Airbnb Hunting

In May 2022, I stayed with some work colleagues at an Airbnb in Corsica. The villa wasn’t big enough for our full crew, but just down the hill was a sea-side hotel, the Hotel Tettola, for the overflow.

Where we stayed

This was a 4 bedroom, 4 bath hill-top villa , with a pool and amazing sea views, that is past a winery and that was walkable to Saint-Florent, but it was a long walk. Our host, Pierre-Francois, was one of the best at his job. He was respectful of our privacy but at nights he might climb the hill with his dogs to bring us wine from his villa and, feeling badly about our charcuterie, brought us some that was superior.

Would we Stay in this Airbnb again?

It was a memorable stay and I’d love to return. My only hesitation is the island is very large and I am curious about other sections, the southern tip in particular. There was a condo development down the hill so I am curious to see if the vibe has changed much.

At $300 to $400 per night depending on the season it seems like a good price.

There are a wide variety of listings on Airbnb for Corsica.

Activities

• Many apéros, enjoying the magnificent views from the house and the spectacular sunset.
• Roadtrip around the Cap Corse – difficult drive, but great views, small village and beaches.
• Boat excursion to the Saleccia and Lotu beaches.

Would we invest in an Airbnb in Saint-Florent?

I’m on the fence as I see good value but also challenges in welcoming guests. Compared to mainland France there are good deals on property in Saint Florant. Many properties for sale have swimming pools and/or sea views. Over in the mainland we just don’t see many coastal properties with pools. Corsica is blessed with a steepness from the shore, so it’s probable that a property close to the coast will have a view. And the island is vast with a lengthy coastline.

I can’t find good information on Airbnb regulations in Corsica so it seems to be unregulated.

The main negative to Corsica is simply the travel. One needs to fly there and once there a car is likely required. Or there is a ferry from France or Italy. Plus some might not feel welcomed by the hairpin, steep drives. The off season would be a bigger concern in Corsica than other parts of France that are easier to access.

Another negative is that the restaurants were excellent but expensive. It might have been because Saint Florent itself is built for tourism and there might be restaurants for locals that we missed out on.

Additionally, Saint Florent might be a little too wild for some vacationers used to resort living. The beach in front of our villa had layers of seaweed over the sand and no chairs to rent.

Estimated rental income for this property:

Aggregate data on Saint-Florent:

What’s To Like About Saint-Florent

• The weather and view. I don’t know if I have had nice weather over a week in May. There was always a breeze.
• A lifetime of exploring. Biking, hiking, boating or driving it seems like one could be in explorer mode forever in Corisca. At our hotel there was a large group of (very loud) Italians on a bike tour. The GR20 is a nearly two week long hike across Corsica.
• There’s a unique culture in Corsica that feels world away from the Côte d’Azur.
• Bastia is a fairly sizeable city so if you want to watch a soccer match or need shopping in a big city its less than 40 minutes drive.

The Vibe