We've decided not to travel to Europe this year (and are rather relived we made that decision, given the dollar's fall and the increasing cost of flights -- but maybe it will be just as bad next year). We will go in spring 2009. We are already planning, of course.

We plan to go to Corsica; it sounds ideal for us (we like to hike and eat) and it sounds as if late April/early May will be early enough to avoid most beach-basking Europeans. We are still in the early stages of planning and looking for advice.
-- Any recommendations for places to use as bases for exploring the coast and the interior? Any specific recommendations for apartments/small houses to rent?
-- Are two weeks long enough? (We are considering returning to Venice on the same trip as well, but maybe we'd be trying to do too much and should stay in Corsica longer.)
-- Is the extra cost of the fast ferry worth it? I'm very prone to sea sickness -- does anyone know if any of the ferry routes are more or less likely to be rough?

Thanks for any tips!

Hi JoA1313.....we leave next Friday (the 13th ) for 2 weeks in Corsica.

I will give a report when I get back. A lot of good info on this site in a couple of threads, which I'll let some techie type attach or lead you too.

We have used Slow Trav, Lonely Planet, Corsica and the DK, Corsica book for reference as well as a couple of other great websites (which you'll find if you google Corsica) with lots of info.

Linda

Thanks, Linda. I'll be glad to get your report.

I have already checked out the Corsica threads on this site, and we have the Lonely Planet book. But nothing beats a personal report!

Have a great time!

Hi JoA,

It was a long time ago, nearly two decades, that we spent a week in Corsica, so the details have faded in memory, save a few encounters and vivid sensations, but one thought remains: Our experience of the island really started on Day No. 3 when we abandoned the coast and our rather grim borrowed lodging in a "resort," went up and inland, thanks to lousy weather during what was to have been a beach vacation. Also, I was expecting more of the large coastal cities than I found (but I'm jaded, no doubt, from living in Europe and also a contrarian). Corte is the biggest inland town and could provide a base. The setting is impressive and in the late 1980s, at least, it seemed more "real" and a little less touched by time. But (full disclosure) we moved through that town briskly so I have nothing practical to contribute. Visit the Corte citadel, which the guidebook, or Wikipedia if it comes to that, will tell you. Don't miss the charcuterie and the rustic soup! Wish I could offer more.

Dave

My experience is also a little old (June 1996). We based ourselves in Calvi. We had a rental outside of town about 1/4 mile to the beach. We also had a car. We enjoyed Calvi since it was a bit before the summer crowds.

The roads on Corsica are mostly small and windy. It takes a lot of time to get around on them so we only saw the area around Calvi and north. We also did some hiking. We went from Bonifatu up to the Refuge de Carrozzu. We also did a hike out of Corte to Lac de Melo. One thing about Corsica is we found the mornings in June to be clear and calm. It would heat up and by the afternoon, it would start to cloud up and become very windy. It took us a long time to drive from Calvi to Corte so we didn't start up the trail to Lac de Melo until about 12:30 and it got windy soon after that. It was beautiful but I don't enjoy the wind much so we turned back before getting to the lac. It was a nice high altitude lac with lots of granite.

We also did several drives. We drove down the coast to Piano The drive was beautiful through red rocks but also a bit narrow and white knuckle due to many blind curves and large tour buses. We also loved the drives up into the Balagne area. The small perched villages were extremely charming and the views stunning.

We stayed one week and we only were able to see the area around Calvi. We never got a chance to explore Bastia. The farthest we drove was Corte.

One item to keep in mind. The mountains are very tall on Corsica. I think the high mountains around Corte will still be under snow in April/May. I think there will still be a lot of opportunities on lower trails but I don't think you'll be able to do much of the high trails.

The other area that I think would be good for hiking and sightseeing would be Ajaccio. I'm looking forward to a recent report on the island because I'd love to go back.

Regarding the ferry, We took the fast ferry from Nice. I'm used to riding ferries so I don't remember much about the trip. I do think it was a little 'rough'. Have you thought about flying? We left via a flight from Calvi to Paris.

I should also mention (which I think I did already....on another page) I am reading "The Granite Island" by Dorothy Carrington. This is really quite an incredible book, I've read nothing like it. She was a historian that I think was obsessed with Corsica!

It is absolutely fascinating and a definite must read before you go. I think I would have been disappointed to read it after as I would probably not have been as observant of some of the things that she covers (which believe me is A LOT!!). I will certainly be on the look out for some of the customs, areas and architecture/structures that she makes you aware of.

I am even more excited and intrigued as I plod my way through this book. It is not a big book, but has painfully small print. There is a lot of information jammed into it giving one a great view to the Corsican history. Not half of which is covered in either the Lonely Planet, DK or any other travel guide that exists I'm sure.

We are flying from London on Easyjet to Ajaccio and will be renting a car, which is a must to be able to explore as much as we possibly can. We will be staying near Sartene in a small town on the coast, which is not terribly central, but we're also hoping to have a bit of a "Slow Trav" holiday too. After reading this book though, I'm sure 2 weeks won't even allow us to cover a quarter of what Corsica has to offer.

Linda