Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan

We mostly ate out, so I can’t really comment on the hotel’s meals. The downstairs menu didn’t seem to suit our tastes anyway. The concierge desk was especially helpful: since we’d only booked our flights and accommodation, we relied on the staff to help us get tickets for attractions and other entertainment. I do wish early check-in had been available, as we had to wait in the lobby after arriving by train. The hotel itself feels elegant and glamorous.

The room upgrade to premium was appreciated, but I didn’t sleep well. Both mornings I woke with severe back pain. At first I thought I was coming down with a cold, then realized after thinking it over that I wasn’t sick. I regret not mentioning the problem to the staff. Marriott beds are usually a highlight, but this one caused me trouble. A restful stay would have made a big difference to the trip. The hotel is right by Milano Central station, and the front desk, restaurant, and bar staff were all very helpful.

The people here made this our best hotel experience so far. Everyone was welcoming and went out of their way for us, especially Edoardo and Antonella. Antonella called ahead to ask how they could make the visit special for my daughter’s birthday, and there were chocolates and a delicious cake waiting for us. Edoardo found us an upgrade when I asked, though the suite took a couple of hours to be ready. He offered a lower-floor upgrade if we didn’t want to wait, but we had time, so we stayed out in town. It was worth it: the first room was their second-best suite, with a terrace, dining area, living room, one and a half bathrooms, and a deep, long tub. The shower seemed to be a steam shower, though it and the lights took a bit of figuring out. It was whisper quiet, and the bed was so comfortable I slept better than I have in ages. Edoardo even found me a conversion plug, and Antonella and the rest of the team spoiled us throughout our first visit. Breakfast was incredible, and I was glad I chose it over points. The buffet was closing at 10:30 when we arrived, but the staff were happy to wait while we got something to eat. There was a huge range of food, including fried eggs, cured meats, pastries, omelettes, French toast, Nutella pancakes, caviar, smoothies, and vegetable drinks. I stuck to pineapple and orange juice, had two cappuccinos each morning, and loved the cream-filled croissants and blueberry muffin. Daniel was kind and helpful when serving us. Our plans for Lake Como and the Savoie (sp?) got complicated, so we asked Edoardo to find us another room. He came through again with a suite, even though it wasn’t the same one, and apologized that he couldn’t get us the original suite. The second stay was still amazing. We were in room 521 the first time and 522 the second. The hotel is central, has a shuttle to the Duomo, and gave us excellent dinner recommendations. There were thoughtful room details too, like the Nespresso machine and pods, loofa, robes, bottled and boxed water, bath salts, and vanity kits. We’re looking forward to coming back.

You really feel looked after here, and the service from the whole team is amazing. I loved the beautiful hotel, the big rooms with turndown service, and the views of the central train station. The gym and spa are excellent, and breakfast comes with great service. My favorite thing, though, was the buffalo milk yogurt. I don’t want any other kind now.