Some resorts overwhelm you with activity. Resort Le Dune Hotel & Spa in Sardinia does the opposite: it gently unfolds in peaceful, winding paths until you realise your shoulders have dropped about three inches and the biggest challenge of the day becomes deciding which restaurant can satisfy your appetite. Set among the soft sands of Badesi Mare in northern Sardinia, Le Dune feels less like a hotel and more like a relaxed coastal village designed by someone who really understands holidays.
Paths wind through fragrant flowering bushes and brightly coloured lovebirds chirp noisily in various aviaries dotted around the resort, a particular passion project of general manager Calogero Spinella. The resort’s central square comes alive each evening with that irresistible Mediterranean thrum of life music, shoppers perusing clothes and jewellery boutiques, guests lingering over a drink and little ones begging for gelato. There’s a handy pharmacy on site and an office where you can book excursions.
We stayed between Hotel Le Sabine and Hotel La Duna Bianca, the resort’s two four-star-superior hotels (the other three are four-star). From serene pools and indulgent spa sessions to long lunches, fiery sunsets, and some of the best seafood ever, Le Dune delivers enough variety to keep guests satisfied as they unwind.
Who For
Le Dune is ideal for guests who enjoy having all their needs catered for on site. Couples looking for relaxation will find plenty of quiet corners, while families have their pick of activities. Younger children will enjoy the Fantasy Village playground, organic farm, evening shows and aviaries full of chirping lovebirds. Sports-mad types can find myriad ways to break a sweat. Kids’ clubs and babysitting are available for parents craving peace.
Babyclub
Add in six pools, kids’ clubs and restaurants dedicated to little ones – as well as that expansive indulgence that Italians have for children – and you see how Le Dune is a magnet for families. But for those who prefer spa action to sport, Le Dune caters for us, too.
Accommodation
Hotel La Duna Bianca feels wonderfully exclusive, with just 16 rooms in total and just steps from the beach. Each room is immaculately decorated in stylish, soothing neutrals, with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that open onto balconies overlooking the iridescent sea.
Bedroom at La Duna Bianca, Sardinia
Watching fiery sunsets blaze on the horizon from our terrace became a nightly ritual. The large bathroom adds to the indulgence quotient, featuring both a free-standing bathtub and a spacious walk-in shower – ideal after a day on the beach.
Hotel Le Sabine is also exclusive, in a far corner of the resort and arranged around a swimming pool. Our suite featured a separate lounge decorated in calming peach shades, creating a warm, relaxed atmosphere that felt immediately welcoming, with a terrace for relaxing over morning coffee or evening aperitivi. With an inviting bed and sizeable bathroom with walk-in shower, it was comfortable and quietly elegant – perfect for unwinding.
Food & Drink
With ten restaurants – most included in the half-board price – dining at Le Dune is a pleasure rather than a routine. Breakfast was a smorgasbord of pastries, fruits, charcuterie and pancakes and eggs cooked to order.
For lazy lunches we walked the few steps from the beach to La Duna Bianca’s restaurant for the Brunch Mediterraneo, a feast of cheeses, pasta dishes, salads, fruit, seafood and a dozen kinds of bread, which for a fee kept us stuffed until dinnertime.
At dinner, seafood is the star and deservedly so. Il Leccio was a standout with its mountain of sushi, endless seafood starters and excellent fresh fish. When we craved carbs, Li Junchi’s wood-fired pizza with a pillowy dough couldn’t be bettered. But Lo Scorfano was our favourite restaurant.
Upon arrival we were greeted by the manager with a glass of prosecco and oysters before being ushered to our table in a grove of pines and junipers. The buffet of seafood starters and main courses of swordfish and tuna tasted like they’d just been plucked from the sea – as they probably had.
Facilities
The sun loungers on Li Junchi beach are plentiful and Le Dune’s pools serene. The spa is a particular highlight – for a surcharge it was worth reclining in its three freshwater pools that soothe muscles and erase schedules.
Sports offerings include a football pitch, tennis, padel and mini-basketball courts, archery field, yoga classes or fitness centre. For a fee, water sports at the beach are available for the energetic. Children’s activities are impressively organised. The central square packs in a bar, arcade, boutiques, a gelateria and on-site pharmacy, perfect for stocking up on mosquito repellent.
What’s Nearby
Beyond Li Junchi Beach – an unspoilt and uncrowded crescent that arcs from the village of Isola Rossa – the surrounding area rewards exploration. The medieval hill town of Castelsardo offers a stunning old town, sea views and a real sense of Sardinia’s past, while the village of Isola Rossa charms with its red rocks, harbour, and relaxed seaside feel. History buffs can search out the fascinating remnants of Sardinia’s Nuragic civilisation (starting in the 18th c BC) in the nearby countryside, particularly some of the island’s 7,000 nuraghi, beehive-shaped stone towers built during that era.
How much
Resort & Spa Le Dune rates start from €98 per person per night in a double room on half board basis. Season runs from mid May until end of September. Bookings Website: www.resortledune.com/en/
Verdict
A beautifully designed Sardinian resort that offers space, serenity, exceptional food and enough indulgence to make leaving feel like a very bad idea.