54 Cat

The train ride into Milan is easy and takes roughly 30 minutes, with a one-way ticket costing about 3.30 EUR. The station is around a ten-minute walk away, and during rush hour trains from Galarate run several times an hour. You can change to the Metro at places such as Fierra Milano or Porta di Garibaldi. The last train back from Milan, for example from Porta di Garibaldi to Galarate, leaves about 20 minutes after midnight. Finding the right platform can be tricky since it’s on the station’s lowest level. If you’re in a hurry, get a ticket from a kiosk during the day; the ticket counters and machines can have long lines. Remember to validate tickets at the station machines. Late at night there are fewer people, and everything, restrooms included, closes after 9:00 PM. Street parking is plentiful in the evening. Cars fill the spaces in the morning, then clear out as commuters return from Milan by train. The “54 Cat” business has two separate rooms on the first floor. I was given the worse one, though the other was supposedly better because I didn’t have a bathroom. The bathroom, which has a washing machine, is for your exclusive use but sits outside the room. It’s close, but you have to step into the hallway and climb a few steps, which is inconvenient. The room itself is large, with a desk, two comfortable beds, and a TV with local channels. Wi-Fi was supposedly available, but I couldn’t connect. My laptop worked well using the internet from my LTE Wi-Fi router. The capsule coffee machine made cold, tasteless coffee, though there were plenty of capsules. The included “breakfast” is left in the room, just rusks, jam, and Nutella, so I wouldn’t count on a proper breakfast. There’s a fridge and microwave but no regular kettle, which makes making tea awkward. The heavy keychain is a nuisance in your pocket, and getting to the room means forcing open two building doors, then another door to the room and one more to the bathroom. Smokers can use the balcony, which is reached from the hallway. The owners have a cat, apparently the main attraction, and you pick up the keys at their private apartment. The entrance is on the other side of the building, on A. Doria Street. They’re a kind and hospitable couple, though they can be almost too friendly. They want to offer drinks and chat at length, which can make getting settled take a while. There are no special restaurants nearby, but you can find a warm, tasty meal if you arrive at a reasonable hour. Depending on the day, you may find the doors shut by 9:00 or 10:00 PM. I ate once at a Chinese restaurant on A. Doria Street, and it was okay.