Aethos Sardinia

My sister & I stayed at Villa Del Golfo in Sardinia for a sister trip away & we were extremely disappointed from the start of our trip. We will defiantly not be recommending to anyone - certainly not a five star luxurious hotel as we anticipated. Please see below a list of reasons why our trip was a disaster from start to finish. 1. Our first morning at the hotel was a disaster to be honest, we arrived & was not directed around the resort at all. We asked reception where the new pool was and the lady told us to ‘follow the stairs up’ We were lost and confused, luckily a guy driving a golf buggy showed us the new pool. We then come to find that the pool was actually shut so we had to walk all the way back down from mountains with our large beach bags and in flip flops - as you can imagine, not the easiest. 2. We then spoke to Concierge and the lady was not helpful and extremely passive aggressive. We ended up not using her for any bookings as she was very rude. 3. Regarding breakfast, there was not that many options to offer – basically just cold cured meats, fruit & some cereal options. We asked the waiter staff to see the menu for the hot options, they did not have a menu and just read out and listed options of eggs & omelette. Our first morning we asked for an iced coffee and they gave us hot coffee and then a plate of ice. The service every morning was extremely slow and we had to wait ages for condiments, for example, maple syrup - consequently resulting to our food getting cold. The orange juice tasted off and like it had sparkling water in it – we also had to wait every morning for 15-20 minutes before even being served. 4. We rung reception and asked for an iron for our clothes, they said no and that we had to pay to have our clothes ironed. Never heard of this before in any hotels I have stayed at previously. 5. The air con kept switching off all night, we had countless interrupted sleeps throughout the whole of our stay. We rung reception to see if someone could come and look at it and no one did. We then called a second time, the manager come to our room and claimed there was ‘nothing wrong with the air con’ Our mini fridge & tv did not work in the room either. 6. The bedroom was not sound proof, we were constantly woken up 7. We rung reception and asked for an iron for our clothes, they said no and that we had to pay to have our clothes ironed. Never heard of this before in any hotels I have stayed at previously. 8. The lunch pool menu has 3 dishes to offer which were all pre-made and unappetising – we tried but couldn’t actually eat the food as it was so bad. There wasn’t actually any pool side snacks / service around the pool at all – which you expect at a 5 star hotel. 9. We asked for a hot chocolate and it was heated actual chocolate in a small cup. 10. The staff were so rude, not helpful & very passive aggressive. When we complained to the manager on our second day, he did nothing to resolve it. Above were a few of the many reasons why we were very disappointed with our stay at the hotel & overall trip to be honest. We will defiantly not be recommending to anyone - certainly not a five star luxurious hotel as we anticipated & what is advertised on their website.

There are so many good things that I can say about this hotel. While we were there (for two weeks) the pool area was perfect for us. Big enough to have a swim, kept very clean - and the view! Just gorgeous. There were only about 18 sun beds set up around the pool (some of which were cabana style) and they were spread out, so it felt very relaxing and uncluttered. A really tranquil area to sit out in. The staff were exceptional too. At the front desk, the concierge, the restaurant and bar staff, the cleaners and drivers - all so polite, friendly and helpful. Grazie a tutti! (We try to speak Italian when in Italy, and the staff were very patient and accommodating as we did our best.) The breakfast was possibly the best breakfast I've had in an Italian hotel. Beautifully laid out, with a huge amount of choice - fruit, yoghurt, pastries, meats, cheese, breads - and you could have eggs too. Sitting outside to eat - you had that same beautiful view - such a relaxing way to start the day. Lunches too had that same relaxing vibe. We didn't eat in the restaurant at night, but chose to walk the 15 mins or so into Cannigione - a nice walk along the front. There's a lovely infinity pool in the hotel grounds, but it's up a bit of a hill, and as we were there when the weather was (over)heating up we stayed at the lower pool. The rooms are situated up a hill, so if you do book, it's worth checking where your room will be - if you have any concerns about hills. We still had a few steps to go up, and we were quite low down, but it was good exercise. You do have to ask the concierge or reception for information about excursions, suggested activities etc - but they are really helpful when you do. We did the yacht day trip, which was very relaxing. We also went to the nearby beach (the hotel will drive you along and pick you up) and it was fine. A little bit stoney, but nothing horrific. And we got the full Italian experience - surrounded by Italian families with all their enthusiasm and chat - it was a great experience. We just loved the Villa del Golfo, and would definitely go back.

We just came back from two weeks traveling in Italy (sardinia & amalfi coast) and our time spent in Sardinia at Villa del Golfo was our favorite. From the moment we checked into the hotel, we were treated so great! The service is truly incredibly. So welcoming, kind, and helpful. The property is absolutely stunning at all hours of the day. It smelled like honeysuckle and fresh herbs every where you went. The flowers and grounds were so beautifully maintained. Our room was beautiful. The water pressure is in the shower was one of the best we've ever had and the tub was large! We had a beautiful patio overlooking the water and would take afternoon naps on lounge chairs in the robes (provided) after a lovely day enjoying the sun deck. We had cocktails or wine every night before dinner at the pool side bar which was one of the favorite parts of our day. Breakfast is a beautiful spread, was always fresh, and service was excellent. We looked forward to enjoying our cappuccino and taking in the beautiful view while dining on fresh fruit, pastries, and local cheeses. Teresa helped us set up dinner reservations, excursions (Sailing boat, massages, wine tasting), and a rental car. She was truly so wonderful! The day we spent sailing to the Madallena islands was one of the best days we've ever had. The sailboat is beautiful, the water is incredible, and they serve such a lovely meal on board. You will be treated like royalty. We had an incredible sommelier at their sister resort, Cascioni where we did a private wine tasting and learned all about the different wine regions in Sardinia. At Cascioni, we had spa treatments and enjoyed their fresh brewed teas, saunas, and plunge pools. We later had dinner that night at Ulia, their restaurant which was INCREDIBLE. The olive oil and honey, made in house, is some of the best we have ever had! The resort is quiet, peaceful, and a slice of paradise! We cannot wait for our next trip back and to explore more of Sardinia. Thank you to the entire staff at Villa del Golfo for an incredible vacation! Kayla & Jon