Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
With Berlin a city of distinct districts, deciding
where to stay
may be your most
important choice. While the public transport network is excellent, staying in the area
of town that suits you best will make your visit easier.
Mitte
is the most obvious area to
stay, particularly if you're after a major hotel. Within this area, the
Spandauer Vorstadt
around Oranienburger Strasse is best for smaller-scale or budget accommodation, with
a good selection of hostels and boutique hotels which, as well as being within walking
distance of many city-centre attractions, have good eating and nightlife options nearby.
If you are going to be in Berlin a little longer than a weekend or prefer a quieter, less
touristy but equally happening residential neighbourhood,
Prenzlauer Berg
is a good
choice, as is
Schöneberg
- the latter particularly for gay travellers (see p.237). If you're
hell-bent on clubbing, try to lay your head in
Friedrichshain
or
Kreuzberg
, where you'll
find the most cutting-edge nightlife. he other major concentration of accommodation
in the city is in
City West
- the old centre of West Berlin - where you'll find plenty of
options in every category, with a particularly good range of affordable guesthouses. It's
a little away from Berlin's brightest lights, so nightlife is very thin, but the restaurant
scene is generally very good here and transport links first-class.
ESSENTIALS
Reservations
If you can, try to book at least a couple of
weeks in advance - or even further ahead during
important festivals (see p.26) - to be assured of getting
exactly what you want. The online reservation service of
Visit Berlin (
T
030 25 00 25,
W
berlin-tourist-information
.de) is great for hotel and pension bookings, and has hostel
beds and private rooms too. There are also several websites
where you can search and pay in advance for a dorm bed or
private room in a hostel. These often take their commission
from the hostels rather than the customer, so there is
nothing extra to pay - you may even find that online deals
beat what you'd be offered at a hostel reception. Check out
W
gomio.com,
W
hostelbookers.com,
W
hostelworld.com
and
W
hostelz.com.
Prices
The prices at the end of our hotel and pension reviews
indicate the cost of the least expensive double room, mid-
week and in high season (May-Sept). Note that while rates
at the less expensive hotels don't vary much across the week,
many of the more upmarket hotels slash their rates at the
weekend. For hostels, we quote prices for the cheapest dorm
beds, singles and doubles in the same period.
Minimum stays
Wherever you stay minimum-stay
requirements are unusual but not unheard of, particularly
at busy times such as New Year.
12
HOTELS AND PENSIONS
A
pension
is usually smaller and cheaper than a
hotel
, although the categories do overlap and there are also “Hotel-Pensions”,
which may be either or both, so don't take too much notice of the labels. But do look out for the good deals at the swankier hotels,
especially at weekends. Note that
single
rooms
are usually only a third cheaper than doubles and breakfast is rarely included in
the price of a room, particularly at the more expensive places - we've stated exceptions in the reviews below.
Hotel de Rome
Behrenstr. 37
T
030 460 60 90,
W
roccofortecollection.com; U-Französische Strasse;
map p.36.
Occupying a nineteenth-century former
Dresdner Bank building, this high-class hotel mixes history
with a swanky interior, luxurious rooms, a
n exp
ansive spa
and a fantastic restaurant and cocktail bar.
€243
Westin Grand
Friedrichstr. 158-164
T
030 202 70,
W
westin.com/berlin; U-Friedrichstrasse; map p.36.
Fully living up to its name, this GDR-era hotel originally
UNTER DEN LINDEN AND AROUND
Ì
Adlon
Unter den Linden 77
T
030 22 61 11 11,
W
hotel-adlon.de; S-Unter den Linden; map p.36.
The
jewel of Berlin's prewar luxury hotels has been recreated in all
its excessive splendour. Prices are fit for a Kaiser
- you
'll part
with at least €15000 per night for the royal suite.
€216
Arcotel
John F Werderscher Markt 11
T
030 405 04 60,
W
arcotelhotels.com; U-Hausvogteiplatz; map p.36.
Close to Gendarmenmarkt, this 190-room hotel is a slightly
cheaper option than the neighbouring big guns but has all
the facilities y
ou'll n
eed - gym, sauna, meeting rooms,
restaurant, bar.
€142
Hilton
Mohrenstr. 30
T
030 20 23 00,
W
hilton.com;
U-Stadtmitte; map p.36.
Luxurious, expensive and not
very different to any other Hilton hotel, apart from its fine
view of the Gendarmenmarkt.
Facilit
ies include sauna,
swimming pool and squash court.
€107
TOP 5 BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Hotel Q!
See p.180
Luise Kunsthotel
See p.179
Michelberger Hotel
See p.181
Nhow
See p.181
Propeller Island City Lodge
See p.182
