Milan hotel?
 

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a hotel in Milan, (3 starish - just a place to sleep off our jet lag) within walking distance of Milano CENTRALE station?

Bruce
Winnipeg

If you are sleeping off your jet lag, you are probably coming from Malpensa, and instead of staying near Milano Centrale, why not pick something within walking distance of Cadorna Station -- which is where the express train from Malpensa arrives in Milano.

My recommendation would be Palazzo Delle Stellne.

If you must have the train station area, I recommend the Madison, which despite being a 4 star often has less-than-stratospheric prices.

Thank you for the information. I picked that area because our next step is to take the train to Cinque Terre.

Bruce

Hi,

I'm still going to recommend the Cadorna area, because once you sleep off your jet leg, you might want to get up and walk around a bit, and that's a much nicer area to do it with a lot more restaurants. In the morning, you could even take a half hour to see Da Vinci's Last Supper, just steps away, if you've made a reservation in advance.

Somewhat cheaper than the Madison, but not much is a hotel in the train station area called the Delle Nazionale (it's a Tulip hotel). Very safe, very nice staff, but it has a kind of dorm room feel. There is nothing terrible wrong with the train station area. It just is a lousy introduction to Milano.

Taking the train to Cadorna Station on the Malpensa Xpress is easier but more expensive than the bus to Centrale Station. Add to that a cab ride in the morning to Centrale, and you might not want to add those costs to your budget. But if that's not the prime consideration, you'll have a better experience of Milano outside the train station area.

Since you would be most likely taking the Malpensa airport shuttle from Malpensa Airport into Milano Centrale Train station, I would recommend the Hotel Sara located near Piazza Loreto:

Hotel Sara (2**)
Via Sacchini, 17
20131 Milano

www.Hotelsara.it
tel 011 39 02 20 17 73
fax 011 39 02 29 52 96 14
email: [email protected]

I have stayed there many times for its close proximity to the train station for early morning train and/or airport departures (it is under 10 mins ride by taxi to station). While it is not a 3* hotel, it is a very nice, clean, comfortable property that is family owned. Rates for a double room with bathroom are ~60 euros and include a continental breakfast.

TW, plan on your train trip from Milano Centrale to the Cinque Terre to take approx. 3 hours +/- because of stops at Genoa's Principe train station and most likely another stop along the coast Sestri Levante, Rapallo, etc) before reaching your CT town.

Huitres,

I agree with you that the Sara looks like a great deal, is a short taxi or subway ride from Centrale, and I don't doubt your recommendation for a second. I may try it myself the next time I'm in Milano, so I'm grateful you keep bringing it up.

But the prices you quote are different from those shown on the website, which give € 72,00 for a double with breakfast in the low season only, and €140,00 in the high season.

Often small B&Bs have a discount for those who pay in cash (or longtime clients), and perhaps that brings it down to €60 for you?

Also, I learned this from another Fodor's poster just the other day: There are trains departing from Milano Centrale that go straight through to Monterosso, etc. without a change in Genova.

Hi nessundorma: I do keep plugging the Hotel Sara because I think it is one of the best kept secrets in Milan and the lowest out there. That is especially important to me since it is a centrally-located hotel and very convenient. I paid 60 euros recently (5 mos ago) and do know the hotel offers a discount to those paying cash euros (vs credit card). I don't think that was a preferential price, but I have stayed there several times and pay that rate.

From what you've heard, even though there may not be a stop at either Genoa's Principe or Brignole stations, there is inevitably a stop along one or more of the coastal towns enroute to the Cinque Terre. I travel this route several times a year and wish there was a "non-stop" direct version train but there isn't! I have taken a couple trains that don't stop in Genoa, but always seem to stop in either Sestri Levante or Rapallo for some reason. I'll be going again next month so I will have to see what changes have occurred - hopefully for the better! :)

Let us know about Sara.

As for the train to Liguria, it makes a lot of stops! I thought we were only referring to train changes, where you have walk across a platform to get on another train. I think it is possible to get a "one-seat" ride to Monterosso al Mare from Milano Centrale.

Wait -- now that you mention it, there is that glitch. So let us know what you find out next month too. Enjoy the pesto!

Thank you(s) everyone for all the great information.
Bruce

We booked the Hotel Berna (near Milano Centrale). The reviews were excellent!

Anyone with experience in this hotel please share with me.

Here is a link to tripadvisor for the review.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Lombardy.html

For another choice look at the Hotel San Francisco, which is a short taxi ride from the Central Station. We used it as an overnight when we needed to take a morning train to Desenzano. It is on a quiet,tree-lined street, and if you have a room at the back you will have a small balcony overlooking a garden. Sorry, I don't remember the price, but it is easily googled.

Here's one we stayed in last year - Hotel Antica Locanda Leonardo. Only 2 walking minutes away from S. Maria de Grazie which houses da Vinci's The Last Supper and about 5 minutes away from Cadorna Station.

http://www.anticalocandaleonardo.com/en/index.htm

Hey SJREED.... what was the Berna like? I am thinking of staying there at the end of August. Would you recommend it?