Villas with shared pool in Costa Rei just 500 meters from the sea

This is a small-scale aparthotel built around detached, ground-floor villas rather than hotel corridors and formal reception areas. Each villa has its own entrance, outdoor space and private parking, giving you somewhere to come back to when the day has involved salt, sun and rather more kit than seemed sensible at breakfast.

The arrangement suits divers travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family. You have a living room, two bedrooms and a kitchen area, while the shared outdoor pool gives you an easy place to cool off without making another expedition of it. The setting follows a Sardinian-Mediterranean style and sits among gardens, with the beach within walking distance.

You are in Costa Rei, on the south-east coast of Sardinia, Italy. The villas are about 0.3 miles from the sea, with Spiaggia di Cala Monte Turno reached on foot in roughly 12 minutes. Spiaggia di Cala Sinzias is another option, around 0.5 miles away and about a 10-minute walk; Sant'Elmo and Spiaggia di SaMi are both within roughly 1.3 miles by road.

Costa Rei's centre is about 3 miles away, where you can find shops, bars, restaurants, a market, a pharmacy and a doctor's surgery. Sant'Elmo is around 1 mile away. Maklas and Araxi e Mari - Ristorante Tipico are both about 0.5 miles from the property, while Elco Srl Bar Pizzeria is around 0.9 miles away. For a land-based outing, Monte Minniminni rises to 725 metres and is about 7 miles away by road.

Cagliari Elmas Airport is around 36 miles away by road, with a drive of about 54 minutes. That makes a hire car particularly practical here, especially if you want to vary beaches, restaurants and dive days rather than stay within one small radius.

The two-bedroom villa is the sensible choice when you want proper separation after a day on the water, or when four people need somewhere to spread out without turning every evening into a game of luggage Tetris. The living room adds a sofa and seating area, and the whole unit is on the ground floor, with a private entrance and a terrace or patio looking towards the garden.

Air conditioning is fitted in the rooms, which matters in south-east Sardinia when you return warm, salty and ready to stop moving. The kitchen includes a fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher, dining table and kitchenware, while the washing machine deals with the practical aftermath of a beach-and-boat holiday. A shower, hairdryer, bidet and private bathroom cover the basics; satellite television and free WiFi are there for the slower parts of the evening.

Outside, the covered veranda has a table and chairs, and the villa also has a garden, barbecue and private outdoor shower. Sun loungers or beach chairs are available around the property. Bed linen and towels are handled separately from the main stay arrangements, so this is worth checking before you arrive rather than discovering it with a damp towel and a heroic lack of planning.

The shared seasonal outdoor pool is the obvious post-dive option: close enough for a quick dip, with a sun terrace, garden and loungers for the more traditional approach of sitting down and not improving the situation. The pool is shared by four units, so it is a communal space rather than a private villa pool.

The surrounding area gives you more active alternatives when you have had enough of chlorinated water and horizontal lounging. Hiking, snorkelling, canoeing, windsurfing and fishing are available away from the property, with some activities carrying an additional charge. The nearby coast also makes a beach day easy, while Monte Minniminni offers a change of scenery inland.

For couples, the useful luxury is the lack of ceremony: return to the villa, use the outdoor shower, sit under the covered veranda and decide whether the barbecue or the nearest restaurant requires less effort. On a diving holiday, that is a perfectly respectable itinerary.

Arrival is between 17:00 and 20:00, and departure is between 08:00 and 10:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time in advance, and photo identification plus a credit card are required at check-in. A refundable cash damage deposit is collected on arrival and returned at check-out after the villa has been inspected.

Free private parking is available on site, with one private numbered space for each villa, and no reservation is needed. WiFi is free throughout the property. The villas are non-smoking, parties and events are not allowed, and pets are welcome. Children of any age can stay; cots are available on request, while extra beds are not available.

The accommodation is self-catering rather than a hotel with a restaurant or breakfast service. The kitchenette is properly equipped for cooking, including an oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washing machine, and the outdoor area adds a barbecue and dining table. The first supply of bed linen and towels is not included, so add that detail to your pre-arrival checklist alongside masks, logbooks and the one charger that always disappears.