This European island is often compared to the Maldives, and I spent a week there for $1,500.

On a recent trip to Italy, I encountered white sand, a clear turquoise sea, and lush trees swaying in the breeze.

Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, is often referred to as "the Maldives of Europe" due to the beauty of its beaches, with two of them being included in "The World's 50 Best Beaches" 2024 list, as chosen by over 1,000 travel professionals.

Sardinia's Costa Smeralda, also known as the Emerald Coast, is a popular destination for the wealthy, featuring yachts, upscale golf resorts, and designer stores.

In August, Belmond unveiled the renovated Romazzino at Porto Cervo, and Cheval Blanc is set to open a hotel there in 2026. Additionally, hotels from the Rocco Forte group and Mandarin Oriental are also scheduled to open in the same year.

I discovered that it's possible to enjoy Sardinia's stunning coastline without breaking the bank, as I did on a recent trip. While airfare is a significant factor in travel expenses, I spent only $1,500 for a week on the island, including flights from London.

I was content with traveling during autumn because prices are lower. Since schools in the U.K. commence in early September, I believed the weather would remain pleasant.

I was content with mid-range accommodations and wanted to stay somewhere that included some meals to make budgeting easier. Additionally, I was keen to be near local restaurants as they're often cheaper than those in touristy places.

I discovered that Neilson, a holiday company, has a resort on Sardinia's northeastern coast, near the Costa Smeralda. I had previously stayed at a Neilson-managed hotel in Greece and was impressed with their service, food, and activities such as kayaking and yoga.

The Baia dei Mori Beach Club, located near the sand dunes of a picturesque beach, is a 40-minute drive from Olbia airport. I discovered a deal for £849 ($1,102) per person for a week's stay, which includes two people sharing a room and traveling at the end of September.

The package deal included return flights from London Stansted Airport, transfers, daily breakfast and lunch, as well as four dinners and on-site activities such as tennis coaching, guided cycling, yoga classes, and windsurfing. The hotel's website displayed images of pale sandy beaches with pine trees lining the shore, and single-story buildings with simple gardens surrounding the rooms.

I was sold, and I booked to go with my friend Sinead.

I began my day with a yoga class on a wooden fitness deck near the beach, followed by several hours of sunbathing. Later, I took an aqua aerobics class in the hotel's pool.

In the afternoon, Sinead and I joined a guided mountain bike ride, opting for the "green" beginner level, which led us on a 9 km (5.6 mile) circular route. More experienced cyclists can explore the winding roads in the hills for intermediate or advanced routes. We paused for a refreshing lemon granita at the Shardana restaurant, situated amidst the trees overlooking the pristine white sand Baia Sant'Anna beach.

We spent our days alternating between exercise and leisure, typically beginning with yoga, then moving on to weightlifting or an afternoon bike ride.

During a stand-up paddleboard "safari," I and other guests paddled around a peninsula to the 4 km white sand Budoni Bay beach, which boasts stunning views of the mountainous Isola Tavolara. The resort also offers sailing classes for all levels, culminating in a race at the end of the week.

On evenings when food wasn't provided, we would stroll into the village of Tanaunella for dinner. At L'Hotel Pedra Niedda, I relished in malloreddus alla campidanese, a Sardinian pasta with a sausage sauce, for 12 euros ($13), while family-run Pizzeria da Paolo offered a vast selection of pizzas for under 10 euros. At Ristorante La Volpe, I indulged in a tuna steak with an anchovy mayonnaise for 25 euros.

We spent the rest of our budget on alcoholic drinks and coffees at local bars, and one day we hired a car (about 120 euros, including delivery, collection, and gas) to travel south to the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu, a national park with stunning cliffs and a series of white-sand beaches.

Cala Gonone offers boat rides to the Grotte del Bue Marino caves, which are likely very popular during the summer. However, we opted to drive along the coast to Cala Fuili, where a small, white pebble beach is surrounded by cliffs that are popular with climbers. We then descended down steep steps to find a spot among the sunbathers.

To minimize overtourism, Sardinia has set limits on the number of visitors to certain beaches during peak season. At La Pelosa beach, visitors must use mats under their towels to prevent sand from sticking to them and being removed from the beach.

The low-rise resort, set back from the shore, has sand dune paths to prevent damage and never feels crowded on its beach.

It was the ideal off-season escape.