Corsica is a very natural and undeveloped island, and in country houses, animals, birds and insects may be present around the house and occasionally living in inaccessible areas such as eaves and roof spaces. Mice and other field animals may come into houses. Mosquitoes, ants and other insects are quite common in the warmer climates and we strongly advise our guests not leave any food uncovered, to deter stray rodents and animals.

The tap water in Corsica is perfectly safe to drink (unless otherwise indicated) but can have a different mineral content from that you are used to in the UK. Bottled water is inexpensive and readily available in all supermarkets and many other shops and it is important to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Although local water resources are usually sufficient, if the weather has been exceptionally hot and dry supplies can be in high demand. During high season it is always a good idea to be economical with water.

In respect for our guests and our properties, we have a no smoking policy in our accommodation. Just as in the UK, a smoking ban in all public areas is now in place across France.

When our guests are on holiday, the local population will be going about their daily business. Rural or village properties may have farming activities nearby, hunting and festivals, over which we have no control. In villages and more rural areas you there may be dogs and cats that wander around apparently wild, guests are encouraged not to feed them as this will attract them to return to the property.

Voltage is the same as in the UK but cuts are more common.  In Corsica you may find supply to be less powerful and at times intermittent especially during or after storms.

Driving is the best way of getting around as public transport is limited on the island with the exception of the train service from Bastia to Ajaccio and a branch line that runs along the coast to Calvi. Driving in Corsica can be hair-raising at times with other road users seeming erratic!  The scenery is beautiful, however narrow and winding roads can mean 50km takes up to an hour.  Main roads are much easier.  Random police or breathalyser checks are common therefore do have your documentation to hand (driving licence or ID, car hire contract, vehicle insurance documents), wear your seatbelt and never drink and drive (0.05% blood alcohol concentration is the legal limit with fines up to €3000).  It is also against the law in France to use your mobile phone whilst driving and you could incur an on the spot fine.

Outside July and August, the traditional holiday season for the French and Italians, Corsica’s beaches are less crowded.  In the height of the holiday season even the smaller beaches can be busy. It is worth remembering that due to the sheer number of beaches in Corsica, many of the more secluded beaches are unsupervised. Visit our beaches page for more information

Tourism can bring a wealth of benefits to destinations, however we mustn’t forget that at the same time tourism can adversely affect the nature and environment of a destination if it is not looked after. We at Corsican Places have been awarded 2 star responsible tourism status by the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). To ensure tourism benefits the people of Corsica we strive to work positively towards protecting the natural beauty, wildlife and culture of Corsica so that future generations can continue to enjoy residing in and visiting the country. As a specialist tour operator with an AITO 2 star status, we felt that a carbon-offset scheme was the next step for us and initially set up Opt in & Offset, for our sister product The Gambia Experience. On the success of this we have now expanded the scheme to Corsican Places. Primarily monies collected will fund our two projects in The Gambia but we are looking at other opportunities in Corsica for the future. We have committed to working with Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Service (TICOS) offering you the chance to help offset some of the damage these emissions will cause and have done so primarily by setting up two projects in The Gambia; community tree planting and the introduction of solar power. So far we have planted 10,000 trees. For more information about these projects and how you can help please go to www.corsica.co.uk/carbonoffset Details of our responsible tourism policy can be found on our website at www.corsica.co.uk/rt

Under no cicumstances can access to self-catering properties be given before 4pm, and all villas must be vacated no later than 10am, irrelevant of flight departure times. This also applies to clients arriving earlier and waiting, and departing clients who may pack and stay at the property. This causes distress to owners and mais who need time between tenancies without feeling compromised by the clients being there. It also contravenes our contractual agreements with owners, some of whom may apply extra charges. Clients arriving independently must ensure they comply with these times, taking into account driving time to/from airports.

The standard international practice is to let hotel rooms from midday to midday, however times do vary.

Where air-conditioning or heating are available it is included in our prices and shown in our property descriptions. As part of the Responsible Tourism code we ask that air-conditioning should be used sensibly: the windows and doors should be kept closed when air-conditioning is on. The units should be turned off when guests leave their property and shutters and windows should be closed during the hottest part of the day to increase efficiency.

If a property has a barbecue we note this in the accommodation facilities. As the heat of the summer months often provokes fires, barbecues should be used sensibly and are actually officially prohibited, though tolerated, due to the heightened fire risk in the drier summer months.

Some properties require a deposit to be paid but guests are asked to care for their accommodation as if it were their own home. If any items are broken during your holiday, your rep should be made aware so that we may replace them plus you may need their assistance if you can claim on your travel insurance (our own travel insurance does cover some breakages). Unfortunately, we are unable to check all of our properties at each departure so if you find something is broken or not working do contact us immediately.  If a breakage deposit is required, our team will advise you at the time of booking.

Our properties are cleaned for your arrival and bed linen, bath and hand towels are provided at the beginning of your stay, with extra linen left for each week of your stay. Cot linen is not provided. We provide each of our properties with general cleaning products and a sponge, washing up liquid and a stock of bin liners, and we ask our guests to do a minimal clean to include cleaning of surfaces, clean barbeque, clear perishable food away and dispose of all rubbish, leave all crockery washed up and put away and leave bathrooms clean before they vacate their property. Should guests not do a minimal clean before departure or in the event of extra cleaning being required, cleaning in Corsica is costly and guests will be charged.

Foldable highchairs and travel cots are provided free of charge in our self-catering properties if requested at time of booking. For hygiene reasons, cots are not supplied with linen so do remember to take your own. Cots and highchairs can also be requested for hotel bookings – a small supplement may apply.

As properties are generally Corsican or French owned, the décor may reflect the local lifestyle and the owners taste. A dining table & chairs can be given more priority than comfortable indoor chairs, as this is more in keeping with a Mediterranean outdoor lifestyle. Floors are generally not carpeted and curtains are often decorative with shutters used to block out the light. Simpler properties can have basic kitchen facilities, should you have any special requirements please let us know.

Direct flights to Corsica generally leave the UK early in the morning. We do realise this makes for an early start although as they are generally the first departure slots, knock on delays are rare, and also you get to your destination earlier in the day.  Occasionally, despite the best efforts of all concerned, flights are delayed for reasons beyond our control.  In the event of such a delay we always do our best to provide a snack or meal where appropriate.  Should there be an extended delay on your homeward flight we will endeavour to delay your departure from your accommodation although this may not always be possible if there are new guests due to arrive.

Due to the stringent regulations for pilots flying in and out of Corsica it has been known for flights to be altered in which instance we will contact you as soon as we are advised. Airlines and flight times given can therefore be subject to changes beyond our control.

The welfare of our customers is our prime consideration and we are committed to raising the standards of health and safety in our properties and to continue to identify areas where safety can be improved. General safety regulations do vary from country to country and are often less stringent than those that we have come to expect in the UK. It is therefore important to be safety conscious and we suggest that on your arrival you familiarise yourself with your surroundings and read the information file provided, and to speak with your representative. If you have any concerns. We hope that by taking these simple steps, this will help to ensure that everybody in your party has a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Hotels in Corsica are graded under the French star rating system. Breakfasts are mostly continental with croissants, bread, jam and coffee served.  Buffet breakfasts are not the norm. Half board menus are often set with less choice than a restaurant. Tea and coffee making facilities are not generally available. Hotels welcome children but will charge for a cot or extra bed in a parent’s room. Babysitting and baby-listening services are not widely available.

Each of our properties includes a minimum inventory to include such essentials as a kettle, iron and toaster. All larger electrical equipment for each property e.g. television, washing machine etc is noted in the individual description.  Please do advise one of our representatives if you find something faulty or broken to enable us to arrange a solution.

Bed linen, bath and hand towels are provided on a weekly basis. Beach towels are only provided in our Premium villas. In most properties, guests can expect beds to be made up on arrival. Please note that when clean linen is supplied once every week, a new set will be handed over and beds will not be made up again. Cot linen and beach towels are not provided.

Only guests named on your confirmation are entitled to occupy the accommodation. Any guests not appearing on the invoice we have sent to you will be charged locally.

If you have any requests for your holiday accommodation or flights, please ensure they are requested at time of booking. Where an extra item or service to that advertised is provided at your request, please note that we have not inspected these facilities. As always, a request is never guaranteed.

We try to portray our holidays as representative for the majority of the season, during early and late season some resort facilities may be closed and in high season even the quietest towns and beaches may become busy.

Rooms in our individual properties all differ and guests should note that no rooms are similar in terms of decor, style, size and position. Master bedrooms are considered superior to other bedrooms, when choosing a property for a group of friends make sure you agree who will have the master suite before arrival!

A self-catering holiday in Corsica is a real home from home and offers more freedom.  Our villas and apartments offer couples and families their own space and privacy, in a hotel you can’t go to breakfast in your pyjamas!

In respect for our guests and our properties, we have a no smoking policy in our accommodation. Just as in the UK, a smoking ban in all public areas is now in place across France.

Swimming pool details such sizes, shape and depth (where known) are detailed in our facilities section for each accommodation, please refer to each property or call our team if you require further information and we will check with the owner. All pools have a security system in place, alarm, fence or cover, as is required by French law but children should be supervised at all times. Pools are generally unheated in Corsica and are maintained and cleaned during your stay. Weather permitting all pools are open from the start of May to beginning of October and at times of bad weather debris can appear in an otherwise clean pool.

If your chosen accommodation has satellite television subscription channels are not available, and terrestrial and satellite television will generally be in French. You can expect to receive at least one free to air English language News channel.

Staff at some properties live on site and tend to the grounds and pool. We ask our guests to allow them reasonable access to the property and grounds so these can be kept in good order for our guests.

The tap water in Corsica is perfectly safe to drink (unless otherwise indicated) but can have a different mineral content from that you are used to in the UK. Bottled water is inexpensive and readily available in all supermarkets and many other shops and it is important to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Although local water resources are usually sufficient, if the weather has been exceptionally hot and dry supplies can be in high demand. During high season it is always a good idea to be economical with water.

Most of our self-catering properties are provided with a FREE welcome hamper including basic provisions to provide you with light refreshments on your arrival

Tourism can bring a wealth of benefits to destinations, however we mustn’t forget that at the same time tourism can adversely affect the nature and environment of a destination if it is not looked after.

We at Corsican Places have been awarded 5 Star responsible tourism status by the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). To ensure tourism benefits the people of Corsica we strive to work positively towards protecting the natural beauty, wildlife and culture of Corsica so that future generations can continue to enjoy residing in and visiting the country.

As a specialist tour operator with an AITO 5 star status, we felt that a carbon-offset scheme was the next step for us and initially set up Opt in & Offset, for our sister product The Gambia Experience. On the success of this we have now expanded the scheme to Corsican Places. Primarily monies collected will fund our two projects in The Gambia but we are looking at other opportunities in Corsica for the future. We have committed to working with Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Service (TICOS) offering you the chance to help offset some of the damage these emissions will cause and have done so primarily by setting up two projects in The Gambia; community tree planting and the introduction of solar power.

So far we have planted 10,000 trees.

For more information about these projects and how you can help please go to www.corsica.co.uk/carbonoffset Details of our responsible tourism policy can be found on our website at www.corsica.co.uk/rt