Marina Manna Hotel & Club Village

The breakfast was pathetic. We got there early and found very little to eat, and even that small amount wasn’t replenished. The dining room lights were all off, so we sat in a gloomy room. I don’t know if they were trying to save electricity or were ashamed of the poor breakfast. The coffee and juices were vile, maybe useful for stripping paint. The Wi-Fi didn’t work anywhere at all. The older buildings were shabby, and reception was unfriendly. Our room was okay, especially the bathroom, which was very new, and the air conditioning worked well. But the bed cover was stained, and the room smelled strongly of air freshener. It must have been cleaned, but the nicer hotels we stayed in don’t have a strong smell of anything. I’m concerned by the defensive response. The lights were off and we sat in the gloom with very little food. That’s what happened. I leave reviews to help other travelers, and I absolutely wouldn’t recommend this place. We stayed at much nicer hotels in the area for the same price. I haven’t exaggerated. It is what it is: poor breakfast, okay rooms, and an older structure. Instead of denying reviews as untrue, they should listen to feedback and improve.

The long drive from the airport should have been a clue: Marina Manna sits in a very isolated spot, and the promotional pictures looked heavily edited. We booked the place through Corendon Airlines, whose offer matched the “Hotel, Club & Villa” label, but the reality was disappointing. Our green wristbands meant breakfast only, and different colored bands marked the other service plans. Dinner was a struggle from the start. The menu was almost entirely pizza, with just one fish and one meat option alongside about 20 pizzas. The cook wouldn't make the fish, so I asked for a glass of merlot while my husband ordered pizza. The server came back to say there was no merlot. We chose a bottle of white instead, then were told they had no bottle either, only a glass each. I wasn't angry, but it left me uneasy and paying closer attention. Breakfast was the same on all six mornings: three cereals, packaged dry biscuits, cold salty bread, watery processed ham and salami, and flavorless cheese. Croissants came filled with sharp marmalade or covered in too much powdered sugar. The coffee was from a machine, as was the juice, which tasted more like syrup than fruit. Breakfast only ran from 8:00 to 9:15, and I saw people turned away for arriving late at least twice. It felt like very poor service. The pool didn't invite us in, and the supposed jacuzzi was completely dead. Our hacienda-style villa had one bedroom, with the bathroom behind it. There were quiet hours from 1 to 4, which felt more like a monastery than a holiday. Cable TV, Netflix, YouTube and other access were blocked, leaving only local channels. The Wi-Fi was too weak for my streaming. There seemed to be a lot of Italian seniors staying there, and I saw them playing cards in the barely used Club area. The spaces felt wasted, and the place seemed geared toward people wanting a break from their usual routine rather than a range of guests. The management has a lot to learn about hospitality and guest expectations. I wish they'd show visitors what Sardinia is really like and make the experience welcoming to different kinds of travelers. We rented a car and spent whole days driving around to find things to do beyond the beaches, then driving back exhausted. Sardinia has no highways to cut those trips short, and there aren't tourist routes. Getting to the activities around Calgari can mean an eight-hour round trip. To Corendon Airlines, thanks for opening my eyes. I won't fly with you again. I wouldn't invest in Marina Manna for a holiday or even an overnight stay, and I'd be wary of holiday offers from Corendon Airlines. Walking might be preferable.

Our room was nice, though it was a long way from the bar. The parties there usually went on until 1 a.m., so guests staying closer may have been disturbed. The staff were kind, and I would recommend the place, but perhaps not with half board. Breakfast and dinner could be better, especially the coffee, and I thought the morning breakfast window of about 8 to 9:30, just an hour and a half, should be longer.

The food was a real plus. Breakfast had fruit, savory items, sweets, fresh local bread, ham, croissants each morning, cereal, juice, tea and coffee. I went for cappuccino. Dinner offered plenty of choice too, with one or two pasta dishes, soup, meat or fish or seafood, vegetables, fruit and cake. There are lots of things to do on site: a pool with sunbeds, tennis, and a ping-pong table with everything ready to play. Parking is free and close to the room. We also had a pleasant balcony with chairs, a little table and a rack for drying towels and swimsuits. The room was as expected, although it struck us as a bit small at first. The bathroom had what we needed, and the bed was softer than ours at home, but we slept well. Most evenings there was music and dancing until at least 10:30 or 11 p.m. The beach is a fairly short walk through a pine forest, though we preferred to explore other places as well. The town center takes around 15 to 20 minutes on foot. It has supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies, tobacco shops, a bus stop and the other services you might need. It's a nice complex for a few relaxing days, and families stay here too. Still, I think we'd get bored spending a whole week or more here without a car for trips. Enjoy!