"For those of you thinking about booking a stay at this beautiful resort, all I can say is: just go and book it! You will have the most amazing time in paradise.
We began our journey with a private transfer from another of their hotels in Cagliari, Palazzo Doglio. As soon as we arrived, we knew this place was going to be special. The welcome was extremely warm and personal from the very beginning.
As we drove up to the main entrance, there were employees waiting for us — and they already knew our names and greeted us as soon as we arrived. Now that is impressive!
Our bags were immediately taken, and we were driven away in a golf buggy by the lovely Enzo to the elegant Castello reception, with him pointing out places of interest as we passed.
It was at the Castello reception that we were introduced to Valentina, the Castello Garden Manager. She became our main point of contact throughout our 10-day stay and was incredibly welcoming and friendly, almost as if she were welcoming us into her own home.
She offered us drinks while very concisely explaining everything we needed to know about the resort. She also provided us with an information pack that covered absolutely everything, as well as a WhatsApp number that we could use if we needed anything during our stay.
Valentina was extremely professional, courteous and attentive. She genuinely made us feel special and is an amazing asset to Forte Village. Her attention to detail helped make our holiday incredibly relaxing.
We were staying in a delightful bungalow in the Castello gardens area, which was perfectly located for all the resort's amenities.
The bungalow had lovely gardens to both the front and rear and had recently been redecorated. Two sun loungers with towels were set up in the front garden, and there were sliding doors providing access to both the front and back gardens.
Inside, there was a large lounge area with a TV and table, together with a coffee machine. In the evening, this area was transformed into the children's sleeping area.
The main bedroom was extremely spacious, as was the bathroom, which featured a double shower, two sinks and a bath. The modern, chic Sardinian décor perfectly complemented the surroundings.
All the room amenities — and more — that you would expect from a 5-star hotel were provided. If you needed anything, you simply had to ask and it would appear almost immediately.
Still bottled water was provided daily, and the chambermaids did a wonderful job of cleaning the bungalow every day.
One of the great things about the resort is that it is so well laid out and compact. Everything is easily reachable on foot within a few minutes.
The resort itself is unique. We have been fortunate enough to stay at many beautiful resorts around the world, but in my opinion, Forte Village is the best we have experienced.
Firstly, the location and setting are simply stunning. You have the mountains, the sea and beautifully maintained gardens filled with gorgeous flowers. The gardeners work incredibly hard around the clock to maintain the natural beauty of the resort, and it really shows.
A paradise for children:
The resort is an absolute dream for children, particularly those who love sport and activities.
From memory, the academies and activities available included football, rugby, netball, boxing, fencing, dance, padel, tennis, swimming, diving, pickleball, table tennis, basketball and many, many more.
There was even a Marvin's Magic Academy and a DJ Academy!
There are simply so many activities available that you could easily spend your entire holiday trying to fit them all in.
What makes the sporting facilities particularly special is that many of the academies are run by legends and professionals from their respective sports.
My son took part in the Real Madrid Clinic Academy, where he was trained and guided by former Real Madrid professionals. For any young football fan, this was an incredible experience.
There are also two full-size AstroTurf pitches where matches regularly take place between children and adults when the academy sessions are not running.
There are numerous tennis and padel courts, a full-size football/rugby pitch, basketball courts, a go-kart track and even a ten-pin bowling alley.
If anything, you need more time at Forte Village to experience everything on offer!
Accommodation and pools:
The resort is made up of several different accommodation areas, including Bouganville, Pineta, Castello, Dune, Le Palme, as well as private villas and suites.
There is accommodation to suit different budgets, and each area has its own swimming pool. There is also the large and beautiful Oasis pool area, together with a water park.
We spent a lot of time at the water park with the children. It includes an Olympic-sized pool as well as a lovely large pool, and there was plenty to keep the children entertained.
We also spent a lot of time at the Castello pool, which was great for people-watching and had a lovely view of the beach, which was easily accessible via a few steps.
There was also a deep pool next to the Castello pool that the children absolutely loved.
The pool temperature was perfect, as was the sea temperature in August. The sea itself is incredibly clean, particularly when there is less wind.
Another nice touch is that you can order drinks directly to your sun lounger using a QR code from your phone.
The Spa:
The Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa was, without doubt, one of the most beautiful and indulgent experiences of our stay. Hidden away within a spectacular tropical garden, this enchanting sanctuary feels like a world of its own, where the sound of water, lush greenery and the warm Mediterranean air create an immediate sense of calm.
At the heart of the spa is its extraordinary six-pool thalassotherapy journey, using pure Sardinian seawater drawn from the Mediterranean. Each pool has its own temperature, salinity and character, taking you on a wonderfully relaxing journey from one experience to the next. The first three warm pools, at around 37–38°C, include a magnesium-rich sea-oil pool, an aloe and mint-infused pool and a highly saline pool, before moving into a warm seawater pool with invigorating hydrotherapy jets. The final two pools gradually cool to around 30–32°C and then 25–27°C, leaving you feeling completely refreshed and revitalised.
What makes the experience so special is the setting. Floating effortlessly in the warm, mineral-rich seawater, surrounded by exotic plants and the tranquillity of the gardens, feels wonderfully secluded and utterly luxurious. It is far more than simply visiting a spa — it is a beautiful sensory journey that leaves you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and completely disconnected from the outside world. For us, it was one of those unforgettable experiences that perfectly captures the magic and luxury of Forte Village.
The food:
The food and service are what really set this resort apart from many other places.
I honestly couldn't begin to tell you how many restaurants and bars there are, but everything has been thought of and virtually every type of cuisine is available.
Breakfast and dinner are included in the package, and because we were staying in Castello, we could enjoy breakfast and dinner at the Cavalieri restaurant.
The Cavalieri and Pineta restaurants are both buffet restaurants, with an enormous selection of freshly prepared food, live cooking stations and themed evenings.
On the day we arrived, there was a fantastic selection of fresh whole fish being cooked on the BBQ, which was absolutely delicious.
The setting of both buffet restaurants is also worth mentioning. They are open-air restaurants, and there is a live pianist playing, creating a wonderfully relaxed and intimate atmosphere.
House wine, as well as still and sparkling water, is also included at the Pineta restaurant.
Dinner also includes access to a selection of à la carte restaurants, including Sardinian, Forte Grill, Brazilian and Indian cuisine. We tried them all and each was fantastic in its own way.
These restaurants overlook the Oasis pool, which makes for a beautiful setting, and you can choose to sit either inside or outside.
There are also the three-Michelin-starred restaurant of Heinz Beck and the Cracco restaurant, as well as Belvedere, Dune, Chinese, Tiki (Sushi), Rocco Pasta, Modri, the Pizzeria and the Fish Market.
We tried as many as we could, but we will definitely have to come back to experience the ones we didn't manage to get to!
For lunch, we particularly loved eating some of the best fish and seafood at the Fish Market and Beachcomber.
You can see the incredibly fresh fish right in front of you, choose what you would like, and the staff will weigh it and cook it exactly to your liking.
It was fantastic.
The staff:
One of the most important things I want to mention is just how hard the staff work throughout the resort.
August was extremely hot, and the conditions must have been incredibly demanding, yet the staff continued to work long hours with smiles on their faces. They deserve enormous credit for everything they do.
Filippo looked after us at both Cavalieri and Beachcomber, as did another lovely waiter whose name I unfortunately can't remember. He worked at the Fish Market every day, and we had some lovely conversations about his time working in Scotland.
There was also Elena, Kadeisha, Diego and many others who were all fantastic, friendly and incredibly hardworking.
I also spoke with a lovely gentleman called Carlo at the main reception, who welcomes guests to the resort. He had worked there for many years and shared some lovely stories about his time working in London.
He was such a warm and happy person, and it was lovely to see someone who clearly takes so much pride in where they work.
Entertainment:
The Sports Bar was great fun, with live sport shown on a gigantic outdoor screen while the children played football, basketball and table tennis nearby.
We particularly enjoyed the table tennis tournament and some of the other sporting activities.
In the evening, the entertainment in the Piazza was another big hit.
There were some fantastic live shows that were incredibly professional. We saw Dancing with the Stars and a Bee Gees night. When the performers started singing, I genuinely thought they sounded like the real band — and then we were told that one of them actually was!
The singer Ivan was my favourite.
His band also performed the jukebox night, and his voice is incredible. He is such a happy person and clearly incredibly passionate about what he does.
After the band had finished performing, we were sitting near the wine bar when I heard an Ed Sheeran song playing in the background. I initially thought it was coming from a speaker, but it was actually Ivan, sitting on a high stool at the wine bar playing acoustically after having just performed on stage in front of a large audience.
We went over to listen, and then my 11-year-old son asked if he could play his guitar while Ivan sang.
Not only did Ivan agree, but he was genuinely happy to do it.
They performed three songs together, and it was one of those completely unexpected moments that you know you will remember forever.
It was truly magical — and the perfect icing on the cake for our final evening.
A place that brings people back:
My children made lots of friends with other children who had been coming to Forte Village for years. They spent their time cycling around the resort on the bikes they had hired and generally having the freedom to enjoy themselves.
In fact, almost everyone we spoke to told us that they return year after year and know many of the staff personally.
After experiencing Forte Village ourselves, I can completely understand why.
It is very difficult to improve on perfection.
I also feel that the cost represents good value for money considering the quality and sheer amount of what is included.
The additional cost of wine and food is comparable to London prices, so this didn't feel unreasonable given the quality and setting.
Until next time...
Our holiday finished just as it had begun, with Enzo taking us back to the main reception in the golf buggy, just as he had done 10 days earlier.
As we chatted, he told me that this was his last season at Forte Village after an incredible 39 years working there.
He was still smiling and happy, which seemed fitting for someone who had spent so many years working in such a beautiful place.
Then, just as we arrived at the main reception, we were happily surprised to see Valentina there to say goodbye.
What an incredible host you have been, Valentina.
Forte Village is more than just a beautiful resort. It is the people, the atmosphere, the attention to detail, the experiences and those unexpected little moments that stay with you long after you leave.
We have travelled to many wonderful places around the world, but Forte Village has left a very special impression on us.
Non è un addio, ma spero di rivederti presto.
It isn't goodbye, but I hope to see you again soon."
