Hôtel de la Plage Les Arcades

You come here for a straightforward seaside stay in Algajola, with the beach close enough to make footwear an optional extra and the restaurant on site when you would rather not go searching for dinner. Hôtel de la Plage Les Arcades is a two-star hotel with air-conditioned rooms, a shared lounge and free WiFi throughout.

The atmosphere is practical rather than theatrical: arrive, drop your bags, find the sand, then settle on the terrace with something cold. The hotel's information is presented in French, useful if that is the language you prefer for organising your stay.

You are in Algajola, on the Corsican coast, at 15 Route Nationale. The hotel has direct access to a sandy beach, with the shore described as just 10 metres away. Aregno Beach is about 50 metres away, so the sea is not something you need to schedule into the day.

Algajola railway station is roughly 400 metres away, and Aregno station about 850 metres. Calvi is around 9 miles away, while Calvi–Sainte-Catherine Airport is about 6 miles from the hotel. Bastia–Poretta Airport is much further, at around 50 miles, with Bastia and Corte both within roughly 44 miles.

The choice is mainly about what you want to see when you draw the curtains: Mediterranean blue or the surrounding mountains. For a couple, the sea-view double room puts the coast into the morning routine; the twin option works better if sharing a double bed is not part of the holiday plan. The mountain-view rooms give you the same basic arrangement with a different outlook.

Families can choose the mountain-view family room, with separate single beds and a double bed rather than asking everyone to negotiate one sleeping arrangement. Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer, plus a flat-screen TV and wardrobe. The climate control is welcome after a hot day by the water, while free WiFi lets you deal with the practicalities before the evening takes over.

The on-site restaurant, Les Arcades, covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a terrace for meals in the open air. The kitchen works in a Mediterranean register, adding Corsican specialities to salads, grilled dishes and homemade desserts. That gives you a useful choice after a dive: something light, something grilled, or dessert doing considerably more work than strictly necessary.

Breakfast is a continental buffet served from 8am to 10am. The Les Arcades bar and cocktail bar opens from breakfast, whether you want coffee before heading out or a drink once the day has slowed down. There is also a snack bar, a coffee house and room service available around the clock.

The main after-dive activity is refreshingly obvious: walk straight to the sandy beach, take a lounger under a parasol and let the salt dry in its own time. The hotel also offers access to on-site water-sports facilities, including jet-skiing, for days when lying still feels like an insufficient use of a coastline.

For a change of scenery, you can book or join outings by boat, to an island, to a waterfall, to a market or for snorkelling. Walking tours, cycling and cultural excursions add options on land, while the shared lounge gives you somewhere to retreat with the television or simply sit down without having to return to your room.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation needed, which is handy if you are touring Corsica by car and your boot has acquired the usual collection of bags, shoes and damp clothing. WiFi is free throughout the hotel, and daily housekeeping is included. A drinks vending machine is also available for the moment when you want something cold without making a full expedition.

Check-in runs from 2pm to 10pm, and check-out from 8am to 11am. Children of any age are welcome; cots and extra beds can be requested, subject to the selected room arrangement and availability. The hotel accepts cash, bank cards and cheques, and pets are not allowed.