Our family holiday this year was to the Lantana Resort in southern Sardinia. The holiday began with concerns over the Italian air traffic control strike, which was scheduled to take place the day of our departure. However we were contacted by the tour company to ask us to arrive at the airport a little earlier so everyone would be checked in to ensure the flight could depart on time, before the strike began. The flight was a BA charter from Terminal 5 Heathrow, making a very civilised start to the holiday compared to the rush of travelling with a low cost airline! We arrived in Sardinia just over 2 hours later and the private transfers to the resort meant we arrived refreshed and ready to begin our holiday.
The Lantana Resort is set within very attractive and lush gardens, which must be watered continually due to Sardinia’s 6 month summer, hot and dry from May to October, with temperatures into the mid 30’s. We enjoyed blue skies for the whole two weeks of our stay, which was at the beginning of August.
We were a party of seven and were split between two hotel rooms and one serviced apartment. Hotel guests have breakfast included and if you wish you can also include dinner. The serviced apartments are fully equipped so you can self cater, but also enjoy the hotel facilities as well if you choose to. Accommodation is set out with either views of the gardens or pool and gardens. Plenty of sunbeds and parasols as well as shaded areas, which you will need as the sun is relentless!
Staff are attentive, helpful and friendly without being in your face; nothing is too much trouble from making restaurant reservations to organising taxis. The resort offers a complimentary shuttle service to the local beach at Nora. We borrowed parasols from the hotel reception, but there are sunbeds and shades on the beach you can hire daily. During our second week we took an organised local excursion to see some of the other beaches, which we preferred to the one closest to the hotel. The closest town is Pula, which is within comfortable walking distance. We stayed during the Pula Jazz Festival and enjoyed evenings in the town where live music was being played and all the locals and tourists danced together in the streets.
The pool is the focus at the Lantana Resort, with the semi circle of heart shaped palm trees and the verdant gardens surrounding it. Although this is a child friendly resort there is no ‘baby pool’ as such, but there are wide steps into the shallow end where children play and Simone, the lifeguard, watches over. There is also a children’s playground, table tennis and a small putting course. There is a babysitting service is available, which is payable locally. For adults who want to keep active there are Pilates and aqua aerobics classes 3 times a week. Themed evenings are repeated weekly and can be booked by all guests, we chose the Sardinian evening and wine tasting.
The Lantana Resort is very attractive, yet understated holiday resort. The friendly staff seem to take a pride in their surroundings and you get the feeling that this is a place people return to year after year. I think you would benefit from hiring a car to explore a little further afield, especially if you want to sample the famous Sardinian beaches. For more information on this holiday call us on 01932 866565 or email us.
