Sardinia: La Pelosa, Stintino and the Car Rental Adventure

After the rainy days in Ireland, I felt like I needed a change. Some sunshine, the sea, and a place where you can truly switch off. The decision came pretty quickly — Sardinia.

Not exactly a brand-new destination for me, more like a return to a place I already know well. In the past, I spent more than two months on this Italian island, so I had a good idea of what to expect. But this time the plan was a bit different — instead of revisiting the same places, I wanted to discover new corners of northern Sardinia. You can find my previous experiences HERE.

The whole trip was planned for six nights, during which we wanted to move around northern Sardinia and explore as many beaches, towns, and natural spots as possible.

But as it often happens with travel… the complications started right at the beginning. And big ones.

The First Problem: A Delayed Flight

I was flying from Dublin to Alghero, on the northwestern coast of Sardinia. Alghero Airport is fairly small, but very convenient if you want to explore the northern part of the island.

However, the plane had a delay of about one hour. At first glance, that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you’re traveling it can quickly create a domino effect. And that’s exactly what happened.

Car Rental – A Mistake I Won’t Make Again

When we landed, we had a rental car booked, so we could easily move around the island. Sardinia is beautiful and not overly large, but without a car it’s difficult to reach many of the best places.

But this is where my mistake happened.

I didn’t have a credit card, and the rental company simply refused to give us the car. The situation got even worse because it was already after 11:00 PM. This particular rental company had waited just for us because I had provided the flight number, but all the other rental desks were already closed.

So there we were, standing at a small airport in Alghero, without a car, with a hotel reservation about 50 kilometers away, which is roughly an hour’s drive.

Not exactly an ideal situation.

After a short discussion, we decided on the only reasonable solution — a taxi. It wasn’t cheap, but it was the simplest option. The late-night ride cost us about €125, but at least we finally got where we needed to go.

Our destination was the small seaside town of Stintino, where we had booked a stay at Hotiday Hotel.

Why Stintino?

We chose Stintino mainly for one reason — La Pelosa Beach.

This beach is considered one of the most famous beaches in all of Sardinia, and it often appears in rankings of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. It’s especially known for its incredibly turquoise water and shallow sea that looks more like the Caribbean than the Mediterranean.

We stayed at the Hotiday resort, which at first glance was very pleasant. It had a swimming pool, buffet-style breakfast, and most importantly — they offered a shuttle van directly to La Pelosa Beach, which is only about five minutes away.

The First Day in Sardinia

We arrived at the hotel just after midnight, so we quickly fell into bed. After a full day of traveling and improvising, it didn’t take long.

The plan for the next day was clear — La Pelosa Beach.

The weather wasn’t perfect. It was a bit cloudy and drizzling, almost as if I had brought the Irish weather with me. But even so, the place looked incredible. Even without perfect sunshine, it was obvious why this beach is so famous.

White sand, shallow water, and in the distance the iconic Torre della Pelosa, a watchtower that has guarded the coast since the 16th century.

And one thing was clear to us — Sardinia had welcomed us back in style.

How to Get to La Pelosa Beach

But getting to La Pelosa isn’t as simple as it might seem. The beach is extremely popular, and to protect the area they introduced a daily visitor limit.

To enter the beach, you must buy a ticket in advance. Without it, you simply won’t be allowed in. When you arrive, based on your reservation, you’ll receive a wristband confirming your entry for that specific day.

Tickets can be booked through the official website:
👉 https://spiaggialapelosa.it/

If you want to visit on a specific day, reservations open 48 hours in advance at 8:00 AM.

And honestly — you need to be quick.

I was already logged into the site around 7:58 AM, ready like I was buying concert tickets. Exactly at 8:00, I refreshed the page, quickly entered my details, paid, and that was it.

The reason? Only 1,500 visitors per day are allowed on the beach. If you miss the morning booking window, there’s a good chance it will be sold out by midday.

And keep in mind — we visited in September, outside the peak summer season.

A to sme boli v septembri, mimo úplne hlavnej sezóny.

La Pelosa – A Beach That Looks Like the Caribbean

When we finally got there, it was immediately clear why this beach is so popular.

The sea is very shallow, so you can walk dozens of meters from the shore and the water will still only reach your waist. Combined with the fine white sand, it creates that iconic turquoise color that looks almost like something from a tropical island.

On one side, you have a view of the historic watchtower Torre della Pelosa, and on the other side the open sea with small islands scattered across the horizon. Add sunshine, crystal-clear water, and soft sand to the mix, and you get exactly the kind of place where you can slow down and simply enjoy the moment.

Lunch Right on the Beach

After spending some time on the beach, hunger naturally kicked in. Luckily, there’s also a beachside restaurant, so we headed there to grab something to eat.

I ordered a burger with fries, which after swimming and soaking up the sun tasted absolutely fantastic. And since I was already in the mood, I also tried something like a sandwich/kebab, filled with burger meat, ham, and cheese.

Simple food, but exactly what you want at the beach. Add the view of the turquoise water and the entire La Pelosa coastline right in front of you — and that’s the moment when you realize why traveling is so worth it.

Afternoon in Stintino and Finally Solving the Car Situation

After the beach, we returned to the hotel and took a short rest. Later in the afternoon we decided to walk to the center of Stintino, which was basically just around the corner. We wanted to see the town anyway, but there was also a practical reason — during the day I had managed to arrange a rental car.

The only problem was that the car was located in Porto Torres, about 30 minutes away from Stintino. Luckily, the rental company was very helpful and offered to either pick us up or bring the car to us.

But of course, another small complication appeared. Originally the deposit was supposed to be €300 in cash, but after I sent them my driver’s license and ID, they realized that I was only 21 years old. Because of that, the deposit automatically increased to €1000.

So the plan became clear — we had to find an ATM in Stintino and sort it out there.

A big shoutout goes to Autonoleggio Mureddu, a rental company located right at the bus station in Porto Torres. In the end everything went smoothly and they were very helpful in solving the situation.

ATM Gymnastics

Of course, nothing is ever completely simple.

The €1000 withdrawal didn’t work in one go, so I had to do it step by step. I withdrew €300, then another €300, and finally €400 to reach the full amount.

A bit of ATM gymnastics, but it worked.

Once the car situation was finally sorted, we spent some time walking around Stintino, checking out the harbor and sitting on a bench while watching life pass by. There was even an Asian traveler sitting nearby — one of those random little travel moments you remember later.

And of course, we ended the afternoon with a well-deserved beer on a terrace.

A samozrejme, nechýbalo ani zaslúžené pivo na terase.

Dinner in Stintino

In the evening we returned to the hotel and decided to go out for dinner at a local restaurant called Ristorante Valentina.

The place was completely full, which was a good sign. It was clear that this restaurant is quite popular in the area. And when you’re in Sardinia, there’s really only one logical choice — pizza.

From the menu I picked a pizza with prosciutto, expecting the classic cooked ham.

Reality? Raw prosciutto.

So I spent what felt like a hundred years chewing it, like a cow peacefully grazing in a field. Luckily, the beer saved the situation. 🍺

An Italian Evening Show

And the evening didn’t end there.

The hotel was hosting a small evening cultural program. On stage there was a singer performing Italian songs, and most of the audience were older locals or guests.

We didn’t understand a single word, but they definitely did — people were singing along, clapping, and enjoying every moment. It was one of those situations when you suddenly realize that you’re truly in Italy.

Simple, authentic, and a very pleasant way to end the day.

What Was Waiting for Us Next?

What the next day of this Sardinian adventure looked like, I’ll reveal in the next part. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss the next chapter of the trip.

Cross your boundaries – that’s where the treasure you’re seeking is hidden.

Flying Easterner