Corsica for families: Escape to picturesque Corsica for a a sensational summer break
And nowhere is that quest more likely to end in frustration and disappointment than in the over-hyped Mediterranean stretching along the eastern Spanish seaboard and into southern France and western Italy.
Frankly, once you've brushed away the cigarette ends and reluctantly settled for a tiny patch of builder's grit, you're bound to feel short-changed. The cost of parking doesn't help, either.
Beach ideal: Corsica's stretches of sand more than equal the best resorts in France and SpainTry Corsica, a friend said. Try Corsica, my local travel agent said. Try Corsica, my wife seemed to be saying as she lobbied for a proper break in the sun with our five-year-old son, Alex. And so we did.
What a result! By our third day, we felt like experts on the island's scented nooks and crannies; we had fallen in love with its unspoilt landscape and even felt we'd cracked it in our search for beach perfection. Simple as that.
The beach was called Rondinara - and I have never seen such translucent shallows, such a gentle crescent of soft sand. Alex embraced the sea with zeal, splashing about for hours on end, virtually uninterrupted by his parents.
At one point, he likened this deserted beautiful bay to a 'big swimming pool'.
Don't look down: Hugh and his family were pleasantly surprised by BonifacioCorsica is 55 miles off the coast of Italy, but became one of the 27 regions of France in the 18th century. Bonnie Bonifacio: You can see Sardinia from the citadel on a clear dayThe creaking old town of Porto-Vecchio perches nervously above the natural harbour, where generations of enterprising restaurateurs have set up shop on the edge of the ramparts. There are designer label shops galore, yet there is a purity of culture that makes Corsica such an unexpected treat. This nationalist identity sings loud and clear through the language, of course. Signs are bilingual and anti-French graffiti is everywhere, while the dialect remains satisfyingly incomprehensible. Perfect playground: The Conca D'Oro villa was an ideal base for all the familyOne Porto-Vecchio restaurant/ delicatessen stood out: Cantina di L'Orriu, where tables spill out into the street and the elegant staff offer a delightful handwritten, staunchly Corsican menu. The real surprise of our stay was Bonifacio. Carved from limestone, this network of natural harbours on the southern tip of the island is awe inspiring. Approach from Porto-Vecchio - on the island's eastern side - and it's a simple scoot down an inland road. Enter from the craggy west and the 20-mile run down the mountains combines Alpine pastures with perilous descents punctuated by thrilling coastline.
Today, the French and Italian high-rollers swear by its timeless qualities and pour in on ferries from Marseilles, Genoa and Nice every summer, taking up residence in discreet villas in the verdant hills! ides. We booked our holiday via Coastline and took a charming villa, Conca D'Oro, in Bocca Del'Oro, a five-minute drive from Porto- Vecchio - and 15 minutes from glorious Rondinara.The villa, a converted old farm building, was spacious and offered three comfortably sized bedrooms thatwould easily sleep a family of six. It had an infinity pool which was aperfect depth for Alex.
Coastline'senthusiastic staff delivered fresh pastries every morning and offered avariety of services ranging from babysitting to a range of beauty treatments by the pool. They even had a personal chef, who was heavily in demand. He will drive to your villa with fresh groceries after discussing your plans for an evening meal and cook a three-course banquet to a wonderfully high standard.
The beaches match the finest of France and Spain, and beat most on offer in Italy. Swimming is easy: youngsters can splash safely in the shallows while stronger swimmers strike out across the rest of the bay. The only danger is the occasional overconfident jet-skier. More...
At the Plage de Palombaggia, you can drive right! up to t he water's edge, take a table at one of a trio of laid-back restaurants and be served fresh fish as the children play feetaway on the sand. We found the price of food and wine reasonable if youchoose Corsican brands.
Theone surprise for the holiday wallet was the (admittedly excellent) local beer. Brewed with chestnuts, it can cost up to 4.50 for a small glass. Snap it up in multiples in the hypermarket and the price tumbles.
It's a truly spectacular journey, but watch out for daredevil drivers.
Bonifacio's 'haute ville' is a tightly packed old town dating back to the 15th century which sits high above the waves - and on a bright day you can see Sardinia.
Our only frustration with Corsica was the hairpin nature of the mountain roads, which meant that a full exploration of the island was not possible in seven days.
Actually, it wasn't so much the twisty roads that stopped us, rather the realisation that we'd chanced upon a perfect villa near a perfect beach under a perfect blue sky.
All those pushing the credentials of Corsica had got it absolutely right. Travel facts
Coastline, 0844 557 1020, www.coastline.co.uk, offers week packages at Conca D'Oro starting at 549 pp based on six sha! ring, in cluding flights and car hire. Breakfast goods are free and delivered but chef, babysitting and treatments cost extra.
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