AS we wind through rugged, green hills toward the glittering Med, the landscape shimmers in 30C sunshine.
The 90-minute drive from Sardinia’s Olbia airport twists and turns through spectacular scenery.
Northern Sardinia has always been a hidden gem with its white-sand beaches and rocky coves but, with limited flights from the UK, prices were always high.
Now, though, budget airlines easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and Tui, fly direct to this Italian paradise isle, as well as British Airways — and this has seen prices fall.
Spring and autumn are also cheaper than peak season, yet beautifully warm.
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Our home from home in September was Resort Le Dune on the island’s north-west coast, overlooking the Gulf of Asinara.
Spread over 28 hectares, the resort feels like a continuation of the local countryside. Everything there — its five hotels, ten restaurants and six pools — is enclosed by lush foliage.
Walking through the resort, you are always immersed in greenery — from juniper trees dating to the 18th century, to giant reeds and cactii — while lantana flowers bring splashes of colour.
It makes for a tranquil haven for those looking to recharge, as well as offering shade during the hottest bits of the day.
My partner and I were staying at the resort’s Le Sabine hotel, where a walk-in lagoon-style pool was perfect for our two-year-old daughter to splash about in.
Its 94 rooms are done out in calm, pastel colours and with traditional Sardinian fabrics. A poolside bar serves tasty caprese salads and ice-cold drinks when you need a break from the sun — still going strong when we visited.
If you want to really unwind, the spa is just a short stroll away. Its three hydro-therapy pools were a treat for our weary limbs and there are plenty of treatments if you want to splash out.
Stunning Li Junchi Beach is also bang on your doorstep. Its soft sand and turquoise water make the perfect picture for a smug Instagram account. It’s no wonder the beach recently won a coveted Blue Flag award.
While our daughter built sandcastles in front of the gently lapping surf, we enjoyed some rare sunbathing time.
Later, as the gorgeous tangerine sun set, we grabbed a spritz at the beach bar before dinner at the hotel’s beachfront restaurant.
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Octopus stew
There are all sorts of treats, from grilled lamb chops to fried red mullet, plus enough pasta options to keep everyone happy — including our little one who tucked into a simple penne in tomato sauce.
We also dined at three other restaurants during our stay. Our half-board plan included access to all five of the resort’s hotels. Il Leccio, the closest to our hotel, was a proper feast including a never-ending offering of Italian-style tapas.
If you want any chance of reaching the spaghetti carbonara or suckling pig, then go easy on the previous. The Carrimbanca restaurant specialises in meat — they put it in almost every pasta dish as well as on the barbeque. Carnivore heaven.
But perhaps best of the lot is open-air fish restaurant Lo Scorfano, which we loved for the octopus stew, the fregola pasta with clams and the juicy prawns griddled in front of you.
We dodged the restaurant desserts most nights — but not because we were being healthy. Rather, we saved ourselves for the resort’s gelateria, where they make all their own ice cream.
Our daughter picked strawberry every time, while the adults’ favourite was the pistachio with a crunchy nut topping.
It was so good we were even willing to forgive their ridiculous opening times — evenings only, with a bizarre closure between 8pm and 9pm.
Aside for stuffing their faces with ice cream, kids have loads of things to do at the resort.
Our daughter loved the playground built into the dunes, as well as the row of trampolines in another play area by the main square.
It was just a shame she was too young to get involved with the kids’ club, who only take children over the age of three.
They offered plenty of activities from painting and cooking, swimming and other sports. There are tennis courts, football pitches and even archery for children to make the most of.
And if they are allowed a later bedtime, they can enjoy a dance club at the main stage each night.
One blessing for parents of any kids aged under three is a restaurant where they serve up basic pasta meals, as well as yogurt and snacks. It took pressure off us to find something for our daughter from the more ambitious restaurant buffets around the resort.
If you do have the urge to venture beyond the resort, then Sardinia has plenty to explore. Trips available through the hotel include full and half-day sea safaris to explore the local coastline — and even spot dolphins and other sea life.
The historic town of Castelsardo is a 25-minute drive away and its mazy, hilly streets are fun to explore for both souvenirs and places to eat — although not with a toddler in tow, as it is a steep climb to the top.
Closer to the resort, the pretty town of Isola Rossa at the other end of the six-mile stretch of beach is a great place for a sunset stroll or spot of shopping.
But as our hotel staff later welcomed us back with a cold drink by the pool, we began to wonder why we left in the first place.
