Baia Del Faro

A private entrance, traditional stone apartments and the sea close enough to shape the whole stay: Baia Del Faro is an aparthotel-style resort for divers who prefer a little room to spread out rather than a standard hotel bedroom. Your own balcony or patio gives you somewhere to sit with a drink, dry off in the breeze and decide whether the evening calls for dinner out or something simple in the kitchenette.

You will be understood easily here. The hotel team speaks French, English, German and Italian, so practical questions do not need to be solved with mime and a damp dive log. The resort suits couples, families and small groups, with apartments designed for up to six guests and the useful freedom of a dining area, sofa and private cooking facilities.

The mood is more self-contained than formal. There is a pool, a beach, a restaurant and a wellness centre, but your apartment remains the useful bit of kit: somewhere to make coffee, keep food cold and put a washing machine to work while you recover from another day in salt water.

You are in Palau, on Sardinia’s northern coast, at Località Porto Faro, with views towards the La Maddalena archipelago. Baia Del Faro sits directly by the sea, with access to a golden sandy beach measuring 150 metres, complete with loungers, parasols, showers and a beach bar. Porto Faro Beach is about 0.3 miles away, while La Sciumara Beach is roughly 0.3 miles away too. The nearby beaches are close enough for an unhurried change of scenery, rather than a logistical operation involving a car, a map and three opinions.

Palau harbour is about 0.4 miles away. Boats leave from there for La Maddalena and the smaller islands, which makes the location useful for days spent on the water even when you are not heading below it. Palau’s town centre is around 3 miles away, with restaurants and bars within reach; Gribils Saporti di Sardegna is about 0.1 miles away, while Goblet Wine Bar is roughly 0.4 miles away.

For a flying visit, Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is about 26 miles away, around a 40-minute drive. The Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena is around 2.1 miles away, and the Giants’ Tombs of Coddu Vecchiu are about 7 miles from the resort.

These are apartments rather than rooms with a token kettle pushed into one corner. The kitchenette has a refrigerator, stovetop, kitchenware and dining table, while the living area adds a sofa and seating space. That matters when you return hungry, sandy and uninterested in dressing for a restaurant. A washing machine is also included, which is the sort of detail that earns its keep on a diving holiday.

For two, a studio keeps things straightforward, with a king-size bed and sofa bed in the configurations provided. Couples who want a separate bedroom and a more settled living space should look at a One-Bedroom Apartment. For families or groups, the Two-Bedroom Apartments give you more separation, while the maisonettes add two bathrooms — a small luxury when several people are preparing for breakfast or trying to get out of the door at the same time.

Air conditioning is available for warm Sardinian nights, with a fan as another option. Expect tiled or marble floors, a wardrobe, private bathroom facilities with shower or bath, and a private balcony or patio attached to the apartment. The accommodation is non-smoking, WiFi is free in the rooms, and a drying rack is available for clothing. The practical caveat is simple: the apartments offer no extra beds, so check the sleeping arrangement of your chosen option carefully rather than assuming the sofa will perform miracles.

Il Faro Restaurant handles the day’s main meals, from a buffet breakfast to lunch and dinner. The setting is a terrace with sea views, and the dress code is casual — welcome news when you have spent the afternoon in a wetsuit and have no intention of pretending otherwise. Breakfast starts at 07:30, followed by lunch from 12:30 to 14:30 and dinner from 19:30 to 22:00.

The cooking is Mediterranean, with fresh local ingredients and traditional flavours. The restaurant also offers a wide choice of local wines, so the Sardinian side of the menu is not confined to a decorative sprig of herbs. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are available, and half-board is offered for stays where you would rather have dinner settled than negotiate the evening after a long boat day.

There is one bar: the Pool Bar, serving cocktails, snacks and drinks throughout the day beside the main pool. Limited-hours room service is available. Between the restaurant terrace and the bar, you can keep the evening on site; if you fancy a change, Palau’s bars and restaurants are close enough to reach without turning it into an expedition.

The main outdoor pool gives you a place to cool down without packing a beach bag, and its pool bar keeps drinks within easy reach. It has sea views and a lively atmosphere, so it is more suited to a sociable afternoon than to complete silence. The beach is available directly from the resort, with loungers, parasols and showers for the days when the sea is all the activity required.

The 100-square-metre Wellness Center offers massages, facials, a sauna and a jacuzzi. There is also a gym and yoga classes, useful if your legs have had enough finning but still require convincing that movement is a good idea. The combination works well for a couple travelling together when one wants an active afternoon and the other has already made a serious commitment to doing very little.

Away from the pool and wellness facilities, the resort offers bicycle rental, hiking, horse riding, tennis equipment, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, boat excursions and fishing. La Maddalena Island tours and Corsara Island excursions are available, while live music provides an evening option that does not involve another discussion about whether anyone really needs dessert. Babysitting and a children’s menu support family stays, and pets are accepted on request.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation required. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and you can arrange car hire, use the luggage storage and concierge services, or make use of the laundry and dry-cleaning services. An airport transfer is available through the resort, either privately or as a shared shuttle, and should be arranged with the hotel. The resort also has a reception safe and a minimarket on site.

The official resort policy gives check-in from 14:00 and check-out by 12:00. The accommodation rules set arrival between 17:00 and 20:00 and departure between 09:00 and 10:00, so confirm the applicable times for your booking and tell the property when you expect to arrive. Early check-in and late check-out can be requested. The minimum age for check-in is 18.

Children of all ages are welcome, with a cot available on request for children aged up to three. There are no extra beds. Smoking is not allowed, and parties or similar events are not permitted. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted, and a refundable cash damage deposit is collected on arrival and returned at check-out following inspection.