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People from all over Europe flock to Sardinia for their annual summer holidays and it is easy to see why. Sardinia has a wealth of natural areas, including a marine reserve, as well as an agreeable Mediterranean climate.

Sardinia is an island with mountainous terrain and some unusual geological features. Tourists visiting are advised to consider driving a four by four car to navigate areas like the Gennargentu massif range, the Punta La Marmora peak (which rises up nearly 2,000 metres above sea level) and the other mountains of the Marghine chain. Car hire Sardinia need not break the bank and there are lots of hardy off road vehicles available to rent at a cheap price.

Having a car can also be useful if you want to go to the surfers (and windsurfers) paradise of Isola dei Gabbiani and it is possible to request surf racks for your equipment as optional extras.

You need to rent a multi purpose vehicle with lots of room, or a pick up truck, if you plan on going scuba diving around the picturesque Tavolara Island. Underwater adventurers will also enjoy the wonderful marine reserve around Sardinia, one of Europe’s finest ecological treasures, and this can be accessed from a district called Alghero.

Sardinia is one of the regions of Italy but under the Italian constitution it has regional autonomy. Although the locals speak Italian they also use a dialect of Sardinian. Oddly enough in Alghero, which has fantastic beaches and is well worth visiting, they speak Catalan. The medieval town of Alghero is known as Little Barcelona because of its links with the Catalan capital.

However, Alghero can be quite a dangerous place to drive in due to the windy mountain roads and unpredictable motorists so care should be exercised at all times. Your transport will come in handy though as a good way to see the magical palace - Palazzo D’Albis and the marvelous rocky bay which is Neptune’s Grotto.

Sardinia certainly has some of the cutest fishing villages in the Mediterranean such as the charming Stintino and its glorious beach, Pelosa. You will find plenty of lovely taverns to try the local seafood and sauces, while the alcoholic drink Mirto is flavoured by the berries of a bush which grows on Sardinia and is worth trying. The Mirto berries are also used to flavor a Sardinian specialty of roasted young pig, or Porcheddu.

Most travelers to Sardinia go to the island’s capital Cagliari which has been constantly inhabited since ancient times due to its good position on a fertile plain. Because of Cagliari’s position on the southern tip of Sardinia its port was an ideal place from which to set sail for Africa. This was one main reason why the Phoenicians set up a colony in Cagliari.

Olbia Airport is the main airport in Sardinia, though it is also worth noting that there are airports at Alghero and Cagliari. Olbia airport is alternatively called Costa Smeralda Airport and has the airport code OLB. Olbia airport has 40 check in desks and 10 gates and there are plenty of facilities for passengers there such as an ice cream parlour, a newsagent and a pharmacy.

Olbia Airport has regular flights to a range of Italian and European destinations. It is possible to fly to Sardinia through the low cost carriers Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair, Easyjet, TUIFLY and SkyEurope. There are also routes to Sardinia with the airlines Air Berlin, Germanwings, Air Italy and Meridiana.

Car Hire Olbia international airport is a cheap and efficient way to get to wherever you are going. Sardinia does have some cheap bus services to Cagliari and other towns but whether you want to lug your baggage around is another matter. Sardinia does get hot in the summer, so you may wish to request air conditioning, though the island has a cooling Mistral breeze blowing across it.

Throughout the year tourists can find cheap deals on every part of the Sardinia experience from villas and flights to low cost cars.