Milan hotel suggestion...
#1
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Milan hotel suggestion...
We are flying into Milan for our trip next summer, and are planning one night in Milan before heading off to Umbria. We arrive in the early morning - will be jet-lagged from the long flight from California, but really want to see the Duomo in Milan.
Can you please suggest an affordable hotel within walking distance of the duomo? We would like to keep the room rate under $200 dollars if possible. I've seen many nice places on Tripadvisor, but many are very expensive.
Most likely after the long flight and some sight-seeing, we will crash and really don't want to splurge at this location, but do want to be comfortable. I am not very familiar with Milan, so any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.
Can you please suggest an affordable hotel within walking distance of the duomo? We would like to keep the room rate under $200 dollars if possible. I've seen many nice places on Tripadvisor, but many are very expensive.
Most likely after the long flight and some sight-seeing, we will crash and really don't want to splurge at this location, but do want to be comfortable. I am not very familiar with Milan, so any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.
#2
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There is a chronic shortage of hotel rooms in Milano because of the many trade shows in the city. Most people come on expense accounts. Hotel rooms near the Duomo are often the most expensive of all.
Cheap and budget hotel rooms are often not good at all, so don't book a room until you've read multiple reviews.
Use the Fodor's search feature to see if you can find other specific recommendations. Try venere.com for recommendations. Or the eurocheapo website, but double check against Tripadvisor, etc.
Since you can't check into a hotel until after 12pm, and often not until 3pm, you might consider the following:
Take the airport bus shuttle from Malpensa to Milano Centrale. Stow your luggage in the left luggage room. Take the subway (or a cab) to the Duomo. Enjoy it and the neighboring galleria (where you can get a stiff cup of coffee or a fortifying glass of wine. Return to the station. Get your luggage. Take a train to Umbria, or anyplace cheaper than Milan. You'll arrive in time for check-in there.
Piacenza might be a very nice, inexpensive place to sleep, despite its violent history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piacenza
If you were planning to rent a car in Milano the next day and drive to Umbria, you can rent the car in Piacenza (or anyplace else you go).
Cheap and budget hotel rooms are often not good at all, so don't book a room until you've read multiple reviews.
Use the Fodor's search feature to see if you can find other specific recommendations. Try venere.com for recommendations. Or the eurocheapo website, but double check against Tripadvisor, etc.
Since you can't check into a hotel until after 12pm, and often not until 3pm, you might consider the following:
Take the airport bus shuttle from Malpensa to Milano Centrale. Stow your luggage in the left luggage room. Take the subway (or a cab) to the Duomo. Enjoy it and the neighboring galleria (where you can get a stiff cup of coffee or a fortifying glass of wine. Return to the station. Get your luggage. Take a train to Umbria, or anyplace cheaper than Milan. You'll arrive in time for check-in there.
Piacenza might be a very nice, inexpensive place to sleep, despite its violent history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piacenza
If you were planning to rent a car in Milano the next day and drive to Umbria, you can rent the car in Piacenza (or anyplace else you go).
#3
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Thank you - that's a good idea. I had not considered staying anywhere but Milan that first night. We have a villa booked in Umbria Saturday to Saturday, so I've been focused on finding one night in Milan. Since we are there all day, your idea might just be a great one. I'm just worried that we'll be very tired. But, I'll check out Piacenza.
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If you don't mind a bit of backtracking, you could also consider taking the one-hour bus trip from Malpensa directly to the town of Stresa on Lago Maggiore. That is north of the city, but there is a train station there, and after a night's sleep, you could take a morning train into Milan, store your luggage at the train station, see the Duomo, and then move on to Umbria.
You might still need to wait in Stresa until your hotel was ready for occupancy. But you could enjoy the lakeside promenade or a boat trip to its islands, which might be less abrasive than moving around Milano and taking another train.
You can do a search here on Fodor's for hotel recommendations in Stresa, or check venere.com.
You might still need to wait in Stresa until your hotel was ready for occupancy. But you could enjoy the lakeside promenade or a boat trip to its islands, which might be less abrasive than moving around Milano and taking another train.
You can do a search here on Fodor's for hotel recommendations in Stresa, or check venere.com.
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Hi
I stayed overnight at the Hotel Spadari last May (www.spadarihotel.com) and liked the hotel very much. Just around the corner from the Duomo. It may be just slightly more than your budget, but worth it.
Johanna
I stayed overnight at the Hotel Spadari last May (www.spadarihotel.com) and liked the hotel very much. Just around the corner from the Duomo. It may be just slightly more than your budget, but worth it.
Johanna
#8
The Spadari is very nice but is definitely over your budget. A double room in late July is 208 euros.
The Hotel Star, also near the Duomo, is running an internet special rate for late July of 162 euros. It's obviously not as nice a hotel as the Spadari, but it's been more than adequate for us for several one-night stays on arrival or departure.
http://www.hotelstar.it/
The Hotel Star, also near the Duomo, is running an internet special rate for late July of 162 euros. It's obviously not as nice a hotel as the Spadari, but it's been more than adequate for us for several one-night stays on arrival or departure.
http://www.hotelstar.it/
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Thanks for the suggestions... I am checking into the Antica Locanda Leonardo -
Spadari looks beautiful but is a little out of our price range. We are 7, and need at least 2 double rooms and 1 triple to accomodate us.
I am also thinking that maybe we will get a place by Malpensa airport. Store our luggage there and then head into Milan by train (possible?) spend the day, and return by train back to the hotel. I assume if the hotel is near the airport, it would also be a good location to pick up a rental car to head to Umbria the following day. Any thoughts on that idea??
Spadari looks beautiful but is a little out of our price range. We are 7, and need at least 2 double rooms and 1 triple to accomodate us.
I am also thinking that maybe we will get a place by Malpensa airport. Store our luggage there and then head into Milan by train (possible?) spend the day, and return by train back to the hotel. I assume if the hotel is near the airport, it would also be a good location to pick up a rental car to head to Umbria the following day. Any thoughts on that idea??
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A few years ago we flew into Milan from the U.S.,,,,arrived somewhat jet lagged of course. We took the airport bus into Centrale train Station (North of "downtown" Milan), about 1 hr from airport.THen we walked across the big square/park to our lovely , modern hotel for the night.
Got checked in ,,,and then took the metro only 4 stops to the very center of Milan, close to the Duomo. We then spent a few hours walking that beautiful part of Milan.,,,Galleria, Duomo, etc....very interesing.
Returned to the hotel...and the next morning took the train north to Como! You will be going a different way,but this might work.
Wish I could remember the nice hotel...Seems like a modern Best Western that started with an "A" (maybe it's not with them anymore),,but there are lots of hotels around the square at Centrale Station. Lovely area.
Will you be heading to Umbria in a rental car, OR train to another town to pick up the car?
Got checked in ,,,and then took the metro only 4 stops to the very center of Milan, close to the Duomo. We then spent a few hours walking that beautiful part of Milan.,,,Galleria, Duomo, etc....very interesing.
Returned to the hotel...and the next morning took the train north to Como! You will be going a different way,but this might work.
Wish I could remember the nice hotel...Seems like a modern Best Western that started with an "A" (maybe it's not with them anymore),,but there are lots of hotels around the square at Centrale Station. Lovely area.
Will you be heading to Umbria in a rental car, OR train to another town to pick up the car?
#12
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We haven't decided where to pick up the car. I think we will have our best luck picking it up in Milan, because we will need a large van to fit all 7 of us and luggage. Some of the smaller rental car agencies may not have the larger cars available. If we don't get the car in Milan - which city on the way to Umbria (Spoleto) would be our best bet?
#13
I think with the number of people you have plus luggage, it's probably a good idea to load up in a rental car at Malpensa. Otherwise, you have to get the group from Malpensa to Milano Centrale, on and off a train there, off a train somewhere and THEN get the car. (However, if you like the idea of a train ride on your first day, there is a car rental at Spoleto, about a 10-minute cab ride from the train station.)
We're also from California and have used that flight into Milan several times. Most of you will probably have the energy to go into the city for the day, but a hotel at the airport would allow for those who just want to crash.
I'd suggest you take either the train or the bus into the city and use the other to return to Malpensa. Then you can work your way across the city without backtracking. The train goes to the Cadorna Nord station and the bus goes to the Centrale station.
We're also from California and have used that flight into Milan several times. Most of you will probably have the energy to go into the city for the day, but a hotel at the airport would allow for those who just want to crash.
I'd suggest you take either the train or the bus into the city and use the other to return to Malpensa. Then you can work your way across the city without backtracking. The train goes to the Cadorna Nord station and the bus goes to the Centrale station.
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I assume you are planning to pick up your car on Saturday, and drive it to your destination near Spoleto.
If you don't pick up your car in Milan, you will run up against finding a location with a 9 person van, and car rental locations that close at 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday.
I would just take the bus from Malpensa to Milano Centrale and stay at a hotel near that location. You can then pick up the car near there.
If you go to the Hertz website, and pick corportate location Duca D'Aosta, you can see it's right by Milano Centrale. The Hertz website also has a feature to link the location on Google maps, and you can get a pretty good idea how far/difficult it will be to get out of the city.
The only other thing I would add is that even if you get a 9 person van and plan to put luggage on the 2 vacant seats, you could still be hard pressed to get everything in, so make everyone pack really light.
If you don't pick up your car in Milan, you will run up against finding a location with a 9 person van, and car rental locations that close at 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday.
I would just take the bus from Malpensa to Milano Centrale and stay at a hotel near that location. You can then pick up the car near there.
If you go to the Hertz website, and pick corportate location Duca D'Aosta, you can see it's right by Milano Centrale. The Hertz website also has a feature to link the location on Google maps, and you can get a pretty good idea how far/difficult it will be to get out of the city.
The only other thing I would add is that even if you get a 9 person van and plan to put luggage on the 2 vacant seats, you could still be hard pressed to get everything in, so make everyone pack really light.
#15
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Thanks for the suggestions on getting to Milan and where to get the car. We had a 9 passenger Fiat Ducato Van for our group in 2007 and had plenty of room.
I read a good review on tripadvisor for Hotel Berna near Centrale Station. Can anyone else comment on that hotel? Thanks!
I read a good review on tripadvisor for Hotel Berna near Centrale Station. Can anyone else comment on that hotel? Thanks!
#16
We needed to pick up a large car in Milan from Hertz and had to go to a special location to get it, not at either airport. It was in a small town near Linate; the taxi ride there was not too expensive.It was listed as pickup "downtown Milan" which caused quite a bit of confusion until the manager of our hotel called directly to the pick up location to clarify. ( the name of the town was also a street name in Milan)They told us that all "large cars", at least with Hertz, have to be picked up there. It was a great car,good rate, no problems once we found it.Easy access to Autostrada.
#17
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Thanks to everyone for their hotel suggestions. We decided to splurge a little and stay at the Hotel Spadari based on good reviews here and on Trip Advisor. I want to be comfy and in a good location our first night in Italy.
We are still working on where to get our rental car... thanks for all the good ideas...
We are still working on where to get our rental car... thanks for all the good ideas...