Paradise

The view is beautiful, the owner is very kind, and breakfast was nice. But the way the front desk handled problems made our stay frustrating. Several issues that should have been fixed or explained in advance were left for us to discover. The booking-site message left out important public transport information. When I raised it, they argued that it must have been a problem with our reservation instead of fixing the message. The advertised WiFi didn’t work in our room, and a speed test showed it was no better in the common areas. Offering another room didn’t address the basic problem that the hotel didn’t provide the advertised adequate WiFi in every room. Showing me a phone to prove it worked didn’t help either. If a guest says the WiFi doesn’t work, it doesn’t work for them. The pillows were old clumps of polyester fluff in pillowcases, and they only replaced them after I complained. The shower door was very difficult to open and close, something housekeeping could surely notice. The listing said there was a shuttle to the main town, but didn’t explain that it couldn’t pick guests up or drop them off at the start. Most people would assume a hotel shuttle did that. We sent questions through the booking app after the outgoing message asked us to share our arrival time, but waited hours and never got an answer there. We had to call instead. The hairdryer they provided didn’t work. We also didn’t appreciate being made to feel bad for raising these problems. Saying they believed us, then printing photocopies of supposed proof, didn’t make us feel taken seriously. It felt like gaslighting. Finally, they sent the sweet older owner, who hardly speaks English, to make us explain all the problems again. We hadn’t asked to speak to him, and that felt manipulative and was very unwelcome. A sincere apology and a real effort to improve things for future guests would have felt like hospitality. Also, please use fitted sheets. I’ve never stayed anywhere else in the world that didn’t.

The views and pleasant staff were the highlights. The hotel, rooms, and grounds are dated, poorly maintained, and badly in need of renovation. Our supposed sea-view room basically looked out over a dumping ground. We skipped the restaurant because it didn’t seem like a pleasant place to eat and was expensive compared with nicer restaurants elsewhere on the island. We’d happily return to Ischia, but not to this hotel.

The staff are helpful and cheerful, and it’s a relaxing place for a getaway. You’re up on the mountain, so getting around means taking the bus, which works fine, or using the hotel shuttle. There are lovely views of the ocean, with Napoli and Vesuvius in the distance at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and the rooftop view is even better. The rooms are old and not luxurious, though they do have air conditioning. Breakfast could be improved, but lunch and dinner were very good. I highly recommend it.

The staff made this place for us. They’re so friendly and accommodating. The restaurant is worth going to for dinner, with some of the best food we had on the island, and breakfast was plentiful and delicious too. There are incredible views from the terrace over the ocean, by the pool toward the mountains, and from a great sunset spot. This hotel is amazing, and the best in Ischia by far!