Hotel Des Etrangers

The location is handy, right beside Bolivar metro station, and Navigli is a 15-minute walk away. Breakfast had a very limited selection, though what was there was good. The rooms are good, but the older part of the building has old-fashioned showers in the bathrooms, which isn’t great.

The breakfast was very good, though the rooms feel old. It’s a good hotel for a one-night stay.

Getting a reply took far too long, sometimes four weeks by email, and the hotel showed no flexibility or empathy. We had booked a non-refundable stay months in advance, but a health emergency stopped us from travelling a month before arrival. Other companies, including our airline and hotels with the same policy, offered refunds or alternative dates when we explained. Hotel des Etrangers - Milan was the only one that wouldn’t help. There was still plenty of time to resell the room, which made the lack of support and poor communication especially disappointing. I can’t recommend it based on this experience.

The hotel isn’t central, but it’s a good place to stay, with friendly, helpful staff and reception open 24/7. Tram 14 and buses 50 and 85 run nearby toward the city, and a Metro station was due to open imminently, 50 metres away. Our bed was comfortable, and the room had air conditioning and a fridge, though it felt a little dated and had no kettle or tea-making facilities. The shower was reliably hot, and toiletries and towels were replaced daily. Continental breakfast is free for all guests, with some vegan croissants. I didn’t try it myself, so I can’t say whether vegan spread or milk was available, but it may be worth asking in advance.