Trip report - Naples, Ischia & Amalfi Coast
Jun 26th, 2007, 02:01 AM
#25
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Ischia can get windy (We were on a round trip in a boat and got stranded miles from our hotel) but is well worth a visit. The Punto Mulina is a great hotel and has a good spa. Their private beach is small but adequate for ones' needs. The food is good and reasonably priced in my view although Italy has got steadily more expensive since the introductio of the Euro.
A day trip to Capri is worth doing and the secenery of the borganvilla is breathtaking.
The gardens in Ischia are a must.
Hope that this helps
A day trip to Capri is worth doing and the secenery of the borganvilla is breathtaking.
The gardens in Ischia are a must.
Hope that this helps
Jun 26th, 2007, 04:39 AM
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Caroline, Since you first posted, my husband and I have visited Ischia (May 3- May 6).
Because of poor weather conditions, the hydrofoil wasn't running between Molo Beverello and Ischia Porto, so we ended up on the slow ferry (with a stop at Procida).
The Villa Durruell in in Ischia Ponte was perfect for us because of the not-so-perfect weather upon arrival. This lovely hotel has spa facilities, so we able to take advantage of a mineral water pool, steam baths, etc.
We needed a sweater/lt. jacket the first day om our walk into town, but when the weather cleared, and the sun came out, it was perfect.
We took a bus ride around the island, and commented how neat and orderly Casamicciola looked. I agree, Sant'Angelo is the prettiest village on the island. Our lunch at Il Neptune Ristorante overlooking the Sant'Angelo peninsula was memorable. BTW, we never encountered any strong winds.
We window shopped in Ischia Porto on a Saturday when it was active with tourists from the cruise ships. Actually, it was a nice change to see other people because Ischia Ponte was fairly quiet.
O Sole Mio Ristorante in Ischia Ponte was our favorite restaurant (down on the beach).
Because of poor weather conditions, the hydrofoil wasn't running between Molo Beverello and Ischia Porto, so we ended up on the slow ferry (with a stop at Procida).
The Villa Durruell in in Ischia Ponte was perfect for us because of the not-so-perfect weather upon arrival. This lovely hotel has spa facilities, so we able to take advantage of a mineral water pool, steam baths, etc.
We needed a sweater/lt. jacket the first day om our walk into town, but when the weather cleared, and the sun came out, it was perfect.
We took a bus ride around the island, and commented how neat and orderly Casamicciola looked. I agree, Sant'Angelo is the prettiest village on the island. Our lunch at Il Neptune Ristorante overlooking the Sant'Angelo peninsula was memorable. BTW, we never encountered any strong winds.
We window shopped in Ischia Porto on a Saturday when it was active with tourists from the cruise ships. Actually, it was a nice change to see other people because Ischia Ponte was fairly quiet.
O Sole Mio Ristorante in Ischia Ponte was our favorite restaurant (down on the beach).
Jun 28th, 2007, 12:58 AM
#28
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Hi ekscrunchy, thanks for your kind words.
We are currently in Venice after a week in Ischia, same hotel as last time. This time we did nothing except go to the beach, eat, drink & sleep !
It usually got a bit windy in the afternoon on the Sant'Angelo beach, but not too much. Last year we were there 2 weeks earlier & it was unusually cool, so the wind was a bit of a problem then but not this time.
Interesting to read your comments i_am_kane & glad you had a nice time.
We are currently in Venice after a week in Ischia, same hotel as last time. This time we did nothing except go to the beach, eat, drink & sleep !
It usually got a bit windy in the afternoon on the Sant'Angelo beach, but not too much. Last year we were there 2 weeks earlier & it was unusually cool, so the wind was a bit of a problem then but not this time.
Interesting to read your comments i_am_kane & glad you had a nice time.
Oct 1st, 2007, 02:57 PM
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Thank you for posting about your trip.
I loved my only stay (4 nights) in Ischia, too. We stayed in Casamicciola and it was the perfect location for us, but agree that Sant'Angelo is charming.
Our hotel - very eccentric and family-run place - prepared the tradtional rabbit for us at lunch one day. One of us is sure she heard a gun fire not long before lunch, but I think she is making that up for a better story...
Also loved the natural hot springs near Forio. A highlight of our trip.
There was a religous holiday when we were there (lapsed Catholic that I am, I can't remember which one, but beginning of June) and we loved the local celebrations and parades, complete with little tennis-shoe-clad girls in angel wings, multi-generational brass bands, and flowerpetal 'paintings' everywhere.
I loved my only stay (4 nights) in Ischia, too. We stayed in Casamicciola and it was the perfect location for us, but agree that Sant'Angelo is charming.
Our hotel - very eccentric and family-run place - prepared the tradtional rabbit for us at lunch one day. One of us is sure she heard a gun fire not long before lunch, but I think she is making that up for a better story...
Also loved the natural hot springs near Forio. A highlight of our trip.
There was a religous holiday when we were there (lapsed Catholic that I am, I can't remember which one, but beginning of June) and we loved the local celebrations and parades, complete with little tennis-shoe-clad girls in angel wings, multi-generational brass bands, and flowerpetal 'paintings' everywhere.
Oct 2nd, 2007, 12:45 AM
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Susan, you're welcome. Hi Annabelle, I love the rabbit story ! We must try & do more hot springs next time - all we've done so far is the Giardini Aphrodite-Apollon & I'd like to try somewhere more natural.
Oct 11th, 2007, 02:39 PM
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Some of the best food we had on Ischia was at our hotel - a very family-run place. When we arrived very late, after a huge Rome-Naples train delay and subsequent late arrival at Ischia, our hosts fired up their wood oven and made us fresh pizza. Some of the vegetables were from their on-site garden. Kind of made up for how completely wacky the hotel was!
Next time, do try the 'wild' hot springs - although with an adjacent cafe that lets you take your glass of prosecco right into the sea, pretty civilized. What makes them so fun is that the hot water just bubbles up from the sea floor.
You walk from the rocks into the sea and plop yourself down in the shallow water. Soon you'll find a surprisingly pleasant stream of hot water shooting up through the cool Mediterranean. Ahhh, bliss.
If Leonardo is still there (an eccentric aging hippie giving massages and facials)you can get a green thermal mud facial, right from the source. I bought a bottle of it from him and it is great stuff - not drying at all.
Next time, do try the 'wild' hot springs - although with an adjacent cafe that lets you take your glass of prosecco right into the sea, pretty civilized. What makes them so fun is that the hot water just bubbles up from the sea floor.
You walk from the rocks into the sea and plop yourself down in the shallow water. Soon you'll find a surprisingly pleasant stream of hot water shooting up through the cool Mediterranean. Ahhh, bliss.
If Leonardo is still there (an eccentric aging hippie giving massages and facials)you can get a green thermal mud facial, right from the source. I bought a bottle of it from him and it is great stuff - not drying at all.
Oct 12th, 2007, 01:16 AM
#36
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Hi Annabelle. Sounds great, especially the prosecco bit 
Can you tell me, please, how to find these springs, travelling by bus ? Is there a place name we could ask the driver for ? Thanks very much.
Can you tell me, please, how to find these springs, travelling by bus ? Is there a place name we could ask the driver for ? Thanks very much.
Oct 31st, 2007, 03:03 PM
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Caroline, I recall that it was past Forio, near someplace called Panza. I am sorry but I don't know the exact name of the bay. I think it is well-enough known; I bet if you asked the hotel they could help you out.(This is what we did; we then took a taxi there because it was a day of bus strikes on the island.)
After we were let out, by the side of the cliff, basically, we walked down a staircase (seemed that I read it was 200 stairs?) and there was a rocky bay with a small restaurant/bar. You can rent a lounge chair w/umbrella and hang out on the narrow patio area of the restaurant, or do what we did - spread sarongs and towels on the rocky shore for free.
Wear or take something like Teva sandals to make it easier to walk down the rough little 'pier' and then down into the shallow rocky bay.
The other bathers were a combination of tanned bikini-clad older Italian woman and their tanned bikini-clad husbands, Italian families, a few Germans and British bathers and a couple of Canadian girls.
We bought glasses of prosecco at the restaurant, which they let us take back to our spot. They were very friendly about letting us use their bathroom and tiny changing room, by the way.
Lovely, mellow day, just wallowing in the cool water looking for hot spots.
After we were let out, by the side of the cliff, basically, we walked down a staircase (seemed that I read it was 200 stairs?) and there was a rocky bay with a small restaurant/bar. You can rent a lounge chair w/umbrella and hang out on the narrow patio area of the restaurant, or do what we did - spread sarongs and towels on the rocky shore for free.
Wear or take something like Teva sandals to make it easier to walk down the rough little 'pier' and then down into the shallow rocky bay.
The other bathers were a combination of tanned bikini-clad older Italian woman and their tanned bikini-clad husbands, Italian families, a few Germans and British bathers and a couple of Canadian girls.
We bought glasses of prosecco at the restaurant, which they let us take back to our spot. They were very friendly about letting us use their bathroom and tiny changing room, by the way.
Lovely, mellow day, just wallowing in the cool water looking for hot spots.
Nov 1st, 2007, 08:06 AM
#39
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Caroline/ Annabelle - The Baia di Sorgeto, perhaps?
http://www.sorgeto.it/main_english.htm
http://www.eurogeopark.com/Bilder/Ge...rioSorgeto.jpg
Steve
http://www.sorgeto.it/main_english.htm
http://www.eurogeopark.com/Bilder/Ge...rioSorgeto.jpg
Steve
Nov 1st, 2007, 01:40 PM
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That's it, thanks Steve James! Although the guy applying the mud to the woman's face is not 'our' Leonardo. Leonardo is a wiry hippie guy - but probably the same age as the man in the photo...
The English translation (first link) is quite mind boggling, very similar to the English version of our Ischia hotel's website. I love Ischia!
The English translation (first link) is quite mind boggling, very similar to the English version of our Ischia hotel's website. I love Ischia!
