Costa Citara Hotel

"I wouldn't say it met the expectations of a 3* hotel, more like a 2.5! To start with the positives, the hotel was spotlessly clean and the housekeeping staff were really lovely, they were by far the friendliest of all the staff. The air conditioning worked really well and the shower was powerful. There's a bus stop directly outside the hotel so you can get anywhere on the island from your doorstep. Reception sell single-trip bus tickets but not whole day, 3-day, or 7-day tickets, you have to go to the tabacchi for them which is a 5 minute walk away (slightly uphill). Now, the negatives. The general hotel staff, well I'm not exactly sure what they did all day and found one lady in particular quite changeable in her mood, sometimes she appeared a bit rude. The bar (tiny, at the back of the dining room, seemed quite neglected) was never staffed, there's a bell to ring if you wanted anything and there was always a wait for someone to show up. The hotel basically shuts down from lunch until 5pm, fair enough this is their culture and everything pretty much closes between 13.30 and 17.00, but this is a hotel catering to multinational guests. At the hottest part of the day, you can't get a drink from the bar and the local mini-marts are closed so be organised and stock up the mini fridge in your room! On my first day, I arrived at the hotel after 14.00 following a 4-hour transfer from the airport and was basically tired, hungry and thirsty until everything opened again at 5pm. The breakfast was average: croissants, sliced bread for toast, baguette-type bread, cakes, yoghurt, cereal (looked like it hadn't been touched in weeks), scrambled egg. I didn't have dinner at the hotel but it's from 19.30-20.00 and my understanding is that you have to order in advance - either that morning or the day before. Positively, I heard good things about the food. If not half-board, it's €25 for 4 courses. The hotel is situated on the main road that circles the island, it's a busy road and the swimming pool is at the front of the hotel with the only thing separating the pool area from the road being some hedges and there's no music or any attempt from the hotel to compensate/reduce the traffic noise. The pool is also heated. Some people will think that's fab, but if you're one for a cold dip to cool off while sunbathing, the pool is not the place! The website says the hotel is 800mtrs to the beach. For clarity, it's a 10-15min walk downhill, along the main road to the beach. The walk back up can easily be double this as it's quite steep. The hotel does shuttles to and from the beach but I didn't use them due to my issues with getting a shuttle into forio. There are regular buses that u can hop on to bring u up the hill. The rooms are basic. Furniture is quite dated and the beds and pillows are a bit on the hard side. As for balcony, it very much depends on the room. You're definitely best off asking for a pool view (altho this costs a bit more) as my balcony wasn't ideal (pic to be added). The hotel is also situated next to an empty building. Looks like work is being done on it but I didn't see any workmen. It's a tad unsightly. Finally, altho the hotel does a shuttle service to and from forio town (10mins on the bus, about 25mins walk), I wasn't able to get a shuttle back when I requested this as they said the first time needed to be drop off and return. The first shuttle into forio is 21.00 which was far too late when I was planning to go and eat. So I stuck with the buses."

"We had a lovely 2 week stay at this hotel in July - 3 adults and 2 young teenagers We really enjoyed it here. The air conditioning in the rooms was excellent and very much needed at this time of year… The cleaners are stars 🌟 the bedding and towels were changed often and bins emptied. They were not intrusive at all. The outdoor pool is plenty big enough for a swim, and there is a hot spa pool near to the patio area. We quickly got used to the dining times - breakfast is a self service buffet with the usual selection of pastries, yoghurt, meat and cheese plus coffee and juice. You choose your dinner from a menu at breakfast and this is served to you at your table… The hotel staff are really helpful in explaining the menu. There are some reviews saying the service staff have been rude? We did not find this at all :) They do expect you to be on time for the dinner service, but I feel this is just basic good manners at a small hotel where the courses are cooked fresh. One night we had a lovely dinner seated outdoors with a live singer :) We found all the staff kind and helpful with all of our questions. They helped us with bus tickets and routes, were lovely with our kids and genuinely interested in our day trips and how much we were enjoying Ischia. We had no problems during our stay - but things to note: (especially on package holidays) There is no lift at the hotel so be prepped to carry cases upstairs and back down when you check out - the hotel staff will help you :) The walk down to Forio is quite a trek - bus stop is right outside the hotel gate. Depending on the time of day the buses can be filled to the rafters - not sure which is worse, being squished in the middle or being near the doors! 😱 No fault of the hotel at all - transfer to the island via slow ferry can be extremely chaotic / dangerous!! EasyJet organised a taxi to the ferry port with a driver who spoke very little English. We arrived at Pozzuoli as the ferry to Ischia was almost ready to leave. We ended up being herded onto one of the large slow ferries while the last few cars and lorries were loading. There was no space for our luggage and the ferry crew were not happy with us at all. It was not a fun start to our trip! Disembarking was equally as treacherous- it is literally a free for all of passengers and vehicles! Forewarned is forearmed - we were not! 😂😂 Day trips we did: Napoli Procida Beach day at Poseidon Bus trip with guide to Sant Angelo Ferry with swim stops around the whole island Sunset boat trip in Citara Bay Botanical Garden Pottery class"

"Hotel and area around reminded me of a Greek island.  History shows that the Greeks did habit the area, documented in museums.  Dropped off, picked up outside of hotel, on main road TUI provided no information, German TUI guests received an information sheet, the rep advised British do not get this, this was the last and only time we saw a rep on arrival at port, or departing the island if you need anything it is by the AP.  Easyjet holidays have guests at the hotel.  Hotel is frequented by lots of families despite many having small children the hotel suffers from a great amount of noise, not confined to restaurant or pool area  families making noise in corridor on about 3 o'clock in morning for around 3 nights in succession this is when you wish aircon was nosier which is very much needed in August where temperatures reached close to 40 degrees.  Sadly people now just want to make noise.  Breakfast starts at 8.00, sadly another guest spoiler is the outright taking in off large bags and filling with vast amounts of food from breakfast we now have the removing of bottles of water meant for all guests and filling their own flasks, to take out with them, meaning shortages for other guests at breakfast, this is just stealing for the sake of it, not confined to foreign guests the latter being British sad when you can pick up a large bottle of water from the shop for as little as 40 cents.  Hotels need to take more action to discredit this.  I agreed, have done this with lots of hotels, to prepare my own packed breakfast on day leaving, took some fresh fruit, packaged toasts, and yoghurts day before as fridge in room, and early departure, in case people comment.   Don't expect any dress etiquette in the restaurants. Evening meal costs 25 euros for 4 courses choice made at breakfast. Asked if we could just get one course was agreed with price rechecked again and booked our one choice in the morning Despite doing this in the evening tried to give us all 4 courses refused, then when went to charge 25 euros for 4 courses. One course had gone from agreed 8 euros to 25, sorted it out next day with lady on reception who had checked us in on first day who was the most helpful of the staff.  Male Waiter in restaurant spoke English well enough when he wanted to, and with who he wanted to.   Hotel should address the outright theft at breakfast instead of trying to overcharge us. Arrived at hotel in time for snack bar open until 15.00, Half litre of wine 06 euros and 12 for litre, water 2 euros a bottle.   Check in from 14.00. One coffee from bar at breakfast, after that machine or you pay for additional from bar. Rooms cleaned every day, basic room take notice of sign in bathroom advising extra towels changed incur additional charge same with bedding so don't leave on floor as not daily change mixture of normal towels and tea towels. Strange going on with toilet rolls were being replenished regularly being one on shelf one on holder then one day spare replaced with half used then another time left with no toilet rolls at all, happened on day when regularly cleaned  not in.  Shower gel is 2 small sachets  each day, except when replacement cleaner on got none, small bar of soap provided, shower caps, who uses them?  There is no where in shower to even put sachet of shower gel and only small shelf above sink  which is only any good for washing hands.  Wash basin is very small. Hotel took a bit of getting used to, a throwback to basic Greek accommodation.  Room 132 is over the service room below the balcony needs a good clean as rubbish has been dropped down, they did remove the dead rat once I reported it, took a bit of doing nice lady receptionist was horrified when reported, reckoned it happened the night heard the cats outside.  Probably got bippity bopped by the cats, another nod to being like a Greek accommodation which nearly always have cats felt sorry for the rat, but that is nature.  I point out that with the exception of the dirty balcony below, you did have to lean over to look onto it the hotel is cleaned every day and a rat does no way indicate poor hygiene or standards, nor does a cat, the hotel up the road, used by Tui higher rating has one accommodated outside their restaurant with water, food bowel and seating, open to non-residents for meals.  Room 132 has a path running along side which is in need of a tidy up do not know if this has anything to do with the hotel.  Next to hotel is an unfinished possibly another hotel building, so quiet.  While the hotel is not on the beach or in a busy area, it is easy reachable by bus from right outside of hotel or downhill walk, hotel provides a bus service additional charge, there are some local shops, a restaurant, other hotels.   Room tax came in at 28 euros for 2 persons for 2 weeks, I paid on day of arrival.   No lift looks like all rooms have some stairs to access them so may be difficult for people with mobility problems. Pool and seating area front of hotel, looked pleasant small indoor spa pool, kids playing area to back.  Even with the negatives having looked at a couple of other hotels would still consider staying here again."