Westin Milan, Italy [Master Thread]
Jan 14, 2011, 1:02 am
#61
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oslo
Posts: 448
May 15, 2011, 7:22 pm
#62
Join Date: Jun 2002
Programs: UA 1MM, JAL JGC Diamond, SPG Lifetime PLT, AMEX PLT
Posts: 1,231
Is there any less expensive garage nearby the Westin Palace Milan?
The hotel charges 40 Euro a day at Garage Palace(I am not sure this is the valet charge or even self parking?).
I found two parkings close to the hotel but could not find the rate.
I also saw many cars parking along streets with yellow lines by google map.
Are they restricted parking area for residence or commercial?
Thanks in advance
The hotel charges 40 Euro a day at Garage Palace(I am not sure this is the valet charge or even self parking?).
I found two parkings close to the hotel but could not find the rate.
I also saw many cars parking along streets with yellow lines by google map.
Are they restricted parking area for residence or commercial?
Thanks in advance
Jul 18, 2011, 4:50 pm
#64
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Western PA
Programs: AA EXP/2MM
Posts: 441
Relative to my other experiences as PLT, I was very disappointed in the treatment at the Westin Palace Milan. Having booked a basic room, I was "upgraded" to a WestinWorkout room. While it was a nice enough room -- wood floors, comfortable bed and chairs, nice bathroom w/ shower -- that is not much of an upgrade. In addition, this room was located on the first floor in a rear annex... giving me the stunning view of the rear-facing courtyard of neighboring apartments.
The area of the hotel is very convenient both to the Centrale railroad station and to the Repubblica metro station.
I found the hotel staff to be incompetent. Eg. (1) Walking to the hotel from the metro station, the bellhop waited until I had climbed the 3-4 steps with my bags before offering to take them from me. (2) At checkout [approx. 12 noon] a line of at least a dozen people accumulated while various front desk staff wasted time - 1 helping someone with a map [that is the concierge's job], 1 sorting invoices, and 1 taking 10 minutes per checkout.
Overall, a decent hard product but a soft product that left much to be desired.
- Bill
The area of the hotel is very convenient both to the Centrale railroad station and to the Repubblica metro station.
I found the hotel staff to be incompetent. Eg. (1) Walking to the hotel from the metro station, the bellhop waited until I had climbed the 3-4 steps with my bags before offering to take them from me. (2) At checkout [approx. 12 noon] a line of at least a dozen people accumulated while various front desk staff wasted time - 1 helping someone with a map [that is the concierge's job], 1 sorting invoices, and 1 taking 10 minutes per checkout.
Overall, a decent hard product but a soft product that left much to be desired.
- Bill
Oct 27, 2011, 4:21 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Oslo, Norway
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Skyteam E+, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,032
Arrived tonight, staying here for 3 nights. Got to the reception and was met by a grumpy lady, she melted after a while and told me I was upgraded to a so-called junior suite (booked lowest rate - classic room)...
Was escorted to my room by another guy from the front desk, who informed me about the facilities.
The room is not really a suite, it is just a spacious room, but here it is called a junior suite. I do appreciate the extra room though, as I am travelling with my sister. It is on the 9th floor, and have very, very high ceilings, a huge chandelier, two single beds, a huge sitting group fit for a king - sofa, four chairs and a table, a desk, a separate entrance hall and walk in closets. The bathroom have double vanities and a shower/tub combination. There is also a bidet beside the toilet.
I find the hotel to be slightly outdated... it is trying to be "old world", but I guess it don't really achieve that. I was looking for Joan Collins in the lobby, she would fit in perfectly! It is an interesting mix of 80s marble and 90s copper chandeliers... When you look close enough you will see that the fixtures have several cracks and barely holding together.
I found the bar to be very nice. It is quite expensive - 10 EUR for a local beer, 15-18 EUR for a cocktail, 15 EUR for a Amaretto, and so on. Expensive, but nice.
All in all, I am very pleased with this hotel, the extra space, the low rate (118 EUR), the location. It is a solid hotel. Not the best in Milan, but a solid one. I do miss a swimming pool and a club lounge though.
They seem cheap with the upgrades, and they do not seem to give anything more than they have to do for platinums, no breakfast, no discount, no voucher, no fruitplate, NOTHING at all. And only one bottle of complimentary water. The rooms don't even have coffee/tea makers.
That said, I would not hesitate to return here
UPDATE: AC is not working at all, the bathroom smell of sewage, and the good news: free apples in the lobby, hehe.
UPDATE 2: had some fun reading the minibar leaflet...a 0,25 l bottle Diet Coke cost 10 EUR and a 0,33 l bottle of local beer cost 13 EUR, the prices rivals those at the Ritz Paris and Cipriani Venice - I am not comparing the Westin Milan to those hotels whatsoever, haha. I am at the Four Seasons Firenze now where a Coke cost 6,5 EUR.
Was escorted to my room by another guy from the front desk, who informed me about the facilities.
The room is not really a suite, it is just a spacious room, but here it is called a junior suite. I do appreciate the extra room though, as I am travelling with my sister. It is on the 9th floor, and have very, very high ceilings, a huge chandelier, two single beds, a huge sitting group fit for a king - sofa, four chairs and a table, a desk, a separate entrance hall and walk in closets. The bathroom have double vanities and a shower/tub combination. There is also a bidet beside the toilet.
I find the hotel to be slightly outdated... it is trying to be "old world", but I guess it don't really achieve that. I was looking for Joan Collins in the lobby, she would fit in perfectly! It is an interesting mix of 80s marble and 90s copper chandeliers... When you look close enough you will see that the fixtures have several cracks and barely holding together.
I found the bar to be very nice. It is quite expensive - 10 EUR for a local beer, 15-18 EUR for a cocktail, 15 EUR for a Amaretto, and so on. Expensive, but nice.
All in all, I am very pleased with this hotel, the extra space, the low rate (118 EUR), the location. It is a solid hotel. Not the best in Milan, but a solid one. I do miss a swimming pool and a club lounge though.
They seem cheap with the upgrades, and they do not seem to give anything more than they have to do for platinums, no breakfast, no discount, no voucher, no fruitplate, NOTHING at all. And only one bottle of complimentary water. The rooms don't even have coffee/tea makers.
That said, I would not hesitate to return here
UPDATE: AC is not working at all, the bathroom smell of sewage, and the good news: free apples in the lobby, hehe.
UPDATE 2: had some fun reading the minibar leaflet...a 0,25 l bottle Diet Coke cost 10 EUR and a 0,33 l bottle of local beer cost 13 EUR, the prices rivals those at the Ritz Paris and Cipriani Venice - I am not comparing the Westin Milan to those hotels whatsoever, haha. I am at the Four Seasons Firenze now where a Coke cost 6,5 EUR.
Last edited by skrosvik; Oct 30, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Jan 8, 2012, 11:11 pm
#66
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Programs: Starwood Platinum, Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 92
Just spent 2 nights at the Milan Westin. Walked from Centrale station to the hotel with a big bag. First time visitor to Milan but no problems finding the hotel on foot - took 10-15 mins.
Check in offered me an 'upgrade' to a Junior Suite...which is what I'd booked. No big deal. No other extras besides usual Plat amenity (500 points) were offered. The suite was very similar to details in above posting but we did get a decent fruit platter in our room. No b'fast and just the one water. Also received free wireless internet.
Soundproofing in these rooms is very poor. We were on 10th floor and had no problems hearing the regular police/amulance/fire sirens go past. Of more concern was the noise from next door's TV and our neighbours (stereotype Italian husband/wife arguments).
Good location - 15 min walk to Duomo and shopping area.
Probably would not return due to soundproofing issue.
Check in offered me an 'upgrade' to a Junior Suite...which is what I'd booked. No big deal. No other extras besides usual Plat amenity (500 points) were offered. The suite was very similar to details in above posting but we did get a decent fruit platter in our room. No b'fast and just the one water. Also received free wireless internet.
Soundproofing in these rooms is very poor. We were on 10th floor and had no problems hearing the regular police/amulance/fire sirens go past. Of more concern was the noise from next door's TV and our neighbours (stereotype Italian husband/wife arguments).
Good location - 15 min walk to Duomo and shopping area.
Probably would not return due to soundproofing issue.
Jan 19, 2012, 2:15 am
#67
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
Just winding up a stay here and not much to add to other recent comments (as a gold got a decent internal room, no view but nice and quiet), desk staff curiously inefficient in a way that seems endemic in Europe. Breakfast buffet good (I bought internet + breakfast package) but not as good as Principe di Savoia across the piazza. A pleasant stay overall but not great.
On a side note it is male fashion week and the hotel was packed with extremely elegantly dressed fashion world types and this morning the lobby was 2/3 cut off as a commercial for a bank was being filmed but a person from the desk was available to guide me across the lobby to the restaurant. I.e., significantly more concern about making sure that the film crew was not disturbed than I had experienced about my welfare as a guest.
Edited to add: on the no coffee maker note above, in my room there was a flyer that stated that due to a fire department concern coffee makers and clothes irons were not permitted in the rooms. This fits in with the slightly outdated feel of the hotel that perhaps has had fire code issues.
On a side note it is male fashion week and the hotel was packed with extremely elegantly dressed fashion world types and this morning the lobby was 2/3 cut off as a commercial for a bank was being filmed but a person from the desk was available to guide me across the lobby to the restaurant. I.e., significantly more concern about making sure that the film crew was not disturbed than I had experienced about my welfare as a guest.
Edited to add: on the no coffee maker note above, in my room there was a flyer that stated that due to a fire department concern coffee makers and clothes irons were not permitted in the rooms. This fits in with the slightly outdated feel of the hotel that perhaps has had fire code issues.
Jun 8, 2012, 7:55 am
#69
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 64
Recent Stay
1. The breakfast was expensive, 39 Euro, so I only had it on the last day. I much prefer the Italian version anyhow (espresso and a pastry).
2. The gym was very nice and very small. It looks like it was very recently renovated. It is open 24 hours but the steam room/showers attached to the gym aren't.
3. I was in a "not-recently-renovated-room" (625) and the furniture was flimsy, and old. The carpet could use updating and the walls needed a new coat of paint. Other than that it was clean. The bathroom was not large, but perfectly functional. Hot water with very good water pressure.
4. My room overlooked the front of the hotel and the piazza as well, big windows that opened. Which was awesome because I couldn't figure out how to adjust the temperature in my room.
5. The bar is expensive for drinks. The food isn't outlandish, so if you just want to grab some quick food and people-watch, that's fine. The bar staff is really nice.
6. The front desk staff are nice. The check-out process takes a lot longer than it should. They have some tablet-like device that doesn't seem to be at the optimal resolution so it's hard to read.
7. Getting a taxi in the morning was really simple.
8. You are 200 feet from the subway.
9. You are a short walk from a number of nice, small restaurants.
10. Laundry is expensive. It would've cost close to $200 to wash 7 pairs of socks, 7 t-shirts, and 7 pairs of underwear. Even though my company would've paid for it, it didn't feel right. I found a wash 'n fold about a 10 minute walk from the hotel, toward Porta Venezia. Well, it wasn't wash 'n fold, but an extra 2 euro made added the fold part. So I spent 10 euro instead of a hell of a lot more.
11. n.b. There are always "working women" in the bar. They keep to themselves and don't solicit the patrons of the bar, but you know who they are.
12. There is no smoking in the bar, but there is a separate, closed off smoking lounge.
13. I was placed on the SPG floor (was Gold at the time) but didn't notice anything different than other floors.
14. I would definitely return. Apparently they are slowly renovating each room. While my room was dated, it was pretty huge for a room with only a king-sized bed.
15. The wireless Internet sucked.
16. The wired Internet sucked.
17. The cleaning staff was really, really pleasant.
--Mike
Jun 8, 2012, 8:46 am
#71
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
I stay here regularly (about two weeks this year); some comments from a SPG Gold:
I was just here from 4/22 through 5/4 for business. Now, keep a few things in mind, I am a relatively new business traveller so I don't have a lot to compare it to. However, here are my thoughts:
1. The breakfast was expensive, 39 Euro, so I only had it on the last day. I much prefer the Italian version anyhow (espresso and a pastry).
Breakfast is expensive but a great place to have a breakfast meeting.
3. I was in a "not-recently-renovated-room" (625) and the furniture was flimsy, and old. The carpet could use updating and the walls needed a new coat of paint. Other than that it was clean. The bathroom was not large, but perfectly functional. Hot water with very good water pressure.
Rooms vary; as a Gold I do not get a view but the rooms are very comfortable with nice baths and good showers.
4. My room overlooked the front of the hotel and the piazza as well, big windows that opened. Which was awesome because I couldn't figure out how to adjust the temperature in my room.
Temperature control is a bit of a mystery but rooms can be quite cool when it is hot outside which is a plus for those who wilt in the humidity.
5. The bar is expensive for drinks. The food isn't outlandish, so if you just want to grab some quick food and people-watch, that's fine. The bar staff is really nice.
Again, a great place to host a guest but quite expensive. There are some nice bars in the area (on V. Pisani) that are less posh but cost less.
6. The front desk staff are nice. The check-out process takes a lot longer than it should. They have some tablet-like device that doesn't seem to be at the optimal resolution so it's hard to read.
Check out is a bit of a disaster. My last trip I needed to leave early (545AM) and I had to go over the bill with the concierge as the desk was abandoned but it eventually got sorted out (though I am still waiting for a copy of my bill by email that was promised a few days ago).
7. Getting a taxi in the morning was really simple.
Taxi queue in front of the hotel is great when there are no strikes (earlier this year I was greeted by a cry of SCIOPERO!!!, i.e., strike when I looked for a taxi)
8. You are 200 feet from the subway.
Always a good plan B.
9. You are a short walk from a number of nice, small restaurants.
Some great restaurants nearby.
14. I would definitely return. Apparently they are slowly renovating each room. While my room was dated, it was pretty huge for a room with only a king-sized bed.
It's quite conveniently located for me so I keep going back.
1. The breakfast was expensive, 39 Euro, so I only had it on the last day. I much prefer the Italian version anyhow (espresso and a pastry).
Breakfast is expensive but a great place to have a breakfast meeting.
3. I was in a "not-recently-renovated-room" (625) and the furniture was flimsy, and old. The carpet could use updating and the walls needed a new coat of paint. Other than that it was clean. The bathroom was not large, but perfectly functional. Hot water with very good water pressure.
Rooms vary; as a Gold I do not get a view but the rooms are very comfortable with nice baths and good showers.
4. My room overlooked the front of the hotel and the piazza as well, big windows that opened. Which was awesome because I couldn't figure out how to adjust the temperature in my room.
Temperature control is a bit of a mystery but rooms can be quite cool when it is hot outside which is a plus for those who wilt in the humidity.
5. The bar is expensive for drinks. The food isn't outlandish, so if you just want to grab some quick food and people-watch, that's fine. The bar staff is really nice.
Again, a great place to host a guest but quite expensive. There are some nice bars in the area (on V. Pisani) that are less posh but cost less.
6. The front desk staff are nice. The check-out process takes a lot longer than it should. They have some tablet-like device that doesn't seem to be at the optimal resolution so it's hard to read.
Check out is a bit of a disaster. My last trip I needed to leave early (545AM) and I had to go over the bill with the concierge as the desk was abandoned but it eventually got sorted out (though I am still waiting for a copy of my bill by email that was promised a few days ago).
7. Getting a taxi in the morning was really simple.
Taxi queue in front of the hotel is great when there are no strikes (earlier this year I was greeted by a cry of SCIOPERO!!!, i.e., strike when I looked for a taxi)
8. You are 200 feet from the subway.
Always a good plan B.
9. You are a short walk from a number of nice, small restaurants.
Some great restaurants nearby.
14. I would definitely return. Apparently they are slowly renovating each room. While my room was dated, it was pretty huge for a room with only a king-sized bed.
It's quite conveniently located for me so I keep going back.
Jun 8, 2012, 8:47 am
#72
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP; BoNVoY Tit LTP
Posts: 1,923
PS Forgot to mention that they give me a nice welcome gift (so far bottle of decent wine, fruit plate or pastry plate) as well as a departure gift (most recently some nice chocolates in a tin).
Jun 8, 2012, 9:08 am
#73
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 64
Also, just down the street toward the center of Milan is a restaurant named Bianco Latte -- I didn't eat the food but OMG the gelato was awesom. No, really, it was that awesome.
Last edited by mjpaci; Jun 8, 2012 at 9:25 am Reason: forgot Bianco Latte!
Jul 1, 2012, 1:09 pm
#74
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: S Cal
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, United Silver, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,142
10. Laundry is expensive. It would've cost close to $200 to wash 7 pairs of socks, 7 t-shirts, and 7 pairs of underwear. Even though my company would've paid for it, it didn't feel right. I found a wash 'n fold about a 10 minute walk from the hotel, toward Porta Venezia. Well, it wasn't wash 'n fold, but an extra 2 euro made added the fold part. So I spent 10 euro instead of a hell of a lot more.
Jul 1, 2012, 2:34 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 64
Lavanderia Self Servicemore
Via Alessandro Tadino, 5
20124 Milan, Italy
349 8633320
(found it on Google)
Go out the front door of the hotel and turn right. Make the first right down Viale Tunisia to Via Alessandro Tadino. It's just short of 2 blocks on your left.
--Mike
Via Alessandro Tadino, 5
20124 Milan, Italy
349 8633320
(found it on Google)
Go out the front door of the hotel and turn right. Make the first right down Viale Tunisia to Via Alessandro Tadino. It's just short of 2 blocks on your left.
--Mike