MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi Review Contents:
Overall Rating | The Atmosphere | The Staff | The Room | The Location | The Price
Hey guys! As you might know already, I’ve stayed at a few MEININGER Hotels over the last few years and I’m super excited to share their brand new hotel with you! MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi opened in December 2017. And despite the fact that I was living in Italy until February, I didn’t manage to squeeze in a visit until last week!
But now that I have I can’t wait to share this brand new design hostel with you!
P.s. I create a travel vlog showcasing the new hotel and the city! You can see it for yourself by clicking play at the top of this article!
MEININGER Hotel Milan Overall Rating
MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi Review
The Atmosphere
Walking into MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that you’re walking into a budget hotel. Spacious, bright, and colourful, Milan’s newest luxury hostel reflects the brand seamlessly.
MEININGER Hotels have been renovating and raising the stakes in the budget accommodation sector for the last few years. And their new property in Milan is no different.
The large floor to ceiling windows (that seem to have become a staple in their hotels) illuminate the large reception desk and comfy seating area. While the open sofas help to encourage their guests to mingle, as do the bar stools in their ‘Bar Station’.
This open plan design continues throughout the hotel’s social spaces. One of my favourite pieces of architecture can be found in the main dining area…
Designed to reflect the local neighbourhood
Designed to reflect the proximity of the hotel to Porta Garibaldi train station, this seating area looks just like a train carriage! While closed off to the main reception area, the sides in the dining area are missing so that guests can relax in a bright public space while keeping slightly separate from those checking in on the other side.
As always, my favourite place in the hotel was the bar! Called the ‘Bar Station’, again to reflect the local railway, the MEININGER Hotel Milan bar is equipped with bar stools and it was here that I got chatting to guests and staff throughout my stay.
During my stay in Milan, I got to see the best of both worlds when it came to the hotel’s atmosphere. On my first nights the hotel was beautifully calm. I spent the evenings chatting with staff and made a bubbly new friend (Annie!) while sipping beers from the guest fridge.
On other nights, the hotel was hosting business travellers who chilled out on the long trestle tables in the bar area, as well as bustling groups of students that really livened up the atmosphere!
Personally, if you’re looking for a hostel with plenty of events for guests then you won’t find that here. However, you will find a chilled atmosphere that is perfect after a long day of exploring the city of Milan!
The Guest Kitchen at MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi
Aside from the bar, one of my favourite places to meet other guests is in the guest kitchen. Which is why it’s so great that MEININGER Hotel Milan has one that is fully equipped!
Spacious, just like the rest of the hotel(!), the guest kitchen also has a long dining table that is perfect for sharing meals with roomies or other hostel guests.
There’s also a foosball table for those of you who fancy a game after dinner!
Breakfast at MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi
Breakfast isn’t included at MEININGER Hotel Milan. But for €7.90 you get to help yourself (as many times as you like!) to the spread of meats, cheeses, cereals, pastries, and fruit!
My personal favourite was the coffee and orange juice every morning. Which I drank to wash down my fresh yoghurt and muesli. Seriously, the MEININGER breakfast can make you feel like an Instagrammer even if you don’t take photos of it!
The best thing I noticed about breakfast was that even on the busiest days when the large groups of students were eating, the spreads were constantly refilled.
Oh and I loved the breakfast staff. I even got a hug from one of the lovely ladies on my last day!
The Staff
My first impression of the staff at MEININGER Hotel Milan came when I was checked-in by the beautiful Tamara! She was discussing something with another member of staff at the reception desk. But as soon as I got there she slid over to another computer and had me checked in smoothly within minutes!
The next few days were spend socialising mostly with Magali and Lawrence who were working the evenings when I would get back from exploring. It was actually those two who encouraged me to visit Lake Como, and told me exactly how to get there!
P.s. make sure to watch my travel vlog to see just how easy it is to get there from the hotel!
And on the final night, when I got a fever, I have to thanks Rizalde! I was in desperate need of an English hot toddy and he knew just how to make it perfectly! I woke up feeling much better, so thanks Rizalde!
Unfortunately, these are just a few of the names I managed to get. But in all honesty, all of the staff really stood out to me. Including the breakfast lady who gave me such a sweet hug on my last day! The cleaning staff would say hi to me everyday (or salve in Italian), as would the maintenance man every time I bumped into him in the lift. Overall, I felt like everyone I met in the hotel was super smiley and friendly and I just want to say a big huge public thanks to everyone who made my stay at the hotel so pleasant!
The Room
I always tell people that if they want a break from party hostels or old school backpacker hostels then they should treat themselves to a night in a MEININGER Hotel. Why? Because I’ve never not had a great night’s sleep in their beds.
The room I stayed in was one of the four bed rooms. With two single beds and a bunk-bed, the room can either be used as a dorm or as a private. So when it’s a dorm, there’s only one traveller who might end up with the top bunk rather than two! This room is the perfect example of how MEININGER Hotel Milan has been designed to accommodate independent travellers, as well as groups of friend or families.
To get a full sense of the size of the room, then I suggest you check out my latest travel vlog of my trip to Milan!
Personally, I found that the beds were just slightly on the slim side compared to others that I’ve slept in. Which might be an issue if you roll around a lot at night!
But on the plus side, each and ever bed (the twins and bunks included) are fully equipped with a personal night light, socket, and USB socket. In fact, they even have light switches for the main lights which is perfect if, like me, you tend to get into bed before you remember to switch the main lights off!
One of my favourite spots in the room had to be the desk! Obviously, I carry my laptop with me everywhere I go and it’s such a highlight when you get the chance to work in the room. Especially if the lounge areas can get busy as they did in Milan!
The desk even had it’s own personal light and USB sockets. These guys thought of everything!
Room Facilities
All of the rooms at MEININGER Hotel Milan also have free lockers for each guest. You’ll need your own padlock (you can see what I use here). But they’re the perfect size to fit your valuables inside. I used them each day for my laptop and passport and had no problems at all!
And finally, for those of you who like to hang your clothes, you might be pleased to know that my room had it’s very own clothes rail! I tend to keep my clothes stuffed into my tiny backpack. But this never makes for good travel photos! So this time around I hung everything up.
And there were even hooks by the door for my coat so that when it rained I could keep it separate from my clothes!
The final thing to note is that all the rooms at MEININGER Hotel Milan have en-suite bathrooms. Yes, even the dorms! Yay!
I’ll be honest: I love hostel life, but traipsing to the shower rooms down the hall in squeaky flip flops can get old. And it’s such a treat just to be able to roll out of bed and straight into the bathroom.
The bathroom at this new property was squeaky clean and the shower was incredible! Super hot and high pressure, it was the perfect pleasure after a long day of exploring the city!
It’s also important to note that MEININGER provides hand gel and shower gel in all its bathrooms. So you don’t have to worry about packing over-priced miniatures before your trip to Milan!
The Location
The Cenisio Metro station in Milan is just a 5 minute walk from MEININGER Hotel Milan, making it super easy to get to and from the hostel via public transport. The Google directions were a bit sketchy on my visit, so here’s the exact route you need to take to find the hotel:
- Take the Via Messina exit from Cenisio metro station and walk north-west up Via Messina on the right hand side of the road.
- Turn right onto Via Privata Giovanni Calvino.
- Then take the second left and keep walking until you see the MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi. It’s a big orange building so you can’t miss it!
The Neighbourhood
In all honesty, there’s not an awful lot to do in the neighbourhood around the hotel. Which means that you’ll probably need to take the metro each day. Although the impressive Monumental Cemetery is just a fifteen minute walk away. And the Arco della Pace is just a 25 minute walk, much of it along the wide avenue of Corso Sempione that is lined with bars and restaurants.
If you’re looking for a hostel in the busy centre of Milan, then you might not feel too comfortable walking this area late at night. However, the MEININGER Hotel Milan has great security, including large gates that you need a key-card to pass through. Which definitely made me feel safer!
Directions to MEININGER Hotel Milan by Train from Malpensa Airport
It takes just over 40 minutes to reach the centre of Milan by direct train, and tickets cost €13. For the easiest route, take the train from Malpensa Airport to Milan Porta Garibaldi Underground. Once there, you will have to find the entrance to the Metro and then take line 5 (the purple one) to Cenisio. Tickets cost just €1.50 and the ride is just two stops. From Cenisio, the MEININGER Hotel Milan is just a five minute walk. To find the hotel, follow the directions above.
Directions to MEININGER Hotel Milan by Terravision Shuttle Bus from Malpensa Airport
When I arrived at Malpensa, I took the Terravision Shuttle Bus from the airport as I had so many great experiences with them in Rome! The ride takes around 50 minutes from Terminal 2 (depending on traffic of course) and costs just €8.00… €5.00 cheaper than the train. The bus will drop you at Milan Porta Garibaldi Underground. Once there, you will have to find the entrance to the Metro and then take line 5 (the purple one) to Cenisio. Tickets cost just €1.50 and the ride is just two stops. From Cenisio, the MEININGER Hotel Milan is just a five minute walk. To find the hotel, follow the directions above.
Click here for the Malpensa to Milan Terravision Bus Timetable.
The Price
Prices for a bed in a four bed dorm, with an en-suite toilet and shower (like the one above that I stayed in) begin at around 20.50 EUR* for fixed price bookings, or 22.50 EUR* for flex bookings. The fixed price bookings have to be paid in full when you book, and are subject to cancellation fees, but the flex bookings are able to be cancelled up to 7-days in advance and payment isn’t due until 6-days before check-in.
But if you prefer to stay in a private room then you can do that here too! MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi also offers private doubles with prices beginning at 44.00 EUR*.
And finally, if you’re a solo female traveller (like me!) then MEININGER Hotel Milan also offers female only dormitories. Prices for a bunk in a female-only dorm begin from just 23.50 EUR*.
As always, to get the best possible price I highly suggest booking directly on their website. This way you’ll also be able to choose between the fixed or flex bookings (and save some money!), which is more difficult when you book elsewhere.
Extra costs:
Extra costs include breakfast (€7.90) and late checkout (€10). I highly recommend the late checkout… an extra four hours in your cosy bed for just €2.50 an hour! You can also even book a packed lunch to take with you during the day and save on food costs!
The packed lunch at MEININGER Hotel Milan costs just €4.50 and contains a filled bread roll or sandwich, muesli or chocolate bar, fruit and a drink. Just remember to add it to your booking when you book online!
*Prices for April 2018
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I would like to thank the MEININGER Hotel Milan Garibaldi for sponsoring my stay with them, but as always opinions are honest and entirely my own.