Here's the review I wrote for a magazine last year. There wasn't space to add that, although I felt the creche was really well run, DS refused to go after day one! So he joined in with us doing yoga, aerobics etc. I felt Corsica itself was a really interesting and beautiful place but the MW resort was like being on an out-of-town conference campus. But, I don't like organised holidays (or watersports) anyway so I am not a typical MW customer--wouldn't have chosen it if I'd been a genuine paying punter. Nearly everyone we talked to (and their kids) loved it and quite a few loved it so much they went straight to the on-site booking office and booked for the same week this year!
Mark Warner San Lucianu, Morani Plage, Corsica
What?s it all about?
I understood why Mark Warner holidays are so popular on the morning of our second day, whilst I was lying flat on my back and my husband was panting away next to me. It?s amazing what couples can get up to when they know their three year-old?s being safely cared for in the on-site ?mini-club?; in our case, of course, it was an aerobics class under the eucalyptus trees, although it could equally have been a diving course, a tennis lesson or beginners? windsurfing, before reuniting with our little lad for lunch. In the afternoon, more supervised play for him, a manicure in the excellent in-house Viva salon (they do hair, too) for me and a stroll along the sandy beach (we spotted wild fennel, rosemary and broom growing along the coastline) for him. Bliss!
So how good is the childcare?
A team of English-speaking, fully qualified and genuinely enthusiastic nannies look after young holidaymakers aged from four months to 13 years, for up to 7 hours per day (older teenagers organise themselves in the ?Indy? club). The dedicated childcare building is scrubbed spotless every evening and boasts cool, spacious indoor playrooms imaginatively equipped with everything from baby bouncers to bikes?essential when August temperatures regularly exceed 30 degrees C. There?s also a widescreen TV for the nightly showings of kids? vids and a basic kitchen equipped with microwave, fridge and sterilizers.
And what are the rooms like?
You don?t come on a holiday like this for five-star luxury: air conditioning is provided, but don?t expect freebie smellies, mini-bars or televisions. Standard rooms have own bathroom and separate toilet, twin beds for you and a put-you-up in the corner for junior(s). A limited number of suites are available, but be warned?they sell out fast!
What?s for dinner?
You can tell the hotel restaurant?s experienced with children?their evening meals are served before 6pm, pasta toppings are optional, sausages are always on the menu and yoghurt comes without ?bits?. Dinners for adults and children like ours who refuse to bed down until late, drew mainly from a generic Mediterranean menu: salade Nicoise, ratatouille, cannelloni stuffed with goats? cheese, fish baked with olive oil and fennel, accompanied by locally sourced wines. If your child (like ours did a couple of times) needs dinner at 7pm when the kitchen?s closed, Pizzeria U Catagnu is within easy walking distance along the main road?try the pizza Marguerite, baked in a wood-fired oven, for Euro 7.50.
Out and about
To get a flavour of the real Corsica, take a 45 minute local bus trip to Bastia, It?s the second biggest city on the island, but you wouldn?t know it from the picturesque, unspoilt old port, which dates from medieval times and is overlooked by a spectacular hillside park, scented by laurel and pine trees. Keep climbing upwards to the Citadelle, a spectacular feat of 15th-century architecture which protected the inhabitants from invaders by enclosing them within hefty ramparts.
Let?s go!
A week?s stay at San Lucianu in August costs £994 per adult; children aged 2-12 years sharing a room with their parents pay £596; this includes all meals, transfers, most sporting activities, including aerobics, hiking, windsurfing, tennis and sailing, evening entertainments and membership of kids? clubs, including baby listening service. Scuba diving, sailing courses and water-skiing are available at extra cost. Call 0870 7704222 or visit www.markwarner.co.uk