Start with the actual arrival time
The decision cannot be made from the ticket price alone. Write down your scheduled arrival in Olbia, the time needed to leave the airport and everything still to do: collect bags, pick up a car, meet the person handing over keys or reach the accommodation. The time that matters for the first night is when you can actually get inside and settle, not the time printed on the flight itinerary.
The airport and car hire operators publish useful information, but desk hours, availability and procedures depend on the date and booking. Ask the rental company directly whether collection is possible after a delay and what instructions apply. Do not assume staff will wait, a key box exists or check-in is automatic. Ask the accommodation manager for written confirmation.
Put both scenarios side by side
Scenario A: arrive late and go straight to the holiday home that evening. Scenario B: stay overnight in or near Olbia and continue to the home the next day. For both, list the same items: transport fare, any extra car hire day or charge, accommodation, transfer, meals you may need to arrange and useful time the next day. Use amounts and rules supplied for your chosen dates, not generic estimates.
An extra night is not automatically wasteful. It may remove the pressure to collect a car or reach a home late and let everyone start rested. It is not automatically good value either: it adds accommodation and may mean another transfer or more luggage handling. Check whether the main accommodation charges for the full night despite a late arrival, and whether its entry arrangements fit your schedule.
Measure the first day, not just the calendar
Ask what your group would actually do after a late arrival: sleep, buy essentials, collect a car or begin the onward journey? With children, tired travellers or many bags, fewer steps may matter more than formally gaining a night. A group hoping to start early the next day may lose time and add a change of accommodation by stopping over. There is no universal value for those hours; the useful question is which plan fits your group's pace.
Compare costs for the whole group and booking. Relate any fare difference to nights, transfers, car hire and activities gained or lost. If the car booking spans different dates, check its full quote and actual collection and return times. Geasar's information page lists airport car hire, while each operator's quote defines availability and terms.
Confirm access before paying
Before choosing a late arrival, get a clear answer about the latest check-in time, key handover, any required steps and whom to contact if you are delayed. Ask how to report a schedule change and what happens if the flight lands after the agreed window. Conditions vary by property. A general information page mentioning a service does not guarantee it is available for your stay.
Before adding a night, confirm that the alternative accommodation can be booked and that the onward transfer works. Then compare the cancellation and change terms for each component. If a condition is unclear, ask before choosing. That way you compare two workable plans, rather than a confirmed night with an imagined late check-in.
Frequently asked questions
Does every holiday home allow check-in at night?
No. Access times and arrangements depend on the property and the specific booking. Ask the manager to confirm them for your dates, including what to do if you are delayed. Do not infer late access from a late flight or from another property's self-check-in service.
How do I compare an extra night with a later flight?
Compare the total bookings for your group: transport, car hire, accommodation, transfers and access times. Then consider how many usable hours remain on arrival day and the following day. Suppliers' actual terms matter more than a general estimate.