Corsica by sea or sky?

[jaffasdad]

I would like to go on a walking holiday in Corsica in September and am now researching the best way of getting there.

The easy way would be to fly out and use small hotels/hostels or rent an apartment.

An alternative would be to take the car and van over on a ferry and then use the van for our accommodation.

If anyone has any experience of either method and could pass on any tips/recommendations I would be very grateful.

 

[v.meldrew2]

Although we haven't been to Corsica for five or six years, we have had experience of both overland/sea and fly/drive. On several occasions we went 'solo', taking the car down to Avignon on motorail, then ferry from Marseille, Toulon or Nice. I would say this would only be cost effective if you filled the car with people! Once we took a trailer-tent overland to Marseille, then ferry to Bastia. On that trip we met a British family who had taken their caravan via Switzerland and Italy, using the ferry from Genoa to Bastia. They said this was cheaper than the SNCF routes. (This was more than 15 years ago!)

Our most recent visit was by air via Nice to Ajaccio, where we picked up a motorhome. If you know Corsica at all you will know that many roads are most certainly not suitable for touring caravans, and, as we found out, many are marginal to say the least for motorhomes! The east coast between Bastia and Bonifaccio has one good easy road, though. Still, we have had many brilliant holidays there and we obviously love Corsica immensely. Overall I would say in these days of cheap flights, and you are not a large family, then fly-drive is the best solution. Taking the caravan would mean several days driving at the start and end of your visit, which you may or may not find appealing unless you have a lot of time on your hands.

Whatever your decision, have great holiday on our favourite island!

 

[jaffasdad]

Although we haven't been to Corsica for five or six years, we have had experience of both overland/sea and fly/drive. On several occasions we went 'solo', taking the car down to Avignon on motorail, then ferry from Marseille, Toulon or Nice. I would say this would only be cost effective if you filled the car with people! Once we took a trailer-tent overland to Marseille, then ferry to Bastia. On that trip we met a British family who had taken their caravan via Switzerland and Italy, using the ferry from Genoa to Bastia. They said this was cheaper than the SNCF routes. (This was more than 15 years ago!)

Our most recent visit was by air via Nice to Ajaccio, where we picked up a motorhome. If you know Corsica at all you will know that many roads are most certainly not suitable for touring caravans, and, as we found out, many are marginal to say the least for motorhomes! The east coast between Bastia and Bonifaccio has one good easy road, though. Still, we have had many brilliant holidays there and we obviously love Corsica immensely. Overall I would say in these days of cheap flights, and you are not a large family, then fly-drive is the best solution. Taking the caravan would mean several days driving at the start and end of your visit, which you may or may not find appealing unless you have a lot of time on your hands.

Whatever your decision, have great holiday on our favourite island!

Thanks for your advice. I've been researching ferry prices and you have really confirmed that the fly/drive option is the better one.

We have never been to the island but a travel documentary that I saw many years ago made me decide that it is a place that I really must visit. The scenery looks amazing. We would like to do some walking and also some sightseeing, so think fortnight would be better. I fancy September, but my wife thinks that spring would be better in order to catch the flowers? Any thoughts? Have you ever hired property or used small hotels/hostels?

Cheers, Ron

 

[v.meldrew2]

We have been to Corsica at various times between late May and early September. When the kids were with us, beaches were the priority, and August was inevitable on a couple of occasions. It is very hot and very very crowded in high season - not recommended for your purposes! May/June would I think be ideal for flowers, no crowds and cheaper fares/accommodation. The weather may be a bit less settled - but our motorhome trip in late June/early July was endless blue skies. On this trip we did quite a bit of walking using the Rother guide (www.rother.de). If the GR20 is your ambition there are plenty of guides including, I think, Cicerone. There are walking-holiday companies who will book accommodation along the route (or bits of it) and take your bags on.

Some people have said they are put off Corsica because of its banditry reputation - this is of course nonsense! But if bankrobbery is one of your pastimes, beware that security around banks is intimidatingly tight!

You will probaly need your French language skills more here than in mainland France. Second language tends to be more likely German or Italian. The Corsican dialect is still spoken in remoter places, especially by older people. In common with all French people, we find, the people are courteous friendly and helpful. However I can recall a couple of occasions where we were cheated on restaurant bills - something which seems a bit endemic in tourist places in France generally. Or maybe we have been unlucky or appeared more gullible than we are!

I hope all this is helpful - ask if you have any other specific questions.

 

[jaffasdad]

We have been to Corsica at various times between late May and early September. When the kids were with us, beaches were the priority, and August was inevitable on a couple of occasions. It is very hot and very very crowded in high season - not recommended for your purposes! May/June would I think be ideal for flowers, no crowds and cheaper fares/accommodation. The weather may be a bit less settled - but our motorhome trip in late June/early July was endless blue skies. On this trip we did quite a bit of walking using the Rother guide (www.rother.de). If the GR20 is your ambition there are plenty of guides including, I think, Cicerone. There are walking-holiday companies who will book accommodation along the route (or bits of it) and take your bags on.

Some people have said they are put off Corsica because of its banditry reputation - this is of course nonsense! But if bankrobbery is one of your pastimes, beware that security around banks is intimidatingly tight!

You will probaly need your French language skills more here than in mainland France. Second language tends to be more likely German or Italian. The Corsican dialect is still spoken in remoter places, especially by older people. In common with all French people, we find, the people are courteous friendly and helpful. However I can recall a couple of occasions where we were cheated on restaurant bills - something which seems a bit endemic in tourist places in France generally. Or maybe we have been unlucky or appeared more gullible than we are!

I hope all this is helpful - ask if you have any other specific questions.

I'd picked up the Cicerone books and was going to go to the library today to see if they had one - until the snow started! I was all for going this Sept, but after a 'discussion' with mrs Ron, it will now probably be spring 2011 as we have a holiday on mainland France booked for this year.

Like you, we have always found the french to be unfailingly polite and helpful.

Some years ago I asked a Frenchman who was working in his front garden if he could direct me to a campsite. Without a word being spoken he got out an ancient bike and indicated for me to follow him. We went right through the centre of the town, where he stopped the traffic, and led us the the whole way to the site - about 2Km. He waved us into it, did a U-turn and road off! I dont think the people in the convoy of traffic that had built up behind us were too impressed.

Thanks again for the info.

Ron