariam is a stunning 4-bedroom villa with a huge pool and is the picture of elegance. What a place to stay, truly incredible!
Off to the go-karting track. I was a little apprehensive as I hadn’t done it before, but I have to say it thoroughly enjoyed it. We were split into groups of 6 and each had timed laps around the track. The fastest six then entered the final. The whole experience was great fun. If you stay at Forte Village, this is something that you could experience. The go-karting experience is suitable for children age 7 and over.
Our evening meal was at the Sardinian restaurant. As we went into the restaurant, we were greeted by two Sardinian ladies who were making pasta, they were dressed in traditional Sardinian costumes. A choice of fish or meat tonight with authentic Sardinian dishes. To finish the evening, we watched a demonstration of making nougat after which we tasted it; delicious.
Day 3 - Enjoying the resort and Pizza Making
The day started with a leisurely breakfast as we had lots of free time to explore the resort. The open aired restaurant Cavalieri is a very tranquil place to have breakfast. While you eat you have a pianist playing. You are surrounded by lush gardens and have an array of foods to choose from. The staff are so attentive here and are at hand if you need anything.
Today I decided to have a walkaround the whole resort, exploring the many areas at my leisure. There is an abundance of pools at Forte Village, and I decided to try a few out. There is so much choice from the exhilarating waterpark pools to the serene pools dotted around the resort. Truly spoilt for choice!!!
Whilst walking around the resort I was blown away by the beautiful, manicured plants, trees and flowers. The stunning smell of Jasmine was around every corner. The resort has a wealth of shopping, many designer brands are located within the resort. After my morning walk around the resort, I stopped for a drink at the sports bar, this area has football pitches, basketball courts and large screens where you can watch sports whilst sipping on your favourite cocktail.
We all met at lunchtime at the pizzeria, where we were given our aprons and chefs hats to have our own masterclass in making pizzas. We split into smaller groups and were guided by the wonderful Luigi who showed us what to do. This experience was exceptionally fun and worth doing.
My afternoon was spent soaking up the sun on the beach, I walked the full length of the beach and enjoyed the spectacular scenery. The white powdery sand is pristine. The beaches in this resort stretch for miles. Castello Hotel is only a short distance from the beach so made my way to the hotel pool before returning to my room. It was so calm and quiet in this pool area with exceptionally comfortable sunbeds. I would highly recommend it.
On the way to dinner, we stopped off for a wine tasting experience at the wine bar. The Sommelier explained about the different wines we would be sampling. We tried a range of white, rose and red wines from around the region. On the table were olives, cheese, meats and bread to accompany our wines. Tonight’s evening meal was in the Brazilian restaurant. Here you can enjoy delicious meats spit roasted over a charcoal grill with potato slices and rice. All the meats were delicious, so much food to enjoy. The restaurant had a lovely, relaxed atmosphere.
Day 4 - Check out of Forte Village and visit to Palazzo Doglio Cagliari
This morning, we had breakfast in La Dune restaurant which had beautiful views over the beach. This was a buffet breakfast where you could enjoy a wide range of foods such as pastries, cereals, fruit, cold meats and cheeses plus you could order freshly made omelettes or eggs benedict.
Following breakfast everyone checked out of the hotel, our luggage was collected and taken to the main reception. We were collected from Castello hotel by the golf buggies and said our goodbyes to the staff at the main reception area. We were greeted by our friendly transfer cars and whisked off to Cagliari in convey where we were lucky enough to view the Hotel Palazzo Doglio. This is a popular stop for people combining a stay at Forte Village with the hotel in the City of Cagliari. Some guests will stay for 1 or 2 nights before leaving Sardinia as it close to the airport. The hotel is only a five-minute stroll to the main historical old town of Cagliari. After visiting the Hotel in Cagliari, we headed off to the airport for our return flight back with EasyJet to Gatwick.
I have to say, I was blown away with the Forte Village Sardinia, it has so much to offer in such beautiful surroundings. I will definitely be returning to Sardinia; it is such a special place. The service levels are exceptional and the resort is world class in my opinion with what it has to offer.
If you have any other questions about my trip and want to chat about all that the resort has to offer, pop into the Cirencester branch or send me an email to [email protected] I would love to share more details about my amazing trip.
