You swiped. It matched. I booked. Here's how four days on a volcanic island disappear, Saba.
July 28–31A secret hotelOne convertibleA few surprises
Day 01 · Monday, July 28
The Rendezvous
two flights, one port
11:10
You fly Budapest → Naples
Ryanair FR4090, seat 19A: a window, as promised. You land at 12:50; Naples will already be 31 degrees and shouting.
12:50
You land. I'm already there.
I arrive before you: I'll be waiting at arrivals. This is the part where we meet. No pressure.
15:00
Hydrofoil, Naples → Ischia
Together to the port, then a boat, the bay of Naples, and 50 minutes to get used to each other's faces.
~16:30
Top down, drive to the hotel
A Fiat convertible is waiting. Fifteen minutes of hairpins and bougainvillea to a place I'm not naming. The photo below is your only clue.
17:30
Check-in
I upgraded a few things about the room. You'll see when we open the door.
Golden hour
Aperitivo at the hotel
Nowhere to be. The gardens, a drink, the day cooling down around us.
Evening
First dinner, at the hotel
Day one is for arriving. We stay in, eat well, and take things slow: let's at least try to keep security out of it on our first night.
glimpse of the hotel moodThe boring details
Your flight: Ryanair FR4090, BUD 11:10 → NAP 12:50, seat 19A, priority + 2 cabin bags
I'll be at Naples airport arrivals when you land. Airport → port together, ~30 min.
Hydrofoil from Napoli Porto di Beverello, dep. 15:00 (~50 min)
Hotel: classified. Three nights. Trust me.
Day 02 · Tuesday, July 29
The Thermal Day
warm water, zero decisions
Slow a.m.
Breakfast in the gardens
No alarm. The island isn't going anywhere.
Midday
Poseidon thermal gardens
Twenty-something pools terraced above the sea, each a different temperature. We work our way up. Or down. There is no wrong order.
Golden hour
Belvedere above Sant'Angelo
The viewpoint from that photo on the first page: I took it standing exactly where we'll be standing, spritz in hand.
Evening
Dinner in Sant'Angelo
Car-free village, seafood, slow evenings. We walk down, we eat too much, we take our time.
Night
Classified
There's one more thing after dinner. It's not written anywhere on this page, and it's staying that way.
the view I promised youThe boring details
Giardini Poseidon Terme, Citara bay: full-day tickets, towels included
Swim caps are mandatory in the pools. Yes, really. Both of us. No photos. (There will be photos.)
Sant'Angelo: ~20 min by car from the hotel, park above, walk down
Day 03 · Wednesday, July 30
The Island Loop
top down, music up
Morning
The full loop, by convertible
Ischia is 34 km around. We do all of them: you own the playlist, I own the hairpins.
Midday
Swim at San Montano
A shallow, warm, ridiculous bay. We stay until we're hungry.
Afternoon
Ischia Ponte & Castello Aragonese
The castle on its own rock, connected by a stone bridge. We cross it, climb to the top, and let the view do the talking.
Evening
Dinner: classified
All I'll say: a table perched in the sky, the sea somewhere far below. You'll know when we're there.
Night
No more rules
We kept security out of it on night one. It's the last night now: if they want to kick us out at 2 a.m., let them try. The walls might be soundproofed. The garden, on the other hand, is not.
Dinner: nice try. Table booked, that's all you get.
Day 04 · Thursday, July 31
The Long Goodbye
we don't talk about this part
Early
One last slow hour, then check-out
Cornetto, coffee, suitcases. In that order.
~08:30
Hydrofoil back to Naples
Same boat, opposite direction, different people than the ones who took it on Monday.
11:55
Your flight home
Wizz W4 2360, Naples → Budapest, seat 2A: front row, first off the plane, first to start planning the second trip. I fly the other way.
not a goodbyeThe boring details
Check-out early, return the car, hydrofoil to Napoli Beverello (~08:30)
Port → airport: ~25 min, there before 10:00
Same drill as Budapest: document check desk before security, passport + residence permit at hand. Then one last espresso at the gate.
Your flight: Wizz Air W4 2360, NAP 11:55 → BUD 13:40 (Terminal 2B), seat 2A
Appendix · Packing
The Dress Code
one non-negotiable
Pack whatever you like: it's 30 degrees, we have a convertible, and the island is not formal. There is exactly one requirement, submitted as evidence below.
exhibit A: this outfit. Yes, all of it.
The headscarf, the sunglasses, the earrings: the full look. The teddy bear is welcome. The turtle stays home, we'll find you a local one.
Post-credits · The Second Trip
Already in the works.
no spoilers
Two candidates this time, and for once the shortlist isn't mine. Option one: your city, your rules: show me Budapest. Option two: a certain Spanish island where, rumour has it, you're the one behind the decks. Or both: why should we choose? 🌅🎧
