Is there a good inexpensive hotel close to the central rail station in Milan?
Going to be in town just overnight and would like easy access to station since I'll be taking train to Venice the next day.

Was looking at Hotel San Francisco but that's 3 stops away on metro.
Thanks

There are lots, though I don't have a specific recommendation. Do be careful in that area at night, though: http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/...alstation.html

Mini Hotel Aosta - if it were any closer it would be IN the station. Book through venere.com.

I'm from NYC should I have to be that careful around the station?
Also has anyone heard about San Francisco hotel? Is it convenient?

I am from NJ (ten minutes by train from NYC) and have never had a problem in several visits to Milan.

Two summers ago I stayed at the Meridien adjacent to the station (won on Priceline) and it was a beautiful hotel. Mom and I took the metro, walked and she went to church on her own a few blocks away.

I would stay there again and the hotel was a bargain.

I was at a Best Western that was less than a kilometer from the stazione. It was an easy walk, in a decent neighborhood primarily made up of office towers. When you came out of the station, you went straight down a divided boulevard for a few blocks then turned left for a couple blocks. I was only there for 1 night, it was 2002, and I am sorry I don't have any more detail. Check the Best Western website.

Jeff

We stayed at the Hotel Garda one night 5/30/07 for 65 Euro (without breakfast - booked through Venere). About 3 blocks from the central train station - easy walk, easy to find. Nothing fancy, but clean with all needed amenities. I believe they have some more updated rooms - probably at higher prices. They always responded promptly to our direct e-mails after the Venere booking.

There was an interesting cafeteria style restaurant on a side street that cut the corner between the train station and the Garda Hotel - seemed family run - good food at very reasonable prices. Also, two large McDonalds, one with lovely outdoor seating on the square at the train station (there was, however, a tall security guard at the McDonalds?).

We didn't arrive in Milan until 4:00 p.m. but still had plenty of time to take the metro to see the Cathedral (lower part is currently scaffolded) and the Galleria - worth seeing, plus walk to the canal area.

The Hilton is about two blocks away.