FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions about Corsica...
It can sometimes be difficult to find even the most basic information about Corsica, like how to get there, so we've put together a list of the questions people ask us most frequently about Corsica that we hope will help you get the most from your holiday.
If you can see the answer to your question below, simply click on it and the link will take you straight there. However, if you just want to get a feel for the place, why not scroll down and read them all...
1) Where is Corsica?
It is a surprising statistic, but only 4% of the UK population know that
Corsica, despite its French heritage, actually lies off the coast of Italy, approximately 112 miles south of France.
Just 12km north of Sardinia, the island has inherited a superb mix of Italian and French influences.
2) How big is Corsica?
The island itself is about 115 miles long by 55 miles wide, but it is dissected
by a mountain range known as the Corsican Penine way, so travelling around can take longer than you might expect
- allow about an hour for 50km of driving. The island covers an area of about 5,500 square miles, and is the third
largest island in the Mediterranean with about 600 miles of coastline.
3) What's the weather like in Corsica?
By the coast, the climate is typically Mediterranean with hot dry summers
and mild winters. As you venture further up and into the mountains, the weather changes and you can expect hot
days during the summer, but cooler nights (a welcome relief in July and August). In winter there is often snow
on the high peaks and one can ski from several points. You can find more detailed information and average temperatures
on our WEATHER section.
4) What language do they speak in Corsica?
The official language is French although Corsican - U Corsu - is widely
spoken amongst the locals. Even if your French is a bit rusty, the Corsicans love it if you try and will often
help you. The restaurants along the ports and in the big towns do sometimes produce their menus in 3 languages;
English, French and Italian, but English is not widely spoken. If you have a smattering of Italian or even Spanish,
you will probably be able to make yourself understood. A good guide book or phrase book will be a big help in making
yourself understood - see below GUIDE BOOKS
5) How do we get there?
There are direct charter flights from the UK which operate on a Sunday throughout
the summer (May to October). Outside of these dates you can fly via Nice, Marseille or Paris as well as some regional
airports in mainland France, and then catch a connecting flight over to the island. Finding cheap flights to a
little known destination such as Corsica can be difficult, but you can find more information in our TRAVEL section together with information
about ferries and driving to Corsica.
6) Should I book direct or with a Tour Operator
When you book through a tour operator, they will 'package' the holiday for
you, adding the flights to the accommodation and car hire or transfers and then give you a total price. This price
will obviously include the cost of providing a rep, producing a brochure and a hefty chunk of profit for the company!
When you book direct, you need to do a bit of extra work because you'll need to book each bit separately (although
there are people who can help you with that), but the chances are you'll save because you cut out the middle man.
Why not have a look at a few websites and compare the prices. If you're fairly independent and you're not too worried
about having someone to 'look after you' when you arrive, you could bag yourself a bargain. Why not try www.directcorsica.com.
7) What if I can't travel on a Sunday?
Most of the self catering property is let on a Sunday to Sunday basis to
tie in with the arrival of the direct charter flights from the UK, but there are other options. British Airways
run midweek flights from Gatwick to Bastia during the summer, and the low cost airlines operate almost daily to
the south of france and then you can catch a connecting flight to the island. Hotels will allow you to arrive any
day and stay for any duration (subject to availability of course), but if you plan to travel before the middle
of May or after the middle of September, some property owners will allow flexible arrival dates, so it's worth
asking if you find something you particularly like.
8) What's the best area?
This is such a difficult question, because having travelled the country
myself, I think that each of the regions has something different to offer and the whole island is very beautiful.
The regional sections have more detailed descriptions of what you can expect - click HERE. The best advice I can give
is that it is probably best to find a property to suit you and then investigate what the surrounding area has to
offer, because most things; sports, activities, beaches, wild and beautiful scenery, atmospheric towns and nice
restaurants can be found in all the areas.
9) Where are the best beaches?
This is a difficult one because they are all very beautiful, but all quite
different. We have actually dedicated a whole section to the beaches; what they're like and how to find them -
click HERE for more information. Calvi is perhaps the most widely reported as the best for children
because the waters are exceptionally shallow, but there are other beaches that are just as nice and some of the
best are often tucked away unmarked, so don't be afraid to explore - you might discover a hidden gem!
10) Is it safe to swim in the sea?
YES! The water is clean and clear (and generally warm) all around the island,
and it is a joy to swim in the sea. Some beaches are interspersed with rocks, so extra care is needed in areas
where there may be rocks under the water. Sea urchins live amongst the rocks, so it is always a good idea to wear
rocks shoes or flippers when swimming to protect your feet. The beaches do vary; some shelve very gently and you
can wander out for nearly a mile without getting out of your depth. Others do shelve more steeply, so always familiarise
yourself with the beach before allowing children go into the water unsupervised.
11) Is it safe?
Petty crime is minimal and tends to be of the opportunist variety; theft
from unlocked cars or those with valuables on show, pickpockets in the larger towns and cities. Violent crime,
especially against tourists, is thankfully very rare.
12) What about women travellers?
In Corsica, women are less likely to experience sexual harassment than in
mainland France or Italy, and an inbuilt respect for women means that men will rarely if ever take advantage of
a situation or woman in trouble. Over the years I have lived alone on the island and driven through across the
mountains at night-time and I have never experienced any problems, but you should never take unnecessary risks.
13) Is it child friendly?
Corsica is very child friendly and locals will often engage the children
before the parents! Children are welcome in restaurants although they generally don't have different children's
meals as children in Corsica eat at the same time as their parents, and the same things. Most supermarkets stock
baby food and nappies although you may find that the brands differ from those at home. Some areas can be difficult
to navigate with a pushchair so always check before booking.
14) What's the cost of living like?
Generaly speaking the cost of living is about the same as the UK; higher
on some things such as Coca Cola but cheaper on others like eating out. You can generally get a reasonable 2 or
3 course meal for about 20 euros a head (about £15) or delicious Italian style pizzas for about 5-9 euros
each (about £3.50-6.50). House wine is generally good quality - red or rose is normally best - and is ordered
as a pichet (jug). See our FOOD and DRINK section for more information.
15) Are the shops open on a Sunday?
Well, there's no easy answer to that one. With our 24h shopping culture
here in the UK, it can sometimes be a bit of a shock to find that Corsican supermarkets still close at about 7pm
and take a 2-3 hour break for lunch! Most supermarkets will be closed on Sundays although during July and August
some of the larger ones will open in the mornings. In most of the bigger towns, there will generally be a shop
that's open on Sunday mornings and again in the afternoon for a couple of hours where you can get the basics to
tide you over until the supermarkets open again on Monday morning.
16) Can you drink the water?
Yes, the water in Corsica is normally safe to drink from the tap, especially
if you then boil it to make tea or coffee. If you do have a sensitive stomach, bottled water is freely available
and much cheaper than in the UK. Corsica has three mineral water plants; Zilia and San Georges which produce still
water (plat) and Orezza which produces a sparkling water with a very distinctive taste (gazeuse). Supermarkets
often stock cheaper 'own brand' water as well.
17) Telephones and calling home
UK Mobiles will work in Corsica if they are roaming enabled. To dial a local
number from a UK mobile you will need to dial the international code 0033 and miss off the first zero of the number
i.e. 0033 4 95 … To dial a UK number, just dial as normal. To dial the UK from phones in Corsica, dial 0044 and
then miss off the first zero of the number i.e, 0044 208 … To use a public telephone, you will need a Télécarte
(phonecard) which can be bought from Tabacs, or you can buy a 'Carte Téléphonique a code' from the
post office which will allow you to use the public phones and also the phone at your holiday accommodation if there
is one, even if the line is restricted to local calls.
18) Can I change money / use credit cards?
Since the introduction of the euro, you won't come across many (if any)
bureau de change in Corsica so if you do need to change money, you'll need to go to a bank. In smaller towns like
Calvi none of the banks wish to offer a permanent change service so they operate a rota system each taking a turn
at having a change counter. If you go into any bank they will tell you who is operating the service that day. Generally,
banks are open from 8:30am - 12pm and from 1:30 - 5pm. Credit cards are now fairly widely accepted although you
may still find that you'll need to pay cash in some of the smaller shops and restaurants, so it's best to check
before eating. Supermarkets will accept most credit cards and some debit cards, but you will need to know your
pin number. Before you travel, it's a good idea to make a note of your card details and the emergency number for
the issuing bank just in case they are lost (or stolen).
19) Do they have cash machines in Corsica?
Nearly all the banks now have cash dispensers (distributeur de billets).
To withdraw cash, choose the option 'retrait'. You will also find cash machines at the post office in some of the
larger towns.
20) What's the driving like in Corsica?
In Corsica, they drive on the right and the chances are that you will have
hired a car which will be left hand drive. The main roads are generally good and there is less traffic than we
are used to in the UK, so keep well to the right and take it easy until you feel comfortable driving on the roads.
Once you start to head into the villages, the roads are mountainous, narrow and windy, so extra care should be
taken especially at night when you can't see any cows or pigs that might be wandering along in the middle of the
road. For more information, click on 'Driving in Corsica' from the menu above.
21) What's the speed limit in Corsica?
The speed limit in most built up areas is 50 km/ph but in villages this
is reduced to 30 km/h or even 20 km/h. The limit on single lane main roads is 90 km/h and on dual carriageways
110 km/h but you should be aware that in wet conditions, this is legally reduced by 10km/h to 80 km/h and 100 km/h
respectively. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and stick to the lower limit. The locals rarely stick to
the limit and will often drive quite close behind, but don't feel you have to speed up because they will simply
go round you if they want to. Random police checks are quite common so always drive sensibly and have your documentation
to hand (driving licence, identification, rental car contract, insurance documents for the vehicle).
22) Can I buy English Newspapers in Corsica?
You can normally find English newspapers at supermarkets, tabacs and some
book shops. There's not much choice, and the ones you can get are likely to be a day old and cost about 2-3 euros.
23) Things that bite and sting
Mosquitos can be a problem from time to time, particularly if you are eating
on the water front, but no so much in the accommodation. If you are susceptible to bites, creams and sprays are
widely available in the supermarkets and pharmacies and you can also buy handy plug in mosquito repellants. There
are a variety of insects and reptiles on the island which you may not be familiar with at home and although most
are harmless they can sometimes cause an uncomfortable bite or sting. When swimming or playing in the sea where
there are rocks, sea urchins can cause a nasty sting to the foot and the spines can be painful and difficult to
remove. A simple solution is to wear rock shoes that are widely available from supermarkets and souvenir shops
near the beach.
24) What if we're ill?
If you do have any minor injuries or illnesses while you're away, pharmacies
in France can help with general prescribing and are normally the first port of call rather than a doctors appointment.
However, if you do need to see a doctor, most surgeries don't have a receptionist, and there is no appointments
system for all or part of the day - simply turn up and wait your turn. Details can be found in Corse Matin, the
local newspaper. Don't forget to get your EHIC before you leave (the replacement for the E111 form) and keep any
receipts.
25) Which Guide books do you recommend?
It's just a personal opinion, but my favourite is the Cadogan guide because
it is written in an easy, conversational style and it's both informative and entertaining. Other good choices are
the Lonely Planet Guide (good factual information, but a little bit basic) or the Rough Guide (a bit wordy so can
be hard going, but very informative). If you're simply looking for a pocket phrase book, I am a fan of the Collins
Gem Phrase finders. Designed for ease of use, they give simple key phrases (which are also written phonetically
underneath for help with pronunciation), together with examples of the replies you might expect.
26) Can I buy duty free at Corsican airports
The airports in Corsica aren't very big and generally aren't very well equipped.
Most have a small café/bar, toilets and a souvenir shop, but none have 'duty free' shops. If you do want
to bring back cigarettes or alcohol, it's best to buy it before you get to the airport. Cigarettes are generally
much cheaper than in the UK. If you are travelling with children, it's best to make sure you have a bottle of water
with you and maybe a snack as sometimes the café/bars do run out of essentials, especially if there is a
delay.
