Demeure Loredana

The ambience at Demeure Loredana is rustic and romantic, and it has the feel of a lavish country manor. The reception area and adjacent lounge are warm and inviting, with walls painted in ochre and sepia tones, and exposed wooden beams, plush velour sofas, elegant armchairs, and a grand piano. There's a tented patio area next to the outdoor infinity pool offering spectacular views of the sea and mountains. The interiors and furnishings in the reception area and lounge want to scream luxury, but the look is a bit overdone: The curtains are too heavy, the chandeliers too elaborate, the artwork mismatched, and some of the furniture is just too flamboyant. The hotel is especially popular with vacationing couples, and the framed photographs in the lounge are testimonies to the fact that Demeure Loredana has hosted many international celebrities, including George Clooney. Despite the celebrity factor and the occasional Ferrari in the parking lot, the atmosphere here is not pretentious but down-to-earth. 

Demeure Loredana is situated on a hill overlooking the Gulf of Saint Florent, and is an eight-minute walk to the center of the town of Saint Florent with its picturesque port. The town and port area have numerous shops, cafes, and restaurants, which guests can easily walk to. The beach at Saleccia is considered one of Corsica's most beautiful, and is best reached by taxi-boat from the port of Saint Florent -- the trip takes 20 minutes. Bastia, the island’s second-largest city, is a 38-minute drive away, while the drive to the airport at Poretta takes 42 minutes.

The 18 guest rooms at Demeure Loredana are spacious, with the smallest rooms having a floor area of 355 square feet (about 43 square meters), while the largest suite measures 1,839 square (about 171 square meters). The color scheme and decor of each room and suite differs, ranging from demure to flamboyant. The Sant Angelo Suite is one of the more understated rooms, with off-white walls, a taupe-colored sofa, beige rug, four-poster bed, and beautiful furniture in natural wood. In stark contrast, the Loredana Suite is loud and flashy, with black plush sofas and bright-purple cushions, swanky chandeliers, and curtains with large, colorful, floral prints. Bathrooms are large and luxurious, with dual vanities, towel warmers, whirlpool tubs, and custom-made toiletries like lemon myrtle soap and bath salts. The Patrimonio and Elegenza Rooms do not have sea views, but all the other guest rooms and suites have balconies facing the gulf's waters. All the rooms and suites have beautiful hardwood floors and are air-conditioned, and come with flat-screen TVs, CD players, mini-fridges, electric kettles for tea and coffee, and free Wi-Fi.

Breakfast is served to guests on their balconies or on the patio overlooking the sea (for a fee). The hotel also offers an all-day snack service, which provides simple but pricey meals. There's a small heated indoor pool, as well as an outdoor infinity pool, which is surrounded by several huge sun loungers. A meeting room can seat up to 60 people. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, including in the outdoor pool area. Guests can book massages, or rent the property’s 55-foot (17 meter) yacht for the day. Free parking is available on-site.