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Ever notice your dog acting totally out of character? It might be stress. My dog Max used to lose it every time I grabbed my keys. The second I'd reach for the door, he'd be pacing, whining or tearing up the couch. His separation anxiety was stressing both of us out. So I tried Cradle. They make vet formulated calming products with premium ingredients, chews, bars, tinctures, whatever works for your dog. And here's the thing. They help dogs stay calm and relaxed without making them drowsy or zoned out. Whether it's separation anxiety, thunderstorms, car rides, or just the chaos of everyday life, Cradle helps support balanced behavior. And the best part? You can try Cradle risk free. If it's not a good fit for your pup, you get your money back. No stress, no hassle, no hard feelings. So if you're ready to help your dog find their calm, head to cradlemypet.com that's K-R-A--L-E-My Pet.com. that's Cradle with a K. Try it risk free today because a calm pet is a happy pet.
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Now let the city I'll be doing. Hello, My name is Claudia. I was born and raised in Sardinia and I still call it home. I am the mastermind behind the Streetly Sardinia Travel Blog and now the Streetly Sardinia Podcast where each week I I'll bring you the best Sardinia has to offer and share my most insightful tips to help you plan a memorable trip to my wonderful island. In the last episode I taught you about La Pelosa beach in Sardinia. This week I will share with you my tips on visiting Calabrandinki, another protected beach. Let me stress that as always, you will find a more detailed version of today's episode on my blog sweetly sardinia.com as always, let me remind you that you will find the link to my blog post in today's episode description, so don't forget to read that for more information. Also, let me remind you that if you ever need more tips and help to plan your trip to Sardinia, you can book a one hour travel consultation with me. The link for that is once again in the episode description. Now today's topic Calabrandinki. This is one of the best beaches of the Galura region in northwestern Sardinia, an extremely popular cove between Olbia and San Teodoro, a small town town that is a favorite holiday destination for both local and international tourists. I have been to Calabandinki many times. I prefer this part of the island to the Emerald coast which is not far from there. Visiting Calabrandinki can be a bit tricky. It's a narrow beach. It can get overwhelmingly crowded during the summer months. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. Furthermore, Amal, although the beach is public, visiting isn't exactly budget friendly. Now, if you're planning to visit northeaster Sardinia, however, you should make it a point to go. You will find incredibly clear shallow waters and powdery white sand and the landscape that is pristine and breathtaking. As I said, I have been to Calabrandinki many times, so I am ready to share all the tips you need to visit. Now. First question Is Cala branding worth it? Well, this is easily one of the best beaches in Sardinia, one of the most beautiful ones, and you should not miss visiting if you are in the area. But let me be completely clear, Kala Pendinki is worth it if you can arrive early if you want shallow calm waters for kids, if you don't mind beaches that are crowded, and if you're happy to pay a bit more for convenience, you may want to skip it. If you'll arrive late morning or midday, you want space to walk and spread out. You dislike having to go through the reservation system and you're traveling on a tight budget. How to Book Cala Brandinki as of June 2022, Cala Brandinki is one of the protected beaches of Sardinia. That means that it has limited daily access in peak season and booking is mandatory. Less than 1500 people can visit Calabrandinki per day. You will have to book your visit in advance and pay a small fee. Visiting is free if you're staying in one of the places in San Teodoro. If you arrive without a reservation, you will not be allowed on the Be even early in the morning and don't assume weekdays are safe. In peak season, weekday slots can sell out the same day the bookings open. As I said, limited daily visitors are 1500. Booking opens a few days in advance online only. You must book before you go. No walk ins how the booking works it's actually fairly easy. First of all, you have to visit the official San Teodoro beach booking portal. Select Cala Brandinki, choose your date, enter the number of visitors and their details, pay the environmental entry fee and receive confirmation, which is basically a QR code. If you want to visit on a Tuesday in August, you book as soon as the reservations open on the Sunday morning at the latest. By late evening, even weekday slots are gone. On arrival, you will have to show your confirmation. Important things to know the Booking only covers access, not sunbeds or umbrellas. Parking and beach services are separate. Booking rules can change slightly every season. Always double check with the official portal before finalizing your plan. Can you visit Cala Brandinki without booking? No. During peak season, walk ins are not allowed, even early in the morning. If Ala Brandinki is sold out, the best alternative will be Porto Taverna or La Cinta, which are beaches near San Teodoro. What are the costs at Cala Brandinki? Well, Calabandinki is one of the most expensive beaches in Sardinia. It's not a free beach experience in the summer. Most visitors underestimate the cost of access, parking and having a bit of comfort. And the mandatory costs are the access fee which is 2 Euro per person, the parking which is between 10 and 20 Euro per day depending on how long you stay. And parking is the main fixed cost, not the beach entry itself. Other optional additional costs would be sunbeds and umbrella which can be up to €95 per day if you want the front row and peak dates. Food and drinks. There's a. There are kiosk beach bars where you can get food and drinks, but they are expensive. You can avoid this cost if you bring your umbrella, if you bring your own supplies for the day. Now, is Cala Brandinki expensive? Well, we find it expensive. We locals find it expensive. Compared to wild unregulated beaches, it is even more expensive, mainly because of parking and rentals. And the costs reflect the fact that it's limited access, controlled entry and there are several on site service. How can you spend less? How can you visit Cala Brandinki in a more budget friendly way? Well, arrive early and use
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day or night. VRBoCare is here 24, 7 to help make every part of your stay seamless. If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out. From the moment you book to the moment you head home. We're here to help things run smoothly because a great trip starts with the right support. And hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either.
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The free beach meaning don't stay at the beach club. Bring your umbrella, water and food. Visit on a weekday, not a weekend. Because bookings are for self for for. Beach clubs are more expensive on a weekend. Avoid visiting in the peak season. So for example, visit in late spring, May, June or mid September and October. Because if you want to rent say beach club beach beds or sunbeds and umbrellas at a beach club, they are cheaper when you go in in the off season, as I said, once again, booking only covers access. Parking, sunbeds and food are separate costs. Facts about Calabrandinki it's located in Capoco de Cavallo and are about 10 kilometers 6.2 miles from Santodoro, 23 kilometers 14.3 miles from Obia. We call it Little Tahiti. It's the place where, according to history, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian unification Heroes stopped on 17th October 1867 as he escaped from Caprera in the Maddalena archipelago on his way to Rome. Surrounding the beach is a forest of Mediterranean pine trees where cicadas live. Behind the beach there are small sand dunes protected from the strongest winds. The rock formations are the perfect environment for several marine species. This is a great place to go snorkeling. From Cala Brentinji you can have impressive views of Tavolara Island. It's one of the smallest beaches in northern Sardina. It's very narrow, so it fills up easily. It's family friendly because the water is very shallow. The bay is protected from some wind, so there is hardly any current ever. It's accessible to people with reduced mobility. It's an equipped beach. There are kiosks appear where boats can dock. There are a couple of beach clubs where you can rent umbrellas and sunbeds. You can also rent SUPs, paddle boats, etc. And there are two chemical toilets at the very entrance of the beach which are free for of use. Now staying at the free beach versus at a Lido area. Well, if you want to have a more comfortable experience, you can book umbrellas and sunbeds at one of the two lidos at Calabrandinki beach. Last time I visited, this is what I did because I wanted a bit more flexibility to arrive. So the the pros of the free beach is that it's the cheapest option. Full flexibility. The cons is that very limited shade. You need to bring your own umbrella. The beach feels narrow and terribly crowded, even more so at peak times. There's a constant foot traffic behind towels. You must arrive early. I mean no later than 8:30am the pros of the Lido sunbed area, the shade and comfort. It's less stress with kids, guaranteed parking spot. So you don't have to arrive too early. You can be there by 9, 9:30. It's obviously among the cons is that higher cost. And it's not necessarily less crowded, though it is more comfortable. The best time to visit Calabrandinki? Well, I want to Say in the off season. So in May or late September. October. Best time to get there early morning when the sea is calm and it's easier to park. You should try to be there no later than 8:30 or 9:00am in the peak season. It's good to arrive in the late afternoon when people start to leave and the light is softer. Not great to go between 10:30 and 3:30 because of crowds, heat and logistics. How to get there? Well, the beach is easy to access from both Olbia and Santiago. If you're traveling from Olbia, the best, quickest way to access is via Road125 southbound. It will take you around 30 minutes. The best way to get there is by car from San Teodoro. Again, you can get there by car, you can get there by bike, or you can get the Santiago Express, which is basically a shuttle bus that from Santiago it connects to the various beaches in the area, including Calabrandinki. Parking in Calabrandinki is expensive. 2 Euro per hour in June and September, 250 in July and August. You have to grab a ticket at the buyer, place it in your car. It has to be full, fully visible and on the way out you pay the attendant by the barrier. This is the main logistical challenge at Calabrandinki. Parking is paid and limited, often already 4 by 9am in the peak season. The parking areas are located near the main beach access point. Parking on the roadside is prohibited. You may get a fine. Parking is managed separately from the beach booking system. So remember, when you pay for the beach, you're not paying for the parking. If you plan to rent some beds, parking is usually easier to manage, as most beach clubs guarantee a parking spot. Do not rely on the idea that you can find something nearby. And do not rely on turnover, which is pretty slow at Calabraniki. Other useful tips? Well, don't arrive early. The beach is very narrow. So if you want, especially if you want to use the the free beach, you need to arrive early. Don't take sand again. This is forbidden in all of Sardinia. Respect other people. Basic beach etiquette to look around and acknowledge your neighbors. Before you lay down your towel and you place your umbrella. You have to leave enough room for people to walk. And avoid ball games at this very crowded beach. Pick up your garbage. There are bins on the beach. Recycling is compulsory in Sardinia. Do not smoke. Smoking is forbidden. And if you want to smoke a cigarette, you will have to look for a designated area. No pets. Unfortunately, this is not one of the dog friendly Beaches in Sardinia, so you cannot bring your pet if you cannot find a spot to in Calabrandinki, you can visit one of the nearby beaches. Now, right next door there's Lu Imposto, which is again one of the protected beaches with limited access. And the setting is pretty much identical, but free to access. You will find La Cinta, which is a long, sandy beach. The longest beach in Calabra. In Santodoro there are lots of services. It's better for walking. There's Porto Taverna, more space than Calabrandinki, but still very crowded. Lots of services, incredible views of Tavolara. All in all, I find that Calabrandinki is an incredible beach to visit if you're staying in the Olbia or San Teodoro or Porto Taverna area, or Nuiti Porto San Paulo. It's an expensive beach to visit here in Sardinia for, you know, the parking, the fact that you have to pay the environmental fee, the fact that if you want to get food and drinks at the beach, it's expensive. It's not the easiest spot because you have to arrive really early. So if you want to have a lazy holiday where you wake up at 10 and go to the beach at 12, this probably isn't the place for you. On the other hand, if you're traveling with kids, it's great because the water is super shallow, it's very sandy, the sand is soft and powdery. So it's a place where they can play safely and have a good time. This brings me to the end of my episode. Before I share the topic of next episode, let me remind you that if you ever need more tips to plan your trip to Sardinia, you can book a one hour travel consultation with me. The link for that is in the episode description, so make sure to read that. Of course, there's my blog, strictly sardinia.com that has more tips to help you plan your trip and it's completely free to read. Next week I'll be telling you everything on San Teodoro, which is the main town that gives you access to Calabrandinki. Finally, if you like my podcast, share with your friends who are coming to Sardinia and give it a five star rating and a good review. And until next week, goodbye.
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Jack Harndale was helping his daughter Emily lift an awkward dresser up a staircase when he slipped and fell backwards. A week later, Emily asked him how he was doing.
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I'm good.
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Truth was, he wasn't good. Jack needed help. Then the darndest thing happened. Emily called Pacific Source my health plan. Jack learned that Pacific Source provides members with support beyond healthcare. In Jack's case, we got him in touch with the local food bank.
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You guys do that?
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Yes, we do, Jack. Pacific Source Health Plan.
Episode: How To Visit Cala Brandinchi
Host: Claudia Tavani
Date: March 5, 2026
In this episode, Claudia Tavani, born and raised in Sardinia and curator of the Strictly Sardinia blog, shares her in-depth local advice on visiting Cala Brandinchi – often dubbed "Little Tahiti" and known as one of the island's most beautiful and protected beaches. She covers everything from mandatory booking procedures, best times to visit, costs, practical and money-saving tips, accessibility, and alternatives for those unable to secure a spot. The episode aims to help travelers plan a memorable and stress-free visit to this sought-after location, whether you seek family-friendly waters or a comfortable beach club experience.
Location & Appeal:
Is It Worth It? ([03:00])
Mandatory Booking (Since June 2022):
Cala Brandinchi is a protected beach with daily limited access (max. 1,500 visitors).
Reservation mandatory in peak season (roughly June–September).
Booking opens a few days in advance, online only, through the San Teodoro official portal.
A QR code confirmation is required for entry.
Tip: “If you want to visit on a Tuesday in August, you book as soon as the reservations open on the Sunday morning at the latest. By late evening, even weekday slots are gone.” ([04:39])
No walk-ins allowed during peak season, even early mornings.
Staying in San Teodoro? Entry may be free, but booking still required.
Booking Covers:
If Sold Out:
Beach Details:
Getting There & Parking
Claudia delivers a thorough, honest, and detail-rich guide to visiting Cala Brandinchi—a Sardinian gem that rewards prepared, early-rising visitors, especially families seeking unforgettable, safe beach time. The episode empowers listeners to plan around the area’s strict but necessary regulations, budget appropriately, and make the most of this “Little Tahiti”—or discover alternatives if access falls through.
For more information and tips, listeners are directed to Claudia’s blog (strictlysardinia.com), or to book a one-hour travel consultation.