Please sign in to post.

Car Rental Dilema in Corsica - Sept 2025

Posted by on

AlbertaMax
Alberta

463 posts

4 helpful votes
CAR RENTAL dilemma September 2025
Dec 10, 2024, 12:17 p.m.

Save
I have posted before regarding this trip but this question is more specific (as I do more research I have more questions...go figure).

WE are 5 adults travelling together hoping to have some amazing experiences in Corsica. We typically enjoy a leisure pace taking in sights, sounds, tastes, views, water and land outdoor experiences.

WE have decided that we must see South and North Corsica ( cannot decide between the 2). WE also know that we want to have 2 bases from which to travel out daily. 3 bases if necessary for 1-2 nights somewhere. WE have 9-10 nights total.

  1. Because we are renting a vehicle - probably a small -ish SUV to transport 5 adults, 5 carryon suitcases and probably 5 day backpacks, we require something to hold all this. Having said that, we understand that a smaller vehicle would be best for touring.

Question - do we land, taxi to accommodation to drop off bags then go back the same day or next day to pick up a small rental car for touring in that area. We would then have to drop off the vehicle when done in the South, for example, get to our second base via train, taxi to our home base in the north, pick up a small car for the touring. It sounds cumbersome but not sure how to solve the 5 person baggage issue and small vehicle for the roads. The other concern is if we keep the same rental vehicle, when travelling between our south and north base, we wonder if it is safe to have all that luggage in the car as we make stops along the way!

  1. WE originally wanted to fly into Figari and depart Corsica from Calvi. Now i am concerned about Figari being a smaller vehicle rental office so Automatic SUV in a small but not too small size might be more limited. WE chose beginning in the south thinking the water temperature will be warmer earlier in the trip (mid Sept) for snorkelling near Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio. Our travel dates are approximately Sep 15 - 25/25.WE are not against going from North to South, we just thought for snorkelling in the south to go there first.

We would greatly appreciate your advise on the Vehicle rental situation but also on the best 2 bases to stay in the South and North. WE are open to fly into and out of any of the airports. These flights from mainland have not been booked as yet.

Thank you so much!

Posted by
7392 posts

It sounds like this is part of a longer trip. Where will you be before and after Corsica? That will have an impact on what parts of Corsica are easiest to reach. And I really don't think that the difference in water temperature will be noticeable between the north and south part of the island, it's not that large after all. Local conditions will be more important. And what are your plans for the visit? What do you want to see and do apart from snorkelling?

And don't rent a SUV, an estate car will in general give you more interior space. And Bastia and Ajaccio can be good bases that are connected by train, but it also depends a bit on what your plans are.

Posted by
61 posts

I have been doing lots of research and thinking...We have decided to tour the north and west coast of Corsica with a car or SUV. The plan is to fly into Calvi for 5 nights, then make our way down the west coast(perhaps stay in Cargese, Porto, or Ota and finish in Ajaccio with a flight back to Mainland France from there. We are hoping to have 3 areas maximum as a home base with our 9-10 night stay.
As much as possible we plan to do day trips from our base, thereby having our luggage at the accommodation and freeing up space in the vehicle. Hopefully we do not have to travel much with luggage on our laps! We do not want to get a large vehicle.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.