Hotels round the world - Four Points by Sheraton Milano Center


That hotel had been selected for being within walking distance from the main train station, Milano Centrale.
A so-called Executive room had been booked, with the usual request "Highest floor, quiet side, pls. Away from elevators. Thks.". My Platinum status within the spg system generally grants me upgrades, access to lounge and special attention.
No upgrade was available and no Executive room was available on a high floor, nor away from the elevators. I would have appreciated being warned of that in advance. When I spoke of being happy with a lower-class room, so-called Superior one, I was told that the price would not be reduced. I was shown such a room, smaller and away from the elevators at the 11th floor, but construction works were taking place both at the 12th (highest) floor and in front of the hotel, on that side.
After being shown three rooms, I ended up in an Executive room on the 5th floor, practically in front of talkative elevators, but facing a quieter street.
It is fair to say that the hotel was undergoing major reconstruction, but again here it would have been a good policy to mention this on the spg reservation web site.
Visitors should be prepared to over-modernized equipment, sometimes puzzling, requiring patience, be it for the elevator handling, the opening of doors or the light switching.
The service is friendly. The breakfast (starting at 06:30) is adequate enough. The lounge was not visited as it was open only till 17:00.
All in all, the price requested was disproportionately high.
(30 April 2018)

On a subsequent visit for which I had booked a Superior room (with the usual requirements "high floor, quiet side"), I was offered, as an upgrade, a small suite on the 8th floor next to elevators and in front of a building in construction. The only other choice available was a small room on the 7th floor also facing construction. I opted for the suite that had still to be cleaned. I had an early dinner meanwhile in a restaurant near the train station. Isolating myself in the bedroom cut somehow the vibrations from the elevator shaft. It was a Sunday late afternoon, there was no ongoing work in the building in front, but of course, the next morning, the story was different.
Again, the staff was friendly enough, albeit there was a confusing offer to wave my points in exchange of a free breakfast (this time not included). Normally my Titanium BonVoy status would grant me free breakfast. I opted for paying the breakfast. There was no lounge anymore ("since we joined Marriott").
Not sure I shall go back to that place, admittedly convenient when travelling by train, but somehow far away from the city center.
(October 2019)

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