"We stayed in the beachside annex. This is really on the beach and therefore next to restaurants, but steps to the water. So there are lots of people around during the day, but mostly families. Also, San Andrea is tiny, so by restaurants, I mean three. By the time we had finished dinner, the entire beach had cleared out and we were the only people there. For breakfast, we could make the short trip to the hotel, where the coffee is prepared as you like it and the buffet offering a wide range of healthy, fresh food.
The staff are highly professional, which came in handy for me. I needed assistance for an unpredicted and serious problem, which was miraculously solved by Maurizio, who is as knowledgeable about Elba as a person can be.
You can rent an umbrella, or you can buy a snorkel and swim off the rocks (very satisfying) or you can make a short trek to a peaceful, sandy beach. All said, a great location with a mostly Italian clientele and very good, fresh seafood.
We rented a car and the driving can be challenging. If you are not accustomed to winding roads and Italian driving (other cars come close and often at high speed) it might be a bit scary."
