Hotel Gran Duca di York — Hotel in Milan

I chose this hotel because of its walkable location from the Metro, away from tourist crowds, but not too far that I couldn't walk to the Duomo and restaurants. Also, as a solo woman traveler, I needed a location with staff on site 24/7. I also checked multiple review sites, mapped the location, and viewed photos. I checked to make sure all reviews were within 6 months, versus 6 years ago. (I noticed that many hotels in Italy have no recent reviews.) This hotel met my vital needs.

The extras were the friendly faces that greeted me at the desk upon arrival, the happy hour barista in the hotel that serves complimentary cocktails, Italian wine, cappuccinos and espressos. English is understood and spoken, which if this is your first time to Italy, like it was for me, it was helpful. There is an elevator, which is nice to have in Italy. The other hotel guests I met were all friendly to me also. The hotel is peaceful and quiet. I was there in July, which is the most insanely busy time to travel to Italy. So having a quiet, gentle hotel which you can return to after a busy, intense day in Milan is a MUST for a traveler like me.

The hotel is a step above basic, and its very clean, neat and attended to. You can tell the hotel is loved. I would say from my experience with hotels, it's a 2.5 to 3-star hotel in Milan. The helpful and friendly staff will call a taxi for you, provide umbrellas, and share their recommendations on restaurants and directions, and will make reservations for you, as needed. I noticed mostly couples there, slightly older which I prefer as a solo woman traveler.

Room My room was a single and faced the interior garden, which was lovely. The single room is small and tight. The windows fully open, and have wood blinds if you'd like to keep the fresh outside air coming through the room. I loved mine because the night I stayed there, there was a beautiful Italian thunderstorm that I loved listening to in my room.

Bathroom The bathroom was clean and tiny--typical of Europe. Fresh towels, soap and shampoo is provided. Availability of shampoo, conditioner and lotion is not always a guarantee in European hotels, shower gel (which I don't prefer) seems to be the norm, so always check first. I always bring my own body lotion and hair products, I have very dry skin and natural hair.

I recommend Hotel Gran Duca di York without reservations. Try to get a room that faces the...

Disappointing Stay that Belongs Nowhere Near Rick Steves' Guidebooks!

I recently had the unfortunate experience of staying at Hotel Gran Duca Di York in Milan, and I can confidently say that this hotel does not deserve a place in Rick Steves' guidebooks. From the moment I arrived, I encountered numerous issues that left me extremely dissatisfied.

First and foremost, the air conditioning in the hotel is set at a stifling 82°F (28°C), and despite my best efforts, I was unable to lower it. I even sought assistance from the night auditor, who admitted that the outdated air conditioning units desperately needed updating. As a result, the rooms were unbearably hot by American standards. To make matters worse, when I requested a meeting with the manager to discuss the issue, my request was outright refused. The best they could offer was a paltry 5 Euro discount endorsed by Rick Steves himself, which was an insult to my comfort and well-being.

Furthermore, the hotel is located in an area of Milan that is devoid of great restaurants and shops. If you're looking for a vibrant culinary and shopping scene, look elsewhere. This hotel's location fails to offer any enticing options for exploration and enjoyment.

During my stay, I was also subjected to constant noise emanating from the numerous malfunctioning air conditioning units outside my room. It felt as if I was attending a rock concert instead of trying to get a good night's sleep.

While there was one redeeming aspect - the breakfast was quite expansive and well-executed - it does little to compensate for the overall disappointing experience. Despite this small positive, I strongly advise anyone seeking a comfortable and enjoyable stay to steer clear of Hotel Gran Duca Di York.

I implore Rick Steves to revisit Milan and update his Italy guidebook with alternative accommodations that prioritize guest comfort and...

Had a lovely 4 days at grand duca Di York in Milan in a single room. Milan is an expensive city. So I was thrilled to find this hotel which in the end ticked all the boxes for me. ||My single room was small but perfectly formed. Decent bed, places to put things, scrupulously clean, the aircon worked superbly in the fierce heatwave Milan was experiencing. ||I liked the inclusions which included free minbar drinks, free muffins and biscuits at reception. The breakfast was excellent too with fresh fruits, authentic Parmesan. I could go on...||Everything at this boutique hotel worked like clockwork and the staff are genuinely warm and friendly. You didn't get any issues with key cards, slow lifts etc. heck the lift doors even stay open if the are on the ground floor. ||The crowning glory is its central but quiet location a 5 minute walk from the duomo. It's also steps from Via Torino the main shopping drag. ||I caught the Malpensa express train in and then got off at centrale and then caught the metro to the duomo stop. ||I would highly recommend checking out this place if you are a value traveller, with high standards and like centrally located properties. I would advise booking in advance. This place is not a secret being no 1 on TripAdvisor and also making mention on the likes of Rick Steve's site. ||I would without hesitation return to this hotel if...