Club Esse Cala Gonone - Cala Gonone

We couldn’t get lunch or dinner, even though we tried to book. Breakfast was okay, and the service was okay too, though the language barrier didn’t help. People smoke everywhere, including employees, which doesn’t seem suitable for a family-friendly place.

The rooms were dirty. For all four days, nobody brushed or mopped the floor, and the food was disappointing, with little choice and nothing that tasted good. I was in Italy with a group for a few days while attending a nearby activity, which was amazing. The hotel was the opposite, and easily the worst experience I’ve had in Italy. I can’t recommend it. Management seemed very poor. Around 70% of the staff were shockingly rude, talked over us, and didn’t listen. I saw staff members physically fighting in the restaurant, which was completely unacceptable. There was arrogance throughout, and a real lack of honesty. Staff changed their story and twisted the truth to protect themselves. I spent time in Italy when I was younger and had never encountered behavior this rude and arrogant.

The pool was the best part of our stay at Club Esse Cala Gonone Holiday Village. It had several depths for different ages, so it felt safe with our two children, aged 2 and 4, and there were plenty of loungers all day. With so few British guests, there was no morning towel dash. Most guests, about 95%, were Italian, but everyone was welcoming and we didn’t feel out of place. The kids’ entertainment was all in Italian, so our children didn’t really take part. We’re an English family of four, and our stay was mixed. You get what you pay for. Our room had a double bed, a single bed, and just enough room for a cot. It was tired and needed renovation, with dated furniture, worn fixtures that were slanted or broken, and poor upkeep. We weren’t expecting luxury at that price. Finding reception was our first challenge, since it’s at the bottom of the complex. If your sat nav takes you the way it took many people from the airport, it may not lead you there correctly. Have €5 in cash for the air conditioning and TV remote deposit. We arrived on a very hot day with only cards, and they wouldn’t give us the remotes until we had cash. It made us wonder whether remotes often go missing and are considered valuable in Sardinia. We also had extra charges at check-in for things like the baby cot and city tax, which I think were mentioned in the booking fine print. Breakfast was chaotic, even though we only booked bed and breakfast and didn’t try the other meals. There were table numbers but no clear instructions about whether we had an assigned table. We chose an empty one and that caused some tension with other guests. The buffet was basic: pastries, yogurt, ham, and some questionable hot food, including greasy bacon and watery scrambled eggs. We were glad we hadn’t booked more meals. The location was excellent, a short walk from the seafront and promenade, with lovely restaurants. We ate out every evening and found the food and drink prices reasonable, with excellent quality. We’d happily recommend Sardinia to friends and family for its beauty, good food, and welcoming people. We wouldn’t recommend Club Esse Cala Gonone Holiday Village, though. It has potential, but needs significant improvement to feel like a true holiday village.

The beach was clean, and it was really nice to have a little train that could take us there. There was plenty to do, from water gymnastics and games to dancing, so we definitely weren’t bored. The rooms and pool were great, and the staff and animators made these days so wonderful. A lovely hotel ❤️