LauRen’s Top Sardinia & Milan, Italy Must Sees
It only took me a month to write this blog, but there were so many details to this trip I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything! When my…
My favorite thing to do on a boat is jump off and enjoy the water. The “survival” float is my go to. Relaxing and serene.
LauRen MerolaIt only took me a month to write this blog, but there were so many details to this trip I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything!
When my Lufthansa flight landed in Sardinia from mylayover in Munich, I was ready to roll! My best friend (and former Aupair to my children) Elena picked me up in our rental car. I HIGHLY recommend driving in Sardinia. There are so many places to see, and Sardinia is too big of an island to rely on transfers. Elena flew in the day before me and stayed at the Air B&B that I rented for us.
Word to the wise: print everything when traveling internationally. Your phone may not have service when you need something like a receipt or reservation. I am glad I printed ours because our Air B&B host asked us to pay a local tourist tax that I had already paid inside my Air B&B reservation. A little shady in my opinion, but you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
First Leg:
Once we got settled in and unpacked for the first leg of our trip, we popped a bottle of prosecco on our private balcony overlooking the ocean. That night, we had a fantastic dinner at Le Terrazze Ritual. This outside rooftop restaurant had a killer view of the sunset overlooking the water. And even though the wind was insane, the restaurant had faux fur blankets to keep their guests warm.
Speaking of the wind, Sardinia's version of "mother nature"and I didn't get off to a great start! For the first 3 days I was on the island it was incredibly windy. Like hurricane forced winds -windy! In fact it was so windy that one of our days out on the water was cancelled by the coast guard because it was too windy to safely have tenders out on the sea. This excursion was of course rescheduled and Elena and I decided to check out the inside of the island since the coast was so crazy.
Second Leg:
Once the wind settled down and we could get out on the water, we were ready for the next leg of our trip. We headed to Costa Smeralda to stay on a Catamaran I also found on Air B&B! Costa Smeralda was my favorite part of our trip, it is a small port town that has lots of celebrity sightings.
I LOVED our time on the Catamaran but I can see how this experience wouldn't be for everyone. Think "camping", okay well "glamping" on the water. We had our own room and bathroom but it was VERY small and you showered with a hand held spout in the center of the bathroom. I say "glamping" because we did have a captain and first mate/chef. They provided breakfast and lunch while out on the boat. When we came back to port, we could shower but had to get off the boat for an hour or so while they cleaned it. We just went to dinner during that time.
Everynight we would come back to the Cat and polish off a bottle of prosecco on the front hammicks with no one in sight! It was AMAZING!
Third Leg:
Finally, when it was time to say goodbye to Sardinia, Elena and I flew back to Milan for our last few days of fun! I have been to Milan before but just for a few days and I didn't get to see/experince everything that area has to offer!
Here are the rest of the photos from our fantastic summer vacation in Italy!
If you're looking for more details on other vacation spots in Italy, here is a gallery from my trip to Italy last year too! Cinque Terre, Portofilno and Milan!
LauRen in Sardinia, Italy
LauRenWhen I arrived in Sardinia It was really windy. Our first dinner at Ritual was amazing regardless. The sunset was even better!
LauRen's Trip To Sardinia
Of course, I ordered an Aperol Spritz at every meal. A spritz in Italy just hits different.
LauRen's Trip To Sardinia
LauRen MerolaAfter exploring our first little town Elena and I needed some fuel so we stopped for a yummy lunch.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRenElena really wanted to see these stairs and they were worth the trip. We drove an hr from our Air B&B to check out this town on our way to the beach.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRenWe couldn't come all the way to these awesome stairs and not take a jumping pic. This was the best I could do without falling on the stairs.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaI have been to the Nikki Beach in Miami but I had no idea there was one in Sardinia too!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaPorto Cervo was a highlight of our trip. It was so fun to walk the docks and see all the mega yachts. They also had amazing shops here!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaIn Porto Cervo there was an amazing flower shop that you could smell before you could see it! Just look at those buds.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaOnce the wind went away and we were able to get out on the tender we visited the caves and grottoes of Sardinia.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaThe grottoes of Italy are gorgeous! The colors of the water and the rocks is just insane!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaI have actually never been in a cave so this was a cool experience. These caves can only be accessed by small boats. I love that I got to see this!
destination dupes
LauRen MerolaMy favorite thing to do on a boat is jump off and enjoy the water. The "survival" float is my go to. Relaxing and serene.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaElena and I drove from one side of Sardinia to the other to get to the next leg of our trip. Always good times!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaThis was by far my favorite part of our trip. I found a "Stay and Play" on Air B&B and it was the coolest! We had a captain and a first mate/chef included in the experience!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaPorto Rafael was my favorite port that we visited. It is TINY but the most beautiful. I found this awesome sign on the way to dinner one night and I hope it is correct!
LauRen's Italy Trip.
LauRen MerolaEven though our "living quarters" on the cat were TINY it was still so cool to wake up to this view every morning. I really think I could live on a boat. I love the sea THAT much!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaThis was the selfie that Elena and I took right before we accidentally crashed a private party on the island. We thought it was a roof top bar. It was someones house!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaI didn't want to leave this adorable little square in Porto Rafael. The color of the flowers were so vibrant.
LauRen's beach Trip
LauRen Merolaworst summer vacation spots
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaOur time out on the water gave me life. There is something about being on the water that just makes me happy. And look at that water! Who wouldn't be happy.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaDelta's Top Summer Travel Destinations
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaOur breakfast and lunch was included in our catamaran stay. The pasta was amazing!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaAfter Sardinia, Elena and I headed back to Milan for a few days. She took me to a fabulous Vineyard outside the city for lunch and a tasting!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaI mean, did you really visit Italy if you don't get a photo in a vineyard? This one was so pretty and the Prosecco it was great!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaElena knows how much I love horses and surprised me with a ride though the vineyard at the end of the day.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaElena's horse was really funny, it would NOT listen to her. He wanted to stop and eat grapes all day so this is the only picture we got together because her and her horse were always behind!
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaElena and I took an Ebike ride around Milan. I always love combining site seeing and a little exercise.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaOur last night in Milan! Caio Italy. I will miss you but I'll be back soon. Italy is like my second home.
LauRen's Italy Trip
LauRen MerolaSaying goodbye to this girl is the HARDEST thing. Especially because she is moving to Australia in September. Love you E!
