Ischia Porto

The towns of Ischia Porto and Ischia Ponte are great little towns that are within easy reach of ferries from Sorrento or Naples, aka Napoli.  Our group went there in June and it was very nice, even though it was a bit hotter than normal for that time of year.  Just FYI, Ischia is not for everyone.  It's helpful to come here knowing some Italian and be open to their culture. This island is not as touristic like towns of Positano, Sorrento, or the island of Capri.  Knowing "Italian for travelers" really helps as not as many folks speak English here.  Seeing a more typical Italian location can be a why to visit if you want to venture away from places where more tourists go.

Shortly after getting off of the ferry in Ischia Porto you might notice the Parrocchia di Santa Maria di Portosalvo church.  It's a great place to quietly enjoy the shade, pray, contemplate the meaning of life, and wait for your check in time at your lodging place.

Very close to there is where you can find one of the best club sandwiches on the planet.  Bar Calise makes excellent sandwiches and okay maybe we were hungry after the ferry ride.  They were super good though!  Also, you might spot one of the fun local three wheeled taxis.

Walking to the apartment that we found on booking.com felt like a bit of a trek with our luggage, the heat, and the noise from the traffic.  The apartment was spacious and decent overall but not in the greatest area for noise and it was up a hill from the town.  It also had a leaky toilet and a funky shower but hey it worked.

There's a great beach nearby called Spiaggia di San Pietro with a pretty big public / free section and also private sections with loungers and such.  If you're up for chatting with locals, if the opportunity arises, then the free sections are nice and you get to see how some of the local families spend their free time.  There are some spectacular flowers in the area too if you're there in the summer.

If you're looking for a refreshing and sweet treat to beat the heat then check out Bar Gelateria De Maio.  We visited there a few times!

The Castello Aragonese d'Ischia is on this side of the island as well.  It's a bit of a walk if you're staying close to the port.  There are great views from up by the castle from different points along the paths.  Good shoes and a cooler time of day would be advisable for when to visit.

Lunch near the castle was a fun highlight after hiking around in the heat.  We stopped in at 

‘aParanza Sea Restaurant and were not disappointed with the food or service.  It was all great as was the location and view!

I hope you've enjoyed this short introduction to the Ischia Porto side of the island of Ischia.  Coming up in a future post I'll cover Forio and Sant'Angelo as well.  Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to leave a comment or question below.

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  John 3:16 ✝

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Prominent Positano, Italy

 What to say about Positano in 2022?  Here's what a famous author said many years ago.

"Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone." John Steinbeck

I would say these days that Positano can still be great.  The views are amazing, the hoards of tourists maybe not so much.  Okay, I haven't met each one individually but you get what I mean.

When my lovely travel companions and I visited there we made the mistake of using a crowded Sita bus both ways to travel from Sorrento.  We didn't learn on the way there for some reason. ;)  Ferry or hiring a driver might be a better option for you just FYI.

Our goal was to relax and enjoy the beach.  We did just that!  Where might you ask?  It was at Arienzo Beach Club.  So, it's a bit of a "we're going to treat ourselves" today type of deal but fun and relaxing.  We bought the Arienzo basic package "€65 per person we offer you: • Beach access: one sunlounger, one towel and one umbrella (per every two sunloungers), wifi, music, beach service, use of changing room, shower and toilet; • A bottle of mineral water; • Beach Lunch: an appetizer, a main course  from the a la carte menu, as well a glass of wine and a coffee; • Complimentary shuttle boat service; • This package has a value of €82 discounted by 20%"

It made Positano feel a bit like Steinbeck's quote.  Okay, sure there's ways to get away from the crowds and do that for less but it was fun for something different.  Arienzo Beach Club had a good lunch, was relaxing and fun, and felt like a great way to enjoy a day in Positano.  We eat, swam, drank straight espresso, listened to the DJ, and just relaxed on the loungers...

Have you been to Positano before?  What did you like and not like?  Feel free to share in the comments.  Ciao.

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P.S. This blog uses some affiliate links so that I can keep bringing you great independent content.

 

  John 3:16 ✝

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Sorrento, Italy: land of lemons, lavish vistas, and loud motor scooters

Myself and three others spent three nights in the wonderful destination of Sorrento, Italy.  It's only about an hour drive, or bus ride, from Naples, or Napoli.  Sorrento is a great location because of its proximity to the Amalfi coast and other locations like Capri, Pompei and Ischia reachable by ferry or train.

For those new to Italy the sheer amount of activity and noise can take a bit of getting used to.  Loud motor scooters, needing to fend for yourself as a pedestrian, and trying to power through the jet lag can feel like a lot.  If you're able check into your lodging, take a short twenty minute nap, and then go get some food and explore!  Casa Dominova de Luxe was our spot right in town with a superb host as well.

Sorrento isn't huge and even if you get lost exploring you can find your way back or ask a local, "dov'è l'hotel ...".  One way we found a recommended gelato spot called Accademia was just by wandering around and following our noses.

The food here is quite good overall.  Blu Water was our first stop and the food and service did not disappoint.  The coffee bar to visit is Bar Vittoria.  It has excellent coffee in a nice location next to Piazza Sant'Antonino. Was nice to visit here and see locals coming in for their morning coffee and / or pastry too.

The public beach at Marina Grande is not bad if you want to cool off on a hot day.  It can get a bit crowded with all the tourists in Summer though.  There are paid beach spots too if you'd like a cozy lounger by the sea.

For connecting to other spots on the Amalfi coast like Positano I would recommend considering a ferry, tourist bus, or private car hire.  The local SITA buses can get you around but can get rather crowded and uncomfortable (picture standing and holding onto a pole on a winding coastal road).

A great, and not so touristy, place to visit is the island of Ischia.  Watch out for future posts about that wonderful island that's just a short ferry ride away from Sorrento or Naples.

Overall Sorrento is a great place to visit and a good home base for exploring places nearby too.

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Prepping for a trip to Italy

Why Plan?

Planning for a trip to Italy can be fun but it can also seem like a lot.  If you use resources that are out there then it can really save a lot of time and stress.  That way when you get there you can spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying your trip! Perhaps this photo from Ischia is some inspiration.

Resources

Here are a few resources that you will hopefully find helpful:

• https://www.italia.it/en
• https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips
• Guide books from Rick Steves, Lonely Planet and others can help work out details for your trip or just get a list of ideas at least
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/ can be helpful in a pinch if you're looking for activities or restaurants and such
• Passport - please give yourself plenty of time to get or renew a passport - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html (USA link as an example)
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

When to go?

When would you like to go is also a question.  Depending on what type of activities, weather, and how many other tourists you'd like to be around you might want to choose summer, spring, or fall.  It's great to take a look at typical temperatures for where you'd like to go.  Here's photo of Sorrento in summer!

Who is going?

Who is going might help inform your planning as well.  Folks might have different considerations based on fitness, health, dietary restrictions, mobility, etc...

Where exactly would you like to go?

Deciding where to go can almost seem like an all you can eat buffet is in front of you and you're just trying to choose enough for your plate.  What would you like to do there?  Beach time?  Museum time?  Some of both?  Seeing several places in a short amount of time or fewer places with more time?  Here's Positano from the water!

My own lessons learned from my recent, and first, trip to Italy

Here are some lessons learned from my own trip to Italy in June / July of 2022.

1. Book directly with a reputable airline
1. Don't use Lufthansa (their customer service is awful and you might not get your money or lost luggage back). I'm still waiting for a refund from them.
2. If you book directly hopefully it'll be less back and forth between you and the airline if an issue arises
2. If you go to less traveled areas then knowing a little Italian can really be helpful.  I took an Italian for travelers class from an Italian woman in Seattle.  There are great online resources too such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYe7U2sNIc0 and others.  Knowing a little Italian was very useful in Ischia and even with some folks in Naples too.  Plus if you know some it's easier to connect with locals.
3. If you take a shuttle to the airport be sure you'll have enough time to make your flight.  The flight with my group leaving Seatac was a bit close just because the shuttle made several stops.
4. Watch out for scammer taxi drivers (Naples seems to have a few at least).  They might try to tell you that there's a bus strike or normal taxi drivers are on strike or who know what other reason to get you to take their expensive taxi.
5. Watch yourself as a pedestrian (lots of mopeds, etc...)
6. Be aware of your surroundings. Someone in our group almost got pickpocketed in Naples.

Have fun!

Throw on some music and plan out your trip!  If you enjoyed this please support my work - https://bmc.link/havecarryonwilltravel . Thank you.  

If you'd like more inspiration for your own travels then please check out my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@havecarryonwilltravel or Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/havecarryonwilltravel/ .

P.S. This blog uses some affiliate links so that I can keep bringing you great independent content.