An hour by ferry from Naples, the island of Ischia charms with bargain-priced five-star inns, local wineries and thermal hot springs, writes Ginny Prior More than 65 million people travel to Italy each year — the fifth most-visited country in international tourism, according to the World Tourism Organisation. To find a luxury, lesser-known locale in a sea of vacationers, try the country’s southwest island of Ischia. Ischia is one of three inhabited land masses, along with Capri and Procida, in the Gulf of Naples.
Its high-profile neighbour, Capri, draws more attention, positioning Ischia as a bargain destination with a lot of local charm. An hour by ferry from Naples, Ischia has natural hot springs, cobalt-blue waters, wineries and 10 five-star hotels — some as low as €300 (NZ$540) a night in season. READ MORE: A full day travelling Rome for less than $55 Grand Hotel Il Moresco is a 20-minute walk from the Ischia Porto ferry terminal, past colourful boutique shops and footpath cafes.
Walk through the gate of the lava-stone wall and you enter a lush garden setting with thermal pools and a Mediterranean villa with luxuriously appointed rooms, many with balconies overlooking the sea. Other five-star hotels were once aristocrat mansions, like the Excelsior Belvedere Hotel and Spa..
