We're staying 1 night at a hotel (hotel Star) in Milan, are arriving early and would like to drop off luggage at hotel, view some sites, then check-in at normal check-in time. Do Italian hotels normally keep/ store luggage a few hours for guests prior to check-in time and/or after check- out time?
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5837 posts
Italian and European hotels will typically accommodate you by holding your luggage prior to check-in. It's also common for hotels to hold luggage after you check out if you have a late departure.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8380 posts
Many incoming flights are coming into Europe early to mid morning. It's not out of the ordinary to deposit luggage at hotels and to come back after check in time to pickup bags, check in and take a great nap.
Many hotels throughout Europe have locked luggage closets for this purpose.
Posted by
824 posts
While I've never had a problem getting an Italian hotel to store my luggage, sometimes I was not completely "happy" with where it was kept. On several occasions, luggage was left in a corner of the reception and was accessible to anyone who wanted to snoop...
That being said, If you are arriving Milan via train (from either somewhere else in Italy or from the airport), you can always use the left luggage drop at the train station. While this will cost a little (5-10 eur per bag), at least the area is secure.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16537 posts
Yes they will and, more often than not, they may be able to check you in early in a room that is already ready. I very rarely had to wait for check in time.
It is true that sometimes, when no rooms are ready, they may temporarily store your stuff in the reception area (not in a locked storeroom). In those instances I simply lock my luggage, but it's still safe.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
One caution: all of the above is correct if you're staying in a hotel (as you are in this case). If you're staying in an apartment, there may be no way to leave luggage before check-in time or after check-out time.
The only time I would have been charged for luggage storage in Europe was at the EasyHotel, where it's part of their business model. Otherwise, my hotels have always done it for free. If you're taking a short side trip and returning to a hotel, they will usually also hold your large bags for a few days, so you don't have to schlep them back and forth.
When you make your reservation, hotels often ask when you're arriving. Even if the Hotel Star didn't, let them know (approximately, as in "We will be arriving at Milano Centrale at 9 AM and expect to be at your hotel by 9:30 AM"). This way, if they can have a room ready for your when you arrive, they will.