That's very true about money. There are no ATMs or banks along the GR20, and very few places take credit/debit cards. One of my 'jobs' is to mention things like banks and ATMs, and of course, as I don't mention any, it means there aren't any! I was surprised how many people had to take an enforced day-off at Vizzavona so that they could get the train to Corte or Ajaccio just to get some more money. In fact, some of the walkers were actually scrimping and saving every cent to tide them over until they could get more cash. I'm surprised that the refuges haven't got a system in place to take cards, because I've been to other remote refuges that manage card transactions over their radio systems, so it's not as if technology is the problem. All the GR20 refuges have radio links anyway. So... for the time being... a thick wad of cash does the trick. Seems to me that the GR20 would be a great place for someone to set up a mugging operation... and think how much cash must accumulate at those refuges... do the maths... they must have more reserves up there than the average bank!
Ha ha yep a whole lot of cash up there, at first when you see the first few refuges i wondered being an ex londoner where i should leave me cash as there are some unusual characters around and if your alone your easy to watch..., and beleive me i kept me camera and cash very close at all times.
you can use cards at he three ski places, and vizzavona, albeit you cant get cash out you can not spend it by using your card for that day, and also in Vizzavona i used my card in the hotel to pay for my french freind who was finishing there and he gave me the cash instead so a swap if you like. he was my cash machine, but at the end i had to borrow some euros of a buddy who i paid back in port vecchio....hence i recomend taking more money i took 450 Euros hence i think 600 does the trick.
I too carried lots of cash, having absorbed Paddy's good advance warning. I paid for my hotels (heh...) in Vizzavona and Conca with my card, but when I tried to withdraw a little extra cash at the hotel in Vizzavona, just in case, they wouldn't let me. I suspect they will in a few years' time, when they catch up with modern technology/attitudes/practices.
Funnily enough, I didn't feel anxious about carrying my cash at any stage. Probably because I was too thick to consider it a risk. I was very careful not to leave my camera unattended on my rucksack, though.
I came across a guy on a guided trek on the GR20 who came up with an interesting way of dealing with cash. If any of you have been on guided treks before, you probably know the score... you pay up front before you even leave home... and most things are covered... but there are always odd things you still need cash for. On this particular trek, which lasted 14 days and had 14 participants, the evening meals weren't covered in the package deal. This guy got a different person to pay for his evening meal every evening... then on the last night in a hotel... he whipped out his card and paid for everyone's meal!
On my first trek along the GR20, I came across a guy who needed a roll of film (pre-digital camera era) and I had dozens of rolls. He asked if he could buy a roll off me, and I said he could have a roll for nothing, provided he took my food, handed it to his mate who was near the head of a long queue for the refuge cooker, and delivered me a three-course meal. That meant I could relax and be waited on hand and foot!
Just been poking around on the internet and been looking at the Bastia to Calvi train timetable. As a footnote it says 'If you wish to walk to Calenza (8km along the D151), you should ask to get off at the Dolce Vita Request stop.' Has anybody done this and would you recommend walking along the D151 as a warm up ?
Also I note there is a daily bus from Calvi to Calenzena. Can one rely on this running?
The tourist info in Calvi will tell you the times, one a day i think....but if you want to know the best advice...and this is easy in corsica....so easy...
Hitch...i travelled from Calenzana to calvi an back twice in one day all by hitching with great people....too....really nice they all know the buses are crap and they will see a trekker a mile off.
taxis are pricey....should be E20, but they go for E30 or more. dont do it.
from bastia the best way to Calvi is on the morning bus...very cheap too.
walking to get a warm up.....dont waste your energy...
I can't advise on the road, as when I was travelling along it I was looking at the mountains and didn't notice whether it was safe for walkers or not, but I can confirm that I was charged 30 Euros for a taxi from the airport to Calenzana 3 weeks ago.
I'm almost certain that I read somewhere that there isn't actually a bus--that the taxis have a bit of a monopoly on travel to and from the start point--but perhaps I misunderstood.
Have a great time Incidentally, if I was going to offer one single piece of advice to somebody about to set off on the walk it would be to take a small stove with you to make drinks in the morning.
This does not show a morning bus. Are the times published anywhere.
The reason I was looking at the train times was that I am thinking of getting the overnight boat to Lle Rousse and then catching the train from there, or maybe bus if it exists. I reckon still to get off at Dolce Vita and hitch fron there.
Phil that is superb advice although id tweak it a bit, dont bring a cooker as there is no need what you need is loads of those tiny coffee sachets and mini sugar scahets and also loads of your fav tea bags, in the morning its a watering boiling social as all ensundry boil up there water to have whatever drink or breakfast, and all the french have a coffe in the morning, just make freinds and share the water, most of the time i didnt even have to boil my own, do bring a lighter though. and honey sachets to as these are a kick in the butt first thing if you need one.
Id forget about the buses fella really, they are more pain than are worth it honest...the train in corsica is well cute to a point, but after about 4 stations in that heat with all those people youll be screaming to get off....although they are changing the whole line so you may get delays and on parts of the route youll be transfered to a bus for parts we were, to be fare this was a relief as the bus was smoother and quiter and offered better views...the new trains when in will make it all the more enjoyable, the toilets have no proper toilets on them, when i say proper i mean nothing to sit on, but being men we can pee into the hole they have ripped out of the carriage floor....as said its cute for a bit...but it gets awful quick.
Hitching all over the island is the best....at first idid the taxi and attempted the bus, and just got irritated by it all, hitch all over. theres no other better or cheaper way.
i got an overnight ferry to bastia, bus to Calvi, hitch to calanzana....easy.
Hello What you say about taking sachets of drinks is definitely right--Nutella is also good for breakfast--and certainly it's possible to make a drink in most of the Refuges. I found that I really missed my drink in the tent, though, so I'll take a little stove next time.
Incidentally, if I was going to offer one single piece of advice to somebody about to set off on the walk it would be to take a small stove with you to make drinks in the morning. 
