Can a luxury resort make you feel calmer? It might seem an obvious question, but at Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, I arrived expecting beautiful beaches and left wondering whether the Sardinians might be onto something when it comes to longevity, wellbeing and doing life at a gentler pace.
Spread across 50 hectares of gardens and coastline, Forte Village isn’t one hotel but an entire world of its own: eight hotels, private villas, countless restaurants, a renowned thalassotherapy spa, sports academies and family experiences all woven together into what feels less like a resort and more like a beautifully curated Mediterranean village.
Staying at Le Dune: private villas and luxury in Sardinia
For our stay, we checked into Le Dune, one of the resort’s five-star hotel experiences. Our accommodation came in the form of a private villa tucked among landscaped gardens. Decorated in calming shades of blue with crisp white furniture, it felt elegant without being formal. There was a huge bed, a comfortable sofa, a beautiful bathroom and all the mod cons you’d expect including some luxurious Acqua di Parma products, but what stood out most was the sense of privacy.
Outside, our own garden and loungers created that rare hotel feeling where you can disappear entirely if you want to. And that feeling extends across the resort. With well-established gardens, the greenery of the pathways adds to the village feel.
Beyond the hotels sits another level of accommodation altogether: 13 ultra-private villas with heated pools, butler service and enough space for multi-generational holidays or quietly retreating from the world for a week. We were lucky enough to look inside one of the larger four-bedroom villas and it was jaw-dropping in its space, style and comfort. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, and some their own dressing-rooms, so every member of the family (or in some cases, the nanny or bodyguard!) gets the full Forte luxe experience.
There’s a quiet discretion here too. Nobody drops names, despite my best efforts to wrestle some gossip out of the oh-so-friendly staff. There’s an unmistakable feeling that privacy is valued just as much as luxury. The resort regularly hosts glitzy events for the fashion and film industries, so they have definitely had more than their fair share of celebs staying, but my sense is that everyone who visits would be treated in the same impeccable manner. From film stars to kids at the football academy, all are taken care of wonderfully.
Exploring Forte Village Resort by golf buggy
One of my favourite details was something unexpectedly simple. Because the resort is so extensive, golf buggies ferry guests between restaurants, spa appointments and different parts of the grounds. It sounds small but there’s something delightfully indulgent about stepping into a buggy and gliding through tropical planting rather than navigating a resort map.
That feeling reached peak luxury after a spa treatment. Wrapped in a robe and still half floating from the thalassotherapy circuit, I climbed into a golf buggy to be driven back through the grounds. I felt entirely ridiculous and entirely wonderful.
Why Forte Village is one of the most family-friendly luxury resorts in Europe
Italians have a reputation for making children feel genuinely welcome and Forte Village embraces that wholeheartedly. Families are at the centre of everything here. There are multiple pools, a private section of the beach, evening entertainment and one of the most imaginative children’s programmes I’ve come across. There’s even La Casa di Barbie, officially the only Barbie house of its kind within a resort anywhere in the world, and yes, I did have my photo taken in the Barbie box! And then there’s the Nature Park.
Another favourite moment came meeting Nello, a baby Sardinian donkey who was just two weeks old and already sporting a magnificent fringe. Another tick on the bucket list, thank you sweet Nello! The wider Nature Park is home to more than 100 animals and feels like another example of the resort trying to create memorable experiences. There are over 20 academies held in the resort, led by elite sports champions, from fencing to football.
Everyone gets an opportunity to keep fit, and we sign up to a 90-minute padel lesson with Francesco, who, luckily for us, is the most patient teacher! There’s a teen club, go-karting, a bowling alley… honestly you could stay here for weeks and never run out of activities.
Acquaforte Spa: Sardinia’s famous thalassotherapy experience
Although children are welcome, Forte Village also understands the value of adult-only space. For me, that place was Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa. Set within four hectares of tropical gardens, the spa combines Sardinia’s long-standing relationship with sea-based wellness and modern treatments. The centrepiece is the thalassotherapy circuit. The standout pool, known as Sea Oil, uses warm magnesium-rich seawater that creates extraordinary buoyancy (even more than the Dead Sea) and has incredible anti-inflammatory properties.
Trying to explain the sensation is tricky, but it felt like stepping into warm molasses, and once you’re in, you float effortlessly gazing at the tree canopies above. Trying to stand up again is a little trickier and I’m just glad no-one captured my flailing around on camera. I did have a moment when I wondered if the pull of the water would simply flip me the wrong way round so I’d end up with my legs in the air! There is a series of pools to follow in a circuit in decreasing temperatures, so if you’re brave you can end up in a cool plunge. After two visits to the circuit, I left feeling calmer, lighter and more relaxed than I had in weeks. And it might be a coincidence, but the tendonitis in my knee seemed to vanish, and at time of writing is yet to reappear.
I also had a signature salt treatment performed on a chromotherapy waterbed, with warm almond oil, Sardinian honey and mineral-rich salt worked into the skin before being rinsed away while I stayed exactly where I was. No standing up, No awkward, messy post-treatment shower. I’d reached peak indulgence, and my skin had never felt so soft.
Restaurants at Forte Village: Michelin-starred chefs and breakfast in a hidden garden
Food deserves its own chapter. In life and in this article. With more than 27 restaurants during peak season and concepts led by Michelin-starred chefs including Heinz Beck, Carlo Cracco and Giuseppe Molaro, Forte Village has become one of the Mediterranean’s standout food destinations. One of the highlights was Beachcomber by Heinz Beck. Although the restaurant itself isn’t Michelin-starred, Heinz Beck holds three Michelin stars, and the influence is clear. Sitting on the terrace looking out across the clear, bright blue sea, with beautifully executed seafood arriving at the table, I could see why.
Our final dinner was at Villa del Parco’s Belvedere. Surrounded by greenery and looking out into the trees, it felt like dining inside a hidden rainforest. The concept brings together Japanese techniques and ingredients with Mediterranean soul, and the result felt thoughtful, elegant and completely delicious. Dining in Forte Village can mean a pasta course in every meal, and dessert pretty much obligatory, so my waistline took on a whole new identity while I was here.
Breakfast at Le Dune is fabulous, but in terms of amazing settings, the following morning’s breakfast back at Villa del Parco was very special. Served beneath dense greenery, the atmosphere was peaceful and cocooned. Coffee arrived in delicate floral cups. Breakfast came on beautifully illustrated crockery decorated with botanical details and butterflies. And then I spotted jars of dried bee pollen with little shakers for sprinkling over breakfast. I’d never seen that before. A tiny detail, completely memorable.
Sardinia, Blue Zones and the joy of slowing down
Sardinia is home to one of the world’s recognised Blue Zones, regions associated with exceptional longevity and healthy ageing. The Blue Zone itself sits elsewhere on the island but being here I started to understand the appeal. People move more slowly, meals are savoured (mind you it sure beats a Boots meal deal!) and nobody apologises for sitting still. At this point in life, I’m less interested in collecting hotel key cards and more interested in places that make me feel better when I leave than when I arrived.
After floating in magnesium-rich water, eating breakfast beneath the trees and being driven through the resort in a spa robe like an extremely overindulged Roman empress, I briefly convinced myself I’d discovered the secret to Sardinian longevity. I came home feeling calmer, more serene and convinced that bee pollen may deserve further investigation.
Le Dune starting rate for low season – £875 euros per night, per person on a half-board basis.
To book: fortevillageresort.com/hotels-suites
S.S. 195, Km. 39.600, 09050 Pula CA, Italy
