Hi,
First time to Berlin for a friend and I and looking for suggestions/ advice:
1) Looks like the Mitte district is the area that most people look for a hotel... any suggestions on nice ones.. or cool boutique ones? Or is there another district that I should look for a hotel in as well?NOT looking for the boutique hotels that have the bathroom in the main room though (which i see some hotels have ... i still like my privacy)
2)Is it easy to take public transportation to suggested hotels from TXL airport?
2) Any day trip suggestions?
3) Cool lounges/ bars at night? Districts to go out in at night?
4)Any soccer/ football matches taking place that week?
5) should we get some sort of %26quot;germany card%26quot; or card that gives discounts?
6)How much is English spoken in Berlin.. just want a heads up..
7)Any idea on what the weather may be like? Temperature? Snow? Rain? All of the above?
thanks in advance... really looking forward to my trip!
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I found this site helpful when planning our November visit: visitberlin.de/english/berlin-infos/e_bi_inf…
We are booked in Mitte at the Melia this trip, having stayed 2x before at the Westin. It seems to be in an excellent position for walking to many of the historically significant areas as well as lots of dining. I would say it is a boutique hotel and have enjoyed all my previous Melia experiences.
I have found English to be widely spoken in Berlin.
We are headed to Dresden for a day trip this year. Also considered Leipzig but Dresden has broader appeal.
I would count on cold and rain.
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Thanks for the info. Actually checked out the Melia since so many people recommend it on this site.. unfortunately it is sold out the week we are there. ... also looking at the Esplanade Berlin, Swisshotel, Radisson Blu and the Intercontinental.. any thoughts on those?
Would love to see a soccer game but it doesn%26#39;t seem like there are any taking place... but maybe my friend and I will check out a hockey game or basketball game.
How far away is Dresden or Leipzig? That sounds like fun!
Cold and rain.. not so much fun.. but hey! you never know.. it may not rain..counting on the cold though.
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Dresden is 2 hours and Leipzig is one.
Swissotel was my back up plan but their more reasonable rates are for queen beds and we wanted king.
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1) I have no idea what you%26#39;re on about the bathroom in the room. However, there are several nice boutique or friendly smaller hotels in Mitte:
* Top notch boutique is Lux 11, which is a design hotel (four stars)
* The new Amano and the Circus hotel are both decent, small hotels in Mitte.
* I don%26#39;t know if Motel One Alexanderplatz is considered to have %26quot;bathroom in the room%26quot; (you will have to check it with each hotel), but it is a fine and inexpensive hotel near every major spot
For a list of design hotels in Berlin
http://tinyurl.com/yhasx5b
2)Is it easy to take public transportation to suggested hotels from TXL airport?
In general, the public transportation is superb and you can easily get to the hotels. The closest to TXL bus line from my list (the direct line to the airport) is Motel One Alexanderplatz.
See also here
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187323-i135-k3116…
2) Any day trip suggestions?
You have only five days in Berlin and there is much to see in the city itself. Potsdam is almost a %26quot;must%26quot; for a day-trip though, and the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial could be a sobering, interesting, experience. There are tours to both from Berlin, to the latter on an almost daily basis.
Regarding Leipzig and Dresden - my experience is at least 1.5 hours to Leipzig (usually more because of traffic, and mind you I used to commute daily from Berlin to Leipzig); and a little more than 2 hours for Dresden. If you %26quot;really must%26quot; do one of them, I would choose Dresden, which is spectacular, and there are also guided tours there (by Insider Tour, although I am not sure they run on the off-season).
3) Cool lounges/ bars at night? Districts to go out in at night?
Well, I guess that by choosing Mitte (especially the area where the hotels I have recommended are located), you will be close to plenty of bars and lounges. There are several other nice nightlife areas: in Kreuzberg on Oranienstrasse (don%26#39;t confuse with Mitte%26#39;s Oranienburger Strasse); in Friedrichshain around Boxhagener Platz; in Mitte/Prenzlauer Berg around Zionskirchplatz, around Kollwitzplatz, around the Kulturbrauerei and around Helmholzplatz; and in Charlottenburg around Savignyplatz.
4)Any soccer/ football matches taking place that week?
not that I know of
5) should we get some sort of %26quot;germany card%26quot; or card that gives discounts?
You can decide for yourself by reading the list of discounts on the Welcome Card site and comparing it to money saved in attractions you have planned to visit in any case
http://www.berlin-welcomecard.com/
6)How much is English spoken in Berlin.. just want a heads up..
fairly good
7)Any idea on what the weather may be like? Temperature? Snow? Rain? All of the above?
all of the above, an freezing wind...
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thanks lylou for the information.
what i mean about bathroom in the room, is that i find that a lot of the hotels (the lux 11 included according to the pictures on the website) don%26#39;t have a separate (non see through) room for the bathroom/ tub/ shower. I am traveling with a friend.. and I see no reason for them to watch me take a shower. There are some places where privacy is key. I have found that a bunch of hotels in Berlin seem to not think as I do.
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Quite coincidentally, I have spoken yesterday to someone who has stayed at the Park Inn and told me of the same peculiar design...
The lavatories (toilets) are not in the same space (thank God of that or it would have been quite a weird experience), but the bathtub/sink is, separated by a %26quot;milky%26quot; glass wall from the living room (so I guess that at least in the Park Inn they cannot see you bath).
I would suggest to write an email to the hotels you%26#39;re considering, asking them to explain how it works in a twin room (room with two beds for friends of associates travelling together, in contrast to a double room, with a double bed for a couple sleeping together).
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Thanks! At least I know I am not crazy. It is annoying that I won%26#39;t be able to trust the photos on the hotel websites regarding privacy for the bathroom and will need to take the extra steps to contact the hotel just to make sure that showers/bathtubs are private. It%26#39;s something i never came across in any of my other travels. Is this a Berlin thing?
So many hotels that I was looking at have that issue... from the large ones to the boutiques like lux 11, q hotel, etc.
Anyone know if the Hotel Berlin Esplanade, Swisshotel, etc (larger hotels) have private bathrooms? Unfortunately the Melia is sold out.
Please advise.. I need to book soon.. trip is in 3 weeks! (yikes!)
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i%26#39;ll be there from 19-23 november ( can%26#39;t wait ) .there%26#39;s no football on for you during these days. but there are lots of gigs to check out.
http://live.in-berlin.info/
the chipendales are in berlin,so go see them and keep warm.x!!!!!!
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i%26#39;ll be there from 19-23 november ( can%26#39;t wait ) .there%26#39;s no football on for you during these days. but there are lots of gigs to check out.
http://live.in-berlin.info/
the chipendales are in berlin,so go see them and keep warm.x!!!!!!
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