COLONNA RESORT, a Colonna Luxury Beach Hotel, Porto Cervo

This is based on a week's stay, with the good and the bad as I saw them. I mean it as constructive criticism, not a claim that the resort is all bad. The resort deserves credit for its beautiful hotel and team. Once we were a few days into the stay, the staff did a fantastic job of making us feel welcome and comfortable. They were willing to help with anything. I hadn't packed trousers, just shorts and polo shirts or T-shirts, and couldn't get into the restaurant for dinner. One staff member lent me his trousers so I could eat. He deserves recognition for going above and beyond. The restaurant team were excellent too. The food was good, with lots of fish, which I assume is a Sardinian speciality. Luca's service was impeccable, and the restaurant management were great. Danielle, I think, was one of the managers, and whenever he was working things ran smoothly. He checked in with every table to make sure people had what they needed. Jet2Holidays caused a separate problem. They advertised an indoor pool that the resort doesn't have. It has a Spa, but that's not the same thing. When we first arrived and felt overwhelmed by the accommodation, Jet2 gave us no support. Our resort rep never came to the hotel, and you have to book to see them, which I'd never encountered before. We were charged €300 before we had even checked in. Neither Jet2 nor the hotel had mentioned this upfront. Reception said it had to be paid by credit card, but I don't have one. They sent me to the on-site ATM, which was out of order the whole time we were there. Luckily my mother had cash for the deposit. I understand places charge an in-resort fee, but €300 is steep and, in my view, awful to spring on people. The hotel and Jet2 need to communicate this better. You do get the money back at the end, but it takes a big chunk of your spending money as soon as you arrive. Do your homework on the area before staying. It's very upper-class and extremely expensive, with boutique shops selling jeans for over €900. If you don't drive, getting around is a problem because the area is remote. The resort has a free shuttle to Porto Cervo, the next village, but that's where the rich people shop and live. The designer stores include Gucci, Rolex, and local boutiques where, as mentioned, trousers can cost over €900. I'd come back for a quiet, relaxing break, but probably not a casual holiday. I also wouldn't recommend May: the beach was closed the whole time, and the weather was mixed, with some hot days and some rain and wind. If you can spend freely and just want to relax in the sun, I'd recommend the resort. For a budget-friendly trip that includes shopping and relaxing, perhaps look to southern Sardinia near the capital, or mainland Italy. A week in a place with this much going for it still left me with mixed feelings, but the staff and their effort deserve real recognition.