Forte Village Resort-Il Borgo

“Just book it!”

IN SUMMARY - Just book it, for two weeks if you can. It's a stunningly beautiful resort - there's so much to see and do. You'll love it! INTRO The Forte Village is a fabulous resort comprising eight hotels and thirteen villas, situated on the south coast of Sardinia between Pula and Chia. We pi… more

IN SUMMARY - Just book it, for two weeks if you can. It's a stunningly beautiful resort - there's so much to see and do. You'll love it! INTRO The Forte Village is a fabulous resort comprising eight hotels and thirteen villas, situated on the south coast of Sardinia between Pula and Chia. We picked it essentially at random having not been to the island before, and for a couples holiday couldn't be happier with our choice. There's so much to see and do here that the website doesn't really do it justice, so hopefully my review will be useful. Also, as there doesn't seem to be a general photo gallery on the website, I've added quite a few pictures to help you get a better feel for the place... ABOUT THE RESORT Learning your way around the resort does take a couple of days, but there are maps alongside every pathway and an app that you can use for navigation. In fact, one of the first things you see as you exit the main reception is a 3D map of the resort, about the size of a snooker table, which somewhat disconcertingly you can walk over, as it is set into the reception floor and covered with glass. GROUNDS The website really doesn't do the resort justice in terms of how it feels walking around. Red brick 'roads' connected to and between accommodation make it really feel like its own village. The grounds are quite beautiful, with 30-foot tall pine trees which create a canopy of shade, and a wonderful selection of flowers in every colour of the rainbow. One thing we weren't expecting was the awesome mountain backdrop. It's a very big place, so get used to a 5-10 minute walk from your accommodation to the beach, or you can wait at one of the 'bus stops' and a big golf buggy will appear to take you wherever you need. The hotels and bungalows are all linked by various walkways and the tastefully paved 'roads', where the aforementioned golf buggies ferry people around, families zoom past on their rented bicycles and the maintenance staff whizz around on their own little motorised trolleys. ACCOMMODATION Even though they consider themselves separate, you can pretty much walk in and out of any of the 'hotels', often without even realising you've done it. And many, if not most, of the hotel rooms are in fact self-contained bungalows, with a patio area and/or semi-private garden. After an email conversation before arrival with the Andrea, the rooms division manager of the property about how I really wanted a peaceful location, we were fortunate enough to get upgraded to a room in the five-star hotel 'Villa del Parco' and the service was first class - nothing was too much trouble, with champagne in the room to set the tone. Hotel manager Alessandro made sure our stay was absolutely perfect. Our bungalow was fantastic. Huge comfortable bed, a small 'living area' with sofa and chair, plus a walk-in wardrobe. The bathroom was almost as big, with a huge bath, shower area, two basins, toilet and bidet. The only thing it lacked was an extractor fan... FOOD Villa del Parco has it's own private terrace for breakfast, with full hot and cold options, and eggs Benedict or omelettes cooked to order. Guests of other hotels will havetheir own options, with a big area overlooking the Oasis pool. Given how much we ate at breakfast and dinner we didn't really have much lunch, but there are myriad options from pizza to sushi and everything in-between. On half board we had access to four a-la-carte restaurants and one buffet for evening meals. These are mostly set around the Oasis pool on the upper level, so have great views. First, and quite surprisingly in an Italian beach resort, was the curry house 'Indiano'. Subsequently we ate at the Sardinian and Brazilian restaurants, and the Forte Grill. All the menus were delicious and well cooked. Indiano was great, with so much food! Starters, curry, naan, rice, lamb chops on the side. We were stuffed! Sardo had a great local menu, including house specialty suckling pig. The Brazilian wasn't our favourite. The chef brought the meat to the table in a huge skewer, first some chicken wings, then sausage, beef, veal and lamb chops. The chicken wings weren't that good, but the rest was lovely. Forte Grill, as you'd expect, is a steak house. There's a menu with chicken kebab, lamb chops, steak and burger included in your half board package, or you can spend a lot more on some rarer cuts. The sirloin we had was ok, but a bit ovedone. The Cavalieri buffet supposedly put on a special 'Tuscany night' midweek, but it was unclear what was Tuscany related! There was, however, a superb selection of food and an amazing pianist. We only ate here once as it was kind of frenetic compared to the calm of the a la carte restaurants. Lastly we were invited to the Belvedere in Villa del Parco, a gourmet restaurant on a fabulous terrace overlooking the park. There's usually a supplement of €95 to eat here, but it is really worth it. Chef Giuseppe Molaro has a Michelin star for his creations, and it was fabulous. The wagyu carpaccio in particular was astonishingly good. There are plenty of other restaurants we didn't have time to visit, often with Michelin star chefs and spectacular views across the sea, so check the Forte Village website to read about those. POOLS There are several pools, so you're spoilt for choice. Again, there really aren't any photos of these on the website. All sunbeds, parasols and tables in the resort and on the beach have a qr code that allows you to order from the bar, which is handy... We spent most time at Castlello pool, which is surrounded by pine and palm trees, and generally quiet. The pool looks out across the Mediterranean, and the view is quite stunning, plus you're protected from the wind that can whip up off the sea. You also get the music from the Tiki bar coming through the trees, mostly reggae and pop, and not so loud as to be a disturbance. The Castello pool is reasonably large, about 25m, and there's also a 10m-ish round pool that's 5m deep - maybe for PADI training if you want to learn to scuba dive. The sunbeds are super comfy, and the fabulous concierge/lifeguard always on hand to help with towels or to move your umbrella. For people that like something bigger there's the Oasis situated at the centre of the resort and the Aquapark near the hotel entrance. The Oasis is large with many areas to swim, four-poster sunbeds all around, as well as the usual chairs. It gets VERY hot in there, as it's sunken into the ground and gets no breeze at all, so beware! The Aquapark is great fun, with four straight sides and two flumes, as well as a kids play area, a 25m lane pool, and another large pool on the upper level. The slides are all pretty gentle, so suitable for all ages. It does feel a little tired compared to the rest of the facilities, however. BEACH The beach is lovely and the sea a beautiful turquoise colour. It is, however, quite a lot smaller than the one website photo I could find. There isn't really much of a tide in the med, but when it's high or is a bit stormy, there's barely enough room for two rows of sunbeds as the sea seems to have reclaimed a lot of the sand. Also, the beach isn't quite as 'pristine' as the website claims - there was a lot of seaweed on the beach and in the water. We went in early September when the resort was very quiet, so there were plenty of sunbeds available, but I can imagine it's pretty crazy down there in peak season! LOCATION There's so much going on in the resort you could spend two weeks here and still not do everything on offer, but as well as enjoying the fabulous facilities, we hired a car and went to four other local beaches; Su Giudeu - huge, beautiful but very busy Nora - quiet with fish that bite you! Tuerredda - small and stunningly beautiful, but beware you must reserve a space on the beach on the website before you go!! - Cala Cipolla, just over the headland from Su Giudeu. That one is much quieter, with no bar or facilities, but also beautiful. All the beaches are quite stunning, and you can wade out into for several metres before even thinking about swimming. But swim you must, the sea is beautifully clear and warm. CULTURE I thoroughly recommend you check out the Roman ruins at Nora, about 15 minutes east along the coast. There was a whole town here 2000 years ago with a court, theatre, fountain, and many houses. The archaeological site costs €10 to walk around, but you'll be amazed at what they uncovered, as well as beautifully preserved mosaic floors, Roman roads, the works. You can truly imagine the atmosphere all those years ago, with the stunning views across the med and up into the mountains as a backdrop. Has society actually moved forward since then?! CLIENTELE The guests were almost entirely Italian, with maybe 10% English and German. This is probably the reason for my only minor gripe - some of the bar and restaurant staff didn't speak much English, and I speak almost no Italian, which caused some frustration. Maybe a tip for next year - get some frozen daiquiris on the beach menu, with a happy hour in the afternoon ;0) However, staff in reception and management all spoke perfect English. COST This is very much a five star resort, so you should be ready to pay for that. The upkeep of all the pools, restaurants, accommodation and gardens must cost an absolute fortune, not to mention all the staff, so expect to pay a lot for add-ons, activities, drink and any food not included. Just as a guide, a beer (¾ pint) is €8.50 and an Aperol spritz €16. The wine list is huge and there are many bottles on there over €100 and even some Château Pétrus at €14,000 if you fancy that. Sardinian house wine is about €45 and perfectly acceptable if you're on a budget. COUPLES V FAMILIES We came the first week of September as a couple to relax and absolutely achieved our aim. The weather was perfect, 30° and sunny every day, the pools and beaches fabulous and the food delicious. We didn't use the spa, but there's plenty of relaxation treatments available if you want them, as well as yoga, saunas and solariums. There are so many things for kids and families that I couldn't list here. But there are extensive sports facilities, including separate academies for tennis, coastal rowing, rugby, netball, fencing, cycling, boxing, climbing, dancing and more! HEALTH ADVICE Bring bite cream and anti mosquito spray. We were bitten in reception before we even got to our room and collected more throughout the week! FINAL THOUGHT This isn't a cheap holiday, but it's absolutely worth it. The grounds are stunning, the pools plentiful and the surrounding beaches beautiful. The food is exceptional and the staff all fantastically friendly. It really was one of the best holidays we've ever had.

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“A truly memorable stay - thanks to the most attentive team!”

What a way to end our Sardinian holiday! From the moment we arrived, we felt so welcome thanks to Paolo, Alessandro, and Christina. They made sure we were taken care of every step of the way, even surprising us with little gestures that made the stay extra special. The rooms were gorgeous, with bi… more

What a way to end our Sardinian holiday! From the moment we arrived, we felt so welcome thanks to Paolo, Alessandro, and Christina. They made sure we were taken care of every step of the way, even surprising us with little gestures that made the stay extra special. The rooms were gorgeous, with big windows and a balcony overlooking a lush garden - it really felt like a jungle! The Thalasso Spa was a highlight too, especially the sea water baths that worked wonders for my skin and left us feeling completely relaxed. Definitely don’t miss dinner at Belvedere. The food is amazing, with a Japanese twist from Executive Chef Giuseppe Molaro, and the rooftop views are stunning! Overall, the attentive service made this stay unforgettable. We’re so grateful for the experience and can’t wait to return. Huge thanks to Paolo, Alessandro, and Christina for making it all so memorable!

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“Ultimate family friendly resort meets luxury warm hospitality”

At the start of June visited Villa del Parco and Spa within Forte Village. This was a family stay for myself, my partner and our two young children to break up a longer trip around Sardinia. Our stay may have only been short but it was very memorable for all the right reasons. Upon arrival, we we… more

At the start of June visited Villa del Parco and Spa within Forte Village. This was a family stay for myself, my partner and our two young children to break up a longer trip around Sardinia. Our stay may have only been short but it was very memorable for all the right reasons. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by friendly staff and taken to the reception to do the usual forms, etc. The kids (4 & 7) were each given a soft toy parrot of the village mascot 'Mario', which they loved. This set the tone for our stay. The children were well catered to throughout, and it never felt like they were just being tolerated which for previous trips to other destinations with a young family had felt the case. We stayed at an interconnecting bungalow, which was lovely, well appointed and felt secluded. The beds were very comfortable and the finish was to a very high standard. The bathrooms were stocked with quality products and offered both shower and bath which we always appreciate. Having some outside space between activities was well appreciated by all the family. As I've alluded to above, there's a real family focus, with lots of options for activities and entertainment for the children. Ours enjoyed a day at the kids club, and several trips to the splash pool. The splash pool or should I say mini aqua park being a particular highlight for them as there were slides and things to play with that suited both ages suit both ages. The kids club also had a train which took the children on an extended route all around the park and they loved it. When we collected them they both had big smiles and lots of stories. The food offering was excellent. Breakfast was lovely, with a range of quality food and drink to suit everyone (even fussy children!) . We dined at Le Dune on the first night and Belvedere on the second. Both were outstanding. Again, it's worth mentioning how the staff went out of their way to ensure two fussy kids were well catered to - this enabled us to relax and enjoy our food - which isn't always the case elsewhere! Our accommodation was on a half board basis where we had lots of choices (where to dine as well as what to choose on each menu). We managed to squeeze in a trip to the spa to while the kids were in the kids club, and did a circuit of the Thalasso - I would highly recommend this, we thoroughly enjoyed it. It's worth noting is that this Village is huge and made up of many different areas joined together by golf-cart serviced walkways through lush forest and gardens. Each have different types of accommodation and inclusions depending on the experience you require. Some would suit families better, some couples, some either. The Dune apartments right on the beach couldn't be closer to the ocean and we hope to try those next time. There was so much that we saw but didn't have time to experience during our short stay... everything looked fantastic and I would happily bring my family back here but next time for longer . There were many pools, a centre square with entertainment each evening, shopping, countless restaurants and even a go karting track and circus tent! The real gem of the resort, however, are the staff, who made us feel welcome and like part of the family. Carolina at Villa del Parco was just wonderful, the kindest and most genuine person who made our stay truly effortless. Nothing was too much trouble and she was so warm to the children- even giving them a magnet of their parrot friend for the fridge to take home as we departed. I don't take the time to write many reviews but I felt this one was highly deserved. We look forward to returning and for anybody looking for a luxurious stay with 5 star service that makes children feel as welcome as adults this place is for you.

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“A great family venue, good staff who try very hard to help you have a great time.”

I Just wanted to share our holiday at Forte Village, Villa del Parco where we spent a week. We went in June 2025 and it was 33-37 degrees each day. The resort is great and Villa del Parco is a gem! I have to say a special thank you for hotel manager Mr Alessandro and his front desk team Carolina … more

I Just wanted to share our holiday at Forte Village, Villa del Parco where we spent a week. We went in June 2025 and it was 33-37 degrees each day. The resort is great and Villa del Parco is a gem! I have to say a special thank you for hotel manager Mr Alessandro and his front desk team Carolina and Christina and Lorenza who did all they could to make our stay unforgettable. Alessandro is a brilliant and attentive house manager! It was such a pleasure that everyday we could just enjoy our stay, and relax and play with the grandkids, and everything was taken care of with the biggest smile. Villa del Parco is set with a garden where the breakfast is served . The breakfast has all the usual choices and is fresh and the cooked breakfasts are warm eggs cooked fresh . The Breakfast Staff are friendly and approachable . Our room was quiet, set in the woods, it was attached to another with interconnecting rooms, which was appreciated by our daughters ~ All rooms are spacious and the beds are extremely comfortable. Forte village has a nice beach. The sea is warm and if you are ok with a walk then you can walk out of the hotel and head right to find 3 x beach cafe used by locals.its about a mile long each way, we did try and walk to find a local supermarket, to the left of the hotel entrance, but that seemed to have closed in 2024 - there is apparently one to the right about 1km - but we didn’t venture there. The splash pool is excellent - we were there every morning 10-1pm ! The options for lunch and dinner are endless. We were there as a group of 8 (2 x grandparents, 4 x parents and 2 x 3 year olds). We liked the piano bar, and the steak bar for evening meal, we were offered the Michelin star restaurant, but declined due to having 2 x 3 year olds. The gym and Thalasso therapy is a must! Our son in law used the gym most days and his comment was that it was world leading. There were members of the Italian football team in the resort, which emphasised the quality of the resort for sport. Our daughter used the spa and paid €300 for her massage We had one incident where we needed to use the medical centre, and that was taken care of with professionalism and ease. There is a charge (200€) if you use the medical centre centre, but we were taken care of by Alessandro . Your children can join the most amazing sport academies, and enjoy children’s clubs ,you can leave them in the care of the staff or stay with them. We had a lovely holiday and would stay again either alone or with the family. This is an expensive venue - on a half board basis we racked up about £1000 of extras on lunches, ice creams, and water, but you know that when you book. Alcohol is pricey too! That’s on top of the £15-20k Unfortunately, We had a few issues relating to our bill at checkout, we were charged for non attendance at a restaurant, (€200) and for attending a Barbie makeover session (€300). Whilst both issues were resolved, we would urge everybody to check their bills at FV prior to check out. The team want you to experience all of the restaurants, and so they make you reservations, but this caused quite a lot of confusion, despite being told it wasn’t mandatory it most clearly was! We had informed the team that we wouldn’t be attending fancy restaurants due to having 2 x3 year olds to entertain. The Barbie issue - no clue… Due to the financial issues I would rate the experience as a 9/10. We will return, because the village is great for our family needs

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