We'll be going into Berlin for a few nights in Sept. Any suggestions on hotels? We typically like 3 to 5 star (European ratings) hotels, about $200 to $300/night range. Something close to the main action, museums.

For something different, check out the Propeller Island Lodge Hotel. Each room is an art installation. Prices are reasonable and it's conveniently located near the metro in a residential neighbourhood. It has a breakfast room but otherwise services are limited. Even if you choose not to stay here, you should check out the photos of the rooms:

http://www.propeller-island.com/room...l/31/index.php

Sleep in a coffin, or in the upside-down room, or a jail cell, or on a floating bed. There are some relatively normal rooms, too. We really enjoyed our stay there.

Thanks frogoutofwater

I think we're looking for more traditional accomidations.

We liked the Arcotel Velvet on Oranienburgerstrasse. Good location with easy access to buses and both U and S Bahn. Lots of restaurants and pubs in the area. We're in our 60s and in good health though not super physically fit, and it was easy walking distance to the Museum Island and Unter den Linden/Brandenburg Gate for us.

Thanks Jake1

Has anyone heard anything about hotel Melia?

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus (who is now in seclusion at Betty Ford for the next month) stayed at Melia on the Friedrichstrasse.

The hotel is completely refurbished, with large rooms, flat-screen TV's, heated bathroom floors and comfy beds.

The hotel is convient for exploring Museum Island and Prezlauer Berg.

The Bahnhof is across the street. There is a Starbucks just a few steps away and you are within walking distance to Galleries Lafayette and other exclusive shops.

This hotel is in a very ideal location.

The Epigone of Thin Who is Too Far Afield

I did not stay at Melia, but there are very good opinions on net abut it. It is also located very close to major attractions.

I think that it belongs to Sol Melia, a known hotels chain.

Thanks everyone -

We opted for the Mercure at Check Point Charlie for a few reasons....it's not at expensive as the Melia is, yet still central to lots of things.

I stayed at the Mercure Checkpoint Charlie in January and loved the hotel.

Its location is fantastic, you are literally around the corner from the checkpoint.

The hotel itself is very nice, we got an apartment room and it was huge. Lots of space to spread out in. The staff are very helpful as well. Overall i'd have to say its the best chain hotel i've stayed in.

We stayed twice at the wonderful Hecker's Hotel, in a great and convenient location. The rooms and baths are beautiful and wonderfully equipped and furnished, the staff is fantastic, and the breakfast buffet is sensational. I wouldn't think of staying anywhere else, that's how much we like it. Here's the website:
www.heckers-hotel.de/hotel.html?&L=1

Berlin is a great city for Priceline. Last summer I stayed at the brand new Courtyard by Marriott Mitte for $55 a night. The Marriott located near Potsdamer Platz often comes up at $80 per night.

However - I think you'll be happy with the Mercure.

My Priceline hotel was the Agon Franfurter Allee. Only $55 a night. It was in the old East Berklin and the surrounding neighborhood is a little depressing, but perfectly safe. The hotel is very modern and nice inside. Fantastic buffet breakfast. Only a block from the U-Bahn.

I've never even thought about Priceline, guess cuz I really don't know how it works. My impression is you don't know exactly where you'll end up, right?

Help me out if I'm wrong. If I can save a few $$$ by using Priceline and know I'll be in a hotel that I'll be happy with I'd try it out.

Priceline can work if you do your research and bid at a bargain price for a hotel that is at least one star category above the kind of hotel you're usually comfortable staying in. Check the forums that discuss priceline and hotwire and read the reviews (on those forums and on tripadvisor) of the hotels that are said to be included in each booking zone. Never bid in a zone if there is even a single hotel you wouldn't be willing to stay in. Also, if you don't mind (or even like) staying in more than one hotel in a city you're visiting, you can bid on priceline for bargain luxury hotel and then stay in a hotel you've chosen and booked (diversification reduces risk).

For example, in 2006, Mr frogoutofwater and I bid for 4* (highest star rating) in New York City for a 3-night stay between Christmas and New Year's. I was having terrible luck finding a decent hotel within an acceptable price range (i.e. under $250) through conventional bookings. With some persistence, I finally succeeded with a $199 bid - and got the Westin Times Square. Now, I hate Times Square (especially between Christmas and New Years). But the going rate on the website a month in advance was $450 a room, so $199 was a bargain (and a little less than the conventional back-up booking I'd made). While it was a major PITA to walk to and from our hotel, the hotel itself was stunning and we loved our luxurious room with a great view.

On the other hand, there was a recent story on fodors recently about a woman who bid on priceline for a 3* or 3.5* and got a major chain hotel with very mixed reviews on tripadvisor, including one report of bed bugs. I'm not sure what kind of research she did in advance, in her shoes, I would have made sure that I read all the reviews of the hotels said to be in the zone - and avoided the zone if even a single hotel had a bed bug report.

Thanks FOOW

I'm going to dig into the boards now to see what comes up for Priceline and the places we want to stay.

We really liked the Mercure den Charité, which is a good 3* hotel, and sometimes bookable for a cheap rate, depending on what events are going on. Check www.accorhotels.com and www.hotels.de and www.hotelscombined.com .

In Berlin, unless there is a trade fair at the time of your visit, $200-300 USD per night, even with the terrible Euro rate, should get you a really superb hotel, though.

Even though I always defer to Patrick, I would not want to stay in West Berlin. Too many tourist sites are located near the Brandenburger Tor in East Berlin. These include Potsdammer Platz, the Gemaldegallerie, Reichstag, Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, and the Statsoper.

I also think East Berlin is more chic.

I absolutely HATED the Kurfurstendamm; I thought is was tacky. KeDeWe also did NOT impress me at all.

Thingorjus

I can HIGHLY recommend the Grand Hyatt in Berlin. Great service, great rooms, great location....it is expensive, but I have gotten a room there from time to time at around 300 dollars.

The Sofitel is also nice at the Gendarmenmarkt

I'd like to second Willtravel regarding the Mercure den Charite. I loved the hotel and would stay there again. We also had an excellent price for what we got. However, besides a very handy U-Bahn station, there wasn't a lot of nice restaurants near the hotel.

We loved the Hyatt, too. I don't usually stay in chains, but I'm really glad we stayed there.