Hôtel Le Pinarello

Usually when we say we'll come back after a holiday, some more tempting trip comes along and we don't. But our superb week at Hotel le Pinarello has us planning to return next year, same time, same place. The hotel, location, room, and staff were all lovely, and Corsica itself was beautiful.

The Shell Recharge EV charging point is publicly listed, but they wouldn't let me use it, even though I had access through the Shell card and app. It's advertised as open, yet only preferred guests are allowed to charge.

Pinarello is a quaint village along a single road, with three or four restaurants, a bakery, and a gift shop. It felt very safe and everyone was pleasant. For more shopping and places to eat, Port Vecchio is about a 20-minute drive away. The hotel staff were extraordinarily friendly and accommodating, and our clean, well-kept room overlooked the beach. From bed or the attached private outdoor deck, we could enjoy the beautiful sand and water. There are plenty of places to visit nearby. Tourra di Fautea and Plage di Fautea are about 10 minutes away, with a cool tower on a walking trail and a nice remote beach. Country Horse, also around 10 minutes away, offers scenic guided rides through the countryside and along the beach. Plage de Palombaggia is about a 40-minute drive and well worth it for its gorgeous beach. Bonifacio has medieval cobblestone streets, cafes, and shops; you can also walk down the Staircase of the King Aragon, about 200 steps from town to the sea, then follow the cliff path above the turquoise water. The Bavella Needles are around 40 minutes from the mountain base. The drive up Corsica Mountain is beautiful, with the mountain pass on one side and forest on the other, plus plenty of places to stop and hike.

The bay is lovely and quiet, and it makes a great base for exploring south east Corsica. We also enjoyed the food and the staff were polite.