TRAVEL
FORTE VILLAGE RESORT, SARDINIA
FORTE VILLAGE DOES NOT SO MUCH OPERATE AS A HOTEL RESORT, BUT AS A BEAUTIFULLY CHOREOGRAPHED MEDITERRANEAN WORLD UNTO ITSELF. SET ACROSS 50 HECTARES ON SARDINIA’ S SOUTHERN COAST, THE LEGENDARY ESTATE FOUNDED BY LORD CHARLES FORTE IN THE 1970S HAS EVOLVED INTO SOMETHING FAR MORE NUANCED THAN ITS ORIGINAL HOLIDAY VILLAGE BEGINNINGS: A COLLECTION OF INTERCONNECTED HOTELS, SUITES AND VILLAS STITCHED TOGETHER BY TROPICAL GARDENS, RESTAURANTS, ACADEMIES, WELLNESS SPACES AND A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS RIBBON OF COASTLINE. FAMILIES CYCLE BETWEEN EXPERIENCES. WELLNESS DEVOTEES DISAPPEAR INTO THALASSO POOLS. CHILDREN HEAD TO ELITE SPORTS COACHING WHILE PARENTS LINGER OVER SARDINIAN WINE. SOMEHOW, DESPITE THE SCALE, IT ALL FLOWS WITH REMARKABLE EASE, AS SAMANTHA READY AND THE READY CLAN FOUND OUT …
Aside from the sheer scale of its positioning across lush gardens and sweeping coastline, the sheer breadth of accommodation is part of what makes Forte Village function so brilliantly across generations and travel styles. Nine hotels sit within the wider estate, ranging from elegant five-star properties and contemporary suites to ultraprivate villas complete with personal pools, butlers and dedicated concierge services. Families can opt for spacious bungalowstyle rooms immersed in gardens, while couples or multi-generational groups can opt for larger suites and secluded villa living. Despite the scale, each corner of the resort retains its own identity.
Home for our stay was the newly modernised Hotel Castello Garden
Bungalows, positioned brilliantly close to the beach, pools and many of the resort’ s key facilities. Spacious and elegant, the bungalow blended contemporary comfort with Mediterranean softness, vaulted beach-style roofs, calming neutrals, crisp linens, sliding doors to section the master bedroom from the living room( that doubled as the kids’ bedroom) and enough room for family life to unfold without everyone sitting
120 • www. insidekent. co. uk