Couvent d'Alando, guest rooms and home cooking in Corsica
The Couvent d'Alando is a guest house in the former convent of the village of Alando, in Corsica. It offers air-conditioned rooms with terraces, a shady garden, a pool in season and a table d'hôtes that guests love. I recommend it to those who enjoy quiet and convivial meals.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Chambres d'Hôtes - Couvent d'Alando.
Where the Couvent d'Alando is and how to get there
The Couvent d'Alando is a guest house in the heart of the village of Alando, in Corsica, in a mountain setting far from the tourist routes. The listing gives the University of Corsica at 18 km, Ponte-Leccia station at 37 km and Lake Calacuccia at 46 km.
Bastia-Poretta airport is 67 km away, so it is best to plan on a car to climb up to the village. Cyclists and motorcyclists passing through have stopped here for the night and dinner, a sign that the place also suits travellers on the move.
What the rooms and spaces are like
The guest house occupies a converted former convent. The rooms are air-conditioned, with a private terrace, a flat-screen TV and a shower room with a shower and toiletries. Guests describe them as spacious, comfortable, clean and tastefully decorated, with very good bedding.
Each room has a fridge, a coffee machine and a kettle, and the WiFi is free. Outside there is a shaded garden, a barbecue area, an outdoor pool open in season and the option of hiring bikes. One guest also mentions two pools and quiet corners to relax in.
- Air-conditioned rooms with private terrace
- Shaded garden and outdoor pool in season
- Restaurant, bar and barbecue area
- Bike hire for the trails nearby
What guests say
On Google the rating is 4.9 from 223 reviews, a rare score. Almost all the comments praise Marie-Laure's welcome, described as generous, warm and passionate, who happily shares local stories and the history of her village.
The second topic is the table. Several guests rave about the dinners with fresh seasonal produce, the homemade desserts and the generous breakfasts, with breads, brioches and jam. The atmosphere at the table is convivial, and some evenings around ten guests share the meal. Cleanliness and calm come up often too.
What to know before you book
In the reviews I have read, no criticism comes up twice, which is already remarkable. Some limits are down to the nature of the place, though: a calm mountain village, far from everything, where it is better to have a vehicle.
The dinner table is shared and the atmosphere is family-like: this is not an anonymous hotel. If you are after total privacy or grand-hotel service, this is not the right choice. The breakfast is continental, vegetarian or vegan, which is a real plus for some diets. The pool only opens in season.
- Isolated village, car recommended
- Pool only in season
- Shared meals, a sociable atmosphere rather than a discreet one
Who I recommend it for
I would choose the Couvent d'Alando for a quiet escape, as a couple or with friends, with a wish to eat well and chat with your host. It is also a lovely stop for the cyclists and motorcyclists who tour Corsica.
It suits less those who want to be out every evening or who prefer a beach a few steps away. Here you come to recharge, as several guests say, and let time slip by.
What to do around Alando
From Alando, walking trails start nearby, and the house hires out bikes to explore them. Lake Calacuccia, 46 km away, makes a possible day trip.
The best programme may be the village itself: the house's hostess tells its history with passion, and her sightseeing tips are much appreciated by travellers. If you are touring Corsica, you could also look at Caseddu di Chjarastella in Figari.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
