Hotel Romazzino, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Costa Smeralda

Set in a secluded area of Northeastern Sardinia, Hotel Romazzino attracts all types of travelers with its peaceful and stunning location. The design is an elegant take on traditional Sardinian style, with lots of terra-cotta flooring, embroidered linens, distressed-looking furniture, and hand-painted wall decorations. The result is charming and upscale, though some past guests have found it more outdated. Grounds here are beautiful, with lots of greenery and furnished terraces that take advantage of the sea views. Guests can be found lounging by the private beach or pools, or grabbing a cocktail at the sea-view outdoor bar. Unfortunately, the hotel falls a bit short of its advertised five-star rating. The remote setting means there's almost nothing within walking distance, so a taxi or rental car is required for travelers who don't want to spend all their time on-site. 

The hotel occupies a gorgeous and private beach on Sardinia's famous Costa Smeralda. There's little of interest in the immediate area aside from other beaches, which gives the hotel a secluded and quiet feel. However, this means guests wanting to dine outside the hotel or explore farther sights will need to take a taxi or rent a car. Pevero Golf Club is an eight-minute drive from the hotel, while Parco giochi Okidok (an ideal spot for children) is a 10-minute drive away. A handful of eateries are within a 10-minute drive, and more can be found in Porto Cervo, a 15-minute drive. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is a 40-minute drive away. 

Rooms have an understated elegance, thanks to an upscale take on traditional Sardinian style. Expect distressed-looking wood furniture, terra-cotta floors, and cream linens, plus landscape photography, ceramic vases, and wrought-iron details. All units have furnished balconies or terraces, with either garden or sea views. Also standard are desks, sitting areas, flat-screen TVs with international channels, air-conditioning, minibars, slippers, and wardrobes with safes and bathrobes. Bathrooms are a highlight, each with colorful mosaic tiling, a bathtub, and separate shower, plus swish Acqua di Parma toiletries, bidets, and hairdryers.

Upgraded villas have either three or five bedrooms, as well as private pools, dining areas, living spaces, and butler service. are spacious—with the largest offering five bedrooms, and each has its own private pool and 24-hour butler service, too. 

The crowning feature of Hotel Ramazzino is its beautiful stretch of private sandy beach. Free-to-use cushioned sunbeds and umbrellas lined the beach. More loungers can be found at the two adjacent outdoor pools. The pools are surrounded by lush green grass and have partial sea vistas, plus there's a covered bar serving drinks and snacks. Another bar is located by the lobby and it has live piano music at night. For dining, the casual beachfront eatery Ristorante Barbecue is a pleasant spot for lunch, serving wood-fired pizza, grilled fish, and fresh pasta. Romazzino Restaurant, meanwhile, has a stylish indoor dining room and scenic outdoor terrace. It serves Mediterranean fare for dinner, as well as free breakfast spreads with hot and cold fare. Unfortunately, past guests have complained of food and drinks being a bit overpriced.

Also on-site is a full-service spa offering massage and beauty treatments. An open-air fitness center has treadmills, stationary bikes, and free weights beneath a palapa-style umbrella. An outdoor playground has swings, a slide, a ping-pong table, and basketball hoop. Parking and property-wide Wi-Fi are both free.