Via Antonio de Luca 70, Ischia Porto, Italy | (937) 315-4602
Big property in the center of Ischia
Clean rooms with minibars and large marble bathrooms
Next to the port and to tourist attractions
Outdoor and indoor thermal pools
Hibiscus Restaurant on-site -- full and half board packages available
Spa with health and beauty treatments
Modern fitness center
Five meeting rooms
Rooms are outdated
Crowds by the pool and at the restaurant
Food quality gets mixed reviewed
Charge for Wi-Fi
The Grand Hotel delle Terme Re Ferdinando, is a popular value option for middle-aged spa-goers. Originally built in the '60s, the hotel has 194 outdated rooms, but guests spend the majority of their time at the massive indoor and outdoor thermal pools, or at the spa for mud therapy and beauty treatments. Hibiscus Restaurant and a fitness center round out the amenities, but expect to pay extra for Wi-Fi. In more or less the same price range, the Aragona Palace Hotel, of the same local chain, offers similar services and location in a smaller structure.
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Scene
A large spa hotel
A garden lined path leads from a busy street just behind Ischia port to the hotel entrance. The architecture is typical of the 60s, with a citrus color palette and square, boxy angles. Entering the hotel, the guests find a huge lobby with a reading room filled with orange couches and art from local artists lining the wall. From the lobby, there's access to an external patio decorated with cacti and tropical plants, and to the outdoor thermal pool, often crowded, in a garden with pines and ferns. The outdoor space is used in the evenings for music and entertainment. The indoor thermal pool is located nearby, in an atrium-style greenhouse. Many of the guests are older couples, here to use the spa and swimming pools.
Location
In the center of Ischia
The hotel is just in the center of Ischia, five minutes walk from the port with the hydrofoils to Naples or to Capri. The area is lively, with shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Reaching the monumental Aragonese Castle is a 20 minute walk. Other villages in Ischia such as Forio or Sant’Angelo are reachable in 30- to 40-minutes by car. The hotel has parking lot in the back, but it looks a bit neglected.
Rooms
Out of date, but clean and with large bathrooms
Deluxe and Standard rooms are generally spacious, but look outdated and a bit plain. Faded floral curtains match the bedspreads, and pink striped wallpaper doesn't do much other than clash with the mauve carpet. Wicker furniture looks like it belongs outdoors, not inside. Bathrooms are much better, these are huge and include marble bathtubs and vanities, along with towel warmers. Minibars and tube-style TVs are standard, but expect to pay for Wi-Fi. Suites have a more contemporary style and flat-screen TVs, along with an extra sitting area. Some rooms overlook a service alley.
Features
Thermal pools, health and beauty spa, and Hibiscus Restaurant
The highlight of this property are the indoor and outdoor thermal pools, though they're often quite crowded with swimmers and sun-worshippers. The spa is a cut above the rest, it offers mud therapy, physical therapy, a Roman thermal bath, and a fitness center. Hibiscus Restaurant offers half and full board packages with fixed menus and a buffet. Past guests have reported inconsistency with the quality of the food and extra charges for espresso orders. Expect to pay for Wi-Fi.
