Hotel Gran Duca di York or Hotel Berna for 56 year old solo female traveler with a back disability

Hello Continental. We stayed at the Hotel Berna in one of the larger rooms at the end of August. We found the neighborhood safe to walk, plenty of restaurants including two better quality ones (need to research the names again), and there were plenty of outlets near the bed for electronics. We took the subway for sightseeing. You don't need to be concerned about knife violence in Milan, nor gun violence, which you know already. My NY-son says he always feels so much more relaxed when he comes to Europe to visit. I hope you do, too.

We chose the Berna because we traveled to and from Milan by train and also had to meet an arriving group at the airport.

I've stayed in the Gran Duca di York twice because I like being in that neighborhood. I have not stayed at Berna. The first time I was just there overnight and had a single which was very small. It was fine for overnight but the next time I stayed I went for a double and got an immense room. I don't remember anything about the plugs so there must have been something by the bed or else that would stick in my mind. I would probably not choose to spend 5 nights in the small single.

Not only do I like the neighborhood but I find the staff there very helpful and pleasant and the breakfast is wonderful. I am not even a breakfast eater and I enjoy it, hahaha. The neighborhood is safe for a solo woman traveler at night.

The elevator is good at Gran Duca di York. I've never had it go out on me.

Are you staying in Milan for 5 nights? If so you may consider a more centrally located hotel than Hotel Berna simply for convenience. I don't know that it needs to be something as fancy as the Hotel Gran Duca di York but part of what you are paying for is location.

The Duomo is a 5 minute walk from Gran Duca while to get from Hotel Berna to the Duomo you need to walk back to the train station (it's close) and then take one of the Metros to the Duomo. For a day or maybe two it's probably okay but since very little of tourist interest is near the central train station virtually any tourist destination is going to require some form of public transportation first. Milan is a big city so no location is hear everything but Gran Duca (or a similar hotel) is much closer to many of the main tourist attractions.

We stayed at the Berna because we were coming and leaving the next day on the train so the location is perfect for a short, train based stay. This was a couple of years ago but the hotel was nice and the breakfast spread was huge. Some of the rooms were a little long in the tooth but it was fine and very functional. I think it is more of business hotel that is slow in the summer months so you need to think of it in that function rather than a strictly tourist hotel. The area south of the hotel (away from the train station) was nice and there are some good restaurants and the area. There is a green traffic circle about a block down from the hotel and there a bunch of eateries around it. At the time the around the train station was fine, even at night. The area around virtually any train station at night feels a little sketchy and there are people with nothing better to do but it felt very calm and there was a visible circulating police presence making sure everyone was behaving.

You can doing some degree of "walking" the various routes on Google Maps and see what you think.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

You all are giving me things to think about and I appreciate that, thank you. I am staying for 5 full nights and then flying to JFK on a flight that leaves after 2 PM which to me is fantastic.

I was interested in those two hotel properties because RS mentions them in both his Italy & Milan/Italian Lakes travel books.

I’m happy to hear that the Milan subway is safer than the recently (over the past few years) more dangerous NYC subway. It’s not guns these days; it’s more about knives. I love traveling in Europe on my own and haven’t done so in over two years. I typically visit friends in Germany but the Deutsche Bahn is too unreliable. I haven’t been to Northern Italy since I was 12 and found that Delta has an excellent miles deal to Milan from JFK. The deal is so good that I might take that extra money and put it to hotel accommodations.

Pam, I’ll PM you. It’s been a long time!

Regarding outlets, just get some long charging cords and a charging block with multiple connections. Having these has made all my travel, foreign and domestic, much easier.

Have only stayed in Hotel Berna, with only good things to say. I also like their happy hours with generous complimentary snacks. They participate in many travel rewards points programs, so you may get a few nights free?

Have a wonderful trip!

The Gran Duca is about a 15 minute walk to Cadorna Station. A Malapensa Express train to the airport goes directly to and from Cadorna Station so if your only need for a train is to and from the airport, and if you can comfortably walk 15 minutes with your roller bag, then there is no location advantage to the Berna. I have stayed at the Garda which is just a couple doors down from the Berna, and I have stayed near Cadorna Station. The Gran Duca was above my price range but for convenience and neighborhood, it might be preferable. I like being in walking distance of major sights. I also found the Berna area comfortable. I had read somewhere that the area close to Milan Central was less safe at night but I did not feel that way at all.

I'll add three notes: the entrance to the subway from the Berna is a half block. Our room at the Berna had been renovated. Finally, we stayed one night at the Garda after our tour and had a room from the 1950s with a 1920s toilet and a pathetic breakfast.

Connie! I am embarrassed to admit I did not even LOOK at the author of the thread. I was grabbing a minute to reply while babysitting my 2 great-nephews who are little whirlwinds so just saw and read your question without the authorship sinking in, lol!

I think others have made good points for you to consider. I'll add that right across the street from the Gran Duca di York is the wonderful museum the Pinocateca Ambrosiana. For me it was about a 30 minute walk from the hotel to the location of the Last Supper with a slight side foray to look at some ancient ruins on a side street, hahaha.

Funny anecdote...it was one of the first trips I used CityMapper and I was a little worried about having my phone out for navigation. I got headed toward the Last Supper and realized it was the end of rush hour and there were LOTs of young professionals out on the street....ALL holding their phones so I did not feel quite as vulnerable. I don't know if you've used CityMapper on your trips to Germany but it works very well in Milan.

If you like fashion don't miss the Armani Silos - a custom built museum to iconic brand. A bit of a pain to get to but an amazing visit because you to walk around the clothes rather than just behind glass or a velvet rope.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Thank you everybody for taking the time to offer advice. I do plan on taking 1-2 day trips out of Milan; I won’t have luggage so taking a subway to the main train station shouldn’t be an issue. I didn’t know there is an express train to MXP from the train station nearest Gran Duca. That’s helpful to know.

I think I’m trying to justify spending substantially extra money!

Pam…no reason to be embarrassed! How I entitled this thread with brutal honesty is embarrassing!

I definitely used Citymapper in Germany as well as downtown Manhattan!

Hi - I've stayed at the Berna but nothing that was near the Duomo.

We stayed a few years ago and really liked the Berna - we stayed at the annex across the street and came back across for the magnificent and very tasty breakfast spread. Great staff, but we were a few years ago...

We used the subway once I think, mostly used trams. No issues. Went easily to the Last Supper, and the Duomo and its roof, and the Galleria. Enjoyed very much, didn't think the Berna was inconvenient.

Have stayed at both hotels. It’s been a few years since we stayed at Hotel Berna. We stayed across the street in the annex. Room was a double but small. Breakfast in the main building was very good and staff was outstanding.

We have stayed at the Gran Duca di York a few times, most recently this spring. Lovely room and their breakfast was also very good and the staff is wonderful. We like the location as it is close to a favorite restaurant. Easy walk to Cadorna Station to MXP. Also a great gelato shop around the corner. Husband uses a CPAP and had no issues with outlets along with two phones and a laptop. It is a bit of a splurge for us but really close to what we want to do.

Hi, I’ve stayed at Hotel Berna a couple of times - mainly because it was less expensive, and I wasn’t staying in Milan long. Personally, it was okay for what I needed - proximity to the train station to head up to Stresa or over to Cremona the next morning, or just one day in Milan, so limited metro rides. Would I stay there if it was a 5-day stay? No. I didn’t care for the immediate neighborhood at night.

My daughter & I planned to stay at the Gran Duca last September, but we ended up at a different hotel in the center where a friend gifted her points for our stay. If I was staying for five nights, I would be looking on Booking.com for the best reviews at a price point where I’m comfortable that is located away from train stations & in the center. You can contact the hotel and ask about the requirements that are important for you, plus look at “Travelers photos” of any hotel on TripAdvisor. Just don’t trust the TripAdvisor reviews because anyone can go onto that site and leave a review. (Booking.com send a link to leave a review after a stay so there’s integrity in those reviews.)

Thank you all so much! I had no idea that TripAdvisor reviews could be placed by anybody. I will definitely read the booking.com reviews. Jean, I appreciate that.

I really appreciate everyone’s time with helping me. Thank you!