I will be in Berlin for two full days staying at the Westin Grand. Anyone have experience with this hotel? Also, has anyone used a tour guide in Berlin they could recommend? Thanks

There are excellent English language walking tours that leave from the Berlin Zoo subway station. Take one of them. There is really no need for a private guide.

They have a general tour, one focused on Jewish sites and another that goes to Potsdam. There may be others, but that is what I recall.

And if you were only there for one night and wanted to spend it at a theatre? - opera, ballet, contemporary dance, classical music - where on the net would you go to find out what's on?

Talking late Oct/early Nov.

And if you wanted to stay in a pension? As cheap as possible (don't need private bathroon) but central or well located for public transport - where would you choose?

Are you a local, FauxSM?

Thx for any info.

Cheers.

I've stayed at the Westin Grand in 2004. Its location is superb. The lobby is grand. The room and bathroom was not my very favorite ever, but good enough, and we had a balcony.

I really recommend these tours, particularly the very exhausting all-day walking tour:
http://www.brewersberlintours.com/

We went to Berlin last year & loved it. We went to performances at all 3 opera houses - the Staatsoper (www.staatsoper-berlin.org/en/intro.htm), the Deutsche Oper (www.deutscheoperberlin.de) and the Komische Oper (http://www.komische-oper-berlin.com/...age=2&sid=).

We were sorry not to go to a performance by the Berlin Phil too, but the week we were there they were only doing a very expensive gala concert (http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/kalender/?L=2).

Here's a link to my trip report in case there's anything else of interest in it - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34614269

You don't need a guide. I was in Berlin during the World Cup and it is bery accessible.

Anyway, my best recommendation is Checkpoint Charlie Museum - amazing stuff - they have the original escape vehichles etc. and amazing stories of those that decided to take their chances across the Wall.