You’ve heard of Olbia, right? If you’re well-traveled or filthy rich, you probably know exactly where it is. You see, according to Private Jet Charter, this little city off the coast of Italy is quickly becoming a favorite travel destination among the super-wealthy who once flocked to the French Riviera.
“The Côte d’Azur is, of course, where the wealthy are reunited with their superyachts, but recently we have seen an increase in the world’s rich and famous jetting off to the Sardinian island of Olbia,” said Wendy Courtenay of Private Jet Charter, a luxury aviation company. “Culturally quirky, geographically stupendous and very welcoming, Costa Smeralda in Olbia is proving to rival the French Riviera in the glamour stakes at the moment.”
Situated on the northeast coast of Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, Olbia offers white sandy beaches and bright turquoise waters, drawing foreign visitors from around the world. First making a name for itself among the affluent in the 1960s with the help of multi-millionaire Aga Khan, Costa Smeralda in Olbia became quietly known as an opulent holiday destination for the rich and famous.
Following its rise to fame, celebrities, jetsetters and the uber-wealthy have made it a point to stay among its shores, including Steven Spielberg, Naomi Campbell, Silvio Berlusconi and Flavio Briatore. Because of its location, it is also easily accessed by superyacht, private jet and a quick 10- to 15-minute limousine ride from any place in town.
Once a little fishing village, Olbia now offers its own international airport and is Sardinia’s busiest ferry port. Temperatures range from the high 70s to the low 100s mid-summer, but the cool Mediterranean breezes offer a respite from the heat in the evenings.
“We find that a lot of our clients reunite with their superyacht in Cannes or Nice and spend a few days or a week there, maybe taking a trip to Monaco or St Tropez. They then instruct their captain to motor the yacht on to Olbia, while the owner takes a private jet and re-joins their yacht in the Port at Olbia,” explained Courtenay. So next time you’re looking for place to park your superyacht, just head to this little destination and park it right next to all the other yachts.
