Recommendations for Malpensa Airport Hotels?

1/11: I periodically try to links and prices here. For the most part, rates have ped since last year. If the information is from 2011, I say so. Otherwise, assume it's from 2008. My first contribution is the Hotel Cervo. The Cervo gets mixed, if not mostly negative reviews, most due to lost reservations and uncooperative service. We had a good experience with it. They were perfectly friendly. It's designed like a standard two-story U.S. motel and I wouldn't want to stay on the first floor for noise and safety reasons. It has a restaurant but I'm not sure of the hours or quality. They charged for the shuttle last year but the website doesn't mention that. There is nothing to do in the surrounding neighborhood which is literally between the two terminals of Malpensa. Despite that, it's reasonably quiet. 1/11: I've since had messages from others who complain about no dinner (or breakfast in one case) served at the Hotel Ristorante Cervo. We actually kept our rental car for the night and ate elsewhere. As I mentioned, the hotel is in the middle of a neighborhood with nowhere to go on foot. The Cervo is quoting rates of 75-Euro for May, 2011.

My second (and only other place I've stayed) is the First Hotel It's a four star with a very upscale modern design. It is in the Casa Nouve neighborhood between the two terminals. Update 1/11: The standard rate for a double room in May '11 begins at 99 Euros. Free shuttle begins at 4:30 am and runs until 1 am. It has a restaurant and bar with seating outside (basically in the parking lot).

Here's a link to the Hotel Cardano that others mentioned recently. Update 1/11: A double room in May, 2011 is roughly 100 Euro. The free shuttle begins at 5:00 am. It has an outdoor swimming pool

Other hotels on Tripadvisor (search on Somma Lombardo) include:

The Crowne Plaza Milan - Malpensa (looks like the same location complaints from reviewers there). 4/09: Added more info below.

The Domina Inn Malpensa (see below)

Tre Leoni(see below)

and.. The Grand Hotel Malpensa (which must be an oxymoron).

Here's one more you can add to your list. Best Western's "Cavalieri Della Corona" It is about two and a half miles from Malpensa, free shuttle service from 6:30AM to 11:30PM, and breakfast is included in the rate. We have rooms reserved in April at 103 Euro's per night.

Greg

Although this is not near Malpensa, we stayed at the Hilton next to the train station using some of our points. There is a bus shuttle for 6 Euros a person at the train station that will drop you right at the airport. The shuttle information website is malpensashuttle.com. Perhaps this will give you some more options.

Just to keep adding more detail about choices. I researched the Hotel Tre Leoni. It's in Somma Lombardo, the nearest town of any size to Malpensa. Its website says it's close to the town train station. It has a shuttle to the airport but the website doesn't say if the service is free or not. Update 1/11: Rates on Venere for a double room are 100 Euro for a double in May, 2009. There are several reviews on Tripadvisor and most are negative. Their booking site on Venere is at: http://www.venere.com/hotels/somma-lombardo/hotel-tre-leoni/?ref=850993&sd=16&sm=05&sy=2011&ed=17&em=05&ey=2011&pval=2&rval=1

I give a big negative for Hotel Tre Leoni. We stayed there last May and thought the place was our worst experience in all of Italy. The staff was unconcerning, the food service was terrible. They have a shuttle to the airport but it cost about 13 Euro as I recall. They didn't schedule it right for us and we had to race to the airport to get our flight. The only good thing about the place is that it is within walking distance from the train station. We picked it because it was in Rick's book but it has been removed from his 2008 update. He must have received other negatives to remove it.

So another contribution to this project is more information on the Domina Inn Malpensa. Can anyone report on their stay there?

Update 4/09: For a stay in May 2009 the rate is 80 Euro a night. The shuttle to the airport is free.

Tripadvisor reviews are mostly positive. The descriptions are of a relatively modern hotel with a good breakfast and good service. Several comments warn that it's important to reserve the shuttle early because people have been crowded out of the 8 passenger van.

Reviews also say there's not much around the hotel. The website says it rents bicycles to guests and there's some recreation available. It says it's in the town of Somma Lombardo, which ought to be better for finding a place to eat than being captive to a hotel out by the airport. But it doesn't show a map to confirm.

Again, if anyone reading this has stayed there, please let us know what you thought.

I also add to the list the Hotel Ascot Malpensa, to which I give a very favorable review for almost instant replies to email in the middle of the night (here) in fluent English, for doing what they said they would do, and helpfulness above and beyond the call of duty in getting me and my wife to the airport for one of the Malpensa dreaded and infamous early morning flights. Here's the link to the hotel's website: Click Here

Continuing this sporadic project, Karen Brown's website has another suggestion, the Hotel Villa Malpensa. Here's the link to her review: http://www.karenbrown.com/Accommodations/Italy/Lombardia/Hotel_Villa_Malpensa/00002002.php. It looks quite upscale. It looks to be near the airport but in a different village. The hotel's website says it has a free shuttle. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner (what, no breakfast? They must... Ah, yes; poking about the website I see that breakfast is included in the room rate and is a buffet served in the restaurant. It has a swimming pool! This is certainly in a different league than the Cervo. But, yikes! Double room rates (checked again 1/11) are 170-230 Euros.

Greg, above, mentioned the Best Western Hotel Cavalieri della Corona. It has a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. Free shuttle, and (update 4/09) the reviews on Tripadvisor are quite positive.

Update 4/09: The standard room rate for a double is 89 Euro.

From the map, it appears to be on the outskirts of the town of Cardona al Campo but can't tell if other restaurants might be within safe walking distance.

The hotel's website is here.

Thanks Doug for the link to this discussion. I am leaning toward the Hotel Villa Malpensa. If anyone reading this thread has stayed there, can you post and tell me what you thought? One of my primary concerns is getting to the airport early. Our flight leaves at 6AM and we will need a shuttle or taxi at perhaps around 4AM. Yikes! Thanks for any additional info.

Martha

We actually have stayed at the Hotel Villa Malpensa twice, but not in the very recent past. I think the last time was 7 years ago. It's pricey, but the rooms are very nice, and it's only about 5 minutes from the airport. We had a very good dinner in their restaurant, and the included breakfast buffet was fine. There's a free shuttle, but I don't remember when it starts running. Google for their website, which gives all the info.

We made reservations through Booking.com for a Holiday Inn with free shuttle to malpensa for about $86.00. Check it out. kathy

About the Hotel Cervo. The restaurant was totally closed when we were there, although in the emails I had been told that breakfast was included. There was no breakfast, coffee, nothing. It is also quite a walk to any restaurant, and nothing else close by except residences. I can't remember what the charge was for the shuttle to the airport as we didn't have much choice, just remember that it wasn't outrageous.
We probably would not stay there again.

Stayed at the Villa Malpensa 16 years ago. Had the BEST risotto I've ever had in my life. Don't know if I would stay there again with the above quoted price but I sure would eat there. :o)

The Crowne Plaza is in the same barren neighborhood between the terminals as the Cervo and the First. Rates on the hotel's website are a bit confusing. There is a basic rate - lower if non-refundable, 20 Euros for a second person and then more if you want breakfast (which is typically provided in the rate at other hotels). Guess about 150 Euros for May, 2009.

It appears to be a business class hotel, consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand. Tripadvisor reviews are mostly positive and consistent with the expectations of people who travel in this class (one reviewer sniffed that the room service was unfriendly). The usual cautions about nothing to do in the area around the hotel (Look at the map, guys! It sits between two airport runways!)

Free shuttle to the airport. Sauna and fitness center. Restaurant serves dinner,

Kathy, above, mentioned the Holiday Inn Express. It, too, is in the Casa Nuove neighborhood between the Malpensa terminals. The reviews in Tripadvisor are mixed: Tripadvisor reviews Room rates in May, 2011 are about 80 Eur

Just came back from a 1 night stay at the Holiday Inn Express Malpensa on 4-9. After being dropped by the Bus from the train station, we took a taxi from Terminal 2 because we were rather tired (15 euro for a 5 minute ride). But the free morning shuttle from the hotel ran ontime and was very nice. Seems like they had one about every half hour. The hotel was very modern & surprising quiet & clean. Free breakfast, CNN,tea making in room, internet available in lobby. Only complaint was they had no instructions in the room for phone, TV, etc. Paid 70 euro with an internet prepay booking.

A new suggestion is for the Hotel Visconti in Cardano al Campo - the next town to the west from the airport terminals.

Tripadvisor has positive reviews. The hotel has a free shuttle. Couldn't find room rates on my first attempt.

My husband and I have stayed at the Hotel Cervo several times and it is very convenient. It also has a shuttle service from or to the airport. There is a good restaurant just a short walk from the hotel, open for lunch and dinner. The hotel doesn't have many amenities but it does have breakfast included and sometimes the restaurant is open for dinner.

CROWNE PLAZA:

Stayed there in May 2009. I booked/paid through the Crowne Plaza website at 110 EUR per night. Everything went smooth and according to my expectations for a brand new, modern Crown Plaza brand hotel. Shuttle was right on time and took approx. 20 minutes to get to the airport. They have internet with a printer in the lobby for EUR 5/hour.

TIP FOR THOSE COMING FROM LAUTERBRUNNEN, SWITZERLAND: We took the train to Gallarate (Interlaken-Spiez-Gallarate.) From Gallarate, it was a 15 minute/18 EUR cab ride to the door step of the Crown Plaza. Total trip time - 3.5 hours.

This probably saved us 2 hours by not going into Milan, taking the shuttle back to Malpensa Airport, then waiting for the Crown Plaza shuttle at the airport.

Has anyone driven from Bellagio - north of Como - to Malpensa? I ask because I will be staying in Bellagio before flying home on a Sunday morning (10:00) from Malpensa and want to know if I should leave Bellagio on Saturday and stay near Malpensa or get up early Sunday morning and drive (and return a rental car)? I hate to leave Bellagio early but do not want to have to leave at 4:00 AM to get to Malepensa in time. Any thoughts? Many thanks.

I just connected to Best Western Hotel Cavielieri (sp?) and the rate for 1 night/2 adults on Oct 5th was 460E -- what's going on???

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at Malpensa in May and it was wonderful. It had just opened and was very nice. We got a great internet deal of about 60 euro, but I believe the normal price is about 150 euro. It was a great hotel.

Just got back from Italy today. On my last night I stayed at the First Hotel by the Malpensa airport. I thought it was great. Clean, helpful staff, and I had a decent dinner at the restaurant. They have a shuttle to the airport. I booked the room through expedia for 125 USD.

Just a word of warning about the Hilton Garden Inn Malpensa. We recently booked 2 rooms there for April 2010 through booking.com at 60 euro, paid up front, which seemed like a great price. When the charge came through on our bill, it was for 75 euro. I called booking.com (the agent there was terrific), and they called the Malpensa Hilton for us, but the hotel refused to honor the reserved price. The booking.com agent then contacted central Hilton reservations for us, and they're supposed to be "checking on it" with a resolution promised in 3 days. I don't think this is booking.com's fault, but it gives me a pretty unpleasant sense that the local Hilton is doing some skimming...hoping Americans won't bother checking the currency conversion.

Kathleen - for the sake of Hilton's reputation, I hope you'll post here the resolution of your complaint.

Glad to do so when I hear back from them. To be continued...

Just wanted to report on the eventual resolution of the overcharge at Hilton Garden Inn Malpensa. The hotel did eventually refund the overcharge, but it took a month of calls to them and to booking.com, with whom we had placed the reservation, to settle it all. I have to say that the folks at booking.com were terrific on follow-up; the folks at Hilton much less so. I'm not at all sure that without the extra pressure from the 3rd party booking agent that they would have given us back the $$ that we were overcharged. Still, all's well that ends well....

Has anyone besides Kathy stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Malpensa and more recently? I did check it out on TripAdvisor, Booking.com, etc., but can't find any reviews for it. It is very close--same as First Hotel, but a little cheaper and has free shuttle. Cost about $110 right now for a single. Concerned about the noise for sleeping due to its location, but says they have soundproof rooms? Any comments??? Kathy didn't say how they liked it. Thanks.
PS: Doug, this is a great service to have all these comments for the airport hotels in one link.

I too am looking for a hotel at/near the airport. I, however, have a 6:45 am departure so will need an early shuttle to get to the airport. I called Holiday Inn yesterday. They were kind enough to call over there. Their shuttle doesn't begin until 6 AM...not early enough for me. I find most sites just saw "free shuttle", without posting times. Does anyone know who has earlier shuttles? Do any have a sign-up type sheet at the desk so you can request a time? Thanks everyone.
Jean

The Hotel First (see above) begins running its shuttle at 4:30 am. Get on the list with the front desk.

Check the links on the other hotels for their shuttle hours.