Holiday Inn Milan Nord Zara by IHG

The trouble started with conflicting breakfast information. At check-in, reception said breakfast began at 6:30 and told us, “You may go in anytime!” We planned our bus departure around that, but the next morning we were turned away because groups were supposedly only allowed in from 7:30. I'd suggest recording what reception tells you, since the rules seem to change. They eventually set up another room for us, but breakfast started late and was worse: fewer choices and lower quality. We had no basics like cheese or salad, and our coffee was instant powder while other guests had fresh-bean coffee. Other tourists were eating better food right in front of us. We complained to a staff member, who apologized but said he wasn't the supervisor and couldn't help. The woman who blocked us from entering had a terrible attitude, as if we owed her money. They were still serving people, but staff had already begun clearing away the limited food we had. Past reviews show this different treatment at breakfast was an issue over six years ago, and it's still happening. Totally unacceptable.

The staff were friendly and housekeeping came every day. Breakfast was decent, and there's underground parking. It's fine for a few nights. Getting around by public transport isn't great, with a 20-minute walk to the metro, and there aren't any good restaurants nearby. The A/C is controlled centrally by reception, so you can't adjust it from your room.

The room and washroom were comfortable and spacious, and the staff were responsive and friendly. Lidl is easy to get to if you want alcohol or local snacks to enjoy back at the hotel. I'd highly recommend it to tourists.

Free parking in the garage was really convenient, and the hotel felt clean, though I did find a lot of dust on the room phone. We were traveling with two children and appreciated getting two connecting rooms with a shared inner door. Both rooms were spacious, and we also got a free upgrade to a room that normally costs €20 more per night. We booked breakfast for just one room, and hotel policy let our 10-year-old eat free, which was a nice bonus. Breakfast was good by Italian standards, with a buffet and a range of choices.