What a coincidence that the Frey family, of Greenwich, CT, and I would be on Ischia at the same time last summer. I had helped them arrange a two-week vacation at a fabulous, four-bedroom villa available through Hideaways' partner, Solemar, and would have the chance to see for myself what the villa was like and how their vacation was going.

Once owned by an Italian ambassador, and now by an American, the villa was furnished with antiques and tapestries collected from all over the world. It sits on a hillside terrace overlooking the bay and is surrounded by 5,000 square meters (about an acre) of gardens and fruit trees. The house was perfect for Carrie and Bill Frey, Abbie, 3, Trevor, 1 1/2, little Zachary, then only a few months old, and their nanny, Amanda.

Spring/Summer 1998