Parco Blu Club Hotel Resort

The Parco Blu Club is unlikely to win any praise for its interior design, due to disjointed and dated decor, but it's certainly cheerful. The lobby and bar have salmon tile flooring, sponge-effect gold or peach walls, and rattan furniture next to potted plants. Outdoor spaces are far more alluring, as a freeform pool is set in a sunny terrace with lovely views of the surrounding landscape and sea in the near distance. A pool bar nestled in a verdant garden, and a restaurant terrace is beneath a pergola made of woven straw. Due to its lively animation team, buffet-style dining, and kid-friendly features, the hotel mostly attracts Italian families with kids.

Just a seven-minute walk from the beach (or free hotel shuttle ride), and in the center of Cala Gonone, the Parco Blu Club is ideally located to make the most of this region of the Sardinian coast. Cala Gonone is a quiet town, but there are a number of shops, bars, and restaurants in the area, as well as a port from which guests can take boat trips around the caves and beaches that dot the coastline. The town is in close proximity to the Gennargentu National Park, which has some spectacular terrain and well-marked hiking routes. Expect a transfer time of around 80 minutes to Olbia Airport.

The hotel’s rooms are dated and a bit spartan, with terra-cotta or gray tiled floors, white walls, and simple wooden furniture painted green or deep-red. Single Rooms are small, outfitted with a desk that doubles as a TV stand and an armoire. The rest of the rooms are more spacious, and can fit up to four. All rooms have a balcony or terrace -- some with lovely sea views -- but those in the Single Rooms are tiny and unfurnished. Similarly old-fashioned bathrooms are equipped with a shower cubicle and a bidet, plus a hose-style hairdryer and basic toiletries. All rooms have a flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, and a safe, but Wi-Fi is not available.

Parco Blu Club Hotel has a good list of amenities for an easy family vacation. Firstly, a free shuttle bus can take guests to a stretch of the nearby beach where there are free loungers and umbrellas available. On-site, a multi-purpose sports court and small but attractive children’s play area keeps little ones occupied. There is entertainment for both adults and children during the day and night from the hotel’s animation team, as well as live music at the bar. Travelers looking to get exercise in will likely be disappointed by the tiny gym, which has just two machines. Guests are better of working up a sweat at the sizable outdoor pool, which is set in a sunny terrace with a kiddy section and lovely views of the sea and hillsides. 

Next to the pool is a bar serving drinks and snacks, surrounded by a lush, verdant garden. Meals are served buffet-style in the hotel restaurant, and all rates include a continental breakfast. Wi-Fi is only available in the lobby, and guests warn of a daily facilities charge, which, while small, can add up quickly.