The Hotel We arrived at the hotel and were greeted by Fillipo and a small dog called Jacqueline. Fillipo is the owner and appears to have members of his family helping to run the place, although we never saw much of them. He also seemed to be the only person who spoke English (and also German and Spanish!) so it might be worth brushing up on a few Italian phrases should you bump into another family member. Fillipo was very friendly and showed us a few places on the map that we might want to visit. It's worth pointing out that he helps with cleaning rooms and other chores, so the reception area isn't permanently staffed. The hotel itself is in the middle of the island, about 2km from the port. As others have said, unless you hire a car (scary narrow roads!) or take a taxi (expensive!), the best way to and from the hotel is the no. 6 bus. The nearest stop is 200m from the hotel outside Nik's bar, or 400m down the road at the terminus - which has the most amazing view out over the island to the sea. The bus was nearly always on time except for the 09:10 service which, although listed on the timetable, never showed up once. The hotel has WiFi and we got a decent signal both inside and outside - however, another couple said they couldn't get a signal in their room. Outside the hotel is a lovely pool which apparently is gently heated by volcanic activity. We found that the temperature varied depending on where you were and it certainly didn't feel warm! The pool area is very relaxing and has sun coverage pretty much all day. As for the surrounding area, there are a couple of points to note: first, the hotel is very close to a school, so if you go in term-time expect to hear the kids/teachers shouting and the pick-up at 2pm. Second, there is a really good supermarket up the road that stocks everything and anything you could want. The trick is finding it. (tip - it's underneath where you think it is. Look for some stairs going down.) The Room. No fancy key cards here - you get an old-fashioned metal key. We stayed in 104. Room was basic but clean, and our beds were turned down every morning by the time we got back from breakfast. We had a set of doors that opened onto a shared terrace - you'll get a view of a hill or the sea depending on which side you're on. We got the hill, which was surprisingly pretty. The bed was a decent size although firm. As we went in early May, the nights were quite cool so we found some extra blankets came in handy. There was a central heating radiator in the room but it wasn't turned on - I suspect it's only ever used in the depths of winter. The hallways outside are all tiled, and the walls aren't thick, so you can hear doors closing and people talking quite easily. While this might present an issue for the unprepared, the seasoned traveller will have a set of earplugs and thus sleep soundly. Bathroom was OK. The shower never really got hot but the pressure was enough to blow the shower head out of its holder a few times! There was a little desk, a wardrobe, and a small wall-mounted TV (watching Columbo dubbed in Italian was funny). The Food. This hotel operates a completely different system to what you might have experienced in other hotels. To put it bluntly: you get what you're given. Breakfast is traditional Italian - croissants, cake, jam, Nutella, juice, and coffee. Apparently, they'll do you a boiled egg if you ask. If you're expecting a full English/buffet laid out, you'll be disappointed. Evening meals are also traditional - a filling pasta course to start, followed by a simple protein with one veg, followed by fruit. Again, there is no choice on the menu - you get what's been cooked that evening. Over the week, we had pasta in tomato sauce, spaghetti with garlic, lasagne, a lentil soup, and a risotto. For the protein course, we had pork chops, meatballs, battered fish, veal cutlets (or was it pork?), roast chicken, and a single sausage. The veg was usually either potatoes or spinach. Fruit was either orange, banana, or kiwi. However, everything was well-cooked and quite delicious. There was also a big plate of salad (mainly lettuce) and some bread and oils, to which you can help yourself. I ordered a litre bottle of the local wine, which has a very distinctive taste of oak, volcanoes, and violets! Personally, I loved it but a nearby German couple sent it back in disgust. Other wines are available. You sit at the table numbered the same as your room, so any unfinished wine or water is left on your table for the next evening. We stayed half-board so can't comment on lunch but suspect it will be similarly basic. If you fancy something a bit more adventurous, there are a number of highly-rated restaurants tucked away in the hills nearby. Apparently, you can get them to pick you up from the hotel and bring you back. And, of course, there's plenty of food places elsewhere on the island. Summary All in all a good hotel with a few rough edges - something akin to a family-run B&B. As we were there at the beginning of the season, it was very quiet which suited us fine. The area itself is in the middle of nowhere, so it would be the perfect place to chill out for a week or two. As for us, we preferred to explore the island so it was nice to come back to this little haven in the hills away from the hustle and bustle of the Ischia towns. Fillipo was friendly, courteous, and helpful - and, if we ever come to Ischia again, we'll be sure to book a room at the Hotel Internazionale.…