Lodging in Milan

Price range? (And please don't say "reasonable.") :-)

Good point! We are only staying over as we are on our way to Florence, so with that said, and there are 3 of us, parents and one 17 year old. Decent hotel or pensione (sp?), bus or walking distance to train station. $100-150/nt.

We always stay at Hotel Berna on Via Napo Torriano 18 located about 500 meters from Stazione Centrale. It is a 4 star property and it serves the best breakfast in Milano. You could check with venere.com and click on the map location tab. The hotel is very nice and the staff is extremely helpful. Blum viaggio,

Try Hotel Florida (book direct and hope there's not a convention in town) or Hotel Garda. Check their websites for special offers. http://www.hotelfloridamilan.com/en_chisiamo.asp http://www.hotelgardamilan.com/

I recommend Hotel Berna - just about 2 blocks from the main train station.
I found a great price single room $75 per night and the location is perfect. Lots of restaurants within a block or 2 and the hotel is very nice.

Somewhere on this site, maybe one of Rick's blogs, there's a link to find a calendar for the Convention (Fiera) schedule. Apparently, if your stopover is during a convention, value rooms are a no. I just adjusted my itinerary to avoid any 'fiere' yet, as we are staying two nights to have a shopping day for the wife, I still can't find any places that entice. Between events there should be bargains to be had. Unfortunately, on a one-night layover, the train station area seems to be the best choice. But I get the impression those hotels are in the peep show district. Having to take a few-stop trip on the metro, then a couple blocks through the graffiti zone, just doesn't seem very 'back door.' Does anyone have insight as to modest lodging in the medieval heart of the city? Or,... if is just to easy not to stay in a convention hotel, has anyone ever Priceline-d this area?

Another vote for Hotel Berna.

The area south of the train station down to Porta Garibaldi station is indeed a bit seedy. Not dangerous like Downtown Miami, but not a place you will feel comfortable walking at night either. This being said... I suggest you to take a look at hotels near the castel area. There are usually bargains out there. Contrary to other Italian cities (which makes some people unfairly bad-mouth it), Milan doesn't have a flurry of activity concentrated on the very medieval core. There are a few hotels, but overpriced and underserviced. You don't want to stay there, as the area pretty much dies after work hours.