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Pat_in_Mich Feb 26th, 2013 05:22 AM

Berlin hotel choices
 
We're planning to stay for 3 or 4 nights in Berlin in early September. We're a couple in our 50's and we're looking for a clean comfortable place that is walkable to a lot of attractions and restaurants and near transit. We're considering one of the Adina chain, either Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hackescher Markt or Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Our budget is around 200 euro a night.

Which of these is in a better location? Any other suggestions? I looked at the Melia and the NH Berlin Friedrichstrasse but neither are available for our dates. Thanks!

doug_stallings Feb 26th, 2013 05:55 AM

Hauptbahnhof is definitely a better transit hub than Hackescher Markt, but I stayed at the Radisson Blu and loved it. It was closest to the Hackescher Markt station as well as a convenient bus stop right on Under den Linden. I liked the location because it was next door to Museum Insel and not far from the TV tower and Alexanderplatz. We could have walked to the Brandenburger Tor, but it was a little cold and wet in late October when we went, so we mostly took the bus and trains. A transit pass was very helpful and saved us some money. But I found the location fine. A hotel closer to the station would also be fine. There are a lot of nearby restaurants you can walk to in the evening, and in September the weather should be nice.

Pat_in_Mich Feb 26th, 2013 06:23 AM

The Radisson Blu looks cool but unfortunately it's over 250 euros a night for our dates. That's over our budget. Thanks for the suggestion though.

danon Feb 26th, 2013 07:56 AM

have not stay in either , but for staying closer to attraction I would go with Hack. Mart location.

jelopez33 Feb 26th, 2013 08:01 AM

Winter(or Winters) hotel, really close to the NH and to Gerdamnemarkt. You will enjoy the city, we certainly did!

Dukey1 Feb 26th, 2013 08:25 AM

MY own "other suggestion" is that you at least consider using a discount hotel site such as hotels.com since your hotel budget seems to be the major driver here.

The Berlin public transport system is excellent and certainly there are more areas than the one you have mentioned which are close to attractions and transit.

How much are you willing to pay to be closes to things? Are you willing to pay less and rely on public transport a little more?

Pat_in_Mich Feb 26th, 2013 08:43 AM

I have no problem using hotels.com or other similar sites.

I'm just starting to research where to stay and the hotels I mentioned caught my eye on some other posts. I'm open to other areas and could up my budget a bit to around 300 USD if necessary to stay in a good location. However, we don't mind using public transport at all. In fact we rather enjoy it since it is almost non-existent where we live.

What areas of town should we be considering?

danon Feb 26th, 2013 08:55 AM

Dukey,
a good point. Berlin is such a big city with many locations near public transit .
I have stayed at Melia twice ( staying again in July) and in the west Berlin twice. Liked both, although for the first time travelers visiting for a few days, a spot not far from the Museum Isle might be preferable .
200 euros is a very good budget for Berlin's four star lodging.

danon Feb 26th, 2013 09:08 AM

the intersection of Unter den Linden and Friedrichstraße
(and the vicinity)
is about as good as you can get for walking to numerous attractions, shops, restaurants, the river and transit.

Aramis Feb 26th, 2013 04:54 PM

Hackeschermarkt is terrific location. It puts you within walking distance of the major historical sites as well as very close to Prenzlauer Berg's trendy, eateries and shops.

The Andina is a tremendous property in that area.

The Hauptbahnhof may be situated better for public transportation but it is not within walking distance of most of the Mitte historical sites. Friedrichstrasse station is a better option if that is a concern. It's right across the street from the Melia and the H but you knew that. That's only a 10 minute walk or 1 S Bahn stop from H - markt though.

greg Feb 26th, 2013 06:33 PM

Berlin is too large to be able to access all the key attractions by foot from any one location. Hackescher Markt is near the Museum Island, but it is still quite a walk from the Brandenburg gate and all the attractions to the west and to the south. I think you should count on using U-bahn/S-bahn/tram/bus to visit places too far from your hotel. Get of the multi-city transit pass.

Aramis Feb 26th, 2013 07:22 PM

Hackescher Markt is just a little over 2 km (less than 1.5 miles) from both the Reichstag, and the Brandenburg Gate, or about a 25 minute walk, less than 1 mile (about 18 minutes) from Gendarmenmarkt, and about 500-700 meters, or 7-8 minutes, from Museuminsel, the Berliner Dom, and Alexanderplatz.

Pat_in_Mich Feb 27th, 2013 04:31 AM

I have booked the Adina at Hackescher Markt. Thanks to all for your help!

doug_stallings Feb 27th, 2013 05:15 AM

I think you'll like the location. There are a lot of nice (albeit expensive) outdoor restaurants along the river and many more in the area. I enjoyed staying around there.

Aramis Feb 27th, 2013 04:23 PM

Enjoy a Weissbier at the Weihenstephaner brewery restaurant right in the market. It is a personal "Do not pass Go", first stop on any trip to Berlin.

But that could be because Weissbier tastes like what I imagine the gently flowing streams in heaven must taste like.

Ahhhh, good times, good times.......

Ich vermisse dich, Berlin!

Pat_in_Mich Feb 27th, 2013 05:27 PM

Thanks Aramis, but sadly neither of us are beer drinkers. Sacrilege I know :-)

Aramis Feb 27th, 2013 06:14 PM

G*A*S*P

Okay, they have this other stuff called Schweinehaxen, or this other stuff called Sauerbraten and Sauerkraut, or this other stuff called Knoedel or these other things called Brezeln............

doug_stallings Feb 28th, 2013 05:36 AM

I'd still try a beer while in Berlin. But there are plenty of wine bars (lots of them in fact). And almost all restaurants will serve you a carafe of house wine. Often it's pretty good. I liked Ampelmann Cafe, which is just west of the Hackescher Markt station. It's good if you just want a cheap pizza or pasta.


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