Milan, Italy: Hotel & Motel Planning Guide

A visit to Milan Recapped

Italy's wealth is concentrated in Milan, the largest metropolis in the Lombardy region. It's the base for the Stock Market and international conglomerates. Milan's financial acumen is matched by its sovereignty in fashion. The city is a major destination, particularly during the Fashion Week sortie. As striking as the city itself, the Duomo is the perfect picture of Gothic grandeur with its intricately designed façade and spires. The cathedral has a museum with a comprehensive display of religious artifacts. Milan's patron saint, St. Ambrose, is buried in Basilica Sant Ambrogio, another outstanding piece of design in the streets. Sforzesco Castle and La Scala theater are two more of Milan's radiant architecture. A rare sampling of art is included in the collections of Santa Maria Delle Grazie convent with its main headliner, Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper. Finally, set your sights on Milan's shopping locales. North of Duomo is Via Montenapoleone, the focal point for designers like Prada and Ferragamo. The glass-roofed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele makes the shopping frenzy decidedly different in the entire European continent.

'It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things. When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.
These are a few words that have been quoted and cited thousands of times so far in the history of letters. The writer of these, Leonardo da Vinci “ perhaps the most accomplished and most talented man that ever walked this earth “ has come to embody the spirit of perseverance, creativity and indomitable spirit to face uphill odds with fervor. It is no surprise, then, that the city that birthed his genius “ Milan “ seems to have inherited these traits to a palpable extent. 

Milan has a longstanding historical significance that can be traced back to the era of the Greeks. Over the centuries, Milan, like the rest of Italy, has experienced changing fortunes “ from the heyday of the Roman Empire to the ignominy of fascist regimes of the early 20th century. The city, however, has kept being functional and houses over 4 million people today. 

Noted for its spontaneously unplanned architecture, unkempt growth and a very visibly discernible diversity, Milan is a true metropolis “ perhaps the only one in Italy. Museums that attracts thousands of tourists each year, architecture specimens that academics can't stop raving about, churches and cathedrals that make believers humble in piety, fashion events that hold the gaze of the world, shopping districts that tourists can't get enough of and of course, fiercely fought rather than played football matches are some of the unique scoring points of Milan. 

Budget Accommodation in Milan 

Milan, being a city that is both international and huge in size, has a vast array of accommodation options that are sure to meet diverse criteria that tourists have. 

If you happen to be a traveler who is rather tight on budget and wants to save up by staying at relatively cheaper hotels in Milan, you would not look too deep. There are quite a few affordable lodging options available in Milan, especially in the districts of Bergamo and Lecco. These accommodation choices are certainly not going to wow you with their extravagance, but if you are ready and willing to compromise and make do with basic facilities for a good night's sleep, you probably will have no major issues to face while staying at such places. 

However, if you can't make do without facilities like airport pickup and drop or complimentary in-house gym, you will be better off choosing Milan hotels that occupy higher positions on the pricing ladder. 

Care for a Bit of High-Life? 

Many tourists do not believe in holding a tight hand while they are traveling. They just prefer to connive at their expenses and try to make the most of their holidays by staying at a truly luxury hotel. 

If you happen to count yourself among these carefree tourists with a wont for high-life, Milan is probably among the handful of major cities in the world that will present you with more options of luxury resorts and hotel establishments than you would know what to do with. 

Downtown Milan is notoriously famous for all thing that are expensive “ from jewelry to art and from fashion to food, and of course, real estate. That's why, some of the most prime hotels in Milan are situated in downtown Milan, making it an automatic choice of luxury and opulence. 

Hotel Four Seasons is one of such places that are known for providing comfort and excellence beyond par, matching the levels of the best in the business. Hotel Mandarin Oriental Milan and Milan Intercontinental are also perched at the top of priority lists of tourists who frequent such luxury places. 

Need More of Home-Comfort in Milan? 

Tourists sometimes crave for all things that remind them of home, even in the most unimaginably remote of ways. Considering this, it is not an altogether bad idea to choose one of various independent and boutique Milan hotels and homestays. 

Homestays have acquired a wholly different status as far as hospitality industry goes in recent years. They have come through the ranks, and risen above the merely ˜also-rans' to a force to reckon with. If cheap hotels don't do it for you and it's too difficult to fit the luxury ones in your budget, homestays available on weekly rent can be just the solution you need while you are in Milan! 

Finding Hotels Near Milan Airport 

Milan airport is the busiest airport in Lombardy and second busiest in the whole of Italy, next only to Rome. Being connected quite fabulously with all the major cities in Europe and a few prominent cities in the rest of the world with a slew of direct flights (and of course, connected with pretty much every airport in the world via connecting flights), the largest point of entry for tourists into Milan is the airport. 

That's why, it does make sense for tourists to try and find places of accommodation that lie in the vicinity of Milan airport. Although fly-zone often means that it's difficult to find such places in the immediate vicinity of the airport, it's however possible to find some good lodging and boarding options, including cheap hotels, in districts like Lecco and Brianza that are quite closer to the airport. 

Ideal Time to Visit Milan 

Based on various events taking place in the city, the best time to visit Milan is during the months of June-September. The weather is quite agreeable during these months and a number of local festivals of food, wine, art and culture transform the city into a 24x7 fun fair. 

If you are a fashion enthusiast, then the best time for you to visit Milan would probably be in February-March as the globally famed Milan Fashion Week takes place during these months, accompanied by dozens of other interesting fashion events.