Aragona Palace Hotel & Spa

The staff made us feel very welcome and went out of their way to help. We asked for extra pillows and got them; they also brought glasses and a corkscrew so we could have wine on the balcony. They recommended some excellent restaurants, and gave us discounted entry passes for Gardenia Poseidon and Terme. Our room was large and the bed comfortable, with a lovely view of the port. The shower had great pressure. From the ferry, it was an easy six-minute walk with our luggage, and the bus station was close by for getting around. We'll stay here again when we return.

The staff are what I’ll remember most about Aragona. Jelena and Kiara, though I may have the spelling wrong, helped us with restaurants, directions to a bank, and how to send a parcel in Italy. They also worked around my vegan breakfast requests. Martina, the chef, and the young bartender were lovely too. By the end of our four days, they felt like friends. I’m sad to leave these wonderful Ischians. The pool terraces have beautiful views across the harbor, and our room was spotless. Extra towels arrived within minutes when we asked. I hadn't expected much, thinking the hotel might be dated and basic, but it had an authentic old-world charm and a simple, unfussy feel. We booked partly because it’s right by the port when you get off the ferry, and we were glad we did. My partner usually doesn't bother leaving feedback, but we both wanted to praise the team. A little more fruit at breakfast, plus vegan milk or yogurt for the granola, would be nice. If you like pastries, though, they have a huge variety. Thank you all, you were fantastic!

We spent 12 nights here and loved our stay. The room was spacious, well equipped, spotless, and had a great view. Housekeeping did a tremendous job. We enjoyed both thermal pools, and I had a great massage while my husband loved his first pedicure. There were lots of delicious options at breakfast. The location was great too. We'd happily come back.

Watching the boats from our top-floor Deluxe Terrace Harbour View room over drinks was lovely, but the harbor side gets very noisy at night. Large ferries stay moored with their engines running all night, and the cocktail bar across from the hotel plays loud outdoor music from 4pm until late every day. We could hear both with the door shut and earplugs in. Breakfast was mostly very sugary pastries and cakes. There wasn't enough sliced fresh fruit, the cheese and meat selection was tiny, the yogurt was thin, and the coffee tasted like instant powder. The indoor spa pool seemed due for maintenance and an upgrade, and the sauna wasn't hot enough. A bit disappointing, though the value was okay overall.