Red259

I ended up doing both. Centric first night and then Park Hyatt second night when the point requirement dropped down to 40k. I like checking out park hyatts and likely won't be back to Milan again anytime soon.

Ijones027

you might be tempted to be back for this ph just warning you

bostontraveler

For a suite, no way. And I'm not sure a basic room at 40K is fantastic either.

If you have a ton of points sure.

I lived in Milan for many years... so not sure I have an objective view of it also as an Italian, but if it were up to me I would save my points, stay at the Hyatt Centric and go for a wonderful dinner. I think you'll get a better ROI that way. Just my opinion...

Red259

::shrug:: I get a return rate of 2.3 cents per point with the centric which is quite good. With the Park Hyatt I get a 2.6 cent per point return rate which is excellent, Granted I would never spend $1k+ in cash on one night in a hotel but I like checking out the higher end hotels. Most of the Park Hyatts I have done are in Asia, with the exception of the one in Paris. The suite at 80k was a total non-starter though. 40k is pretty much my limit. I am now explorist level so it will be interesting to see if there is any difference in treatment from discoverist. I'm not gonna hold my breath.

Eke2k6

For me, the problem with the points pricing of the PH Milan is not the hotel itself. Rather, it’s about the city it’s in. Compared to the rest of Italy, Milan is frankly boring and lacking in character. For instance I’d pay whatever the Gritti Palace wanted to stay there again. The Cat 8 that used to be in Positano, same thing.

For me Milan is a one day location, and completely skippable if you’re only in Italy for a week or two.

Red259

Yea I am not super hyped about Milan, especially since I can't seem to get tickets for the last supper. I'm going there because I haven't been before (I lived in Florence and been all around there and have been to Venice/Rome etc), but I wanted Italian food and I wanted to take the train up into the swiss alps and to see Lucerne on the way to Germany. Maybe I will just cut my time down there to one night.

EuropeanPete

This my kind of answer. Savage. Rather unhelpful. But not wrong.

bostontraveler

I don’t think you can be that mathematical about things in life all the time.

Everyone is different but for me spending 40k for one night is a lot… but if you have the points and want to try it then just book it. You’ll enjoy it.

As a discoverist you most likely won’t get any special treatment but the service is excellent anyway.

richarddd

I'm a big fan of Milan. Some great architecture, churches and museums. It's not the highpoint of Italy, but well worth a visit if you have the time.

bostontraveler

Very much agree. And it's a very sophisticated place. If you have any interest in design or fashion (even looking at the quality of what is on offer) it is unbeatable.

Also the city underwent a huge transformation after the Expo. The area around Porta Nuova for example and the Bosco Verticale is new and modern but interesting. When I was younger that area was pure blight, now it's one of the priciest places in Italy for property with some amazing avant-garde architecture.

In my mind I've always drawn a parallel (way smaller dimension obviously!) to NYC or São Paulo, cities that I find not very aesthetically pleasing, have far less history of course, but where there is always another exquisite restaurant to discover, a hidden garden, a gem of a museum.

But no, it's not a museum city- it was largely destroyed in WWII- but try to see it through the lens of what it is-- Italy's economic engine and design capital par excellence.

bostontraveler

Yeah, it's hard to get tickets to the Cenacolo (last supper)... the tour operators hog a lot of the tickets but if you head over to Trip Advisor you'll find a ton of them offering tours there... and you skip the line...

If not go for a walk through the Duomo (the rooftop is really impressive) the Galleria, down to the Castello Sforzesco... some of the gardens.... everything is relatively close so plenty to fill up a day!

Red259

I am an explorist. Not that I think even that will make a huge difference.

beachfan

+1. Great food too.

skj

We were unable to get tickets in advance, but the concierge set us up on a tour that included the Duomo, La Scala opera house, the Last Supper, and more for the day after we arrived. I don't recall the exact price but, surprisingly, it seemed very reasonable compared to prices shown elsewhere.

Red259

Maybe I will contact them in advance and see?