Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma - Adults Only

“Service was exceptional”

A trip we will never forget. The hotel was beautiful, the setting and surroundings are very picturesque. The pool & breakfast staff were very friendly and welcoming. The front desk and concierge were exceptionally good, offering top quality service and nothing was too much to ask. They helped my pa… more

A trip we will never forget. The hotel was beautiful, the setting and surroundings are very picturesque. The pool & breakfast staff were very friendly and welcoming. The front desk and concierge were exceptionally good, offering top quality service and nothing was too much to ask. They helped my partner organise my engagement setting at a local view point close by the hotel. A special mention to Alicia who went above and beyond to help accommodate the plans and provide local knowledge of sunset view points. I can’t thank you all enough for making it so special.

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“A Slice of Sardinian Paradise”

We truly believe that someone took a slice of Sardinian paradise and wrapped it in five-star tranquility here at Ma & Ma. First things first: the Adults Only concept rings true, and this is reflected in every aspect of how the hotel presents itself and how it is experienced. Peaceful, calm and wond… more

We truly believe that someone took a slice of Sardinian paradise and wrapped it in five-star tranquility here at Ma & Ma. First things first: the Adults Only concept rings true, and this is reflected in every aspect of how the hotel presents itself and how it is experienced. Peaceful, calm and wonderfully laid-back, it offers exactly the sort of atmosphere one hopes for when looking to completely unwind as adults. The hotel itself blends beautifully into the rugged surroundings of La Maddalena. Somehow modern and elegant, yet not in the least flashy or pretentious. Surrounded by dramatic rocks, Mediterranean vegetation, and endless shades of blue, it simply feels right where it stands. And the scent! Some mild Sardinian incense fills the hallways of the hotel with a delightful fragrance. Being allergic and occasionally slightly bothered by heavily scented environments, I was relieved to discover that this was wonderfully subtle. Even my histamines, notorious party poopers at times, remained perfectly calm. Shoes may become overrated while staying here. We quickly settled into a rhythm where days revolved around late and long breakfasts, tanning by the pool, perhaps another espresso or cocktail from the pool bar, and occasionally making the monumental effort of choosing a different set of sunbeds. Because change is good for the brain. Life is hard. The rooms were spacious, spotless, and wonderfully comfortable. Large bathrooms, quality amenities and excellent housekeeping made everything feel effortlessly luxurious. Service throughout our stay was warm, professional, and wonderfully genuine. Reception, restaurant staff, housekeeping and bar staff all seemed to understand that hospitality isn't just about doing things right – it's about making guests feel relaxed and cared for. They succeeded – with flair, no less! Staff never appeared rushed or rehearsed, and yet everything simply worked. A special mention to the hotel concierge; no challenge too big, and we'd always get the help we needed, for everything from restaurant bookings to activities. Breakfast also deserves a special mention. Those who believe breakfast is merely fuel have clearly never had breakfast in Italy. Fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, cheeses, coffee that reminds you why life is worth living and enough choice to make you wonder if perhaps a second breakfast should become part of your daily routine. And yes, they offer prosecco at breakfast. Because apparently, when in Sardinia, orange juice becomes optional. Or why not have both? The pool area was our favourite spot. Beautifully integrated amidst the rocks and gardens, with extremely comfortable loungers and excellent service for snacks and drinks of any kind, it became dangerously easy to spend entire days doing only the bare minimum and thoroughly enjoying every second of it. And honestly, isn't that what holidays are all about? Doing nothing is an art form in itself. Despite the size of the hotel, the pool area never felt crowded. Clever use of rocks and Mediterranean vegetation creates all sorts of little nooks and crannies, making it easy to find your own special spot for the day – never too far away from another dip in the pool or the difficult decision of choosing between an espresso, a cocktail, or something delicious from the pool bar. Privacy and tranquility seem to have been carefully considered throughout the design of this area. There is also an absolutely stunning viewpoint connected to the pool area. Do yourself a favour and don't miss it while staying here. The view alone is enough to remind you why postcards exist in the first place. The hotel is far enough from the bustle of the town to feel secluded and peaceful, yet close enough to reach the charming town center without much effort. Either by one of the island's seemingly four taxis, or by a pleasant twenty-minute walk – mostly downhill from the hotel to town. Going the other way, however, I'd recommend being reasonably fit or employing some form of transportation. We were told there are only four or so taxis on the island, and after a week there, we're inclined to believe them. And what a place this island of La Maddalena is! Crystal-clear waters, dramatic scenery everywhere you look, charming restaurants and breathtaking views all around. Lovely and hospitable locals, scenic vistas even in the narrowest alleyways and steepest stairways – all infused with that unmistakable Mediterranean charm and laid-back vibe. One thing this island taught us is that the colours on their postcards are apparently not edited. The sea really is that amazing shade of blue. We checked. Grand Hotel Resort Ma&Ma gave us exactly what we had hoped for and perhaps a little more: relaxation, outstanding comfort, beautiful surroundings and memories we still talk about years later. And that, to us, is the ultimate compliment. No place is perfect, and in the spirit of fairness, there were a couple of minor inconveniences during our stay, and for these minor issues, they do not get a top score from us. The network coverage immediately outside the hotel entrance proved somewhat unreliable, which occasionally made card payments and taxi terminals a little more exciting than one might prefer while on holiday. Inconvenient at times, but certainly not enough to spoil the experience. The balconies could have been equipped with some sort of drying rack/line or similar arrangement for swimwear, saving guests from having to keep wet clothes in the bathroom or the room itself. The hotel website and several reviews mentioned a complimentary shuttle service to and from town. This was nowhere to be seen during our stay. Given the location of the hotel and the summer temperatures, such a service would certainly have been greatly appreciated. It might even have tipped the scales of our review all the way to the top. That being said, these were only minor observations in what was otherwise an exceptional stay. We would happily return without hesitation.

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“Extremely overpriced, "just fine" at best, not worth it”

We stayed here for part of our honeymoon to see La Maddalena. Lodging options are limited, but if you can find elsewhere, go elsewhere. This place is DEFINITELY NOT a 5 star resort, I have no idea how they're allowed to call it that. The vibes are very kitschy and inauthentic- turf grass, artific… more

We stayed here for part of our honeymoon to see La Maddalena. Lodging options are limited, but if you can find elsewhere, go elsewhere. This place is DEFINITELY NOT a 5 star resort, I have no idea how they're allowed to call it that. The vibes are very kitschy and inauthentic- turf grass, artificial smells, very strange black and red decorations. It's a stark contrast to the nature-inspired, elegant vibe of everywhere else we stayed in Sardinia. A big part of our charge was for "services" but we're not sure what that even was. We did not use the spa. It is a 30-40 minute hilly walk into town, but this hotel does not offer any sort of shuttle there, just down the hill to their beach club. When we checked out, we had to ask them to bring the car around to put our luggage in- it was not offered. That's fine at any 4 star or below hotel, but somewhere 5 stars should be more service oriented. The beach club looked very nice. We didn't use it, again it had that artificial and contrived feeling to it that contrasted the rest of Maddalena and we prefer to just lay on a rock on the beach and have privacy, but some people may like it. It was nice to have breakfast included, but it sucked frankly. Slimy eggs, stale pastries. I'm vegan and I had very few options. Gym is very small. Staff seemed to lack knowledge of the town as far as particular restaurant suggestions etc. Overall it was fine. The rooms were clean, it was quiet, and it was an adults-only resort which is nice. The staff were polite. But, it was just waaaay too expensive for the value and didn't seem to match the photos online. We enjoyed Maddalena but if we went again we would definitely stay elsewhere in an AirBNB or one of the 3-star hotels closer to town.

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“Not a 5 star hotel!”

We love to stay in luxury hotels, but this place absolutely does not deserve 5 stars and is the biggest rip-off on La Maddalena. Instead of a premium experience, we felt completely unvalued as customers. The decor is very outdated and tacky, and the rooms are surprisingly small. Our room overlooked… more

We love to stay in luxury hotels, but this place absolutely does not deserve 5 stars and is the biggest rip-off on La Maddalena. Instead of a premium experience, we felt completely unvalued as customers. The decor is very outdated and tacky, and the rooms are surprisingly small. Our room overlooked the car park and was very loud at night. The only positive was the housekeeping—compliments to the cleaning ladies who came twice a day, which is a rarity nowadays. The biggest disappointment by far was the beach. They actually charge hotel guests €70 for a double sunbed! We went down at 5 PM and didn't expect that, nor did we want to pay a full-day rate for a quick swim. Because of this, they put us on the 'free' loungers. There were only about three of them, situated right by the walking path in the full sun with no umbrella at all—it honestly felt like a punishment. Furthermore, the beach is rocky, very hard to get into the water, and full of sea urchins, which we haven't seen anywhere else in Sardinia. The pool setup is also incredibly awkward. There are no loungers around it, only restaurant seats, meaning the people eating are watching you swim. They also make you fetch your own pool towels using a strict voucher system, and you can only get one each. To top it off, the food was the worst we had in Italy and massively overpriced. We paid €24 for a basic sandwich that was so stale and bread-heavy with zero filling that we couldn't even finish it. I ordered a lasagna that tasted microwaved, and unfortunately, we both suffered from upset stomachs later that night. Overall, I really do not recommend this property. You are much better off staying somewhere cheaper by the beach and not overpaying for this fake "luxury."

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