Hotel Marinedda Thalasso and Spa

My husband and I visited this hotel in July and am only just submitting my review as I have been waiting for Tui after sales care to get back to me with some answers. I booked this hotel mainly because of the outstanding spa facilities! On arrival at the hotel we were both very happy. I have to say everything was spotless and our room equally so. From then on it slowly went downhill. I will list my main points. Firstly on arrival in the room, there were snacks on the dressing table which we thought were complimentary, only to receive an invoice the following morning - I thought only items in the fridge were chargeable! Breakfast every morning was chaotic - once a table was secured you were up and down what seemed like every few minutes looking for crockery, cutlery, tea bags, food to be replaced etc etc. I also genuinely thought the quality of the breakfast food was certainly not 5* and it was certainly not relaxing. We ordered drinks in the Reception area on our first evening, which were served with nibbles - please be aware these were not complimentary! The hotel has a lovely beach with maybe five rows of sunbeds and umbrellas. Please be aware the nearer the sea you sit you will be charged more money! However our biggest disappointment was the Spa. To enter it costs 30 euros per person per day (and that is just to enter)! As I said I booked this specific hotel because of the Spa and did not see anything on booking about this ridiculous cost. My husband and I like to go in every day but maybe just for 30-45 minutes at the most and really to only use the steam room. When I found out the cost I spoke with the "under manager" as I was really really upset and angry. He really did not help and said nobody had ever complained before, so I then spoke to the Tui rep. Later that day the manager of the hotel approached me at reception and said my husband and I could use the spa for free in view of my distress. From then on I did go in and it is really beautiful inside. Most of the time I was there, I was on my own in these fantastic facilities. My husband did go in for 50 minutes at the most all week as he felt so uncomfortable doing so, as did I. This is the message I have today received from Tui "The SPA treatments and facilities at the Hotel Marinedda Thalassa and Spa are advertised as incurring extra charges that people pay locally. We are not given costings as these are the hotelier's discretion" This hotel is very remote. There is a small village in walking distance but I wouldn't say this has very much to offer. The hotel runs excursions, of which we did two, but again very expensive. If you are going to Sardinia and like to see something of the island please take your driving licence as local transport is really non existent. On the plus side the evening meal in the outside area was very good and the outdoor swimming pools lovely.

After Thomas Cook had made a mess of our booking with the hotels we arrived at the Marinedda and instantly fell in love with it. Clean, warm,friendly with beautiful views. The staff were ultra professional and friendly. The room was spotlessly clean and we enjoyed the balcony looking out to sea. Room 216 was in a great location as it was pretty central. There was entertainment each night but the best bit was the food. Wow the chefs here really know how to cook!!! So much choice with different food stations each day. Drinks were of a great quality but you are paying 5 star prices for them and we are talking UK 5 start prices not just euro. There are several restaurants but to be honest the main buffett was so good and the staff so great that we were happy there most of the tme. The spa is really well equipped, relaxing and the prices are not too bad compared to some of the places we have visited. The beach was lovely but be prepared to pay quite a bit for the sunbeds each day, thats was a first for us but we did it for a few days because it was lovely down there. Pool side was also great and plenty of room. we were genuinely sad to leave as we had enjoyed our stay so much. We want to thank everyone so much for making our stay so wonderful especially considering it was right at the end of the season when I'm sure the staff will be tired and ready for a break. you wouldn't have known it!! P.S. The airport in Olbia is a fab little airport and so efficient.

The food here was lovely. The Staff were lovely. Loved the Salt water pool. Rooms and Bathroom very good standard as was the water pressure in shower, however our room was at the top of a hilly complex and the water ran cool on the second persons shower. This was a five star hotel so we would have expected a complimentary water in room every day. Expensive half bottles were supplied in fridge. Alternative was to lug back water up a steep hill from the supermarket 10mins away. Very hilly complex so could be a problem for older or less mobile guests, but staff use buggys to shuttle you up the steep bits.In a very quiet area with not a lot going on out of the grounds.