Carole Eyles review 17 Sep 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Swimming into caves and around dramatic rock formations was otherworldly. Cinzia free diving down with my camera to take close up pictures of an octopus for me was also amazing. The fish are more subtle in their colouring than tropical fish but still beautiful. Each excursion was memorable in its own right.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
For snorkellers, wear a thin wetsuit or dive skin to protect yourself from sunburn, rock scrapes going over shallow ridges and occasional annoying jelly fish stings. Bring mosquito repellent for the evenings. Otherwise, be prepared to be amazed.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, definitely. Recycling was well set up and we were encouraged to use shops and restaurants that supported local producers. These were not necessarily the high end shops.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We loved it and hope to return some day. We were well looked after; the accommodation was clean and comfortable, adequate rather than elaborate; the excursions were fascinating and well managed with good attention to safety; the staff, especially Cinzia, were friendly, encouraging, well organised and willing to be flexible to meet our requests; the area is beautiful with dramatic vistas and we only wanted more time to explore it all.
Alan Macdonald review 16 Aug 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The snorkelling trips in the gulf of Orosei. Stunning coast line and clear blue waters. Cinzia makes a great guide - she tells you lots of information and points out stuff while you're snorkelling. You go in caves and swim or snorkel for as long as you want, getting back in time for lunch.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We found it was much better on the small boat. On the first day we went on the larger boat with Maurizio (?) and had to wait around a long time while others went diving. After this - we went on the smaller dinghy boat with Cinzia and had a much more enjoyable time - and no sea-sickness!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes - great care over recycling.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very highly. Suitable for families with teenagers or old enough to swim and snorkel.
Kerry Riddell review 26 Jul 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snorkelling in azure waters amongst tiny blue fish with Eleonora Falcons flying overhead.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If you are bothered by heat take a portable fan. If you don’t like any noise take earplugs due to proximity of campsite.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes it was a family run business and due to the remoteness of Cala Gonone you can’t help but benefit the local economy. Yes there was recycling and numerous good environmental practices encouraged eg using cold cycles on the washing machine, discouraging removal of anything from the sea etc.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Friendly and fun. A well tailored experience for our family which included a 4 year old and a sixty niner.
Mark Jacques review 3 Jun 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Cala Gonone is a interesting place, with some decent restaurants. The local beaches, reached mostly by boat , were clean & very pretty. We travelled to the nearby Cartoe beach & found far more interesting snorkelling, than any of the company destinations
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be careful, if you're expecting a dedicated snorkelling holiday. We found this to be a diving company, whose sideline was snorkelling. On one trip Maurrizio informed us we would have to sit in the boat as the dive was well out to sea, at this point we decided not to do any further trips. One of the reasons for picking this holiday was the previous description of Cinzia's helpfulness, unfortunately for us she was on holiday. We were left in the hands of Maurizizo, who, frankly, never gave the slightest indication that he cared whether we snorkelled or not.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The company had a set of instructions for recycling & saving water.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We were disappointed by Maurizzio, who needs to spend more time thinking about his customers. The two Dutch staff, however were friendly, polite & very helpful.
Mark Cooter review 31 Aug 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snorkelling trips were varied and well organised, and allowed us to get to see areas of the coast that we would not otherwise have found. The area was unspoilt and not commercialised compared with the northern coast of the island. The accommodation was typically Italian and allowed us to stay in a local area rather than with a bunch of tourists. The weather was great!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Fly easyJet to Olbia from Gatwick. Hire a car (via easyJet) and get to the pick-up point as soon as possible as there is a long queue from your flight collecting cars.
Take own masks/fins for snorkelling from beaches (apart from organised trips).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes indeed. Even boat anchoring was well thought out to minimise impact.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
Rebecca Hill review 17 Jul 2008
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Discovering the beautiful Golfo d'Orosei on a series of snorkelling trips.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
My two nine-year old children loved the snorkelling trips... they had never swum off a boat before and it was all a big discovery for them. If planning a beach holiday with children a car is very useful as the most beautiful sandy beaches are a drive away (or there are beaches you can reach by boat but not always very practical with small children). The apartment we rented was large, cool and comfortable.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes definitely.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent.
