- March 2020
- September 2019
- April 2019
- February 2019
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- March 2017
- December 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- October 2015
- June 2015
- March 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- March 2014
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- December 2012
SORRENTO & ISCHIA – MAY 2016
by nikki
For my trip to Italy we left Luton, my first pleasant surprise of the trip was just how quick it was to get to from Swindon, just an hour and a half! This was my first experience of Easyjet’s self-service check in, all very easy and efficient.
Sorrento was fantastic, great atmosphere, just lovely to wander around and take it all in, of course stopping for the traditional gelato (Italian ice cream), we found ourselves in Gelataria Primavera where they have lots of photos all over the walls/ceilings of famous patrons.
In my opinion the best hotel by far is The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, a beautiful property in lovely gardens right in the heart of Sorrento in Tasso Square. Having said that the hotel carries a high price tag, another option well worth considering is the Antiche Mura just a little further up from the square, again with lovely gardens or The Grand Hotel Favorita (where I stayed), great location, wonderful staff and an amazing rooftop pool and terrace area great for relaxing after a hard day sightseeing.
We took the tourist train around Sorrento to get our bearings, approx. 1 hour and saved the shoe leather, it was a nice way to put the resort in perspective. Although no traditional beaches, the bathing areas/grey sand beaches offer sunbathing facilities, usually involving the use of lifts to get down to them.
Due to our restricted time frame we were unable to visit the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, both of which are easily accessible by the local train on a do-it-yourself basis, this also gives you the option to spend as long as you like at the sites, an English guide can be hired locally if required. Pompeii entry currently 13€ and Herculaneum 11€. This was a bit of disappointment so I will definitely be going back.
Streetlife is great, lots of little alleys and streets to explore, selling olive oil, balsamic vinegar and of course Limoncello, the local famous tipple made with local lemons. Also on offer lots of handbags – and what a bargain, not expensive for the quality, I paid just 25 € for a lovely bag. On top of this loads of lovely places to eat, pavement cafes for a coffee or to just watch the world go by.
I would also recommend Sorrento for a short break as it was such an easy flight/transfer and has so much to offer.
Next stop – Ischia!
ISCHIA
I knew nothing of Ischia before my trip so had no idea what to expect, a ferry journey from Sorrento harbor taking around 1 hour and we arrived at the pretty port. You can also take the ferry directly from Naples.
Short transfer of around 15 minutes to our home for the next two nights – Grand Excelsior Terme, lovely hotel in a great location, a short walk took us the little streets of Ischia Porto with lots of very nice shops and restaurants. Ischia has a very slow pace of life and is all about taking it easy. The island is a very green and mountainous and home to the famous Mortello Gardens, the beautiful Aragonese CasCastled lots of thermal spas. Beaches on the island are also grey and most hotels have private beaches equipped with sunbeds.
Whilst on the island we also visited the lovely resort of Sant Angelo and the Miramare Hotel, such a pretty place and reminded me a little of Greece with whitewashed houses tumbling down the cliffs.
On an entirely different note – Gluten Free travelers will have absolutely no problems in either of these area, infact one of my companions said she had never had such a vast and varied choice.