Radisson Blu Hotel, Milan

Set in a modern high-rise building, the Radisson Blu has a quietly elegant exterior. The lobby is equally elegant with stylish dark-wood partitions. Tasteful blue bucket chairs add hints of color, and plush sofas give the space a lavish feel. Slat-wood ceilings make the lounge homey, while the large and secluded tiled outdoor courtyard has chic wicker chairs and wooden-framed cream-colored parasols. The hotel attracts mostly business clients, but it’s a solid option for tourists, too.

Other than a few restaurants within about a 10-minute walk, there’s little in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, which sits in a quiet residential area. There are good public transit connections to downtown Milan, but it’s still over 20 minutes away. The hotel is far better located for the city’s exhibition centers and congress hall, and there’s easy access to the nearby freeway.

• Eight-minute walk to Milano Villapizzone suburban train station
• Eight-minute drive to MiCo, the Milan Congress Center (22 minutes by public transit)
• Nine-minute drive to Fiera Milano Rho-Pero exhibition center (45 minutes by public transit)
• 11-minute drive to L’Artigiano artisanal market (41 minutes by public transit)
• 13-minute drive to Milano Centrale railway station (28 minutes by public transit)
• 13-minute drive to Santa Maria delle Grazie (31 minutes by public transit)
• 17-minute drive to the Duomo Piazza (27 minutes by public transit)
• 17-minute drive to Pinacoteca di Brera (28 minutes by public transit)
• 17-minute drive to La Scala opera house (28 minutes by public transit)
• 32-minute drive to Malpensa International Airport (56 minutes by public transit)

The Radisson Blu’s rooms are stylish across the board, beginning with the elegant muted beige and grey tones that complement the crisp white linens. Some rooms also have small balconies. Suites feature separate living areas but maintain similar decor. The Penthouse Suite stands apart, with shelves filled with ornaments that give it the look of an interior designer's home. Impressive black-and-white photography depicts famous Italian landmarks, and there’s a full kitchen, a dining room, and an enormous private terrace.

The roomy bathrooms offer far more space than the Milan norm, with tiled walls, large mirrors, and attractive lighting. Deluxe Room bathrooms have either shower/tub combos or walk-in rainfall showers, and Business Class Rooms have steam showers with additional slim-line power showerheads. Suites have both shower/tub combos and expansive walk-in mosaic-tiled rainfall showers with built-in seating. The huge Penthouse Suite bathroom has double vanities and showers.

Standard amenities include individually controlled air-conditioning, large desks, flat-screen TVs, phones, well-stocked minibars, safes, and tea- and coffee-making facilities, plus bathrobes, slippers, and extensive individual toiletries. Pricier rooms also come with Nespresso coffeemakers and additional TV channels. Some rooms are designed for those with compromised mobility, and offer special facilities such as elevator access to the pool area.

Perhaps due to its out-of-the-way location, the Radisson Blu provides lots of amenities to keep guests comfortable on-site. Its beautiful spa has a small glass-roofed indoor pool, steam rooms offering chromotherapy, and men's and women's saunas, plus a large, well-equipped gym with free weights and cardio and weigh-training machines. A full buffet breakfast is available, though it’s not always included in rates; take-away breakfasts are also offered. There’s a chic and airy bar, and the Leonardo restaurant -- though a little dark -- serves good Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and looks out onto the pleasant terrace. The hotel has meeting facilities for up to 250 guests, free Wi-Fi throughout, and guests get free newspapers as well as online access to newspapers and magazines. There’s plenty of indoor parking available for a fee, but guests report that it’s easy to find cheaper on-street parking spaces.