DebitNM

I have what appears to be a great rate for Hotel Berna in late May [average 211 € /night] for their lowest level of room. I know this is a bit of a distance from the main tourist areas but we are only there for 3 nights. [1/2 day on arrival and departure, 2 full days in between]

We will come into and out of the train station so it seems like an easy way to handle that aspect of it. The metro seems like a convenient way to get to Duomo and other areas of interest.

I can stay 2/10 mile from Duomo for 253 €/night. in a brand new hotel. The Square.

Is The Berna too far/too much back and forth?

Thoughts??

Andrew

It's an OK area. As you said, the metro gets you to the Duomo etc. pretty quickly. I stayed only one night so it made more sense. Three nights? I might want to be closer in.

I stayed at the Le Méridien Gallia (now the Excelsior Hotel Gallia) in 2009. It was right on the square across from the hotel - not sure where the Berna is. Not an exciting area but felt safe enough.

bilboburgler

Not for me really, while the main drag around has been tidied up a lot recently there are areas close by with needles and prostitutes on the side streets, which, while well behaved are a little off putting. I've stayed but I would prefer to be more towards the central area.

Centrale is a wonderful station BTW and well worth an hour's walk around

WeisserTee

Not for me either. When we were there in May 2014, the Milano Centrale area was a giant construction zone and it didn't seem that construction was going to end any time soon. Maybe that's why you got such a great hotel deal. IMO, you'd be much happier at The Square, which looks like a nifty place.

In May, we stayed at the NH President, which we liked a lot, but I think the rate for May 2015 is above 275 euro per night (we paid about 220 euro a night in 2014 for a superior double with large balcony).

bvlenci

I really wouldn't stay near Milano Centrale unless I were only staying for one night.

We once stayed at the Hotel Ariston, which was an easy walk to the Duomo, and is cheaper than the hotel you're looking at. This past December, we stayed at the Hotel Ambasciatori, which is a stone's throw from the Duomo, but usually much more expensive. (We got a very good deal on booking.com.) There were other hotels in the area that cost less, but we wanted to be as close as possible to La Scala without taking out a mortgage.

The Ariston was a perfectly nice hotel, with very helpful staff. It's on a busy street with lots of shops, and there were good restaurant choices nearby.

HappyTrvlr

I wouldn't stay in that area for three days.

DebitNM

The London Hotel??

http://www.hotellondonmilano.com/en/

tarquin

We were there in late October and the area around the station has been extensively dug up for road changes etc. I would check that the work has been completed as it was chaotic then.

WeisserTee

The London Milano hotel looks fine, basic but fine. And it does have AC, which is a plus as you don't know what the weather will be like in late May. You probably won't need it, but nice to know that it's there if you do!

My only concern is that I noticed the bidet is in the bedroom in one or two of the photos. I hope the toilet gives you more privacy ;-) (I'm sure it does)

outwest

We spent 3 nights this past December at the Best Western Hotel Galles (chosen because I could get it with points). I was a bit worried about the location but it was no problem--we walked everywhere and didn't use transit once (even though the Lima Metro was right there). It was convenient to the train station (10 minute walk) and a 20 minute walk to the center.

DebitNM

OK, found this place and it looks really good at a decent price.

http://santamartasuites.com/

What do you think??

isabel

I stayed at Hotel Berna two years ago for 5 nights and am going back this summer as well. It's a couple blocks from the station so the traffic and all is not as bad as right next to the station yet it is so convenient for both the trains (I did several day trips) and the metro. Was at the duomo in five minutes.

The hotel itself is lovely inside and it had absolutely the best hotel breakfast I have ever had. It's a buffet and the selection (and quality) was incredible.

Only drawback was not a really great selection of restaurants right near by but as I said, the metro is right there and you can be at the Duomo stop in five minutes.

WeisserTee

I like that one! I don't know the immediate area but what a nice looking place...

(FWIW, Isabel, if you go to Lugano you will get a very similar breakfast at the Hotel Dante Lugano, they are sister properties. Did the Berna also have three kinds of hot chocolate fountains?)

HappyTrvlr

Santa Marta Suites looks nice, good location.

Dayle

debit,

Have you looked at Antica Locanda dei Mercanti? We stayed there back in 2005 and really liked it. Great location for sightseeing, easy walk to the Duomo, the Galleria, etc. Quiet, ped only street right next to the main shopping street full of designers.

This hotel won our vote for best beds and linens of a 3 week trip! I just checked and it still gets great reviews. Don't know about present pricing.

The room we had was tiny and the bathroom even smaller, but we still loved it. I do believe they have expanded within the building and have larger rooms now.

Definitely check it out.

Buon viaggio!

DebitNM

Dayle,
It's over $500 a night!!

Andrew

Probably a silly question for you, Deb, but: have you considered Priceline or Hotwire for this? Is this just a super busy time in Milan or are you hoping for hotel choice on this stay?

Dayle

Whoa! Glad we stayed there when it was relatively unknown and new, although I found it here on Fodor's as a reco. We paid $115/nt back in 2005.

Dayle

Could be a busy convention / fashion week in Milan. I don't follow that to know. That's the problem with the major business cities in Europe.

annw

We enjoyed Hotel Berna for 2 nights; it is around the corner from the station and we thought quite lovely, as did friends of ours to whom we recommended it. We took the metro in.

But, for 3 nights I'd be tempted to stay near The Duomo etc. as well if the price were tolerable.