barefootbeach

Hi,
First time to Corsica and we'll going in September for 13 nights and renting a car, starting and returning from Bonifacio (ferries each way from/to Sardinia)

Initial plans:
Drive from Bonifacio to Piana.....3 nights

Drive from Piana to Calvi....2 nights

Drive from Calvi to Oletta or St. Florent.....3 nights (which is better base? I picked Oletta because I liked the looks of La Dimora)

Drive to Corte...2 nights

Drive to Bonifacio (via Col Balvello, Nonza, Porto Vecchio)...3 nights

Would really love to hear from you who've been to Corsica. Thanks!

barefootbeach

Also, if you have any ideas for where to stay in these areas, I would love to hear them!

barefootbeach

Corsica experts where are you?

Elizabeth_S

Can't call myself an expert - we spent 4 nights in St. Florent in February. We really liked St Florent. It seems preferable to me to stay on the water versus Oletta but that's a personal thing. There are several nice day trips from the area - assume you plan to drive Cap Corse one day? And the hill town drive around St Florent is breathtaking.

barefootbeach

Thanks Elizabeth...we do want to drive Cap Corse, at least as far as Centuri. Did you see a nice looking place to stay in St. Florent?

Elizabeth_S

There are several hotels on the route to Bastia just out of town....I prefer the ones on the water and the view is lovely. Or do you want to be right in town so you can just park the car and walk? (parking can be difficult in St. Florent)

We rented a villa/house for 4 nights less than a 5 minute drive to town or 20 minute walk - it was simple but fine (and had a huge terrace with a peek-a-boo sea view) - I'll send you the link if you're interested.

Re Cap Corse - we did the counter clockwise route (i.e. left St Florent in the morning, took the road to Bastia and then up the east side of Cap Corse, stopped at the Massinagio for lunch and then crossed the Cap and came down the West side). The advantage to this route is you have the best light for pictures. The West side and the East side are quite different in terms of development level and scenery. Some prefer to do the route clockwise as it means the car is on the mountain side of the road virtually the entire time.

humptynumpty

Sorry for jumping on the bandwagon, Barefoot.

Anyone suggest the best restaurant for lunch within 30 minutes drive of Bonifacio. We will make the day trip from Santa Teresa in July.

ps your trips seems to be lining up really well!

barefootbeach

elizabeth, thanks for the driving direction tip!

humptynumpty, glad you're finally getting to Corsica!