When Paradise Falls Short: I broke my number one travel rule.
- Jennie Brand
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Why Sardinia Wasn’t My Favorite Destination
I broke my number one travel rule. I went to a destination during high season, and it showed. When paradise falls short. Sardinia in August is crowded, expensive, and scorching. I went because I was invited to shoot a gig there, so I figured I would make the most of it and stay two weeks; one for work and one for exploring. Thankfully, friends were living there at the time, so I saved on boarding and hotels and a rental car. If you want to see more of my explorations in video check it out on Instagram. Visually I must admit, it is cute!
I expected heat. I did not expect the mosquitos. They ate me alive, even leaving bites on my face. And then there was the driving. Almost all rental cars are electric, which sounds eco-friendly until you are constantly searching for chargers that actually work and are compatible with your vehicle. It quickly turned into a full-time job I never want to experience again (my friend rented a cute electric mini coup during her four month residence there).
The North Verse the South
The island itself is massive. My friends lived in the north in Santa Teresa, and we had good intentions of driving south, but we never made it. Everyone I have talked to who visited had the same issue. You either explore the north or the south, but not both unless you have at least a month to explore. The north is all about island hopping and boating. The south leans toward mountains and outdoor recreation. The furthest south we made it was Santa Maria Navarrese to explore the famous coastline.
In the mountains, the air was cooler and the landscapes beautiful, but the beaches? Overrated. Cala Goloritzé was named one of the best beaches in the world for 2025, and while the cliffs and turquoise waters are stunning, the beach itself is tiny and overcrowded. Many beaches and islands now require timed reservations just to visit, which takes the spontaneity out of travel. Ideally one could fly between the two but, when I looked the tickets were outrageous with a layover! They averaged 250-300 euros for a roundtrip and I would still need to rent a car.
The Locals and Culture
The vibe overall felt unwelcoming. In small towns up north, locals seemed irritated by visitors. In the busier towns, people were friendlier but it was clear tourism fatigue had set in. Even finding open stores was a challenge. Most opened around noon, closed at three, and maybe reopened around five or six for another hour or two. The Portuguese have a saying. They are the laziest of all European countries. This came from a true native when I visited back in September 2024. In my experience, this island took the cake.
Culturally, Sardinia feels different from mainland Italy. It has its own dialect, distinct rhythm, and a slower pace that might appeal to some. For me, it felt disconnected. Even my friends who live there admitted they were not impressed by the food. I'll try a lot different local foods but, I omitted to try the horse meat. If you love dry, arid landscapes like southern Baja or the islands of Greece for instance, you might find your paradise here. But if your dream island is lush and green like Indonesia or Thailand, Sardinia might fall flat.
To be fair, there is beauty to be found. The coastline glows in late light which is picturesque, and the mountain trails are a dream for rock climbers, canyoneering, and mountain bikers. But after two weeks of bug bites, dead chargers, and a few cold shoulders, I realized paradise is not always what it looks like in photos. Are you reading this and cringing because you had the best experience in Sardinia? Drop me an email and let's have a friendly discussion. At the end, perhaps I'll even updated this journal entry with more positive takeaways.
xo,
Jennie
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