Thingorjus stranded at Tegel w/LV Luggage!
 

Please help me figure something out so I don't end up in Spandau Prison looking like Veronika Voss after a rainstorm.

I am looking at a map of the Berlin Metro System and it looks like I can take a bus from Tegel to the K. Schubmacher stop on the U-bahn to Freidrichstrasse Bahnhof.

Anybody with any information??

Thingorjus

Sorry, I can't help but somehow I can't imagine you on a bus with or without LV luggage. Aren't there any Bentleys there? :)

Yes, I did that a few years ago. Took about an hour. Didn't have LV luggage tho.

Why didn't you bring your Goyard ? :)

Darling, you don't need LV luggage, you're a star yourself !!! Take a taxi !!

It's just not done to travel on buses or U-bahn with LV luggage. Even a standard taxi is falling somewhat below expected standards.

What horrible snobs. Of course I want to take the bus. When I lived in NYC I would take the bus down 5th Ave and you would see riders with crocodile Birkin bags, never mind ratty old Louis Vuitton. (I used to sit next to Helen Gurley Brown and we would talk about plasic surgery.)

Goyard, Mimi? Please, I am only going for a week. It would be ridiculous to take my Goyard trunks with me. I am not French.

Now, who is going to help me?

No help, no trip report when I get back.

Thingorjus

OK Thin, I assume a tagless margiela duffel wouldn't be big enough for a diva like you.
Just because we're all desperate for your report,better be a good one, here it goes:

Unless you prefer travelling in the dark underground and dragging your luggage up the stairs at the Friedrichstrasse U bahn stop, I don't recommend that route. The old U bahn stop (sans escalator) is on Friedrichstrasse but a block south of the Friedrichstr station, further away from Melia.

I'd recommend taking the TXL bus to Berlin's main train station (Lehrter) then hop on any train heading east to get off at the Friedrichstrasse station (which is the next station). You'll remain above ground and you'll exit at the train station closer to Melia.

I have to admit that I took a taxi from Tegel to Lehrter (supply stop on a Sunday) and did the train hop to Friedrichstrasse station, however, the TXL bus from Tegel actually stops at the Lehrter according to this Berlin Lehrter page: http://www.berlin.city-map.de/city/db/070102050300.html

The Berlin transport map also shows the TXL route passing Lehrter:
http://tinyurl.com/3c4bh6

Sorry to be contrary, DAX, but Lehrter Bahnhof (which is not called this any more, but Berlin Hauptbahnhof) is NOT the best place to change. TXL express bus follows the Unter den Linden boulevard - Thingorjus would just get off at the UdL/Friedrichstr. crossing. The Melia is a few hundred meters along the Friedrichstrasse - you can walk or takea subway U2 for 1 stop.

Ah, Schlank und Hübsch,
You are not so easy to figure out, you know. Isn't it wonderful to keep surprising people?

Just wanted to add that the bus station is outside of the main terminal. We arrived at the Air Berlin terminal and had to walk ten minutes to find the Bus Haltestelle. We used the outside ticket office, which is really just a small booth along side the terminal wall. I don't know if there's a ticket booth inside or not.

The only person who seemed not to be able to speak English was the man at the ticket booth. Everyone else was quite fluent.

Thingorjus.. no worries, you have several options:

Starting at Tegel airport you can take

Option 1 (the one you mentioned):
Bus 128, transfer at U-Bahnhof Kurt-Schuhmacher-Platz (no elevators) to Friedrichstrasse (elevators).
Actually, one of the best connections since the many people take the TXL bus which often gets really packed. The only minus is that you have to carry your luggage downstairs a few steps to the subway.

Option 2a:
Bus TXL all the way to stop Unter den Linden / Friedrichstrasse. Plus a 300m walk with your luggage.
No transfers, but bus can be full, and you got the walk with your luggage.

Option 2b:
Bus TXL to Berlin Main Station, change to any eastbound S-Bahn. Navigating thru the train station and getting all way to the S-Bahn platforms (uppermost level) can take as much time as simply to sit in TXL bus for the few more stops until you get to Unter den Linden / Friedrichstrasse.

Option 3:
Bus X9 to train station Zoologischer Garten(w/ elevators, escalators). Change there to any eastbound S-Bahn to Friedrichstrasse. Again, X9 also often gets packed.

Option 4:
Bus 109 to S-Bahnhof Charlottenburg stop. Change there to any eastbound train to Friedrichstrasse. A bit of a walk between bus stop and S-Bahn station (which has elevators).

You don't need to waste time and line up at the ticket booth, or try to play around with the vending machines - simply pay the driver, unless you only have large Euro bills in your purse: € 2.10 for a single ride, € 6.10 for a day pass.

Have fun!

Oh, please..the "threat" of no trip report sounds like the "threat" of Dick Cheney losing weight!

We already know you aren't going to tell us about your late night patrols around the Nollendorf Platz.

DO use the U-Bahn/S-Bahn in Berlin when you can, tho, and we look forward to hearing all about it upon return.

LOL!! I want help from someone who ACTUALLY HAS TAKEN the TXL bus into Berlin. I could look up a train schedule myself.

Thank you all for your help. The sqweaky wheel always gets the grease. :)

I don't patrol tearooms or dog parks, Dukey. You are confusing me with Mkingdom.

I am a lady.

Thingorjus

Thank you, cowboy. I have just read your reply. No need to worry about carrying luggage as I am very fit.

I can sprint up Madison Ave carrying 5 shopping bags froM Missoni and Muffy's chinchilla coat.

Thingorjus

Hola Thin -
I have indeed taken the TXL, last year. It did get a little crowded but no worse than an MTA bus. Cowboy has spelled out the options nicely. I'd got for #2, perhaps because I am a simple country boy. Second choice would be Cowboy's option 3.

I have taken the TXL bus several times. It is just a normal bus, with some space for luggage.

But my strong recommendation is to take a taxi. It will cost you about 22 Euros up to the hotel's door and no further hassle!

x

I STILL stand by my recommendation to take the TXL bus to the Hauptbahnhof/Lehrter and then hop on the elevated train to Friedrichstrasse station. Cowboy makes the same recommendation in his option 2b.

I HAVE taken the TXL bus to Tegel but not from Tegel to Lehrter/Hauptbahnhof. The TXL bus stop to get off is called Washingtonplatz which in front of the station. You can't miss this multistory huge station, it's by far the nicest station in Germany, you can enjoy a good beer at the outdoor beergarden on the station terrace before moving on to the S bahn/RE train. Plenty of people watching.

I like cowboy's complete list of options and want to add my two cents to it:
<<Option 2a: Bus TXL all the way to stop Unter den Linden / Friedrichstr. Plus a 300m walk with your luggage.>>

The TXL Unter den Linden stop is 5 blocks south of Melia.
I've considered taking the TXL bus from Melia, but decided against it after physically walking through tha narrow busy uneven rough pavement along Frierichstrasse. I was glad that I took the train to Hauptbahnhof from the station next in front of the hotel instead.


<<Bus TXL to Berlin Main Station, change to any eastbound S-Bahn. Navigating thru the train station and getting all way to the S-Bahn platforms (uppermost level) can take as much time as simply to sit in TXL bus for the few more stops until you get to Unter den Linden / Friedrichstrasse.>>

Going up & down inside the stations was not a problem at all due to escalators. It's just better to drag your suitcase inside the modern train station than through the construction ridden pavement outdoor especially in the cold winter weather.

Here's a virtual tour of the Hauptbahnhof from the street level to the S bahn level (one story above the street level).
http://tinyurl.com/29cr2y
go down to "WMF herunterladen"

I love this board. (sometimes)

1. I don't want to take a taxi. It isn't about the cost. I want to learn to take public transportation again as I drive a Volvo station wagon that is contributing to America's vast consumption of oil. (Don't any of you read Tom Friedman of the NYTimes?)

2. I don't have to drag my luggage. I am taking ONE LV Keepall, which resembles a large duffle bag.

3. I can easily walk 3 miles. Easily.


DAX, what do you mean the "rough, uneven Friedrichstrasse?" I thought the Friedrichstrasse was the Champs Elysee of Berlin. Are you telling me that it is a cowpath?????

I think I am going to take the TXL bus to Unter den Linden. I think it will be nice to look out the window and see Berlin.

Thinny

I was talking about the pavement surface if you have to drag a suitcase. It's not a factor if you're carrying a duffel bag, though the cold weather may play a factor btw walking inside a train station vs the outdoor pavement.

Friedrichstrasse is not the Champs Ellysees of Berlin, maybe more like Rue St Honore with a small Galleries Lafayette. The Kurfurstendam and Unter den Linden is more like Champs Ellysees. In any case the better stretch of Friedrichstrasse is south of Unter den Linden. Northward used to be patchy but it has been undergoing a lot of rebuilding. The Melia hotel itself was part of the revival project around the Friedrichstr Station.

> I thought the Friedrichstrasse was the Champs Elysee of Berlin. Are you telling me that it is a cowpath?????

No, not that - but the entire area has been cossed by a certain wall not so long ago, and it will take a few more years until all the construction activity will be finished. Although, knowing Berlin, it will never be finished - the coat of arms of Berlin should not contain a bear, but a building crane and an outstetched, begging hand. (For the tax money transfer the city receives and continously mismanages)

altamiro wrote:
<i>Although, knowing Berlin, it will never be finished - the coat of arms of Berlin should not contain a bear, but a building crane and an outstetched, begging hand. (For the tax money transfer the city receives and continously mismanages)</i>

Well, well.. as an ex- and almost native Berliner I would say that the rest of my German compatriots should be happy to give a little money so we have at least one decent city in the country. Having to live in Munich, I sure know what I have to miss every day...

&gt;Having to live in Munich
Munich is in fact the best place to live in all of Europe. Nobody would want to live in a &quot;broke but sexy&quot; place like Berlin! :D. They got all the money to survive from Bavaria, yet they complain. We should change a few things :D No more free money!

Isn't most of the building soon finished? I didn't see too many empty lots but lots of new or restored buildings.

Loved the new train station. The new Sony building isn't really my cup of tea but I guess that's modern architecture.

&gt;Munich is in fact the best place to live in all of Europe.

Second best, but close :-)))

&gt;Nobody would want to live in a &quot;broke but sexy&quot; place like Berlin!

Except those unfortunate who don't have any other choice ;-)

Does anybody know if I can wear a hoodie, jeans, and sneaks to the restaurant in the Reistag? I am wearing my gansta clothing whilst in Berlin.

Thingorjus

Well, visiting a communist place like Berlin, when there so many nice and freedom loving people in Munich is beyond my comprehension. :D
Bussy anyway!

You can wear anything in Berlin!

While I understand the unfair burden on non Berliners, there is a silver lining I can think of: All that money is spent on rebuilding a german city rather than financing an endless war halfway across the world.:D

Are you going to Kafer for lunch or dinner? We've been twice for lunch and jeans are fine, but most will be dressed a good bit less gansta than you. I'd guess dinner will be a bit more buttoned up.