Dear Debbie, I write this on behalf of four friends, all of us having just returned from a fabulous week on Ischia. We had the most amazing time and are still there in our heads!
A huge thank you to Lorna for looking after us so well, for challenging us and giving us a lot of new practice to bring back home. Oh, and hips are still a whole lot wider (in a good, yoga way) than they were on arrival and we thank her for that too! The last night on the roof terrace when we meditated on the fantastic setting sun will stay with us for a long time.
The venue is simple but real. No bland hotel food. Instead we had grandma’s pizza recipe, the most amazing passata made with home grown tomatoes, a beautiful risotto, kiwi fruit right off the tree above our heads, etc, etc ........all delicious. Jamie Oliver eat your heart out! Michele was a complete superstar, taking a huge pride in providing us with a great authentic experience. He could not have beῥn lovelier.
Ischia is such an amazing island. We came nowhere near doing everything we wanted to do. Swimming in the sea, shopping and watching the world go by all ranked highly.
Mossies were a bit of a pain and top quality sprays etc are a must but otherwise a perfect week.
Incidentally the transfers by taxi and ferry were all super slick.
Thank you. We will undoubtedly be rebooking a free spirit holiday soon.
Lindsey Heaton - September 2019
Just back from a wonderful week - Ady was fabulous as was the Casa Benedetto team. Ady is such a thoughtful teacher - she customises content and thinks about each group member; resulting in lovely relaxed and varied sessions. Above all I'm feeling the benefit: walking tall and a sense of air in my lungs!
Was surprised at the mosquitos given height and island location - but that was the only slight blot,
thanks
Ann - September 2019
Dear Sir or Madam, I did spend one week in Ischia at Casa Benedetto and enjoyed it very much. The family run hotel is lovely and Michele did everything right. Rooms and gardens were very clean and he prepared wonderful meals and created a very relaxing and friendly atmosphere.
Mrs. A. Riel is a very good yoga teacher and was always very helpful and friendly. The yoga courses in the morning and in the evening were very well prepared and structured.
All in all I give 10 out of ten!!!
Gude - September 2019
Hello Jilly and Debbie, we have just arrived home from Casa Benedetto ischia. It was absolutely amazing, what a place so much to do around the area and we loved staying with the great views and wonderful hospitality of Michella and his family. The food was so delicious.
We loved our small group and got on so well. Lucy was the the amazing teacher and I had some breakthroughs with some of my postures . A really amazing time!. We would love to go with Lucy again - so please keep us posted.
Have a good week. Thank you again.
Dawn and Barry August 2019
Hello Jilly and Debbie, Wow what a week Catherine was truly Amazing and I have never ever gone away on a yoga retreat on my own.. the most amazing experience of my life .. Please can I book again for the above date .. and let me know how much the deposit will be and I will pay right away .. please can I have a double room with Balcony and sun beds .. I think it might be Room one if not already booked .. Thank you so much for all your support and Catherine being such an amazing Teacher ..
Lastly ... Pina , Michele and his brother were so accommodating with everything.. you could not ask for such a beautiful family who equally made this holiday to be amazing! Everything you need and wanted was no trouble... Hence why I want to go back .. so please please book my room .. I wanted to send you this Video just to let you know how lovely Michele was ...
I have never been away from my Husband in all our years of Marriage.. and he was the one that wanted me to go .. truly Magical!!Catherine ... worked so so hard to make everything happen and the yoga practices were truly out of this world.. and as for the other people on the group.. well we all connected.. I will never forget this amazing journey that I have been on !! Thank you so so much
Laura - Catherine Gallagher September 2018
Dear Debbie, Returned last weekend from a fabulous week at Casa Benedetto in Ischia. I confess I have had serious post holiday blues since then. Ischia is so so beautiful and there is more to do and see there than we could fit into one week. The venue is simple and perfectly lovely - rooms are basic but comfortable and clean, and the hosts are friendly and keen to help with anything they can. Food was fresh, local (often Home grown by the hosts) and absolutely delicious. All in all you do feel like you are experiencing proper Italy. Lorna Chapman is a lovely, patient and brilliant yoga teacher who adapted the classes to be suitable for all levels at once. She is so encouraging and supportive (literally supportive when helping me do my first ever headstand!). The whole group were lovely and all bonded and got on brilliantly and we've come away sun kissed and relaxed with new friends, a love of Ischia and a desire to go back. Thank you.
Annabel Smith xx - Lorna Chapman July 2018
Hi Debbie, We are back from a wonderful yoga holiday at Casa Benedetta with Lorna Chapman. The venue was lovely and the food was home cooked and delicious. Michaela and his family were so friendly and helpful. Lorna was a skillful and inspiring teacher and we loved her yoga. We think it would be a good idea to advise people to take wet suit shoes to protect feet getting in and out of the water and to take midge spray. Thank you for facilitating an amazing and unforgettable experience! We have come home sunkissed and relaxed with new friends and wonderful memories.
Lucy - Lorna Chapman July 2018
We had a wonderful week. The yoga was great, just the right level for us all with lots of options for different levels. Lorna is a fantastic teacher and also great fun. The mornings were more dynamic and in the evenings we had a relaxing practice. Each day was different and Lorna had put a lot of thought into each class. The yoga equipment is very good and clean too.
The venue was perfect. Rooms were clean and simple. The rooftop terrace and shower were amazing. Fabulous views over the bay as you shower! Food was delicious and plentiful, magical sitting outside under the kiwi vines. San Angelo is a lovely little place with lots of great ice cream!
We found a brillliant snorkelling spot from the big rock in San Angelo. It was just like being in an aquarium. It would be a good idea to suggest people bring shoes for getting in and out of the water on the rocks if they enjoy swimming and snorkelling. We also had a great walk up the mountain and a beautiful boat trip around the island, swimming from the boat, arranged by Michele. A couple of people did stand up paddle boarding which was fun. Sorgetto beach with the hot springs made a great day out too.
We all got on so well and were very sad to leave all our new friends. I feel rejuvenated and relaxed after the week.
Thanks for a great holiday! We will be back!
Catherine - Lorna Chapman July 2018
Dear Jilly, it was a great week which I would highly recommend. I was very worried about going in case there were too many heights involved but I was fine with the steps to the beaches and really glad I decided to go
Best wishes, Gabrielle - Bella Somerville September 2017
Dear Bella I just wanted to take the time to write a proper thank you for our wonderful trip. It's been the best holiday tonic and I can truly say I've experienced some of the best yoga ever. Needless to say, it was more than a pleasure to meet both you and Gabby. For now, back to the Monday blues (!) and to say I hope to see you again in the not too distant future.
Lots of love and namaste Michelle - Bella Somerville September 2017
I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful Yoga holiday I had with Bella in Ischia. Her yoga as always was inventive, stimulating and sensitive to all the Yogi's on the holiday. Her passion to make the holiday (we call it a holiday rather than a retreat!) a wonderful experience for all of us, was embraced by open arms by the Yogi's. The group bonded extremely well and we spent most of the time in each other's company. The hotel with Michele as our main point of contact was perfect for this week - he looked after us very well. The food (delicious), accommodation (simple but clean) and surrounds ...breath taking ... were a delight
Thank you! Lisa Baderoon - September 2017
I recently came back from the yoga holiday to the stunning Italian island Ischia. Our teacher Helen Barker guided us through a gentle Hatha yoga session including guided meditation twice daily, which was very suitable for the hot weather.
We stayed at Casa Bennedeto with Michele and his team looking after us. They went out of their way to make it the most enjoyable and positive stay with them. Nothing was too much trouble and each night a four course vegetarian meal was served - the food was amazing! Michele and his assistant Daniel took us up a volcano one day, such a great day out for us all.
Michele also organised a day trip to Capri for 5 of us - a day I will cherish forever.
The thermal spa just down the road from the hotel is well worth a visit - I personally went there three times, it was that good.
I can highly recommend this trip and venue - you will simply love it
Best regards Inga - July 2017 with Helen Barker
Absolutely Brilliant!
Pam - July 2017 with Helen Barker
Wonderful in all respects, but in more detail:
Transfers - excellent, minimum delay, 2 taxis and the ferry crossing each way. The drivers did all they could for guests and managed the ferry connections extremely well
Hotel - ideal location, quiet and up to standard as a simple family run business.
Manager/owner Michele couldn't have done more to ensure that all requests were met. Also he was particularly sensitive to the needs of a yoga group - never put us under time pressure, put the yoga sessions first and enabled us to focus on classes. His assistant Danielli was a (modest) star particularly in assisting one of the guests down from the volcano summit. Rooms well furnished and clean; public areas were shady and cool in conditions of intense heat.
Food - splendid, fresh, well-cooked, prepared and good variety. Too generous, but we could have said no - we didn't!
Yoga Classes: excellent venue (again, cool in extreme heat), excellent equipment, especially the bolsters which we'd never seen before. Shakti Bhakti: excellent as ever, gave free oil treatments.
General Location: as good as any we've experienced for a yoga holiday, peaceful, yet close enough to beaches, buses, taxis and villages, with good general facilities.
Excursions: Only did the trip to volcano (Mt Epomeo) - exceptionally good value, spectacular scenery and professionally led by Michele, supported by Danielli. Michelle assisted in organising a group trip to Capri which half a dozen other guests really enjoyed.
Overall, this was a well organised tour, in a good location at an ideal, family run hotel. Well done,
Ros and Dave Wrightson - July 2017 Helen Barker
Dear Jilly, just to let you know.... I attended the above with Marnie recently. It was a fabulous week of yoga coupled with a great group of people. Although there were different personalities and abilities in the group Marnie held us together beautifully. She displayed super professional behaviour and really strong leadership. She managed to create a balance between achievement and fun which is not an easy task. Her classes were both challenging and accommodating of different levels of experience which made the whole week a really positive and uplifting experience for me.I'm first on the list for her next retreat.
Regards June - May 2017 with Marnie Sullivan
This was a truly fabulous retreat, set in a beautiful loction where there are lots of options for things to do . Michaela and family are lovely hosts and the place has a very relaxed atmosphere, he was very accommodating providing a fun film night, suggestions for days out and organising a really lovely mountain walk and meal.
Both the morning and afternoon yoga sessions were amazing, Marnie (Sullivan) is a marvelous teacher who delivers sessions which work fabulously for those
new to yoga and for the more experienced. I felt incredibly energised at the end of the week. A hearty healthy post yoga breakfast is provided which was lovely. There was also an evening meal served each night after the afternoon yoga, the pasta options at these meals were particularly delicious. We all really enjoyed vistiing the nearby beaches and exploring the lovely town of Sant Angelo. The accommodation at Casa Benedetto was quite basic, which we expected but certainly adequate and
comfortable and very good value for money.
This was a truly wonderful yoga holiday will excellent yoga sessions and a lovely location, I will certainly be booking another yoga retreat with Marnie.
Janet - May 2017 with Marnie Sulivan
