Thinking of a big family holiday in Corsica and not sure of the best type of accommodation to choose? Maxine shares some thoughts and insight that might help make your decision.
When you start your holiday search, your first instinct might be to look at hotels that meet your needs. And, whilst hotels are great for amenities like kids’ clubs, my challenge was finding a suitable hotel with guaranteed interconnecting rooms or rooms large enough to accommodate my family of six, four of which are children between the ages of five and nine. Taking this into consideration and following recommendation, we decided to stay in Villa Joseli, a detached property situated in the sleepy town of Oletta – and I am so glad we did, it was fabulous.
With restaurants and a supermarket close by, Villa Joseli provided a great, safe place to stay, with plenty of bedrooms and al fresco dining facilities. The kids loved having a pool to themselves, allowing them to water bomb to their heart’s content at all hours. Staying in the villa even allowed my partner and I to have plenty of time to ourselves, with our double bedroom being on the ground floor and the children safely in their beds upstairs.
Surrounding the large pool, Villa Joseli has beautifully kept, enclosed gardens, perfect for a picnic or the kids to run around and play. Ideal for breakfast or a morning coffee, there are ample seating areas and sun loungers, and the garden comes complete with a wood-burning oven and gas barbeque.
Being only a 10-minute drive from St Florent, Villa Joseli is in a perfect location to venture out and explore, or simply spend a day on its beautiful sandy beach. With the water being both very shallow and crystal clear, the beach in St Florent makes for a safe, fun environment for children and is ideal for those wishing to soak up some Corsican sun.
St Florent itself is a bustling harbour town and lies at the foot of the Cap Corse peninsula. Surrounded by many bars and excellent restaurants and lined with luxury yachts, the marina makes for a beautiful setting to enjoy a glass of vino in the evening or shelter from the scorching sun throughout the day. Whether you like to be active and take part in lots of water sports or prefer to swot up on local history, St Florent has plenty to offer and will make for an unforgettable holiday.