Villa Le Magnolie

The view from the hill over the sea is magnificent. The rooms are comfortable but minimally furnished, and the sulfur-water Turkish bath is good. The pool is small, and breakfast is adequate. There’s a shuttle, though it seems to cost €2 per person even though it’s presented as a tourist tax. The sea is about 1 km down a downhill road, while the website says 350 meters.

The prices are reasonable for the place, and Claudia, the owner, was very kind on the phone and did her best to accommodate me. It’s worth pointing out that the property’s name is ISCHIA DREAM SUNSET, not the one shown in the listing. The IDS is a B&B in a quiet area, arranged more like a small village around the shared facilities than a standard building with services spread around it. Breakfast is international and has plenty to choose from, with the excellent and always present Rosario, the manager, looking after guests. There’s a heated outdoor pool, an emotional shower, a sauna, and a Jacuzzi, all with a spectacular view. Free private parking is available too.

I stayed at Villa Le Magnolie Hotel last year, and was disappointed to find it so neglected this time. The bathroom had not been cleaned when we arrived, especially the extremely dirty toilet. The dirty, broken seat cover was replaced when we asked. The faucets are heavily scaled and hard to turn. The thermal pool was dirty and encrusted, not warm enough, and full of chlorine. Breakfast was poor, with discount-store packaged food, and there wasn’t enough for all the guests. The staff seemed neither trained nor professional.

There’s a range of places to stay, from rooms to studio apartments, plus a pool, whirlpool, and foosball table. It’s peaceful but still close to shops and not far from Forio’s center. The service is courteous, and rules around distancing, masks, and so on were respected.