Will be in Milan the end of March, beginning of April for a few days.
1. Any recommendations for escorted tours in the area, both single day tours and those up to 3 days?
2. Would appreciate tips/suggestions from anyone that may have driven these areas.
3. Hotel and dining suggestions aslo appreciated.
Thank you.

Here's my dining suggetion in Milan.

Tratoria Milanese. A family style restaurant that's very popular with the locals (our hotel concierge was pleasantly surprised at our choice when we asked him to call for reservations) and has some of the best risotto and osso buco (Milanese style) dish in town.

I have to disagree about Trattoria Milanese. We went there this past July and were disappointed. It seemed to me to be a place which was once good and is now living off its prior reputation. I had the colteletta Milanese, supposedly their specialty, it was dry and boring. My wife's meal was equally forgettable.
On another night, however, we ate at da Puccini, Via S. Giovanni sul Muro, 5. It was very early (we arrived when they opened) and were the only ones in the restaurant initially (usually not a good sign.) The food and service were fantastic, however, and their wine list was excellent. By the time we left the place was full. It was one of our best meals we had on that trip.
Personally, I'm not big on escorted tours. But, I can see their usefulness in a city like Rome where there are so many things to see, and they are so spread out. Milan, on the other hand, is fairly compact. The Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Rinascente, and La Scala are all within a short distance from each other. Pinacoteca Brera (Milan's most famous art museum) and Castello Sforzesco (it's immense medieval castle) are only a 5-10 minute walk. The only attractions somewhat out of the way are Santa Maria delle Grazie (The Last Supper) and Giardini Pubblici. But both of them are easily accessible by mass transit. Thus, I don't really see a need for a guided tour. Just get a good street map and start walking.

The mushroom risotto (drizzled with truffle oil), the tripe dish and that fork-tender osso buco were so simply prepared, yet bursting with fresh flavor when we dined there during the end of October. Two other tables around us were also happily partaking on their osso buco and risotto dishes.

The 97 Famiglia Anselmo Barolo that was decently priced turned out to be a perfect compliment to the dishes.

Nothing against the disagreement by the previous poster, but I thought I'd substantiate my suggestion with some recent first-hand information.

Hello myra, if you want to go to a special restaurant while in Milan you might want to check out the restaurant Boeucc which is at the Piazza Belgoioso. It is walking distant from the LaScala Opera House. It is the oldest restaurant in Milan. They serve traditional Milenese dishes. It is not inexpensive but if you want a special evening with a wonderful dinner this might be a restaurant for you to check out.

Milan is the home of "Leonardo's Horse"--the largest equestrian sculpture in the world.