Archive for the Milan category
Friday, Jul 14th, 2006
Categories: Milan
Hotel Stazione is located in close proximity to Hotel Trieste, so we had an opportunity to enjoy a nice morning walk to our first appointment with Sandro whom is working in the reception area once we arrive. More sliding doors, it seems to be the norm for most hotels in Milan, quite a good feature if you’re busy with bags into the reception. As Silvia speaks to Sandro; I observe the modern facilities and the colour coordination of the strong scarlet red and the dark wood. We make our way up and the retro artwork, modern furnishings and cleanliness is stunning. The rooms also come with safety boxes and are air conditioned. There’s a very modern bar and breakfast area that has you breathless. The only unfortunate thing is that this is only a one floor hotel and you don’t want to be in the rooms close to the bar and breakfast area. A great spot if you’re looking for all the modern necessities, look and real retro feel. There are no outdoor facilities and only being on one floor would be the only draw back.
Our next stop is to Hotel La Pace to meet Giuseppe who’s standing behind the reception. The reception area has someone there 24 hours and there’s a bar directly across if want a drink while you wait. The lounge for you to relax is also used for breakfast which can seat about 40 people.The rooms were clean and very basic with its requirements. It’ almost seemed like a blast from the past. There is no luggage room but the rooms are spacious enough to hold your personal bags. If you’ve brought a car, get ready to dole out 15 Euros, which has been the most affordable of all the places we’ve seen up to now.
The only true hostel in Milan – Hostel HI Piero Rotta – is located out of the centre and in a more suburban area. We entered and met Lucia and Silvia who started our tour with TV room and snack area – everything here is a hostel, far from the various stars of hostels that we’ve been visiting on our trip. There are dorms that have lockers in and out of the rooms and shared shower facilities. Downstairs in the basement you have another eating area, laundry facilities and a games room. On the other side is the breakfast room and a door to the outdoor garden and terrace. There’s also tables outside for you to sit outside and eat, drink and play cards. The area is gated and very secure, so there aren’t any worries about strangers barging in without card. Currently, the genders are separated but they looking to change all that but it will be friends placed together not strangers. It’s very professionally run and the staff are aware of guidelines and what must go on in the midst of the amount of people lodging there.
How do you get to Hotel Bonola We went through buildings, plazas and construction to find street names and signage to guide us in the right direction. The reception is open for 24hrs and there’s no curfew. They have air condition, how showers and this is the only hostel with car park.
It was great to see the various hotels and hostels we work with in Milan, Italy. The majority of them are centrally located and is accessible by transit, once you find out where you’re going. Almost all the hotels provided a free breakfast and a comfortable place to stay. A traditional Italian breakfast for us consisted of a rolls, croissants, cream cheese, cherry jams, cappuccino, milk, cereal and juice…with this they isn’t any time for lunch. Most of the facilities were clean and tidy and many rooms came with traditional shutters along the windows. The bathrooms ranged bad to very good, depending on the star and latest renovation of the hotel. Hotels mostly had arrangements with car parks and they were rather pricy, so it’s suggested that you don’t drive. A day pass is very affordable and it’s good for the day on any form of transit on the Metropolitan.
Comprehensive list of Milan Hostels.
For more information on getting around Milan go to ATM
Thursday, Jul 13th, 2006
Categories: Milan
Silvia and I start day 2 in Milan with a meeting with Marco at the Hotel del Corso. Marco comes around from around the counter and starts his questionnaire and conversation with Silvia. We had to give ourselves our own tour because of the lack of personnel working, which seems to be the norm in Milan. Ladies were cleaning the bedrooms at the time but they looked very impressive and the bathrooms was very spacious and highly modern. Lean back after a long hot summer day in Milan in your fully air conditioned room and enjoy your personal mini bar 
The breakfast area is amazing – everything you need is in there from toasters to a microwave….this place is a cut above anything that we’ve seen so far. Oh! did I mention that your breakfast is free…enjoy! A great spot filled with all the modern features of your 3 star hotel and more. Located in central Milan on a side street, of Via Buenos Aires, which is a bonus because you’re away from hearing all the hustling and bustling sounds of the traffic. All rooms are en suite and contain air condition which is very important in Milan on days above 35 degrees like we ventured in.
As we enter the lobby of Hotel Serena we meet Leopold, who loves to speak! After ten minutes he asks if I can speak Italian and I just smile and say no, he continues in Italian. He brings us up the stairs of this small reception area to the breakfast area that also features a terrace. The rooms are air conditioned, clean and quite comfy. It’s actually a one star hotel, but it feels much more like a two star. They’ve done some encouraging renovations and do have an elevator, which is very classy for the physically challenged.
Our next stop is Hotel Bernina, which surrounded by another 10 hotels within two blocks. To the left of the very large reception is the bar and lounge area which is kept separate, and towards the right of the reception are two computers for internet use at 3 Euros for every ½ hour. We met Alex and he sat us down in another lounging area and Silvia questioned away. We make our ways to the rooms and the also contain the basic necessities for all 3 star hotels, except this includes a safety deposit box in the room. All the rooms were very clean, colour coordinated and air conditioned. It’s a very good hotel that caters to spacious lounging with guests and city friends. Hotel Bernina offers free local newspapers in their lobby for guests and comfortable and modern seating to read.
Next up is Hotel Due Giardini, a place with personality, smiles and a beautiful garden. We’re greeted by Anna Maria and Biagio; they have us seated and offer us drinks. Just outside is a beautiful garden with seats and tables to enjoy your meals from the outside or even from the bar. Not all the rooms are air conditioned and the option comes with a price tag, but the rooms are very clean. The reception is 24hrs and they like all hotels in the area, there’s no curfew but that doesn’t mean you can bring outsiders that you’ve picked up into your hotel room. This is very much frowned upon in Milan, unlike most destinations. But at least you can wake up to a free breakfast with the sounds of their two birds happily chirping away.
As soon as we reached Hotel The Best Filippo had spelt coffee on his shirt and didn’t seem to be in the best of moods, but was doing his best. The reception is open 24 hours and caters to those taking advantage of their no curfew policy. They’re currently renovating all of their bathrooms and it should be finished in about 6 months.The rooms were very basic and imply that they sell everyone on the terrace, which if I didn’t mention it is occupied with statues, ceramic animals and outdoor tables and chairs.
We’re hungry, we’re tired and we were offered warm soda and water at Hotel Durante. It was funny because Mr Wang did it with a smile he spoke in English and was very generous with his water. Silvia had just purchased her laminated Italy World Cup Champions poster and was all smiles as she sat and talked to Mr. Wang. On the tour you realize why the rooms are very roomy but the washrooms are very tiny and don’t look overly comfortable. There a yard of to the side of some of the rooms and two rooms actually come with a balcony. During the summer months they have some long timers that stay during that period. A good place for the extreme basics.
Comprehensive list of Milan Hostels.
Wednesday, Jul 12th, 2006
Categories: Milan
After leaving Hotel Trieste, whom has given us complimentary rooms for our stay, we walk towards Repubblica Metro and proceed to get lost on the Metro!
Thankfully we left early just to make sure were prompt for our appointment at Hotel Mistral, and once we arrive there’s a bit of a shock from the reception areas and to their and our surprise our contact isn’t present. After a couple of light jokes we get the ladies to warm up to us and give us a tour. Toilets, showers and sinks were clean and for those that aren’t from Europe…get ready to be introduced to a foot wash. To enjoy some of the luxuries of this 3 star, try and book with a balcony attached to your room, the view might not be considered great, but it simply does wonders for you at night. Make sure you don’t show up without your passport and they don’t accept Diners Card, or traveller’s cheques. They do have a bar, but don’t look for any night time activities in the area…you’re on your own.
A Hot Day
Silvia and I moved on to our next scheduled meeting at Arcohotel Milan with Nicola, who we found out was actually on vacation once we arrived. We met Nicola’s father and were offered a variety of drinks….and yes we needed it because the weather was +32. After the initial questions we were both provided with a tour of the facilities. All rooms are ensuite and if you need to place your luggage in another room under their care it will cost you 2 Euros. A great spot if you’re looking for simple luxuries and a central location. It has a park right across the street. You won’t feel crammed in these rooms, there’s a lot of walking room, so you can lay back relax and not feel like your stepping on toes.
Our next was right around the corner at Hotel 22 Marzo, where we were warmly greeted with more refreshments. Here is a place that truly believes in bestowing upon you a personal touch to your stay. Silvia enjoyed an espresso, while I had a cappuccino – and if you could believe this, it tasted even better than it looked. We were able to get a mini tour of the facilities, since they were still cleaning at the time. Hotel 22 Marzo had a lot of information on the counters and certificates for travellers to observe. There is an elevator for those that may to be physically challenged. They’re large windows brings in a lot of light to the reception, bar and breakfast area. But what was most exciting, was seeing a small group of ladies who had received their booking from Hostelbookers.com and of course we took pictures of them.
Silvia and I moved on to our next meeting at Brasil Hotel Milan to arrive during the cleaning time, so weren’t able to get a tour of the facilities. Reception and Management greeted us and had a lot of information on the counters for backpackers, lounging area with a TV and DVD where backpackers can hang out. This is a place going through some renovations at the time so it was hard to see at its current conditions, but it does have some potential in the blue prints we were honoured to look at. Not for the physically challenged or those afraid of stairs. Not all the rooms are ensuite which is quite different then most of the hotels that we have seen so far.
Next stop Hotel Ideale Milano. We walk through the doors to see a very clean structure that has all the highlights of a simple and luxurious hotel, and be met by Antonio, the manager. Silvia then proceeds with questions to our informal but informative questionnaire and has he loosens up he becomes more jovial with us (well, Silvia at least!). We ask and receive a tour of the facilities and we venture into a double room that has your common luxuries with a 3 star. Good angle on the T.V. set, great sized bed and well kept large bathroom and a nice window opening to allow the sunshine to sparkle through. He offered us both drinks and food and it was a relief to sit down for a few moments. You’ll be welcomed with some great personality here in a very new establishment. A great spot to hang…sit on the terrace for the night, eat some food with a glass of wine.
On to the very central Hotel San Tomaso – a great location, very close to all your shopping and eating needs. Again, get ready to do some stairs, but once you make it up you’ll be welcomed with a very friendly smile from Jessica, the Hotel Manager. The rooms were adequate with the basics of a three star hotel and it was very clean. The hotel has great windows for lighting and you’ll be impressed with the abundance of smiles.
Hotel Trieste – our resting spot for our journey into Milan, Silvia and I were warmly greeted even though we didn’t get in till after midnight, since we missed the bus at the station. (If you’re going to Milan and it late at night, the taxi fares start at 6.10 Euros and you’ll get one at Central station.) At first the bedroom didn’t look the most appealing, but it was the most spacious of all that we had seen, and very clean. People greeted you in and out of the hostel with a smile and were there to attend to you in any way possible. Our stay was very much complimented by easiness of the staff that made us feel very much welcomed.
Comprehensive list of Milan Hostels.
For more information on getting around Milan go to ATM
