notaMi - Urban Retreat - Isola District

The WhatsApp team were kind, but we left a day before checkout because of the river flooding. Piazza Tito Minniti is near the river, and when it overflows you can’t get in or out of the building. Once the water goes down, it leaves foul-smelling mud contaminated with sewage. It was terrifying. We managed to enter the building around 10 p.m. and left then, but it was impossible for us to stay, so we booked another hotel. This is a room rental, not a hotel, in my opinion. There’s no in-person support, reception, or breakfast area. Breakfast comes by voucher at a place across the square, so you have to leave the building to eat. It’s poor quality for the price, and rain makes that a big problem. The rooms are small too, making it hard to open two small suitcases. On all the hotel rental websites it appears as Aielo Hotels, but in my opinion it isn’t a hotel.

Check-in was all handled through WhatsApp, with excellent explanations, and went smoothly. Breakfast at Momo Café across the square was very good, and the welcome there was friendly. There are bars and restaurants less than a five-minute walk away, so the location is ideal. The rooms are small, but very clean and soundproof. Coffee, tea, and a small refrigerator are provided. It’s good value for money, and I highly recommend it.

Breakfast at the bar across the street comes with coffee, orange juice, and a pastry. Serena handled the WhatsApp communication, making check-in easy and independent. She was always smiling and concerned about guests’ well-being. The hotel is a stone’s throw from the Garibaldi Gate, and the Duomo is a 40-minute walk away. I recommend staying here.

There are lots of bars and restaurants nearby, and we loved the area. The welcome was really warm, and the hotel itself was lovely and well located. We stayed one night. The metro is less than ten minutes away, with access to all the important sights in Milan.