There’s something both melancholy and peaceful about the final day of a trip. You know what’s coming—the airports, the lines, the return to real life—but there’s also a quietness to it. A chance to exhale. Our last full day in Italy was exactly that: a travel day from the Dolomites region back to Milan, bookended by early morning packing and an evening spent poolside at an unexpectedly lovely airport hotel.
The Early Morning Scramble
The alarm went off earlier than any of us wanted. Our rental accommodation had that particular travel-day energy—everyone moving through the space with purpose, stuffing last-minute items into bags, doing that final sweep of drawers and bathroom counters.
I grabbed a quick video of the apartment while everyone was still in various stages of waking up—partly for memories, partly because I knew I’d want to remember the layout for future recommendations. If you’re staying somewhere with self-checkout, here’s the routine: leave the tourist tax on the table (we always snap a photo as proof), put the keys back where instructed, and quietly let yourself out.
The morning light was soft and golden, the kind that makes even the most mundane departure feel cinematic.
We had to return our rental car in Venice before catching our train to Milan. The drive itself was pretty unremarkable—highways, tunnels, the Italian countryside rolling past in comfortable silence. Somewhere on the trip back we needed to stop for breakfast so we did a little internet sleuthing to find a cafe. Needed one more cappuccino before we left the land of lovely coffee. We found a cute little cafe off the road down next to a small lake. It looked like it was a pretty busy place during the high season with a lake, bath house, volleyball courts and other sports areas.
The Drive to Venice
The gas situation, however, was an adventure unto itself. Italian gas stations (at least the self-service ones) operate differently than what we’re used to. You pay first at a kiosk, estimating how much fuel you’ll need, then fill up. If you don’t use it all? You get a receipt to use next time. Except, of course, there wasn’t going to be a next time for us.
We overestimated, as one does when trying to avoid the cardinal sin of returning a rental car without a full tank. So we did what any reasonable travelers would do—donated our excess fuel credit to the car parked next to us. A little international gas station karma.
Venice to Milan by Train
Once the car was returned, we made our way across to the Venice train station. I’ll be honest—there’s not much to report here. We had reservations, the trains ran on time, and we spent most of the journey in that pleasant travel-day haze where you’re too tired to read but not tired enough to sleep.
From Venice, we took a train to Milan City Center, then transferred to the Malpensa Express to get out to the airport area. The whole journey was smooth, which is about the best compliment you can give any travel day logistics.
Hotel Villa Malpensa: An Unexpected Gem
Here’s the thing about Malpensa Airport—it’s out there. Like, really out there. We’re talking a solid 30-40 minute train ride from Milan’s city center. We had grand plans of dropping our bags and heading into the city for one last evening of Italian wandering.
Yep. Nope.
By the time we arrived at the Malpensa train station and called our hotel for the shuttle, we were cooked. The heat, the travel, the accumulated exhaustion of an incredible trip—it all caught up with us at once. And you know what? That’s okay.
I’d specifically chosen Hotel Villa Malpensa for one reason: the pool. It’s the closest hotel to the airport, surprisingly posh for an airport property, and has a lovely outdoor pool area that looked perfect for exactly the kind of afternoon we ended up having.
We spent the afternoon floating, reading, and doing absolutely nothing productive. The grounds were beautiful, the pool was refreshing, and there was something deeply restorative about just… stopping.
Dinner In and Early to Bed
Dining options near the hotel were limited, so we ate at the hotel restaurant. It wasn’t the most exciting culinary finale to our Italian adventure, but the food was solid and honestly, none of us had the energy to venture out anyway.
We turned in early that night—exhausted and a little sad, the way you always are at the end of something wonderful. Our flight was at 9am the next morning, and the promise of Italian breakfast before heading to the terminal was enough to get us into bed at a reasonable hour.
The Morning Departure
Malpensa Airport itself is pretty easy to navigate. We got there with plenty of time, moved through security without drama, and found ourselves in that familiar airport limbo—too early to board, too late to do anything meaningful.
I always feel a little hollow leaving a place I’ve fallen in love with. Italy had given us so much over the past weeks—incredible food, stunning landscapes, moments of genuine wonder. And now it was time to go home.
But that’s the thing about travel, isn’t it? The leaving is what makes the going so sweet.
Tips & Info
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Milan Malpensa Airport logistics: It’s 30-40 minutes from Milan city center by train. The Malpensa Express runs regularly and is easy to use. Just factor in the distance when planning your final day.
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To city or not to city: If you’re exhausted from your trip, don’t force a last-minute city visit. Sometimes the best final day is a restful one.
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Hotel Villa Malpensa: Highly recommend if you have an early flight. It’s close to the airport, has a shuttle, and that pool is genuinely lovely. Book directly or through the usual sites.
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Italian gas stations: If using self-service, you pay first and fill second. Overestimate slightly if you’re returning a rental car—you can always share the excess with a fellow traveler.
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Venice to Milan trains: Book in advance for the best prices. The journey is comfortable and scenic in parts.
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Tourist tax: Always leave it clearly on the table and take a photo. It’s a small thing, but it avoids any confusion with hosts.
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Early flights from Malpensa: The airport is manageable but give yourself time. Security can vary, and you’ll want a buffer after a trip this good.
Arrivederci, Italy. Until next time.