The Italian island of Sardinia sits within the Tyrrhenian Sea between the Balearic Islands, the Italian peninsula and Corsica. Boasting nearly 2,000km of coastline, pearly-white beaches and a rugged interior landscape which invites endless wandering, Sardinia is the perfect getaway for beach-hoppers and thrill-seekers alike.

Although certainly picturesque, eye candy isn’t Sardinia’s only redeeming factor – the island is rich in history too! Dotted within its undulating landscapes are thousands of nuraghi (Bronze Age stone ruins which look like beehives) – one of which dates all the way back to 1500 B.C.

When you’re not combing the countryside for Nuraghi, spend your time flitting between sun-kissed beaches (such as Budoni or Stintino) or island-hopping to the Maddalena archipelago or Asinara National Park, famous for its albino donkey population. 

You can also head off hiking in the Monte Limbara mountain range, take to the open seas during a sailing trip along the sparkling Costa Smeralda and cap off fun-filled days with succulent, mouth-watering local cuisine.

Expect to see plates piled high with culurgiones (similar to ravioli), malloreddus (a type of gnocchi) and salsiccia di cinghiale (wild boar sausage) – you’ll come to realise that restaurants, markets and cafes are an absolute feast for the senses here. 

By night, rest your head at the Blu Hotel Laconia Village. Its convenient location (2km from the centre, 50m from the beach and 15km from bustling Porto Cervo) makes it the perfect place for serendipitous strolls along the shores of the Costa Smeralda and daytime jaunts to dinky Sardinian cafes and local markets.

Plant yourself on a sunbed by the twinkling pool or meander down to the beach for a swim. Work up an appetite by taking advantage of the hotel’s extensive sports facilities; try your hand at tennis, football, beach volleyball or bowls to get your blood pumping, before cooling off with a mid-afternoon dip in the teal-coloured sea.