Lu Nibareddu Aparthotel

We fell in love with Sardinia. The views around the hotel were stunning, and the quiet, stress-free off-season atmosphere was a big part of why I'd come back next year. The grounds could use some cleanup, with wires and deep holes from ground works around the area, but the views made those issues easier to overlook. Our apartment was modern enough and had everything we needed. Staff made us feel welcome from check-in through the four-night stay. The pool was clean, with a separate shallow section for smaller kids and a deeper area. After checking out at 10 am on the last day, we got a beach parking tag and complimentary towels, so we could enjoy a couple of hours at the beach before our flight home.

The apartment smelled of mould the whole time. Damp walls, mould, and paint flaking off made it feel like a health hazard. Nobody cleaned during our stay, and I had to find a cleaner myself to ask for toilet paper and towels. The outdoor area was right by the main walkway, with people passing constantly, no view, and every noise from the apartment above coming through. Most of reception were friendly, but the older short-haired woman at checkout was abrupt and rude. Around the pools there didn't seem to be any monitoring. German children were running along the pool edges and playing hide and seek by the sunbeds while their parents ignored it. One German family let their naked child swim without a nappy, and people were drinking bottled alcohol in the pools. Maybe that's a cultural difference. We ate at the pool restaurant once. The pizza had no flavour, and half the chips were so hard they couldn't be eaten. I can't think of a single positive. The whole place was a shambles, and I won't recommend it or return.

Apartment 304 was a lucky find, with a huge terrace and panoramic views. We had the best week here. The apartment complex and hotel feel unique, and the surrounding area is beautiful. Getting there from the airport was easy, about a 20-minute drive along straightforward roads. The village was a 10-minute walk away, with restaurants, a shop, an ice cream shop and a launderette. There are two immaculate pools on site, with plenty of room and no crowds. One was just right for children. The restaurants were regularly maintained and the food was lovely. The beach is about a 10-minute drive down a track, which wasn't too much hassle.

The pools are nice and the location is decent, but for the price I wouldn't recommend staying here. Our four-day suite stay cost 1700 euros, and the staff weren't reasonable when we asked to replace towels we'd used at the beach and pool after two days. They wanted another 15-30 euros depending on the size of our party. When I asked if that meant using the same towels for the rest of the stay, they suggested a laundromat in the next town. Our room was never cleaned, and the kitchen had no cooking supplies, not even salt and pepper. I'd look elsewhere. The air conditioner couldn't keep the unit cool enough. The temperatures were very high while we were there, but that's exactly when you'd want the air conditioning to work.