Bonifacio is unique – perhaps the most spectacular setting of any harbour on the Med. It’s a good idea to stay a couple of nights at an hotel in heart of the town since the ambience is at its best only after the coach loads of day trippers have departed.
Architectural ingenuity was required to create the Hotel Genovèse high up on the limestone cliffs . On the plus side, the Genovèse is the only in-town hotel with an enclosed car park and a swimming pool (sheltered by walls, therefore private but without panoramic views). Hence, even though the setting is very special, it is for you to decide whether the advantages justify the price and the inherent shortcomings.
Despite being privately owned, the hotel can sometimes lack direction. Choose your room carefully, having studied the website and quizzed the lethargic reception staff thoroughly before booking. The highest priced are the suites in the Côté Port annexe, which is a steep hike down a footpath from the main hotel. Instead, you might prefer some of the Côté Citadelle (main hotel) rooms which also overlook the port; our favourite, because we don’t mind small rooms, is the competitively-priced No 1 which has its own balcony. The scores of cafés and bistros within walking distance in the Haute Ville are the obvious alternatives to the exhorbitantly priced breakfast at the hotel and its evening restaurant closure.