Cervo Hotel, Costa Smeralda Resort

After reading so many reviews we were alittle worried about our stay . We absolutely LOVED this hotel . Service was spectacular across the board - from Valet to Concierge, Check In , Wait Staff in ALL the restaurants .. boat tender driver to the beach & beach attendants .. SERVICE was PERFECT . Yes is this hotel expensive .. however they truly make you feel Special , Seen and TRULY on vacation . We will definitely return to this wonderful hotel . Location is spot ON .. Room was beautiful ..yes this is an older property that has preserved and updated to the highest standards . Private beach area is as if you are on your own private beach - absolutely stunning.

We stayed for 6 nights and loved our stay. The hotel has an unusual layout which is far from standard and it creates a charming feel. It is perhaps a little dated but so well maintained that this adds to the charm. The room was well maintained and clean. The breakfast selection was great, the room was spacious, parking was easy (and free), and the location is good. The shuttle to the beach is actually a boat trip to a private beach - such a lovely touch. The pool area and gym were underwhelming - pretty disappointing and so whilst I booked because I wanted a gym, I didn’t end up using it - small, right next to the pool and outdoor meant no privacy which felt odd.

The hotel itself is beautiful and the service was excellent. The staff were attentive, professional, and absolutely the strongest part of our experience. That being said, knowing what I know now, I would not choose to stay here again. This area of Sardinia is extremely upscale, pretentious, and outrageously expensive. Unless you specifically enjoy ultra-luxury destinations where everything comes with an enormous price tag, I would recommend visiting for the day rather than staying here. We traveled to several different locations during our time in Italy, and unfortunately, this was our least favorite. The pricing at the hotel was particularly difficult to justify. Paying approximately $200 for four drinks is simply absurd. We live in New York and are very accustomed to expensive restaurants, hotels, and cocktails, but even by NYC standards, we found the prices here shocking and completely disproportionate to what you are receiving. While the hotel has a beautiful, authentic charm, at $600+ per night (not to mention in their off-season) I expected the property itself to feel more luxurious and updated. In my opinion, the physical hotel does not deliver the five-star experience the price suggests. The five-star element here is absolutely the service — not necessarily the accommodations themselves. The surrounding area also wasn’t for us. It felt less like experiencing Sardinia and more like Fifth Avenue meets Woodbury Common — essentially a beautifully manicured luxury shopping destination. If designer shopping, yachts, and an ultra-luxury atmosphere are what you are looking for, you may absolutely love it. We personally preferred the more relaxed, authentic areas of Sardinia with beautiful beaches, charming towns, local restaurants, and a less pretentious atmosphere. Had I known beforehand what the overall experience would be like, I would have stayed elsewhere in Sardinia and simply visited this area for the day. Beautiful hotel, exceptional staff and excellent service — but the destination and pricing were simply not worth it for us.

Like many of you, I travel extensively around the world. Unfortunately, I also have a knee injury that requires me to ice my knee every night. No matter if I'm in South America, Europe, Asia...I ask the hotel where I'm staying for ice to ice my knee at the end of each day. Every hotel gladly provides ice free of charge, with many hotels also asking what else they can do to make me more comfortable. Remarkably, the Cervo Hotel in Costa Smeralda charges for ice. I learned this when checking out, after asking for ice the night before. When I inquired what the 10 Euro room service charge was for, they told me it was for room service. When I mentioned they are the only hotel in the world that charges for ice, they told me they don't charge for ice...they charge for bringing me the ice. When I asked them if there was any other way for me to get the ice, they said "no"...so, they charge for ice. Another bizarre policy at this hotel is they will not provide change. I had a 20 Euro note that I wanted to break into (4) 5 Euro notes for tips. The front desk personnel told me they are not allowed to provide change. I know of no other hotel in the world with this policy.

The location of Cervo Hotel in Porto Cervo absolutely cannot be beat. You are right in the heart of Porto Cervo, with everything within easy walking distance. The staff were also beyond friendly and helpful throughout our stay, which really made a difference. That said, I think it’s important to set expectations about the hotel. While it is marketed as a five-star property, the rooms do not feel five-star. They are extremely dated and could definitely use a major refresh. The design feels almost like the hotel is a historical property that they aren’t allowed to change, which may be part of its charm for some people, but it wasn’t what we expected from a five-star hotel. Another thing to be aware of is the pricing. Everything at the hotel is extremely expensive. For example, a local beer at the hotel was €18, which felt excessive even for Porto Cervo. One of the highlights of our stay, however, was the hotel’s private beach area. You take a boat over to the beach, which made the experience feel really special. We loved spending the day there, and you can order a picnic lunch in the morning to have brought to you at the beach. It was such a fun and relaxing experience. And perhaps the biggest surprise was the beach hut. While drinks at the hotel itself were very expensive, the beach hut had local beers for just €6, which felt like an absolute bargain by Porto Cervo standards! On the positive side, we had a car and the complimentary valet parking was a really nice touch and made having a car very easy. The pool is perfectly fine, but nothing spectacular. It is not heated, although that wasn’t an issue for us because the weather was so warm during our stay. Overall, the location, incredibly friendly staff, private beach experience, and complimentary valet parking are definite highlights. Just go in knowing that you are paying a premium largely for the incredible location and the Porto Cervo experience, rather than expecting modern five-star rooms and amenities.