TRAVEL on top of one another. Mornings began on the terrace before drifting towards Cavalieri Restaurant, the five-star buffet reserved for Castello guests.
Now, buffet dining is not usually where one expects culinary revelation. Forte Village, unsurprisingly, approaches things differently. Breakfasts stretched gloriously from fresh fruit, pastries and Sardinian cheeses through to eggs cooked to order, juices, pancakes and enough strong Italian coffee to propel even the sleepiest parent into holiday mode, which was just as well as this is a resort packed with activities, academies and refuelling pitstops.
Days unfolded easily between the resort’ s abundant leisure spaces. Pools here are not an afterthought but destinations in themselves, from quieter elegant swimming areas with views of the sea to the sprawling Oasis pool with cabana beds, swim-up bar and even its own aquapark that quickly became a firm favourite with Lyla and Jaxon. Stretching across the resort, slides, splash zones and unapologetically joyful chaos sit happily alongside calmer corners reserved for sunloungers, books and properly cold Aperol Spritzes.
The beach, meanwhile, is one of Forte Village’ s quiet trump cards. A long sweep of pale sand meets crystalline water, beautifully maintained yet blissfully usable for families whether paddleboarding, swimming or simply settling in for an hour that inevitably stretches into an afternoon of digging, fort building and snoozing to the backdrop of gently lapping waves.
What distinguishes Forte Village so sharply for families, however, is its sporting culture. This is not passive entertainment or token activity scheduling. This is the great and the good of academy coaching gathered in one remarkable place.
Jaxon had the privilege of joining the Real Madrid Foundation Clinic and was utterly enthralled from the outset, receiving his own kit before throwing himself into expert coaching sessions and matches with wholehearted enthusiasm. Across the wider resort, academies span everything from tennis, padel and basketball to fencing, hockey, dance, netball and even magic, while adults can simply prebook a court and reclaim a little wellness time of their own.
Beyond the sporting academies, younger guests are brilliantly catered for through expansive kids’ clubs and activity programmes that feel far removed from token colouring tables and tired craft sessions. From the immersive‘ Mario’ land with play zones and an entire Barbie room complete with dress-up and dolls, there is genuine imagination at work here. The resort’ s nature park added another unexpected dimension to the stay too, offering guests the chance to encounter animals from Shetland ponies to the new baby donkey, rabbits and goats, as well as green spaces tucked quietly within the estate, and even its own go kart track( there’ s an academy for that too!), reinforcing the feeling that Forte Village operates more like a Mediterranean village ecosystem than a traditional resort.
Bike hire proved a big win and a great way to explore. The resort is wonderfully navigable on two wheels and cycling between beach, spa, restaurants, kids’ activities and the open-air amphitheatre became a normal part of our stay.
Then there is Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa, the beating wellness heart of Forte Village.
The six-pool thalasso circuit deserves every ounce of its reputation. Pool one felt unlike anything I have ever experienced, so rich in magnesium and sea salts it was akin to wading through warm vegetable oil before your body lifts effortlessly into near-weightlessness. You could float there for an age, muscles releasing, mind slowing. The journey continued through contrasting temperatures, hydrotherapy pools, invigorating cold plunges and deeply therapeutic seawater immersion designed to detoxify, reset the circulation and calm the nervous system.
My final indulgence was the signature Salt & Honey treatment. Mineral-rich sea salt
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