Hotel Terme Royal Palm

Ischia: si mangia, si beve, si fischia! It’s my second time at the Hotel Terme Royal Palm Citara Bay… and I really have a great time ! Relax and enjoy! Great sea view from the room, surroundings and restaurant!!! Good swimming pools with hot spring water different degrees. Spa center with wide range of procedures. Beautiful areas with trees and flowers. Clean and cozy room. Professional staff at the reception. But the best is the restaurant!!! No doubts about breakfast, lunch and dinner! Exceptional service and very tasty food!!! And the special thank you to the best waiter I have ever met - Mr Landi. I know if I come back again to see him! Very professional and energetic person who makes a big difference !!! Complimenti and see you again !!! ;)

On arrival hotel looked really nice. Then we got shown to our room. Access to door was tricky with narrow walkway and slightly overgrown hedge to one side. Once in room our initial thoughts were ok this is average and seriously needs an upgrade. Upon further inspection the bathroom was filthy with water marks on all taps, shower etc. The shower door had marks all down them, especially the edges. Most of the furniture had some serious water damage at the bottom. The base of one drawer of bedside cabinet came right out when opening (this was rectified when reported). The balcony looked like it had not been swept and the plants seriously needed cutting back. We complained to hotel and was advised to go back to them next morning after check out time. Which we did but was then told they couldn’t do anything until the manager came in after 1pm. I got the impression that we were just being fobbed off. As soon as I said I had sent pictures to our holiday company they were straight on the phone to the manager. Within half an hour we were given the choice of 2 rooms. As we were B&B we wanted to get some food on our first night. However the procedures regarding the restaurant’s were not explained at all. One seemed to be for only certain people. We had to use the other one but where everyone else seemed to have a specific table we were shunted here there and everywhere every morning. The tea was lukewarm at best. This seemed to be because the waitress kept topping it up with cold water. I initially asked for hot water for our tea at our first breakfast and was given this but upon asking on subsequent mornings it was indicated that we had to use the urn. Our impression was that as we were not with a large group we were irrelevant. Got the feeling also that as we were not Italian or German we were not as important as other guests. We had to try and work out for ourselves where everything was as the instruction was non existent. Think the only staff member that made us feel welcome was the cleaner.

We stayed here as part of a package deal with Voyage Privé so the hotel was allocated by them a few days before our arrival. We received a warm welcome and our cases were carried to our room for us. Reception staff friendly and helpful. Room was an adequate size with large terrace. Bathroom had shower only, with a shower curtain not screen, cheap fittings, thin towels, no robes or slippers like you’d expect in a 4 star (in the UK at least.) Cleaned daily to a good standard. If you struggle with walking then this hotel is probably not for you as there lots of little steps all over the hotel. ( in fact you’d do well to avoid the whole island really) We stayed on a half board basis and had our meals in the Cava restaurant so can’t comment on the other restaurant. Breakfast was typical self-service continental fare but with only 1 coffee machine there was often a long queue. Dinner was self-service appetisers followed by a starter-main-dessert, choice of 3 or 4 dishes for each. Not the greatest food, but it’s mass catering so it would never be a la carte standard. You are allocated a table on your first day and you have to keep to that table for your stay. Want to eat your breakfast at a window table overlooking the sea in the almost empty restaurant? You’ll be moved back to your allocated table by the staff. Waiting staff are not very friendly, although I observed more friendliness to the Italian guests. Bar staff are friendly though. Swimming pools are all very warm. The rule is to wear a swimming cap although I saw lots of people in shower caps, baseball caps etc in the pool so I’m not sure this is enforced. Sunbeds round the pool seemed plentiful. The beach is a 10 minute walk down the hill (15 mins back up though as it’s steep!). The hotel runs a free shuttle bus to and from the beach. On the beach there are private and public areas and it’s a coarse sand beach, nice and clean. To get around the island the no2 bus goes to Ischia port which has the bus station and therefore onward buses to other destinations. You can buy bus tickets at the mini mart by the beach (must pay in cash for bus tickets), the hotel doesn’t sell them. The no 2 terminus is just a little way past the mini mart. If you want to walk into Forio the most pleasant/safest route we found was out of the hotel main entrance, turn right and follow the road. Just after the Albatross hotel turn right onto a narrow tarmacked road and follow this all the way, past the yellow basilica and it eventually drops down into the town where all the shops are. It takes about 30 minutes. Nearest ATMs are in Forio. If you fancy pizza I can recommend Jamm Ja, towards Forio and a little way past the Albatross on the main road, about a 15 min walk.

Booked this hotel through TravelZoo. Lovely hotel with stunning views over Citara Bay. I'll be honest and say the room was very small but clean & adequate for our needs (myself and a friend) and we only used the room as our base to explore the island, which is a must. Food was OK, good choice for breakfast but didn't bother with dinner as many lovely restaurants around Citara & Forio to visit. Staff all very helpful. Lovely pool but had to wear swimhats! Hotel guests mainly Italian and German. Would recommend but mainly as a base to explore!