An alternative airport costs holiday time too: what will you give up?

Count the journey from door to door

A ticket price tells only part of the story. To choose between Olbia, Alghero and Cagliari, add the trip from the airport to your base, the wait for the next service, any car collection and the agreed time for entering the home. What matters is how much time remains for the holiday, not the distance on a map.

Build a line for each travel day: expected arrival, leaving the airport, transfer, agreed check-in and the first realistic activity. Do the same for the return, including car return and the time your carrier expects you to reach the terminal. Schedules vary by date and season. Check the published services for your travel day; a search result is not a guaranteed connection.

Compare the three airports on equal terms

Olbia is the airport closest to Gallura destinations, and its airport authority publishes information about connections and services. Alghero is in the northwest of Sardinia; Cagliari is in the south. From either alternative airport, ground travel becomes a substantial part of the plan. It can still work, but assess the full itinerary and verify available modes and changes with the operators.

For each option, record the total flight and transfer cost, number of changes, arrival window, whether you need a rental car, group constraints and hours actually spent at the destination. Do not add theoretical journey times without checking waits and connections. If you are travelling with children, bulky bags or someone who wants to limit travel, account for the effort as well. Different groups have different needs.

Turn travel time into a real decision

If arriving far from Olbia takes a large part of your first or last day, consider an overnight stop, a longer stay or a simpler itinerary. An extra night adds a cost to check, while extending a home booking may not be possible. First ask what dates are available and what arrival and departure arrangements have been agreed. Do not assume check-in can accommodate every arrival time.

Compare two versions: the cheapest flight with a long transfer and a flight to a closer airport with less road travel. For each, mark when your stay really begins and when you have to leave. The saving may make sense if your group accepts the journey and enough full days remain; it matters less if it requires a hotel night, a car or unplanned compromises. This is a time and budget comparison, not a universal airport ranking.

Check before you buy

Check the airline's calendar first, then official ground connections for those same dates. Airport pages are a starting point; service frequency, availability and conditions can change. For a rental car, compare the operator's terms, pickup location and actual opening arrangements. Do not assume late pickup or a transfer is included. Confirm any essential leg directly with the provider.

Finally, ask the accommodation to confirm a compatible arrival time and what to do if you are delayed. Our homes are in Arzachena and Pantogia, Porto Cervo; the chosen base affects the last leg, and neither home is next to an alternative airport. Book only when the flight, transfer and home arrival form a workable plan for your group.