La Roya

The garden, full of flowers and cats, is lovely, and there’s an open-air courtyard garden with birds. Rooms and suites are impeccable, and the design is superb. Try nr 10 Sophia! A wonderful place right on the seafront.

Dinner at the restaurant was the highlight for us over our three nights in the Sea View Suite at Hotel La Roya. The food was consistently delicious, creative, and worth the price, and the staff were warm and friendly throughout. The hotel is also a short walk from town along the beach. Still, the stay felt underwhelming for a room costing over €600 a night. Both the hotel and room seemed dated. We were told the shower drained slowly, but it was much worse than that. Because the floor slopes outward, the bathroom flooded every time we used it. At this price, that’s unacceptable. Housekeeping didn’t replace the complimentary water bottles, and we were charged €7 when we asked for more. There were also several double charges on the final bill that needed correcting, so check yours carefully. The waterfront was disappointing too. Although the hotel is technically on the water, it feels more like a harbor than a beach.

The gardens and pool are gorgeous, and the pool is kept spotless from 7am. The sea in front has some seaweed now and isn’t as clear, apparently because the harbor built many years ago changed the tides. It’s still lovely, though, and Lotu & Saleccia are just a boat ride away. We always took the Spassigh J'agriate boats to those splendid beaches. Saint Florent is an easy 10-12 minute walk along the beach for dinner or to catch the beach boats, and we’ll be back. The hotel is a Corsican gem, full of charm, and the photos don’t do it justice. Its open-plan interior staircase feels airy and lovely, and the sea-view rooms are a delight. The staff are charming; Eleanore (sp?) was especially kind and welcoming.

The setting around La Roya is wonderful, and the rooms and suites are very chic. Everything was clean, from the pool to the beach sunbeds. The sea is beautiful, especially if you walk towards the beach islet where the water is crystal clear. We were welcomed warmly and looked after so well. The Director and her staff were always close by to help organize our holiday. I think this is the only place to stay in Saint Florent. Be sure to try the restaurant dishes, they’re amazing, original, and high quality, and the staff are very kind.