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 and 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.
To help you make the most of your holiday and ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip, please take a look at our A-Z of heath & safety tips.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol before swimming and try to avoid drinking when sunbathing as this will dehydrate you further. Never drink alcohol if you are driving a car as it is illegal and any accident will not be covered by your insurance. The alcohol limits for driving a car in Italy are much lower than the UK and are rigorously enforced by the authorities. Police are at liberty to randomly breath test any driver, so we recommend that you do not drive if you have recently consumed any alcohol. Please also remember that you may still be over the legal limit the morning after you have consumed alcohol in the evening.
Balconies
If you are travelling with young children, never leave them unsupervised on balconies. Keep balcony furniture away from the railings so that they are not encouraged to climb up and pay particular attention if the railings are horizontal.
Barbecues
During high season (July and August) the island is extremely dry. If your accommodation has a barbecue, please make sure that it is located well away from any foliage and NEVER leave it unattended. Always use barbecue coal and never use wood. Make sure that it is extinguished after use and never put hot ashes in interior or plastic rubbish bins. We ask that you refrain from using the barbecue when it is windy, even if there are no trees around. Please clean the barbecue after use.
Bathrooms
Few properties provide non-slip mats in their baths and showers. As bathrooms in Sardinia are often tiled, please take extra care so that you do not slip. Please also take care with hot water, as on occasion, the hot water can be scalding hot. Particular care should be taken when bathing or showering children.
Driving
Roads have improved in Sardinia over recent years but many are minor roads in a poorer state of repair than would be expected in the UK. Please drive very carefully, especially at first, as it may take you some time before you feel comfortable driving. Extra care will need to be taken for guests staying in properties accessed by unmade roads. Stay alert as it is not unknown to encounter cows, pigs or other animals in the middle of the road, especially at night when they are not easily visible. Drive well on the right hand side, remembering that minor, narrow roads may be unmarked but are still two-way and bridges are often single lanes.
Remember that when rain occurs after a long dry period, the roads can become extremely slippery so always exercise caution. Unless otherwise indicated, a speed limit of 50km/h applies in built up areas. Outside built up areas and on single carriageway main roads, speed limits are 90km/h (80km/h in wet conditions), and on the few dual carriageways on the island, 110km/h (100km/h in wet conditions).
Random police checks are quite common, as are breath tests. Always have your documentation to hand (driving licence, identification, rental car contract, insurance documents for the vehicle), wear your seatbelt and never drink and drive (0.05% blood alcohol concentration is the legal limit and fines can reach €500 and possible imprisonment). Do not use your mobile phone whilst driving, you could incur an on the spot fine.
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, it’s not unusual to experience power cuts although these generally only last for an hour or two. It is also quite likely that the trip switch in your property will be activated if you have several appliances running at the same time. Please remember to pack plug adaptors for any small electrical appliances you take with you.
Emergency numbers
In the unlikely event of an emergency, the emergency telephone numbers are listed below.
Please note that some operators may not speak English so if you are experiencing difficulties our representatives will be more than happy to help you.
- Fire 115
- Ambulance 118
- Police 113
- SOS 112*
*This number can be called from international mobiles. SOS will then contact the appropriate emergency service.
Should someone in your party require urgent medical attention you should always contact your representative and travel insurance company as soon as possible.
Gardens
Please ensure that you supervise your children around the gardens and land within your property. As you are all unfamiliar with the terrain, take extra care to note the position of any unprotected drops.
Glass panels
Villas are not legally obliged to install ‘toughened’ or safety glass in their windows, doors, glass cabinets etc. Please take particular care when walking through patio doors, as in bright sunlight it can be difficult to spot whether they are opened or closed.
Insects and reptiles
There are a variety of insects and reptiles on the island which you may not be familiar with at home. The vast majority are harmless but some may give a bite or sting that can cause discomfort. In such cases the local pharmacy should sell pain relief. Please try not to leave food out, especially sweet items, as these can encourage ants, field mice and other such ‘pests’. Open doors and windows, except when netted, are an open invitation to mosquitoes – especially at night.
Smoking
All our properties are non-smoking. Please take care when smoking outside and particularly when discarding matches and cigarettes using the ashtrays provided. Never throw a cigarette end carelessly within the grounds or outside, especially near trees and plants. Never throw cigarettes out of the car window.
Sunloungers and deckchairs
When using sunloungers and deckchairs, please ensure that they are properly set up before use. Please also avoid placing the furniture near perimeter walls as children could use them to climb over. For your own hygiene we recommend that you always use your own beach towel when sunbathing and place on top of the lounger/mattress.
Swimming pools
Please pay attention to the signage and rules of the swimming pool in your hotel. Please ensure that children and non-swimmers are never left unsupervised, whether at your private pool or at a hotel. We recommend that you familiarise yourselves with the pool features before taking a swim. Please inform your representative or the hotel reception if you have any concerns about the water in the pool.
Please remember:
- Do not dive into water less than 1.5m deep and never dive from decorative features.
- Make yourselves aware of the deep and shallow ends of the pool and of any underwater slopes.
- Take care when walking around the pool, as the surrounds are often slippery when wet.
- Never swim after consuming alcohol.
- Do not take drinks to the poolside unless they are in unbreakable containers.
- Do not tamper with the filter covers or any pool machinery.
Water and water supplies
We recommend that you use bottled water, which is inexpensive and readily available. Remember, it is important to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Although local water resources are usually sufficient, if the weather has been exceptionally hot and dry supplies can be in high demand and restrictions do have to be imposed by the local authority. Many of our rural properties have a private well and so it is important to be economical with water at all times. In the event of your water supply being stopped please contact your representative or ask at reception, and they will advise of the duration of the cut.