Aethos Corsica

Rooms

The 8 rooms have a similar style, the principal ingredient being white. There are 4 different types, which are determined by size not view (the suites, for example, don’t look out to sea). All come with enormous beds dressed in crisp linen, art on the walls, and plenty of amenities (hairdryer, large TV, robes). Bathrooms - with big mirrors and delicious lotions - are divine. Less expensive rooms have showers; more expensive rooms have baths.

The 2 Garden Suites are the least expensive, but they are large and have terraces that catch the afternoon sun. We liked them a lot. They are set at the side of the house on the ground floor, so they are closer to the lane that snakes through the village, but it's pretty quiet.

The 3 Bay View Suites offer long views over the valley to the bay or the high peaks, but a bit less space inside. We saw one: the bathroom was huge, the bedroom smaller, so it’s a question of priorities.

There's 1 Oletta Suite - a big room with high ceilings and a great sense of space thanks to banks of shuttered windows that flood the room with light. We stayed in this and loved it, even though we didn’t have a sea view. Big double doors open onto a seriously beautiful bathroom.

Two Palazzu Suites have separate sitting rooms with a double sofabed (suitable for 2 kids or 1 adult). The one we saw had cute village views and a big bed resting against a wall of wood with mood lighting at its base. There's also a huge Aethos Suite which can sleep 4 in comfort (thanks to a large double sofabed), or 2 in honeymoon splendour.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is included in the room rate. In good weather you eat in the summer house; in autumn you return to the main house and eat in the dining room. You get muesli and yoghurts, freshly squeezed orange juice, baskets of baguettes and croissants, then homemade cake or an egg. There’s strong coffee and English tea to wash it all down.

A short lunch menu is available: local cheeses and charcuterie, a Caesar salad or a club sandwich. If you’re heading up into the hills, a packed lunch can be arranged.

Dinner is an intimate affair; you'll need to book in summer. You can eat à la carte or choose from a range of seasonal menus. We loved our foie gras ravioli with Périgord truffles, succulent veal with onions and tomatoes, then tarte tatin with caramel ice cream. If you want something simpler, try the bar: risotto, grilled chicken, beef tartare. There’s an excellent wine list, too.

For good Italian food, try Il Pulcinella - the locals all eat here.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Hang out on the swimming pool terrace, where you can gaze out over the valley from the comfort of your sunbed. There’s a treatment room if you need a massage
  
  
• A tour of the Cap de Corse, the northern peninsula, is a must. Take the east coast up and the west coast down - that way you'll drive in the sun all day. Stop at Le Vieux Moulin in Centuri for lunch and eat pasta stuffed with langoustines. There are beaches all the way round and pretty villages to explore
  
  
• Drop down to St Florent and take a boat over to Plage du Lotu or Plage de Saleccia. Blue water and white sands wait. There’s a beach restaurant and a bar in summer
  
  
• All sorts of watersports can be arranged, from boat trips along the coast to diving, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing or jet skiing. If you want something more challenging, extreme sports are on hand: canyoning, paragliding, rock climbing or quad biking
  
  
• The mountains behind you are wild and wonderful, well worth a day of your holiday. There’s great walking, big views, and horses to ride through spectacular landscapes
  
  
• Corsica plays host to lots of music festivals over the summer, mostly from July to September. Highlights of the northeast are the guitar festival in Patrimono in July and the Latin music festival in St Florent in August
  
  
• There’s golf at Borgo (close to Bastia) or Speloncato (inland). And you can also hunt up in the hills on a private estate; reception will advise

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Jet skiing
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Paragliding
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Swimming
• Well being
• Windsurfing

Kids

Families are welcome, and the larger suites can take 2 kids (using a sofabed), but bear in mind that the general atmosphere is tranquil and more adult-oriented.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Aethos Corsica is in the tiny inland village of Oletta, which stands in the hills 5km south of St Florent in northern Corsica, and 15km west of Bastia.

By Air:
Bastia - the island’s second city, with good flight connections to France - is 15km away. Alternatively try Calvi (75km).

From the Airport
We'd recommend hiring a car - see our car rental recommendations.

By Sea:
Ferries link Bastia or Calvi with Nice, Marseilles and Toulon in France, and with Livorno, Genoa and Savona in Italy.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.