kappa1, I saw different rates for the other hotels in the group, but for the Aosta, the only one I got was €420! We're looking for something the night of May 19.

Basically, I'm looking for a clean, safe hotel that is within pretty easy walking distance of Centrale and preferably close to the Duomo as well, for around €100.

Meant to say - we don't need to be in the poshest part of town or anything, but as two women traveling in a city we're completely unfamiliar with, I do want to be in a safe area. A little bit longer walk to the station is an acceptable tradeoff for me (though I'm still hoping for 15-20 minute walk max).

Basically, I've never been to Milan and I don't know what's realistic. But that's the hope. :)

It's possible Aosta hotel's site is not loaded with reduced rates for May 2011. Go to venere.com (that I use often and I think it's an Italian site). That shows suprisingly only a few hotels in the station area. Either it's too early or other reasons. Anyway, there 4* Berna is €113 for your date. So I expect Aosta 3* to be less than that. Just a bit too early so the site is not ready, that's my guess.

In the same area close to Berna, I see Delle Nazioni 3* for €81. But I don't know the hotel. You can check the reviews on the venere and also on TA to get some ideas.

While I completely agree to stay in Milan (love this city!), IF you ever have an early flight and need to stay by Malpensa I recommend the Holiday Inn Express. There is a free airport shuttle, rooms are very nice, nice breakfast is included. We paid $65/double on May 2010. We walked to a nearby hamlet with two restaurants. We picked wisely; great food at a Momma & Poppa adjacent to the hamlet general store. We took the Malpensa Express bus from Milan Central bus station to the airport and then we hop on an airport shuttle that does the rounds around neighboriong hotels. We paid $8/total per person Milan to hotel to airport; all very convenient. Doubt you can beat that price.

We stayed in a very nice Ibis hotel (Accor hotel group) about 15 min walk from Centrale last year that cost something like 60 euro booked in advance

I would book a room in Milan at Antica Locanda Leonardo. It is located within walking distance to Cadorna Station and the train to Malpensa and the "The Last Supper". We loved this small quiet hotel , wonderful breakfast, attentive, helpful staff. We used the tram out in front of the hotel to go to the Duomo but also walked there. www.anticalocandaleonardo.com

Kappa1 mentions Delle Nazioni, which is the same hotel I mentioned earlier. Perfectly functional and safe. Has the ambience of a dormitory. Very convenient to Centrale station. I would stay there again to save a buck, but I'd be prepared for a less than thrilling hotel finish to my Italian stay. (But that is true of the airport hotels as well.)

Personally, I would not book any millan hotel this early unless it has an excellent 24 hour cancellation policy.

I also see the news above that the new Sheraton at Malpensa is accepting guests while only half finished. I would guess it would be finished by May 2011 (but in Italy, you never know!) and the promotional rates will disappear. But even if you have a crushingly early flight out and are thus tempted to book it, you still might find it worth your while to stow your luggage at the train station before heading out there and load up on food in Milan to take with you for dinner rather than rely on airport hotel food.

A website that I have sometimes found gives me good discout deals in Milano in Holiday City. Double check its reviews against those on Tripadvisor.

Good luck!

jent -- regarding the airport train from Malpensa

My information isn't any better than kybourbon's, which is that by the time you are traveling, you'll have the option of traveling by train to the airport from Milano Centrale.

try the grande duca de York hotel....its near the dumo and reasonable price...they will actually make reservations for you for the last supper if you ask them just hop on the tram for several stops to the venue....also the hotel is well within comfortable walking distance of the dumo and the dumo metro stop which will take up directly to the metro directly at milano centrale for the bus...or conversely if you wanna take the Malpensa express it is a few metro stops to cardona station where the express originates...ciao ciao

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. The reviews on TripAdvisor for Delle Nazione are not at all good, generally. By all the lack of availability I'm finding, I do wonder if it's just too early to book for a lot of these places (which seems strange to say only six months out, but whatever). For everywhere else on our trip, I've wanted to book to make sure we get the place we want, but for one night in Milan we can probably wait a bit.

The trains to Malpensa from Centrale are supposed to be two per hour after the first of the year.

I'm surprised the Aosta had that high rate. Milan has lots of exhibitions, etc. so if something is going on usually all the rates are high.

> By all the lack of availability I'm finding, I do wonder if it's just too early to book for a lot of these places (which seems strange to say only six months out, but whatever).

Yes, May is not that far. Another explanation is your date falls on one(s) of the many fairs/trade shows in Milano. That would explain why the booking sites give only few hotels available. FYI there seem to be the following events :

2011/05/20 - 2011/05/23: - CHIBIDUE, International Exhibition of Costume Jewellery, Fashion and HairAccessories

2011/05/21 - 2011/05/23: - MODAPRIMA 70, Previews of programmed-fashion collections and ready-to-wear, men and women's clothing and2 fairs :

I don't know how important these events are but considering Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world, these could be quite big. Then that explains why Aosta has no reduced rates. But then Berna's €113 looks a bargain. Don't they apply fair rates? Or they have only a very limited number of rooms at that rate? All speculations though.

kybourbon, thanks for the additional information!

kappa1, I did wonder about that (I was stuck with high hotel rates in Chicago last summer after U2 picked the one weekend with about 75 conventions in town to come play ;) ). I'll keep looking.

Did anyone have thoughts on the location of the Doria Grand? It gets good reviews, the nonrefundable internet rate fits our budget, and it's very close to Centrale (which may or may not be a good thing, I'm learning).

http://www.doriagrandhotel.it/hotel-...hereweare.html

Nobody? Bueller? ;)

Have you looked at Antica Locanda Leonardo near transportation to airport and the
the Last Supper"? One of my favorite hotels.

I have - you're not the first to suggest it! :) The least expensive rate listed for a double is €165, though, which is about €65 more than we'd like to spend. I'm keeping it in mind, though.

kybourbon - I think I was getting Hotel Berna mixed up with somewhere else when I mentioned some of the TA reviews saying the area wasn't great. I looked through the first ten pages again today and didn't see anything like that. I've sent it to my friend and will book it if she's OK with it - just wanted to say thank you for the suggestion!

Well jent103, I think Milan has something fascinating! I stayed there for the fashion week and I suggest you to stay at Hotel Manzoni (http://www.hotelmanzoni.com/). The hotel's location on a quiet street in the middle of the Quadrilatero della moda, just a short walk from the Piazza del Duomo and La Scala, as well as public transportation, is perfect for a visit to Milan. Hotel Manzoni provided also the transfer to and from the Airport and Train Stations. Staff was very helpful and gave me every information about tickets and guided tours.
My room was perfect with a huge bathroom!
I hope that your journey will be amazing!! Good Luck!

Sorry for the wrong link :P http://www.hotelmanzoni.com/