Milan Hotels-need to ask
 

Hi all,
I read through all the reviews/comments on hotels back a year or so-but still have questions.

I have never been to Milan but DH was last year briefly. When we come this year in July we will be staying two nights and expect to hit a few of the musuems and the Last Supper. DH suggested we stay in the Central district near the Duomo.

We generally like to stay in interesting places in a clean/quiet areas- so long as its on the cheapo end of the scale-have rarely paid over 100euros anywhere. I went through all the recommendations on this site back a ways and through some of the websites suggested and it looks like we will have trouble getting anything fitting that description, for under $120 euros at least, and more we suppose if we want airconditioning. The only 99 euro one that came up was the Hotel Star.
So my question is- how critical in Milan is staying in the Central district? We are used to public transit-so that isn't an issue, nor do we stay out late or have to leave early. Is there a not too far away area/street we should focus on? Or does anyone know have any recent recommendations that fit these impossible parameters?
Thanks much.

Milan's subway is pretty efficient, and covers a lot of area. I think that as long as your hotel is close to a subway stop, you can stay outside the Duomo area.

Unfortunately, Milan is one of those towns where quality and safety is directly keyed to price: The less you spend, the less you will get of both.

Have you tried looking on Holiday City for bargains? My usual strategy is to check out what's there in my preferred price range, and then check out the reviews on tripadvisor.com.

If you stay in the area of the Central Train station, it is not actually in the "centro" but it is very easy to get to the Duomo area. Although the area looks very seedy, it is not truly dangerous and hotels in that area are well-secured.

Some Fodorites have reported having perfectly acceptable hotel stays there at not exorbitnant rates.

Finally, if you see a hotel you like, book it. Good rooms in Milan at a low price are always at a premium.

I have stayed at this hotel but it gets mostly good reviews on TripAdvisor and it looks like you might get a good rate by booking through Holiday City.

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

Sorry -- my above post should read that I have NOT stayed at that hotel.

And I would suggest you also try booking through other internet sites or the hotel internet site if Holiday City does not have the dates you want.

Try the Locanda Solferino. It used to be relatively cheap and very charming central and characteristic. Close to all the good restaurants, museums, night life.

I go to and through Milano several times a year and stay at the Hotel Sara. It is my best-kept secret in Milano. I stay there all the time when in Milano or enroute to another city in Italia.

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]

This is a family-owned hotel (Rosabla is the wife and usually handles the reservations). You can email her directly at the email address above, or fax the hotel your request. Double rooms with bathroom/TV/telephone are priced at an unbelievable 55 euros (cash), slightly higher if paid with credit card. (I stayed there over 6 months ago, the prices might have increased slightly with the new year 2006). All rates include daily breakfast served in the dining area off from the lobby.

The Hotel Sara is within walking distance to the Piazza Loeto and Corso Buenos Aires (the main boulevard through Milano) and down the street from the Piazza Aspromonte. The hotel is easily accessible via the #33 bus from the Milano Centrale train station (stop is in Piazza Aspromonte), or the Metro # 1 or 2 to the "Loreto" stop and walk the few blocks over to Via Sacchini, or pay 10-11 euros for a taxi from the station.

I feel very silly asking this- but usually in Italy we do the Slowtravel thing and rent apartments or houses. Don't do a lot of hotels.
So-I have emailed a couple of your suggestions and am going through those sites with their 100's of places again...in Italy-just what constitutes a 2 star versus a 3 star? I need clean, relatively quiet, a bathroom and airconditioning. I don't need all that extra stuff because its only 2 nights. In New York I absolutely don't do anything under a 2 star because I have had some bad experiences in 1 stars (think dormitory.)
Can anyone comment on how Milan's compare?

I wouldn't stay in a 2 star in Milan without a specific rave recommendation, and preferably more than one, even though I stay in 2stars elsewhere in Italy (especially in rural Italy, where they are gauranteed to be clean.) It's hard enough knowing if a 3 star in Milan will be acceptable to go down the ladder to 2star.

The Italian rating system of stars very often depends on things like whether or not there is an elevator or a pool -- but it also can mean no air conditioning. In July in Milan, you will need air conditioning.

You should double check with any two star about air conditioing.

Have you checked rates for Hotel Palazzo Delle Stelline on hotel websites? I've stayed there. It's a good 3* business hotel that is very convenient to the train to/from Malpensa, very close to the Last Supper, and sometimes has good discounts.

The star system in Italia is different than in the U.S. What surprised me is that 2* and 3* hotels are often very nice properties and would rate considerably higher in the U.S. (I have stayed in many Hilton and Crowne Plaza properties on business trips in the U.S. that have been mediocre at best and a rip-off). That said, I have stayed in many 2* properties all throughout Italy and have had excellent, clean lodging (bathroom in room, TV, AC/Heat, telephone, etc). I can't merit paying 100-200+ euros for a room that I only plan to be in to sleep at night. For instance, the Hotel Sara in Milano is a very clean, comfortable establishment with nice service and even nicer prices. I wouldn't think to stay anywhere else unless someone wanted to pay 200 euros a night for me at a luxe hotel! :) There are a lot of hotel options to choose from in Milano, I am sure you will find a property (hotel or rental apt) that will work best for your needs.

Huitres,

Does the Hotel Sara have air conditioning? (Sorry if you posted it and I missed it.)

Hotel Palazzo Delle Stelline came up as 164 per night for July- thats a lot of money- I am only paying 380 for full apt in Padua for the week before. of course-when i travel for work-would easily pay that much, but this is my own pocket! Hotel Sara has Ac is appears. I emailed them.

Good news about the AC.

I've paid less than that for the Stelline. Rates in Milano vary greatly according to what's happening in Milano. You really can't compare the costs of accommodations in Milano and Padova. Given the amount of businesspeople vying for a small number of rooms in Milano, prices are high. Padova just doesn't get the same traffic and it has a huge student population, so that apartment rentals are a good deal.

Hey-good deals are what its all about. That's how was can afford to keep gong back year after year. We decided on Padua as a base rather than Venice for the cheap factor.
But have to do Milan-at least once. Ouch. Gotta find something reasonable.

Yes, Hotel Sara has AC. The rooms are of decent size with double beds, bathroom has blow dryer in it, shampoos, soaps, etc. I can stay there for incredibly cheap and only paid 50 euros in May and September of this last year for my double room each time. I noticed other American guests there paid by credit card and paid 65 euros for their double room. Either way, the rates are still low. Upon my departure out of Milano's Malpensa airport, I took a taxi from the hotel to the Milano centrale train station and it cost me 10 euros (if you don't want to bother with a bus or the Metro). Milano has a lot of options for hotels, I have searched a lot of sites with pages of hotels listed for Milano. If you want to be near the Duomo, the rates will undoubtedly be higher.

Also, don't forget the reservation needed for 'The Last Supper'. I booked mine through Aliwest's Italian website and you get a discount booking a viewing later in the day (4:30-5 pm) and on certain days of the week.

If the Sara is available, looks like you can have a stay in Milan. However, if you are willing to go outside Milan and commute in to do your touristing (as you were in Venice when you chose Padova) then you can find easily find accommodations in that budget. Some places on the train lines include towns on the southwest end of Lago Maggiore and, on Lago di Garda, Desenzano or Peschiera del Garda.

But again, in July, you have to be sure to get AC and expect prices to be higher than in other times of year, especially on the lakes themselves.

I think the Lakes are a bit far-was thinking the near suburbs! I just found
Doria Grand-on Via Andrea Dorea-$99
Una Hotel Mediterraneao Milan-Via Murator-$85
Starhotel Anderson-Piazza Luigi di Savoia-$100
Una Hotel Scandinavia--Via Fauche $102
Hotel Mediolnum MilanVia MauroMacchi-$105
Some of these were recommended on this site. Will have to scan Tripadvisor. Of anyone has any info on any of these or their safety-please chime in!
Thanks so much.