Hello,

We're going to be in Milan for two nights and would greatly appreciate some hotel advice. We've narrowed it down to the places below and are prepared to splurge if it sounds worth it (it is vacation, after all!):

Park Hyatt
Spadari al duomo
Hotel de la ville
Hotel Gray

Much obliged!

I had to cancel my reseveration for Hotel Spadari al Duomo unfortunately. However, I, personally, would choose this hotel first and then Park Hyatt next-I heard it's very good.

I've just checked out the Web sites of the Park Hyatt and the Spadari. The Spadari seems much less expensive than the Park Hyatt, which came up with a room rate of 560 Euros for one night!

If you're thinking about spending that much, why not be the first one on your block, in your city, in your state, for all I know, in the U.S., to stay at the Hotel Bulgari. This is what today's New York Times Travel section had to say about it:

A Garden Is a Jewel at Bulgari's First Hotel

Published: June 13, 2004

In jockeying for position in Milan's growing high-end hotel market, the recently opened Bulgari Hotel offers a premium commodity: a large private garden as charming as it is unexpected, right in the brick and cement heart of downtown, just a five-minute walk to La Scala.

The 52-room Bulgari is the first of seven luxury hotels and resorts planned by the Italian jewelry maker in partnership with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. A resort is expected to open in Bali late next year and other planned locations include Rome, Paris, London and New York.

If Ritz contributed its experience to the joint venture, Bulgari's contemporary style has set the tone for the décor, a casual streamlined elegance whose minimalist design is softened through the abundant use of natural materials. Antonio Citterio & Partners restored a former late-19th-century convent by blending local travertine and Vicenza stone - echoes of Italy's classical past - with black-matte marble from Zimbabwe.

The rooms are sizeable, with walk-in closets. Teak floors, bronze detailing and natural fibers are the recurrent notes in the chic but cozy rooms, while the brown, beige and tobacco palette is a bow not only the hotel's garden but also to the 18th-century botanical gardens just on the other side of a white wall from the hotel. Attention is given to the extras, from the designer door handles, to the six pillows on each bed, to the toiletry products: Bulgari's Green Tea line.

The stylish restaurant, its oval interior reminiscent of its earlier incarnation as a chapel, has floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto a terrace and outdoor lounge. Like the interior decoration, natural ingredients define the restaurant's cuisine, which offers Italian favorites with a contemporary touch.

Cigar lovers - not just guests - can puff away (and sip rare cognacs and rums that run from about $15 to nearly $1,000 a glass) in an adjacent room lined with old photographs of Bulgari-shopping celebrities, like Merle Oberon. The compact spa and wellness center, which includes a 33-foot pool, is also open to the public.

The hotel, which opened last month, offers private in-room check-in, packing and unpacking assistance, high-speed Internet access and free use of wireless laptops. Through August, the introductory rate for a superior double room is $560, at $1.25 to the euro; $700 afterward. Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, Via Privata Fratelli Gabba 7b, Milan, (39-02) 805-8051, fax (39-02) 8058-05222; www.bulgarihotels.com.

Re: Hotel Bulgari there is a comment about it in the June 2004 issue of Travel & Leisure magazine. The article's heading is "Hotel Couture", pg. 166.

Looks like a typical minimalist type of hotel and very very expensive.

Thanks for the suggestions. The Bulgari (and the Park Hyatt, for that matter) are a bit out of our league but I'd love to hear about any experiences with either. Looks like we'll Hotel de la Ville one night and Spadari the other. And then I'll come back to Fodor's with details for everyone.

I have stayed at the Gray twice, and quite enjoyed it. It is about 50 feet from the Duomo. The décor is quite modern, very clean lines, flat screen TVs, etc. I think room size varies quite a bit, you might ask about that. One of the rooms has a small gym area with weights. It is on a quiet street, so even the rooms facing the front are fine, although sometimes in the early morning you hear delivery trucks, but welcome to Europe. They have a small but nice bar.

It seems you are looking for modern hotels, but if not I would suggest you consider the Grand Hotel et de Milan and the Principe di Savoia. The first is also quite close to the Duomo, and the other is a larger but wonderful hotel a bit further away, not walkable to the Duomo area. It used to be a Westin/Sheraton.

You should stop by and have a meal at the Bulgari just to see it, it is quite something. Their main restaurant is surprisingly inexpensive, IMO, esp for lunch.

And also stop for a drink at the Four Seasons. Its a stunning hotel, right in the middle of the shopping district. Beautiful rooms, very quiet. Very expensive too, but if you have a drink in the lobby, people watching is great. Go have dinner at Bice!

Thanks, everyone! Trip report coming soon...

I'm frequently in Milan & always check out the Jolly hotels & Starhotel web sites. They're all 4 star hotels & mostly in the centre. Week-end rates & last minute rates (I've always found vacancies) are always very good ataround €99 per room.

From my readings of current travel magazines it would seem that the Sheraton Diana Majestic is very popular as is the Park Hyatt also. I would be very interested in any views about the Milan Hilton as it appears well located and relatively reasonable in price.

The Milan Hilton is not situated very close to the centre & with the traffic it takes over a half hour to get to anywhere.

Clark55 - I have a totally different impression ! The description of location reads - " a stay in the commercial heart of the City, close to the historical centre and the fashion triangle, with Central Station, the underground and airport shuttles nearby ...... One block from the main railway station and one block from the yellow and green subways lines ", Where is it half an hour from ?

While it is not what I'd call a glamorous hotel, we liked the Hotel Lloyd in Milan. Very centrally located within walking distance of the Duomo. They have special weekend and August rates, making them more affordable for tourists than the published rack rates appear. Rooms are a bit like a Marriott. Our bathroom was enormous, and with phone. They have a very nice breakfast room with a generous & varied buffet. I suspect this hotel is frequented by business travellers. I've posted their website here in the past, so if you put Lloyd Hotel in the search box, you should find it.