I have holidayed well in my time, and was nervous about going to a 4* hotel because I have only ever stayed in the very best around the world. After a spot of concern on arrival - there is a lot of faded orange! - and a room change, we fell in love with this place. The views are outstanding - the ocean is on the horizon from most areas. The pool is very large and clean, and there are wonderful sofa sitting areas around the pool level. A very short walk down the path, and you reach the fab beach bar and small beach. It can be a bit whiffy down there, but the bar is awesome and the barman really looks after you. ALL the staff were wonderful - without exception. They even went and got me Soya milk when I ran out. It was the end of the season and they still kept up the banter and the charm that really made this place quite special. It isn't 5* and like most Italian hotels the rooms are not as smart or as well appointed as you would like, but they are clean and tidy. Some areas are a little jaded, the walls in the rooms are paper thin, but there is so much right with this place, it becomes less significant. With a £10million make over, this place would be £ 500 a night, so enjoy the wonderful location and stunning views for a lot less. Dining out is expensive, and the Orange Restaurant on site was well short of the standard of local restaurants Spinnaker and Clipper. The music needs an overhall, and I would strongly recommend they get themselves some decent Ibiza chill out CDs for next season - and the music from the pool bar and beach bar fought when you were by the jacuzzi pool. Pool towels should also be plentiful and FREE! We got a great deal through Voyage Privee. 'Charming' is the word to describe it best: a bit like going back in time 20 years, but a really enjoyable stay.

So much wrong with hotel don't know where to start. The attitude of the staff is unacceptable. Far from a 4 star hotel and this needs to be addressed and more importantly exposed to end expectations of a "luxury" resort. Some things you will find are only one beach towel per day (extra are charged at €5) and the quality is shocking. Inferior quality sheets, bath towels, bathroom products. Tiny bathroom, small shower with plastic sliding doors. Very small uncomfortable beds. Loud music is imposed from breakfast to after dinner drinks - the taste is more to suit the staff working there than the guests. No quiet area to chill - music in gardens, pool and beach area. No bar service around the pool area - all drinks are ordered and collected at the bar. All complaints responded to in a defensive manner. Hotel is understaffed and clearly operating on a tight budget. No daily newspaper (even local). Needs a major refurb - only go if you are working in the area and need somewhere to sleep - its certainly not a destination for a holiday.

My wife and I spent 6 days at grand hotel porto cervo in a garden view room in August 2011.

Overall:
= good quality for price (based on higher sardinia price level)
= no major disadvantage

What we liked:
+ room v clean and although we booked a garden room, the room had also partial seaview
+ hotel w good infrastructure eg free wifi at restaurant/ breakfast area
+ pool area v nice with some beautiful secluded spots where you can enjoy scenery in a bit more silence
+ small beach right in front of hotel (however, seaweed is washed onto beach)
+ location: close to porto cervo and baja sardinia
+ lunch at the hotel has relatively reasonable prices
+ sufficient parking space
+ beach and dinner recommendations from hotel staff were excellent

What we disliked (mostly minor points)
- no wifi outside restaurant/ entrance area
- you have to pay 5 euro if you want an extra beach towel
- breakfast rather continental w limited healthy options (eg no vegetables/tomatoes, no fresh orange juice, limited local products offered)
- directly on the beach: the beach beds do not belong to the hotel. We had to pay 20 euro per bed
- Dinner at the a la carte restaurant Orange was mediocre (service was slow, a bit pricy for the quality). There r better options outside of the hotel (eg lorenzo, hivaoa)
- the hotel recommended a private half day boat trip which ended up to be run by a semi-professional operator (can not go into more details here). Make sure you have a contract when you book the trip and make sure the contract specify ALL the costs and the skipper speaks English (if u do not speak italian)

Considering the hotel is four star only, most of these points are no real negatives.

Lovely hotel, fabulous pool with plenty of comfortable sun beds. Breakfast great, varied and good quality. Staff very helpful and friendly. You will need a car to get around and suggest you book thus prior to arriving for a better deal. Ample parking at the hotel. Sardinia great island with loads to see and great beaches with crystal clear sea. Would thoroughly recommend a visit.