Club Esse Gallura

We booked this about an hour before arriving, on an evening when most places were full, figuring it was only somewhere to sleep for the night. The complex is huge, and that meant it could fit us in at the last minute. For the price, our accommodation was also very spacious: two bedrooms for just the two of us, a closet area, bathroom, plenty of closet space, and a large balcony with an ocean view in the morning. The rooms were physically clean, and the location worked well if you have a car. Some of Sardinia’s most amazing beaches are 30-40 minutes away. Go explore. Staff at breakfast and reception were lovely. I wasn’t feeling well after a poor night’s sleep, and they let us check out an hour late. Thank you! We gave it two stars, though I can see how other people would rate it higher. It suits a particular kind of traveler, and we didn’t realize that when we booked. There are 250 rooms, and in summer it’s absolutely packed. It takes a lot of staff to run, so I imagine it’s expensive to maintain, but the place has so much potential. It reminded me of an adult summer camp from Dirty Dancing, where families come with friends who have kids, the adults hang out together, and the kids wander off to spend time with each other without supervision. We joked that it’s where kids or teenagers might get their first kiss in a dark corner of the tennis court while their parents lounge by the pool. There are tons of kids and teenagers, plus entertainment late into the night. It kept us awake because the windows don’t block much sound. That atmosphere and all the activity will be a plus for many people, but we didn’t use the amenities and found it much more geared to families with kids than couples. The room had a musty smell that wouldn’t go away, even though it looked clean. The beds were the bigger problem. This was the worst sleep of my life. My legs and back hurt in my dreams, and that pain woke me several times. Italian hotels aren’t known for their mattresses, but these were on another level. I might as well have slept on the floor. Please invest in new mattresses or toppers. What we thought would be one night’s sleep turned into a restless, painful night. Teenagers may not mind, but adults do. Breakfast was simply bad. Even the coffee wasn’t decent. We’ve had lots of free B&B breakfasts that were at least fine, but this one wasn’t. I couldn’t stomach the eggs or beans, which added to the summer camp feeling. One more downside for us was the lack of Wi-Fi in the rooms. If you travel with teenagers glued to their phones, that might be a plus, but we rely on Wi-Fi and don’t have a cellular or SIM card. This could have been four stars if the mattresses were comfortable, but the terrible sleep ruined it for me. It’s better suited to Italian families with kids and teenagers who want to spend time with family friends than to couples looking for a rest.

This place didn’t suit me as an older person traveling without young children. To get a coffee, you first have to buy a card at reception for €5, add another €5 to it, and then order at the poolside bar, where they swipe the card. They did refund the unused balance, but not the €5 card fee. I’m sure plenty of people would enjoy the place. I didn’t.

Club Esse reps were great with the kids, looking after them through the day and providing meals made especially for children, so parents could take a well-earned break. The place has a large pool, though it can get crowded, as well as an open bar and a small bazaar. Wi-Fi was limited. Rooms are cleaned every day, the food is good with a big selection, and Santa Teresa and its local services are only a short drive away. There are great beaches a few kilometres from here.

@ CLUB ESSE GALLURA TEAM, plastic waste is becoming a major problem, and I’m sure you know that. So, I’m asking: when will you replace the plastic cups at breakfast? Why wrap the biscuits in plastic when you serve all that cake without packaging? And when will you stop using plastic packaging for the soap and shampoo in the bathroom? If you need help putting these changes in place, let me know. Plenty of hotels have reduced their plastic use significantly, and I’m sure you can do it too.