Hotel Poetto

Lorenzo at reception was fantastic. He speaks good English and is happy to speak Italian with anyone learning. Our room had a fridge, AC with a minimum temperature of 21C😊, and an outdoor seating area. I expected road noise but didn’t hear any at all. It’s an excellent place to stay right by the beach. One thing that would help is having two pillows, a kettle and mugs in the room as standard. Thanks, we’ll be back 👍🏻👍🏻

We chose this place for one night before catching the ferry, mainly because it could store our bikes while we were cycle touring. They ended up just outside our room on a private terrace with good fencing, which earned an extra star from me. The room was fine, with a clean bathroom and good shower. The bed took up most of the space, but there was just enough room, and the terrace made it feel bigger. The air conditioner worked well and wasn’t too noisy. It’s one block from the beach, so we managed a morning swim before checking out at 10.30am. You do pay a lot for what you get, though that’s because it’s close to the beach and the island’s largest city.

The beach is just a three-minute walk away, one of the best things about the location. It’s beautiful but very windy, so a beach bed might be more comfortable. They cost €28 per day, which is quite expensive. The hotel is also about a 10-15 minute bus ride from central Cagliari. PF and PQ stop at the corner, which is handy. The local transport app lets you buy a weekly pass for €12, validate it once and then use it freely. We had an awkward moment when inspectors got on and asked only us, tourists with luggage, for tickets while ignoring the locals. Getting to and from the airport: the hotel offers a shuttle, but at €40-45 per hour it’s pricey. If public transport is running, I’d skip it. On our return we used the weekly bus pass to get to the city, then took a train to the airport. The train took just four minutes and cost €0.30 per person. We arrived at 1:30 a.m., though, and had no option except a taxi. As for the stay itself, it was just okay for the price. I expected a cleaner room, but there was quite a lot of dust and even spiderwebs in the corners. We were in Room 1 right by the main door, so it could be noisy. The shower door has a gap that lets water spill onto the bathroom floor every time, and that needs fixing. Reception staff were friendly and helpful. Beach towels cost €2, but I only found that out by asking, so it would be good to mention it at check-in. A deep clean would improve the experience.

When airline strikes in France led to our trip being cancelled, the hotel didn’t give us appropriate support. They weren’t flexible or understanding about our situation, which matters a lot in this line of business. I wouldn’t recommend booking here. If a trip problem comes up, they’ll most likely wash their hands of it and you could end up losing money.