Hotel Giardino delle Ninfe e la Fenice - Ischia Ponte Ischia

Average rating:  7.7

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Nov 2007

A pleasant hotel, although much more inconveniently located than it appeared on the website. Admittedly, the view almost made up for this. The room was a bit cramped and dated (considering the price we paid). The staff were accommodating and friendly and the bottle of wine made by the owners which was given to us when we left was a nice touch. Overall, not bad, but slightly disappointing and overpriced.

Guest name: GM, United Kingdom

Average rating:  7.3

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

The hotel was in a lovely position with a great thermal pool, but the other swimming pool is a 'work in progress'(it's empty!) as is the 'beach'! There are newly constructed steps to a tiny beach with big rocks but no facitlities there at all, eg a bathing platform and hopeless for children.We skipped the supper after the first night - the hours of 7.45pm - 9.0pm were ridiculous!The staff were generally friendly and helpful, but the breakfast was not brilliant and finished at 9.30am (too early for a relaxing holiday!) They do have a new, impressive thermal spa treatment centre, which looks good.The bus stops right outside, which is very useful and the views are lovely.

Guest name: MA, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Mature couple

stayed in Aug 2007

We enjoyed our stay, although the hotel is quite away from everything. There was a bus stop in front of the hotel, but it was not near anything that you could walk to. The rooms were kind of cramped, but the view and deck were very nice.

Guest name: Helen Hills, USA

Average rating:  9.2

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Jun 2007

The room was awesome, it over looked the thermal pool, which was also very enjoyable and relaxing. It was difficult at times to get information from staff as only one of the receptionists had reasonable English, so if she wasnt on at the time, it took a while to communicate what you were after, but having said that we really enjoyed our stay, it was a beautiful hotel and located in a great spot, would highly recommend it to anyone want to stay at Ischia.

Guest name: Rowena Baker, Australia

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Sep 2006

OH WOW!!!! OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW!!!!! This was by far the best stay of my trip! Not only is Ischia a MUST SEE but Giardino is beyond belief in its beauty and service. The view from my balcony was stunning and the room was spacious, comfortable, clean and pretty. Apart from Venice this was the highlight of my trip! The value for money you get here is amazing! The thermal pool did wonders for a very tired body and the very kind receptionist made sure that I used it LOTS the breakfasts and dinners are a must do! This one comes HIGHLY recommended and I cannot wait to return with my husband for a truly romantic time. The only down side was that it was here that I missed my husband the most ;-)

Guest name: Rose Preston, South Africa

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Oct 2006

I loved this place. I had a fantastic view of the ocean. The owners where extremely kind to me. The food is the best, you can have dinner and lunch from a selected menu. Wonderful service. Plus it is a spa place so you have access to a mineral pool & Turkish bath. I had a massage and a facial, mud bath. Everyone was was wonderful. I will stay longer on my next visit. I was only there for 2 nights. I was in Italy for 28 days and this was my favorite hotel. It is a beautiful island which I look forward to exploring in the future.

Guest name: Takako Thorstad, USA

Average rating:  7.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Aug 2006

Rooms basic but very clean. Made to feel very welcome by the owners, we enjoyed!!

Guest name: PR, United Kingdom

Average rating:  3.9

Guest type: Young couple

stayed in Sep 2006

Cheap hotel, does not deserve 3 stars. Bathroom is very poor. Cheap furniture. Far from center. Personnel is not nice at all. Price is too high for what you get.

Guest name: Melanie Jenzer, Switzerland

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Family with older children

stayed in Jul 2006

The staff was very polite and tried to do everything within their means to accomodate our requests. However, most of them did not speak much English so getting a point across was very difficult at times. We only had one problem with our stay. The reason we selected this hotel is because they have ADSL Internet connection listed as one of the room features. However, after we checked in, our room did not have an Internet connection. We saw that the hotel had Internet service available in the lobby, but on the website, it did not have the word "surcharge or fee" that I had seen in other hotels I saw on the Venere web site. So, even though our room did not have Internet access, we decided to stay in the hotel and use the computer in the lobby. It wasn't until we checked out that we discovered that we were charged for accessing the Internet, every time we used the lobby computer. I (husband) am a college professor and one of the most important deciding factors we considered when selecting a hotel for our vacation was that I needed instant and regular access to the Internet to teach one of my online courses. There were other hotels that had cheaper rates but no Internet access, but we passed them up and selected this hotel in order to have Internet access in our hotel room. This hotel is advertised on your site and as such, that service would be included in the rate for my room. The view from the upper levels was breath-taking, but be prepared to walk up through the hotel and up the side of a hill (more than 175 steps) to get to your room to enjoy that view! We would not recommend those rooms to older people of people with physical limitations.

Guest name: John Hedly, USA

Average rating:  8.7

Guest type: Single traveller

stayed in Jul 2006

L'Hotel ha una vista stupenda sul castello Aragonesi e su tutto il golfo di Napoli. Credo che sia uno fra i migliori per il tipo di vista di tutta l'isola. Assolutamente silenzioso è ottimo per chi vuole riposare. Il ristorante è di buon livello e il servizio è buono. Personale sempre disponibile e atmosfera molto famigliare. Ben collegato alla centro con bus. La zona dell'Hotel è bellissima e il mare è veramente limpido. Ci ritornerò sicuramente se i prezzi non aumenteranno oltre. Migliorie: il giardino è molto bello ma poco curato, si potrebbe farlo diventare veramente una nicchia di relax coi fiocchi. Il centro benessere offre qualcosa di interessante ma in rapporto ai prezzi proposti dovrebbe essere gestito con maggiore professionalità. ( trattamenti troppo superficiali, tempi dei massaggi ridotti rispetto alla media ). Sarebbe bello ci fosse anche una piscina fredda oltre a quella calda termale per alternare durante le giornate calde.

Guest name: MC, Italy

Average rating:  7.1

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jul 2006

I enjoyed my stay there very much. My room was quiet, the food good. I used the big garden with the view of the castle and the sea a lot and was mostly on my own there. I would like to spend my holidays at the hotel again because the view from the terrace where we had dinner was breathtaking.

Guest name: Gisella Muthny, Germany

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Couple with children

stayed in Apr 2006

Accomodation, meal and service was top notch. Staff was extremely helpful. Dining facility was run by 5 a star chef. It was awesome to just be part of the experience. I will definitely go back and recommend highly to others.

Guest name: Annabelle Farooqui, USA

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2006

We enjoyed certain aspects of our stay very much. The view was breathtaking and the food in the restaurant was incredible for the price. On the downside, they charge you (alot!) for everything else above your room and the room was very musty and gave me allergies. We enjoyed our stay, but I'm not sure if I'd make an effort to return to this particular resort.

Guest name: AC, Italy

Average rating:  7.5

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Mar 2006

This hotel seems quite charming at first glance and indeed an idyllic place to stay from the photos, descriptions, and reviews. However, it's visual charm was easy to forget with the unaccommodating staff. Perhaps the service is better during the high season. There was a gruff little man who ran the dining room: When we went down to the modest breakfast, we chose a table near the window to enjoy the view of the castle. There was only one other couple eating there at the time and twenty or so empty tables. The man saw our choice by the window and directed us, instead, to a table in the center of the room by placing a wooden block with our room number on it on the table. Now maybe these blocks would be more helpful if we were in the middle of the high season (or on a cruise ship) but I felt this treatment was unnecessary for such a small number of guests. When we needed a little assistance for finding a company to rent a motorino for the day, the reception hostess, after much discussion, eventually handed us the yellow pages, and even that was in a reluctant manner. It wasn't as if there was a language barrier either: my boyfriend speaks Italian well. The view of the Castle Aragon is gorgeous and the house wine, Epomeo, named after the tallest mountain on Ischia, has a label that mirrors the view. I don't recommend eating here, though, for anything but the complimentary breakfast. There is too much good food to be had for lunch and dinner at other locales around the island, so do your research. The room itself was not spacious, (we had a double superior) but it did have a large balcony. Take a bus from the port: There's a stop right in front of the hotel. A taxi ride for the short distance will cost you around 16 Euro. Also, if you plan on exploring the island, consider renting a motorino or car and seeking out the villages on the south side of the island (Barano and Serraro Fontana) for a quaint, old-world experience.

Guest name: Deanna Breglia, USA

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Jul 2005

Overall nice but not all that close to where the shops and restaurants are. Got very tired of waiting for the buses which only came 1 or 2 times an hour. The view was beautiful but without your own transportation it is too far.

Guest name: KW, Italy

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Sep 2005

The view from my balcony window was fantanstic. The hotel is near Ischia Ponte and the balcony overlooks the sea with a view of Castello Aragonese (castle built in the 12th century) The cost of my room included a buffet style breakfast served out on the terrace. Employees Monica and Rosy speak English and were very helpful. - Just a note, not every room has the view I had, for that view, ask for a room in Le Fenice. There are stairs to climb to get that view.

Guest name: Melanie Freeman, USA

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Jul 2005

An okay place with some great views, although the uphill climb to the upper rooms is, at best, quite daunting.

Guest name: Paul Skvaril, USA

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Oct 2004

I especially enjoyed the quality of the meals offered at the hotel. The cuisine was on the traditional side and very well prepared. The view from our terrace was great: The island with the castle was directly in front of the hotel.

Guest name: Michel Berner, Switzerland

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Sep 2004

Wonderful place with a beautiful view...

Guest name: AM, Germany

Average rating:  7.8

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Jun 2004

The views from this hotel are picture perfect. It is a shame we had such hassle from the staff. You are forbidden from bringing in your own water, juice or any food, which obviously we refused to comply with. I think perhaps because we were a group of young(ish) women they thought they could tell us what to do. However, rooms spotless and breakfast good. And Ischia is absolutely stunning. Fine as a base as right beside a bus stop for the port.

Guest name: MG, United Kingdom

Average rating:  4.4

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Aug 2003

The web site stated all rooms were sea view with air conditioning, on arrival we were charged extra for both.

Guest name: JK, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.4

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Jun 2004

Excellent location. All rooms have excellent views of the sea. This is a cliff-top hotel with lots of steps to the rooms. If you don't like steps tell the hotel in advance.

Guest name: Esther Garrity, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in May 2004

My girlfriend and I had a great time at this hotel. The view from the room balcony was beautiful. The hotel staff was excellent...& very helpful. The only downnfalls, which were minor, was space in the rooms and the complicated way to and from the port...but after you drive around a few times you pick it up!!! Overall, the staff and the hotel was excellent!

Guest name: Nicholas Macias, Italy

Average rating:  6.3

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Apr 2004

friendly hotel and nice receptionist and waiter. Toilet door wouldnt close and had to pay extra for towels to go in swimming pool.

Guest name: NL, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.8

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Apr 2004

La linea del telefono non funziona, ma la colpa non e' vostra. Mi piace tornare il anno prossimo con le mie amiche, se possibile. Grazie ancora per il vostro servizio. Marion Cerui

Guest name: Marion Ceruti, USA

Average rating:  9.6

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Mar 2004

I absoultly loved this hotel! The staff was very friendly and helpful. It is very easy to reach by bus. I would recommend paying for full board because the food they offer is wonderful. This hotel is a true gem for the price.

Guest name: Diann Panozzo, USA

Average rating:  6.5

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Sep 2003

Frist night a room up 147 steps and very steep in a villa which i did not book.I would not return to Ischia although the hotel was not too bad i should have stayed in Sorrento because the things i wanted to see were on the mainland. Which was i hour away by ferry. I recommend you book a more expencive hotel. I found Italy very expencive and will not return.

Guest name: Brendan Keenan, United Kingdom

Average rating:  9.0

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in Sep 2003

The hotel was nicely situated away from the city center, overlooking a gorgeous bay. The rooms were nice, staff friendly, and I lucked out in getting a great balcony, but at the cost of having to walk up many, many flights of stairs to rooms they have in houses direcly above the hotel. The restaurant in house is very good, and a good value for the money. Pool was nice, bus connections very easy, and price very reasonable. I'd be happy to stay there again!

Guest name: Marylee Polino, USA

Average rating:  8.1

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Sep 2003

I Had a nice stay in this hotel had to upgrade the room because the room we picked had no air con and no view we had to pay a supplement for the upgrade of 20 per night. i would recommend this hotel there is a bus stop just outside the door but the staff dont speak any english at all so that was disappointing do any english speaking people stay here at all?? would recommend it and stay here again though rooms are small

Guest name: Declan Moriarty, Ireland

Average rating:  4.2

Guest type: Group of friends

stayed in Jul 2003

Firstly, we are offered to pay 10 euro each extra for having air-conditioned and water viewed room. This is OK, however, the option should be provied when we choose the room on web site, I think. Secondly, service of the restrant was bad. Actually, this was 2:30pm, so we did assume that the lunch time was over and confirmed with the reception of the matter in advance. The lady at the reception has strongly recommended us to take lunch there, however, we could not get any meals besides salad. We were not happy at all.

Guest name: TA, USA

Average rating:  5.5

Guest type: Gay Couple

stayed in Jul 2003

The actual views of the bay, after being upgraded at a pice! when the internet booked room 2wasn't available2 so it was no aircon, or pay an extra €60 for 3 nights. The view in the end was worth a million bucks, and i am pretty sure it was wirth all 260 stairs to get to the room each time. But the beach was ideal, and despite the extra cost and the feeling I was paying 4 star prices for location and getting 2 star service. The evening meals in the half baord were pretty average so I would recommend bed and brekfast and then elsewhere for the evening. Despite all this it was a good place to kick back and get away from it all.

Guest name: SL, United Kingdom

Average rating:  8.6

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jul 2003

This was a lovely place to stay. The view from our room was breathtaking. My only complaint (negative comment) would be the level of English spoken/written. It seems to be geared to German speakers with very little English on either the menus or the literature in reception. They need to get better at this 'cos I'll be recommending this place to everybody in Ireland. This however was a very minor annoyance in what was otherwise a perfect stay.

Guest name: Theresa O'Brien, Ireland

Average rating:  6.9

Guest type: Family Group

stayed in Jul 2003

We had difficulty at first as our triple room we had requested was really a very small quad, with ants in the shower, since we had a dog we had to move to another room the next day. The second room was much larger and had a beautiful view of the Castello and ocean, with airconditioning, and balcony(for a supplement of 10euros per person per day)I recommend taking advantage of their full or half board as the restaurant which services the hotel is excellent. Breakfast was also very good with fresh and hot croissants. We loved the small beach that was located behind the "Ninfea" hotel and restaurant next door to the Giardino della ninfe. Just a little tricky for older people since it is a couple of flights down some twisty stairs outside. All in all a nice stay and would probably return.

Guest name: Michelle Bellantoni, USA

Average rating:  9.1

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jun 2003

The hotel has a fabulous view of the Castello Aragonese island surrounded by sailboats. The room was very small but had a great view from the balcony. Dinner and breakfast was excellent, the staff really makes you feel at home. They were very helpful and attentive to our every need. We did not want to leave and ended up staying one extra night. Upon leaving, the proprietor presented us with a bottle of Lemon liquor. There is also a small beach within steps of the hotel. Just go thru the restaurant that is adjacent to the hotel and go down the steps to reach the beach.

Guest name: Yaofen Ho, USA

Average rating:  9.7

Guest type: Single leisure traveller

stayed in May 2003

Several things I appreciated: Very few traffic noise as the hotel is at the end of a dead end road. Public bus station in front ot the hotel with frequent service to Ischia centre. Beautiful terrace for all meals with view on the sea and the Aragonese castle. Dinner can be recommended especially for fish dishes and the daily excellent vegetable buffet.

Guest name: MS, Germany

Average rating:  7.1

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Oct 2002

We had the feeling we are staying in youth-hostel, where we had to say when we are coming and leaving... The staff is not very friendly, if you´re not using their halfboard offers and they asked why we don´t use it. Wasn´t that our decision, I think yes! The garden, the pool and all the surroundings are really beautiful!

Guest name: Christiane Mueller-Haye, Germany

Average rating:  10.0

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in Sep 2002

The view from this Hotel is amazing. It sits on a hill overlooking the island and the Bay of Naples. The customer service was impeccable. The breakfast was very good. They have a lovely pool filled with water from the island's hot springs. I would highly recommend this property, especially considering the excellent price.

Guest name: Lorrin Freeman, USA

Average rating:  5.5

Guest type: Not Specified

stayed in May 2002

We were not given the type of room we had booked and the room we had was very small with an ant problem. Had much difficulty communicating with staff. Many unrealistic rules at this hotel and would not stay here again.

Guest name: BC, New Zealand

Average rating:  7.9

Guest type: Heterosexual Couple

stayed in Jun 2002

The hotel staff were extremely kind and welcoming and the most beautiful part of the hotel has to be the peaceful gardens where you can really relax. We had a nice view from the balcony and probably the only slightly disappointing thing was that the swimming pool was not in use and the rooms were very small.

Guest name: Cheryl Chesters, United Kingdom