Looking for nice (clean, good location, good service) hotels in berlin and munich that aren't too expensive. will also be looking for a few nights lodging in rhineland (spots bewtween Mainz and Trier) and into baden-wurtemberg and southern bavaria. we are flying into berlin, there for 2 days, train to mainz where we will rent a car - drive around a few days, wind up in maybe stuttgart and then train to munich via southern bavaria. any comments on this tentative itinerary are welcome also!!!

For the Munich part of your trip, try the "Munich Hotels" thread - some good suggestions in there for cheaper but good places to stay.

In Munich we like to stay near the train station haupt bahnhof because it is convenient to everything else. We like the Drei Lowen and the Drei Lowen Residence. Try looking at OctopusTravel.com to see pictures of the hotels and get an idea of prices.

In Berlin, if I had my druthers, I'd try for a hotel near Savigny Platz in Charlottenburg or Kathe-Kollwitz Platz in Prenzlauer Berg, both charming squares with lots of interesting cafes and restaurants. I stayed at the Hilton in Gendarmenmarkt, convenient, but everything nearby is expensive and stuffy. Since I wasn't paying, I can't complain, but although the location (Mitte) is close to every major sight, it's a businessman's hotel with expense account restaurants and cocktail bars inside the hotel and all around it. That said, compared to other comparable hotels in major cities, the Hilton was not too expensive, it was super-clean, service was good, and the square is one of the most elegant in Europe. I just took the #100 bus or a cab to get to the more lively neighborhoods and the U7 line is right there, too.

Hi
Last september we stayed at the Movenpick Berlin. A new hotel by the Anthalter station. It was about $100 inc buffet bkfst. It's in a renovated Seiman building, near enough to most of the major sights to walk. Checkpoint Charlie, etc. We used the 800# to make the reservation. we were also upgraded to a Jr. suite, it was great. We have stayed at other Movenpicks before and it is one of my favorite cahins if one is available where we are staying. they also have a website.

Can't help you with lodging that nice, but if you're looking for other advice in and around Trier, I'm more than happy to help (spent 5 weeks there a couple summers ago).

If you like inspiring, bohemian areas, I would suggest looking in the Prenzlauerberg neighborhood of Berlin. It is one of my favorite neighborhoods anywhere.

Last spring I stayed at the giant Park Inn on Alexanderplatz. It is an ok hotel--huge, decent rooms, residue from the Communist era--and it is fairly close to Prenzlauerberg.

I guess what I'm saying is that for me, in Berlin, (and in Tokyo, or Manhattan), I would chose location over hotel.

I think there are better options that the Park Inn in Prenzlauerberg, frommers.com lists a few by neighborhood.

Have fun.