Hotel near Duomo

Q: My husband and I will be spending 4 nights in Milan in early February. We would like a hotel on or very close to the Duomo Square - not one of the very expensive ones but at least a 4 star. Do you have any suggestions? Maybe there is one tucked down a side street? - Lorraine Winship

A: There are plenty of hotels around the Duomo, including the wonderful Bulgari Milano and the Park Hyatt Hotel, two of the best hotels in the city. However, with room rates over 600 Euros per night, these do not really fit your bill. A hotel that can be recommended is the oddly-named Hotel Canada, which scores far higher with travellers than its three-star standard. Newly renovated, the rooms are very comfortable with modern furnishings and equipment. It's not cheap at 180-240 Euro per room, but still fair value for Milan. (Tel: +39 02 58304844 www.hotelcanada.it). You could also try the Brunelleschi Hotel Milan, a four-star hotel close to the Duomo with only 28 traditional Milanese-styled rooms. Expect to pay around 200 Euros per night for a double room. (Tel +39 02 88431 www.hotelbrunelleschimilano.com). Another good boutique hotel which has a five-star rating is the Hotel Spadari al Duomo. It boasts modern decor and a bilingual staff. For a special treat, book a junior suite on the seventh floor for a view of the cathedral. Double room rates from 250 Euros with www.tablethotels.com (Tel. +39 02 72002371, www.spadarihotel.com). You should also check the discount hotel booking websites for cheaper rates.