Budget-friendly Milan

Budget travel guide in hand, bulging backpack, rail pass in pocket, backpackers are an easily recognisable symbol of low-cost world travel. Many travellers, be they “backpackers” or not, young or not so young, seek out inexpensive ways to see the world, and, along with budget transport, having a nice, clean and above all inexpensive place to rest your head is a major priority. Youth hostels generally offer the perfect place for such a traveller. They provide simple lodgings, so that guests can spend more money on seeing museums or having that extra beer. They are typically places where different cultures rub shoulders.

Milan low-cost accommodation offering is extremely limited when compared to the world’s other major cities. There is currently only one official youth hostel and few alternatives for the budget traveller. The Piero Rotta Hostel, a member of Hostelling International, is located in a leafy, suburban area of Milan, a short trip from the centre of town and close to the Milan City branch of the Trade Fair. Last year the hostel welcomed around 72,000 guests, of whom 58 percent were between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Room rates start at €19 per night and guests benefit from a 24 hour reception, 24 hour access to hot water, private group and family rooms, a safety deposit box, car parking, secure lockers, internet, washing machines, a lounge area, games room and pool table, as well as the freedom to stay out to all hours, as no curfew is enforced. The hostel also employs eco-friendly principles of renewable energy and recycling.

Scouring the internet for feedback from hostel guests yielded, as can be expected, a wide range of opinions and experiences. On the positive side, the general opinion seemed to be that staff are friendly and helpful, the hostel is clean, provides adequate facilities, can be reached fairly easily by public transport and is reasonably priced. So ticks in all the right boxes for the basic services you would expect from a youth hostel. At the nearby metro (underground) stop, I spoke to a couple of young Spanish guys who had just stayed at the hostel for the night. They were pleased with the services and said that they had no trouble finding somewhere decent to eat, though the range was limited being in a largely suburban area. Suggestions for improvement focused largely on the quality of the bathrooms, the sometimes less than comprehensive facilities, lack of alternate budget accommodation in Milan, and the hostel’s location.

The hostel’s manager Lucia Chessa told me of the challenge they face in maintaining a high standard of service while offering low-cost accommodation. The good news is that the hostel, inaugurated in 1960, is about to receive a facelift. The mayor of Milan, Letizia Moratti, has announced a plan to boost Milan’s accommodation by providing 100,000 extra beds supplementing the city’s hotels. 70,000 of these will be focused on low-cost tourism and youth in view of Milan hosting Expo 2015. As a part of the plan, the Piero Rotta Youth Hostel will also be renovated, with work due for completion by May 2009. The improvements will include more spacious bedrooms with private bathrooms and better accessibility for guests with a disability. In addition all rooms will be equipped with electronic access, and the building will be fitted with Wi-Fi (wireless) technology. The idea is that the finished product will be a “zero impact” structure, complying with FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) “Green Key” certification. The Green Key is an eco-label for tourism facilities, based on the fulfilment of environmentally sustainable criteria. It aims to change the behaviour of tourist facility owners, increasing their sense of responsibility for the environment and, to this end, all staff, guests and suppliers of the hostel will be involved in the education process. The structure will be fitted with solar panels for the ecological production of electricity and hot water, as well as a low-environmental-impact summer cooling system, designed to take advantage of Milan’s natural groundwater.

While the upgrade is certain to make a sojourn in the hostel that much more enjoyable, it doesn’t address the lack of low-cost accommodation options in Milan. The planning of a second Youth Hostel, however, is already being considered in order to service the needs of a target group – the under-30s –  that has little incentive to come to Milan due to the lack of low-cost structures. Perhaps the second hostel might be more centrally located or in the Navigli area so as to be more suitable for travellers who wish to take advantage of the nightlife. The Piero Rotta hostel is situated in a much quieter neighbourhood, perhaps more suited to families or guests preferring a good night’s sleep. A second hostel is “absolutely necessary”, says Piero Rotta hostel manager, Lucia Chessa. Her suggestions for improving Milan’s services to youth and budget travellers would include the introduction of a card for students providing discounts at museums and places of interest. In addition she believes a network of cycle paths would benefit both residents and visitors. She adds that there are all sorts of possibilities, but that the most important thing is that all the players involved work together towards the shared objective of making Milan more accessible and appealing to budget travellers.

by Ashleigh Burns