Mare e Monti Hotel

Simply Travel are simply everything a considerate and efficient holiday company should be.
Landing at Bastia were met promptly by a rep who advised us of the quick way out the airport to the car hire depot. Within 30 minutes we were away from the airport on our way with clear explicit directions to our mountain retreat but beware Corsican roads and drivers. The main road runs around the island - that’s where cars get into top gear and overtaking is compulsory - but available spaces between cars are not necessarily part of the same package. Interior roads are narrow - one must make friends with cliff faces on one side and sheer drops on the other- but the island is worth the effort.
Feliceto is a small mountain village locked in a time capsule of about 40 years ago. It is quiet, with a cafe / bar where the local men spend much of their lives. A small pizzeria and an outrageous restaurant and that’s about it. Moulinos is the restaurant. Go if you are prepared to enter into the sprit of catching your own meal on a plate as the meat is thrown to you. Be part of Moulino's frustrated desire to be a star - be embarrassed, irritated or have a great time. It depends on your preferences. We wont go back.
But Feliceto is wonderful and we are going back. Every village is idyllic. The mountains tower above, the rivers in the national forests are sparkling and meals in hill top villages as the sun sets will live forever in ones memory.
For walkers, visit the local tourist office where local walking maps are sold. They are based on medieval route ways and are colour coded, laminated and very very useful.
For nightlife or noise visit Calvi and Ile Rouse. Attractive but not manic.
Hotel Mare e Monti is exactly as advertised. A smallish mansion house with the Renucci family managing it all with style and grace. Breakfast on the terrace is gentle and dinner beside the pool is good. Service can be slowish - but that is fairly common across Corsica - so take a book to read at table! The pool is a boon. Often deserted in the afternoon it is a boon to return to after a walk, a visit to town or a drive. A late afternoon swim, a sunbed and then freshen up for dinner. It’s what a holiday should be.
The weather is warm and sunny but not oppressively so. When the sun goes down take a cardigan or light jacket. But the cooler air makes sleeping easy.
Televisions in rooms get Italian and French TV. There are no radios supplied so take your own world service sets. In Corsica there is very little sign of holiday development. And it helps to speak French although in the hotel language is not a problem with guests coming from all over Europe, all being treated with a warm welcome and efficient, unobtrusive service.
We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in Corsica last year - so much so we are returning this - even to the same hotel - Mare e Monti.