Hotels FAQ

Question:

> Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day). > I wonder if you are referring to the science museum, that has some nice > models of Leonardo’s machines. The idea was nice, but when I last > visited it (ten years ago or so) it was badly in need of maintenance. I > hope things have got better, but I don’t know.

This is the one I was thinking of: http://www.museoscienza.org/ the web site makes it look interesting, but I can’t figure out from the site exactly where it is. Is it within walking distance from the city centre ? I’m also planning to check out what is on at La Scala once I know my dates and then figure out if I can book tickets over the internet.

Response:

> > Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day). > I wonder if you are referring to the science museum, that has some nice > models of Leonardo’s machines. The idea was nice, but when I last > visited it (ten years ago or so) it was badly in need of maintenance. I > hope things have got better, but I don’t know.

I am always surprised at the state of museums in Italy.  I don’t believe it is money — but point of view.  You can go into a room in a major Roman museum filled with busts of emperors and find them unlabeled — this is a project that could be accomplished by a high school art history class if anyone cared. It is common to find little descriptive material with exhibits.  In Naples the main archological museum has frescos from Pompeii with full sunlight streaming in on them and everything is filthy and disorganized.

Response:

> I use Milan as departure and arrival city many times.  Because of that, the > station area is the only area I see most of the time, and I don’t think it > is all that seedy.  Unlike some other big city station areas, it is wide > open, surrounded with pleasant businesses.  Milan is a business city and > unemployment is low.  The groups you see are very likely not robbers or > rapists or anyone to worry about.  Italians spend more time in the streets > everywhere.  If you are approached, for any reason, just say no. > The station can connect you to lots of nearby areas, such as Como, which is > only an hour away.  The Galleria is a nice visit, a gathering place and one > of the first covered shopping malls in the world. Nice shops, cafes.

Well, the Centrale area is really a bit seedy, as most station areas seem to be everywhere. And if I have to spend some time in the street (I am writing this lines from Milan) I prefer the zone around the Duomo. Still, there are seedier places in the world than the Centrale area, and you don’t have to dwell there as few minutes by subway will bring you in nicer places.

Response:

seedy neighborhood ? Is it dangerous or just a few ‘ladies of > the night’ wandering around. > I was there New Year’s Eve & the area around the Train Station was > pretty seedy.  There were a lot of shady men in groups hanging around > and people getting drunk

I use Milan as departure and arrival city many times.  Because of that, the station area is the only area I see most of the time, and I don’t think it is all that seedy.  Unlike some other big city station areas, it is wide open, surrounded with pleasant businesses.  Milan is a business city and unemployment is low.  The groups you see are very likely not robbers or rapists or anyone to worry about.  Italians spend more time in the streets everywhere.  If you are approached, for any reason, just say no. The station can connect you to lots of nearby areas, such as Como, which is only an hour away.  The Galleria is a nice visit, a gathering place and one of the first covered shopping malls in the world. Nice shops, cafes.

Response:

> Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day).

I wonder if you are referring to the science museum, that has some nice models of Leonardo’s machines. The idea was nice, but when I last visited it (ten years ago or so) it was badly in need of maintenance. I hope things have got better, but I don’t know.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Milan: > Hotel Ada (70 Euro) – This hotel is not in any guidebook.  I found it > through a posting.  It is a 1 star hotel but seem more like a 2 or 3 > star hotel.  It was clean and has modern bathroom, TV, large room, > etc. The only problem is it is right across the street from Milan > Stazione Centrale (train station) so it is in a seedy neighborhood (I > found it seedier than Rome Termini).  If you don’t mind being near the > train station & more concerned with price, it is a great hotel with > easy access to major train station, and metro (only 4 stops to Duomo), > and right across the street from the shuttle bus to the Malpensa > airport. > I may need to go to Milan soon and that seems like a bargin price for a > reasonable hotel.I might stay a bit longer and tack a day or so holiday onto > a business trip (although I hadn’t really thought of Milan as a tourist > venue). > How bad is the seedy neighborhood ? Is it dangerous or just a few ‘ladies of > the night’ wandering around. > Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day).

I was there New Year’s Eve & the area around the Train Station was pretty seedy.  There were a lot of shady men in groups hanging around and people getting drunk.  Not sure if it’s normally like that or if it was because it was New Year’s Eve.  It depends on how thick of a skin you have.  I imagine it can be pretty scary for a single female traveling alone but I’m a city girl so it doesn’t bother me as much as it would some other people.  There were many cops around & people walking around the station.  I would not recommend walking in that neighborhood after dark alone.  If you get back at a reasonable time, I think it should be OK. In order to get to the musuem with the ‘Last Supper’, you have to make reservation in advance.  We tried to make reservation on phone but the line was always busy so we did not go.  We only spent a night in Milan so we saw the Duomo & the fort.  Aside from those items & the musuems, I did not find Milan to be a great city to visit.  We liked Rome & Florence much better.

Response:

> Milan: > Hotel Ada (70 Euro) – This hotel is not in any guidebook.  I found it > through a posting.  It is a 1 star hotel but seem more like a 2 or 3 > star hotel.  It was clean and has modern bathroom, TV, large room, > etc. The only problem is it is right across the street from Milan > Stazione Centrale (train station) so it is in a seedy neighborhood (I > found it seedier than Rome Termini).  If you don’t mind being near the > train station & more concerned with price, it is a great hotel with > easy access to major train station, and metro (only 4 stops to Duomo), > and right across the street from the shuttle bus to the Malpensa > airport.

I may need to go to Milan soon and that seems like a bargin price for a reasonable hotel.I might stay a bit longer and tack a day or so holiday onto a business trip (although I hadn’t really thought of Milan as a tourist venue). How bad is the seedy neighborhood ? Is it dangerous or just a few ‘ladies of the night’ wandering around. Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible spare day (or half day).

Response:

Here are the budget hotels we stayed at in Italy & the prices.  We spent weeks shopping for good budget hotels & were pleased with all the places we choose.  Note, that these prices reflect December pricing and will be higher in peak summer months. Rome: Hotel Continentale (57 Euro).  This is a good place 4-5 blocks North West from Termini.  There are 4 hotels with the same address as Hotel Continentale’s so it is confusing.  Hotel Contintentale, Hotel Positani, Hotel Romanae & Italy B&B are all on 49 Palestro.  I booked with ItalyB&B online but winded up in Hotel Continentale.  I don’t know about the 3 other hotels there but Continentale was great.  For the price we paid, it worth it – you can’t get anything less than 57 Euro for private bath.  Not only did we have a private bath but we had a mini-apartment complete with small kitchen, hallway, TV, private bathroom (small).  The rooms were very simply-furnished and plain but large & clean.  I think we were able to negotiate the price because it was non-peak season but I am sure they can charge double in the summer time.   The only small problem was that the shower drain was a little clogged so we couldn’t take showers long showers or the water would flow into the kitchen – it was not a big deal for us… The bathroom was small but that is typical for Europe.  We found the neighborhood not too bad and close to many good cheap restaurants. Florence: Il Perseo (93 Euro).  This place is right near the Duomo and very convenient location between the train station and the Duomo.  The rooms are very nice & cozy but a bit small for 2 people but it was not a big deal.  The other rooms were a little bigger.  The rooms were clean.  Each has private terrace, private bathroom & is very charming & nicely furnished.  This hotel included  breakfast (it was decent with tea, juice, coffee with rolls, croissants, cereal) It was a little more than what we wanted to pay for a hotel but we were not able to find anything else available in Florence for less. Milan: Hotel Ada (70 Euro) – This hotel is not in any guidebook.  I found it through a posting.  It is a 1 star hotel but seem more like a 2 or 3 star hotel.  It was clean and has modern bathroom, TV, large room, etc. The only problem is it is right across the street from Milan Stazione Centrale (train station) so it is in a seedy neighborhood (I found it seedier than Rome Termini).  If you don’t mind being near the train station & more concerned with price, it is a great hotel with easy access to major train station, and metro (only 4 stops to Duomo), and right across the street from the shuttle bus to the Malpensa airport. I flew Allitalia and would not recommend it.  Their service was not very good and they are completely disorganized! Let me know if you have any questions! Italy is a great place!

Response:

Here are the budget hotels we stayed at in Italy & the prices.  We spent weeks shopping for good budget hotels & were pleased with all the places we choose.  Note, that these prices reflect December pricing and will be higher in peak summer months. Rome: Hotel Continentale (57 Euro).  This is a good place 4-5 blocks North West from Termini.  There are 4 hotels with the same address as Hotel Continentale’s so it is confusing.  Hotel Contintentale, Hotel Positani, Hotel Romanae & Italy B&B are all on 49 Palestro.  I booked with ItalyB&B online but winded up in Hotel Continentale.  I don’t know about the 3 other hotels there but Continentale was great.  For the price we paid, it worth it – you can’t get anything less than 57 Euro for private bath.  Not only did we have a private bath but we had a mini-apartment complete with small kitchen, hallway, TV, private bathroom (small).  The rooms were very simply-furnished and plain but large & clean.  I think we were able to negotiate the price because it was non-peak season but I am sure they can charge double in the summer time.   The only small problem was that the shower drain was a little clogged so we couldn’t take showers long showers or the water would flow into the kitchen – it was not a big deal for us… The bathroom was small but that is typical for Europe.  We found the neighborhood not too bad and close to many good cheap restaurants. Florence: Il Perseo (93 Euro).  This place is right near the Duomo and very convenient location between the train station and the Duomo.  The rooms are very nice & cozy but a bit small for 2 people but it was not a big deal.  The other rooms were a little bigger.  The rooms were clean.  Each has private terrace, private bathroom & is very charming & nicely furnished.  This hotel included  breakfast (it was decent with tea, juice, coffee with rolls, croissants, cereal) It was a little more than what we wanted to pay for a hotel but we were not able to find anything else available in Florence for less. Milan: Hotel Ada (70 Euro) – This hotel is not in any guidebook.  I found it through a posting.  It is a 1 star hotel but seem more like a 2 or 3 star hotel.  It was clean and has modern bathroom, TV, large room, etc. The only problem is it is right across the street from Milan Stazione Centrale (train station) so it is in a seedy neighborhood (I found it seedier than Rome Termini).  If you don’t mind being near the train station & more concerned with price, it is a great hotel with easy access to major train station, and metro (only 4 stops to Duomo), and right across the street from the shuttle bus to the Malpensa airport. I flew Allitalia and would not recommend it.  Their service was not very good and they are completely disorganized! Let me know if you have any questions! Italy is a great place!

Response:

> Milan: > Hotel Ada (70 Euro) – This hotel is not in any guidebook.  I found it > through a posting.  It is a 1 star hotel but seem more like a 2 or 3 > star hotel.  It was clean and has modern bathroom, TV, large room, > etc. The only problem is it is right across the street from Milan > Stazione Centrale (train station) so it is in a seedy neighborhood (I > found it seedier than Rome Termini).  If you don’t mind being near the > train station & more concerned with price, it is a great hotel with > easy access to major train station, and metro (only 4 stops to Duomo), > and right across the street from the shuttle bus to the Malpensa > airport.

I may need to go to Milan soon and that seems like a bargin price for a reasonable hotel.I might stay a bit longer and tack a day or so holiday onto a business trip (although I hadn’t really thought of Milan as a tourist venue). How bad is the seedy neighborhood ? Is it dangerous or just a few ‘ladies of the night’ wandering around. Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible spare day (or half day).

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Milan: > Hotel Ada (70 Euro) – This hotel is not in any guidebook.  I found it > through a posting.  It is a 1 star hotel but seem more like a 2 or 3 > star hotel.  It was clean and has modern bathroom, TV, large room, > etc. The only problem is it is right across the street from Milan > Stazione Centrale (train station) so it is in a seedy neighborhood (I > found it seedier than Rome Termini).  If you don’t mind being near the > train station & more concerned with price, it is a great hotel with > easy access to major train station, and metro (only 4 stops to Duomo), > and right across the street from the shuttle bus to the Malpensa > airport. > I may need to go to Milan soon and that seems like a bargin price for a > reasonable hotel.I might stay a bit longer and tack a day or so holiday onto > a business trip (although I hadn’t really thought of Milan as a tourist > venue). > How bad is the seedy neighborhood ? Is it dangerous or just a few ‘ladies of > the night’ wandering around. > Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day).

I was there New Year’s Eve & the area around the Train Station was pretty seedy.  There were a lot of shady men in groups hanging around and people getting drunk.  Not sure if it’s normally like that or if it was because it was New Year’s Eve.  It depends on how thick of a skin you have.  I imagine it can be pretty scary for a single female traveling alone but I’m a city girl so it doesn’t bother me as much as it would some other people.  There were many cops around & people walking around the station.  I would not recommend walking in that neighborhood after dark alone.  If you get back at a reasonable time, I think it should be OK. In order to get to the musuem with the ‘Last Supper’, you have to make reservation in advance.  We tried to make reservation on phone but the line was always busy so we did not go.  We only spent a night in Milan so we saw the Duomo & the fort.  Aside from those items & the musuems, I did not find Milan to be a great city to visit.  We liked Rome & Florence much better.

Response:

seedy neighborhood ? Is it dangerous or just a few ‘ladies of > the night’ wandering around. > I was there New Year’s Eve & the area around the Train Station was > pretty seedy.  There were a lot of shady men in groups hanging around > and people getting drunk

I use Milan as departure and arrival city many times.  Because of that, the station area is the only area I see most of the time, and I don’t think it is all that seedy.  Unlike some other big city station areas, it is wide open, surrounded with pleasant businesses.  Milan is a business city and unemployment is low.  The groups you see are very likely not robbers or rapists or anyone to worry about.  Italians spend more time in the streets everywhere.  If you are approached, for any reason, just say no. The station can connect you to lots of nearby areas, such as Como, which is only an hour away.  The Galleria is a nice visit, a gathering place and one of the first covered shopping malls in the world. Nice shops, cafes.

Response:

> Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day).

I wonder if you are referring to the science museum, that has some nice models of Leonardo’s machines. The idea was nice, but when I last visited it (ten years ago or so) it was badly in need of maintenance. I hope things have got better, but I don’t know.

Response:

> I use Milan as departure and arrival city many times.  Because of that, the > station area is the only area I see most of the time, and I don’t think it > is all that seedy.  Unlike some other big city station areas, it is wide > open, surrounded with pleasant businesses.  Milan is a business city and > unemployment is low.  The groups you see are very likely not robbers or > rapists or anyone to worry about.  Italians spend more time in the streets > everywhere.  If you are approached, for any reason, just say no. > The station can connect you to lots of nearby areas, such as Como, which is > only an hour away.  The Galleria is a nice visit, a gathering place and one > of the first covered shopping malls in the world. Nice shops, cafes.

Well, the Centrale area is really a bit seedy, as most station areas seem to be everywhere. And if I have to spend some time in the street (I am writing this lines from Milan) I prefer the zone around the Duomo. Still, there are seedier places in the world than the Centrale area, and you don’t have to dwell there as few minutes by subway will bring you in nicer places.

Response:

> > Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day). > I wonder if you are referring to the science museum, that has some nice > models of Leonardo’s machines. The idea was nice, but when I last > visited it (ten years ago or so) it was badly in need of maintenance. I > hope things have got better, but I don’t know.

I am always surprised at the state of museums in Italy.  I don’t believe it is money — but point of view.  You can go into a room in a major Roman museum filled with busts of emperors and find them unlabeled — this is a project that could be accomplished by a high school art history class if anyone cared. It is common to find little descriptive material with exhibits.  In Naples the main archological museum has frescos from Pompeii with full sunlight streaming in on them and everything is filthy and disorganized.

Response:

> Also did you make it to the Leonardo di Vinci museum in/near Milan ? If so > is it worth a visit ? Any recomendations for things to do with a possible > spare day (or half day). > I wonder if you are referring to the science museum, that has some nice > models of Leonardo’s machines. The idea was nice, but when I last > visited it (ten years ago or so) it was badly in need of maintenance. I > hope things have got better, but I don’t know.

This is the one I was thinking of: http://www.museoscienza.org/ the web site makes it look interesting, but I can’t figure out from the site exactly where it is. Is it within walking distance from the city centre ? I’m also planning to check out what is on at La Scala once I know my dates and then figure out if I can book tickets over the internet.

Response: