Berlin Hotels

Tourism is on the upswing in Berlin. Though prices in mid-range to luxury hotels have increased, Berlin's first-class hotels still tend to be cheaper than their counterparts in Paris, London, or Rome. And compared to other European cities, most hotel rooms in Berlin are large, though many are part of chains that allow for less individual character. Dorint and Mercure are reliable European chains with several central locations.

Internet services like Expedia can sometimes book a room at a five-star hotel in Berlin for half the normal price, even in summer. Hotels listed here as $$$$ often come down to a $$ level on weekends or when there is low demand. You often have the option to decline the inclusion of breakfast, which can save you anywhere from EUR 8 to EUR 30 per person per day.

The least expensive accommodations are in pensions, mostly in western districts such as Charlottenburg, Schöneberg, and Wilmersdorf; hostels with attractive double rooms, mostly in Mitte and Friedrichshain; or those available through private room agencies. German and European travelers often use rooming agents, and Americans on a budget should consider this as well (apartments start at EUR 300 per month). In Berlin, double rooms with shared bathrooms in private apartments begin around EUR 33. Wohn-Agentur Freiraum (Wiener Str., Kreuzberg. 030/618-2008. 030/618-2006. www.freiraum-berlin.com) is an English-speaking agency that has its own guesthouse with rooms and apartments. All of its private-room listings are in the Kreuzberg district.

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