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Ischia Review is a complete guide to the island of Ischia in Italy written exclusively in English.
Aside from the information contained on the site we also offer services such as Private Transfers from Naples or Rome to Ischia, a door to door service where we'll get you to your destination safely and quickly.
Our other major offering is boat rentals and private boat tours around the island with English-speaking skippers available. We also offer taxi tours of the island and are generally here to help English-speaking visitors make the most of their visit to Ischia.
Aside from the information contained on the site we also offer services such as Private Transfers from Naples or Rome to Ischia, a door to door service where we'll get you to your destination safely and quickly.
Our other major offering is boat rentals and private boat tours around the island with English-speaking skippers available. We also offer taxi tours of the island and are generally here to help English-speaking visitors make the most of their visit to Ischia.
You can also use the site for travel information and a guide to accommodation with hotels, villas & apartments. Our Ischia Weather and Photo Blog gives an insight into life on the island and we also provide ideas and inspiration for things to see and do on the island. You'll find a a restaurant guide, cultural articles, information about thermal water, spas, excursions, and a gallery of original photos of Ischia.
HERE'S JUST SOME OF WHAT YOU CAN SEE ON ISCHIA REVIEW!
Covid 19 - Spring/Summer 2020Hello everyone! The world has changed dramatically since my last update in January. Back then life was fairly simple as we entered a new decade and cast our thoughts towards the upcoming tourism season.
Covid-19 struck Italy in late February and the country was caught on the hop as the virus silently spread among the population. By the time everyone realised what was going on, the genie was out of the bottle and wrought havoc throughout Europe and beyond. |
Castello Aragonese, Ischia
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We've all become well-versed in talking about "peaks", "lockdowns", "social-distancing" and "flattening the curve" in recent months and the Coronavirus remains a serious threat all over the world.
You'll have no shortage of news updates from your usual sources but I just wanted to appraise the current situation in Ischia, especially in light of the Italian Government's announcement to open the country's borders from 3rd June. From that date you'll be able to fly into Italy but importantly, there will be no requirement to self-isolate once you arrive in the country. This will only solve half the problem for many visitors who will subsequently be obliged to self-isolate upon returning to their own country, and therefore require a longer period away from work than would otherwise be necessary. This isn't necessarily a problem for everyone though with many people now able to work from home. I should add at this point (and will no doubt repeat this), that this is the situation as of today, 21st May 2020. As we've all seen, the situation can change very quickly in so many countries.
I'd like to respond to some questions I've been asked recently:
Is Ischia open for business and ready to accept tourists?
I am in no way a spokesman for the island and the opinions I express here are purely my own thoughts, given the news as it stands today. There is clearly still a very major threat caused by Covid-19 the world over and nobody should be taking this lightly at this stage. There are though, various positive signs that can provide some cause for optimism. First among those is the number of new virus infections in the country which currently stand at about 10% the rate they were at the peak of the crisis in the second half of March. To put the same point another way, the daily infection rate has reduced by around 90%.
Visitors to Ischia and to southern Italy in general, can also take heart from the fact that the vast majority of cases in Italy occurred in the north; regions such as Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna were among the worst hit, while the south escaped relatively unscathed.
If we wind the clock forward and assume (or perhaps pray) that the rate of infection will continue to drop at a similar trajectory, we can be optimistic that by the time the Italian borders do open at the beginning of June, that those new case numbers will be further manageable still. None of us know for sure what's going to happen or what effect the opening of the borders will have, but again there are some positive signs coming from countries such as Germany whose restrictions have been eased for a little while now.
How will tourism in Ischia look for the rest of this year?
There will be lots of differences, particularly in the short term, and things may feel quite strange for a while. Until a vaccine is produced, there will be some level of social-distancing required across the world and Italy is no different. There are some specific rules "currently" in place in Italy with regard to whom you can socialise with. If you take a taxi or a boat tour at the moment, you can only share the boat or taxi with people from your own household, and of course the driver/skipper. During this time you will be required to wear a face-mask and gloves, something that applies to any situation where you may find yourself in close contact with other members of the public.
A distance of two metres (possibly reducing to one metre soon) is required from people you don't share a house with and this has led to some changes in shops, but particularly in restaurants and on beaches. This week, shops, bars and restaurants were able to open with a number of measures put in place such as perspex screens, a reduced number of tables and one way systems implemented. Many shops will have learned lessons from the supermarkets that have been open throughout the crisis, while the bars and restaurants will perhaps have a more complicated task of trying to wrestle with the new rules while maintaining customer satisfaction and of course, safety. We have roughly two weeks before the borders open and during this time, one would expect business owners to learn and adapt to the restrictions as they evolve.
Will everything be open in Ischia this year?
The quick answer to this question is "no", as a number of hotels have already decided they will not be opening this year. The social-distancing restrictions required make it too difficult for some hotels to open and therefore, we'll see a reduced amount of accommodation available this year. None of the thermal parks have yet opened and it's possible that some or all of those will remain closed for the rest of the year but that hasn't been decided upon yet. Restaurants, shops and bars will be open, perhaps not all of them, but certainly enough of them considering the reduced numbers of visitors the island will be entertaining. Restaurants will have a reduced number of tables in order to adhere to the social-distancing requirements and bars will be able to welcome a smaller number of customers at a time for the same reason. The current advice on restaurants is that they must be booked in advance where possible but that may well change.
Will public transport be running?
Taking into account the reduced number of visitors, the services they'll require and of course the social-distancing, there will be fewer ferry and hydrofoil crossings to and from Naples, as well as a smaller number of buses running each day. Some of the popular hydrofoil routes such as Sorrento - Ischia have yet to be confirmed and it's likely that at least in the short term, visiting neighbouring islands such as Capri or mainland destinations on the Amalfi Coast may be more complicated or restricted.
Is there any good news?
Only the most optimistic among us can find any positives with the current situation but as I was writing some of the above, it did occur to me that some people may well be attracted by the reduced visitor numbers and the greater amount of space that will be available on beaches and in restaurants.
Everything can change.
I'm just adding this at the end to really hammer home the point that everything I've written above, is the situation as I understand it to be today, notwithstanding any updates that may have taken place today. Things will continue to evolve, not only in Ischia and Italy in general but throughout the whole world, so please do not take anything I've expressed here as a given, I'm merely trying to provide a quick snapshot of how things currently stand.
Any other questions?
I've tried my best to cover the main points of the Covid-19 situation above but if you feel there's something missing, please drop me a line via the email address below and I'll do my best to help.
So I'll leave it there for now; stay safe everyone, take care with what you're doing, keep a safe distance and keep washing those hands regularly. Who knows? We may just be able to look forward to some holidays in Ischia this year after all!
Dion Protani - info@ischiareview.com - Thursday 21st May 2020
You'll have no shortage of news updates from your usual sources but I just wanted to appraise the current situation in Ischia, especially in light of the Italian Government's announcement to open the country's borders from 3rd June. From that date you'll be able to fly into Italy but importantly, there will be no requirement to self-isolate once you arrive in the country. This will only solve half the problem for many visitors who will subsequently be obliged to self-isolate upon returning to their own country, and therefore require a longer period away from work than would otherwise be necessary. This isn't necessarily a problem for everyone though with many people now able to work from home. I should add at this point (and will no doubt repeat this), that this is the situation as of today, 21st May 2020. As we've all seen, the situation can change very quickly in so many countries.
I'd like to respond to some questions I've been asked recently:
Is Ischia open for business and ready to accept tourists?
I am in no way a spokesman for the island and the opinions I express here are purely my own thoughts, given the news as it stands today. There is clearly still a very major threat caused by Covid-19 the world over and nobody should be taking this lightly at this stage. There are though, various positive signs that can provide some cause for optimism. First among those is the number of new virus infections in the country which currently stand at about 10% the rate they were at the peak of the crisis in the second half of March. To put the same point another way, the daily infection rate has reduced by around 90%.
Visitors to Ischia and to southern Italy in general, can also take heart from the fact that the vast majority of cases in Italy occurred in the north; regions such as Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna were among the worst hit, while the south escaped relatively unscathed.
If we wind the clock forward and assume (or perhaps pray) that the rate of infection will continue to drop at a similar trajectory, we can be optimistic that by the time the Italian borders do open at the beginning of June, that those new case numbers will be further manageable still. None of us know for sure what's going to happen or what effect the opening of the borders will have, but again there are some positive signs coming from countries such as Germany whose restrictions have been eased for a little while now.
How will tourism in Ischia look for the rest of this year?
There will be lots of differences, particularly in the short term, and things may feel quite strange for a while. Until a vaccine is produced, there will be some level of social-distancing required across the world and Italy is no different. There are some specific rules "currently" in place in Italy with regard to whom you can socialise with. If you take a taxi or a boat tour at the moment, you can only share the boat or taxi with people from your own household, and of course the driver/skipper. During this time you will be required to wear a face-mask and gloves, something that applies to any situation where you may find yourself in close contact with other members of the public.
A distance of two metres (possibly reducing to one metre soon) is required from people you don't share a house with and this has led to some changes in shops, but particularly in restaurants and on beaches. This week, shops, bars and restaurants were able to open with a number of measures put in place such as perspex screens, a reduced number of tables and one way systems implemented. Many shops will have learned lessons from the supermarkets that have been open throughout the crisis, while the bars and restaurants will perhaps have a more complicated task of trying to wrestle with the new rules while maintaining customer satisfaction and of course, safety. We have roughly two weeks before the borders open and during this time, one would expect business owners to learn and adapt to the restrictions as they evolve.
Will everything be open in Ischia this year?
The quick answer to this question is "no", as a number of hotels have already decided they will not be opening this year. The social-distancing restrictions required make it too difficult for some hotels to open and therefore, we'll see a reduced amount of accommodation available this year. None of the thermal parks have yet opened and it's possible that some or all of those will remain closed for the rest of the year but that hasn't been decided upon yet. Restaurants, shops and bars will be open, perhaps not all of them, but certainly enough of them considering the reduced numbers of visitors the island will be entertaining. Restaurants will have a reduced number of tables in order to adhere to the social-distancing requirements and bars will be able to welcome a smaller number of customers at a time for the same reason. The current advice on restaurants is that they must be booked in advance where possible but that may well change.
Will public transport be running?
Taking into account the reduced number of visitors, the services they'll require and of course the social-distancing, there will be fewer ferry and hydrofoil crossings to and from Naples, as well as a smaller number of buses running each day. Some of the popular hydrofoil routes such as Sorrento - Ischia have yet to be confirmed and it's likely that at least in the short term, visiting neighbouring islands such as Capri or mainland destinations on the Amalfi Coast may be more complicated or restricted.
Is there any good news?
Only the most optimistic among us can find any positives with the current situation but as I was writing some of the above, it did occur to me that some people may well be attracted by the reduced visitor numbers and the greater amount of space that will be available on beaches and in restaurants.
Everything can change.
I'm just adding this at the end to really hammer home the point that everything I've written above, is the situation as I understand it to be today, notwithstanding any updates that may have taken place today. Things will continue to evolve, not only in Ischia and Italy in general but throughout the whole world, so please do not take anything I've expressed here as a given, I'm merely trying to provide a quick snapshot of how things currently stand.
Any other questions?
I've tried my best to cover the main points of the Covid-19 situation above but if you feel there's something missing, please drop me a line via the email address below and I'll do my best to help.
So I'll leave it there for now; stay safe everyone, take care with what you're doing, keep a safe distance and keep washing those hands regularly. Who knows? We may just be able to look forward to some holidays in Ischia this year after all!
Dion Protani - info@ischiareview.com - Thursday 21st May 2020
Friendly and professional taxi transfers from Naples and Rome to Ischia
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PRIVATE TRANSFERSWe offer a highly professional and reliable door to door transfer service that gets you from either the airport or the train station in Naples to your accommodation in Ischia by private taxi. We also offer a private yacht transfer service and transfers from Rome. We'll greet you at the agreed location, drive you to the port and provide you with the ferry or hydrofoil tickets before taking you on to your hotel, villa or apartment in Ischia. Drop us a line at info@ischiareview.com for more details, options and prices and we'll get straight back to you.
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ISCHIA HOTELSAre you planning to stay in Ischia but not sure where to stay? This is something we can really help with. Not only do we have every hotel in Ischia listed on the site with live prices, but we are also here to answer any questions or to give our opinion on any of the hotels in Ischia based on our knowledge and feedback from our clients. We provide advice about all types of accommodation in Ischia including apartments, villas, Bed and Breakfasts and everything else. For detailed, personalised (and free!) help, write to us at info@ischiareview.com and we'll get straight back to you.
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR HOLIDAY IN ISCHIA
HOW TO GET TO ISCHIAOur ferry & hydrofoil timetable & guide helps you plan your trip to Ischia and we also have guides on buses, train connections, taxis and crossings to and from Sorrento, Capri and the Italian mainland.
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WHERE TO STAY IN ISCHIAOur guide to accommodation in Ischia is the most comprehensive anywhere on-line with hundreds of hotels, villas, apartments, bed and breakfasts, agriturismos, hostels and campsites listed.
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WHAT TO SEE IN ISCHIAFrom Castello Aragonese to La Mortella Gardens, we have all of Ischia's must-see attractions listed with opening-times, prices and lots of other useful information and photos.
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WHAT TO DO IN ISCHIAThere are lots of different ways to enjoy yourself while in Ischia and here we give you lots of options from thermal parks to guided tours, wine tours, horse riding, cookery lessons and much more.
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WHERE TO EAT IN ISCHIAOur restaurant guide shows the very best places to eat out in Ischia with a price guide, photos and directions to each restaurant as well as hundreds of up to date photos and contact details.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT ISCHIAOur culture section includes the weekly blog "Ischia on Sunday" as well as a detailed events calendar, articles, Ischia's history, recipes, shop-opening times, emergency numbers and more besides.
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CAR, BIKE & SCOOTER RENTALWe recommend a number of approved suppliers across the island who are able to offer the best range of cars, scooters, bicycles, quad bikes, jeeps and electric bikes at the most competitive prices.
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ISCHIA BOAT RENTALHiring a boat is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Ischia and we have a large number of boats from small dinghies right up to luxury yachts and sailboats for rentals or excursions.
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