Going to Berlin at the end of this month for the first time for 5 nights. Comments on location and the hotel itself appreciated. Traveling with adult daughter. Considering the following hotels:
Citadines Kurfurstendamm: have stayed in many Citadines and find them ok. 1 bedroom inexpensive.
Westin: Can get with Points
Hotel AM Steinplatz: Can get with Points plus free breakfast and possible upgrade. Small rooms
Sofia Kurfurstendamm: Good experiences with Sofitel London, Munich and Buenos Aires
Adina Apartment hotel Checkpoint Charlie: 1bedroom apts seem nice and have washer/dryer.

Can't lend a lot of info but will speak on Citadines and Adina, personally I find the Adina nicer. I'm not a huge fan of the area of Checkpoint Charlie, have you looked at the Adina Hackescher Markt? This Adina is close to Alexanderplatz and Museum Island plus has good bus connections nearby, many restaurants and easy to walk all over Berlin. Like I said this is only my opinion.

Enjoy your visit to Berlin.

The Westin is the former Grand Hotel and used to be the pride of the German Democratic Republic which hosted foreign heads of state there. It is still a luxury hotel with a nice pool and plushy atmosphere. The location is excellent, on Friedrichstraße near the junction with Unter den Linden and also close to Gendarmenmarkt and the public transport hub Bahnhof Friedrichstraße. You are right in the centre and close to many attractions.

Adina is a bit different, because they have whole apartments with fully stocked kitchens, washer and dryer. Everything very modern. Small pool. A good place if you want to have space and do some cooking on your own. Also located in Berlin-Mitte, albeit the location is not as excellent as that of the Westin.

The other three hotels are in West Berlin. Kurfürstendamm is the main shopping street, with elegant stores, restaurants etc. However, both the historical center and most of the attractions are in East Berlin, so will have to take a lot of public transport. Steinplatz is even a bit off Ku'damm, so it is the least favourable location.

Westin Grand on Friedrichstraße would be my choice. I did not stay there, and take my advice with a grain of salt, since this summer was the very first time I've ever been to Berlin, and we stayed only 5 days.

That said, with the help of the Fodor's community and my own personal research, not to mention a little help from my friend, who has lived in Berlin the last 20 years, I found that area terrific for a first timer! (We stayed up the road at the NH Collection across from the Friedrichstraße station).

The Westin is right in the thick of things, and an easy tram or U-bahn ride to anywhere in the City if you hate to walk.

I found Friedrichstraße a better walking street than the Kurfürstendamm -- for shopping anyway -- as well as sightseeing on foot. At the end of that block, by the Unter den Linden is a little shop . . . hugely popular . . . called the Ampelmann Shop. It's all about the walking/stopping man on the "walk/don't walk" signs at street corners. The symbols are super cool, the products well designed and well-made, and the prices very reasonable. We bought lots of gifts for people (like my sister, secretary, etc) who expect us to bring them back a little something, and they kept telling me how much they loved it! Also about a block away is a Galleries Lafayette, that opened about 3 years ago. Now, I might have said, well, I'd rather go to the one in Paris, but I have to say, I liked the one in Berlin better! That is because they had a terrific selection, in their food halls, of European food staples that I always drag back with me on any trip. Those include Amora mustard, and piment espelette laced sea salt (and a ton of other things!).

But I digress. The Westin is within easy walking distance from the Brandenberg Gates, the Reichstag, and Checkpoint Charlie. An easy walk as well to Museum Island, and wonderful walks along the River Spree.

Ku'damm is kind of interesting around the KaDeWe, which is just south-east of the Ku'damm after the Kaiser Wilhelm church. But IMO, the rest of it is made up of a bunch of really overpriced shops, and super touristy stuff like the Story of Berlin.

We stayed in the Kurfürstendamm area this year, and I agree with the posters who say that public transportation is needed to get anywhere. We weren't too bothered by it since the metro is fast and reliable, but next time we'd look to stay near Friedrichstraße.

Hackescher Adina not available. Is the Checkpoint Charlie Adina not well situated? Looks close to the Friedrichstrabe.

Adina Checkpoint Charlie is about 400 meters from the Gendarmenmarkt and about 800 meters from Unter den Linden.

So, it is not quite as central as the Westin, but it is still a good location.

The hotel concept is very unique - it is bright modern and you have fully equipped, very agreeable apartments.

I stayed at Sofitel you mentioned in July...good location (for the west), a bit dated, good service.
I have visitedBerlin six times....would pick Westin.( east)

Can't comment on the location because I didn't do,any sightseeing, I was on business, but I loved the AM Steinplatz. A gorgeous hotel! I met other "tourists" in the bar and elevator who seemed happy.

mjs, haven't stayed in that area of Berlin but I'm sure it is fine if the Adina is your preference. We too like staying in apartments or apartment hotels for the extra room and the use of a kitchen for minor things like coffee and tea and snacks.

If you're in Berlin on a Thursday evening you may want to take a look at this, the link is a few years old. It was very interesting and we enjoyed it. I know you didn't ask but wanted to pass it along.

http://needleberlin.com/2013/08/11/m...food-thursday/

We stayed at Adina Check Point Charlie a couple of years ago. The hotel was nice and location not bad, but after being out and about all day, the walk from the U-Bahn was just a little too long. Would probably stay somewhere a little more central next time. That said, the apt was well equipped, modern and had plenty of space. They do charge for Internet but the cost was reasonable.

Thank you all for your advice. Quality of housing is important to me and I often opt for this in such places as the 4S In Istanbul and Marrakesh but I am also cost conscious and do like having space and a kitchen and W/D. Location is also important as time is expensive and weather may be inclement. Am leaning to the Westin as I can use 32000 points for the stay before Marriott starts depreciating them. Hoping for the best as some Westins are quite nice. The one in Tokyo for example is excellent. Am flying in from London so will try the street market. Thank you all again. Any other thoughts appreciated!

The Westin in Berlin is a bit different. It was built in the German Democratic Republic as the best hotel of the country. The style is fake historism, with fake columns in the lobby. It has the look and feel of a classic grand hotel. The pool and the spa are good. The rooms are typical for a business hotel, a bit on the small side. Location is best in town (although the Hilton claims that too, but the Westin's location is even better). It is a sort of a historical landmark. And be aware that great leaders of the world have stayed here.

You are right on the Friedrichstraße, across Galerie Lafayette Department store. A few steps and you are on Unter den Linden, Berlin's main boulevard. A few steps in the other direction and you are on Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin's most beautiful square. All kinds of restaurants nearby.

(A tip: For lunch, go to Fassbender & Rausch, the chocolate store. They offer lunch at reasonable prices, creative cuisine and every dish, of course, with a hint of chocolate.)

https://www.rausch.de/en/schokoladenhaus/

For typical Berlin fare, rustic and inexpensive, go to Nante-Eck, right around the corner from the Westin:

http://www.nante-eck.de/en/

We are on our way. Thank you all again for your advice. Any last minute thoughts welcome.

Ttt

Any advice on Christmas markets?

A nice Christmas market is just around your corner on Gendarmenmarkt. You need to pay a nominal entrance fee, but that keeps it from getting too crowded.

Mostly overlooked, and usually described as the most romantic setting of a Christmas market in Berlin is the one in front of Charlottenburg palace
http://www.wvdsc.de/en/

The market near Alexanderplatz is the largest one - but resembles more a big county fair than a romantic market.

In the "West", you have the mid-sized market around Gedächtniskirche / Memorial Church, near Zoo station.

Currently in London. Departure to Berlin in 5 days. Any recommendations for restaurant near the Westin?

Leaving Berlin after 5 nights and agree that the Westin has a near perfect location. It's not quite a 5 star in my book but comfy enough. Loved the bratwurst and potato soup. Did not care for currywurst. Kadewe department store marvelous. Galerie Lafayette small in comparison to Paris. Quite an inexpensive city for Europe. Enjoyed the Christmas markets. Interesting museums. Cold now!
Thanks again to everyone for their recommendations.

Nice of you to report back.

Glad you like the location of the hotel ...

Could not agree more- curry wurst is a crime agains wurst. Disgusting!