Italy is one of my favourite places so when I found out I would be travelling to Sardinia to stay in Forte Village, I was super excited! Forte Village is one of the World's Leading Resorts and after spending 3 days there, I can see why.
Day 1
We arrived at the resort and were all instantly blown away by how beautiful it was. We were greeted with big smiles and champagne whilst our suitcases were being taken to our rooms ready for when we checked in. We were staying in Hotel II Castello in beautiful balcony rooms, I could not believe how lucky I was once I saw my view! After getting settled in, we met at the Pizzeria for lunch, where we were treated to every pizza on the menu; each pizza is made fresh in wood stove ovens.
A very full belly later, we then had a tour of the resort and all the accommodation they had to offer. From classic hotel rooms to private bungalows to 4-bedroom villas, Forte Village really does have something for everyone. We also explored the facilities available, including the football academy partnered with Real Madrid, the entertainment piazza and the shops ranging from high-end designer to handmade goods. In the evening, we then went for dinner at Le Dune, a stunning a la carte restaurant right on the beach. We enjoyed sampling Sardinian Cuisine and drinking local wines whilst in awe of the magnificent view.
Day 2
After a wonderful night's sleep, we started day 2, having breakfast at Cavalieri, the restaurant next to our hotel. The perfect start to our day indulging in buffet style breakfast: Fresh fruits, pastries, eggs made to order and so much more. We then set off to spend the morning at the Aquaforte Spa to try Thalassotherapy which consists of 6 Sardinian seawater pools. The first 2 pools contained aloe vera and oils mixed in with the saltwater, making it easy to float with no effort. The next was one nicknamed 'heavenly legs' and was a maze of boiling hot into freezing cold water which is what athletes use to ease their muscles, this was easily the favourite of the day! We then enjoyed the rest of the pools with salt lined floors and waterjets designed for releasing muscle tension. The spa was a wonderful experience and would cost guests 120 euros for the full day. We were back to the pizzeria for lunch and enjoyed a well needed meal after our morning of relaxing in the spa.
Before we knew it, we were suited and booted ready for our next activity, Go-Karting. We were racing around the 0.5km track in an adrenalin filled afternoon to make it to the finals. I ended up coming 4th which I was thrilled with after completing the course in 41 seconds! Guests can enjoy the go-karting academy and have lessons with professional drivers and experts.
We ended day 2 eating at the beautiful Sardinian restaurant, serving traditional Sardinian cuisine and pastas made from scratch. We sampled many dishes including gnocchi, ravioli and sea bass, all with their own Sardinian spin. Whichever restaurant we were dining in our wine glasses never went empty, the staff were so friendly and accommodating throughout the entire resort. In the peak season, they have over 1200 staff working at Forte Village to ensure guests are most satisfied with their stay.
Day 3
An early start today as me and some of my colleagues woke up early to watch the sunrise, which always rises on the beach. Despite the 5:30am start, I am so glad I did it as it was absolutely stunning and was the perfect start to our final full day in paradise. For breakfast we were back at Cavalieri for another buffet breakfast. This restaurant has a live pianist play during breakfast hours, which creates such a lovely atmosphere. We got to spend the morning sunbathing on the beach and some of us were brave enough to go for a swim in the sea, which is still a bit chilly at this time of year but very refreshing.
We then had to cook our own lunch, as we were partaking in their Gourmet Cooking Academy where we made our own wood oven pizzas. This was a really fun experience making pizza with their Italian chefs, who make over 400 pizzas a day throughout summer! The best part of course was eating our creations. They are all about their food and cooking at Forte Village, and they are home to 3 Michelin star chefs who do live cooking demonstrations throughout the season. It was back to the beach in the afternoon to relax a bit more before we decided to try out the waterslides at the aquapark. There are 6 slides, a children's area and a laned swimming pool where they hold their swimming academy.
Our final evening began with wine tasting at the Wine Bar hosted by head sommelier Sofia, we tried a variety of reds, whites and roses all produced in Sardinia. Then it was onto dinner at the Brazilian Restaurant. This was probably the group favourite. The restaurant is overlooking the Oasis Pool and had a vast menu that we got to try. The food was served to us on a large kebab stick which definitely provided the wow factor. To finish the night, we all went to the Piazza to watch the live entertainment. A band was on playing a range of songs in both English and Italian and we sang and danced the night away.
Day 4
Today it was sadly time to say goodbye, we enjoyed one last breakfast at Cavalieri before heading back to the airport for our flight home. On our way to the airport we had a quick visit to Palazzo Doglio, Forte Village's sister hotel based in central Cagliari. The perfect spot if you are after a city break, offering luxury amenities throughout your stay. The hotel boasts a popular restaurant and bar in the area and has a lively atmosphere. A short drive from the airport and only 15 minutes from the old town, this hotel is in a perfect location if you are looking for a city break in Sardinia.
I am so fortunate to have experienced Forte Village and all it has to offer; it is somewhere I would recommend in a heartbeat and would love to return in the future! If you have any questions about my trip you contact me on my email a href="mailto: [email protected]"> [email protected], or come in and see me in our Chippenham store
