Take the Family holiday rating 
| Flying Time | 2.25 hours  |
|---|---|
| Carbon Footprint | 1.11 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT +1 |
| Local Currency | Euro |
It's a perfect mixed holiday destination; adventurous, yet with plenty of opportunity for your family to relax on its wonderful beaches or over a Mediterranean feast. Corisica has only been French for 200 of its 4000 year history, so it offers something rather special; its a wild, mountainous, beautiful place, but with the sophistication of any French resort. Take the kids sailing, diving, rafting, riding and hiking or if that sounds all too exhausting, put your feet up on the balcony of a seaside hotel with a glass of the local red.
The best time to go to Corsica is from May to early July, and between September and October. Late July and the whole of August are very busy, particularly with Italian and French holiday makers.
Daytime temperatures, May to Oct, usually exceed 21 Celsius (70F), but can exceed 35 Celsius (95F), during the hottest months of July and August.
You can now fly from lots of UK airports direct to Bastia which is located on the north east of the island. Direct scheduled flights have recently become more frequent, and prices very competitive, try Expedia Flights who will search a number of airlines.
Alternative methods include flying to Nice, Marseilles, Toulon or Genoa and then taking a mediterranean ferry to Corsica. Check deals with British Airways.
A huge selection of accomomodation is available in Corsica, from luxury hotels to villas to secluded hillside apartments. Thomson Holidays currently offer holidays to 43 resorts on the island or Simply Travel offer a selection of luxury hand picked private villas.
Corsica excels as a destination for extreme sports, although these can be easily modified for children. The best ideas for little ones are to take them sailing from any number of beaches, also try riding up into the hills or along the coast. There is white-water rafting for the older children, as well as excellent fishing and diving. Corsica is a place for physical pursuits rather than cultural, but many of the towns are fascinating and it has a style and history very much its own. For children, the beaches arond L'lle-Rousse and Calvi are recommended as they are not only some of the most beautiful in Corsica, but also have the best facilities. Be warned though, they get packed in the height of summer when you should go a little further a field, so it may be worth hiring a car or people carrier- Try Campomoro for example or La Liscia, where the watersports are superb and there are good cafes. A visit to Les Calanques de Piana is also recommended - a spectacular landscape of red granite cliffs carved into bizarre shapes by nature, spiralling 300 metres over the sea.
Corsican cuisine is fabulous; influenced as it is by French and Italian cooking. There are enough familiar dishes to satisfy fussy children, but often with a unique Corsican twist. It's a fertile and lush island with wonderful local ingredients and some acclaimed wines. The chestnut is described as the most important ingredient in Corsican cuisine, used in delicious sauces and stews. Locally produced cheeses and meats are superb and as an island, fresh fish dishes are, of course, the highlight.
Pick up a bargain package in a self catering apartment from as little as £115 per person from Thomson or really splash out on a luxury secluded villa from Simply Travel .
Overall Rating
We were lucky enough to stay at the Disneyland Hotel which made our trip SO much easier. We were so ... Read more on Mumsnet
by David Atkinson et al
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 34%
A comprehensive guide to Corsica
by David Abrams
Buy from Amazon.co.uk - Save 34%
Explore every corner of this beautiful island with this revised edition of the "Rough Guide to Corsica".
A wonderful all-inclusive Mark Warner resort. More
* per adult per week, including flights, meals, kids clubs and transfers
Serenity Holidays
Well equipped mini villas scattered amongst grounds, just 150m from the beach More
* per adult, based on 4 people sharing, incl flights from Gatwick in June.
