Has anyone tried the thermal spa in Ischia? How is it compared to the japanese hot spring? <BR>Thanks

No idea what a japanese thingy is but I have tried a number of thermal spas on Ischia. The place I went to had about ten different spas, ranging from what resembled a small swimming pool then you move onto a small bubbling opaque pool that looks like a giant glass of alka-seltzer or headache relief stuff. <BR>Then one with stones on the bottom that hurt like hell, one with a waterfall to soothe the neck, one inside what looked like roman ruins, intentionally covered in dark algae so you didnt know if the pool was 6 inches or 7 feet deep and a whole host of others that I've forgotten.

Thanks Tony for replying. A japanese hotspring bath is a very hot bath. Since the water comes from the volcano it is full of minerals particularly sulphur. Once feels one's joints are loosened up instantly. My question is did the water there have such properties in Ischia you think? It sounds like a technical question but one could feel the water is different. Did you feel anything different afterwards?

My wallet felt a lot lighter. <BR> <BR>Seiously, I felt thoroughly invigorated afterwards, Mo, well worth an afternoon.

Thanks Tony. <BR>Another question: 99.9 % of the spa will be opened after easter, I will be there in mid march, are there any hot spring in the nature i could dip in? or are they always part of an established business kind of deal? I don't need any fancy treatments. <BR>ps I have called and asked the italian tourist board and they gave me a number to call in Ischia. They say the people will try to speak english to me. According to my timeout, it remarks 'Ischia's extraordinarily unhelpful tourist office.....'.I find this board usually more informative. I have overworked myself, a good soak will be great for my back. <BR>Thanks again

Mo, you don't say when you are going to Ischia, but just be aware that many of the spas take a long break for the winter. We were in Ischia late march in 1999 and could only find 1 hotel with their Thermal spa open.

Went to Ischia several years ago & enjoyed it enormously. We stayed at the hotel parco verde which had a mineral pool & old-style spa treatments. The best little treasure was "poseidon". spend the day there soaking up the sun & enjoying the 27 (yes, 27!) pools, even one called "japanisches thermalbad". It's a must!

Thanks Thyra and Lee for your reply. <BR>I will be at the amalfi coast between March 15th-19th. I could go any of those days to Ischia if any of the spas is opened. What I am getting at is that most of the spas are closed because the people who work there are still on vacation until easter.I don't need fancy messages and services, I just want to jump into any hole in nature( or man made) with mineral water in it. <BR>Lee, what's the difference between the 27 pool? Do they contain different waters? did you feel any difference in them? <BR>(sorry for asking such detail questions, I have had a bad back for awhile and I have benefit alot from thermal bath. It's kind of a personal indulgence to go to different parts of the world to do that).