zwho

I am taking a train from Venice to Milan because I have an early morning flight the next day out of Malpensa. I plan on making reservations at an hotel near the airport. What is the easiest and least expensive way to get from the train station to the hotel? I already know the hotels have shuttles to get me to the airport the next morning. There are 2 of us, if that makes a difference and climbing lots of stairs with our luggage is out, so no subways, if that was an option. Thanks in advance. Mary

Castleton

From centrale station in Milan, take the airporter bus to Malpensa. Then take the hotel's shuttle bus to the hotel. Confirm your schedule with the hotel ahead of time.

Cicerone

To get to the airport area hotels from the train station, you can take a taxi or the express bus (Malpensa Shuttle, go to http://www.malpensashuttle.it/). The hotels may also offer a shuttle from the train station, check with them. The bus takes about an hour with no traffic and costs 4.50 Euros. If you are leaving during rush hours (roughly 3 pm - 7 pm), allow more time.

If you stay out near the airport you might consider trying to check in for your flight the night before, as you could check you luggage and this would also save you time in the morning when a lot of US-bound flights depart and lines can be long at check-in and security. Many carriers allow check in up to 18 hours before departure, check with your carrier.

Another thought is to spend the night in Milan near to the Milan Express train station at Cadorna. (This station is NOT the Milano Centrale station, it is south of that and near to the Duomo area.) From Milano Centrale, you could take a taxi to this area in about 10 minutes. This is a nice area of town and you could have dinner and see the area a bit. The train trip takes between Cadorna and Malpensa Terminal 1 takes about 40 minutes, and is generally faster than a taxi, definitely so at rush hours. It costs 9 Euros. Website for the train is www.ferrovienord.it/webmxp. If you are flying out on Alitalia, you can check in for your flight at the train station. I am not sure if you can store bags overnight at Cardona, if so this would definitely be worth it as you would not have to schlep them to your hotel.

You could also stay near the Miano Centrale train station and take a taxi or the express bus to the airport. There are hotels within walking distance of the train station. You should be able to store your larger bags overnight at the train station.

zwho

Hey Cicerone, You helped me with another question on another thread, about flying Swiss out of Venice. That solved my problem with getting to an airport hotel in Milan; I don't have to! I am in awe of your knowledge. Thank you once again. Also thanks to the others who gave me such good advice.

Cicerone

Anal rentitive is my middle name...glad it worked out. I live in Zurich and know that to get anywhere on Swiss you pretty much have to go through Zurich.