Hotel Parco Smeraldo Terme & Residence in Ischia Town

Not a family-friendly hotel!

We chose this hotel because we wanted to combine a thermal spa experience with a beach vacation. We have been visiting thermal spa hotels around the world for many years, so we were especially disappointed by this hotel’s policy toward children.

The hotel charged a 12-year-old the same rate as an adult, yet children are not only prohibited from using the indoor thermal pools — they are not even allowed to enter the spa area at all!. If this is the hotel’s policy, they should simply not describe the hotel to families with children.

When our child (12 yo) entered the spa area (which was totally empty without any clients) with us, an employee immediately rushed over, loudly shouting, “No! No! No!” The way it was handled was aggressive and unfriendly. We were shocked by this kind of “hospitality,” and our child was so upset and crying. Interestingly, children are allowed to enter the spa area if you are taking them for paid treatments — which makes the policy feel even more contradictory. Indoor Thermal pools need to be better maintained and renovated. Some of hydro-bubbles bottoms didn’t work and very limit. Good cleaning also needed.

The outdoor pool is advertised as “thermal,” but in reality the thermal water seems to be heavily diluted. There is also no shade around the pool, with direct sun throughout the day. During the hottest daytime hours, there is really nowhere comfortable to stay with a child.

The hotel itself is pretty old. The design looks as though it has not been renovated in 40–50 years, and a renovation is definitely overdue. The air conditioning barely worked, the bathroom door in our room would not close at all, shower cabin is very tiny. Breakfast was very basic: eggs, omelets, cold cuts, yogurt, and the same selection every day.

There were some positives. The reception staff were friendly, welcoming, and always willing to help. The beach was also very nice — we could always find available sunbeds, and the entrance into the sea was comfortable.

We will definitely return to Ischia, but definitely not to this hotel.

Today, hotels are making an effort to become more welcoming and inclusive — family-friendly, pet-friendly, LGBT-friendly — and to make different types of guests feel comfortable. This hotel, however, seems stuck in the 1970s and still cannot decide whether it wants to be an adults-only property or a hotel that genuinely welcomes guests of all ages.