L'ea Bianca Luxury Resort

Tucked away among Mediterranean shrub, this hidden gem is set above a bay on the Costa Smeralda where the blue-on-blue vistas are best taken in from the outdoor pool. With a dusky pink-tinged façade and terracotta-tiled roof, L'Ea Bianca Luxury Resort nods to traditional Sardinian design, updated with a dose of modern luxury – excellent spa, refined dining and private stretch of beach. Here, it’s all about slipping down a few gears: while away the hours stretched out on Cala dei Ginepri, rising only to dip into the bathwater-warm bay, or take a leisurely boat trip through the pink-sand islands scattered throughout La Maddalena archipelago. End your day by catching a sunset back at the hotel’s outdoor terrace, raised above the rocks for optimum views.

This easy-going al fresco vibe – the endearing la dolce vita lifestyle – continues at Lunaria Restaurant, where plates of seafood and Sardinian classics are served up on the wooden veranda; a wine connoisseur on hand to recommend the perfect complementary vintage. You can even request a candlelit dinner-for-two overlooking the sea and, beyond, the hazy specks of La Maddalena. Afterwards, linger over drinks at the piano bar, surrounded by oleander trees and cacti.

Don’t let this hotel’s imposing presence fool you though; rather than hundreds of soulless rooms, just 31 tranquil hideaways create an intimate boutique feel, all with sea- or garden-view balconies and classic Sardinian design – an earthy colour palette, wall-hung artwork, dark wood furnishings, canary-yellow tiled bathrooms. Deluxe Rooms are more generously sized than Superior Rooms and throw in a chromotherapy bathroom, while the super spacious Junior Suites come with a living area and luxury finishes – 42-inch Smart TVs, pillow menu and hydro-massage bathtubs.