We are going to Milan for a week in March, would appreciate to receive all info of how to get around (public transportations Or taxi) <BR>Please recommend a hotel, (clean with private bath) and centrally located. <BR>Best way from MXP to hotel <BR>Thanks

<BR>Getting from MXP (Malpensa Airport) into Milan <BR> ------------------------ <BR>Option 1 -- Taxi, however it's an expensive ride. MXP is a good 30 (or 35 ?) miles outside the city. Guidebooks suggest taxi will run around $80 to $100. <BR> <BR>Option 2 -- Malpensa Express (www.malpensaexpress.com) . This is a very nice train that began running just a few years ago and goes from the airport (terminal 2, but double check on website) into the metro train stop in Milan, called Cadorna. Although it's called an express, some of the runs make 2 quick stops, at 'Saronno' and at 'Milano Bovisa'. Trip from airport to Cadorna takes 50 minutes and costs 14,000 lire (about $7 USD) or a bit less if you've flown in on Alitalia Airlines. The Cardorna (also may be referred to as NORD) is a metro stop that is on the junction of both Line 1 (red) and Line 2 (green). From this point you can continue on metro or take a taxi or (if close enough) walk to your hotel. Malpensa Express is clean - it's fast - it's an easy way to get in/out of the city. When I departed from Italy I stayed a day & night in Milan & travelled to the airport using the train. <BR> <BR>Option 3 -- Malpensa Shuttle . This is a shuttle bus, costs about same as train (actually I think it was 1,000 or 2k lire less). Purchase your 'biglietto' (Italian for ticket)& walk outside (again I think I was in terminal 2) and you can take the shuttle bus into the city, direct to Milano Stazione Centrale. Shuttle bus loads your luggage underneath & stops in front of Stazione Centrale, which is the main train station to make connections on to other cities throughout Italy. If you need to make a train connection (which is what I did when I flew into Milano in Oct), then the shuttle bus is the more convenient choice. However because you're traveling amidst traffic it may take a bit longer than their billed "45-50 minutes". I arrived early at 8:00 am and found that it also was a bit crowded (everyone's landing in the a.m.), and did have to wait for a 2nd bus to get on. Once you arrive @ 'Centrale', again you can either continue via metro or taxi or foot (although i don't think the better hotels are close to Centrale). <BR>

Mary -- <BR> <BR>As for hotels suggestions, my stay in Milan was brief and so I wanted a place that was clean, well located and reasonably priced (read 'cheap') --- Milan has alot of business travellers and so, doesn't have the charming or romantic accomadations as can be found in other Italian cities. For my purposes, I found the 'London Hotel' to be fine. It's a small hotel (30 rooms) on a quiet side street - Via Rovello - and yet close to the sites (Duomo, Castello Sforzesco, La Scala). I paid 135,000 lire for a single (bathroom ensuite). Doubles run between 200,000 - 230,000 lire (a few are 'bathroom down the hall' rooms). It's around the corner from the Cairoli metro stop. E-mail: [email protected] <BR> <BR>Another place that I considered (but was outside my price range) is Antica Locanda dei Mercanti. Also located in the city center near the Duomo. It's close to the Cordusio metro stop on Via San Tomaso, e-mail: [email protected] - <BR>Prices per Karen Brown's guidebook list their doubles from 210,000 to 400,000 lire. You can read her description of this place on her website (www.karenbrown.com).

Mary, I would wonder why you are going to stay for a week in Milan? Is it for business? If not, please get out of that big city and into some of the more beautiful parts of Italy. Milan is a big post WWII city and very spread out. I wonder what your centrally located means---central to the Duomo? I would certainly take public transportation from Malpensa--it's not very well located at all.

<BR>Sorry to say there's not many Milano lovers in this crowd. It is Italy's most modern city -- and with this group, not as popular a destination as compared to Rome-Florence-Venice. <BR> <BR>Anyone else with a good hotel suggestion for Mary? <BR> <BR>

We stayed at the Hotel Bristol which is near Stazzione Centrale, the main train station. It was clean, had an efficient staff and we were satisfied. Check out its website--www.hotelbristolmil.it <BR>While not one of the prime tourist destinations in Italy, it is certainly worth a couple days' stay. <BR>A visit to the Duomo (Italy's largest and the third largest in the world) is must, and make sure you climb to the top. From there, it's a easy walk to the neighboring Galleria and Via Manzoni, the fashion capitol of the world. Even if you don't show (prices are high), it's definitely an experience to tour the area. From there, go to La Scala and visit the museum (which includes a look at the famous opera). And, if the weather is agreeable, sit in an outdoor cafe in the Duomo area. There are other sights, as well. <BR>However, I raise the question that a previous poster did: Why are you spending the entire week there? The Lake Como area, for one, is very close. You can take a 40-minute trainride to the city of Como and then a choice of destinations via ferry on Lake Como, each taking less than an hour. That area is truly magnificent.

Stayed at the Gran Duca di York. It was reasonable (clean with private bath) and was located not far from the duomo.

I love Milan but have to agree that a week spent there should include at least a day trip to Como/ferry ride around Lake Como. Very easy and extremely worthwhile.

Thanks for all the information. Will take a trip to Como, maybe 2 to 3 days in Venice. <BR>Any interesting places to eat?

We stayed at the Spadari Al Duomo. $200 US for a jr suite, so a double would be much cheaper. Includes a full cooked breakfast too. Right off the Duomo Square. Loads of great resturants in the area. All recommended by the very wonderful staff. Ai mercanti (on the piazza Mercanti), Peppinos, Ai Romano... Ah the memories! We had a great meal every night. Took the day trip to Como, but didn't make it to the Certosa (bus trip). Next year!