We lived in the Naples area from 1990-2004 and came by the Solemar Hotel by chance. Off/in season, we would ferry to Ischia and spend the day on the little beach next to the Solemar and then on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends we would stay at the Solemar. Comfortable rooms, many with a scenic water view (especially the upper two floors), excellent food (buffet style), your choice of B&B or half board, pleasant staff, pool, sauna and with a large, clean beach. The hotel is within easy walking distance to Porto di Ischia, numerous other restaurants, coffee shops, nightclubs and shops. August is when most Italians take their vacation and so Ischia becomes an Italian destination but at other times of the year, many of the travelers staying at the Solemar and on the island, are German or at least Central European. Capri is a nice day trip; Ischia and the Solemar Hotel are where you will relax in comfortable, clean and safe environment.

We arrived at Ischia Porto on the hydrofoil from Naploli for a 10 day stay at the Hotel Solemar Terme. We had been monitoring Ischia’s weather using the WeatherOnline internet site and a web cam actually situated on the hotel’s roof, so already had great anticipation of our holiday on the Mediterranean island.

We discovered the Hotel Solemar Terme through a tailor-made package with Citalia Holidays and the hotel lived up to their exacting standards. A minibus collected us from the busy port for an exciting ride meandering through the one-way streets of Ischia Town to our contrastingly quiet seaside hotel.

We were warmly welcomed inside from the narrow street to the Reception Desk, and whilst formalities with passports took place, our luggage was taken to our rooms. Finished in marble, wood and comfortable green soft furnishings, the lobby also contained a computer booth for guests to connect to the internet, and a secluded bar area in which to relax after a hard days sightseeing.

The hotel has two wings designed in an ‘L’ shape around a terrace and 2 swimming pools, one of which is a thermal pool for which you are requested to wear a bathing hat. The Solemar Terme also has a health and beauty spa which we did not get time to experience this time.

Our party had reservations for 3 twin rooms on a half-board basis. One room was side onto the sea and the second facing the sea, both with reasonable sized private balconies and excellent views out to the warm, clear sea with the boats and ships passing in the distance. The third was a standard room at the rear of the hotel with a window opening to small balcony. All 3 rooms had air conditioning, were tastefully furnished and decorated, and serviced to a high standard by the efficient and friendly domestic staff.

The private, clean, sandy beach is only a few steps from the hotel’s terrace, across a quiet cul-de-sac service road. Deckchairs are usually free to guests, but charges for reserving sun-beds and umbrellas may apply to some holiday packages. The area is managed by the bagninos who also run a first class beach café serving refreshments ranging from cold drinks through to an excellent cooked sea-food platter!

Warning! Leave enough room for eating in the hotel restaurant! The spacious air-conditioned restaurant is on the lower ground floor with windows to one side and mood lighting concealed in feature recesses to the other. Guests in smart casual dress are welcomed by the Maitre d' and directed to the salad bar to choose from extensive display of mouth-watering anti pasta and starter dishes. The excellent main and pasta courses (of your choice from the Table D'hôte menu that morning) are served at your table by the genuinely warm and friendly waiters. On two themed evenings per week your meal can be enjoyed to a background of live music. The Solemar Terme has a good range of local wines and liquors and, after dessert, you can retire to the terrace or lounge to order coffees and drinks from the bar, where the musician continues his portfolio for themed nights by playing the electronic piano.

In the morning you can waken (hopefully not by a mechanical noise problem with the lift as was the case when we were there!) to partake of a sumptuous continental breakfast with an additional choice of eggs and fresh fruit. A new day and you can enjoy The Solemar Terme all over again!

Must do's and places to visit: Island Tour by Boat, Gardens of Poseidon, Ischia Porto in the Evening, Evening Retail Therapy in Ischia Town, Bus Around the Island (day ticket), Giardini La Mortella, Ischia Ponte and Castello Aragonese.

The trip to Ischia was very rewarding. Hotel Solemar offered exeptional good service, very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. The food was excellent and plentiful including lots of delicious dishes. The beach was nice and clean; fango treatment very good. The hotel is very close to Porto and Information office. In addition to the warm sea, fango treatments etc. the island offers a variety of other attractions and cultural life.