This dispatch is part of From the Window Seat, a series of immersive, long-form personal trip reflections, in-depth destination pieces, and sharp hospitality evaluations grounded in firsthand reporting and personal experience.
Ed. Note: Flights and accommodations for this trip were provided by Delta. As always, I only share experiences that I genuinely love, and all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own.
When Delta invited me to join its inaugural nonstop flight from New York to Sardinia, my answer was immediate and resounding, full-bodied, “yes.”
Not because I knew all that much about Sardinia. In fact, beyond photos of impossibly blue water and a reputation as one of Europe’s most coveted summer destinations, I knew surprisingly little about the island.
But I did know two things: first, Sardinia had long occupied a place on my travel wish list for it’s beauty alone. And second, as someone who spends an inordinate amount of time paying attention to airline announcements, the opportunity to be onboard a historic inaugural flight was too good to pass up.
So, I found myself at JFK surrounded by a crowd of fellow travelers eager to board the first-ever nonstop flight connecting the US to Sardinia. What followed wasn’t a comprehensive exploration of the island; I had just 48 hours on the ground, which was not nearly enough to understand Sardinia in full.
Still, in those two days, I crossed something entirely different off my aviation bucket list, spent a day sailing through some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen, and gained a newfound appreciation for an island that exceeded the fantasy I’d built up in my head.
Read on for:
What it was like onboard Delta’s inaugural nonstop flight
Why this island feels nothing like the Italy I expected
The aviation bucket-list moment I’d been waiting years to experience
The one Sardinian experience I’d tell every first-time visitor to prioritize
All the hotspots on my list for my return trip
For American travelers, Sardinia has traditionally required at least one connection, usually through Rome or Milan. In practical terms, that meant sacrificing valuable vacation time. You either needed to build an extra day into your itinerary or accept that a portion of your Sardinia trip would be spent elsewhere.
But that all changed in May when Delta launched the first-ever nonstop flight between the US and Sardinia, connecting New York’s JFK Airport directly to Olbia on the island’s northeastern coast.
Now, as someone who is obsessive about aviaiton, I have a long bucket list of things I want to experience, and I’ve long dreamed of flying on an inaugural flight. So when Delta invited me to join the very first departure, I was thrilled.
Inaugural flights are a big deal. Behind every new route are years of complicated planning, negotiations, airport logistics, regulatory approvals, operational coordination…in short, they’re worth celebrating. And celebrate, we did.
At JFK, passengers were greeted with Sardinian music, local food, commemorative gifts, and a festive atmosphere that made it clear this wasn’t an ordinary departure. There was a palpable sense that everyone onboard was headed somewhere special.
I spent the flight in Delta One, which remains one of my favorite ways to cross the Atlantic. Settling into a lie-flat seat never gets old for me. Dinner was served (excellent, as always), the cabin lights dimmed, and I experienced Delta’s new Missoni bedding for the first time, which somehow managed to exceed the hype. Before long, we were crossing the Atlantic en route to Sardinia. I assumed the celebrations would end once we left the gate.
I was wrong.
As our aircraft taxied into Olbia the following morning, we were greeted by a traditional water-cannon salute, a ceremonial welcome reserved for special aviation milestones. Arcs of water stretched high above the aircraft as we rolled beneath them, sparkling in the Mediterranean morning sun. For many passengers, it was probably an unexpected surprise. For me, it was the fulfillment of a long-standing aviation bucket-list dream. To finally experience one from my own window seat felt surreal. As water cascaded over the aircraft and passengers pressed their phones against the glass to capture the moment, I couldn’t help but smile.
Where I stayed
Mangia’s Sardina Resort: For my two nights on the island, I checked into a Marriott property located near Santa Teresa Gallura on Sardinia’s northeastern coast. The resort occupies a dramatic clifftop position overlooking the Mediterranean, with sweeping sea views throughout the property. While I tend to gravitate toward intimate boutique hotels over sprawling resorts, Mangia’s surprised me. Large resorts can sometimes struggle to feel personal or luxurious, but the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting here. My favorite feature was easily the beach access; a pathway leads down to a secluded stretch of shoreline where the water is every bit as turquoise as the photos promise. Between the elevated views from the resort and the ability to be in the sea within minutes, it served as an ideal home base for a quick introduction to this part of Sardinia.
On my list to stay next time
Cala di Volpe: If Sardinia has a grand dame, this is probably it. Originally designed by architect Luigi Vietti in the 1960s, Cala di Volpe is one of the most iconic hotels on the Costa Smeralda. The property resembles a colorful Mediterranean fishing village, complete with arches, terraces, and one of the most photographed pools in Italy. It’s the kind of hotel that feels inseparable from the destination itself.
Romazzino: Another Costa Smeralda classic, Romazzino is often described as one of Sardinia’s most beautiful beachfront hotels. Whitewashed architecture blends into the landscape while gardens spill directly toward a crescent of brilliant turquoise water. The atmosphere feels quieter and more understated than some of the island’s flashier addresses, which only makes it more appealing to me.
Before arriving, nearly every recommendation I received contained some variation of the same advice: get on a boat.
One of Sardinia’s greatest treasures is the La Maddalena Archipelago, a protected collection of islands scattered just off the island’s northeastern coast. Many of its most beautiful beaches and coves are difficult—or impossible—to reach by car, meaning the only way to truly experience this part of Sardinia is from the water.
So on my second day, I boarded a tour boat arranged by the hotel and spent the day weaving between islands including Santa Maria and Spargi before stopping in the town of La Maddalena. The scenery was stunning, but it was the water that left the biggest impression.
I’ve spent time in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean, and Sardinia’s water belongs in the same conversation. In some places it was so clear I could see the seafloor from the boat. In others, it shifted from crystal clear to electric turquoise in a way that felt almost artificial, as though someone had adjusted the saturation settings on the Mediterranean.
At Cala Corsara on Spargi Island, enormous granite formations rose directly from the sea. Elsewhere, sailboats drifted over shallow sandbars while swimmers floated in water so transparent they appeared suspended in midair.
By the end of the day, I understood why everyone had given me the same advice. If you’re visiting Sardinia for the first time and only have room in your itinerary for one experience, make it a day on the water.
If there’s one thing 48 hours in Sardinia taught me, it’s that I barely scratched the surface. Between hidden coves, legendary beach clubs, and some of Italy’s most iconic hotels, there is truly so much more left to discover. A few places already at the top of my list for next time:
Explore the Gulf of Orosei: While the La Maddalena Archipelago introduced me to Sardinia’s famous turquoise waters, the Gulf of Orosei is another iconic stretch of coastline. Known for dramatic limestone cliffs, sea caves, and beaches accessible only by boat, it’s home to some of the island’s most spectacular scenery, including Cala Goloritzé and Cala Mariolu. When I return, this will be my first stop.
Dinner at Terrazza Ritual: Part restaurant, part Sardinian institution. Perched among massive granite boulders overlooking the Costa Smeralda, Terrazza Ritual looks more like an ancient fortress than a restaurant. The views alone have earned it a place on my list.
Sunset drinks at Nammos x Phi Beach: I’m not usually one to plan an entire evening around a beach club, but Phi Beach keeps coming up in every Sardinia conversation. Built directly into the rocks overlooking the sea, it’s widely regarded as one of the most beautiful sunset spots in Europe.
Dinner at Casa Boheme: The kind of place I immediately save when it appears on my Instagram feed. Warm lighting, beautiful tablescapes, and a distinctly Mediterranean sense of effortless chic.
Shop in Porto Cervo: Sardinia’s answer to Saint-Tropez. Porto Cervo is the glamorous heart of the Costa Smeralda, where luxury boutiques, superyachts, and impossibly stylish Europeans converge each summer. Beyond the designer storefronts, I was especially intrigued by Esmeralda Bazaar, a destination for curated resortwear and vacation-worthy finds.
Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.
Ahhhh Sardinia is on my list for next summer. It seems like this summer it became so popular, perhaps in large part to the direct flight. I can't wait to go!