“A good budget hotel”

We stayed at the Il Gattopardo for three nights in July 2006. Getting to the hotel was an adventure - we took a train from Rome, then a taxi to the port , then a hydrofoil across to Ischia and a taxi to our resort. We found it fairly tricky navigating through all of these forms of transportation without knowing much Italian (our fault, not the locals obviously). The hotel itself is very nice and the prices are VERY reasonable for the accomodations we received. We went with the B and B option so I cannot comment on lunch and dinner. The food at breakfast was ok, but stay away from the eggs (very runny and salty). Rooms were comfortable and virtually every room had a balcomy with a nice view - we were overlooking Mount Epomeo in the rear of the hotel. The beach was actually a short walk (down a steep hill) in front of the hotel. It was free, clean, and fairly nice - though it doesn't compare atall with any of the beaches we ahve been to in the Carribean. The Pools at the hotel were very nice and clean. There was a large non-thermal pool, and three thermal pools (one clear, one light brown, the other dark brown). The thermal pools were very nice - naturally heated between 36 C and 42 C. All areas of the resort were very clean. In summary, would I stay at this hotel again - yes. Would I return to Ischia - probably not as there are much nicer beaches and accomodations in the Caribbean for way less money.