Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan

If there was a negative rating, this place would be the Mariana Trench! Room 507 had intermittent water leakage and strange noises coming from under the sink. The room change process was incredibly inefficient. The breakfast menu wasn't proactively offered, and even though egg dishes are supposedly free to order, the dark-skinned female front desk staff maliciously overcharged me by 11.5 Euros. I had to rush to catch my train, so I just swiped my card and left. When I later asked the hotel for a breakfast menu with clear prices, they couldn't produce one and then shamelessly claimed two people had eaten. This is what happens when you ignore bad reviews and still come. Chinese people don't scam other Chinese people. I don't understand the point of Ctrip as a major platform if this is the kind of service they endorse.

The room was super spacious, and there were welcome refreshments. It's very close to the train station, and the hotel offers shuttle service to the cathedral. Breakfast was delicious, though the hotel is so big that it's quite a walk to the restaurant.

The room size was quite spacious for European standards. Although the decor wasn't entirely to my taste, the room itself was clean, comfortable, and bright. The airport shuttle to the outlet mall is conveniently located near the hotel, as is the metro station. The hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from Milan Cathedral, which was incredibly convenient. Breakfast was surprisingly varied and plentiful for Europe, with some items available for order from the staff. I got the distinct impression that all the hotel staff were enthusiastic and genuinely keen to provide excellent service. Many thanks to the hotel team for making my trip so enjoyable.

The hotel is directly opposite Milan Central Station, which is super convenient. You can tell the interior has been renovated, but unfortunately, the bathroom feels very plastic and lacks any sense of luxury. The sheets also had some stains, which was a definite letdown. On the bright side, the front desk staff were very friendly, and the breakfast selection was extensive with good-tasting food.

This hotel is super convenient if you're traveling by train, but getting to other scattered attractions pretty much requires a taxi. Luckily, there's a great Hunan restaurant just a short walk away, which was a lifesaver for our Chinese palates. The Italian restaurant on the top floor served an outstanding salad. The only downside was the wasps on the balcony, and unfortunately, I got stung, which definitely wasn't a pleasant experience.

The front desk and concierge staff were all very warm and attentive, helping with directions. The room was quite spacious, clean, and tidy. The location is excellent, just a stone's throw from the train station and airport shuttle. Overall, it offers good value for money.