We've put together an A-Z guide of useful information which will help answer common questions often asked by our customers before travelling to Sardinia. We hope you find this helpful.
If you have any other questions that are not covered in this section, please do not hesitate to contact our reservations team on 0845 330 2049 or email your question to us »
Access to properties
Self-catering: Due to the time needed to clean and inspect the properties, access to your self-catering accommodation cannot be allowed until 4pm. For guests who arrive earlier, luggage can be dropped at the property but, under no circumstances, can guests stay in the garden or by the pool area until the property is ready. On departure day, guests must vacate their accommodation by 10am. Hotels: check in times are usually between 2pm and 3pm, check out times between 11am and 12 noon on departure day.
Time difference
Sardinia is 1 hour ahead of the U.K.
Air-conditioning
Electricity in Sardinia is very expensive and most of our villas are metered for its use. In order to limit excessive usage, some of our property owners charge locally for the use of air-conditioning and according to the guests’ exact consumption during their stay. Guests should expect to pay an average of 60€ per a/c unit per week – more accurate guidelines can be obtained for each property, please call us for details. Air-conditioning should be used sensibly: the units should be turned off whenever guests leave their properties and shutters should be closed during the hottest part of the day.
Access to properties
Self-catering: Due to the time needed to clean and inspect the properties, access to your self-catering accommodation cannot be allowed until 4pm. For guests who arrive earlier, luggage can be dropped at the property but, under no circumstances, can guests stay in the garden or by the pool area until the property is ready. On departure day, guests must vacate their accommodation by 10am. Hotels: check in times are usually between 2pm and 3pm, check out times between 11am and 12 noon on departure day.
Barbecue
If a property has a barbecue we note this in the accommodation facilities. As the heat of the summer months often provokes fires, barbecues should be used sensibly and are actually officially prohibited, though tolerated, due to the heightened fire risk in the drier summer months.
Bedrooms
Please note that no two bedrooms in any of our properties are even in terms of decor, style, size and position. Master bedrooms are considered superior to all other bedrooms – when choosing a property for a group of friends make sure you agree who will have the master suite before arrival!
Breakage deposit
Guests are asked to care for their accommodation as if it were their own home. Some properties require a security deposit to cover any breakages, damage, losses or extra cleaning which guests may have incurred during your holiday. If a deposit is required, you will be notified verbally at the time of booking and in writing, on your confirmation invoice and travel documents.
Building works
As part of their development, some resorts can experience local building work. We are unable at times to predict when and where building works will occur, as these are carried out by third parties over whom we have no control. Whenever we are aware that building works may occur during your stay, we will advise you before departure as we appreciate the inconvenience that such work may cause. Whilst we endeavour to do our best, alternative accommodation may not always be possible, especially in high season.
Cleaning
Our properties are thoroughly cleaned and checked before your arrival. We provide each of our properties with washing and dishwasher tablets, general cleaning products and bin liners. We kindly ask our guests to leave their accommodation clean and tidy. Should guests not undertake a minimal clean before departure or in the event of extra cleaning being required, a charge will be made.
Cots and highchairs
If you require a cot or a highchair, please request it prior to making your booking. Foldable highchairs and travel cots are provided free of charge in our self-catering properties. For hygiene reasons, cots are supplied without linen. Cots and highchairs can also be requested for hotel bookings – a small supplement may apply.
Decor
As properties are generally Sardinian or Italian owned, the decor may reflect the local lifestyle and the owners' taste. A dining table and chairs can be given more priority than comfortable indoor chairs, as this is more in keeping with a Mediterranean lifestyle. Floors are generally not carpeted and curtains are often decorative with shutters used to block out the light. Simpler properties can have basic kitchen facilities, should you have any special requirements please let us know.
Documentation, passports & visas
Travel documents are sent out 14 days prior to departure. For travel to Sardinia, you will need a valid passport for all members of your family. If you are a non-EU citizen, we advise you to contact the Italian Embassy for details.
Electricity
In Sardinia, the infrastructure is not as advanced as in the UK or mainland Italy, and you may find supply to be less powerful and at times intermittent. The system is unlikely to be able to cope with several electrical appliances in operation at the same time.
Health and safety
The welfare of our customers is our prime consideration and we are committed to raising the standards of health and safety in our properties and to continue to identify areas where safety can be improved. General safety regulations do vary from country to country and are often less stringent than those that we have come to expect in the UK. It is therefore important to be safety conscious and we suggest that on your arrival you familiarise yourself with your surroundings, read the information file provided, and to speak with your representative if you have any concerns. We hope that by taking these simple steps, this will help to ensure that everybody in your party has a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Internet access
Self-catering properties do not have Internet access as few have telephones. There are Internet cafés in main resorts and a number of our hotels have this facility.
Linen
Bed linen, bath and hand towels are provided on a weekly basis. In most properties, guests can expect beds to be made up on arrival. Please note that when clean linen is supplied once every week, a new set will be handed over and beds will not be made up again. Cot linen or beach towels are not provided.
Local life, wildlife and animals
When our guests are on holiday, the local population will be going about their daily business. Rural or village properties may have farming activities nearby, hunting and festivals, over which we have no control.
Most of our properties are located in the countryside, so indigenous animals and insects can be heard or seen at times. Guests should expect to hear dogs barking or a cockerel crowing at dawn time – this is part of the Sardinian way of life, unfortunately this is unavoidable and beyond our control. Mosquitoes, ants and other insects are quite common in the warmer climates and we strongly advise our guests not leave any food uncovered, to deter stray rodents and animals. Dogs and cats may wander around your property as other holidaymakers may have fed them before; they are normally docile and very friendly.
Occupancy
Only guests named on your confirmation are entitled to occupy the accommodation. Any people not appearing on the invoice will be charged locally.
Resort Facilities
We try to portray our holidays as representative for the majority of the season, during early and late season some resort facilities may be closed and in high season even the quietest towns and beaches may become busy.
Smoking
In respect for our owners and their properties, we ask our guests not to smoke inside our self-catering accommodation. A smoking ban in public places was introduced in Italy in 2005, therefore it is not possible to request smoking rooms in hotels.
Special requests
If you have any special requests regarding your holiday, please ensure they are requested at the time of booking. Your requests will be passed onto our suppliers but cannot be guaranteed.
Swimming pools
Swimming pool details are given in property descriptions, please refer to individual properties for dimensions or call us if you require further information. Pools are generally freshwater and unheated, and only a few are equipped with pool covers or fencing. Please note that dates when pools are open are subject to the weather conditions at the time of opening and closing. Pools are usually maintained and cleaned by the property owners who will try to be as discreet as possible when working around the property. In the event of bad weather or thundery conditions, pools can become cloudy quickly and dust or debris can appear, please advise your representative immediately should this occur.
Telephones
As mobile phone coverage is very good in Sardinia, only a few of our properties have telephones with lines restricted to local or emergency calls only. If you intend to use your mobile phone abroad, please ensure that it is registered for international use.
Television
If a property has a satellite television, subscription channels are not available; terrestrial and satellite television will generally be Italian. You can expect to receive one free English languages news channel.
Water
As in most Mediterranean islands, water is in short supply in Sardinia, so please use it sparingly. At times, water can be temporarily cut off as a result of high demand in the peak summer months. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink, although many people prefer to drink bottled water.
Welcome packs
All our self-catering properties are provided with a welcome hamper including basic provisions such as bread, butter, fruit, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, ham, tea, coffee, milk, jam, biscuits, bottled water, fruit juice and a bottle of wine. Should you wish to shop on arrival, the large supermarkets open all day until 9pm on Saturday whilst other shops and services might close for lunch. Most shops close on Sunday except in high season when some supermarkets open in the morning.