This article originally appeared in the August/September 2023 issue of Dream of Italy.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina in February 2026. You might consider a stay in one of these properties while attending!
As many of us know once you get status with a reward program it can really impact your travel choices. Somehow with some non-Italy travel and longer than usual stay at a Residence Inn when I moved back to Denver, I achieved lauded “ambassador” status within the Marriott Bonvoy Program. The first place I went when I had super high Bonvoy status was the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback in Arizona where I was treated like a queen. I could indeed get used to this.
After COVID, when my travels took me back to Italy, I decided to delve into the Bonvoy points possibilities and made a concerted effort to stay at four of the more than 60 Marriott properties in Italy. They have different brands that stretch from an average price point for Italian city hotels like the Courtyard Rome Central Park location (starts around 170€ per night) to Milan’s luxury Bulgari hotel (which starts at around 1300€ a night).
Lucky for me, Bonvoy members often get special pricing and offers such as breakfast included at no or low additional costs. For my stays at four Marriott properties during my most recent trips to Italy, I both used my points and paid for nights, to help keep my status.
Most of the hotels I share with you here are ones I visited with my dog Finney before he unfortunately passed away. I can confirm many Marriott Bonvoy hotels are pet-friendly and often staffed with pet-lovers. I know many of you travel for work and may have a lot of Marriott points or want to accumulate them, or are just looking for a good hotel to stay at in and around Milan, so this may be helpful.
The Westin Palace Milan
La Companie is a business-class only, dog-friendly airline that flies from Newark to Milan Malpensa. I knew that before filming with Massimo Bottura a few hours away in Modena, I wanted to have a couple of comfortable nights for Finney and me to adjust to Italian time. No one appreciates a posh hotel like I do- no one except the late Phineas Orazio McCabe.
The Westin Palace fit the bill for both of us but I knew I wanted a room with a little more space and that had been newly renovated. I opted for a Grand Deluxe Imperial Double room because it had been recently updated, didn’t have carpet and was quite spacious for a city hotel. There was a hallway leading into the room, a walk-in closet, a full large bathtub and a window I could open for fresh air. But, at 445€ per night, it would be the most expensive hotel I have ever paid for. So I compromised and used points to cover two nights and paid for two nights.
Milan has a stereotype of being stuffy and cold but my stay at the Westin Palace was one of the warmest and most welcoming anywhere in Italy. Marriott Bonvoy really takes care of its high-level members. Was it because I was traveling with a rockstar of a dog? Was it because it is a top-level hotel with highly trained staff? Was it because of my Titanium Elite Ambassador status? I did ask the front desk attendant why everyone was so friendly and he made a joke. He said “It’s because we’re all from the south!” But, in reality I know it is a testament to the value Marriott places on customer interaction.
Usually I am not too demanding of a concierge, but Riccardo went above and beyond his duties. He and his team ensured luggage I had sent ahead of my arrival made it to my room and kept me updated on the status of the suitcase at the hotel. The staff had a crisp, white, comfy dog pillow and treats waiting for Finney when we walked into the room and served his boiled chicken meals under silver cloches.
I was given free breakfast as a welcome amenity for my Marriott Bonvoy status. The breakfast buffet was massive. Well-worth the money, the buffet took up an entire room that you entered to serve yourself. It had the perfect mix of sweet and savory- prosciutto and cheeses with fresh baked bread and pastries, croissants and cakes. If it is not included in the room rate, it might cost you 30-40€ a person and you have to make a decision if it is really worth it. There is a great cafe right around the corner if you want a traditional cornetto and coffee for breakfast outside of the hotel.
The Westin Palace Milan is a three-minute stroll from the Giardino Indro Montanelli– think Central Park but smaller- with beautiful green grounds, fountains and paths for dog walking. The park encompasses the sites of the Natural History and Modern Art Museums of Milan- the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano and GAM- Galleria d’Arte Moderna respectively. The park was also a great place to meet our Instagram wire fox terrier friend Duccio di Milano and his dads at an outdoor cafe/bar.
The Westin Palace Milan
Piazza della Repubblica, 20
(39) 0263 361
www.marriott.com
Rates: Double rooms start at 254€ per night, with breakfast.
Moxy Milan Malpensa Airport
This hotel is a new favorite- a perfect place to stay before flying out of Milan. Most international flights fly out of Terminal 1, but this hotel is located nearby in the smaller Terminal 2. I booked Moxy Milan Malpensa on a whim last minute and I was pleasantly surprised. Marriott says “Moxy is a playful, affordable, and stylish hotel brand designed to give guests everything they want and nothing they don’t.”
When you enter the hotel, you check in at the bar. Everyone who checks in receives a free welcome drink. The lobby is like an all-day third space- an area that is not just a home-away-from-home or a workspace- but a place to socialize and connect. It’s a hotel where I felt comfortable staying alone. There’s a convenience store and there is a 24/7 food menu. The pasta I had was quite good.
The Moxy feels less serious and sterile than regular airport hotels. The room wasn’t large, but was very comfortable and kept Moxy’s whimsical theme, accented with funky neon lights. You may notice a theme- that I love to open windows- and even this hotel had a window that opened.
Many inter-European flights depart out of Linate airport and the Moxy on site there has a younger, hipper vibe. Check it out for its contemporary design and ultra-convenient location- a four-minute drive or taxi ride from Linate. (Moxy Milan Linate Airport; Via Circonvallazione Idroscalo; 39 0294 756401).
Moxy Milan Malpensa Airport
Terminal 2
Somma Lombardo
(39) 0294 757100
www.marriott.com
Rates: Double rooms start at 113€ per night, with breakfast.
Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre
Flights to and from the U.S. depart and arrive from Terminal 1, making the Sheraton Milan Malpensa the most convenient hotel for American travelers at just an 8-minute walk from the terminal.
With 400 rooms and a conference center, the Sheraton is massive. It took a couple of minutes to walk to my room. I liked the fact the room had an American feel. It had carpeting, a minibar, a very comfortable bed and a big bathtub. I felt right at home. I was surprised that the entire exterior wall was made of glass and there was even an opening window. That glass sure was soundproof so I slept like a baby.
The lobby was super modern with very high ceilings. Very cosmopolitan. But like many of us know when you are simply at a hotel to catch a flight, you don’t always have time to take advantage of all the facilities. This Sheraton has a spa which I think it is a great idea for an airport hotel where you can get massages for your travel-weary body. There’s also a pool, and an on-site fine-dining restaurant. Il Canneto restaurant is in a sleek space decorated with modern touches and flooded with natural light.
Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre
Malpensa Terminal 1
Ferno
(39) 3902 23351
www.marriott.com
Rates: Double rooms start at 204€ per night, with breakfast.
Sheraton Lake Como Hotel
At first glance, the Sheraton Lake Como looks like a corporate hotel with its geometric block-type architecture, but once you see the particularly beautiful grounds- green grass, a heated swimming pool- you see it is much warmer and more inviting. Many people with Marriott Bonvoy are saving their points for a family vacation and this is a good option for Lake Como since many of the other hotels around the lake are independently owned and do not have rewards programs. Families would also appreciate the private park and playground on these grounds.
It is steps away from the lakefront. Rooms have lovely views of the lake or the hotel pools and glimpses of the surrounding countryside. They have pizza parties in the summer, but unlike some other seasonal Lake Como hotels, this one is open year-round.
The on-site restaurant Kitchen (www.kitchencomo.com; +39 0315 16460) sits in a 2.7-acre private park and is on the 2023 Gambero Rosso Guide to the Best Restaurants in Italy. Kitchen curates a biodynamic garden in the park, an initiative run by Chef Andrea Casali, called “Le Luci del Kitchen,” the lights of Kitchen. The menu is an ode to Italian products and flavors, and Kitchen is a perfect spot for meals or aperitivi against a lush green backdrop.
My deep regret is that I arrived too late to make my reservation at Kitchen (I know, I know) which is the star attraction for many people who come to the hotel. Definitely plan your stay around a reservation. I still found the Ristorante Gusto in the main hotel excellent. It was a standout. It was elegant but not stuffy because they let me bring my dog to dinner, brought him a bed fit for a Doberman and hand fed him leftovers from my meal.
Electric scooters are up for grabs at this hotel so you can zip down and explore the lake in an eco-friendly way. If you prefer to explore on your own two feet, the walk down to the lake is pleasant. The grounds’ private park has a private playground and sunbeds to soak in the sun. It’s no wonder Finney liked this place so much- he had endless areas to explore.
This hotel is a great option for the night before you leave if you are flying out of Milan. It was just a 40-minute drive to Malpensa and gave me one last taste of the Italian lakes before I left.
Sheraton Lake Como Hotel
Via per Cernobbio, 41A
(39) 0315 16200
www.marriott.com
Rates: Double rooms start at 331€, with breakfast.