Marina Bianca (MNI101)

We were happy with this place when we stayed in 2019, so we came back. The apartments are beautiful, clean and well furnished. They’re close to the sea, and there’s a pool and secure parking for vehicles.

The location is convenient, right on the beach and close to a Spar supermarket and a very good patisserie. Most of the apartment was clean, and the mattresses and pillows had hygiene covers. But the kitchen hadn’t been cleaned when we arrived, the shower drain smelled bad, and several basics were missing, including a hairdryer, shower mat, washing-up liquid, tea towel and dish rack. The apartment was modern but felt sterile, with no decor or cosy touches, not even a picture on the wall.

There’s a supermarket very close by, and the pastry shop sells delicious baguettes. The apartment was well equipped and the air conditioning was okay, but the Wi-Fi was really bad. We found little to do in the area. There’s a small town nearby, though the road there is busy and the poor infrastructure makes for an unpleasant walk. We had a good stay, but the pool closing at 7 pm seemed bizarre when the weather was still warm and sunny. We definitely wouldn’t return.

We were travelling with our two children, aged two years and six months, and the stay went so badly we left after two days and found flights home. The room itself was fine, but very basic and poorly finished. There was no kettle in the room or available to hire, and no toilet paper, soap or other basics. We paid a €150 deposit in cash as required, then another €40 for towels and bedding and €40 to upgrade the room. Nobody spoke English at check-in. There was no offer to help with our two hired travel cots, bedding and towels, so I had to make four trips. We were on the second floor, with no lift, which was impossible with suitcases and pushchairs. We arrived during the stated check-in hours, but reception was shut with a notice saying it closed from 12 to 3 pm. If we’d known, we wouldn’t have rushed there with the kids, and we ended up sitting in the car for over an hour. There was very little to do nearby. Most shops and restaurants were closed; across the road there was a Spar shop and a pizzeria, plus a couple of beachfront restaurants serving exactly the same food. Beyond that, there was nothing close to see or do. The pool was freezing and didn’t feel child-friendly or safe for young children. The beach was dirty and also not child-friendly. It felt like camping at a basic, depressing, cold, cloudy site, except there were four walls and a bed. Staff did nothing to help and wouldn’t refund the nightly charge for the room upgrade. Honestly, I’d be reluctant to return to Corsica with young children. Greek or Spanish islands seem better geared to families and more welcoming.