Buon giorno from Italy! Last week we left off in London, after taking an amazing flight over the pond with Eos Airlines (here's the link to the archives). This week we continue to live the high life as we visit one of the world's most exclusive summer playgrounds: Costa Smeralda. If you're interested in learning about this special part of the coast on the island of Sardegna, then andiamo ("let's go" in Italian)! If you're in a hurry or have ADD, check out the 2-minute Johnny Jet video at the end of this week's story.

SARDEGNA
Americans call the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea "Sardinia." Sardinians call it Sardigna or Sardinna. I'll stick with my Italian heritage and call it what other Italians do: Sardegna. Sardegna is located 115 miles west of the Italian mainland (see map), and has a population of 1,680,000. This mountainous island (the highest point is 6,017 feet) is much larger than I ever imagined � roughly 160 miles long and 68 miles wide (9,301 square miles). The capital, Cagliari, is located on the southern part of the island. But I flew into Olbia, the other major airport, a 4-hour, 171-mile drive north of Cagliari.

GETTING TO SARDEGNA
Reaching Sardegna by air is not as expensive as it used to be, thanks to low-fare carriers. There are no non-stop flights from the U.S., however, so you have to connect. Instead of buying a direct ticket on a major carrier to Sardegna, look into breaking up your trip with a stopover either in London or Cologne, Germany (both are served by budget airlines). By flying into London and purchasing a separate ticket on easyJet (one of Europe's most popular low-fare carriers) I saved over $1,000! Tip: Make sure to leave plenty of time between flights (preferably a day), because most low-fare carriers depart out of alternate airports. Fortunately, one-way tickets to Oblia or Cagliari can be as low as $40. If you prefer surface routes, a few ferry companies (listed in our resource section) offer crossings from some of Italy's major port towns. Ferries take between 4 and 9 hours. The shortest distance is from Civitavecchia, an hour from Rome. Prices vary depending on class and type of boat; the lowest usually start at $30 each way, but specials can drop them even lower. For more click HERE.