10 things we loved about our Neilson Holiday

Famed for its turquoise green waters and white sand beaches, rugged mountains provide the perfect backdrop to Sardinia’s northeast. The Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful in the world. Our initial trip, to Porto Cervo, was of course before POD came along so we were itching to return to visit Italy’s second largest island as a family.

We relish organising holidays independently but there are times when we just want everything done for us. You know like the flights, the transfers and the accommodation. We’re no strangers to activity holidays and we’ve been on many over the years. We played tennis regularly before POD came along so heading abroad to play was always logical to us. It might be weird but we enjoy sweating it out on court in the midday sun! Qualified coaching and the socials also appeal.

Neilson Holidays has 11 beachclubs spread across Greece, Italy, Croatia and Spain. We picked the Baia dei Mori Beachclub in Budoni due to the location, the facilities on offer (which included courts!) and the short transfer. If you’re not familiar with the Neilson setup, their activity holidays are ideal for families and anyone that wants to stay active on holiday. Or indeed try out new sports. Of course you don’t have to do anything but that would defeat the purpose of an activity holiday wouldn’t it? We like that you can relax as hard as you like – it ticks all the boxes.

Lots of you messaged us after seeing our Neilson holiday on Stories so we thought we’d share some of the things we loved about our first holiday with them. It was different to what we’re used to (in a good way!) and we had the best week. Here’s what appealed the most – do drop us a note in the comments or on our social channels if you have any questions.

Hassle-free journey

Travelling to a destination can be stressful with a small (ish!) one in tow but we’ve always adopted the attitude that a holiday begins as soon as we leave the house. We do try and make it easy for ourselves though especially when we’re flying – it’s so easy on a roadtrip! Meet and Greet at Heathrow (or Gatwick) is excellent. Not much more than parking in the long stay car park, you leave your car with one of the team and they’ll park it offsite for you – returning it just before you arrive back at the car park. I cannot recommend the service enough, so much easier than getting a bus from long stay. We had a five-minute walk from the car park at Heathrow to the terminal 5 building!

We’d already checked in online before we arrived so just had to drop our suitcases off. We always enjoy flying with BA but we had an extra special treat when we arrived as POD was allowed to go behind the counter and assist. She got to help print our luggage labels for our suitcases and push the button that sent them down the conveyor belt. Seven-year-old POD was then got searched at security (we failed to notice the metal buckles on her boots) – an experience she found highly entertaining! After breakfast at Plane Food, POD ended up on a digital screen as she was so keen to ‘model’ the Tilly Ramsay bag she’d been given.

The flight to Olbia from Heathrow was a more relaxed affair and it’s just 2 hours 25 minutes so a short flight. Neilson staff met us when we arrived and the coach transfer to the Baia de Mori Beachclub was only 40 minutes. While on the coach we were given our activity planners so we could familiarise ourselves with what was happening on what day.

Easy to get around resort

Having not been on a Neilson holiday before, or pre-booked any activities, we knew the welcome meeting would be a must. This is where you hear about all the activities on offer, find out about the childcare options and meet the relevant teams. With it taking place the morning after we arrived, we had the afternoon free to explore the resort.

There are 157 rooms, all on one level, at the Baia de Mori beachclub. Ours was located by the tennis courts which obviously pleased us greatly. It was air-conditioned, clean and comfortable and had a little terrace. We had a mini fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, telephone, TV, safe, beach towels and a hairdryer as well plus the all-important Wi-Fi. The restaurant was closed when we arrived (it was after lunch) but we had some nice baguettes and fruit waiting for us. We really liked where we were as it was quiet but only a short walk from reception, the restaurant, pool area and the beach.

Beautiful location

I’d forgotten how breathtaking Sardinia is. Situated in the Mediterranean, it’s to the west of mainland Italy and south of Corsica. Sardegna, as it’s known locally, has a fascinating history with unspoilt coastlines and vibrant towns. As you’d expect, the people are lovely and friendly too. On the Baia de Mori resort, the General Manager, restaurant and pool bar teams are all local with Neilson staff managing the kids’ clubs, activities and guest services.

Informative and fun welcome!

The Neilson childcare meeting took place in the outside restaurant area. All the staff had painted faces and were full of energy so it kept the children engaged too. The kids’ clubs are all age appropriate with each given a Zoggs hat, rash vest and bag in the colour of their club. POD was in Surfbusters! A nice touch and a great way to ensure they didn’t get burnt and they could be spotted easily.

The welcome meeting and activity briefing followed at the pool bar. The activities team and instructors were there so it made it easy for JD to sign up for tennis coaching while I booked an excursion. POD had already made friends with a couple of children so she and I headed to Surfbusters while JD headed to the courts. Nothing like getting stuck in straightaway.

Great mix of activities

Our Neilson planner was great as is was split by day, time and type of activity ie; beach, bikes, tennis, fitness and other activities. Sessions were colour coded (split beginner, beginner/intermediate, intermediate and advanced) so it was easy to see which would be most appropriate.

Tennis was, of course, a must and JD opted for private coaching from 7-8am for 4 days as well as the inclusive tennis sessions and socials. While I didn’t join him for the private coaching (tricky with a 7-year-old running around the court), we did go along to watch. If we were awake and dressed in time. And did play together when we could as well. The qualified tennis coaches are all excellent and helped JD raise his game having not played since May. We had hoped to join boozy tennis midway through the week but we’d been to the Archipelago de la Maddalena for the day and the coach was late back.

The coastal views in Sardinia are spectacular so road cycling or mountain biking really is a must. Bikes are free to use via the bike centre so you can join one of the organised rides (which ranged from 15km to 40km) or head out on your own. We opted for the latter given how hilly Sardinia can be. It was a challenge cycling up hills (hello thigh burn!) although coming down was a breeze. We have an interesting mix of photos of us with bright red faces – mostly mine! There are flatter cycling routes available if you’re the same standard as us – well worth it as the countryside is wonderful. Frog bikes are available for kids aged from 4 to 14. They’re excellent and lightweight too.

Aside from an eventful sailing lesson in the past, water sports have largely passed us by as we’ve been so focused on tennis. On this holiday I really wanted to get onto the water but it’s so much easier when you do it together isn’t it? We did organise ourselves to go out on a catamaran only to cancel it when we realised it clashed with something POD was doing. The ideal for us would have been to stay longer and try our hand at the watersports whether it was sailing, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding. I can’t imagine I’d be very good at windsurfing (or kitesurfing which takes place at a local beach).

There was a great atmosphere at Baia dei Mori. It never felt too busy, despite it being peak season, and the resort had a great community feel. With it being our first Neilson holiday, we don’t know how it compares to other Neilson beachclubs but often larger resorts don’t have that. We met some lovely families while we were there and the staff were just lovely.

The most entertaining activity we joined in with was an aqua aerobics class. Neither of us had done one of these before so that was interesting in itself but POD (and one of the children she’d met) decided to copy everything the instructors did poolside. It was one of the funniest classes I’ve ever joined and we got a good workout too. Enormous fun.

There are a raft of fitness activities on offer at the Baia dei Mori Beachclub from yoga, Zumba and pilates to circuits, stretching and running – all of which you can dip in and out of. Personal training is available along with the likes of volleyball, table tennis and pool Olympics! We loved the pools. There are two – the main one and a pool for young children. There’s a pool bar nearby which was really handy for snacks and drinks. There’s evening entertainment there as well. Our best nights were the BBQ evening, when we were treated to some great singing, and the final night which saw POD introduce the evening presentations and sign a paddle board!

Excellent kids club

The first time we heard about childcare on holiday we thought why would anyone ever want to do that? After all family trips should be exactly that. But activity holidays like this one with Neilson are a brilliant way for POD to do things she might never do and make new friends. It was always her decision whether she went to Surfbusters which was largely based on what was happening that session and who was going. We barely saw her on the first day as we met her at lunchtime only for her to tell us to go away! She wanted lunch with her new friends.

The childcare at the Baia dei Mori Beachclub spans from 2-17 years (with a creche for babies up to 23 months). Each club is age appropriate and run by qualified teams. We pre-booked Surfbusters before arriving in Sardinia which was a good move as POD loved it. Activities ranged from sailing, kayaking and pool games to volleyball, tennis and crafting. POD dipped in and out of Surfbusters when she wanted with one of us signing her in or out.

Surfbusters ran four days a week from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Lunch was 12:30pm to 2pm and kids can stay in the club over that period if they want to. Aside from the first day and last day (when they had a party!), we always had lunch together as a family. There were two days when Surfbusters didn’t start until 2:30pm (but finishes at 11pm) which was great as it meant family time. Either spent at the pool or exploring locally.

Flexible food options

We had club board which gave us breakfast and lunch every day and four evening meals a week. On the non-inclusive evenings (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday), we could still eat on the resort. We did that one night and had delicious Italian pizza. There was a BBQ evening which was great fun and we ate out locally once as well. We’d walked along the beach to a woodland restaurant in nearby Budoni. Baia dei Mori organises a shuttle bus, bookable in advance, on two of the non-inclusive evenings which you can take either take to Budoni (€6 for adults, €3 for kids) or Porto Ottiolu (€8 for adults, €4 for kids). I’d organised a trip to Porto Ottiolu on the Thursday forgetting I’d already booked the BBQ so don’t mix your days up!

We thought it might be a real faff having to fend for ourselves on the non-inclusive evenings but actually, it was great. We probably consumed less food as a result. The restaurant has SO much on offer with different stations to suit any taste or dietary requirement with numerous options for starters, mains and puddings at each sitting. We ate like kings the entire holiday so it was just as well we did some exercise!

Good mix of excursions

There was a choice of four excursions we could go on during our week at the Baia dei Mori Beachclub. We opted for the La Maddalena Archipelago cruise which was a full day (8am to 6pm) and cost €175 for the 3 of us. We took a coach to the far north of the island, which picked up more people en route, where we boarded a cruise boat to the Maddalena Archipelago National Park.

The views were beautiful along the way and we got to see unusual rock formations, pretty little bays and crystal clear waters. The archipelago is made up of 7 main islands including the harbour town (La Maddalena above), where we stopped at for a time, before heading to the uninhabited Spargi Island.

Isola di Spargi is on the western coast of the Maddalena, circular in shape with the landscape largely granite. The sea is breathtakingly clear with the waters teeming with fish. There were a few too many people there for our liking but we had lots of space and it really is stunning.

After we left the island we moored for a time for a hearty meal on board before heading back to the mainland to catch the coach back. Had we been at Baia dei Mori for two weeks instead of one, I would have loved to do another tour. Which one a tough choice however as there was a jeep tour, trip to Bonifacio and an island cruise in the mix!

Plenty to explore locally

We’d discovered nearby Budoni during our first cycle ride. We’d decided to try and walk it one morning, while POD was at Surfbusters, to see how long it would take and whether it was doable for her. As it goes it’s only around 4 kilometres and it’s a really nice walk which spans from the Baia dei Mori beach and along the coastal path into woods which have ancient sand dunes. You can see the turquoise water peeping through the trees as you’re approaching and it really is magnificent. Budoni beach is a popular spot so worthwhile heading there earlier in the day before the locals arrive. We think it took around 25 minutes to get there with seven-year-old POD. She might have been quicker had she not been in the pool for five hours!

Superb attention to detail

One of the things that really made our holiday was the people. The childcare team, especially the “mannies” never failed to make POD laugh. Whether it was chatting to her, making faces or giving her a shoulder ride, they made sure she had the best time, not just in Surfbusters but on resort when they saw her. Much of the team went above and beyond, with nothing too much trouble, so we were relaxed from the off and for the duration of the holiday. Our only regret was booking one week instead of two although we were in Venice beforehand so it would have been a little tricky! Had we had 14 days, we could have got ourselves out on the water, explored a bit more and thrashed it out on court a little longer! If you want to see more of Baia dei Mori, check out the Neilson Holidays video below – it’s making us want to go back already! But do we go back or try out somewhere else?