Parco Aurora

Ischia's Sunrise Hotel

This was my first time at Parco Aurora, although I have been to beautiful Ischia before. Most of the guests were older German couples and young Italian families; not unusual on the Island. The welcome at check-in was friendly yet sparse; I was not properly introduced to many of the amenities/facilities/services. However, the staff, some of whom speak English and/or French, is polite & helpful – the front desk personnel were happy to assist in planning excursions. The Director was professional when we eventually met, and open to hearing comments/suggestions for improvement. The website isn’t very descriptive; so best to call the hotel directly with any questions – they don’t necessarily respond to emails.
Despite some initial misgivings, the overall experience turned out to be positive. The pluses outweigh the minor hiccups, and depending on the period, I would recommend this hotel to certain family & friends. If the owners make some tweaks and continue to commit to client service, the 4-star rating will be merited.

Unique Quality: Optimal location for visiting the shops/restaurants of Ischia Porto & Ponte, as well as surrounding attractions. The building is well-maintained; interior décor typical, perhaps a bit dated. The single-occupancy, double room was spacious but simple, fairly clean & quiet, with an eastern side-sea-view balcony. The washroom was also spacious and shower pressure great; plus plenty of towels. At the time of my stay, there was a tiny TV with a few Italian and German channels. Wi-Fi wasn’t available in the rooms, only in public areas; wired internet was accessible in the management office – no extra fees, though.
From the rooftop terrace, there’s a lovely view of the Bay of Naples, and there are two outdoor pools – one heated, one mineral – unfortunately, info is lacking on whether the water is sourced from a natural geo-thermal spring and how the pools are sanitized. The poolside bar is open during the day until the lounge opens in the evening...everything shuts down by midnight. The bartenders are awesome, and there is a good selection of drinks! While I didn’t eat at the restaurant much, it is run efficiently and the food seemed local & fresh – breakfast can be eaten outside. Room service is limited, not 24-hour as indicated; special requests should be made in advance. Note also that Bagno Royal, the beach area reserved for Dico Hotels, is towards the end of busy Lido d’Ischia (close to the harbour) – not in front as pictured in the photos online.