We will be in the Cinque Terre area but need to fly back home to California out of MXP early in the morning so we'll need to be near the airport for an overnight stay. Any suggestions out there for an inexpensive hotel for 1 night near the airport. Also, is it a difficult drive from Lerici to Milan? Would it be easier to stay in in S. Margherita to visit Cinque terre since we have to drive back to Milan.

Last year we stayed at the Hotel Cervo, near Malpensa Airport, because of an early morning flight back to California. Basic rooms, very clean, small restaurant in the hotel, shuttle service to the airport.

www.hotelcervo.it

I 2nd the hotel Cervo which is about 5 minutes by shuttle from the Milan airport. RR

Suze:

The subject of hotels near Malpensa has been discussed quite a bit here. You might want to search the message board. I did and here's one thread to check out. Here's another.

Stayed there last week. Reasonable rooms (recently renovated), shuttle bus to the airport, restaurant on site, good breakfast (included).

We've stayed twice at the Hotel Cervo. (I thought I'd written a review for that, but I guess not, now that I check...oops!). It was a good choice...inexpensive, shuttle to the airport (and they picked us up from the airport when we arrived in the evening to drop off our rental car), kind staff on both visits, and the little restaurant wasn't bad for an in-hotel restaurant.

I stayed at a great!! hotel near Malpensa..in the village of Oleggio which is about 15-20 minutes away. The place is called "La Vecchia Portetta" and is run by a couple who are so gracious...Maria Leone and her husband.
Maria was expecting us...she had a beautiful room with a 180 view of the countryside...a very good restaurant...and a specially prepared breakfast in the morning before our departure back to American.
The place is very clean, decorated very nicely..rooms with balconies...private nice bathrooms, the restaurant..and withing walking distance to the village center in Oleggio.
I'd highly recommend this place...it has character and charm....not just an "airport" hotel so even your last day will be enjoyable!

tel:011-39-0321-998-502

It has a web site too...I think it's www.laportetta.it

or something like that.
good luck,
Rachelle

I have not stayed there mysewlf but I have a file full of raves about the Villa Malpensa. Ruth

Thank you so much for all of the recommendations, this will help a lot. Now, would it be easier to stay in Santa Margherita opposed to Lerici, or does it not really make a huge difference in the driving distance to Milan.