Hôtel Castel Vecchio

Parking felt a bit tight, but the hotel is in a nice spot. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the pool was clean and refreshing. My room was pleasant and had AC, though the decor felt a little dated. The amenities were there, and we enjoyed our stay. I’d recommend it.

We won’t book here again. Staff didn’t seem to listen when we complained, and the receptionist appeared not to fully understand either French or English. We were also locked out of our room two days after the problem had supposedly been fixed, and strangers came into our room after 9 pm. The loungers were broken, so you could end up lying on the ground. We paid too much for a stay that didn’t match the price in quality. None of this seemed to surprise the hotel, so I got the impression these problems happen regularly.

The comfortable bed, pleasant pool and friendly cleaning staff were the best parts. The pool is clearly old, though. Breakfast was worth the price, with a good range of food and a fresh baguette with a crunchy crust. The room was rough. It smelled strongly of old cigarette smoke, and there was nothing to cover the smell. The carpet and walls were dirty, and the decor looked outdated, maybe from the 70s or 80s, and hideous in my opinion. The AC also smelled bad, so we switched it off and opened the window. That meant mosquitoes got in at night, and the heavy traffic stayed noisy until 3 am. Sleeping was a challenge. The bathroom light was fairly dim. The coffee wasn’t tasty, and the machine only worked sometimes. WiFi was okay when connected, but it disconnected regularly and we had to reconnect often. For 110 euros a night, the smell was especially disappointing. The hotel has the basics, but the room and infrastructure need a lot of work. It’s very old and needs a general renovation. The location and breakfast were fair. I’d suggest staying no more than one night. Corsica is beautiful, but it’s easier to enjoy when you can get a decent night’s rest.

I’m staying one more night because I extended my visit, but I’m extremely disappointed by the service. The receptionist was very rude and kept insisting we leave even after we explained we’d come down to pay for the extra night. Her behavior has ruined my trip, and I won’t return. Staff need to know how to communicate with guests and deal with customers. If they can’t do that, management should give them proper training or not put them at the front of the hotel. This wasn’t acceptable when I’m paying to stay here.