Ann1

Every time we go back to visit our family on Ischia they ask why Americans don't come to vacation on Ischia. Very few Americans visit. Mostly Europeans visit. It's as beautiful as Capri and other Amalfi cities and is less expensive. It also has the therme and wonderful people. I really never had an answer so I'm asking your opinions.

PalQ

I liked Ischia ("Issia&quot even more than Capri - really enjoyed Hadrian (or Diocletian?) villa on a cliff at the east ? end of the island. Ischia, yes, a gem.

Hana

Ann1 -
Sorry for hijacking your thread! My husband and I are in the midst of planning a trip to Italy for two weeks at the end of September this year.
As you appear to have spent some time on Ischia - where do you recommend staying?
We are in our early to mid-30's looking to relax. We prefer smaller rather than larger hotels, beach would be nice but not necessary (I'm not even sure we can still swim in early October). It would be nice if the hotel had a pool - heated is even better. Price is not a concern - I've been looking at the Mezzatorre hotel. My one stipulation is that we have easy access to restaurants in a nearby town (preferably one with some charm). Got any ideas?
From my reading thus far, I'm gravitating towards Sant'Angelo, Forio and Ischia Ponte.

Mamma_Love

I don't have an answer, but wanted to tag this for later in the event anyone else has advice and hotel recs.

Ann1

Hi Hana: If you are renting a car, Sant Angelo a wonderful little village tucked away. It also has bus service there. If you have a car, you park outside the village and walk in. It has beaches and you can also take a water taxi to Maronti Beach. I don't personally know a lot of hotels because we stay with family. There is a really nice hotel called the San Michele in Sant Angelo. They have therme and pools. You will have to walk up a hill to get there, but it isn't that far up. I think when you check in you can have a driver with a golf cart take you up with your luggage. Ask if you make a reservation. The sister of the owner has a wonderful 2 star over looking the sea. It's called the Celestino. You can use the pool at the San Michele. They are both mentioned on www.ischiaonline.it There are quite a few restaurants in the village. One better than the next. The Pescatore has a brick oven pizza to eat in or take out that is to die for. They all have a lot of fish because it is a fishing village. The son of the owner of the San Michele and the owner of the Celestino (her name is Carla) both speak English very well. Honestly it's an ideal place for a romantic getaway. Forio and Ischia Ponte are very nice and have good shopping but they are busy. It depends on the year, but usually you can swim in the beginning of October. Sant Angelo is really special.

Ann1

ttt

caroline_edinburgh

So why do you want to spoil it ?

GeoffHamer

For some reason, Ischia attracts a lot of German-speaking visitors, whereas English-speaking tourists predominate in Sorrento. I don't know whether there are historical reasons or perhaps people just prefer to be with their own kind so Germans will continue to visit Ischia and the Brits will fill Sorrento. There are other delightful islands in Italy - Giglio and Tremiti, for example - which seem to attract only Italians. Do people just go where their friends and neighbours have been, or to places they have read about in their local newspapers?

ritaly

If I were to make a day trip from Sorrento in Nov, how often to the boats run as often as Capri? Also once I get off where the boat drops me will I be able to walk, should I take a cab somewhere and then walk? Don't know much bit would like to try it and could use pointers.

Hana

Ann1 -
Thanks so much for your reply. I will focus my efforts around Sant'Angelo. I am excited to visit Ischia - we spent a few nights on Capri on our honeymoon two years ago. It sounds like a wonderful relaxing destination with (hopefully) less tourists. We'll be without a car but I'm considering renting scooters - could be a great way to see the island.

GeoffHamer

I don't think you can go directly from Sorrento to Ischia in November. There are very few tourists around then and services are limited to the basic routes: to Capri from Sorrento and Napoli; to Procida and Ischia from Napoli and Pozzuoli.

wantagig

Geoff: I had never heard of these islands before! Where's Giglio?

When I was on Elba and Sardinia, people would speak to me in German. Not as many English speaking tourists on those islands either for some reason-except in Alghero, where Ryanair flys Brits in with bargain fares.

GeoffHamer

Giglio is the southern-most of the Tuscan islands, reached by ferry from Porto Santo Stefano near Orbetello.
The Isole Tremiti include two inhabited islands (San Nicola and San Domino) and are in the Adriatic Sea to the north of the Gargano Peninsula.
Ponza and Ventotene, off the coast of Lazio between Napoli and Roma, are also popular with Italians but almost completely ignored by foreign visitors.

Ann1

First to Geoffhamer: Yes, more Germans go to Ischia, but isn't that the best way to travel...away from your own kind? Yes, I think people go to places they've seen in newspapers, etc. Actually, Ischia has been in many movies...one being Cleopatra, another Avanti with Jack Lemon and many others. Yes there are other wonderful islands that Americans are missing. That's my point, to encourage people to go to "other places".
To rtly: November is a very quiet time on Ischia. You can take the aliscafo from Sorrento to Naples and then change to one to Ischia. Possibly at that time of the year you can take an aliscafo (jet boat) from Sorrento to Capri and then Ischia. There are buses, taxis, car rentals and vespa rentals. You can also hire a car and driver for the day. Sant Angelo is pretty much closed down by then, but the rest of the island is still very much open. Shops, restaurants, etc.....all open. Ischia is the largest of the three islands...Capri, Procida and Ischia

sera

Isn't it pronounced ee-SKI-ah?

Ann1

Here are some good websites:
www.ischiaonline.it
www.ischia.com
www.ischia.it

Ann1

Sera: Yes, you are correct. eee-ski-ah

GeoffHamer

It is pronounced EES-kee-ah, with the stress on the first syllable. In the Neapolitan dialect, the "s" is pronounced like an English "sh", so the locals say EESH-kee-ah.

Ann1

Correct again GeoffHamer. The locals do pronounce it like eesh-kee-ah. In the "proper" Italian it said the other way. Either way you say it, it's great.