I have just seen an offer for the Grand Hotel Chiaia di Luna on Ponza. I want to go somewhere new in Italy end of August -beginning of September. I had never heard of Ponza but I like Italian islands,
Does anyone know the island? Is it easy to get around by public transport? or isn't there any? Would there be enough to do for 4 days?
Thanks

Spent a few September days there, back in 2000 - and very probably stayed in that same hotel. Don't recollect there being anywhere to go to that wasn't within walking distance.

We've never felt the urge to go return, whereas I hope to do so eventually to their neighbouring island, Ventotene, which we visited only fleetingly from here on Ischia.

For a few photos from them try...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/ventotene

And for way too many from Ischia, see...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia

Get your timing right and from, say, Anzio you can island-hop all the way down to Sicily - seeing Ponza and Ventotene, then Ischia, Procida and Capri, and as many of the Aeolians as you could wish for - putting your feet on the mainland just once, at Naples, for only as long as it takes to change from one hydrofoil to the next...

Peter

Hi Frances. Friends have been raving about Ponza to me for a few years and knowing our tastes (quiet & beautiful) assures me we'd love it. Sadly we haven't manged to fit it in yet but hope we will some time. I got the impression they just walked everywhere.

Two interesting replies. Why do you say you do not feel the urge to return Peter? Is it that you've enjoyed what there was but have seen all that it has? or that it wasn't nice? We spent a week in Lipari two years ago and I'd say the same but on the basis that I really enjoyed it - I've just done what there was there to do.
Hello again Caroline ( we have our first return to Edinburgh coming up on the 28th April since our daughter graduated and left for London. We'll be on the way to the Orkneys).Do you know whether we'd be handicapped and hotel bound on Ponza- without transport?

We visited Ponza about 10 years ago and stayed in a small pensione a short distance from the water and within walking distance of Ponza Port. The more developed areas of the island weren't as appealing to us as the open spaces, coast and beautiful blue/green water. We hiked around and hired a boat to circle the island.

Have you read the reviews of GH Chiaia di Luna on Tripadvisor.com? The most recent one (Sept. 2010) mentions a landslide affecting access to the bay in front of the hotel, and about 1/3 of the ratings are 'average' or worse.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...o.html#REVIEWS

Frances, the simple answer is that we didn't think much of the place!

Not their fault, but when we arrived (around September 15th) a big storm had just left everywhere in a bit of a mess, and it was far from warm enough to enjoy the beach or the sea...

Within 24 hours we felt we'd seen and done all that interested us, and regretted we weren't leaving sooner.

We like islands though, so the following year we tried again - but a little further south - with Procida and Ischia, and moved here in 2003!

Subequently we've made a friend in Rome who sails from Fiumicino, and Ponza is the ideal place and distance for her and her yachty friends to meet up in high summer - but for the landlubber it doesn't offer a lot more than the beach, sun and sea.

I'm sure that if all your require is a few days tranquil sunbathing and swimming - with good food and wine to enjoy - it will be fine, although it does seem that even if their tunnel is open again, the main Chiaia di Luna beach may still be out of bounds? The various websites are far from forthcoming on the subject!

As I said, of the two Ventotene - smaller still though it is - would be my preference, although you may of course be looking at completely the wrong group of islands?

Peter

PS - Don't know if you looked at those pictures, but it was very odd to go to that exhibition and discover that the island had been somewhat forcibly repopulated from Ischia. And even stranger to read in a friend's obituary that his ancestors had been amongst the first to 'escape' home many years later, once officialdom wasn't watching!

Hi Frances. I think my friends were just having a lazy beach holiday and wouldn't have been looking for much to do. One of them is quite unfit so they can't have walked anywhere challenging - they just sounded happy with their hotel & nearby village. I don't know where they stayed, though - somewhere quite upmarket I'd think, knowing them. I expect to see her on April 29th so could ask for more details then, if that's any good ?

I hope you have a nice time in Orkney & the weather is kind to you. Where did you end up choosing to stay ? You are driving presumably, are you ? We drove, staying overnight in Inverness en route but back in one go.

Well thank you for your really helpful responses which have answered the queries we had.
I don't think we are going to go to Ponza- the offer I had seen was for 5 nights but maybe some time in the future we shall make our own way there and we can then stay for the length of time we want to.
We are now looking at Calabria/ Basilicata.
Caroline we are booked in the Harbourside House in Stromness for two nights and then in their sister place The Shore in Kirkwall for the last night as we have an early crossing the next morning. We are driving all the way back in one day-Kirkwall - Anglesey!

Hope you had a good time in Orkney, Frances. Wow, that is some drive !!

P.S. Now realise it's next weekend - so hope you have a good time !