Used to do a Varese run every 3 months about 15 years ago. Stayed a couple of times at the Crystal (convenient enough to walk to the office and pleasant staff, but the green carpet going up the walls grew old quickly), couple of times at the Palace (convenient to nothing, a 2* hotel on a 4* lot and building). Finally figured out that the best place to stay in Varese was in the next country, in Lugano.