We stayed at Hotel Marie Claire for a week in August. The hotel is on the outskirts of Lanusei, a small and sweet town in the Ogliastra region of Sardinia, and is family run and family friendly.

The hotel is very clean, with a mixture of vibrant (main reception) decor and neutral (bedroom) decor. Our room was a very good size and had all mod cons. such as fridge, tv and air conditioning. The bed was large and very comfortable and our room had French doors opening onto a small balcony and wonderful view of mountains and the sea in the distance. I big factor in my choosing this hotel was the neutral decor as matching covers and curtains give me a headache! The bathroom was also a very good size, with good shower and pale pink tiling throughout.

The staff at the Marie Claire could not have been more friendly or helpful. The owners speak Italian and French, and were happy to chat with us every day, making us feel really welcome.

On the map, the sea looked close to Lanusei, but due to the mountains it was a fairly long drive each day. However, the journey was great, through two small towns, meaning you could pick up snacks on the way and see a bit of the region. (A car is a definite must, book in advance via the internet for a much cheaper price as picking one up at the airpost is expensive).

I would recommend L'Ultima Spiaggia beach near Bari Sardo, stop off at the little hut stand selling fruit, veg and jars of tasty homemade treats on your way and say hello to their little dog, Lola. On windy days you will also find a man called Pietro at L'Ultima Spiaggia who teaches Kite-Surfing for a good rate.

Lanusei is pretty small and not very tourist-orientated, which is perfect if you want to experience Sardinia without hordes of people taking photos and interrupting your peace. You may decide to drive to other towns for food as there are not many restaurants in Lanusei. I recommend La Rotunda, also owned by the family who own Marie Claire.
There are several boat excursions from Arbatax, which I would recommend as an alternative to the regular beaches. There are little huts at the port selling these trips. Shop around for the best deal.
We were on honeymoon and found Lanusei the perfect place to relax, escape and explore and Marie Claire was definitely a great choice.