nicsoff

We are looking for a hotel in Berlin during the first week of September. We were interested in the Grand Hyatt Berlin, though just found out that they are fully booked during that time. Can anyone suggest a comparable hotel (comparable in terms of price/category and convenience of location)? Thanks very much.

--Nicole

hsv

The Grand Hyatt is my absolute favourite - but if it is booked, try and have a look at the

Kempinski Hotel Adlon
The city's (and possibly Germany's) premier hotel. While the Hyatt is modern in design, the Kempinski is more traditional, but still very luxurious and its location next door to the Brandenburg Gate on Unter den Linden Blvd. can hardly be beat.

The Ritz Carlton
The Ritz Carlton is practically across the street from the Hyatt on Potsdamer Platz. It is relatively new and struggled at the start (they even had to evacuate their guests as they had some health issues with the water pipes), but these problems are reported to be solved. Again, the decor is more conventional and reminiscent of older, classic Grand Hotels (and a bit nouveau riche for my taste). They have only a small pool.

The InterConti
It has long been among (Western) Berlin's top hotels. It is close to Kurfuerstendamm, the center of West Berlin, although the particular road it's on is a yawn. They redecorated one of their wings in modern style approximately two years ago. Thus, it might match the Hyatt in decor.

Should you wish to spend a bit less, the Berlin Radisson SAS is a brand new hotel in a good location in Mitte District, right opposite Museum Island. The ambiance is modern minimalist and it offers good value (some summer saving rates at EUR 99.00).
The Berlin Marriott is a stone's throw from the Hyatt, too, is brand new and fairly nice. Small pool in the basement. But the Hyatt is still classier.

aeiger

Hi
We are going to be in Berlin at the end of Sept. we are booked at the Movenpick-Berlin. It's in the area that we preferred, around the Potzdammer Platz. It's a huge city geographically. It's a 4 star hotel but we got a good deal $116 pr night icl taxes and bkfst. Check out All Hotels.com and Bookings.org. I'm sure you'll find something in your range and location,
enjoy

Betsy

Our stay at the new Marriott on Potsdamer Platz in October 2004 was an excellent experience. Nice room, professional but friendly staff, wonderful price. We got the room for 55USD/night on Priceline. Check out biddingfortravel.com-->Europe Hotels--->Germany Hotels. There you will find a list of the hotels that PL uses in Berlin and see recent bids. Be sure you thoroughly understand the bidding process before you bid.

Betsy

Just checked at BFT. Here's a review (not mine, though I would agree) of the Marriott: "I am in the midst of an eight night stay at the Berlin Marriott for which I paid $55 a night. I was lucky to lock in this rate last summer before the dollar dropped even further. This hotel has been incorrectly classified by Priceline as a 3 star. It is at least a 4 star. It was recently opened, and everything is brand new, fresh and clean. The lobby is architecturally interesting and attractive. They have a lot of events there. There was a superbowl party last week that all the guests were invited to. The rooms are bright with lots of red and yellow. They are not huge, but they are very comfortable and attractive.

If you submit a successful bid at the 3-star level, you'll be highly likely to get either the Marriott or Top Concept Hotel, the only two listed at that level in that area.

I have nothing to do with PL or BFT, other than the fact that I'm a happy user at BFT and a happy customer at PL.

nicsoff

Thanks very much for the info and suggestions. Fortunately, upon calling back to inquire as to whether it would be possible to be put on a wait list for the Grand Hyatt, we learned there had been a cancellation and we grabbed the room! Apparently, there is a convention in Berlin that week and many of the hotels in choice areas are booked. Looks like we got lucky!

--Nicole