In today’s episode we’ll be covering the Island of Ischia. We'll be chatting about:
Where to stay? Ischia Porto, Ponte or Forio?Transport, accommodation, food and funThe value for moneyand some overall tips from Italian residents if you're planning on visiting Italy- Ischia is well known for its thermal water and thermal gardens used since ancient times. Its volcanic nature makes Ischia one of the largest spas in Europe.
It also has ancient vinyards with some of Cormac's favourite wines in the world.Procide (an island close by) is where parts of the film Il Postino was filmedThe typical representative dish of the island is “Rabbit all’ischitana" a rabbit stew.- Transport: Naples Airport - Taxis, Bus, Metro to Molo Beverello Port (behind Castel Nuovo)
Boats - We got the HydrofoilIschia - Busses and Taxis - 50 euro for 5 of us across the island from Ischia Porte to ForioIt took 20 minutes to walk from Ischia Porte to Ischia PonteEbikes & Car Rentals - You can rent an ebike for a day for 25 euro (9am to 6pm) but a car for almost the same price for 24 hoursAccommodation:
- We rented an Airbnb in Ischia Porte as we had a large group and had several activities planned, although there are some beautiful hotels around Ischia Ponte.
Food:
- RIP OFF: Trattoriva (Sapori Ischitani)
Amazing chicken at Antico Girarrosto IschitanoPizza Village: Cheap and cheerfulRistorante Pizzeria Fratelli La Bufala by Giardini di EnzoFUN:
- Beach - Ischia Porte - 5 euro for 66cl beers
Procida - Boat Tour - get your guide - 79 euroCastle Castello aragonese - top tip - get the liftBar beside the castello.- amazing value for good cocktails - Ristorante Bar da Coco' Archangelo Michael Festival - Patron Saint Festival in SeptemberPoseidon Thermal Pools - 37 euro for 1/2 dayRIP OFF: Porto51 for cocktailsBar del Porto dal 1963 - cheap place for drinksU' MUORZ - another pub in Ischia PorteHonourable mention - China Tempto for amazing vinyard tours and wine tastingsIrish Expats Cormac and Jane discuss their highs and lows of travel. Season one follows their journey across Italy. Topics include remote working, realistic travel budgets, top tips, and what it’s really like to work and live abroad. In season one, each episode will focus on a region or city they visited on their six-week holiday from Southern Naples to Lake Garda in the North.
Cormac is a professional Irish bartender having worked in the hotel and bar industry for 8 years. Originally from Leitrim, he studied Hotel Management and Business at GMIT. He was working in Galway in the bar trade for 5 years before he decided to move abroad. His original plan was to work on a vineyard in Northern Italy using WWOOF.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. Find out more: https://wwoof.net
Jane is a communications consultant working in the culture and energy sectors. She has previously produced and promoted international organisations including Web Summit, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and European Capital of Culture projects. After 10+ years of working in Communications & Events, Jane has transitioned to fully remote consulting work. Although regularly travelling back to Ireland for work, she is now based in Florence with Cormac.
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Here is our day by day excel sheet of our 6 week summer trip across Italy. It includes the following categories: Dates, Transport Methods, Accommodation Links, Fun (Tours, Bars & Excursions), Food and Tips for the following cities:
SalernoSorrentoRomeSienaFlorenceLa Spezia (and Riomaggiore)VeniceDesenzano del GardaSirmioneMalcesineRiva del GardaDownload the travel guide for free at: https://www.altlivin.com/shop
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