Enjoy all that Sardinia has to offer, fusing elegance and modern Italian charm to give guests a unique luxury experience surrounded by nature, without the formalities of a traditional 5-star resort.
Sardinia is one of those stunning European destinations that makes it onto most bucket lists, and we were no exception. We had wanted to visit for so long! For those who don’t know much about Sardinia, let me explain… It’s a remote island off the coast of Italy, featuring everything from picturesque views of sprawling coastlines and limestone cliffs to some of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen! As its right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, we expected a laid back vibe (similar to Greece) yet with all the Italian influence we love, and that is exactly what we got!
Our hotel, Valle dell’Erica was located right on the water (about an hour from the airport) on sprawling, immaculate grounds. Its exterior resembled charming Italian villas, dotted with pristine turquoise infinity pools, lush grass and bays, and 360 degree views of the ocean.
“Its exterior resembled charming Italian villas, dotted with pristine turquoise infinity pools, lush grass and bays, and 360 degree views of the ocean. ”
Hotel Valle dell’Erica was opened in 1958 by owner Anton Paolo Vincentilli, who elected to build a resort in this strategic spot to maximize exclusivity, privacy and beauty all in one place. Known for hosting elite guests such as kings and princes for extended vacations, Hotel Valle dell’Erica now boasts guests from around the world who seek an Italian paradise with all the modern comforts.
In 2013, Delphina Hotels fully refurbished the existing structure to ensure that its design was paralleled with its features and comfort. They are the leading hospitality brand in Northern Sardinia and have 11 resorts throughout the island.
“Hotel Valle dell’Erica was opened in 1958 by owner Anton Paolo Vincentilli, who elected to build a resort in this strategic spot to maximize exclusivity, privacy and beauty all in one place. ”
The hotel itself is stunning, surrounded by 1,400 meters of coastline and nestled in 28 hectares of a private park that’s rich with plants and wildlife. When you arrive, you know you’re in the wilderness, but have the beach at your doorstep- the best of both worlds. It’s open, bright and airy, with trails leading from one villa to the next, speckled by inlets of white sand beaches.
The overall decor of Hotel Valle dell’Erica has a modern but coastal vibe, with subtle beachy tones and pops of color to draw your eye. White washed walls, natural earthy wood floors and classic and crisp white bedding are featured in the suites.
“The hotel itself is stunning, surrounded by 1,400 meters of coastline and nestled in 28 hectares of a private park that’s rich with plants and wildlife. ”
We love traveling with our son Axel, so we stayed in the Senior Family Suite — which was perfect for us! It of course had all the wonderful amenities you’d expect, and also had a spacious seating area indoors, as well as an outdoor patio. (This was a great feature to enjoy while Axel napped.)
The room was an open concept space with a plush bed, living room and even a sofa bed. It’s simply but elegantly styled with natural wood furniture, thick plank flooring, sleek white bedding featuring a colorful, intricately patterned headboard. Our room was so airy and light, and had almost an entire wall dedicated to a glass sliding door for ultimate beach views.
It was amazing to have a beach view villa to unwind and escape the daily grind. But, the property is huge and features plenty of restaurants and bars, so there’s never a shortage of things to do.
Since we now have to think about Axel, hotels that feature kid activities are great. The Baby Club, known as Ericaland, was incredible! While Axel was too young at the time for us to be able to drop him off, he still got to run and play with the kids for a bit. They offer a full-range of services for babies and children of all ages. There are indoor and outdoor play areas, playscapes, a theater, parks to explore, and a supervised creative space for kids to put their imaginations to work.
This is also an amazing feature because they’re thought of everything! Not only is there plenty to do and see for the kids, Ericaland is equipped with its very own pizzeria and wood-fired oven to keep the kids tummies happy. If your kids are younger, they also offer a nap room, nursery, and bottle-prep area that features changing tables, sterilized equipment and even bottle warmers. If you need it, they have it.
For the older kids, they offer sports such as volleyball, football, golf, and hockey. Finally, they even have water sport activities such as canoeing, swimming, and more. Seriously, whatever your kid is into, they'll find it here. This is such as thoughtful feature for parents and I highly recommend you pay this area a visit if you’re traveling with kids!
If the children’s activities were any indicator, there is plenty to do at Hotel Valle dell’Erica. We started out our days by roaming the property and exploring all the different winding trails. We never took the same path twice! No matter where you are on the property, the views are incredible.
We visited in April, so the weather wasn’t on our side in terms of swimming in the ocean, but it was still just as beautiful, even on rainy days. We also visited the surrounding villages during the day since we rented a car for this trip. At night, we’d have an Aperativo watch Axel and listen to live music and relax. Once he was in bed, it was time to make our dinner selection- there are so many to choose from! But, more on that later.
Being a 5-star resort, they also offer a fully-equipped gym, spa services, and numerous excursions- including the Corsica minicruise which takes you around the archipelago in a motorboat! Or, there’s a sailing ship and boat charter if that’s more your speed. For the adventurous types, they offer deep sea fishing excursions and a Tour of Gallura, which takes guests from the hotel to the slopes of Mount Limbara. The tour showcases archaeological sites, historic buildings and the largest ethnographic museum in Sardinia.
The cuisine at this resort was supreme, but our favorite restaurants were Nautilus and Grecale. We loved to have lunch at Grecale, where the menu was seemingly always changing but always dished up traditional Mediterranean and Sardinian fare of fresh fish and island specialties. We often dined at Nautilus for breakfast and/or dinner, where the views were breathtaking. This is their main restaurant which overlooks both the sea and the infinity pool.
They offer 10 restaurants in total, ranging from exclusive romantic spots that are intended to be enjoyed barefoot on the sand by candlelight, to swim-up snack bars and children’s pizzerias. Wherever you choose to dine, you’ll be indulging in tasty Gallura specialities made with fresh ingredients.
When you check in for your stay, they will provide you with an agenda of the restaurants, so you know which ones to check out and when!
“We loved to have lunch at Grecale, where the menu was seemingly always changing but always dished up traditional Mediterranean and Sardinian fare of fresh fish and island specialties. ”
This is a stunning property with so much to see and do, We loved the idea that we could all get the most out of our vacation as a family. They offered all of the amenities you could dream of, while also offering an amazing kids program that kept Axel entertained and happy.
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