When traveling to mainland France or Corsica from the U.S. you’ll probably want to avoid American Airlines, (unless you’re an employee, travel agent or have a free ticket from them).

If you search on Kayak, Priceline or your favorite online travel site, you’ll probably find that AA charges the highest rates on airfares from the U.S. to France.

The following is a screen shot of a a search made on March, 7th, 2010 on Priceline from Miami to Paris. Travel time frame: April, 2010.

(Click to Enlarge)

I got the same fare on other search engines and I also called the airline to confirm. Their best rate on a non-stop flight from Miami to Paris, CDG was $1,464.20 while Air Canada, Continental and United offered the lowest fares. I even tried other departure/arrival dates and the results were the same.

Luggage Handling

On top of the fact American Airlines charges $20 per suitcase, when necessary, they will send luggage in different airplanes to help balance the load, since they now try to pack as many passengers as they possibly can on every flight to control costs.

I understand times are hard and it is important to use cabin capacity efficiently but I hope they only do this on domestic flights within the U.S. and not on International flights.

If you’re visiting relatives, then waiting a day to get your luggage may not be a big deal. But if you’re going on a cruise or carrying outdoor gear, or taking a connecting flight to another destination, being separated from your luggage for more than a day, will likely put a damper on your travel plans.

Perhaps American Airlines offers competitive fares to other destinations or maybe you’ve had a positive experience flying with them. If so, please share your thoughts on this or any other airline by leaving a comment below.

International Wholesale Airfares

www.wholesale-flights.com provides incredible discounts on international flights -as much as 40% of what you’d normally pay for a plane ticket. Check them out first before you book a flight.

Traveling from Europe

If you’re traveling to Corsica from Europe here’s a list of
International Discount Airlines.

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In case you’re wondering, I usually travel to Corsica on Air France. If I miss my connecting flight to or from Corsica (through their fault), I get to stay in Paris or Corsica one more day at their expense.

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Corsica is not a cheap destination but prices are not too expensive either and you can save money on your trip by following a few simple tips.

Planning Ahead

If possible, avoid the months of July and August when room rates are at their peak and finding suitable accommodations may be difficult. Instead, try to visit during mid season, (April-June, September-October) for the most pleasant weather and affordable room rates.

Expect to pay about €89 a night for a 3 star hotel during mid season. Hotel rates usually include taxes and VAT. Lower rates can be found in two star hotels, which usually lack air conditioner, (not a big problem if you avoid traveling during the hot summer months).

Inland Corsica

Venture into the interior of the island and enjoy the crisp mountain air and abundant streams and waterfalls.

You don’t have to travel far to see ancient villages with cobblestone streets and old chapels. Traditional villages like Calenzana, Montemaggiore and Zilia are only a minutes away by car from the seaside resort of Calvi and offer spectacular views of the coastal plain and the bay of Calvi below.

In these inland locations, away from the touristy, beach resorts visitors can often find inexpensive lodging and meals.

See Corsica Day Trips for more sightseeing suggestions.

Getting to Corsica

You can fly to Corsica from most European cities or catch a ferry from several harbors in Italy and France. Corsica is serviced by four airports located in Calvi, Bastia, Ajaccio and Figari, near Bonifacio.

Corsica By Sea

Traveling by ferry from mainland France or Italy provides a convenient and inexpensive way to visit Corsica. If you’re traveling through Italy, Corsica Ferries offers several links to the island with departures from Civitavecchia (in the summer), Livorno and Savona all year round. The island of Sardinia is only 7.5 miles (12km) from Corsica by ferry.

Driving in Corsica

I highly recommend renting a car to explore the island. If you are traveling from North America or Australia, Auto Europe will most likely offer you the best deal in car rentals.

Accommodations

Corsica offers a wide range of accommodations from campsites to four star hotels and a variety of choices in weekly rentals including holiday villas, apartments, B&Bs and rural farms.

Inexpensive Meals

If you stay in an apartment or holiday villa you can save money on meals.

For breakfast and lunch, stock up on delicious food and enjoy outdoor picnics. A baguette, some fresh cheese, prosciutto slices, locally grown fruits and a few chocolate croissants can last you until dinner time.

In Corsica, some of the most exquisite delicacies are found in fresh, open markets and small shops. Traditional Corsican charcuterie is prepared with the meat of free-roaming pigs that feed on acorns, chestnuts and maquis, a wild, aromatic bush endemic to the island.

Corsican wines are one of the island’s best kept secrets. Despite its small size, Corsica has eight AOC wine regions producing wines that continue to garner recognition in Europe.

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Corsica Hotels

Gites-de-france.com Family accommodations, B&Bs, self-catering

Flights, Hotels, Car Rentals etc.

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A guest post by Kelly Summers

Nestled in the heart of Corsica, fifteen minutes south of Corte on route N193, is Casa Agostino Giafferri, a Bed and Breakfast located in the village of Poggio di Venaco.

The property overlooks the Bozio mountains, a remote area located between the Tavignano Valley and la Castagniccia, and it is a place where artists, researchers, designers, and business people frequently gather.

Casa Giafferri is equipped with meeting facilities, a projection room, a concert hall and Internet access. Annette Luciani, the owner, lived in the U.S. for 20 years and speaks English.

Photo by: Kelly Summers

If you want to enjoy delicious homemade food, let Mme. Luciani delight you with her traditional Corsican dishes, made with fresh, home grown fruits and vegetables.

Photo by: Kelly Summers

The Corsican cédrat (shown in this picture) is a citrus fruit used to make an after-dinner liqueur and to garnish meats, salads and desserts. Corsican cédrats or citrons are unique for their superior size and taste due to the richness of the soil and their geographical location on the island, where nearby hills protect them from cold winds.

The Town of Venaco

When driving between Ajaccio and Corte, one of my favorite places to stop for lunch is Restaurant de la Place, located in the town square, off of the main road, for its hearty meals and affordable prices.

Venaco has easy access to hiking trails, a horse riding stable and local artisan shops. The town can be reached by train and it is a favorite with hikers in the Summer.

Room rates are reasonable, (80 Euros a night with breakfast included).

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Casa Agostino Giafferri
Address : Route de la gare – 20250 Poggio di Venaco
Telephone : 04 95 46 04 33
E-mail : annette.luciani[at]hotmail.fr.

Languages: French, English, Italian.

Location

View Larger Map

Local Attractions

La Restonica – Outdoor Paradise in the Heart Corsica

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www.mattandkellysummers.blogspot.com is the personal blog of Kelly Summers where she currently writes about her stay in Corsica. The cute girl in the photo is her daughter Sadie, standing next to her dad, Matt Summers.

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The Corsica 2009-2010 Winter season has been marked by substantial snow and rain fall. These photos were taken on February 12th, 2010.

A hillside village, on the northern part of the island.

A popular beach in the Summer time now blanketed in snow.

Spring Flowers

With so much moisture in the soil, Spring in Corsica promises to be a spectacular display of colors, as wild flowers take over the mountains and wide open spaces on every corner of the island.

One of my favorite wild herbs is mint, easily recognizable for its tiny lilac colored flowers and perfect for chewing on its leaves while hiking or for brewing tea. Myrte also grows abundantly on the island, a plant whose white flowers are used to make a special sweet liqueur. One could write several blog posts about the vegetation in Corsica, which includes many wild and cultivated fruits used to make preserves and liquors.

As temperatures rise, scents of rosemary, lavender, rock rose, pine and other fragances permeate the air.

Spring is a good time to visit Corsica if you want to avoid the Summer crowds and take advantage of mid season hotel rates.

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One of my favorite quotes from Tim Ferris is Reality is Negotiable. Unfortunately, not everything in life is negotiable so today’s post is about the reality of money.

If you live in the US and love to travel, you probably check the Euro rate from time to time.

So far 2010 has shown to be a better year for the US Dollar, (better than most of 2008-2009). How long will this trend continue or what exactly is keeping the US dollar up is the subject of numerous financial sites and newsletters.

Some think that the situation in Greece is causing investors to rush to the dollar and that the current trend will likely continue through 2010. Others believe that the US dollar may drop further in the coming months.

Amidst this uncertainty you may be wondering, should I buy Euros now?

Surprisingly, not much has changed since the day I wrote about this topic (on December 2008), so the following tips still apply:

1. “Unless your name is George Soros, do not buy large amounts of foreign currency”.

2. Buy only what you need for an upcoming trip and use ATM and credit cards for the remaining expenses. For instance, if you’re traveling from the U.S. or Canada, probably your two biggest expenses will be airfare and auto rental. It is usually best to pay for these items via credit card prior to departure. The remaining expenses such as lodging, meals and gas you may want to pay for with a credit or debit card. Use cash for all miscellaneous items (boat rides, snacks, train or bus rides, cyber cafes etc.)

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If you think you can’t afford a Corsica Vacation…

In Corsica as in all of continental France, room taxes are almost negligible. For instance, if the room rate is 88€ a night, the room tax is only 1.22€.

In contrast, hotel taxes and other mandatory room charges in the U.S. (like parking) can add an additional 13-15% to the total cost of your hotel stay. Room taxes can easily add an extra $10-15 a day to the total room rate. As with other expenditures, be sure to consider taxes when determining the true cost of a vacation.

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If you’re not used to hiking for five hours or more each day but you don’t want to miss the summit views in Corsica, consider an excursion on horseback.

Horse-backriding provides an authentic outdoor experience without hiking or carrying a backpack.

Travelers can try horse riding for a day (90€ per person), or join a four day (450€ per person) or a seven day excursion (800€ per person) and discover a hidden side of Corsica few tourists get to see. (Prices may vary. I’ve listed these here just to give you an idea).

Horseback riding trips are available in various skill levels so that even beginners can enjoy the experience. In addition to safety, the company of an experienced tour guide is essential to discover the best spots on the island.

What to Bring

If you’re going to ride for several days at a minimum you should come prepared with a hat, sunblock and appropriate clothing. Wear pants to protect your skin from constant friction instead of shorts but do not wear heavy jeans.

Always carry a good supply of water, about 1-2 liters per person. Even though there are numerous mountain springs on the island, you don’t want to come off the horse every time you need a drink.

The tour company will give you a detailed list of what to bring, depending on the duration and difficulty of the itinerary.

A Changing Scenery

Travelers can find opportunities for riding in almost every corner of Corsica.

In Cap Corse, there is a trail between Sisco and Luri and further north from Macinaggio to the West coast of the peninsula.

La Balagne offers trails in the heart of the forest of Tartaigne and Bonifatu over part of the Tra mare e monti (between sea and mountain) hiking trail.

The Desert of Agriates, near St. Florent, is one of the best spots for horse backriding over secluded beaches.

In the center of the island, near Corte, the farm inn L’Albadu, offers rides and simple accommodations.

One can ride along the sea from Propriano on the Gulf of Valinco all the way to the village of Bonifacio, in the extreme south, while galloping along deserted, sandy beaches.

The area of Alta-Rocca offers the chance to ride over snow covered peaks until the beginning of Spring. From the foret de l’Ospedale to Porto-Vecchio, riders can enjoy mountain scenery while slowly descending to the sea through pine forests and maquis covered hills.

Equestrian Centers in Corsica

There are more than 35 equestrian centers in Corsica and many of them are within reach of the main tourist areas. Most of these centers do not have a web site though. The best way to find them is to inquire at the local tourist offices.

When driving, look for the words cheval (horse) and centre équestre.

These are just some of the companies that offer guided tours in Corsica:

www.rideinfrance.com

www.randonnee-equestre-corse.com

www.randochevalcorse.fr

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Can’t decide whether the charms of la belle France outweigh those of bella Italia? Then visit Corsica, … You get the best of both worlds: excellent food and wine, great summer weather, hiking trails with mesmerizing scenery, and towns steeped in vendetta history. Plus, a sea that shimmers peacock blue. If I had to pick a favorite place in the Mediterranean, Corsica would be it. Ajaccio, Bonifaccio, and Calvi make three interesting bases to discover the island.

Steenie Harvey, travel writer and Euro Editor at International Living.

I think Steenie summed it up real well. There are beautiful beaches, monuments, historic landmarks and magnificent mountains in many parts of the world. But I don’t know of too many destinations that combine all those attractions into one tiny island, coupled with safety.

Below is a quick preview of what you’ll find in Corsica.

1. Charming fishing ports and marinas, inviting outdoor cafés, outdoor markets, ancient mountain villages, warm, friendly people.
2. Hiking trails to match all fitness levels and diverse scenery from gentle coastal paths to the most grueling trail in all of Europe, the GR20, a 14 day hike that traverses Corsica from North to South through the highest summits on the island.



© Celine Ragonnet

3. Unspoiled beauty combined with the safety and infrastructure of a developed nation. Corsica is virtually crime-free, safe for single woman traveling solo and families with children.
4. The taste of Pietra beer, brewed from chestnut flour, Orezza natural mineral water, Italian gelati stands, tongue curling sweet and pungent cheeses, Muscat, a sweet wine usually served as an aperitif, perfumed bittersweet honey with hints of lavender and rosemary, fantastic liquors made from a variety of herbs and fruits endemic to the island including: citron, chestnut, clementine and myrtle.
5. Innumerable attractions within a short driving distance. You can start the day on a secluded beach, drive to the mountains and enjoy alpine scenery and authentic Corsican food in a mountain village, then head back to the coast through narrow, twisted highways overlooking the ocean and end the day in a harbour, on an open-air café.



6. Water everywhere. Rivers, natural mountain springs, waterfalls, long stretches of beach.
7. The sky is bluer and cleaner in Corsica. More than one third of the island is a natural park.
8. Rich history. Due to its strategic location on the Med, Corsica has been invaded and occupied over the centuries by Etruscans, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Moors, Catalonians, Germanic tribes, Saracens, Pisans, Genoese and finally the French.

The music of Corsica reflects this mix of ethnic influences, the long lamenting sounds remind us of Spanish flamenco quejios (laments) and Middle Eastern sounds.

For more information see: Visit Corsica Guide

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Corsican Music

Corsican music is mostly performed by men. Their songs praise the beauty of the island, lament the loss of freedom and national identity and reflect an intense love for the homeland. This music appeals to many audiences, even if they can’t comprehend the lyrics, I believe because it’s filled with intense emotion.

I’ve included a small sample of the rich and unique sounds of Corsica below.

I don’t know the Corsican language, but I know enough Italian to make out a few of the words and phrases.

The song opens up with this verse: When will they remember or realize that this land is mine? When will I have my country returned to me?

You get the idea…This is a proud, nationalistic song filled with raw energy. The name of this group is Voce di Gravona (Voice of Gravona).

Note: Only a minority of the population wishes to gain independence from France. Corsicans are warm and friendly towards tourists and they are friendly towards Americans. Even though they liberated themselves from fascism during WWII, they appreciate and remember the assistance they received from Allied forces (in the form of weapons and ammunition) which enabled them to do the job.

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Two travel trends that are sure to continue through next year are the growing demand for eco-friendly and adventure travel, holidays that leave a minimal imprint on the environment and provide challenging activities.

Ski FreshTracks and adventure ski outfitter based in the UK has launched an all inclusive ski tour to Corsica for February-March, 2010. Skiers will get to experience the real deal, mountain refuge accommodations and a visit to the glacial lakes of Melo and Capitello, (descending from the top for the most stunning views of these lakes).

Lakes Capitello and Melo

The cost per person of £1,195 (about $1,895 pp), includes lodging, meals, transfers, mountain guides, avalanche transceiver hire and equipment. (This price does not include flights).

Corsica is ideal for off-piste or backcountry skiing, (skiing over unmarked slopes). This sport involves some risks though, including avalanches and fallen trees, which is why it is important to be accompanied by a guide.

Although Corsica can’t match the Alps as a ski destination, the island offers a spectacular scenery with dozens of peaks measuring more than 2,000 meters and non-existent crowds.

“As people strive to get more from their ski holiday and push the adventure boundaries, we have designed our programme to satisfy those needs” says Caroline Boileau, General Manager of Ski Freshtracks.

Ski Freshtracks concept is ideal for both group and solo skiers and like other guided adventure tours, it offers the chance to meet like minded travelers.

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I’d like to thank you all for your support this past year. Best wishes for a Happy New Year from Corsica Journeys!

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This photo illustrates what I love most about Corsica: Peaceful beauty, bountiful nature and breathtaking wide open spaces. In Corsica farm animals are allowed to live and grow as nature intended, which results in some of the best food products in the world.

Holiday Tradition

The traditional Christmas meal consists of roasted goat or lamb, roast accompanied by polenta and lasagna.

The quintessential dessert served on Christmas Eve in France called the Bûche de Noël, a cake made to resemble a log of wood, becomes the Bûche à la châtaigne in Corsica, with the addition of chestnut paste to its mix.

Winter is a good time to enjoy Corsican charcuterie and brocciu, Corsica’s famous fresh cheese, best consumed during the Winter months.

Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season!

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Photo: www.club-corsica.com – Prairie in Calenzana.

Calenzana is a village located just a few minutes from Calvi and famous for being the starting point to Europe’s most challenging hiking trail, the GR20.

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I’ve always loved history and I’m particularly fascinated by old photographs depicting vivid details of daily life in earlier times.

Timeless Corsica

There’s been a lot of new construction on the island in recent years, particularly in some areas near Ajaccio, Calvi, Bastia and Porto-Vecchio, but the change in Corsica’s landscape has been rather slow compared to the rate of growth in other parts of the world.

Driving through Cap Corse, on the west coast

In Corsica, small hotels, restaurants, groceries, bakeries, wineries and other family owned businesses are often passed down from one generation to the next. For this reason, travel information tends to remain current, for the most part, and you can be sure to receive the same or similar quality of service at a hotel or restaurant for years.

Recently, I came across these images of downtown Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, which clearly show not much has changed in the past 100 years. The old postcard dates from November 2, 1906. (Click the photo below to enlarge).

Credit: www.American-in-Corsica.com

Mountain villages and hamlets, like Sant’Antonino below, have managed to maintain their authentic old world feel.

Corsica offers sustainable and responsible tourism, with roughly two-thirds of the island occupied by a natural park, a green oasis where hikers, rock climbers, kayakers and other outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy active sports in all seasons.  Corsicans proudly protect their traditions, their language and their island.

Above is the entrance to the fortified Haute Ville (upper town) of Bonifacio.

Despite attracting an international yacht crowd, Bonifacio has managed to preserve its authentic character with very little modern development.

Corsica offers an authentic travel experience, unspoilt beauty and superb cuisine, at a price most travelers can afford.

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Photo credits: Unless otherwise indicated, all ancient photos above belong to: www.cpa-corse.com

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