FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Hilton Garden Inn Milan Malpensa (from March 2024) {ITA}

Mar 23, 2024 | 9:40 am

#9

Aldebaran

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Milan

Programs: BA Gold (CCR), Cartafreccia, HH Diamond, Esselunga Fidaty Gold

Posts: 569

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stripe

Thanks for that clarification. You're right. I would expect a fair amount of confusion.

I'm pretty familiar with the area. My comments about its unsuitability as a base to explore the area were mainly based on the fact that there a much better hotels around. I found the old HGI adequate for a night before a flight but not much else. My wife and I did find an excellent pizza place in Somma Lombardo. I could probably find it again if I was there but cannot remember a name.

The considerations about the unsuitability of the hotel as a base to explore the surroundings and the lakes area are basically correct, but they do not take into account some very important elements that can influence the choice of the hotel.

First, it is virtually impossible in lakeside locations to find a hotel with prices of 70-90 euros per night, including breakfast and free parking. There are certainly much better hotels around, but prices will be at least double or triple, and probably even higher in the summertime.

Then let's take into account the loyalty program: upgrades, free breakfast, likely welcome drinks and other amenities, not to mention the counter-value of the points received, which in this case can approach 50% of what you pay for the room. Most lakeside hotels are not included in large hotel groups and their loyalty programs.

In the area around MXP, in addition to Hilton, there are many establishments of other hotel chains (IHG, Marriott, Accor, Wyndham, Best Western, etc.), many of them in better locations or with better amenities. Unfortunately an Honors member, especially if Gold or Diamond, is practically forced to choose this HGI or the Doubletree Milan Malpensa Solbiate Olona, of the same ownership, which is, however, even further away.

For this reason, in the next few days, during some trips to the lake, I booked a stay at this hotel as a base: its cost is more advantageous to me than returning to Milan, with the costs of fuel, road tolls and loss of time.

I will report back.

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