Corsica?

[ANDKEZLULA]

Has anybody taken their van over to Corsica? if so any tips or places to visit would be really helpful. We are thinking of going mid September & spend maybe 2 or 3 weeks over there. Ive been before on a motorbike but many years ago & thought it beautiful.
Thanks everyone

 

[MichaelT]

We went about 10 years ago with our caravan. Absolutely lovely place with fantastic beaches. We got overnight ferry with cabin from Nice to Ille Rousse and back via Bastia to Toulon on corsica ferries.

 

[mikebeaches]

DBK has spent time there with his van.

Edited to add - we've holidayed on the island a couple of times, but not with the van.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Not done it in a van, but agree very hospitable place having been on 3 occasions. There is very limited sites to stay on, and you may want to give the , https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Corsica+Calanques , a miss due to low overhanging rock formations, but you can take a high speed boat trip around the sea area.
Mike.

 

[DBK]

This is an account of our trip. We went by the shortest ferry but there are other longer routes from France. The Corsica bit starts at post #65 on page 3.

We were there for 4 weeks which was about enough time for a good explore.

It isn't a cheap place, there are virtually no aires so you will have to use campsites. But we thoroughly enjoyed the island.

Two Go to Corsica

This trip was originally going to be called Two Go to Corsica and Sardinia. Yet as I read up on what we might find on the islands it became clear we couldn't do much more than sprint round the coastlines in the time available so we are going to Corsica only and Sardinia will have to wait...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Mleabon]

This is an account of our trip. We went by the shortest ferry but there are other longer routes from France. The Corsica bit starts at post #65 on page 3.

We were there for 4 weeks which was about enough time for a good explore.

It isn't a cheap place, there are virtually no aires so you will have to use campsites. But we thoroughly enjoyed the island.

Two Go to Corsica

This trip was originally going to be called Two Go to Corsica and Sardinia. Yet as I read up on what we might find on the islands it became clear we couldn't do much more than sprint round the coastlines in the time available so we are going to Corsica only and Sardinia will have to wait...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Thinking of going to Corsica in September. Is it necessary to book campsites in advance?

 

[Gellyneck]

Thinking of going to Corsica in September. Is it necessary to book campsites in advance?

DBK just in case you miss it, John.

 

[DBK]

Thinking of going to Corsica in September. Is it necessary to book campsites in advance?

I'm sure you will be safe in September and won't need to book. But if you want to be sure and you are crossing over in the first week of September then you could book the first site.

 

[Mleabon]

Just looking at Corsica ferries and both the main companies (Corsica lines and Moby) get some really poor reviews. Has anyone had any experience with these companies recently?

 

[MichaelT]

Just looking at Corsica ferries and both the main companies (Corsica lines and Moby) get some really poor reviews. Has anyone had any experience with these companies recently?

While ago corsica ferries, we thought them very good but expensive with an overnight cabin.

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[AGT]

While ago corsica ferries, we thought them very good but expensive with an overnight cabin.

We used Corsica Ferries in 2022 and 2023 and thought they were fine. They were slow to let you into your cabin and quick to chase you out. Catering was not great - and certainly not worth buying the Yellow deals which they offer when you book. Disembarkation was a bit of a free for all, but none of the ferries required us to reverse on or off. All our sailings were in glorious weather which more than made up for a soggy pain au chocolat.
There are a lot of routes and prices vary accordingly. We have used Toulon/Ile Rousse, Bastia/Livorno, Nice/Sardinia and Porto Vecchio/Toulon. Porto Vecchio/Toulon was stunning. We had treated ourselves to an outside cabin with a balcony to enjoy the view as we sailed South and then between Bonifacio and Sardinia. Bastia/Livorno at around four hours is the fastest and cheapest. You need to watch your arrival and departure times as there are not many aires on Corsica and wild camping is not permitted. There is an aire at the beach in Bastia which we used although we found it rather intimidating as there was a row of permanents, albeit very eager to chat. Likewise, if you have an early departure from Toulon we haven’t found a convenient aire and the port really is in centre ville. We ended up parking in a shopping centre car park.
Corsica Ferries regularly offers deals. I would suggest signing up and you are likely to get an offer for September sailings.
On the island itself we like Ile Rousse and Porto Vecchio. For smaller places Galeria is quaint and has a newish aire terraced down to the sea. Campomoro has the most beautiful bay and a pretty, very traditionally French campsite. There is also an aire in the pine wood behind the famous beach at Palombaggio.
I have driven the Calanques road Porto/Piana a few times. The last time will be my last time! We only have a pvc but even so…I followed a German Possl which ended up taking one for the team.
If we get our visas this year we plan to be back in Corsica in June.

 

[Mleabon]

We used Corsica Ferries in 2022 and 2023 and thought they were fine. They were slow to let you into your cabin and quick to chase you out. Catering was not great - and certainly not worth buying the Yellow deals which they offer when you book. Disembarkation was a bit of a free for all, but none of the ferries required us to reverse on or off. All our sailings were in glorious weather which more than made up for a soggy pain au chocolat.
There are a lot of routes and prices vary accordingly. We have used Toulon/Ile Rousse, Bastia/Livorno, Nice/Sardinia and Porto Vecchio/Toulon. Porto Vecchio/Toulon was stunning. We had treated ourselves to an outside cabin with a balcony to enjoy the view as we sailed South and then between Bonifacio and Sardinia. Bastia/Livorno at around four hours is the fastest and cheapest. You need to watch your arrival and departure times as there are not many aires on Corsica and wild camping is not permitted. There is an aire at the beach in Bastia which we used although we found it rather intimidating as there was a row of permanents, albeit very eager to chat. Likewise, if you have an early departure from Toulon we haven’t found a convenient aire and the port really is in centre ville. We ended up parking in a shopping centre car park.
Corsica Ferries regularly offers deals. I would suggest signing up and you are likely to get an offer for September sailings.
On the island itself we like Ile Rousse and Porto Vecchio. For smaller places Galeria is quaint and has a newish aire terraced down to the sea. Campomoro has the most beautiful bay and a pretty, very traditionally French campsite. There is also an aire in the pine wood behind the famous beach at Palombaggio.
I have driven the Calanques road Porto/Piana a few times. The last time will be my last time! We only have a pvc but even so…I followed a German Possl which ended up taking one for the team.
If we get our visas this year we plan to be back in Corsica in June.

Thanks for your in detailed reply. Very helpful.

 

[Lazyboy]

Lovely place to visit with the van. Corsica ferries are ok. They get you there and back for a price. As long as you do not expect Cunard style you will be fine. The island is great. Aires and campsites available. Fantastic scenery. If you arrive by ferry at Bastia there is a campsite very close right on the beach. Well worth a stay to get your breath and plan.

 

[varaizian]

Take a look at www.camping-car-corse.fr . They do package deals for ferry bookings and campsite vouchers for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days duration. They sail from Marseille overnight or Toulon during the day. Their deals are all off-peak so should suit. You can make up your own itinerary chosen from the campsite partners; all detailed on the site. Might be French-language but don't remember!

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

I went in September in both 2014 and 2018 using Moby. 4 hour crossing from Italy, I had 2 dogs then so a short crossing sitting on deck with them was preferable to a longer crossing with cabin. Will go back again one day as I do enjoy it but will do the short hop to Sardinia as well next time.

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[Mleabon]

Thanks everyone. The bad ferry reviews were putting me off a bit but you've got me back on track. . We'll go.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Thanks everyone. The bad ferry reviews were putting me off a bit but you've got me back on track. . We'll go.

I can't speak for what went on inside in restaurants etc. as I literally made my way to the deck, grabbed a deckchair and sat on deck for the journey with my dogs and a rucksack of essentials. They left on time and were all good from that point of view.

 

[ANDKEZLULA]

We did actually make it to Corsica in September last year, it was well worth the effort to get there. The island is beautiful. We sailed out with Corsica ferries from Savona to ile rousse. It was a day time crossing. Very basic but did the job. We ended up having just over 3 weeks touring the island only intended to stay 2 weeks. Naively thinking we would be able to get a return ferry more or less when we wanted. It turned out to be almost impossible because everyone with a van was leaving Corsica at the end of September so we had to wait almost another week and couldn’t get our preferred route or time that suited us, so book in advance is the lesson there. Also the return ferry was delayed and we ended up landing in Genoa in the middle of the night- not ideal but managed to stay on an aire about 30 minutes drive away.
All in all I would highly recommend

 

[Mleabon]

Corsica ferries all booked.

 

[MichaelT]

Corsica ferries all booked.

Which route you taking?

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[Mleabon]

Which route you taking?

Nice to Bastia outbound and Bastia to Livorno inbound. Found a nice Camping Car Park near Nice the night before. Need something for Bastia. Anyone know of a suitable campsite or aire where you can leave early? Both sailings are daytime sailings.