RENTAL12 & AZULIS Olbia FAQ
Practical, owner-verified answers from the RENTAL12 team in Olbia, Sardinia — covering direct booking, 24/7 self check-in, Olbia ZTL and parking, tourist tax, cleaning, families, pets and everything guests actually ask before and during their stay.
Brand & Trust
Is RENTAL12 legit? Who actually owns it?
Is RENTAL12 a legitimate, registered Italian rental company and who is the legal owner of the business?
RENTAL12 is the trading brand of Lion Development SRL, a Sardinia-registered Italian company, operating under Olbia tourism licence IUN F1530 / CIN IT090047B4000F1530, with 1350+ verified Trustmary reviews.
Yes. RENTAL12 is the guest-facing brand of Lion Development SRL, a fully registered Italian limited company based in Sardinia. Our Olbia municipal tourism licence is IUN F1530, which maps to the national CIN number IT090047B4000F1530 — both are displayed on every listing and printed inside each apartment. You can verify the CIN on the Italian Ministry of Tourism registry, and cross-reference our company history on the Authority hub and Press room. We are audit-traceable, invoice in EUR from an Italian VAT number, and have over 1,350 verified guest reviews on Trustmary.
What is the difference between RENTAL12 and AZULIS?
How are the RENTAL12 and AZULIS brands related and why are there two names for the same apartments?
AZULIS is the premium collection brand inside RENTAL12; both are operated by the same team at Lion Development SRL, with the same owners, the same licences, and the same guest service.
RENTAL12 is the umbrella company. AZULIS is the premium design collection within it — our Dennis & Laura-curated apartments with Giorgetti, Porada and Arper furniture, silent premium blinds and sea-facing terraces. When you book an AZULIS apartment, you are still booking through RENTAL12 (same licence, same support team, same Trustmary review profile). Learn more on the AZULIS collection page.
What is the AZULIS premium specification?
Which furniture brands, appliance classes and finish specifications define an AZULIS apartment versus a standard RENTAL12 unit?
AZULIS apartments use Laskasas, Clote, Giorgetti, Porada and Arper furniture, A++ energy-class appliances, silent premium blinds, organic bed linens and Dennis & Laura's own curation checklist — a spec no standard Olbia agency offers.
Every AZULIS apartment ships with a documented premium spec: upholstery by Laskasas and Clote, chairs and case goods from Giorgetti, Porada and Arper, blackout silent-roller blinds, Egyptian-cotton bed linens and A++ energy-class appliances. Dennis and Laura sign off every unit in person — nothing ships to the listing until the full checklist is signed. It is the only Olbia rental programme where every piece of furniture is traceable to a named European maker.
Why are there fewer RENTAL12 units visible on Airbnb and Booking?
Why do I see fewer RENTAL12 apartments listed on Airbnb or Booking.com than on rental12.com itself?
RENTAL12 publishes every apartment on rental12.com but lists only a curated subset on Airbnb and Booking.com, because OTA fees force price increases that contradict our direct-book-cheaper promise.
Our full portfolio (including AZULIS units) lives on rental12.com. We only mirror a selection on Airbnb and Booking.com because those platforms charge 10–18% in guest fees that we cannot absorb without raising the nightly rate — which would contradict our direct-book-cheaper promise. Guests who find us via an OTA often re-book the next stay direct once they see the price gap.
Why book directly on RENTAL12.com instead of Airbnb or Booking?
What are the advantages of booking directly on rental12.com compared to reserving via Airbnb, Booking.com or other OTAs?
Direct bookings on rental12.com typically save 10–18% versus Airbnb or Booking.com, unlock longer-stay discounts, and give you the owner team on WhatsApp instead of an OTA call centre.
OTAs charge guests 10–18% in service fees that we do not receive. When you book via rental12.com, you pay the clean nightly rate, get automatic longer-stay discounts (7 / 14 / 28 nights), and communicate directly with Dennis, Laura, Floriana and Kristina on WhatsApp. There is no middleman in your check-in: the person who answers your 2am message is the same person who owns the apartment. For the design-led tier see AZULIS, and the full rationale is on Why RENTAL12.
Is RENTAL12 cheaper than Airbnb for the same apartment?
Will I pay less if I book a RENTAL12 apartment directly on rental12.com than on Airbnb or Booking.com?
Yes — direct bookings are usually 10–18% cheaper than the same apartment on Airbnb or Booking once OTA service fees are added.
The nightly rate is similar, but OTAs add service fees, resort fees and sometimes currency-conversion fees on top. Direct bookings skip all of that. For stays of 7+ nights we also apply automatic length-of-stay discounts that the OTA contracts do not allow us to publish there. The easiest way to compare is to open the same dates on Airbnb and on rental12.com side-by-side.
Who is the team I will actually talk to?
Who are the named people on the RENTAL12 team and which one will handle my booking, check-in and in-stay support?
The core team is Dennis (owner / design), Laura (owner / hospitality), Floriana (guest experience), and Kristina (operations & housekeeping lead) — you will be handed off between them but never to a call centre.
We are a small family-run team, not a rental platform. Read full team bios on the About page. Every apartment has a named primary contact printed inside it, so you know exactly who to WhatsApp if the Wi-Fi drops or the hot water needs re-pressurising.
What makes RENTAL12 different from a normal Olbia agency?
In what concrete ways is RENTAL12 different from a standard Olbia rental agency or a generic Airbnb host?
RENTAL12 is owner-operated with licensed Italian tax compliance, nominee of 2 Shortyz Awards 2026, 1350+ verified reviews, and an AZULIS design layer that standard agencies do not offer.
Most Olbia agencies manage a mixed portfolio of owner apartments they have never slept in. Every RENTAL12 apartment is either owned by us or co-designed with us. We personally test every mattress, every shower pressure setting, every coffee machine. We are a nominee of 2 Shortyz Awards 2026 (Best Lifestyle Host and Best Short-Term Rental Team) and won prior Shortyz recognition for the same categories. Full proof on the Authority page, and our positioning vs agencies and hotels is explained in detail on Why RENTAL12.
Are the photos on the site really of the apartment I will get?
Can I trust that the photos on rental12.com show the exact apartment I will stay in, or are they stock / staged images?
All RENTAL12 photos are of the exact apartment you book, shot on-site with current furniture and no staging props — if we replace a sofa, we re-shoot the photos within 30 days.
We never use stock photography. Every photograph on the listing was taken inside that specific apartment with its real, current furniture. When we replace a piece (say a new Porada armchair for an AZULIS unit), we re-shoot and re-upload within 30 days. If an image feels "off" compared to reality on arrival, we refund the first night — it has happened three times in five years. Cross-check the full portfolio on all properties.
Do you publish your Italian licence numbers publicly?
Does RENTAL12 publish its IUN, CIN and other Italian tourism licence numbers openly on the website?
Yes — the IUN F1530 and CIN IT090047B4000F1530 appear on every property page, in the footer, and inside every apartment welcome book.
Since the 2024 Italian short-term rental reform, every legal host must display their CIN publicly. Ours is IT090047B4000F1530 (IUN F1530 locally). You will find it on every property page, in the sitewide footer, on booking confirmations, and framed inside each apartment. Hosts who cannot show a CIN are operating illegally.
How do I contact RENTAL12 before booking?
What are the best contact channels to reach RENTAL12 with pre-booking questions about Olbia apartments?
Use the contact form on rental12.com/en/contact for non-urgent enquiries, WhatsApp for fast replies (usually under 30 minutes during business hours), and our team replies in English, Italian, German, French and Spanish.
The quickest route is the Contact page. For fastest reply go via WhatsApp — we usually answer within 30 minutes during business hours, within a few hours outside. We reply in English, Italian, German, French and Spanish. For emergencies during a live booking use the 24/7 emergency line.
Booking & Payments
How do I actually book an apartment?
What is the step-by-step process to book a RENTAL12 apartment in Olbia directly on the website?
Pick dates on the property page, enter guest count, review the quote, pay a 30% deposit with card or PayPal, receive the booking confirmation email within minutes.
Open any listing via the property search, select your check-in and check-out dates, enter the number of guests, and click "Book now". You will see a clean quote with nightly rate, tourist tax and cleaning fee. Pay a 30% deposit by credit card or PayPal to confirm; the remaining 70% is auto-charged 30 days before arrival (or immediately for late bookings). You receive a full itinerary by email within minutes.
Which payment methods do you accept?
What payment methods does RENTAL12 accept for direct bookings on rental12.com?
RENTAL12 accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, and SEPA bank transfer for direct bookings; all payments are in EUR and processed via PCI-compliant gateways.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and SEPA bank transfer. All transactions are in EUR. Card processing goes through Stripe (PCI-DSS Level 1) with encrypted card transactions and full European compliance. Lion Development SRL is a registered member of the Webshop Trustmark (independent European certification with public dispute handling), verifiable at keurmerk.info. Our full payments + data approach is documented on the Trust hub. If your bank blocks the charge as "unusual foreign activity" (common for US guests), WhatsApp us and we will send a secure pay-by-link alternative.
What is your cancellation policy?
What is the cancellation and refund policy for direct bookings made on rental12.com?
Full refund of the deposit if you cancel 14+ days before check-in; 50% refund between 14 and 7 days before; no refund within 7 days except for documented emergencies, which we review case by case.
Flexible: 100% refund of deposit if cancelled 14+ days before check-in. 50% refund between 14 and 7 days. Inside 7 days no refund is automatic, but we always review hospital letters, flight cancellations, family emergencies and similar documented cases — most result in a credit voucher valid 12 months. We strongly recommend travel insurance for stays in peak summer.
Is there a security deposit and is it taken on my card?
Does RENTAL12 take a security deposit, and is it held as an authorisation or an actual charge?
A 300 EUR security deposit is pre-authorised on your card at check-in and released within 7 days of check-out provided the apartment is left in normal condition.
We place a 300 EUR pre-authorisation (no actual charge) on a credit card at check-in. It releases automatically within 7 days of check-out. In 5 years we have charged a deposit less than 1% of the time — typically for deep-cleaning after a stain no normal detergent removes. We always photograph and email an itemised report before any charge. Full deposit, payment and data-handling policy on the Trust hub.
Do you issue a proper Italian invoice?
Will RENTAL12 issue a formal Italian fattura (tax invoice) for business or expense-report purposes?
Yes — if you request an invoice at booking we issue a fattura from Lion Development SRL with your company VAT number, usable for corporate expense reports anywhere in the EU.
Yes. At booking, select "I need an invoice" and add your company name and VAT number. We issue a compliant Italian fattura elettronica from Lion Development SRL within 7 days of check-out. It is fully acceptable for EU corporate expense claims and for VAT reclaim where applicable.
Do you charge a cleaning fee and how much is it?
Is there a separate cleaning fee on RENTAL12 apartments and how much does it cost?
A one-time cleaning fee of 60–120 EUR applies per stay depending on apartment size; it is always shown upfront in the booking quote before you pay.
Yes — a one-time cleaning fee of 60–120 EUR depending on apartment size (studio = 60, 2-bed = 90, 3-bed / AZULIS = 120). It is never hidden: the line appears in your quote before you enter card details. For stays over ~5 nights we typically provide a light mid-stay refresh every 3–4 days (linens + towels), handled by our in-house housekeeping team. Stays of 14+ nights include one free full mid-stay cleaning. See the full service inclusions on Why RENTAL12.
What is the Olbia tourist tax and how much will I pay?
How does the Olbia municipal tourist tax (imposta di soggiorno) work and what will it cost me for a typical stay?
The Olbia tourist tax is 2.50 EUR per person per night, capped at 7 consecutive nights, with guests under 16 fully exempt; it is collected in cash at check-in and remitted monthly to the municipality.
Every Italian municipality sets its own imposta di soggiorno. Olbia charges 2.50 EUR per person per night, capped at the first 7 consecutive nights, and guests under 16 are exempt. So two adults + one child staying 5 nights = 2 × 2.50 × 5 = 25 EUR total. It is not included in the booking quote because Italian law requires it to be collected and invoiced separately. Cash at check-in or bank transfer accepted.
Why do you ask for passport and selfie before arrival?
Why does RENTAL12 request a passport scan and a selfie photo before self check-in, and how is that data protected?
Italian law (Questura “Alloggiati Web” registration) requires every short-term rental host to report each guest's ID within 24 hours of check-in, so RENTAL12 collects a passport scan plus a selfie for identity match — stored encrypted and deleted after the legal retention period.
Since 2011, every Italian accommodation provider must file guest identity data with the local Questura (State Police) via the national Alloggiati Web portal within 24 hours of arrival. RENTAL12 collects the passport scan plus a short selfie (identity match) securely via our pre-arrival form. Data is stored encrypted, accessed only by Dennis and Laura, and deleted after the legal retention window. Our full data-handling policy sits on the Trust hub and the Privacy page.
What is the minimum-stay rule and how do last-minute bookings work?
What is the minimum number of nights for a RENTAL12 booking and can I book same-day or within 24 hours of arrival?
Minimum stay is 3 nights in low/shoulder season and 7 nights in July–August; same-day and next-day bookings are accepted subject to availability and a full immediate card charge instead of a 30% deposit.
Standard minimum stay is 3 nights outside peak summer, 7 nights in July and August (Italian law rewards longer stays with simpler registration). Same-day and next-day bookings are accepted when availability allows — the only difference is you pay the full amount immediately on card, rather than the usual 30% deposit + 70% at T-30 days. WhatsApp us for last-minute confirmations.
Can I modify my dates after I book?
If my travel plans change, can I shift the dates of a confirmed RENTAL12 booking without penalty?
Yes — date changes are free of charge if requested 14+ days before check-in, subject to availability; within 14 days a nightly-rate difference may apply.
If you ask 14 or more days before arrival, we move your booking to any alternative dates with availability at no admin fee — only the price difference (if any) applies. Inside 14 days we try to accommodate: sometimes a small re-pricing is needed because of seasonality. Just WhatsApp us, there is no penalty for asking.
During Your Stay
What time can I check in and check out?
What are the standard check-in and check-out times for RENTAL12 apartments in Olbia?
Standard check-in is from 16:00, check-out by 10:00; the 3–4 hour turnover window is needed to deep-clean, change all linens and restock toiletries between guests.
Check-in from 16:00, check-out by 10:00. The 3–4 hour gap lets Kristina's team deep-clean, change all linens, restock toiletries and check every appliance. If no one is arriving the same day we will gladly give you early check-in; likewise late check-out for late-flight departures — just ask. Need to bridge the gap? See our free same-day luggage storage.
Can I check in very late, even after midnight?
What happens if my flight to Olbia lands at midnight or after — can I still check into my RENTAL12 apartment the same night?
Yes — self check-in with a unique door code is available 24/7, including after midnight, at no extra cost, because Olbia's main tourist flights arrive late from Northern Europe.
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport has many flights arriving after 23:00 from London, Berlin, Munich and Stockholm. Every RENTAL12 apartment offers self check-in 24/7 via the Vikey smart-access system with a unique keypad code you receive by WhatsApp the morning of arrival. No staffed front desk, no extra fee for a 01:00 arrival, no need to meet anyone. An on-call team member answers any issue via WhatsApp all night, and urgent after-hours questions route through the 24/7 emergency hub. Airport → apartment transit tips on Getting around Olbia.
Is there Wi-Fi and how fast is it?
Is there Wi-Fi in every RENTAL12 apartment and is the connection fast enough for video calls and remote work?
Every RENTAL12 apartment has free unlimited fibre Wi-Fi delivering 50–200 Mbps, plenty for multiple Zoom / Teams calls and 4K streaming simultaneously.
Every apartment has free unlimited fibre Wi-Fi, 50–200 Mbps (depending on the building). Tested with Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, 4K Netflix streaming and Spotify in parallel. We test speed weekly. If it drops below 30 Mbps we deploy a 4G backup router within 2 hours.
Is there air conditioning in every room?
Do RENTAL12 apartments in Olbia have air conditioning in every room, including bedrooms, for summer nights?
Yes — every RENTAL12 apartment has split-unit air conditioning in every bedroom and the main living area, serviced twice a year.
Italian summer hits 34°C in August. Every RENTAL12 apartment has inverter split-unit A/C in every bedroom and main living area. Filters are cleaned and gas is re-pressurised twice a year (March and October). All remotes have a photographed instruction card in English inside the welcome folder.
Is there a washing machine, kitchen and full cookware?
Does every RENTAL12 apartment include a washing machine, a full kitchen and proper cookware for self-catering?
Every RENTAL12 apartment has a washing machine, full fitted kitchen with induction hob, oven, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, coffee machine and restaurant-grade cookware for 8 guests.
All apartments include: washing machine (larger units also have a dryer), induction or gas hob, full oven, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, Nespresso / moka, electric kettle, toaster, restaurant-grade pots and pans for 8 people, wine glasses, olive-oil decanter. We re-stock detergent, dish tabs, coffee pods, salt, pepper, olive oil and sugar every turnover.
Are linens, towels and toiletries provided?
Does RENTAL12 provide bed linens, towels, hand soap, shampoo and other basic toiletries, or do guests need to bring their own?
Every RENTAL12 stay includes freshly laundered bed linens, bath towels, hand towels, kitchen cloths, liquid hand soap, shampoo, conditioner and body wash — you only need to bring your toothbrush.
Provided on arrival: 100% cotton bed linens (200+ thread count), bath towels + hand towels per guest, kitchen cloths, liquid hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toilet paper (3 rolls per bathroom), dish tabs, laundry pods. Every apartment also ships with a beach kit: beach towels, a sun parasol, a cool bag with freezer elements — so you can drive straight to Pittulongu or Porto Istana on arrival. You bring your toothbrush. For stays of 14+ nights we also deliver a mid-stay linen change.
Is there a Sardinian welcome set on arrival?
Does RENTAL12 provide a welcome gift or Sardinian food and wine pack for guests on arrival?
Yes — every RENTAL12 arrival includes a Sardinian welcome set with Pecorino from Fattorie Gennargentu, Balari Vermentino di Gallura wine, pane carasau and a handwritten map of the team's favourite Olbia restaurants.
On arrival you will find a real Sardinian welcome set on the kitchen counter: a wedge of Pecorino sardo from Fattorie Gennargentu, a bottle of Balari Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, pane carasau, extra-virgin olive oil from a Gallura producer, and a handwritten map of our favourite five local restaurants for aperitivo, seafood and fresh pasta. AZULIS units also receive a small ceramic bowl of seasonal fruit. It is not a marketing gesture — it is the way Sardinian families welcome guests. For deeper food & wine context, see Things to do in Olbia.
Is the tap water drinkable?
Can I safely drink tap water in Olbia apartments, or should I buy bottled water throughout my stay?
Tap water in Olbia is supplied by Abbanoa S.p.A., meets EU drinking-water standards, and is safe to drink — most locals drink it but many guests prefer bottled for taste.
Olbia tap water is supplied by Abbanoa S.p.A. and is legally potable to EU drinking-water standards. Sardinian water is slightly more mineralised than northern Italy so the taste can feel "harder" — many guests prefer bottled for drinking and use the tap for teeth, coffee and cooking. A 6-pack of bottled water at the corner shop is ~3 EUR. Local context on the Olbia hub.
What happens if something breaks during my stay?
If an appliance fails or the Wi-Fi stops working during my stay, how quickly will RENTAL12 fix it?
RENTAL12 responds to in-stay issues via WhatsApp 24/7; Wi-Fi backup arrives within 2 hours, most appliance faults are fixed same day, and a 24/7 emergency line handles anything urgent.
Message us on WhatsApp — we answer 24/7. A Wi-Fi 4G backup router reaches you in under 2 hours; boiler / A/C / dishwasher faults are typically fixed same day by our contracted technician. If not, we relocate you free of charge to an equivalent RENTAL12 apartment. Urgent safety issues: use the 24/7 emergency page.
Access, ZTL & Parking
How far is Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport from the apartments?
How far is Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) from RENTAL12 apartments and how long does the drive take?
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is 3.5–5 km from RENTAL12 apartments, a 8–12 minute drive by taxi (~15–20 EUR) or a 15-minute ride on the ARST shuttle bus to central Olbia.
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) sits just 3.5–5 km from central Olbia — one of the closest city-airports in Italy. Taxi: 8–12 min, roughly 15–20 EUR. ARST airport shuttle to central Olbia: 15 min, 2 EUR. Cagliari Airport is 250 km (2h45 drive, not recommended). Alghero Airport is 135 km (1h45 drive). See the full airport / taxi / bus breakdown on Getting around Olbia and destination overview on the Olbia hub.
How close is the Olbia ferry port?
What is the distance and walk time from RENTAL12 apartments to the Olbia Isola Bianca ferry port?
Olbia's Isola Bianca ferry port is 1.5–3 km from RENTAL12 apartments — most are walkable in 20–30 minutes or a 5-minute, 8 EUR taxi ride.
The Isola Bianca ferry terminal (Moby, Tirrenia, GNV, Grimaldi lines to Livorno, Genova, Civitavecchia, Nice) is 1.5–3 km from our apartments. Most guests walk it in 20–30 minutes; a taxi is ~8 EUR and 5 minutes. If you are arriving with a car off the ferry, see the parking guide.
What is Olbia's ZTL and will I get a fine?
What is Olbia's ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) and how do I avoid the automatic camera fine when driving to my RENTAL12 apartment?
Olbia's historic-centre ZTL is camera-enforced with a typical fine of 87 EUR per entry; RENTAL12 registers guest licence plates in advance so authorised guests can drop bags without penalty.
Olbia's historic centre is a camera-enforced Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL). Unauthorised entry triggers an automatic fine of ~87 EUR. Only selected city-centre apartments (for example Cavour, Garibaldi and Tigellio) sit inside the partial ZTL; for any RENTAL12 apartment inside or near the zone we register your plate in advance with the municipality for bag drop-off (usually a 30-minute window). Full technical detail on the ZTL no-traffic-zone hub and the Parking & ZTL guide.
Where do I park my rental car?
Where can I legally and affordably park a rental car near my RENTAL12 apartment in Olbia?
Most RENTAL12 apartments include or reserve a parking spot; guests without one use the Olbia Parking multi-storey garage at 12–18 EUR per day within 400 m.
Listings always state "parking included", "reserved spot", or "public parking nearby" — no surprises. If a reserved space is a must-have, browse our dedicated Olbia apartments with parking collection. Public paid parking is Olbia Parking (Via Genova), 12–18 EUR/day, ~400 m from most apartments. Free street parking (white lines) exists 15–20 minutes further out. Blue lines = paid (meter or MyCicero app); yellow = residents only, never park there. Full overview on the parking hub.
Do I actually need a car in Olbia?
For a first-time stay in Olbia, is a rental car essential or can I rely on taxis, buses and walking?
You do not need a car if you stay inside Olbia (everything is walkable) but you need one to reach beaches like Pittulongu (3.5 km) or Porto Istana (14 km) as Sardinian bus routes are limited in shoulder season.
Inside Olbia a car is optional — Corso Umberto, the Duomo, the port and most restaurants are walkable from any RENTAL12 apartment. Outside Olbia (Pittulongu 3.5 km, Porto Istana 14 km, Cala Brandinchi, La Cinta, Costa Smeralda) you really want a car: buses run only in July/August and infrequently. Read the full in-town itinerary on the Olbia Old Town guide and plan beach / nature excursions on Things to do in Olbia and Day trips from Olbia.
Can you help me rent a car?
Can RENTAL12 help me book a rental car at Olbia airport or recommend a trusted local company?
Yes — RENTAL12 recommends three pre-vetted Olbia airport car-rental partners starting from ~25 EUR/day in shoulder season, and we share a guest discount code on request.
We work with three pre-vetted rental partners at Olbia airport. Shoulder-season rates start around 25 EUR/day for a compact; summer peak can reach 80–100 EUR/day so book early. WhatsApp us your dates and we will send our guest discount code.
Olbia Practicalities
Which Olbia area is best for a first-time visitor?
Which Olbia neighbourhood is the best location for a first-time visitor who wants to walk to restaurants, port and cathedral?
For first-time visitors, the Old Town area around Corso Umberto and Basilica di San Simplicio is the best Olbia base — walkable to 100+ restaurants, the port and every aperitivo bar.
Stay within 500 m of Corso Umberto and Basilica di San Simplicio. You walk to 100+ restaurants (Agriturismo Agnata, Ristorante Barbagia, trattorie), the port, the cathedral, the aperitivo bars. Compare all neighbourhoods on the Where to stay in Olbia hub, get the in-depth walking itinerary in the Olbia Old Town guide, and see first-timer reasons on Why Olbia and Is Olbia worth visiting?.
Where are the closest beaches?
Which are the closest swimmable beaches to central Olbia and how far are they from a RENTAL12 apartment?
Pittulongu is 3.5 km (10-min drive), Porto Istana is 14 km (25-min drive), and famous Costa Smeralda beaches like La Cinta and Cala Brandinchi are 30–40 km from RENTAL12 apartments.
Closest swim: Pittulongu (3.5 km, 10 min), locals' favourite, shallow and family-friendly. Premium choice: Porto Istana (14 km, 25 min), powdery white sand facing Tavolara island. Famous Costa Smeralda beaches La Cinta, Cala Brandinchi and Spiaggia del Principe are 30–40 km — day-trippable with a car. Full ranking and logistics on best beaches near Olbia & Golfo Aranci and pair it with day trips from Olbia.
Do I need to speak Italian in Olbia?
Do I need to speak Italian to enjoy Olbia, or do most restaurants, shops and taxi drivers understand English?
No Italian is required — most Olbia hospitality staff speak functional English, and the RENTAL12 team handles any language barrier on WhatsApp in English, German, French or Spanish.
Because Olbia is a tourist-ferry-airport town, most restaurant staff, shop assistants, taxi drivers and pharmacy staff handle basic English. Italian classics like grazie, buongiorno, per favore are appreciated. RENTAL12 covers the rest in English, Italian, German, French and Spanish. If you want background on the destination before you arrive, read Why Olbia and Is Olbia worth visiting.
Is Olbia safe at night?
Is it safe to walk in Olbia at night as a tourist, including solo female travellers?
Olbia is one of Italy's safer small cities with low violent crime and well-lit, busy streets until midnight in summer — solo female travellers report feeling comfortable in the Old Town.
Olbia is a low-crime, low-drama town. Old Town streets are lit and busy until midnight in summer, until ~23:00 in spring/autumn. Standard Mediterranean caution around the port after 01:00. Multiple solo-female guests have left Trustmary reviews highlighting how comfortable they felt — see the reviews hub.
Where do I get groceries near the apartment?
Which supermarkets and food shops are closest to RENTAL12 apartments for buying groceries during my stay?
Conad, Eurospin, Lidl and Carrefour Express are all within 500 m of central RENTAL12 apartments, plus a weekly farmers' market on Corso Vittorio Veneto every Saturday.
Within walking distance: Conad (full supermarket), Lidl, Eurospin (budget), Carrefour Express (convenience, open late). For local Sardinian produce, the Saturday farmers' market on Corso Vittorio Veneto is unbeatable — pecorino, pane carasau, vegetables, seasonal fruit. A welcome card inside every apartment maps the five closest shops.
Families & Pets
Are the apartments suitable for families with young children?
Are RENTAL12 apartments family-friendly, with cots, high chairs and safety features for travellers with babies or small children?
Yes — RENTAL12 provides a free travel cot and high chair on request for children under 3, and most apartments have child-safe balcony rails and corner-protected furniture.
Free on request at booking: travel cot (up to 3 years old), high chair, bed rail. Most apartments have child-safe balcony rails (min height 110 cm) and rounded-corner furniture. AZULIS units offer extra sound insulation for early bedtimes. Mention ages when booking and we pre-stock nappies or baby shampoo on request. Family-curated itineraries on Things to do in Olbia.
Are pets allowed?
Does RENTAL12 allow guests to travel with dogs or cats, and does every apartment accept pets?
Some RENTAL12 apartments accept small well-behaved dogs (under 15 kg) for a 30 EUR cleaning supplement — always check the listing's pet policy before booking.
Each listing clearly states its pet policy. Pet-friendly apartments accept one dog under 15 kg for a 30 EUR cleaning supplement (covers the additional deep-vacuum and upholstery treatment). Bring your own bowl, bed and waste bags. Cats are accepted on case-by-case basis because of long-term allergen carryover. Filter pet-friendly stays on our collections page.
Is luggage storage available before check-in or after check-out?
Can RENTAL12 store my luggage before the 16:00 check-in or after the 10:00 check-out on early/late travel days?
Yes — RENTAL12 offers free same-day luggage storage at our central Olbia office for check-in/check-out overlap, and we partner with Baggy Lockers Olbia for longer storage from 5 EUR per bag per day.
Free same-day left-luggage at our Olbia office for RENTAL12 guests on arrival/departure day. For longer storage (e.g. Costa Smeralda day-trip before a ferry) we partner with Baggy Lockers Olbia, from 5 EUR per bag per day. Details on the luggage storage page, and full logistics for late flights on the 24/7 emergency hub.
Reviews & Awards
How many reviews does RENTAL12 have and where can I read them?
How many verified guest reviews has RENTAL12 received and on which platforms can I independently read them?
RENTAL12 has over 1350+ verified guest reviews with a 4.9/5 average, collected via Trustmary and mirrored on Google, Airbnb and Booking.com.
We have 1350+ verified reviews with an overall 4.9/5 rating on Trustmary, the independent review platform we use. Reviews are also mirrored on Google Business, Airbnb and Booking.com — so you can cross-reference easily. The full, unfiltered feed is at the reviews hub.
What awards has RENTAL12 won?
Which short-term rental industry awards has RENTAL12 received and how can I verify them?
RENTAL12 is a nominee of 2 Shortyz Awards 2026 (Best Lifestyle Host and Best Short-Term Rental Team) and won prior Shortyz recognition in the same categories, plus Lodgify customer recognition badges; all verifiable on our authority page and in public press.
RENTAL12 is a nominee of 2 Shortyz Awards 2026 — Best Lifestyle Host and Best Short-Term Rental Team — and won prior Shortyz recognition in the same categories. We were also featured in Italian and UK industry press. Full proof, press mentions and verifiable links on the awards page, the Authority hub and the Press room.
Can I trust the reviews — are they filtered?
Does RENTAL12 filter or hide negative reviews on its website or on third-party platforms like Airbnb and Google?
No — all Trustmary reviews publish unfiltered with the platform's independent verification; negative feedback appears alongside positive reviews and is addressed publicly by the owner team.
Trustmary pushes every verified review live without host moderation. We cannot hide a 2-star comment even if we wanted to. Negative feedback gets a public written reply from Dennis or Laura with the specific fix applied. That is why our 4.9/5 is 100% earned, not filtered — read the unfiltered feed at the reviews hub.
Blog & Guidebook
Where can I read tips for my trip?
Where on rental12.com can I read practical travel tips, restaurant recommendations and itineraries for Olbia and northern Sardinia?
The RENTAL12 blog and guide library cover Olbia restaurants, beaches, ZTL, ferry schedules, weekly itineraries and seasonal events, updated by the owner team.
Start with the Guides hub and the blog. Most popular: Olbia Old Town walking guide, ZTL & parking guide, beach rankings, ferry schedule, aperitivo map.
Is there a digital guidebook I can use on my phone?
Does RENTAL12 provide a digital guidebook or mobile welcome screen for apartment access codes, local tips and emergency numbers?
Yes — every RENTAL12 guest receives a Vikey smart-access link and a Welcomescreen digital guidebook with door codes, Wi-Fi, appliance guides, restaurant picks, beaches, ZTL rules and a 24/7 WhatsApp shortcut.
Before arrival we send two links by email and WhatsApp: a Vikey smart-access page (door code + lock instructions, revocable) and a Welcomescreen digital guidebook with Wi-Fi password, A/C and appliance quick-starts, our five favourite restaurants, closest supermarket, beaches, ZTL & parking rules, emergency 112 + 24/7 WhatsApp button. It mirrors the printed welcome book on the kitchen table so you can carry everything on your phone.
Do you have a printed guidebook inside the apartment?
Is there a printed welcome book or guidebook inside each RENTAL12 apartment with maps, Wi-Fi codes and local tips?
Yes — every RENTAL12 apartment includes a printed welcome book with Wi-Fi password, A/C remote guide, emergency numbers, nearest supermarket map, restaurant picks and a QR-code to the digital version.
A hardback welcome book sits on the kitchen table of every apartment: Wi-Fi code, A/C remote photographs, rubbish collection days, pharmacy opening hours, five best restaurants by distance, three best beaches, emergency phone 112, WhatsApp number for the team. A QR-code on the cover opens the digital version on your phone.
Where are the apartments?
RENTAL12 apartments cluster across four Olbia micro-neighbourhoods plus two Golfo Aranci villas. All addresses are within 5 km of Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport and 3 km of the Isola Bianca ferry port. Browse by area below, or open the full map on all properties.
Walking distance to the Duomo, Corso Umberto, ferry port. Inside / near the ZTL: plates pre-registered for bag drop-off.
Residential streets minutes from the Basilica di San Simplicio. Quieter than Corso Umberto but still walkable everywhere.
Design-led AZULIS collection with private gardens and reserved parking. Just outside the ZTL, 8-minute walk to the Old Town.
Premium AZULIS Clubhouse building with lift, terraces and sea-view 2BR/3BR apartments. 12-min walk to the Duomo, 3-min drive to Pittulongu beach.
Private villas in Golfo Aranci, 20-min drive north of Olbia. Pool, sea view, direct beach access. Peak-season premium bookings.
Cross-reference addresses, IUN/CIN numbers and real photos on each property page. Use the collections filter for parking, sea view, family, or pet-friendly sorting.
Skip the OTA fees. Book directly with the owner team.
Save 10–18% versus Airbnb or Booking.com. Talk to Dennis, Laura, Floriana or Kristina directly on WhatsApp. 1350+ verified reviews, 4.9/5 average, nominee of 2 Shortyz Awards 2026.