7 reasons why Corsica should be on your travel agenda this YEAR!!

If you follow me on IG (I really think you should) then you probably know that we spent a week in Corsica during the autumn break, a word to describe our experience – AMAZING! You know the trip has gone pretty well when:

1. Getting back HOME (which is Switzerland) cannot beat the blues
2. Your husband mentions on a Sunday morning, how about we make this a “yearly” thing 😉
3. Your 9-year-old does not whine (even once) about being on a trip despite no other “like-minded” people (we obviously do not fit the bill)

If those reasons weren’t solid enough, let me give you 7 reasons why:

#1 Proximity

If you live in the EU, easy jet makes this super simple. Our flights from Basel to Ajaccio were a little over an hour, which makes the location even more enticing. In 2017 for our summer break, between Croatia and Corsica, we had chosen Croatia – I can only say that we had totally underestimated Corsica!

#2 Pristine beaches

As you grow older, you realize that you’re either a mountain person or a beach person – you could be both but it’s usually one of the two. As you grow even older – you realize you’re a beach person – dip, sleep, eat, repeat! 😉 The beautiful beaches of Corsica give you an opportunity to do all this and more.

We visited the beaches of Bonifacio and Favone – Rondinara and Plage De Canella Corse Sud and it was absolutely beautiful to swim in the Mediterranean Sea or just sit by the shores staring into the deep blue sea! My daughter and husband are complete beach babies, so, it was a big WIN for us as a family – the sun, the sand, and the sea!

#3 Food

Due to cultural variations, and a fussy eater in the family (not me) – food hasn’t been the easiest thing to adapt to since we moved to Europe. Despite that limitation, the food in Corsica was great – and this was true even for the “not so known” places (you know the kind of places not listed on google)! If there’s one thing they understand – it’s flavor.

We ate at various brasseries, boulangeries, and cafes across the cities of Sartene, Bonaficio, Corte and Favone and were quite impressed with the pizzas, the salads, the pasta, and the likes. Some of my restaurant recommendations are: Le Favona Pietru Maria Bartoli, Restaurant L’an faim, Da Passano and Auberge de la Restonica.

#4 Road Trippin’

provided you can drive.

If you’re coming from a city where public transport is a way of life (it is for me) then Corsica is absolutely different – you cannot do without a car! But it is also relatively simple to get a car the moment you land, there are several service providers. We chose Europcar and we were extremely happy with the experience – if you have a child you can ask for a child/booster seat while picking up the keys. Advance booking is always recommended especially during the summers.

Driving is not stressful; the roads are lovely and what you see on your left and right makes your trip worthwhile!

#5 Hospitality

The service and hospitality culture in India is a norm, but after living in Switzerland for almost about 4 years now – you get fashioned to almost no service and straight faces. It’s not like that in Corsica, the people, in general, were quite warm, the service at all restaurants was on point and our hosts at both our hotels were lovely.

#6 Culture

Unlike popular belief, Corsica is not just beaches and there is more to it. The small harbor city of Bonifacio is a must-visit. If you have a car, you can go up the small hill and park near the cemetery. But it can get quite busy and I would recommend to park near the lake and then go up to the town using the petite train which is a France signature! When you reach up, I can promise you beautiful views, museums, cute cafes, restaurants and boutique stores where you can shop!

The old town of Corte is quite similar; you can visit the museum of Corsica, the citadel, the old town, learn more about Napolean Bonarpate and enjoy food on the small cobbled streets. What a city like Corte also offers you is – swimming in the river, hiking, canoeing, and other adventure activities. Corte is a hilly terrain and brings you in close contact with nature! I really enjoyed both sides of Corsica and absolutely enjoyed the warmth of these autumn mornings.

#7 Stay

Where you stay, is extremely important – especially when you are doing family travel. Sometimes it can boost your mood or turn the trip upside down, I usually put in a lot of time finalizing hotels before any trip.

Since our entire trip was planned by Het Frankrijk Huis, I didn’t have to do as much homework. I can highly recommend both the places we stayed at – Residence SerenAmore which is located right in Favone and is in close proximity to the beach. The second one was Hotel Dominique Colonna in Corte, it is a boutique 4-star hotel built amidst nature.

Residence SerenAmore are villas with scenic views. The villa had 3 bedrooms – 2 on the floor and one big one up in the attic, a large living-dining area with an open kitchen and a large deck where you can relax and enjoy the Meditteranean view. The apartment comes with all the essentials but make sure you plan a trip to the supermarket (SPAR in Corsica) if you’re planning to eat inside or if this is a longer stay. Our host, Lilyan was very friendly, gave us many tips on things to do, places to visit and restaurant recommendations.

Dominique Colonna totally had my heart; the staff was courteous and helpful. I met the owner of the hotel on the last day and she spoke about how they had renovated the hotel a couple of years ago! The interiors are modern and chic, the rooms were comfortable and outside area which is nestled between the river and the hills houses a heated swimming pool and a sitting area. The breakfast spread isn’t large, but it is sumptuous and there is even an option to book a relaxing massage which was just a cherry on the top!

If you’re planning a trip to Corsica, I am highly recommending these properties – while it is one thing to build a nice hotel/villa, but going the extra mile is what makes it really special for the guests.

Our entire trip was planned by Het Frankrijk Huis, right from the flights, to the hotels, the must-see places, the car rental, etc., this was absolutely great as they are experts when it comes to Corsica travel and we could pack a lot more on our itinerary as everything was impeccably executed. They are happy to customize the trip as per your preferences and fancies. If you’re looking to visit Corsica, I would highly recommend going through the agency for a value-added experience!

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