San Lucianu Beach Resort - Mark Warner

San Lucianu Beach Resort - Mark Warner is set in lush gardens of eucalyptus and palm trees, and has a wide grassy lawn stretching toward a sandy beach. In contrast to the lush and beautiful setting, the bright-pink buildings making up the resort have an institutional look, including the four-story main building housing the guest rooms. The lobby is bright but bare, with little decoration, and a small sitting area opposite the reception counter consists of two shabby-looking sofas. But the outdoor areas are a lot more pleasant and convivial: There’s a spacious terrace restaurant and covered outdoor bar, a large main swimming pool, and a children’s pool. There are also plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas on the lawn, and a beach for sunbathing, swimming, and opportunities for windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Run by the British vacation company Mark Warner, the resort caters overwhelmingly to families with young children, who make up the majority of guests, with most from the U.K. The resort is organized in a way that allows parents to relax and take part in the many activities, while their children stay busy with water sports and other supervised programs. With the large number of children and wide variety of activities available, the atmosphere is more like a summer camp than a peaceful resort.

In a quiet, isolated location between the mountains and the sea, San Lucianu Beach Resort - Mark Warner is just off the main beach road leading to Moriani Plage, a three-minute drive away. It’s a 47-minute drive to Bastia, Corsica’s second largest city. Popular tourist sights like Piana and its famous cliffs on the island’s west coast is a three-hour drive away, while the Scandola Natural Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a bit over a three-hour drive away. Bonifacio, on the island’s southern tip, is another popular destination, and can be reached in two hours and 10 minutes. Poretta Airport is a 30-minute drive from the resort.

The 98 rooms at the San Lucianu Beach Resort are bright and clean but sparsely furnished, with beds, built-in wardrobes, desks with chairs, and armchairs. Sea-facing rooms were completely refurbished in 2011 in an updated, contemporary style, with MDF furniture and tiled floors. The unrenovated (as of 2015) mountain-facing rooms have dark furniture, including headboards and desks, and while they might have more character, they show many signs of wear and tear -- their tired blue carpets need replacing. The colorful bed runners in bright tones of pink, purple, peach, and crimson brighten up the spaces in these mountain-view rooms, as does the artwork in primary colors. Bathrooms are clean and basic, with shower/tub combos, but the older bathrooms have outdated tiling. Except for the ground-floor rooms (many of which are accessible rooms), all rooms have balconies with sea or mountain views. Air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, work desks, and flat-screen TVs come standard. Superior Twin rooms add mini-fridges. There are interconnecting rooms and Family Suites consisting of master rooms with king size beds and Twin Rooms with two single beds.

An English and continental breakfast is served each morning on the outdoor restaurant terrace, with views of the gardens. Lunch and dinner are a la carte, and wine is free, with a buffet option also available at lunch. A children’s menu is offered, and the restaurant can cater to gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. An early dinner is served for children, followed by activities, so that parents can dine child-free. In addition to the outdoor bar, there’s a large indoor lounge bar with comfy sofas. Activities include swimming, cycling, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fitness classes. The large main pool is large enough for laps, an the kids’ pool has a lifeguard. There are three tennis courts: two doubles courts, and one singles, with a tennis coach available. The kids' clubs organize supervised activities for children according to different age groups, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. The on-site beauty salon offers beauty and health treatments, and massages for an extra fee. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, but the signal can be shaky.