Guenmai

Has anyone stayed in the hotel linked below and if so, how was it? Does anyone have other hotel suggestions in the same area? I need to be in that area.

http://king.hotelsinmilan.it/

Thanks in advance.

Happy Travels!

toni_g_b

We stayed there a few years ago in August. The location was perfect; we could walk to all the sights. The pictures on the website are a fair representation of what it looked like then. But, unless the front desk staff has changed, I would be reluctant to return. They took rudeness to a level I have never witnessed before. And it wasn't just extended to us; I saw the same treatment of a Japanese couple. Yes, I don't expect the staff to be my next best friend but when you hate to return to the hotel and have to ask for your room key something's wrong here.

mscleo

Would the Hotel Garda http://www.hotelgardamilan.com/location.htm be too far for you? It is two blocks from the Central train station, and the bus I took from the airport dropped me off right outside the station. The subway entrance and tram stop are maybe 1 1/2 blocks away (no more than that). I stayed there for four nights in May, and it was quite nice, and the staff was very friendly. Also, my room was spotless.

kybourbon

If you search hotels for Milan Cadorna train station or Milan Last Supper areas, you should turn up some threads. The Milan Marriott isn't far from there (a mile from the train station and a bit closer to the hotel you listed). If you are going to the shopping district on Corso Vercelli, it's an easy walk from the Marriott (.6 mile).

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/...arriott-hotel/

Guenmai

Thanks, folks. This has been great help. I've only been to Milan once, but it was only to change planes at the international airport as I was on my way to Ghana. I ended up stuck with an overnight stay that the airline had to pay for. However, I was booked into a place out by the airport. I don't know Milan Central, as I've never been into town.

Mscleo: I'll take a look at the hotel that you have recommended. The reason why I mentioned the King Hotel is that an Italian acquaintance of mine, whom I'd like to visit in the future, mentioned it to me day before yesterday. I asked her what hotels were close to where she lives and she mentioned that one. She said that the hotel is below her apartment and that she heard that they sometimes run specials for sixty euros. So, I thought I'd start researching the hotel and others in that area. I checked the hotel price online to get an approximate price, but it was pricing out at double the price that she had mentioned.

I find it best to ask a visitor to a city about hotels than to ask a resident as the residents aren't staying in the hotels. I thus figured that my fellow Fodorites would know. As for my Italian acquaintance, I won't be seeing her anymore here in L.A. But, I will keep in touch by e-mail, once she gets settled back home in a month or so.

Kybourbon: Thanks for the Marriott suggestion which would be wonderful, but I think the price might be way over the budget as I've read that hotels, in Milan, are very expensive compared to hotels in other parts of Italy. I'd like to try to keep the price at a max of 125 euros, if possible. And this would be for spring season.

When I do the Milan trip, I'd also combine it with Venice. One of my best American friends lives outside of Venice, therefore I would visit him and his wife again. I'd only have 8 nights total for the trip, so I thought that I'd take 3 nights in Milan and 5 at my friend's place.

The plan would be to fly to Venice, from L.A., (probably via Rome) and then fly between Venice and Milan, on the arrival day into Venice. Then after 3 nights in Milan, fly back to Venice and stay with my friend. I would head home from Venice.

The last time I visited my friend, I took Air France non-stop, from L.A. to Paris, and then had my Parisian friend meet up with me at CDG and we flew on to Venice together. We stayed at my friend's place, for four days, and then flew back to Paris where I stayed with my Parisian friend for 4 days and then flew home from Paris.

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

mscleo: I just checked your hotel and it looks great and the room was only 54 euros a night for a single comfort. Unfortunately the day that I would like to arrive ( a Saturday) is sold out as is Sunday, but the week starting Monday is available. It would just be nice to arrive on a weekend as my Italian acquaintance works. I try to arrive around the schedule of working people and when they will be off. I will definitely keep your hotel on my list. Thanks again.

Happy Travels!

kybourbon

The area is not that central (especially if you want to be near Centrale train station, not Cadorna), but the metro is handy.

http://www.atm-mi.it/en/Pages/default.aspx

>>>Then after 3 nights in Milan, fly back to Venice and stay with my friend<<<

It doesn't make sense to fly between these cities. The train takes only 2:35 (departs from Centrale)and cost is about 35€ (advance purchase discounts as cheap as 9€). MXP train station is an hour from Central Milan. LIN is a bit closer, but total time would still take longer than the train when you add check-in, etc.

Dukey1

I believe you can still fly N/S to Venice if you use delta and Atlanta and I certainly agree that flying between Venice-Milan is not a great idea unless you are flying onward on the same day.

zoecat

I suggest you fly "multi-city", into Milan and out of Venice. It may even be a cheaper flight than in/out of Venice.

HappyTrvlr

Antica Locanda Leonardo is a nice, quiet hotel near Cadorna Station,set back with an inner courtyard.Wonderful breakfasts.

Guenmai

Thanks folks.

Zoecat: My first choice was to fly "multi-city" as I do that quite a bit on other continents. But, when I looked at prices from L.A.-Milano-Venice-L.A., they were outrageous.

Kybourbon: I agree if I had more time. After my long flights from L.A. to Europe, I don't like to have to switch over to a train. Once I'm in an airport I stay there and continue flying on to my destination on the same day. That's what I did on the L.A.-Paris-Venice trip. Since I was already in CDG, I just waited for my flight on to Venice. Plus, the Venice portion of airfare for that flight was just added onto my international fare and wasn't that much extra.

I would prefer getting round trip airfare from L.A. to Venice and just tag on the Venice to Milano, rd trip airfare. After arriving into Venice, if there are flights soon after I have landed, then I'll just catch one on to Milano. And round trip tickets are cheaper than one way ones, so I'd fly back to Venice instead of taking the train. I'd also not have to schlep luggage as I would just check it through to Milano once I check in in L.A. Then in Milano, I would only have to get it back to the airport and fly back to Venice where my friend would be waiting for me with his car.

Dukey: Thanks for the Delta info. I'm a frequent flyer with them and took them from L.A.-Milano the time that I was on my way to Ghana. So, as soon as I have time, I'll look into an L.A. to Venice route.

Thanks again folks.

Happy Travels!

kybourbon

>>>The plan would be to fly to Venice, from L.A., (probably via Rome) and then fly between Venice and Milan, on the arrival day into Venice.<<<

The two airports with the most flights from the US will be Milan MXP and Rome FCO. They will typically have the lowest prices/most flight choices. Some VCE flights from the states are seasonal (summer only) and others usually involve a change in Europe somewhere (often CDG). Milan MXP is a trek from central Milan (about an hour by train or bus). The trains are city center to city center.

I would look at RT to Venice and just train between Milan/Venice. That would save transport costs and time by the time you factor in getting to the airports (Venice airport is in Mestre).

You might also look at Milan Linate (LIN). LIN is more central than MXP, but doesn't have as many flights (no non-stops from the states that I know of).

Guenmai

Thanks, Kybourbon. I'll look into it. Happy Travels!