Hotel La Vecchia Fonte

A step from the boats

La Vecchia Fonte is a four-star hotel in the centre of Palau, 150 metres from the tourist harbour and a few steps from the boarding point for the ferry to La Maddalena. If you are going to spend the day on a boat round the archipelago, here you get up, have breakfast and walk to the quay without touching the car. The nearest sandy beach is 350 metres away, two minutes' walk.

The lobby reproduces the interior of an old sailing ship, with wood and ship's lamps, and sets the tone of the house: classic and well kept, more for couples than large groups.

The rooms

There are Classic and Superior doubles with sea view, Junior Suites and Deluxe Suites with sea view, and two suites with a private jacuzzi on a panoramic terrace: the Royal SPA Suite and the Presidential Wellness Suite. The decor is Sardinian in style, with wooden headboards and embroidery.

Services

Breakfast is a continental buffet, with gluten-free products. The bar The One has two terraces over the harbour, with aperitivi, local wines and breakfasts with home-made sweets. Reception is open 24 hours, and there is room service, laundry, beach towels and fibre wifi. They can arrange half board at a restaurant 50 metres away.

For the car there is a ten-space garage at €19 a day, subject to availability. They arrange a taxi from Olbia airport, from €105 per trip, and have agreements for hiring a car, scooter, bike or boat and for excursions in the park. Dogs of up to 10 kg are allowed in the Classic doubles with outdoor space, with a cleaning supplement.

Getting there

Palau is about 45 minutes from Olbia, its harbour and its airport, and half an hour from the Costa Smeralda. The hotel is on Via Fonte Vecchia, in the centre. The website does not publish prices or check-in and check-out times; if you arrive early, the hotel recommends booking the night before to have the room, or it keeps your luggage.