La Plage Casadelmar

La Plage Casadelmar: A Luxurious Beachfront Retreat in Porto Vecchio

La Plage Casadelmar, nestled in the picturesque Bay of Porto Vecchio, France, is a highly regarded Michelin Key Selected property offering a serene and sophisticated beachfront experience. Guests consistently praise its stunning location, chic design, and attentive service, though some minor issues regarding dining variety and beach amenities have been noted.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for La Plage Casadelmar is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as a beautiful and tranquil oasis. Reviews often highlight its "absolute refinement" and "barefoot sophistication." While specific aggregated ratings vary across platforms, individual guest reviews frequently award high scores for cleanliness, comfort, location, services, and staff. However, the value for money sometimes receives a slightly lower rating, indicating its premium pricing.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love the hotel's stunning beachfront location on a private sandy cove, edged by pine trees and red rocks, offering crystal-clear waters and breathtaking views across Porto Vecchio Bay. The design is another major highlight, characterized by a contemporary and rustic aesthetic, blending clean lines with natural elements like stone, wood, and glass, creating a tranquil yet bright ambiance. The intimate setting, with just 15 rooms, contributes to a spoiling and peaceful atmosphere, ideal for special occasions or honeymoons. Amenities include a heated outdoor pool with sea views and a private beach area with sun loungers. Guests also appreciate the convenient speedboat transfer to its sister property, Hotel Casadelmar, which offers an ESPA Spa and a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at La Plage Casadelmar are described as very comfortable and beautiful, providing a sense of a "little oasis." Each of the 15 luxurious rooms, along with four villas and a main building, is finished to a high standard with a bright and airy atmosphere. The décor features neutral tones from stone, wood, and volcanic rock, accented with pops of vibrant color. All rooms and suites come with private terraces that offer either garden or magnificent sea views, complete with lounge chairs for relaxation. Deluxe Sea View rooms are particularly popular and considered worth the splurge. Suites offer more space, including two bedrooms and a separate lounge area with a sofa bed, making them suitable for small families. Room amenities typically include fireplaces, DVD players, furnished patios, premium bedding, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, bathrobes, slippers, designer toiletries, hair dryers, complimentary Wi-Fi, desks, complimentary newspapers, phones, minibars, and safes.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel features a restaurant and grill with panoramic views, serving delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Breakfast, which is included, is generally a continental buffet with pastries, fruit, charcuterie, breads, and cheeses. While the food at La Plage Casadelmar's restaurant is described as good, some guests have found the menu to lack variety, especially for longer stays or for vegetarian options. For a more upscale culinary experience, guests can take a speedboat to the sister property, Hotel Casadelmar, home to a 2-Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant. This fine dining establishment, led by Italian chef Fabio Bragagnolo, offers a refined Mediterranean menu with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and subtle flavor combinations.

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently praises the staff for being "super friendly, attentive, polite and helpful." The service is generally described as wonderful, personalized, present, and reactive. However, some isolated instances of slow service have been reported, particularly for hot breakfast food and drinks at the beach.

6. Location & Accessibility

La Plage Casadelmar boasts an exquisite location directly on a private sandy beach within the Bay of Porto Vecchio. The hotel is nestled at the end of the Benedettu peninsula, offering a quiet and peaceful environment. It is approximately a 10-minute drive to the town of Porto-Vecchio, and Figari Airport is about a 45-minute drive away. The hotel can arrange private car transfers and even private jet flights from various European cities to Figari. Nearby attractions and activities include the historic harbor-city of Bonifacio (a 45-minute drive), other stunning beaches like Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, various water sports, boat trips, hiking, and exploring prehistoric settlements and mountain villages.

7. Value & Pricing

La Plage Casadelmar is considered an expensive, luxury property. Typical nightly rates for a standard room can start around $670, with superior and deluxe rooms ranging higher, and suites reaching several thousand dollars per night. Prices tend to be highest in July and slightly lower in June. While guests acknowledge the high cost, many find the overall experience and stunning location to be worth it for a luxurious and exclusive getaway. A city tax of EUR 2.20 per person per night may apply for guests over 18.

8. Common Complaints

While generally highly rated, some recurring criticisms include:

• Slow service for hot breakfast food and drinks at the beach.
• The restaurant's menu at La Plage Casadelmar can be perceived as average and lacking in variety, particularly for its price point and for vegetarian options.
• Tired beach furniture, with one instance of a rusty bed snapping.
• The private beach area can sometimes be windy even when nearby beaches are not.

Sources

1. laplagecasadelmar.com
2. michelin.com
3. michelin.com
4. casadelmar.fr
5. michelin.com
6. michelin.com
7. lhw.com
8. michelin.com