Hotel Garda Milan

I managed to get a room in this central Milan hotel at a greatly reduced price due to booking and arriving late. They obviously had rooms to sell, and it is of course better to get a third of the normal rate than nothing at all.
It is a deceptively large hotel, with six floors and a large number of rooms. I unfortunately found myself on the sixth floor. There was thankfully an elevator, but I only saw the one, and this is extremely small, two people without bags would be enclosed in a relatively intimate space. Forget taking bags, that it tight with only one person.
The room was again quite compact, but big enough and apart from the oppressive heat very comfortable. There were the usual facilities expected of a more expensive hotel. An in-room safe, television, desk, mini-bar and of course ensuite facilities. The shower however turned out to be a bit disappointing; the showerhead obviously needed a clean, as it only seemed to work to about fifty percent of capacity.
The room was in my case was uncomfortably warm, and there did not seem much I was able to do about it, the thermostat was turned fully down and the radiator was off. Even with the window open and the bed sheets thrown off it remained warm.
Continental breakfast is included, and a team of ‘breakfast’ assistants were on hand to ensure that fresh coffee was served soon after arrival and that all items were replenished before they actually ran out. They were pleasant and relatively efficient. There is also a large screen television in the breakfasting room and there are a number of other communal rooms, such as the bar located around the reception area. These are tastefully decorated and comfortable to relax in.
There is internet access, with a stand-alone terminal and wireless connection for those equipped with their own laptops. The charge for this a very reasonable €1 for thirty minutes. I helped myself to a small bottle of an orange perrier from the mini-bar, and again the charge for this was not too exorbitant.
The hotel is located within a very short distance from the Central Station, and is well located for anybody arriving by train or the shuttle buses from the various airports. There are also a number of restaurants, pizzerias, coffee shops and inevitably a couple of McDonald’s outlets within a very short walk of the hotel.
I would not even consider staying at this hotel at the normal rates, however desperate I might be, but if you manage to book at short notice and get a room at one of the reduced rates, it worth checking out if you happen to be in Milan and short of somewhere to stay.