Rooms

All the rooms are lovely. Some are bigger than others and a couple don’t have sea views, but the same chic style runs throughout and all have shaded terraces where you can escape the midday sun. They are scattered about the manicured grounds in sculpted buildings of golden stone that hold one or 2 rooms. Smart paths weave past beautiful rocks and deliver you to your front door. Pool Suites and Junior Suites tend to be more private, while the terraces of Classic and Deluxe Rooms might overlook the path or even the pool, though all have a great sense of peace.

Interiors have stylish earthy colours. You find crisp linen on smart kingsize/twin beds (several have four-posters), polished wood or tiled floors, beautiful showers or a bath to soak in. There are flat-screen TVs and minibars, perhaps a contemporary chaise longue or a beamed roof. Best of all are the terraces, especially the bigger ones in the Pool Junior Suites - alfresco sitting rooms where you can while away the afternoon with a good book or a snooze, and take a plunge when the afternoon heat calls for it. As for the Pool Suite or Petra Signature Pool Suite, they may cost a bomb, but they come fully loaded with living rooms, large private plunge pools, enormous views, cushioned sunbeds and fabulous walk-in showers. All rooms have bathrobes, pampering toiletries and air conditioning.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Coffee / tea making
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Slippers
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

You have a choice of restaurants at Petra Segreta, from casual Sardinian fare to Michelin-starred dining, and spaces to suit all moods and weather.

Breakfast is the usual continental feast: jugs of juice, croissants and pains au chocolat, homemade cakes, plates of cheese and ham, bowls of just-sliced fruit. Hot options are available on request. It’s served from 7.30am-10.30am so there’s no rush in the mornings.

When you're in the mood for a laidback lunch or evening meal, choose Osteria del Mirto. Gourmet pizzas and traditional Mediterranean dishes are served in a cosy and relaxed dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the pretty garden outside. We had a delicious bowl of homemade fettuccelle with aubergine, tomato and ricotta sauce washed down with a glass of red wine. On summer evenings, the Osteria's meals are served upstairs in Terrazza del Mirto, a rooftop lounge and bar; it's a picturesque spot for a bite to eat or romantic sundowner, providing uninterrupted views down to the coast.

For a dinner that pulls out all the stops, you'll want a table at Michelin-starred Il Fuoco Sacro, which means 'The Sacred Fire'. Expect beautifully presented gourmet plates of seasonal produce and local seafood (think cod in black garlic sauce or saffron risoni with roasted sweetbreads), accompanied by one of over 500 wines from all over the world. It's expensive, but a special experience.

If you want to eat out we'd recommend Ichnos in San Pantaleo (3km down the track) for an excellent pizza. Alternatively, rub shoulders with the jetset at The Belvedere in Porto Cervo (about a 25-minute drive); an extremely popular spot in high season.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Hang out at the pool, top up your tan on your private terrace, book a yoga class or stroll across to the small gym and run on the outdoor treadmill while gazing at the view
  
  
• Arrange a massage or facial in the small spa. Or book the hammam, Turkish bath and sauna, free for i-escape guests
  
  
• Those glorious beaches. They’re everywhere and you don’t have to look hard to find them. We loved Báia Sardinia to the north, where you can hire a couple of sunbeds and an umbrella
  
  
• The hotel has its own boat, an Itama 38. It can be hired for daily excursions or for romantic candlelit dinners at night
  
  
• Check out San Pantaleo’s market on Thursday mornings. It’s the best for miles and brings the tourists up from the beaches below
  
  
• Head to Palau for a boat tour through the Maddalena archipelago. There are small villages, more lovely beaches and you can see Garibaldi’s house on Isola Caprera
  
  
• From Santa Teresa you can take the ferry to Corsica for the day and explore Bonifacio, which teeters on top of a cliff. It’s only 10 miles away
  
  
• Head inland - Sardinia’s interior is stunning, easily accessible and much ignored. You can ride, hike, even quad-bike, while 2 olive trees near Témpio have been classified by UNESCO as the oldest in Europe; one could be 6,000 years old
  
  
• Explore the archaeological sites - check out the Giant’s Tomb at Li Lolghi or visit La Prisgiona, a well-preserved Nuraghic settlement close by

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Plantlife / flora
• Quad biking
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Well being

Kids

This is not a great hotel for children, a quiet spot up in the hills with many guests who come for the peace. However, children over 12 are welcome. The Petra Signature Pool Suite has two double bedrooms so can sleep up to 4, and some suites have single sofabeds.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Petra Segreta is just outside the village of San Pantaleo, 20km north of Olbia in the north of Sardinia. It's 2 hours from Alghero or 3.5 hours from Cagliari.

By Air:
Fly into Olbia from April to late September (25km), or Alghero and Cagliari all year round (though the hotel is closed Dec-March). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The hotel offers a transfer, you can take a taxi (from €90), or you can hire a car.

By Ferry:
There are sailings from mainland Italy (Genoa, Livorno, Piombino) and from Corsica to northern Sardinia (Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Santa Teresa Gallura); and from further afield (including Marseille, Barcelona) to other Sardinian ports.

By Car:
See our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Sardinia and getting around