Effortlessly chic, relaxed luxury with an incredible spa—and plenty of fun for the whole family. My review of our half-term holiday at Forte Village, Sardinia.
For the past two years, we’ve holidayed at an Ikos resort—and loved every minute. But this year, we felt it was time to mix things up. I’ve always resisted becoming that family who goes to the same place every year. That said, when something works so well (especially with young children), it’s hard to beat. And Ikos holidays? They’re very hard to beat.
So, my mission began: to find somewhere just as good as Ikos, but a little different.
Sardinia had been on our wish list for a while. At first, we considered doing the island independently—Airbnb’s, a little touring, the romantic idea of beach hopping and boat trips. But then I remembered I have three children. And they really love a good swimming pool, a little entertainment, and the chance to meet other kids. So, we pivoted to hotels. Apparently, the weather is more reliable earlier in the season (we went in the May/June half-term) in the South so Forte Village came out as favourite.
We intended to take a day or two out of the resort to explore but I’ll admit now – we didn’t. It was just too nice. We couldn’t leave. If we’d stayed longer than a week we would have. Maybe. But we were all just so relaxed. There was so much to do, while also doing nothing…
Forte Village vs Ikos: A Fair Comparison
So, here’s my review of Forte Village but also how it compares to an Ikos (we last stayed at the Olivia) as I feel like this is what a lot of other families are looking for.
The Accommodation
So, confusing before you go but really quite irrelevant once you arrive, Forte Village is made up of nine different hotels. We booked Hotel Le Palme – mainly because there was availability (I didn’t book well in advance), and it was conveniently located centrally – it was our first holiday not taking a pram, so we didn’t want to have to walk too far.
We booked a Deluxe Family Plus Bungalow, and it was perfect. Elegant yet simple, with a decent amount of space: two bedrooms, two generous bathrooms (with great toiletries) and two outdoor patio/garden areas.
Verdict: We actually preferred the rooms here to those at Ikos – they felt more spacious, private, and tucked away. Despite the resort’s size, it never felt overwhelming.
Highlights for the Kids
Forte Village is heaven for children.
My kids have never really done ‘kids clubs’. I always intended to make use of them but then the guilt got to me. BUT when we visited the club and saw the activity schedule they ASKED to go. It’s free to use for ages 2-12 years. What I loved most about it was the flexibility. I’m not sure if that’s always the case – we went during half-term so maybe worth double checking for summer – but we could drop our kids off to do a specific activity – say bowling – and collect them after – they didn’t have to stay all day or for half a day – they could pick and choose. These activities were also free. Whereas if you booked them as a family separately there would be a charge.
And the facilities are incredible…
- A life-size Barbie house packed with Barbie everything.
- Mario’s Village: a miniature town with a café, supermarket, fire station… a dream set-up for imaginative play.
- Bikes for hire and a cute train that runs around the resort.
- Leisureland for older kids, complete with go-karts, bowling and a disco.
- And this is without even mentioning the sports camps and lessons you can book for both adults and children. There were a few famous sporting faces around coaching various groups from rugby and football to hockey, boxing and fencing.
Then there are the pools.
There’s a few. We spent most time at the Aquapark which has a splash park for younger children complete with pirate ship and water cannons and then full-on water slides which our older kids (aged 8 and 10) were obsessed with, as was my husband. I don’t do water slides – I collect shells and sea glass on the beach. But there are several calmer pools too. You’re spoilt for choice.
And the beach! The beach is beautiful. Crystal clear water and soft sand. There’s also a good rock to swim out too!
One thing to note: inflatables aren’t allowed in the pools, which felt a little strange since they’re sold on-site. They’re fine at the beach though. Worth knowing before you buy.
Verdict: In terms of kids’ activities, beach, and pools between Ikos (Olivia) and Forte… it’s so close. But Forte just has so much and it’s all really extra – the Barbie House, the village, the actual water slides.
But if you love inflatables and water sports Ikos has the edge. Plus, those are mostly included in the price, unlike Forte, where most extras cost extra.
The Spa
The spa at Forte Village is exceptional – a real hidden gem.
We both tried the Thalasso circuit, their signature experience: six outdoor pools set in lush greenery, each designed to detox, drain, or soothe. It’s a sensory, therapeutic journey—and incredibly relaxing. I also had a honey scrub treatment and my skin has never felt softer.
Verdict: I’ve also used the spa at Ikos Olivia, which is lovely. But Forte’s spa? Next-level.
Food & Drink
We were half-board and pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety.
Breakfast in the main restaurant was lovely. In a pretty outdoor setting. So much choice. All delicious. Can’t complain. You can have breakfast in other restaurants too if you prefer a calmer start to the day or table service.
For dinner there were several options – most nights we ended up eating in Cavalieri, the main buffet restaurant as it was the children’s favourite – so basically for ease but it was lovely. Again, great variety, all very good quality. Traditional Sardinian dishes featured often. House wine and soft drinks were included (a nice touch), and the house wine was really quite good.
You can dine at other restaurants with the half-board plan. Some for an extra supplement. There’s a Brazilian, a Sardinian, sushi. We had one meal at Dune, the gourmet seafront restaurant, which was well worth the extra.
For lunch, there’s a great, relaxed pizzeria restaurant just off the beach, right next to a gelato stand – it’s worth going back just for the pistachio flavour. And a beachfront seafood option. Amongst others… Prices aren’t ridiculous. We spent less than we thought we would on food and drink than expected.
A great touch is the early kids’ restaurant (6–7pm), especially useful if your children like to eat earlier—or if you’re planning to book a babysitter. Ours sometimes even ate there and joined us again later.
Verdict: The food at Forte was wonderful, but Ikos still leads for all-inclusive food and drink. Their offering really is exceptional.
Entertainment & Atmosphere
There’s nightly live music, and one evening we caught a full Dancing with the Stars-style show that was brilliantly done—professional and entertaining for adults and kids alike.
There’s an overall friendly, relaxed chic vibe. We met some lovely people, the kids made friends we have plans to visit over summer. The staff were wonderful. It was early in the season when we stayed so lots of newbies and still find their feet a little but overall service was very good and we loved it.
Verdict: The staff at both Forte and Ikos are super helpful. And the entertainment at both too. They’re on a par here.
Final Thoughts
We want to go back next year. Which says a lot.
It has a kind of relaxed, easy confident elegance. It doesn’t need to impress, it’s not new. More classic. And classy. Less glossy than an Ikos. A little more traditional. A secure, timeless charm. I liked it. A lot.
If we go again, I’d love to combine it with a few days in the north of the island in an Airbnb—some adventure, then total unwinding.
That said, I still love Ikos. The food and drink are arguably the best you’ll find in any all-inclusive resort.
Verdict: Price wise Forte Village came in at about three-quarters of the cost of an Ikos holiday at the time of booking – even factoring in extras and comparing half-board to all-inclusive. So, if you’re weighing up value for money, Forte holds its own.
Also: it’s an easy flight—just 2 to 2.5 hours from London. And approx 45 minutes from Cagliari Airport to the hotel.
We booked our flights and holiday through British Airways, paid in full, although I did receive a few complimentary perks (meals and spa treatments) as I’d pre-planned this review.
Have you tried a Feather Down Farm? See my review HERE.
