Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Ajaccio Bay

The hotel sits right on the beach, with gorgeous sea views, and the French breakfast was fantastic, full of fresh pastries, cheeses, and local specialties. The staff were friendly, and the resort was very comfortable. But we were hugely disappointed to find it was completely cashless. That felt inconvenient and, in our view, not entirely fair. It's a wonderful place for the scenery and comfort, but keep the cash-free policy in mind if you prefer to pay that way.

The pool area was the first thing that made me question how this place is being run. Street doors were left wide open and propped with stones, so people from the neighborhood came in, used the pool, and took seats from paying guests. There was no pool service, and although hot dogs were supposedly available, we never saw anyone selling them. The hours were handled loosely too: the pool wasn't ready at 8 a.m., while in the evening guests were dramatically told to leave an hour before closing. I used to be a Radisson hotel GM, and it was shocking to see such poor management at a beautiful property in an amazing setting. This could be one of Corsica's iconic hotels, but right now it feels the opposite. I couldn't see a strong management team keeping it aligned with Radisson's standards or the owner's interests. Rusty tools, broken tiles, uncovered drains, and days of neglected cleaning around the garden and pool may sound minor, but they create a serious danger. The rooms showed the same lack of care: faulty shower taps and fittings, locked cupboards, and no minibar. Housekeeping's attitude seemed to be that problems weren't their concern. The previous night's party debris stayed in the hallway until noon, and used room-service plates and glasses sat in the corridor for hours, even as staff passed by repeatedly. Reception wasn't up to standard either. They charged our card instead of taking a pre-authorization, our room cards kept failing, and there were long queues over and over. Managers didn't support the staff, and nobody tried to offer any additional services. Contact details for the services weren't properly published either. This list isn't exhaustive. The hotel could be great, distinctive, and full, but that would take different management and a lot of training.

The staff were super friendly, and the views over Ajjacio bay are lovely. The beach is just across the street, with 5+ restaurants within walking distance. There are both outdoor and indoor pools, the latter in the spa. You can charge an EV for 20 Euro. The gym has only a limited number of machines, and some weren't working.

The main drawback is getting to Ajaccio: the hotel feels quite isolated, there's no public transport, and taxis are VERY expensive. Walking to the ferry for Ajaccio and back would be around 10 km, so keep that in mind. On the plus side, it's near a beautiful beach, and there's a swimming pool and spa. Our room was clean and big enough.