L’ea Bianca Luxury Resort

Although L’ea Bianca Luxury Resort attracts some families with young children, the primarily clientele are couples looking for some measure of solitude and Italian business travelers attending an on-site convention. Guests enter the hotel by means of a footbridge that passes through abundant greenery into the lobby, which is an elegant and light-filled space furnished with attractive sofas and diamond-patterned rugs. The hotel’s restaurant is fitted in a similar fashion, with cream-linen tablecloths and brown chairs. A tabletop made from a cross-section through a knotty baobab tree trunk is the focal point. Outside, the manicured and lush grounds are filled with fountains, mature trees, and stone pathways. The attractive pool looks out over the sea. Up on the roof is a solarium with sun loungers positioned to make the most of the views.

L’ea Bianca Luxury Resort is, for better or for worse, an isolated hotel. The hotel has direct access to a public red-sand beach with a section reserved for guests. There's really nothing within walking distance, as most of the buildings dotted around the bay are residential or other hotels. However, within easy driving distance are places to rent sailboats, surfboards, and waterskis, as well as a few restaurants. The closest sizable town is Porto Cervo, a 15-minute drive away. Expect a 35-minute car ride to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, or a two-and-a-half-hour transfer from Corsica’s Figari Sud-Corse Airport, by car and ferry.

The 31 rooms are spacious and bright, and all have furnished terraces with views over Baja Sardinia. They're decorated in neutral tones, with parquet stone flooring and a mix of wood and sleek black furniture. Even the smallest rooms have space for a coffee table and two large bent wood chairs, as well as a desk and chair. Bathrooms in Deluxe and Superior Rooms either have a rainfall shower or a bathtub with hydrotherapy jets and a shower. Junior Suites are far larger and add a sofa and armchair, while Suites have a separate bedroom and sitting area. The Suites’ bathrooms have both a shower cubicle with a rainfall showerhead and a jetted tub. Flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, minibars, and bathrobes are standard amenities.

There are also five private villas located in the dense vegetation around the hotel. These are decorated in a much more homey, rustic style than the rooms, though they're certainly still attractive. They have either two or three bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, as well as a kitchen with a refrigerator, oven, electric stove, dishwasher, and cookware. Views from the furnished verandas are of the sea.

The hotel has a quality list of amenities for couples and business travelers, but there are no facilities specifically geared toward children. Most notable is the direct access to a private section of the public beach, set in a secluded cove with rich red sand and featuring loungers under umbrellas. It's reached by following a path that runs alongside a grove of mature trees, bookended by rocky crags on one side and a lagoon which is home to rare sea birds on the other. Closer to the hotel is the large outdoor swimming pool set in an attractive terrace amid the lushly green grounds. A rooftop solarium with panoramic sea views is also on-site. L’ea Bianca has a spa which offers beauty and wellness treatments, as well as the use of a sauna and hydrotherapy pool. A gym is on-site, but it's small and minimally equipped with a treadmill, bicycle, and free weights.

The on-site restaurant serves a free continental breakfast in the morning, a light buffet and a la carte dishes for lunch, and either a set menu or a la carte dinner. Drinks and light snacks are available at the bar as well. The menu consists of Mediterranean and international cuisine and food receives positive reviews. Wi-Fi is available throughout, but guests have noted that coverage can be patchy. A business center with computers is also available and the hotel has meeting spaces for the regular conference groups.